After the movie, the two leisurely ate lunch in the mall. It was their first date, after all, and they couldn’t think of what to do—excited yet restrained.

Shi Niannian bought two ice creams, giving one to Jiang Wang. Just as they walked out of the mall entrance, her phone rang.

It was Jiang Ling calling.

As soon as she answered, there was a sound of wailing. Jiang Ling was crying so hard she could barely breathe, unable to speak clearly. Shi Niannian was startled and stopped in her tracks to ask what was wrong.

Jiang Wang looked over and asked softly: “Who is it?”

“Jiang Ling,” Shi Niannian mouthed.

Shi Niannian struggled to listen to her for quite a while, but still couldn’t understand what Jiang Ling was crying about. So she quickly asked where she was.

“I need to go… find her,” Shi Niannian said awkwardly to Jiang Wang.

“Where is she?”

Shi Niannian mentioned a location. Jiang Ling was at a barbecue restaurant nearby.

After hearing this, Jiang Wang said: “It’s close to my place. I’ll go with you.”

The barbecue restaurant was very noticeable, with a huge sign hanging on top. Shi Niannian and Jiang Wang spotted it as soon as they got out of the taxi.

Inside the restaurant, smoke billowed, and the noise of many people filled the air. The owner saw them enter and greeted them warmly: “Table for two?”

Jiang Wang: “We’re looking for someone, a high school girl.”

“Oh, that little girl,” the owner immediately knew who he meant. “I was wondering why such a young kid would come eat barbecue alone and order so much alcohol.”

“She’s drinking?” Shi Niannian was startled.

“Yes, she’s upstairs. Come with me.”

Shi Niannian and Jiang Wang followed the owner to the second floor and opened the door to a small private room.

Originally, Jiang Ling was supposed to go for tutoring this morning. Ever since she started liking Xu Zhilin, she had enrolled in a one-on-one math class at a tutoring center. But this morning, someone messaged her saying that after the New Year’s holiday, their class’s original math teacher, who had given birth, would be returning.

And Xu Zhilin would be ending his internship and leaving.

Jiang Ling had heard before that he might continue with his master’s degree, but she didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

At the doorway.

Shi Niannian and Jiang Wang exchanged bewildered glances.

On the table were more than a dozen bottles of beer, fortunately still unopened. Jiang Ling was holding a pitcher of juice, sipping through a straw, her cheeks flushed red. She squinted at the two at the door.

Then, her posture changed from sitting cross-legged on the chair. With a thud, she was about to kneel, placing the juice on the table with a “bang,” her head hanging down.

Wailing, she cried: “—Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie!”

“…”

“…”

“Jiang Ling.” Shi Niannian ran over, afraid she would knock it over, moving the juice a bit further away. “Have you been drinking?”

“No,” she shook her head vigorously, extending one finger to point at the juice. “I drank that.”

“That’s good then.” Shi Niannian sighed in relief.

Jiang Wang pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down, glancing to the side: “Do you think drinking juice would make someone like this?”

Shi Niannian was taken aback.

Jiang Wang picked up an empty bottle nearby.

It was even white liquor.

“…”

It took Shi Niannian quite a while to figure out why Jiang Ling was in this state. She had no idea Jiang Ling liked Xu Zhilin this much.

But come to think of it, math used to be her most hated subject, yet now she voluntarily enrolled in math tutoring, which had even caught Jiang’s mother by surprise.

“Eat something first.” Concerned that she might have been drinking on an empty stomach, Shi Niannian stood up, took a plate of chicken pieces from the table, and fed her.

Jiang Ling took a bite, turned her head, and only then noticed Jiang Wang. Her pupils dilated slightly.

“Boss Jiang?”

He calmly raised his eyebrows.

“Do you know Xu Zhilin?” Jiang Ling asked.

“Yes.”

Jiang Ling exclaimed “Ah” and then, with another thud, changed her position to kneeling on the chair, sitting back on her legs, leaning forward: “Do you know where he’s going after he stops teaching?”

“He’s leaving?”

Jiang Wang and Xu Zhilin were just acquaintances; he didn’t know about this.

Jiang Ling’s last hope was dashed. Emboldened by alcohol, she grabbed a handful of popcorn and was about to throw it at Jiang Wang, but fortunately, Shi Niannian quickly intercepted.

“Jiang Ling, Jiang Ling,” she grabbed her hand. “Look, look carefully at who it is.”

Jiang Ling turned her head to look again. Jiang Wang was frowning, looking displeased.

She was stunned, took a deep breath, and exclaimed in shock: “Jiang Wang?!”

Shi Niannian: “…”

“Niannian, I think the juice in this place is poisoned. I seem to be hallucinating. Why is Boss Jiang here?!”

“You’re drunk.”

Shi Niannian half-hugged her, hearing Jiang Wang click his tongue impatiently. She gently stroked the back of his hand and blinked at him twice.

“Don’t… be angry.”

Jiang Wang smiled faintly, his chest vibrating slightly: “I’m not.”

Jiang Ling had never really drunk before, completely unaware of her alcohol tolerance or that she would become rowdy when drunk. She hugged Shi Niannian, rambling on for quite a while.

Shi Niannian couldn’t speak clearly, so she just occasionally responded while listening to her talk.

From Xu Zhilin to Xu Zhilin, back and forth about Xu Zhilin.

Jiang Wang sat in the chair opposite, supporting his chin, watching Shi Niannian comfort Jiang Ling as if soothing a child.

Jiang Ling couldn’t go home in this state, so the three ended up eating dinner at the restaurant.

The street lights came on. Winter nights fell early, and the barbecue restaurant became livelier, filled with voices and various food aromas blending into a peculiar scent.

Originally, Shi Niannian had planned to take Jiang Ling home once she sobered up, but not only did she not sober up, she fell asleep on Shi Niannian’s shoulder after eating. They couldn’t wake her no matter what; she was in a deep sleep.

Jiang Wang: “Should we take her home now?”

“Yes, but I… don’t know exactly where her home is,” Shi Niannian said.

“Hm?”

“I think it’s in the same neighborhood as yours.” She paused, supporting Jiang Ling up a bit. “Don’t know the specifics.”

She had never visited Jiang Ling’s home, only knowing the general location. There were many residential areas nearby, but the luxurious neighborhoods were concentrated in one area, so Shi Niannian guessed Jiang Ling’s home should be there.

“Let me see if I can ask her parents.”

Shi Niannian supported Jiang Ling’s waist with one hand while retrieving her phone from her pocket with the other.

Jiang Wang watched her actions and asked: “You even know her password?”

Shi Niannian deftly entered four numbers, answering without thinking: “It’s Teacher Xu’s birthday.”

He raised an eyebrow slightly: “You even know Xu Zhilin’s birthday?”

Shi Niannian was taken aback. She raised her head to see the young man tilting his head to look at her, with an expression that seemed to say, “confess willingly or face the consequences.”

“…”

It was only now that she felt stuttering was truly annoying. On one hand, she had to take care of Jiang Ling, and on the other, she had to explain to Jiang Wang, but the explanation was difficult to begin.

After staring at each other for a while, Shi Niannian let out a soft “aiyou,” accusing him of doubting her.

Jiang Wang smiled, leaning forward: “What are you ‘aiyou-ing’ about? You don’t know your boyfriend’s birthday but remember some other man’s.”

“That’s not, it’s not…” Shi Niannian was exasperated but couldn’t outargue him, finally blurting out, “You’re so annoying.”

Jiang Wang curled his lips, leaned back, and a deep laugh rippled out.

She ignored him, re-entered the password on the dark screen, and found Jiang Ling’s mother’s number in the contacts to call.

She knew Xu Zhilin’s birthday only because Jiang Ling had seen it on Cai Yucai’s computer earlier and had talked about it to her for a long time, even changing her phone password in front of her.

She hung up the phone.

“How is it?” Jiang Wang asked, his voice still carrying laughter.

“No one’s at her home now. They asked me to take her back later.”

Jiang Wang nodded toward Jiang Ling: “She doesn’t have a key?”

“No, she didn’t bring it.”

Jiang Wang paused, then stood up: “Let’s go to my place first.”

“Hm?” She looked up.

“Isn’t her home close to mine? There’s no point staying here.”

Shi Niannian hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

She had been to this neighborhood once before, but that time was to Xu Ningqing’s home. She was somewhat familiar with it. She half-carried Jiang Ling, following Jiang Wang into the elevator.

Watching the numbers on the elevator climbing up, her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

How could she have forgotten this…

She turned her head: “My brother…”

“Hm?”

“Will we run into him?”

Jiang Wang: “Didn’t he go home?”

“Ah, right.” She had almost forgotten and visibly sighed in relief.

Jiang Wang lowered his eyes: “How long do you plan to keep me as your underground lover?”

“What, what underground lover…” Her face heated up, and she gently pushed Jiang Wang.

With a “ding,” the elevator door opened. Jiang Wang walked out first, looked to the side, then waved for Shi Niannian to come out, just like a thief.

Opening the door and entering.

Jiang Wang’s apartment was very simple—black, white, and gray colors, spotlessly clean. All decorations were of the simplest style, giving a certain indescribable sense of coldness.

Shi Niannian settled Jiang Ling on the sofa, and Jiang Wang brought a blanket from the inner room.

After covering Jiang Ling, Shi Niannian suddenly remembered hearing from her brother’s place across that Jiang Wang was a neat freak. She paused and looked up.

Her index finger pinched the corner of the blanket: “This blanket, I’ll, I’ll wash it for you?”

Jiang Wang’s home only had cold water in the refrigerator. He was used to it, drinking cold beverages all year round, but Shi Niannian was different. So he took out a kettle from the cabinet and boiled some water.

He turned on the switch, looked at Shi Niannian for a while, then smiled: “Why?”

The young man’s voice was soft and pleasant, containing a slight hint of teasing, not too serious.

“So early, already wanting to wash things for me?”

What was he talking about?

Shi Niannian realized that it was impossible to have a normal conversation with this person. Every time she spoke, he deliberately twisted the meaning.

Jiang Ling, having drunk too much and made enough of a fuss, was now sleeping soundly, truly undisturbed. Her chin was tucked under the blanket, her black eyelashes spreading across her lower eyelids.

Shi Niannian sat beside her, watching her for a while, then tucked the blanket around her more snugly.

Jiang Wang stood by the kitchen counter waiting for the water to boil, his gaze carelessly falling on the little girl’s back. He was lost in thought for a while until the water boiled. He poured a cup, added some cold water, and placed it on the coffee table beside Shi Niannian.

“Drink some water.”

She thanked him, took a sip, then turned her head and asked: “When is your birthday?”

“Hm?” Jiang Wang paused, grabbed a cushion, and sat on the fluffy carpet. “Why are you asking?”

“Want to give… You are a gift.”

Previously, she had received Jiang Wang’s Christmas gift and thought she should find an opportunity to give something back.

He smiled faintly, casually saying: “I don’t celebrate my birthday.”

Shi Niannian was startled.

“But, counting it up, you’ve already given me a birthday gift.”

She didn’t understand.

Jiang Wang took out the hair tie Shi Niannian had given him from his pocket. He had only removed it from his wrist when showering that day. He held it up and waved it.

“This.”

“That day was your birthday?”

“Yes.”

Shi Niannian didn’t speak, recalling what Jiang Wang looked like that night when he called her to come downstairs.

The young man stood on the snow-covered ground, under dim street lights. The competition base was very quiet, and he exuded an indescribable sense of loneliness.

She pressed her index finger on the coffee table twice, involuntarily softening her voice: “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I don’t celebrate birthdays, there’s nothing to say.” He smiled, paused for two seconds, then calmly said, “That day was the anniversary of my mother’s death.”

Shi Niannian sat to the side, unconsciously tightening her grip due to his words, causing dents in the paper cup. She felt heartbroken, terribly heartbroken, but she wasn’t good with words and didn’t know what to say.

Winter was long and cold, and it was snowing outside again.

Jiang Wang turned his head, smiled gently at her, and opened his arms: “Hug.”

This single word was spoken with immense softness, his voice husky, like an intimate act of spoiling.

Shi Niannian was stunned for two seconds before hurriedly moving over, kneeling on the ground and hugging Jiang Wang, who was also sitting on the ground. She gently patted his back: “Hug.”

Jiang Wang was a very gentle person, something Shi Niannian gradually discovered as she got to know him better.

Even though in many people’s eyes, he still had a frighteningly violent temper, he was the one who had almost taken a life and spent half a year in prison.

The world had been unkind to him from the beginning, but he remained gentle and kind, maintaining a final hope for the world.

Shi Niannian didn’t remember when she fell asleep.

When Jiang Ling’s mother called, she woke up leaning against Jiang Wang, who had also fallen asleep, supporting his head with his hand.

She hurriedly got up to answer the phone.

Jiang Ling’s mother had returned and asked her to bring Jiang Ling back.

She still hadn’t woken up. The power of that bottle of alcohol was immense, and she continued to sleep soundly.

Jiang Ling’s home wasn’t far, just a few dozen meters away in another building. The two of them took Jiang Ling back together. At the front door, Jiang Wang didn’t go in. Shi Niannian helped Jiang Ling inside.

“Oh my, what’s going on?” Jiang Ling’s mother was startled when she saw the state she was in.

“She had some alcohol.”

“What’s a little kid like her doing drinking alcohol?” Jiang Ling’s mother frowned.

Shi Niannian wasn’t good at lying and could only say something off-topic: “It was an accident.”

“Too much study pressure?”

“…” Shi Niannian pressed her lips together, then nodded. “Maybe.”

“Ah, that must be it.” Jiang Ling’s mother’s expression changed to one of concern. “She even took the initiative to get math tutoring a while back. I thought it was strange at the time.”

“…”

After leaving Jiang Ling’s home, Jiang Wang was standing by the elevator window, a cigarette in his mouth, unlit.

His silhouette was forlorn, desolate, and lonely in the moonlight.

Shi Niannian thought of the past he had gradually revealed to her, feeling heartbroken again. She slowly walked forward and hugged him from behind.

Jiang Wang paused.

Shi Niannian didn’t hug him for long. Once they were close, she felt embarrassed and quickly let go.

Jiang Wang turned around, using his knuckle to lift her chin: “Take you home?”

“Yes.”

Walking into the elevator, Shi Niannian tugged at the corner of his clothes: “Cigarette.”

He didn’t catch it clearly: “Hm?”

“Don’t smoke.”

Jiang Wang smiled, took the cigarette from his mouth, and after exiting the elevator, threw it into a nearby trash can.

The winter night street wasn’t particularly quiet. Just outside was a lively pedestrian street, with many couples walking hand in hand.

The two walked side by side. After a couple of seconds, Jiang Wang opened his palm to her and asked: “Hold hands?”

Shi Niannian looked at his palm for a while, then gently placed her hand on it.

Jiang Wang’s palm turned, interlacing their fingers together.

They took the subway home.

Just as they were about to enter the neighborhood gate, Shi Niannian suddenly pulled Jiang Wang’s hand sharply to the side.

This little girl had quite quick reflexes; Jiang Wang had known that since he first saw her fighting with Cheng Qi’s group. He wasn’t prepared at all and was suddenly pulled, stumbling a step forward, his arm around Shi Niannian’s waist.

“Shh,” Shi Niannian whispered.

Just as he was about to turn his head, the little girl stood on her tiptoes, held the back of his neck, forcing him to bend down.

The distance closed immediately, and he unconsciously held his breath.

They were very close. Shi Niannian looked over his shoulder, using his body to completely shield herself, saying softly: “My brother is there.”

Jiang Wang understood.

He chuckled, hands on his knees, blowing a breath into her ear.

“Shi Niannian.”

“You… don’t make a sound,” she said.

“Don’t you think, in this position,” he turned his head, his gaze moving downward to her lips, “it’s quite suitable for kissing?”

“…”

She looked back, meeting Jiang Wang’s eyes just inches away. Narrow eyelids, eye corners cleanly gathered, with a fierce curve, now containing a hint of a subtle smile, eyes dark.

Before Shi Niannian could say anything, he grabbed her chin and bent down.

She whimpered twice, tried to retreat, but was pulled back.

Xu Ningqing walked out of the neighborhood and heard a slight noise from the side.

In the dim street light, he saw two indistinct figures, the man with his back turned, bending down.

He twitched the corner of his mouth expressionlessly and continued walking forward.