When the two of them appeared at the dining table together, Auntie Chen, behind the kitchen counter, showed her first relieved smile after many days of worry.

She brought over the freshly prepared Americano to Zhang Lian, her expression gentle: “Eat more, don’t go to work hungry.”

Zhou Mi nodded twice, then moved her gaze back to Zhang Lian’s face as he sipped his coffee, her eyes lingering for a long time.

He placed the sand-white coffee cup back on its matching saucer and looked back at her: “What is it?”

Zhou Mi asked: “I’ve never tried such pure black coffee before. Is it delicious?”

Zhang Lian pushed the cup and saucer toward her.

Zhou Mi blinked twice: “You mean for me to drink it?”

Zhang Lian nodded.

Zhou Mi suppressed a smile, picked it up, and took a sip, immediately wrinkling her nose from the bitterness.

Zhang Lian glanced at her sideways, letting out a low chuckle.

Zhou Mi pushed it back with one finger, slightly disdainful: “I can’t appreciate this luxury.”

Zhang Lian called Auntie Chen, asking her to bring some sugar cubes and milk.

A small plate of sugar cubes and a mini milk jug appeared on the table. Zhang Lian picked up the wooden tongs, lowered his eyes and added two sugar cubes to the cup, then poured in some milk, stirred a few times, and pushed it back to Zhou Mi.

Zhou Mi was slightly stunned: “You’re not going to drink it?”

Zhang Lian said, “I will. I’ll finish whatever you don’t.”

Zhou Mi cupped the mug with both hands, hiding her smile behind the lower half of her face: “What if you get sleepy at work today?”

Zhang Lian stared at her bright, smiling eyes: “Remember to send me a wake-up message every hour.”

—

Zhou Mi never agreed to that.

But on the subway to the company, she still deliberately set three alarms for the exact hours: ten o’clock, eleven o’clock, and twelve o’clock, covering the entire morning.

After returning to her workstation, she canceled them one by one, hesitating whether Zhang Lian would think she was childish or ridiculous if she sent them, taking his casual remark too seriously.

But she did care about him so much.

So Zhou Mi turned them all back on, the corners of her lips rising more and more with each swipe of her finger.

While carrying her laptop and notebook to the meeting room, she passed by Zhang Lian’s office. Seeing the door open, she quickly glanced around and inconspicuously moved a few steps closer.

When she reached the doorway, her walking speed approached that of a snail as she sneakily peeked inside.

Sure enough, Zhang Lian was sitting behind his desk, looking at the monitor, his thick eyebrows slightly furrowed.

He hadn’t noticed her at all.

But she still smiled with upturned lips, freeing one hand to pull her phone from her pants pocket, and sent him a WeChat message: Hello, I just saw you.

Zhang Lian replied quickly: Getting water?

Zhou Mi said: Going to a meeting.

Zhang Lian asked: In a hurry?

Zhou Mi looked toward the meeting room, where only two or three people were sparsely seated: Not urgent. Do you need something?

Zhang Lian: Come back here and let me look at you for a second.

Zhou Mi’s lips involuntarily curved upward, and she slowed down because of this message: What’s there to look at?

Zhang Lian replied: To refresh myself.

Zhou Mi’s smile widened: You make it sound like I look so bizarre that I’m refreshing to the eyes.

Zhang Lian said: Can’t you think about it from another angle?

Zhou Mi: No, you’re too poisonous. Who knows what you mean?

Zhang Lian said: Come over, I’ve been watching the door for a minute already.

Zhou Mi: How is that possible? Are you typing blindly while chatting?

Zhou Mi looked straight ahead again: Already arrived at Room 3. Please don’t affect my work.

Zhou Mi said, Bye bye.

She quickly typed these three messages, sent them, put her phone back in her pocket, and scurried into the meeting room with high-frequency little steps, as if fearing that being one second late would result in her arrest for disobedience.

Halfway through the meeting, someone suddenly knocked twice on the glass.

Zhou Mi had her eyelids drooping, focused on taking notes in her week planner.

Sensing the sudden silence in the entire meeting room, she turned her pen and raised her eyes, her gaze suddenly freezing—it was Zhang Lian at the meeting room door calling Xu Mo out to talk.

She could vaguely hear him asking about some car project.

In his white shirt and black pants, with one arm slightly leaning against the door, he stood tall and slender, his posture carrying a hint of effortless casualness, like an experienced male model shooting for a fashion magazine, quite pleasing to the eye.

No wonder everyone in the meeting room was looking at him.

Zhou Mi’s ears grew hot, and she uncomfortably pressed the end of her pen, then clicked it again to push the ink tip back out.

For as long as Zhang Lian stood at the door, she repeatedly performed this subtle action.

He didn’t stay long.

Probably less than two minutes.

Before leaving, he glanced into the room, his gaze purposefully sweeping over her position, but without revealing any emotional clues. Zhou Mi hurriedly lowered her eyes, slipping her pen back into the center of her notebook, but her rapidly beating heart had nowhere to settle like the pen did.

Her emotions crinkled and burned like the corners of a page unexpectedly set alight.

Zhou Mi silently gritted her teeth.

On her way back to her workstation, music suddenly played from her phone, accompanied by strong vibrations. Zhou Mi took it out and glanced at it—it was the eleven o’clock alarm she had set earlier.

She immediately turned it off, temporarily canceling the personalized wake-up service, since he had already jumped the gun by abusing his power.

Sitting back at her desk, Zhou Mi took a sip of water, then stared blankly at the cup for a while before suddenly having an inspiration. She picked up her phone again.

—

Zhang Lian received an unprecedented food delivery call.

The moment he heard the person on the other end introduce themselves, he guessed whose mischievous idea it was.

The building where Aoxing was located required an ID card for the elevators, so delivery people couldn’t come up. So, for the first time, he went downstairs from his office to pick it up, without asking his secretary to get it.

When he took the Starbucks paper bag from the delivery person, a creative team leader from the company happened to be walking toward him.

The way the person looked at him was somewhat horrified.

“Fabian?” The greeting carried a questioning tone that the speaker hadn’t even noticed.

Zhang Lian nodded, glancing at the label on the bag that read “Americano/Large/Hot/Original Espresso (Standard).” His lips curled almost imperceptibly as he lowered his hand holding the bag.

The two men walked upstairs together.

In the elevator, the creative team leader couldn’t reduce his surprise: “Is Lilith on break?”

Zhang Lian said, “No.”

The creative team leader was even more astonished: “This is the first time I’ve seen you go downstairs to get delivery.”

Zhang Lian smiled enigmatically: “Headache. Went down for a walk.”

The creative team leader nodded with understanding.

Back at his desk, Zhang Lian took out the coffee but didn’t drink it. Instead, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Zhou Mi: I don’t interfere with your work, but you interfere with mine?

Zhou Mi played dumb: What did I do?

Zhang Lian didn’t keep her guessing: The coffee.

After editing for quite a while, she replied: Good afternoon, Mr. Zhang. It’s now your wake-up time, eleven o’clock sharp. The weather is sunny, and the coffee is a complimentary service. Wishing you a pleasant day!

Zhang Lian smiled, glancing at the top left corner of his screen: Not very professional, it’s almost noon.

Zhou Mi instantly replied without courtesy: You were already awake. Being a little late isn’t a big deal.

Zhang Lian asked: How was I already awake?

Zhou Mi: You already refreshed yourself in the meeting room an hour ago.

Zhang Lian said: You went to a lot of trouble.

Zhou Mi: Who went to a lot of trouble? You’ve practically run through the entire building.

Her ability to climb to the moon when given just a stick only made him feel both amused and exasperated.

Zhang Lian put his phone back on the desk, opened the coffee lid, and took a sip.

—

For the next two days, Zhou Mi once again lived the life of a “lonely person,” as Zhang Lian had gone on another business trip to Beijing.

On Friday, Zhou Mi also returned to school to handle some payment and finalization matters. This was the first time she had met her advisor, Xun Fengzhi, face to face since moving in with Zhang Lian. He eagerly asked if she had suffered any grievances or been angered during her twenty days living with Zhang Lian. She could only smile and answer that it was not bad.

After this interruption, Zhou Mi decided to take advantage of the weekend to visit her parents.

That evening, the house had only her and Auntie Chen. The large empty house was like an elegant earth-toned antique vase—she was immersed in it, and saying a single word seemed to produce an “empty” echo.

After showering, Zhou Mi returned to her bedroom and sat on the balcony to feel the breeze. The night view of Yi City was, as always, lit like a fantasy forest, elevated roads like golden nets, binding the vehicles that crawled like spiders.

It was at this time that Zhou Mi received a message from Ye Yan, asking how her recent interactions with Lord Buddha were going, if they had played games together, and if she could casually probe the creative direction for K Records’ Dragon Boat Festival new products, as the main scoring power for this bid was in his hands.

Seeing this name, Zhou Mi took a few seconds to react before realizing it was Ji Jie.

They had barely spoken recently. An intern indeed rarely had direct contact with clients, and she had been so busy these past few days that she just wanted to collapse into bed when she got home, with no time at all to play games.

After receiving her leader’s instructions, Zhou Mi hurriedly checked Ji Jie’s Moments. In the past few days, he had only added one new status, which was still about his dog. Zhou Mi had already liked it that day.

Zhou Mi thought that since she had nothing to do at the moment, she sent him a message: Ping for a game?

After waiting a minute, Ji Jie replied: Might not have time right now.

Zhou Mi: Alright, carry on. Just asking.

Ji Jie sent a dark, blurry photo where the shapes of two dogs could be vaguely seen: Walking the ancestors.

Zhou Mi zoomed in and looked carefully, then replied: When they walk side by side, I can’t tell which is which at all.

Ji Jie replied: You can after spending time with them.

Zhou Mi was stuck for a second, then began racking her brains for a topic: I’d love to see them in person sometime.

Ji Jie said: How about tomorrow?

Zhou Mi widened her eyes: Hmm?

Then, remembering her plans for the next two days, she could only express regret: I’m going home for the weekend tomorrow and the day after, so I probably can’t see them. What should we do?

Ji Jie asked: Do you have to leave early?

Zhou Mi: Not really. I’ll pack up after I wake up and then leave, probably close to noon.

Ji Jie sent a bitter smile emoji: I take them out at eight o’clock.

Zhou Mi said: That early?

Ji Jie: Yes, three times a day, rain or shine.

Zhou Mi was about to type “you worry too much,” when the other side sent a new message: Can you get up tomorrow? I can bring Naka and Lulu to Building Six around nine-thirty.

Zhou Mi naturally nodded repeatedly: Of course I can!

Before going to bed, Zhou Mi set an alarm for nine o’clock, then thought again and changed it to eight-thirty, deciding to carefully apply full makeup to express her high regard and respect for the client’s daddy.

The next morning, after simply eating a sandwich, Zhou Mi changed into a blue and white checked bubble-sleeve little dress and went downstairs to meet him.

Ji Jie was already waiting by the garden, holding two dogs with a black retractable Y-shaped leash that split at the end, looking quite impressive.

But when he looked over, he revealed that harmless smile again, like growing plants and trees.

Zhou Mi quickly raised one hand and waved, then ran toward him at twice her previous speed.

Compared to her formality, he seemed to have hardly prepared at all—a very simple black T-shirt with a watercolor gray horse head pattern, and his chestnut hair slightly disheveled.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

They asked simultaneously, then laughed together.

Zhou Mi answered first: “I have.”

Ji Jie looked at her a few more times: “And you’ve even put on makeup.”

Zhou Mi was silent for two seconds, then admitted: “Yes, I usually don’t wear makeup on days off, but I wanted to show my respect for the client’s daddy.”

Another audible laugh, like daylight breaking through clouds: “It’s just to see dogs.”

Zhou Mi pressed her lips, lowering her eyes to look at the two dogs: “Well, could you introduce them?”

Ji Jie pointed to the left: “Naka,” then to the right: “Lulu.”

Their names were like WiFi passwords. The two dogs, which had been sniffing around the lawn, immediately connected to their owner’s signal of love. Fearing they were too slow, they turned back to crowd around Ji Jie’s calves, wagging their little tails excitedly. One even started rolling, curling up its limbs and exposing its white belly.

Zhou Mi’s smile overflowed, her ten fingers itching to move: “They’re so cute—can I pet them?”

Ji Jie advised from experience: “For the first meeting, it’s better not to.”

“Oh…” Zhou Mi reluctantly withdrew her hand, curling her knuckles, showing obvious disappointment.

Ji Jie said, “Next time. Let them get familiar with your scent first.”

He called to them, introducing Zhou Mi: “Naka, Lulu, this is my friend.”

Zhou Mi was extremely curious: “Can they understand what you’re saying?”

“Probably,” Ji Jie said: “Let’s get acquainted.”

The two dogs indeed headed toward her, starting to circle Zhou Mi.

Zhou Mi exclaimed a surprise, “Wow,” standing there not daring to move, allowing them to sniff around her legs. She even slightly spread her arms, cooperating as if going through a security check.

Ji Jie was amused by her instinctive action.

Ji Jie looked at her: “They seem to like you a lot.”

Zhou Mi glanced at him: “Really?”

Ji Jie said, “Yes, dogs can sense whether you like them too.”

Zhou Mi said, “I like them, and they’re so well-behaved.”

Ji Jie still smiled: “Once you get to know them better, you won’t think that.”

“Come back, you’re too enthusiastic, don’t scare her.” He adjusted the length of the leash, pulling it back to his legs.

Zhou Mi glanced at him, her eyes glistening: “Then give me more opportunities to discover their true nature. I want to pet them.”

Ji Jie said, “Trust me, you’ll get to do it next time.”

—

Zhang Lian parked his car and came out, seeing Zhou Mi standing with a young man at a distance, chatting and laughing.

His brow tightened for a moment, then returned to its undisturbed state as he walked over.

The previous night, during their daily bedtime call, he had heard Zhou Mi say she was going home for two days, so he had asked if she wanted him to accompany her.

The girl had mumbled at least three times before hanging up, “No need, it’s fine, I can go by myself, it’s not like I’m returning to my maiden home,” so he had changed to the earliest flight to return.

Zhou Mi quickly noticed Zhang Lian’s presence.

Because the man’s appearance was too outstanding to ignore in every aspect, even if he only entered her peripheral vision.

People with big eyes always find it difficult to hide their emotions.

Zhang Lian caught the fleeting shock and panic in her eyes.

He stopped a meter away from them, putting the car keys he had been playing with in his left hand back into his pants pocket, deliberately calling out: “Zhou Mi?”

The man with the dogs also looked over.

Zhou Mi stood frozen for a moment, her eyes immediately widening greatly, as if extremely surprised. For the first time, Zhang Lian saw such exquisite and fluid acting on her face:

“Huh, boss, do you live here???”