After Zhou Jingze said this, the whole group started making noise. Some people stopped counting and kept laughing. The instructor couldn’t suppress them and finally laughed in exasperation, pointing at him: “Are you proud to have a girlfriend, huh?!”

The atmosphere was heated. Zhou Jingze had just finished his last push-up, supporting himself on his elbows, and fearlessly answered in a muffled voice:

“Yes.”

Xu Sui stood to the side, her face burning hot while her heart beat rapidly. She didn’t want to admit that Zhou Jingze could make her float to the clouds with just one sentence or even a single word.

Because Zhou Jingze was publicly acknowledging their relationship, it at least gave her a sense of reality about this romance.

“Wow!”

“Damn, I’m jealous. How come no girl comes to secretly watch me train? I’ve been working on these abs for months with nowhere to show them off.”

“Keep bragging.”

The instructor, a perpetual bachelor, was so angry he nearly spat blood. His usually casual tone became more serious as he gritted his teeth: “Look what chaos you’ve caused everyone. Fine, if you want to leave, do 50 pull-ups first!”

Zhou Jingze raised an eyebrow, seemingly not at all aggrieved by this punishment. His tongue touched his lower jaw as he smiled lazily: “Fine, but my girl has to count for me.”

More “ooh”s erupted below, the cheering almost lifting the roof off the training ground. Someone even shouted “Boss Zhou is awesome!” The instructor couldn’t tolerate these energetic but restless rascals anymore and blew his whistle sharply, barking:

“Anyone else making noise runs twenty laps!”

Everyone finally quieted down. Zhou Jingze did pull-ups on the parallel bars while Xu Sui quietly counted for him under the gaze of fifty or sixty people.

“Thirty-six, thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine… forty-nine, fifty!” After counting the last number, Xu Sui’s eyes lit up.

Zhou Jingze jumped down from the bars, and Xu Sui was already obediently holding his jacket. He reported to the instructor, and the two left side by side.

The boy walked with his hands in his pockets, towering over the girl beside him by more than half a head. Xu Sui pulled out a pack of wet wipes from her pocket and handed them to him. Zhou Jingze looked lazy, lowering his neck and extending his face toward her.

Meaning he wanted her to help wipe.

The little girl stood on her tiptoes, carefully and seriously wiping his sweat. Being so close, her fair ears took on a red tinge.

One looked arrogant and dissolute, the other obedient and quiet, yet they were surprisingly harmonious.

The afternoon sunlight was too bright, filtering through the leaves and falling on them both, coating them in a layer of soft, blurred golden light.

This scene fell into Da Liu’s eyes. The burly guy, nearly six feet tall, hugged Sheng Nanzhou’s waist tightly and hid in his embrace, calling out in a feminine voice: “Damn it, I want to date too.”

Sheng Nanzhou kicked him without hesitation: “Get lost.”

Xu Sui had a hurried lunch with Zhou Jingze at noon before rushing to afternoon classes. It wasn’t until evening that she returned to the dorm. Seeing Zhou Jingze once had settled her heart considerably. Both of them were quite busy—as a sophomore and medical student, her schedule was packed full.

She had just finished washing grapes bought from the school supermarket at the sink and came out to find Hu Qianxi sprawled on her bed like a starfish, so she asked: “Xixi, want some grapes? They’re sweet.”

Hu Qianxi shook her head weakly: “No, grapes are so high in calories. I need to lose weight.”

She absolutely had to become thin as lightning to make Lu Wenbai regret it!

“You can have some when you want them,” Xu Sui said, biting into a grape and placing the plate on the table.

She sat in her chair, looking at their chat history on her phone, her lips unconsciously curving upward. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her as Hu Qianxi attacked from behind, wrapping her arms around her neck:

“Well now, some people are happy while others are sad.”

Xu Sui immediately hid her phone and smiled: “I’m sad too—I can’t memorize my medical textbooks and my hair’s about to fall out.”

“You clearly know that’s not what I’m talking about!” Seeing Xu Sui’s growing skill at deflection, Hu Qianxi immediately reached out to tickle her.

The two girls immediately started wrestling, with Xu Sui giggling from the tickling as they both fell onto the bed. Hu Qianxi lay on the bed catching her breath when she suddenly rolled over: “Baby, it’s Sheng Nanzhou’s birthday next month. What are you giving him?”

“His birthday? I don’t know what to give either.” Xu Sui replied.

Hu Qianxi’s big eyes were full of distress: “Sigh, what should I give? Every year on my birthday he spends it with me, and whatever I want he gives me. He’s practically ready to pluck the moon from the sky for me.”

“Sigh, what should I give my good brother?” Hu Qianxi said.

Hu Qianxi got up from the bed and sighed lightly: “You, you need to think carefully about what he really needs.”

She could analyze other people’s relationships expertly, but when it came to herself, how did she become such a fool?

After lights out, Xu Sui hid under her covers secretly messaging Zhou Jingze. Even when her eyes hurt, she couldn’t bear to say goodnight first.

Xu Sui asked: 【Do you know about Sheng Nanzhou’s birthday next month?】

zjz replied: 【Yeah.】

After a while, he sent another message: 【You don’t even ask about your boyfriend’s birthday, but you remember other guys’ birthdays so clearly, hmm?】

Xu Sui couldn’t help but laugh. She could almost imagine Zhou Jingze’s expression when sending this message—frowning and squinting with a displeased look as he replied.

【I don’t! Xixi told me.】 Xu Sui replied.

The phone screen lit up after a minute, with zjz replying: 【That girl finally remembered his birthday for once.】

Xu Sui thought: 【What do you think I should give Sheng Nanzhou?】

After a while, zjz sent a question mark: 【?】

【Why would you give anything? I’ll give something, and that’s enough. The husband leads, the wife follows, understand?】 Boss Zhou replied carelessly.

Xu Sui: 【Okay, (。＾▽＾)】

Sheng Nanzhou’s birthday was in early November. After National Day, it started getting cold again.

Sheng Nanzhou’s birthday party was being held at the Tongque Mountain villa. When Xu Sui found out, she exclaimed: “His family… is also that rich?”

Hu Qianxi was wearing a face mask, her reply muffled: 【Didn’t you know? His family is indeed wealthy, with countless properties, but he’s too stingy. Every time we go out, isn’t it my uncle who pays?】

【Being so stingy will make him go bald early.】 Hu Qianxi cursed.

Sheng Nanzhou, who was currently going door-to-door collecting rent for his mother, suddenly sneezed. The young master felt pleased, thinking someone was missing him.

In November, Beijing North City entered winter earlier than southern cities. When the weather got cold, Xu Sui knew her difficult days had arrived. Born with cold hands and feet, she immediately put on thick clothes and insisted on soaking her feet every night.

Sheng Nanzhou’s birthday party was Saturday at 5 PM. Xu Sui happened to have an unfinished lab assignment, so she told Zhou Jingze to go ahead first as she might arrive late.

As for Hu Qianxi, she had suddenly taken a week’s leave and hadn’t been at school. Xu Sui was somewhat worried and sent her a message, soon receiving the young miss’s energetic reply: 【Don’t worry! There’s something going on at home. I’ll be back soon. Love you, kisses.】

Xu Sui was busy in the lab observing and recording until it got dark when she came out. Looking at her watch, she was over an hour late. She ran out of school and hurriedly hailed a taxi.

Getting into the taxi, a bone-chilling wind rushed in. Xu Sui shivered from the cold and immediately closed the window tightly. As the car drove steadily forward, Xu Sui sat inside, taking out her phone to check messages.

Their chat conversation had stopped five hours ago, and Zhou Jingze hadn’t sent a single message since then.

Xu Sui lowered her eyes, turned off her phone screen, and stared out the car window in a daze.

The kind driver, seeing how late it was, drove Xu Sui all the way to the Tongque Mountain villa entrance. Xu Sui opened the car door and thanked the driver.

Standing in the open space, Xu Sui squinted at the villa ahead. It was built against the mountain facing the sea, covering a large area, brightly lit with occasional laughter spilling out.

As she stood there hesitating whether to message Zhou Jingze that she had arrived, Captain, standing at the door, spotted her immediately. He rushed over in a bound, wagging his tail vigorously and pulling at her pant legs toward the villa.

Xu Sui crouched down to pet his head, following him inside. Her face carried a hint of a smile, her heart anticipating seeing Zhou Jingze.

Pushing the door open, white and green helium balloons floated on the ceiling, and the hall was bustling with activity.

Zhou Jingze lounged lazily on the sofa, slightly hunched over with his elbows on his thighs, his casual conversation carrying a roguish charm. He wasn’t looking at anyone, but several girls present kept glancing his way.

He held a cigarette in one hand and was about to drink from a wine glass when Liu Sijin, sitting beside him, suddenly pointed and said: “Oh, you have a red mark on your neck. Was it a mosquito bite?”

“What mosquito bite? Wasn’t it your girl who gave you a hickey?” someone joked loudly.

Zhou Jingze directly kicked the person beside him, cursing with a smile: “Go to hell.”

He set down his wine glass, actually feeling his neck itch, and asked Liu Sijin: “Where?”

Liu Sijin immediately leaned forward attentively to point it out to him. Zhou Jingze instinctively frowned and raised his hand to block her elbow, but then looked up and saw Xu Sui at the door.

“Not appropriate.” Zhou Jingze said lazily, flicking his cigarette and standing up to walk toward Xu Sui.

Seeing Zhou Jingze approaching step by step, Xu Sui instinctively stepped back. Seeing her reaction, Zhou Jingze’s face paled slightly, and just as he was about to speak—

A familiar voice came from overhead. Sheng Yanjia leaned on the second-floor railing with his curly hair, excitedly shouting: “Teacher Xu, want to play games?”

“Coming.”

Xu Sui felt like she’d been granted amnesty, escaping past Zhou Jingze and hurrying upstairs by the handrail. Zhou Jingze stared at her retreating figure, his tongue licking his back molars.

He hadn’t even done anything yet, and the little girl was running away faster than anyone.

Xu Sui hid in the room with Sheng Yanjia playing games while the first floor was lively with occasional sounds of joking and drinking competitions. Xu Sui was completely out of focus, staring at the screen while thinking about the scene from earlier.

Liu Sijin sitting beside Zhou Jingze, pointing out the mark on his neck—did their relationship have to be so ambiguous? She had been busy with experiments all day without a drop of water, and Zhou Jingze hadn’t even asked if she had “arrived safely.” Dating him felt so casual and indifferent. Thinking about it made her eyes sting.

“Wow, Teacher Xu, this is my first time beating you! So satisfying!” Sheng Yanjia turned his head to say.

The game announced “KO.” Xu Sui put down the controller and smiled faintly: “I concede defeat.”

“Let’s take a break and have some drinks.”

“Okay.”

Xu Sui and Sheng Yanjia leaned against the railing chatting. Like his brother, he was drinking ice cola in the middle of winter. Xu Sui leaned against the railing, looking down at the lively first floor, not wanting to go down at all, even though she was starving.

“Teacher Xu, see that long-haired girl down there? She’s the most annoying of all the girls I’ve seen around my brother.” Sheng Yanjia rolled his eyes.

Following Sheng Yanjia’s gaze, Xu Sui realized he was talking about Liu Sijin. Liu Sijin was still sitting beside Zhou Jingze, while the person in question looked visibly annoyed with a “keep away” expression.

She bit her milk straw and asked: “Why?”

“Because she clings to my brother so tightly, hmph.” Sheng Yanjia’s tone was dissatisfied.

Xu Sui ruffled his hair and smiled: “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“I am not!” Sheng Yanjia immediately denied it.

Xu Sui stayed upstairs with Sheng Yanjia until Sheng Nanzhou’s cake cutting, when she had to reluctantly go downstairs. Hu Qianxi appeared pushing a three-tier cake stand, the lights dimmed, and everyone surrounded the birthday boy clapping and cheering, singing happy birthday together.

Xu Sui stood on the side quietly clapping and offering blessings. Zhou Jingze stood beside her, biting a cigarette. Occasionally his jacket brushed against her arm, creating slight friction, but the two had no eye contact throughout.

When someone came over and Zhou Jingze turned his head to talk, taking down his cigarette, the black mole in the web of his thumb flickered subtly before her eyes.

Xu Sui looked away and took two steps forward, turning her back to Zhou Jingze so she couldn’t see him.

At 8:10, when someone was getting something, they accidentally bumped into her. Xu Sui stepped back reflexively and bumped into a warm chest, with a faint smell of cigarettes behind her.

Zhou Jingze was talking to someone and raised his hand to steady her, his thumb web pressing against her fair nape with a subtle brush.

Xu Sui decided to stay away from this rogue.

People around started giving gifts. When it was Xu Sui’s turn, she felt the situation was somewhat awkward. She had listened to him about giving a joint gift, but what about now? The two were having a spat.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Sui felt somewhat at a loss. She put her hands in her coat pockets, about to say “happy birthday, I’ll make it up next time,” when she suddenly felt a ring in her pocket.

Xu Sui suddenly remembered this was a trinket she’d found at a street market with her roommates last week—quite uniquely styled. She took it out and placed it in her palm, about to hand it over: “Um—”

Suddenly, a cold, deep voice resonated in her ear: “From both of us.”

At the same time, a large hand reached over, palm against palm with scalding warmth. Xu Sui instinctively turned to look, seeing Zhou Jingze with a cigarette in his mouth, his profile sharp, lips curved upward. One hand offered a box while the other firmly held her hand.

Xu Sui instinctively tried to break free but couldn’t. Zhou Jingze even playfully pressed his thumb against her tender thumb web.

Liu Sijin, facing them directly, couldn’t smile anymore. She had clearly seen the intimate interaction between them, her expression quite ugly.

After the cake cutting and commotion, it was time for games again. Xu Sui and Zhou Jingze sat on the sofa, with him constantly holding her hand, making even drinking water difficult for Xu Sui.

“Could you let go of me first?” Xu Sui’s tone was negotiating.

Zhou Jingze’s deep voice resonated in her ear: “Still angry?”

For some reason, a strange pride rose in Xu Sui’s heart. She didn’t want to appear too concerned, so she denied it: “No, I want to drink water.”

Only then did Zhou Jingze release her hand, and Xu Sui finally gained her freedom. Sheng Nanzhou whistled to his friends, asking: “Hey, want to play pool in the side room?”

“Sure.” Da Liu snapped his fingers.

Liu Sijin beside them flipped her hair: “Hey, I want to play this too, but I don’t know how. Jingze, could you teach me?”

“What a coincidence,” Zhou Jingze lazily curved his lips, stood up holding Xu Sui’s hand toward the side room, leaving behind four words: “I don’t know either.”

The group came to the side room. Zhou Jingze picked up a cue stick, turned sideways, and leaned over the green table surface. The stick slid back and forth in his thumb web.

“Bang!” One shot, one pocket.

Sheng Nanzhou led the applause, then said: “Playing with you is boring—we just get crushed.”

“Then how do we play?” Zhou Jingze raised an eyebrow, lounging lazily against the table.

Da Liu suggested: “Of course the master brings their own person for PK. How about it?”

Zhou Jingze touched his tongue to his lower jaw and chuckled, turning to ask Xu Sui’s opinion: “Want to play?”

Xu Sui considered briefly and nodded: “Okay.”

But Liu Sijin seemed to be competing with her, immediately speaking up: “I’ll play too.”

Xu Sui said nothing, lowering her eyes to pick up a nearby cue stick and repeatedly practicing on the table surface. Sheng Nanzhou’s eyes flashed with surprise: “Yo, Xu Sui, you look like you know what you’re doing.”

Zhou Jingze personally corrected her movements and taught her some key points, while Liu Sijin was taught by another boy. When the two finally played, Xu Sui’s technique could be said to completely dominate Liu Sijin.

Da Liu gave a thumbs up: “Academic achievers are amazing—they learn everything quickly. Looking at you two, you’re really well-matched.”

“I just watched a lot of instructional videos,” Xu Sui said, dimples appearing on her cheeks.

“That’s being modest.”

After Sheng Nanzhou’s birthday party ended and people dispersed, Xu Sui and Zhou Jingze planned to return to school together, walking side by side on the gravel path.

Zhou Jingze walked with one hand in his pocket, the other around her shoulder, his voice carelessly amused: “You’re much better than her.”

Hearing this “her,” Xu Sui suddenly stopped in her tracks. She lowered her head, escaping from Zhou Jingze’s embrace, her eyes glistening in the darkness, her voice trembling:

“Is being faithful so difficult for you?”

Zhou Jingze was stunned, then understood what Xu Sui meant. He turned sideways, showing her his pale neck with a red mark: “My neck really was bitten by an insect. I pushed her away immediately.”

His face carried a casual smile, but his voice had cooled a degree: “Besides, don’t you know exactly what kind of person I am?”

Xu Sui was momentarily speechless, stunned and angry, shivering from cold and fury: “You—”

But she couldn’t finish the sentence as Xu Sui felt her vision go black and fainted, losing consciousness entirely.