Su Man answered the call, and Li Li’s voice immediately came through — mixed with the thunderous noise of music blasting in the background, he was still yelling at the top of his lungs:

“Su Man! I’m done for — Guo Wei threw up all over me! Hurry up and bring me a change of clothes!”

Su Man said with ill humor, “You’re hanging out with them — just borrow a set of clothes from one of them!”

“Obviously! The clothes I’m wearing right now *are* borrowed! You remember Wu Xinghai? We’re having the party at his place, and all his clothes are gaudy and weird-looking — there’s no way I can wear any of them out in public!”

Su Man was reluctant. That morning she’d been turned away at the door, and now he wanted to order her around — what a nerve.

She snorted coldly. “I’m not going! I’m watching a movie right now. Call your mom to bring you a change.”

“Watching a movie? Whatever movie it is, I’ll watch it with you next time! Just get over here now!” Li Li was yelling from the other end, sounding genuinely frantic. “If my mom finds out, she’ll nag me to death! She already didn’t want me hanging around with Wu Xinghai and the others — Su Man, dear Su Man, come save me! After twenty-something years of friendship, are you really going to just watch me die?!”

Su Man’s scalp went numb from his hollering, especially since Lu Yuwen was right there beside her — it was honestly a bit embarrassing.

She bit her lip, covered the phone, and said, “Alright, stop yelling… you… just hold on a little longer. I’ll be there soon.”

Li Li: “What?! It’s really loud on my end — speak up! You’re always so fierce when we argue — why are you talking like a little princess all of a sudden? Who are you being refined for?!”

A surge of fury rose in Su Man’s chest and she raised her voice to shout: “I said I’ll be there soon! Stop rushing me!!!”

“Okay~ then hurry up! I’ll wait for you!”

Li Li, thoroughly satisfied, hung up.

Su Man: “……”

After a moment of silence, she looked up at Lu Yuwen and set her phone down with an awkward smile.

The movie had already been paused by Lu Yuwen the moment she’d taken the call. The room was now extremely quiet.

That silence made the words she could have said naturally come out stilted instead: “I… I need to head out for a bit. Have to drop off some clothes for a friend.”

She glanced uncomfortably at the television screen. “Looks like we’ll have to finish watching another time…”

“It’s fine.” Lu Yuwen rose from the sofa, his tone gentle. “There wasn’t much left anyway. You can watch it whenever you like. Go find your friend — he must be in a real hurry.”

He drew open the curtains, and the living room was filled with light again.

Su Man grabbed her car keys and bag and went to the entryway to put on her shoes.

Lu Yuwen asked, “Do you have a change of clothes for him?”

“I’ll grab something from his place — it’s right next door.” Su Man bent down and hooked her heel into her shoe, her hair swaying with the motion. “He’s always losing track of things. I’ve brought him stuff several times already. I’m on good terms with his parents too, so I’ll just make up some excuse…”

She slipped her shoes on and waved at Lu Yuwen. “I’m heading out.”

Lu Yuwen: “Alright. Be careful on the road.”

Su Man stepped out the door. For some reason, she had taken two steps when she stopped. She turned back to look at Lu Yuwen and, after a moment’s hesitation, said, “Thanks for today.”

Lu Yuwen: “Hmm?”

She broke into a bright smile. “Thank you for keeping me company — chatting, and… watching the movie with me. I feel a lot better now.”

Lu Yuwen smiled. “So do I.”

Su Man was taken aback. “Huh?”

“I’m in a good mood too.” Lu Yuwen’s expression was warm, the depths of his eyes gentle. “It was a pleasure talking with you and watching the movie together.”

Su Man stared at him.

Two seconds later she realized she’d zoned out again — she quickly averted her gaze, pressed a hand over her face, turned, and walked away in a hurry.

Her cheeks were blazing hot, like a freshly boiled egg against her palm. She didn’t know what was wrong with her.

She was used to roughhousing with Li Li. The other men in her life, knowing her background and her fighting ability, mostly kept a respectful distance. This seemed to be the first time… the very first time a man had looked at her with eyes like that.

The feeling was hard to describe. It was as if… she were being admired, noticed, and… cherished.

Suddenly she thought of how, back in the day, Bai Youwei had fallen for Shen Mo — also drawn in by something about him…

—