The warm moisture in the room hadn’t yet dissipated.

The unmade bed and clothes scattered on the storage cabinet were all like hints behind a puzzle board, allowing something unspoken to subtly permeate the air. Fan Funing stood in the narrow passage between the foot of the bed and the TV wall, looking at Long Qi by the window, looking at Long Qi who had left early an hour ago but now appeared in this room. She seemed to understand something. In that instant her ears turned completely red. Her demeanor was awkward, her stance embarrassed, with subtle facial expression changes presenting the internal thought of “these two people actually quietly had a hookup.” But Long Qi only glanced at her. After that glance, she continued munching chips, looking at Jin Yiken’s phone.

A little arrogance of being too lazy to bother with people.

Jin Yiken wasn’t wearing a shirt.

Given he wasn’t wearing a shirt and she still dared to intrude so directly, you could see how heavy this girl’s intentions were. Long Qi was looking at this girl’s Moments feed. He went to the cabinet to get clothes, putting them on while slowly pacing over, giving Fan Funing a look that said “you’re the one jumping into a pit, can’t even stop you.” Fan Funing’s attention drifted to his arms.

There were red marks scratched out by Long Qi.

After seeing them, she immediately shifted her gaze. Her steps weren’t too steady. She staggered a step to the side. An apple from the fruit bowl fell, rolling with a gurgle to the foot of the sofa.

He took cigarettes and a lighter from the table, lit one with a click. The lighter slid back onto the table. He said: “No need to wash the fruit. Just put it on the coffee table.”

This attitude was even more nonchalant than Long Qi’s. Then he said again: “Don’t need to renew my room either. Check out before evening. I have another place to stay.”

Finally asked: “Do you have anything else?”

“I…” she barely opened her mouth, “I seem to have come at a bad time. I didn’t, didn’t disturb you, did I?”

“No. We just finished.”

Jin Yiken’s one straightforward reply again startled Fan Funing so her hands shook. Two more apples thumped onto the carpet. Long Qi at this moment waved her hand, dispersing the cigarette smell in the air. Jin Yiken pressed the cigarette he’d only taken one drag from into the tea cup.

By now she’d also roughly finished looking through this girl’s Moments feed. Standing up, Jin Yiken asked if she was still eating takeout.

“Not eating. No patience to wait. I have to go.”

She stood up, right knee bent on the sofa, answering while lifting the hem of the T-shirt at her waist, taking off the clothes in the faint light by the window.

The T-shirt left her skin inch by inch. Fan Funing just like that, caught off guard, saw her body.

Saw her lower back dimples, saw the beautiful spinal groove on her back, saw the faint muscle definition on her flat lower abdomen, saw the snake tattoo coiled on her lower back. In the narrow hotel room, faint light shining, fine dust floating, the breath of three people in this moment was forcibly compressed into two people. Fan Funing’s breathing held. Fingers gripped tightly to the fruit bowl edge. She watched Long Qi undressing as if no one was around before her. A silent yet intense blow poured from her head to her feet, bone-chillingly cold, yet burning with humiliating shame.

Long Qi’s hair tangled in the bra straps.

She hooked her middle finger under the bra strap on her shoulder, tilting her head, brushing her hair. Only then did her eyes seemingly casually sweep over Fan Funing. Fan Funing silently averted her gaze, appearing embarrassed, yet her face flushed red.

She took back her own clothes from the storage cabinet, put them on.

Fan Funing’s sense of presence was pressed to negative value in that moment.

Before that Long Qi who crushed her in both appearance and figure, her own little thoughts, little pride, were at this moment struck down by the other in this manner. No need to expose, no need to say more. In the time it took to remove one piece of clothing, she directly strangled them in the depths of her heart.

Jin Yiken called her.

Fan Funing immediately turned her head. He was collecting a bunch of electronic device data cables, saying: “Outsiders don’t know about my relationship with her. I don’t plan to mention it. Do you understand?”

Didn’t look at her. Tone light and breezy. But the meaning inside was deep, formidable. This girl Fan Funing also understood clearly. Replied in a low voice: “I understand…”

But after the words fell, her throat trembled slightly several times: “You two just met, right…”

Long Qi had already finished getting dressed.

She picked up her bag, put on her wide-brimmed hat, suddenly placed her arm on Fan Funing’s shoulder. The girl jumped, her whole body shrinking. Long Qi said: “I can’t leave this person’s room alone. See me out.”

Then said to Jin Yiken: “I’m borrowing your classmate.”

“I’m taking you somewhere this afternoon,” he responded. “Wait for me downstairs.”

She made an OK sign with her back to him.

After the room door closed, only the two of them remained in the corridor.

Long Qi’s arm still rested on Fan Funing’s shoulder. Fan Funing clutched the fruit bowl, forced to follow step by step, but didn’t make a sound.

At that moment, she took an apple from the fruit bowl, looking at Fan Funing. A cleaning staff member doing room cleaning work passed by them, only assuming they were close friends.

Long Qi said: “Still don’t understand?”

Fan Funing’s soul seemed to only then withdraw from the previous formation. She turned her head away.

“Your intelligence was wrong,” the apple tossed and caught in Long Qi’s hand. She hooked Fan Funing’s shoulder tightly, looking at her eyes, saying, “That one in England isn’t his girlfriend.”

…

“Girl, I’m the main wife.”

…

Because it had just rained lightly, both the ground and air outside the hotel were damp. After Long Qi came out from the lobby elevator, she walked straight toward the hotel’s back door. The apple tossed and played in her hand. Just descending the steps, someone called her: “Qiqi.”

The voice wasn’t too loud or too soft. She turned around at the sound. Lin Hui was standing by the wall at the back door. Because of her quick passing, she followed her down a step, face expression light, hair and clothes somewhat damp.

Only then did she suddenly remember the appointment with her. Long Qi stood stunned for a moment, instinctively checking her watch, then looking at the wet spots on Lin Hui’s body, blurting out: “You were waiting for me?”

“Of course I was waiting for you.”

“Why were you waiting for me here?”

Lin Hui looked at her eyes, slowly saying: “When I was at the coffee shop entrance I called you. You didn’t hear. Then, I saw you enter here.”

“Then you waited for an hour?” She asked repeatedly, “Why didn’t you call me?”

“I was afraid you were talking business.”

“What business could be talked about entering a hotel.”

Long Qi said this sentence too quickly, and had no intention whatsoever of retracting or supplementing an explanation. Lin Hui gazed at her, brow furrowing slightly. Long Qi didn’t care, continuing to ask: “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

Lin Hui reached her hand into her pocket.

On the street were clamorous car honking sounds, people’s voices. Long Qi squinted, idly looking around. When her gaze turned back, Lin Hui opened her hand toward her. A string of peach wood ornament lay quietly in her palm.

Expression subtly changed.

At that moment Lin Hui firmly grasped her expression change, saying: “It’s the same one, isn’t it?”

Looking up at Lin Hui, directly asking: “Dong Xi gave it to you?”

The instant the question left her mouth, Lin Hui’s hand trembled, along with her voice also somewhat shaking: “Originally thought it was just coincidence. Yours is a bracelet, hers is an ornament. Should be different accessories. Later carefully looked, this peach wood is fundamentally the same piece. Dong Xi’s zodiac isn’t dragon, but your surname is Long.”

“Why are you going on about this?”

“What’s your relationship with Dong Xi?”

When Lin Hui asked this sentence, Long Qi’s tense brow loosened slightly. Lin Hui stared at her, continuing to ask: “Not a purely friendly relationship, right?”

After about five seconds of speechlessness, Long Qi slowly turned away, putting the apple in her pocket, back to Lin Hui: “You seem to have misunderstood some things.”

“What did I misunderstand?”

“Misunderstood your relationship with me.”

She answered very quickly. Before Lin Hui could react, she turned her head again: “Questioning my circle of friends without any reason—we haven’t reached that relationship, right? How long have I known you? How many years have I known Dong Xi? What’s wrong with me giving her an ornament? Haven’t you given anyone gifts your whole life?”

This string of words made Lin Hui falter. There was some panic in her eyes. Long Qi continued asking: “Did you take it yourself or did Dong Xi give it to you?”

She didn’t say.

“Find a chance to return it to her.”

Lin Hui’s hand slowly dropped, looking like she was still hesitating. Long Qi added: “Hear me?”

At this moment, an elevator sound came from inside the hotel lobby.

Long Qi turned her head. Lin Hui followed her line of sight to look. From afar at the elevator entrance came the sound of doors opening. People hadn’t come out yet. A suitcase first slowly rolled out, then Jin Yiken slowly sauntered out. He was too lazy to pull the suitcase. The case rolled in front, he walked behind, pressing his phone while walking.

In two seconds, Long Qi’s phone rang.

Following the sound, he saw the back door here.

Called her: “Qi.”

At the same time seemed to start making a second call, placing the phone by his ear, eyes still looking at her, hooking his index finger, indicating for her to come over.

“He’s calling you…”

Lin Hui seemed about to speak, but words seemed blocked again. Looking at Long Qi, but Long Qi had no time to look at her. All her attention was on Jin Yiken. Only said one more thing: “If there’s nothing else I’m leaving first. If there’s something, send me a message.”

Then walked toward the lobby. Jin Yiken, after hanging up the phone, glanced at Lin Hui, asking: “Who?”

“A junior from the magazine company. We’ve collaborated. Chance encounter.”

Jin Yiken wasn’t interested in Lin Hui.

So afterward he didn’t ask more. Pressed the elevator again, going to the hotel’s underground parking garage. But Lin Hui kept looking at him. Until Long Qi entered the elevator, she stood for a long time at the wind opening of the hotel’s back door, pressing her lips, gazing at this place.

After the elevator doors closed, Jin Yiken’s call also finished.

Long Qi was thinking about that matter with Dong Xi. Casually asked: “Who were you talking business with?”

“Lao Ping.”

Her thoughts immediately snapped back: “Who?”

“Lao Ping,” he repeated. “Booked a place tonight, inviting him and his team for dinner and fun. You’re so worrying, he’s not easy.”

“Yo, young master,” the elevator door opened. She walked out while replying, “This move of winning people over—truly no one but you.”

“Indeed.”

“Right,” she remembered something, taking something from her bag. “Are you interested in seeing shows?”

“Not interested.”

“Are you interested in my show?”

“Interested.”

Took out a colorful ticket from her bag, stuffed it in Jin Yiken’s pocket: “Next Friday evening there’s an event. It’s the tenth anniversary celebration of the fashion magazine I debuted in. Location is at Zhaohua Hall, especially close to here. If you come, I’ll reserve the best seat for you.”

“You carry this ticket with you?”

“No. I don’t just give them to anyone I meet.”

“Then who were you originally going to give it to?”

Jin Yiken casually asked. Long Qi’s heart jumped. Pretending to be calm: “Just got it this morning.”

Immediately following: “Dinner is at night. What are you taking me to do this afternoon?”

Jin Yiken didn’t linger on the previous topic.

He hadn’t been home since returning to the country, so he also didn’t drive. Called a taxi to wait in the underground parking garage. Put the suitcase in the trunk, saying: “To inspect.”

Later, he took her to a financial district in the city, four streets away from his upscale apartment residential area, fifteen minutes by car, fairly close. But the architectural style was different. All were rows of office buildings like a steel jungle. Fortunately it was a creative park, concentrating several famous cultural media and gaming companies in the industry. Could be considered a trendy office area.

She followed Jin Yiken into a building, up the elevator, arriving at the fifteenth floor. After exiting the elevator, she saw an empty office unit. No people, but very clean. The entire building had a unified security system. Entering the door required swiping a card. Jin Yiken also had a card. Long Qi complained: “You have cards everywhere.”

He pulled the door, tilting his forehead slightly. Long Qi went in. Just as her eyes landed on the huge glass window on the opposite wall and the city view, he spoke: “I plan to open a company.”

She turned back. Jin Yiken’s steps didn’t pause, continuing to walk: “Entertainment company.”

“What?”

“Spent some time researching, discussed business with quite a few people in the industry, also talked with elders who do this work. If all goes well, plan to start next year. What do you think of the office environment here?”

“You rented this entire floor?”

“I bought it.”

“…” She asked, “When did you have this idea?”

“Two years ago.”

Two years ago was when they’d just gotten together, also when she’d just started gaining some popularity in magazines.

Long Qi took more than three seconds to come to her senses. What were people their age doing at this time? Studying, playing, romance and commotion. Yet Jin Yiken had already planned to put the hat of entertainment company CEO on himself. A teenage genius only interested in physics, even his grandfather couldn’t persuade him to study finance, yet at this time wanted to create a company connected to her circle. Asked him why, he said to ensure in the future only he could sleep with her through unspoken rules.

Long Qi was about to hit him. He dodged back a step.

Then seriously came back: “After this matter succeeds, I’ll talk with Lao Ping. He’ll probably be happy to cooperate.”

“Cooperate on what with him?”

“You.”

Answer was one word. Concise and powerful.

At this moment, two in the afternoon, a ray of post-rain sunlight penetrated the glass wall, shining where Jin Yiken stood. His hands in his pants pockets, sunlight and shadow converging. Half was the wild abandon of his youth back then, half was the steadiness after current precipitation, saying: “When the time comes I’ll pave your path. What you don’t want to do, don’t do. You want to make money to buy a house, I’ll earn with you.”

Long Qi looked at him.

After a long while, asked: “You’re doing this for me. Your family doesn’t object?”

“Overthinking, Qi,” he said. “Relax. Our family never objects to making money. Our ancestors for eighteen generations were all cunning merchants. Never have trouble with money.”

“Then the money you bought this place with?”

“Borrowed from grandfather. Have to repay. With interest.”

Fine. Father and son kept clear accounts.

After the “inspection” ended, Jin Yiken put his luggage back at the apartment four streets away. At six o’clock, dinner gathering with Lao Ping’s team. Hao Shuai also came.

Lao Ping ate this meal especially comfortably (secretly made many profit exchanges with Jin Yiken). At nine the dinner gathering ended. Those not yet satisfied went to a second venue. Jin Yiken booked a place at the city’s most famous nightclub. Inside the venue also came his group of rich playboy friends and Lao Ping’s industry friends. Could be considered a party celebrating his return to the country. Jin Yiken quite knew what he wanted. Could play, could also chat. Greeting his own friends on this side, in a few moves also became familiar with Lao Ping’s connections over there. Long Qi completely didn’t need to speak at this venue. And she loved not speaking. Good mood. So when those young masters’ girlfriends they brought wanted to get close to her for photos, she was also happy to give face.

Later Ban Wei also came.

Ban Wei’s reason for coming was quite pitiful. As a nightclub leader and alcoholic, he originally came to the best place to find alcohol, discovered the venue was booked. The nightclub manager said Long Qi was inside. He made one call to her. After the manager requested Jin Yiken’s instructions, Ban Wei and his entourage were finally “allowed” in.

Before that, Long Qi reminded Jin Yiken: “This person especially loves forcing drinks. When he comes over later, pour into him. Don’t give him a chance to react. Be fierce. Don’t show mercy.”

“Why force drinks on him for no reason.”

“He forced drinks on me.”

As soon as Long Qi said this, Jin Yiken without a word poured the strongest liquor into the row of glasses on the table. Ban Wei walked over grinning.

…

The especially easily-hyped Ban Wei encountering Jin Yiken, this type especially skilled at guiding people to “make mistakes” little tyrant, fell in a few moves. While falling, he was especially happy. Could be called a typical figure of “being sold and still helping count the money.” With Jin Yiken acting like brothers who regretted not meeting sooner. Convinced, especially convinced. All kinds of making dates to drink together in the future. Then got drunk by Jin Yiken.

In the latter half, Ban Wei was basically collapsed on the sofa sleeping. Jin Yiken’s thoughts were still clear. Long Qi sat on the sofa, propping up her face, watching him. He was standing across the table mixing drinks, mixing cocktails suitable for her to drink. Someone hooking his shoulder talking to him. Electronic music inside the venue deafening. His hands’ movements didn’t stop. Patiently listening to what the other was saying in his ear. Then turning his head to reply one or two sentences. Red light covering his entire person. The other seemed to have reached an agreement with him. He lazily high-fived with them, smiling crookedly.

Then poured drinks, moved the glass in front of her. Also sat on the sofa. Between the two of them was a sleeping Ban Wei. Long Qi looked at him, watching this worldly skin and his ease handling everything. Only then did she seem to have an epiphany.

Realized the person before her eyes had truly made plans to spend a lifetime with her in conducting this romance. This kind of plan was precious. Even her youngest and most spirited self couldn’t guarantee she could give to one person.

“Jin Yiken.” She called him.

He was somewhat alcohol-headed now, squinting at her.

“Let’s live together.”

Jin Yiken didn’t hear clearly. Tilted his forehead, having her come closer.

Long Qi didn’t repeat this sentence.

She braced her hand on Ban Wei’s knee, using it as a point of leverage, crossing over Ban Wei, approaching Jin Yiken, lips touching his still sobering up, lightly turning. During Jin Yiken’s reaction gap, she placed her hand on his neck, pulling this worldly skin toward herself, a second turn.

Intense electronic music and deep red light covered both their shoulders. Jin Yiken’s reaction wasn’t slow. Skillfully reciprocating toward her. Two people’s lips pressed tight. In a corner of revelry, tacitly passionately kissing. Like deep feelings, also like innocent childhood sweethearts. Not saying a word, not dealing with any outsiders. Separated by a dead drunk Ban Wei, prolonged intimate contact. Just like passionate love.

Jin Yiken finally kissed back all he hadn’t kissed in high school.