“Hurry, hurry! Put those tables over there! Be careful, don’t bump or scratch them! They’re expensive! Your salary wouldn’t cover the damage if you break them!” Xu Zhenfan’s loud voice could be heard as soon as one entered the tattoo shop. He stood with hands on his hips, directing the renovation crew.

Over the years, Xu Zhinan had built her once small tattoo shop into a successful business. As it flourished, she recently purchased two neighboring shops that came up for sale. She had the walls knocked down, renovating everything to make the space much more spacious than before.

“Brother Zhenfan,” Xu Zhinan poured him a glass of water. “You should take a break. They can handle the rest on their own.”

Xu Zhenfan moistened his throat with the water, glanced sideways, and shouted again: “Hey! You’ve already scratched the paint off the table legs!”

The renovation crew looked and saw it was true. They quickly apologized, “We’re sorry, we didn’t notice something was there.”

The damage wasn’t serious. Xu Zhinan went over and rubbed it with her hand. “It’s fine, please continue. Thank you for your hard work.”

Just as she finished speaking, there was a commotion at the door.

Someone carrying a four-stemmed money tree came in, calling out loudly: “Boss! This is sent by Lu Xihe on behalf of the Assassin shop!”

Xu Zhenfan laughed: “This is truly extraordinary! It’s the first time I’ve seen competitors sending opening gifts to each other.”

Xu Zhinan, still busy, guided the person: “Put it there.” After arranging it, she added, “Brother Lu is a good person.”

“He regrets that you didn’t join his shop back then,” Xu Zhenfan said with a smile. “But you were right not to go. Look how well you’ve built this place. Going there would have been a waste of your talent.”

Currently, there are two famous tattoo shops in Yan City.

One was Lu Xihe’s established shop—Assassin; the other was Xu Zhinan’s place, which she had given an official name a few years ago—just two characters: Nan Nan.

No one thought much about why this name was chosen. The owner was called Xu Zhinan, so using her name was perfectly normal.

The most mysterious thing about the shop was still its owner, with her blue hair that hadn’t changed color for over two years.

When people asked why she always dyed her hair blue, she would just smile and say: “I think it looks good.”

By the afternoon, the renovation crew finally finished their work.

After merging the two shops, the tattoo parlor became much more spacious and impressive.

She had taken on several apprentices the year before last, and their skills had improved considerably, making the business quite successful.

Many tattoo artists she knew had come to congratulate her in the morning. By afternoon, the shop had returned to its usual quiet state. Xu Zhinan reorganized her design drafts from the past few years—a thick stack that she arranged chronologically on the bookshelf.

“Master,” Li Yan approached her. “Miss Chen just called to make an appointment with you for tonight.”

Li Yan was her most outstanding apprentice, a punk-style young girl.

“Tonight?” Xu Zhinan asked.

“Yes.”

“I have plans tonight,” Xu Zhinan said. “Don’t worry, I’ll respond to her myself. You can go back to work.”

“Alright.”

She had already arranged to meet Zhao Qian that evening. Xu Zhinan rescheduled with Miss Chen.

By evening, there were still two customers in the shop being tattooed by her apprentices. Xu Zhinan tidied herself up a bit and left early.

Zhao Qian had stayed in Yan City after graduation. She found a boyfriend shortly after graduating, and now they were discussing marriage. She wanted Xu Zhinan to accompany her to try on wedding dresses.

“Nan!”

Zhao Qian was already waiting at the entrance of the mall. When she saw Xu Zhinan, she almost jumped up and waved her hand.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” Xu Zhinan asked.

“I didn’t ask him to come. Trying on wedding dresses should have some mystery to it.”

Xu Zhinan smiled and entered the store with her.

They had communicated in advance, so when they entered, the shop assistant greeted them: “Miss Zhao, welcome.”

The assistant brought out several wedding dresses that Zhao Qian had previously liked.

“Nan, which one do you think looks better?” she asked.

Xu Zhinan looked around and finally pointed to one of them: “I feel this one would best show off your figure.”

“Then I’ll try this one first.”

Zhao Qian went to the fitting room with the shop assistant to try on the wedding dress. Xu Zhinan sat down on the sofa, and another assistant approached her: “Miss, would you like to pick a bridesmaid dress from our store?”

Before she could answer, Zhao Qian heard from inside: “Yes, yes, yes! I forgot to tell you! Quickly pick a bridesmaid dress. You’re going to be my bridesmaid!”

The shop assistant was very efficient and immediately brought out several bridesmaid dresses.

“Take a look at these. They’re newly designed by our designers. This blue one would complement your hair color very well. With your fair skin, you’d look beautiful in it.”

“Let’s wait a moment,” Xu Zhinan said politely. “Let her come out first, then I’ll choose.”

Trying on wedding dresses was a rather tedious affair.

Xu Zhinan sat outside waiting, facing a full-length mirror.

She hadn’t cut her hair in a long time and had grown it out. It now reached almost to her waist. Her blue hair was curled in two waves, resembling ocean waves.

With her oval face, fair and delicate skin, thick curled eyelashes, just a touch of lip color for complexion, and wearing only a simple dress, she looked as exquisite as a doll.

Finally, Zhao Qian came out in the wedding dress. Xu Zhinan was right—that particular dress enhanced her figure. The waistline was narrow, hugging her skin, and exposing her long swan-like neck.

Zhao Qian then helped her pick a bridesmaid dress, also thinking the blue one looked good.

“What about Yue? Should we ask what style she likes?” Xu Zhinan asked.

Jiang Yue had gone on to graduate school and was now a doctoral student.

“She doesn’t have time. I called her during the day. She said to let you choose, since you two are about the same height and build.” She nudged Xu Zhinan with her elbow and whispered mischievously, “Except your chest is a bit bigger.”

Xu Zhinan playfully slapped her arm.

In the end, she tried on the blue bridesmaid dress. When she emerged, Zhao Qian’s eyes widened: “Nan, you look stunning!”

She wasn’t used to wearing such formal attire and felt a bit uncomfortable, tugging at the tulle on her chest with slightly furrowed brows: “You think it’s okay?”

“More than okay!” Zhao Qian said. “I can’t wait to see how you’ll look in a wedding dress.”

Xu Zhinan paused, still smiling, but said nothing.

Zhao Qian quickly realized she had misspoken and hurriedly changed the subject.

After finalizing the wedding dress and bridesmaid dress, Zhao Qian asked the shop assistant to take a photo of the two of them.

“I want to post it on WeChat Moments,” Zhao Qian said, about to press the send button when her finger suddenly paused. “Wait, then my boyfriend would see it too. Never mind, I won’t post it. Nan, you post it instead, okay?”

“Sure.”

Xu Zhinan posted it on WeChat Moments. Just as she exited the app, she received a message from Gu Congwang.

[Gu Congwang: Which store are you at now?]

[Xu Zhinan: This one.]

[Gu Congwang: Are you finished? I’m nearby. I’ll come find you.]

After ordering the complete set of dresses, Xu Zhinan and Jiang Yue waited outside for a while until Gu Congwang arrived by car.

He now worked at his father’s company, dressed in a suit and looking handsome. When he rolled down the car window, many people turned to look at him.

First, they dropped Jiang Yue off at home, then drove Xu Zhinan back.

Xu Zhinan asked, “Did you have something to discuss with me today?”

“Nothing major. It’s just been a while since we’ve seen each other, hasn’t it?”

Xu Zhinan had gradually become aware of Gu Congwang’s special feelings for her. Her mother had mentioned it before, but Xu Zhinan hadn’t noticed then.

It wasn’t until recent years, when Gu Congwang continuously refused the blind dates arranged by his family and never had a girlfriend, that Xu Zhinan vaguely sensed it. But Gu Congwang had never brought it up with her.

“I ran into Uncle Gu a few days ago.”

“Oh? What did he say?”

“He said you’ve never had a girlfriend and that he’s worried sick.”

“I’m not that old yet. He’s just too anxious. Why doesn’t your mother pressure you the same way?”

Xu Zhinan paused, reaching up to touch the necklace on her chest, her palm holding the blue sapphire, and said softly, “I have a boyfriend.”

Only after watching Xu Zhinan enter her home did Gu Congwang allow himself a self-mocking smile.

Over these past two years, he knew exactly what Xu Zhinan was thinking. He had considered confessing, but given the current situation, he knew he had no chance of coming between Xu Zhinan and Lin Qingye.

The two of them appeared to have been separated for two and a half years, but in reality, they were already inseparable.

Shi Si, Guan Chi, and Ji Yan still gathered for meals when they had free time. Their friendship had never grown distant despite going their separate ways.

The three bought some ingredients and went to the studio for a late-night meal.

They didn’t meet often. When they did, it was usually just at a late-night food stall. Today was rare—a Friday with everyone free the next day—so they decided to cook at the studio.

Calculating the days, it had been nearly half a year since they’d been there.

“Who brought the keys?” Ji Yan asked.

Guan Chi: “I didn’t.”

Shi Si: “Let me check.”

He handed the bag of food to Guan Chi, searched his pockets thoroughly, even pulling out the lining, empty.

Ji Yan: “…Don’t tell me none of you brought keys?”

Shi Si immediately retorted: “I thought you had them! Didn’t you always keep them before?”

Ji Yan: “I changed clothes at the last minute. How would I know all three of us would forget? Fine, should we go somewhere else?”

While grumbling, they had reached the studio. Ji Yan, without any hope, turned the doorknob—and, surprisingly, heard a “click”—it opened.

Light from inside cast a slanted shadow on the narrow alley in the deep night.

The three froze.

Shi Si said: “Damn, could it be a burglar?”

He pulled Ji Yan behind him and was about to take the lead when he stopped after one step forward. He pulled Guan Chi over: “You’re the oldest, you go first.”

Guan Chi: “…”

He gently pushed the door open.

Only one light inside the studio still worked, making the room dim.

In this dim light, they saw a person with his back to them, a figure both familiar and strange.

Ji Yan felt her throat clog up. She wanted to speak but couldn’t open her mouth.

The figure before them had a desolate silhouette, half-leaning against the windowsill, a cigarette between his fingers, the tip glowing crimson.

Hearing the noise, he slowly turned his head.

Short hair, a scar at the corner of his eye, long slender fingers holding the cigarette.

After being tempered for two and a half years, the boyishness in him had settled. His brow ridge was strong, features sharp, and just one glance was enough to feel his overwhelming presence.

Almost without words, one could sense what he had endured during these two and a half years.

He was still as eye-catching as before, but somehow completely different from the Lin Qingye they had known.

Guan Chi was the first to make a sound, trembling: “Captain…”

Lin Qingye flicked his cigarette ash and smiled faintly: “What brings you here?”

Guan Chi raised the bag of late-night snacks. The thousands of questions he wanted to ask all remained unspoken, completely led by Lin Qingye’s mood: “Thought we’d have a get-together here.”

Ji Yan started crying directly: “Captain, why didn’t you tell us you were back?”

“Why are you crying? I just got out today. Didn’t have time to tell you.”

Due to good behavior and the special nature of his case, he had been released early.

Shi Si and Guan Chi were also crying, two grown men with their faces scrunched up, pitiful and comical.

In the past two and a half years, they had thought about visiting him in prison, but Lin Qingye had never once agreed.

The four of them stood in the room, and strangely, Lin Qingye was the only one not crying.

Shi Si asked while crying: “Captain, have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Perfect timing then.”

He took out the ingredients one by one. Ji Yan went to the kitchen and brought out the induction cooker that hadn’t been used for a long time, pouring in the soup base.

Soon, the soup came to a boil, the steam carrying aromatic flavors.

Guan Chi pulled out a case of alcohol from under the sofa, determined to drink until they were all drunk.

Lin Qingye sat by the sofa, watching the three busy themselves, the induction cooker bringing a touch of homely atmosphere.

They talked while crying, but only Lin Qingye watched them with an unchanged expression.

Those two and a half years hadn’t passed in vain. Before, Lin Qingye had a strong youthful air, looking younger than Shi Si and Guan Chi. Now it was the opposite.

He had matured, grown deeper.

That once flamboyant and unrestrained quality had transformed into coldness, exuding a strong sense of aggression.

After chatting for a long time, Ji Yan finally dared to touch on the most sensitive topic: “Have you seen Xu Zhinan since you’ve been back?”

For the first time that night, Lin Qingye showed a broken expression, but it disappeared in an instant. Only his cigarette-holding hand paused slightly: “She graduated two years ago, right?”

“Yes, and her shop is doing better and better now. She seems to have merged with two neighboring shops. Today was the official reopening. The area was quite lively this morning.”

Lin Qingye tapped off his cigarette ash: “Is that so?”

“The shop location hasn’t changed. It’s still on that street next door. Do you want to go see?” Ji Yan asked.

This time Lin Qingye didn’t respond.

“She’s changed a bit from before. She’s quite impressive now, has taken on apprentices, and made a name for her tattoo shop. She’s beautiful—even people around here who don’t get tattoos know her. Oh, mainly because she dyed her hair blue. Everyone knows the shop owner is a blue-haired girl,” Ji Yan said.

“Blue hair?”

“Yes,” Ji Yan watched his expression and added, “It’s been about two and a half years now. She hasn’t stopped.”

How long had he been gone?

That’s how long she had kept her hair dyed.

Who knows what she was persisting for?

Lin Qingye remained silent. After a good while, he finally showed his first genuine smile of the evening—faint, a low ripple from his throat that even brought a touch of gentleness to his cold face.

“That’s good,” he said.