Zhao Pingjin returned home from work.

The lights were on in the house. The living room had already been tidied up, the floor clean and shining. A faint aroma of porridge wafted from the kitchen, but no one was in sight. Zhao Pingjin looked around and found a small figure sleeping on the beige sofa.

At that moment, he suddenly felt very peaceful.

Even the persistent headache that always accompanied him when he left work had subsided significantly.

He walked a few steps inward and finally saw clearly that Huang Xi Tang was sleeping on the sofa facing inward, motionlessly resting on a cushion, her back rising and falling with her breathing, like a small primitive animal.

When had her hair grown long again? The black hair, like silk, was scattered on the pillow. It seemed like the last time he saw her, she was still a pitiful little bald head. Between them, time seemed to disappear especially quickly, just as when she left him years ago—somehow, in the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

Zhao Pingjin gently put down his car keys. Though the sound was barely audible, it immediately woke her up.

“You’re back?” Xi Tang sat up from the sofa, rubbed her eyes, and then raised her hand to brush her scattered hair behind her ears, revealing her beautiful facial contours.

Zhao Pingjin froze, even forgetting to answer her. It was truly rare to see her. How, in that instant, did he find her beautiful to the extreme?

Xi Tang didn’t notice at all. Her nose sniffed, and she quickly stood up: “The porridge is going to burn.”

The two ate dinner in the dining room.

Xi Tang usually stayed in the hotel arranged by the film crew. Zhao Pingjin was also busy with work and generally wouldn’t be too demanding of her, allowing her to come over only when she occasionally had rest time. This apartment was purchased for the convenience of going to work after the company moved to the Central Business District. Of the two places they had lived in before, one had been sold by Zhao Pingjin and one by Huang Xi Tang. Both had made decisive moves, so easily erasing all traces.

As if nothing had ever happened.

After dinner, Fang Langqi called: “Why aren’t you answering your phone? I called your office, and Xiao Min said you had left work?”

Zhao Pingjin was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, watching Huang Xi Tang cutting fruit by the coffee table. He took the phone and walked a few steps away: “I was driving just now, didn’t notice.”

Fang Langqi knew him well and asked with concern: “Leaving work so early, are you feeling unwell?”

Zhao Pingjin laughed: “Are you hoping for the worst for me?”

Hearing this tone, Fang Langqi knew there was no problem: “Then come out for a drink?”

Zhao Pingjin hesitated for a second.

Fang Langqi continued on the other end: “Bring some girls along. Qingqing and the others are also here. We’ll go dancing later.”

Zhao Pingjin hung up the phone and turned to ask Huang Xi Tang: “Do you want to go out with Old Second and the others?”

Xi Tang was squatting by the coffee table. Her movements paused, and she looked up, answering hesitantly: “Can I not go out?”

Hearing her words, Zhao Pingjin’s face remained calm, showing no emotion: “Then I’ll go out for a while. You stay at home.”

He drove to an entertainment club on Chang’an Street. Golden revolving doors, red walls shimmering with light—a place of sensual indulgence shrouded in smoke. As soon as he entered the hall, music waves rolled hot, and the lights were hazy. Sexy snake dancers were descending from the elevating stage. The manager had already been waiting at the entrance and bowed respectfully to him: “Good evening, Mr. Zhao.”

Zhao Pingjin nodded slightly with dignity. The manager, bending over, led the way. Zhao Pingjin walked in and saw Gao Jiyi waving at him from the VIP booth at the front.

This was the nightlife he was familiar with—streets as bright as day, flowing with colorful lights. He loved to play when he was young. At that time, Huang Xi Tang was also still young. Young people’s energy was endless. He worked during the day, and at night, he hung out with this group of childhood friends. Xi Tang was his girlfriend, following him like a little tail. She had a good relationship with his gang of friends. Lu Xiaojiang had always praised her as a very nice person. At that time, they loved each other deeply. Huang Xi Tang treated him with tender affection, cooking for him. They had a very happy time together. Only later did they discover that the nightly revelry was nothing but a fleeting dream.

When they finally had a complete falling out, it was also in such a place of debauchery—in his long-term private room at the Chang’an Club. That night, he had been drinking and wasn’t in good spirits, but he kept winning at the card table. The more he won, the worse his mood became, his face gradually darkening. Gao Jiyi sat opposite him that night and probably noticed. He won the last hand with multiple bonus points, and Gao Jiyi pushed the cards away with a flourish, saying he quit. Everyone followed, making a commotion—it was at that moment that Huang Xi Tang burst in.

Everyone who should have been there was missing. She humiliated him in front of everyone, crushing his pride and trampling it underfoot. Zhao Pingjin was driven to madness by her. He directly pulled out his gun. He truly had thoughts of killing, but whether it was rational thinking returning at the last moment or ultimately being unable to bear it, his hand went off course. Fang Langqi pressed a handkerchief against her gushing wound, and a group of people hurriedly carried her out. After that night, he immediately went abroad, cooling off for a few months in the United States. When he returned, everything returned to calm. Lu Xiaojiang even disappeared from his sight for more than a year. From then on, no one ever mentioned the three words “Huang Xi Tang” in front of him again.

So many years had passed. Unexpectedly, when he saw her again, he still went crazy, entangled with her once more.

If he were to take Huang Xi Tang out again, he would likely become the laughingstock of everyone.

Zhao Pingjin sat down. Fang Langqi patted him on the shoulder. Lu Xiaojiang was also there. There were also two familiar faces in the opposite seats—figures who had fought with each other in several compounds since childhood and were now prominent figures in Beijing. Zhao Pingjin greeted them. After several rounds of alcohol, accompanied by passionate songs and hot dances, everyone gradually relaxed, their smiles widening. A young model embraced by Gao Jiyi emitted bursts of coquettish laughter. Qingqing leaned in Fang Langqi’s arms, drinking. Beside Lu Xiaojiang, a heavily made-up long-haired girl also accompanied him.

Zhao Pingjin felt bored.

Gao Jiyi glanced over, and a girl from the sofa slowly moved to Zhao Pingjin’s side: “Brother, can I drink with you?”

The perfume on the unfamiliar body made him nauseous. Before she could get close, he swept her with a cold, icy glance, and the girl immediately stopped, frightened.

After a few drinks, Zhao Pingjin wanted to leave.

Gao Jiyi asked in surprise: “So soon? What do you mean?”

Zhao Pingjin just took his bag.

Gao Jiyi shouted behind him: “Hey, Zhouzi, there’s no wife at home, what are you going back for?”

Zhao Pingjin waved at him, not getting angry, and left without a word.

Gao Jiyi took a sip of his drink and asked Fang Langqi in puzzlement: “Look at that, it’s like he has an egg waiting for him to hatch at home. Old Second, seems to be in a pretty good mood lately. Did something happen?”