Even though Ling Chen had long since said he’d never intended to hide her, Zhu Wenshu hadn’t expected him to respond this quickly. Just minutes earlier, Zhu Wenshu had been on the phone with Ling Chen. Now, seeing the post on her screen, her eyes seemed fixed in place, not even blinking, as if she were dreaming.

Zhu Wenshu inevitably felt a bit nervous too. Even though the photo didn’t show her face, she knew exactly what kind of storm this would stir up.

In the living room, the two of them sat staring at the phone in silence, until the screen automatically went dark.

Ying Fei closed her eyes to steady herself, and when she opened them again, she saw Zhu Wenshu still staring blankly at the black screen.

The corner of her mouth still… curved up?!

“What are you smiling about?”

Ying Fei asked.

“Huh? Was I smiling?”

Zhu Wenshu quickly pressed down on the corner of her mouth. “No, I wasn’t.”

Ying Fei looked away, pressing her lips together, letting go of the phone and pressing her forehead in pain, eyes closed.

Zhu Wenshu really hadn’t expected Ying Fei to take it this hard. She opened her mouth several times, not knowing how to comfort her, and finally just said, “How about I pour you some hot water?”

Ying Fei shook her head, but Zhu Wenshu went to the kitchen anyway.

After pouring the water, she remembered Ying Fei didn’t usually like plain hot water, so she turned and went to her room to find the flower tea she’d bought in Li City a few days ago.

The moment she stepped into her room, her phone rang on the desk.

Zhu Wenshu grabbed the tea bag with one hand and answered the phone with the other.

“Teacher Xue’er, what’s up?”

“Teacher Zhu, did you see it?!” Shi Xue’er said excitedly. “It’s really Classmate Little Silkworm! It really is! Waaah, why isn’t there a clear face shot, I really want to see her fa—”

Shi Xue’er heard a faint sobbing sound and suddenly stopped. “Who’s crying?”

While they were talking, Zhu Wenshu had already made her way back to the dining room.

The one crying was, naturally, Ying Fei beside her.

Seeing Ying Fei covering her face and sobbing had already startled Zhu Wenshu; now with Shi Xue’er asking, she was momentarily lost before snapping back to herself.

“It’s nothing.” She didn’t dare get too close to Ying Fei, afraid Shi Xue’er would pick up on something. But the person on the other end of the line was far too sharp, and immediately asked, “Is your roommate crying? Are you back in Jiang City?”

“……”

Worried about Ying Fei while also not knowing how to handle Shi Xue’er — she knew the two of them didn’t get along — Zhu Wenshu panicked, patted Ying Fei’s back, and said perfunctorily, “Yeah, I’ve got something to deal with, I’ll hang up now.”

Putting down her phone, Zhu Wenshu bent down and said, “What’s wrong? Don’t cry — you haven’t eaten dinner yet. Want some rose tea? Or should I make you some porridge?”

At this, Ying Fei didn’t even shake her head — she just buried her face in the table and wept.

If it had been anything else, Zhu Wenshu might have known what to do, but she genuinely didn’t understand this kind of fangirl mentality. Not knowing what else to say, she went to the kitchen to make porridge.

Modern rice cookers all had a quick-porridge function, so it didn’t take Zhu Wenshu much effort. A few minutes later she returned to the dining room, sat down next to Ying Fei, and listened to her intermittent sobs, feeling her own heart clench as if someone had it in a fist.

She was most afraid of this kind of suppressed sadness. She wanted Ying Fei to just let it all out and cry openly, but worried that trying to encourage that would backfire.

More than twenty minutes later, Ying Fei finally raised her head, and Zhu Wenshu immediately handed her a tissue.

“The porridge should be ready soon, want some?”

“No.”

Ying Fei shook her head. “I’m going to bed.”

Just as she stood up, the doorbell rang.

Both of them looked toward the door in surprise, wondering who would be coming by this late.

“Did you order food?” Zhu Wenshu asked.

Ying Fei shook her head again. “No.”

“Then who’s…”

Zhu Wenshu walked over hesitantly, looking through the peephole as she asked, “Who is it?”

“Me!”

“……”

She didn’t even need to look — Zhu Wenshu already knew who it was.

She slowly opened the door, and before she could say anything, Shi Xue’er raised both hands to show off the two bags of alcohol she was carrying.

“Ta-da!”

Seeing Zhu Wenshu frozen in place, Shi Xue’er squeezed her way in.

“I wasn’t sure what you like, so I got beer and a bottle of plum wine, they should both taste pretty—”

From behind the table, Ying Fei cut her off coldly. “What are you here for?”

“I’m obviously here to…”

Watch you cry your eyes out.

She really had come to enjoy the drama, but seeing Ying Fei genuinely heartbroken, Shi Xue’er suddenly found she couldn’t say it.

How was this — a look like the whole world had collapsed?

“To toast Teacher Zhu’s happy news.”

Zhu Wenshu: “?”

“……”

Caught off guard by the sudden mention, Zhu Wenshu looked back and forth between the two of them, feeling like a sandwich filling.

Maybe she should just tell Shi Xue’er to go home?

Just as she was about to speak, Shi Xue’er had already set the alcohol down on the table and sat down to take off her coat.

“Ugh, it’s not worth getting like this over a man you’ve never even met.”

Only then did Ying Fei notice that Shi Xue’er had come wearing pajamas, with her makeup removed and a hair clip stuck to her head.

She’d come rushing over just to watch the show?!

Instantly on the defensive, Ying Fei snapped furiously, “None of your business!”

“I wasn’t planning on it being my business.”

Shi Xue’er leisurely popped open a can of beer, then noticed the table full of takeout. “Wow, this much food? I was going to say there wasn’t any food to go with the drinks.”

Just as she picked up her chopsticks to grab something, Ying Fei said, “Did I say you could eat?”

Shi Xue’er glanced at her, looking a little exasperated.

“You’re being so stingy.” She held out the can of beer. “Trade you, fair’s fair, right?”

Ying Fei stared at the beer in her hand, seemingly lost in thought. After a good while, she suddenly reached over, snatched the can, plopped down, tilted her head back, and started chugging it.

After a few gulps, she suddenly bent over, coughing violently.

Zhu Wenshu, still completely lost about what was going on, hurried over to pat Ying Fei’s back, while Shi Xue’er handed over a tissue from across the table.

Between coughs, Ying Fei suddenly wrapped her arms around Zhu Wenshu’s waist and burst into tears—

Ling Chen’s flight landed near midnight.

He carried no luggage, walking alone out of the terminal. After getting in the car, the driver asked where to.

Ling Chen took out his phone and checked — the message he’d sent Zhu Wenshu twenty minutes ago still hadn’t been read. She was probably asleep.

“Back to Bocui Yunwan.”

The moment he said it, he remembered how his own place felt as cold and lifeless as a model show home, and changed his mind. “Fuli Shoufu.”

Even though Ling Siyuan and the nanny would already be asleep by now, at least there was some sign of life there.

Not long after the car set off, Ling Chen’s phone suddenly buzzed.

[Teacher Zhu]: not sleeping upfsε=(`ο`*)))ya

Ling Chen frowned, staring at the screen in bewilderment.

What is this?

[c]: ?

[Teacher Zhu]: perfect visualzhj

“……”

Ling Chen more or less understood the situation by now. He called her, and before Zhu Wenshu could say anything, he asked, “Did you drink?”

“Mm……” Zhu Wenshu’s voice sounded fairly normal, just slower than usual. “A little.”

Ling Chen: “Where are you?”

Zhu Wenshu: “At home, duh.”

“With who?”

“Feifei, and, and Teacher Xue’er.”

Ling Chen had no idea who these two people were. He sighed and said, “Wait for me.”

He hung up and told the driver to turn the car around—

Ying Fei had already been cursing nonstop for two hours. Reaching for the beer beside her, she found the can empty, then turned to see that the beer Shi Xue’er had brought was completely gone too, so she reached for the plum wine.

“Don’t.” Shi Xue’er stopped her. “This plum wine hits hard afterward, if you mix it in you’ll get drunk.”

“Then let’s get drunk.” Ying Fei picked up the plum wine and gave it a shake, then suddenly turned to look at Zhu Wenshu. “This is all that’s left?”

Shi Xue’er was also surprised. “Teacher Zhu, did you drink all of that?!”

“Huh?”

Zhu Wenshu’s reaction was half a beat slow, her gaze fixed blankly on her cup as she said, “Oh.”

She hadn’t been able to get much of a word in all evening, and wasn’t good at comforting people anyway, so she’d just sat quietly drinking alongside them.

She couldn’t really stomach the taste of beer, but she rather liked the sweet plum wine — it wasn’t harsh at all, so without realizing it she’d drunk most of the bottle like it was a soft drink.

“Are you okay?”

Shi Xue’er held up a finger. “How many is this?”

“I’m fine.”

Zhu Wenshu pushed her hand away, then noticed her buzzing phone and scrambled to answer it.

“What’s up?”

“Still drinking?”

On the other end, Ling Chen said, “I’m downstairs at your place. Is it okay if I come up?”

Zhu Wenshu blinked and looked at the person in front of her.

“Who is it?”

Shi Xue’er, noticing Zhu Wenshu had already taken two calls within half an hour, asked with a smile, “Who’s calling you this late?”

Zhu Wenshu slowly said six words.

“My boyfriend. Downstairs.”

“Ooh?”

Shi Xue’er had always been curious about Zhu Wenshu’s boyfriend, and now that he was right downstairs, she said quickly, “Are you two going out? Tell him to come up and get you!”

Zhu Wenshu nodded, then shook her head.

Her head was spinning, and she hadn’t even asked Ling Chen why he’d come to find her.

Not that it mattered right now. The pressing issue was that she still hadn’t figured out how to tell her rabid fan and her hater friend that her boyfriend was Ling Chen — she had no idea what the two of them might do.

But she couldn’t keep hiding it forever.

And right now, with alcohol in her system, she had a reckless kind of courage.

Whatever happens, happens!

The call was still connected; Ling Chen heard what Shi Xue’er said and didn’t press her.

Zhu Wenshu bowed her head, thinking quietly for a moment, then, fueled by liquid courage, said, “Then I’ll tell him to come up.”

Five minutes later, the doorbell rang.

Shi Xue’er stared unblinkingly at the door, her curiosity piqued enough to draw even Ying Fei’s interest, who slowly lifted her head.

Zhu Wenshu rubbed her face, and as she stood up, felt her feet slip beneath her, nearly losing her balance.

But neither of the two women noticed her unsteadiness — they were both fixated eagerly on the door.

Zhu Wenshu had no choice but to shuffle her way over, step by step.

She slowly pulled the door open, like a curtain rising on a stage.

The moment Ling Chen’s face came into view, a loud crash sounded behind her.

Zhu Wenshu spun around and saw the plum wine bottle in Ying Fei’s hand shattering on the floor.

Silence.

A dead silence, one that made the rolling sound of the bottle unnaturally clear.

At the table, the two women sat frozen — one with her neck twisted around, the other with her arm half-raised — both staring unmoving at the figure in the doorway.

“Are you alright?”

Ling Chen touched Zhu Wenshu’s cheek — it was a little warm.

Then he looked toward the dining room.

The table was piled with takeout containers, and the floor was a mess of empty beer cans, the air thick with the smell of alcohol.

Ling Chen had originally only meant to come up and check on Zhu Wenshu — he knew she had a roommate, so there was no way she could stay over at his place. But looking at the scene before him now, both women in the room looked more than a little drunk themselves. He frowned helplessly and turned to ask Zhu Wenshu, “How did you end up drinking this much?”

Zhu Wenshu stood there dazed, then shook her head after a moment. “Not much.”

Ling Chen’s gaze fell on Ying Fei and Shi Xue’er.

“Hello.” Neither of them had blinked once since he walked in, and there was still no reaction now. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take her with me?”

Silence, and more silence.

So quiet that Ling Chen was starting to wonder if the two of them had turned into still images—

If it weren’t for Ying Fei suddenly letting out a drunken hiccup.

“……”

Ling Chen sighed, took Zhu Wenshu’s hand. “Let’s go.”

Not until the door shut and the two of them had completely disappeared from view did Ying Fei mechanically turn her head to look at Shi Xue’er.

Then, Shi Xue’er looked back at her. Three seconds later, in perfect unison, they both raised their hands and slapped each other—

Outside the apartment door.

Ling Chen led Zhu Wenshu forward a few steps, noticed her pace was unusually slow, and stopped. “Can you still walk?”

Zhu Wenshu stared straight ahead and nodded.

So Ling Chen led her to the elevator instead. “How much did you drink?”

“One bottle of plum wine.”

Zhu Wenshu stared at the elevator doors and blinked. “I’m not drunk.”

Good, then.

As Ling Chen pressed the elevator button, he thought to himself that Zhu Wenshu’s alcohol tolerance was surprisingly good.

If he himself drank a whole bottle of plum wine, he probably wouldn’t even be able to stand straight right now.

“Ling Chen.”

Zhu Wenshu suddenly called out to him.

Ling Chen: “Mm?”

“Why is this elevator door crooked?”

Zhu Wenshu tilted her head, her tone perfectly even. “Straighten it out for me.”

Ling Chen: “……”

Just then, the elevator doors opened.

Without a word, Ling Chen scooped Zhu Wenshu up in his arms.

Zhu Wenshu, suddenly airborne, instinctively wrapped her arms around Ling Chen’s neck.

Once inside the elevator, she started to struggle.

“What are you doing? I’m not drunk, I can walk!”

Ling Chen ignored her, leaning sideways against the elevator door and pressing the floor button with his elbow, somewhat awkwardly—

Ling Chen’s steps were fast but steady. Zhu Wenshu, still dizzy, hung on around his neck, swaying gently with his movement, and it felt just like being carried and rocked to sleep by her grandmother when she was little.

So before Ling Chen had even made it out of the residential complex, Zhu Wenshu had fallen asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in an unfamiliar bed.

The ceiling above her was very high, as if floating in the sky, and a black-and-white geometric lamp glowed faintly.

Zhu Wenshu turned her neck and saw a large floor-to-ceiling window reflecting a distant lighthouse.

She blinked, then suddenly sat up.

The abrupt movement twisted her wrist, and she gasped in pain, only then slowly becoming aware that her head felt like it was about to split open.

“Awake?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhu Wenshu looked up and saw the bathroom light on nearby, Ling Chen leaning against the doorframe in a gray set of loungewear, watching her.

After a long silence, Zhu Wenshu stared at him and said, word by word, “Where. Is. This.”

“My place.”

“Oh……”

Zhu Wenshu asked again, “What time is it?”

Ling Chen straightened up and slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Five.”

“It’s five already?”

As Ling Chen came closer, Zhu Wenshu noticed a cool dampness coming off him, and, connecting it to the fact that he’d just come out of the bathroom, asked, “You got up at five to shower?”

Ling Chen glanced at her and said nothing.

But there was something meaningful in his eyes that made Zhu Wenshu instinctively glance sideways at herself.

The sheets and the bedding were in disarray, the pillow dented, and the spot where her palm rested was still warm.

“……”

She swallowed. “I didn’t do anything, did I?”

Ling Chen leaned in close and said softly, “What do you think?”

[The scene that follows has been omitted.]

Later, well past four thirty in the morning, dawn’s first light finally began to break through the clouds outside the window.