Hearing this, Shu Nian raised her head, her dejected mood dissipating in an instant. She licked her lips, tightening her grip on his hand, asking a question she already knew the answer to: “Which ‘nian’ character?”

Xie Ru He turned his head, meeting her gaze. His features were handsome and refined as he answered honestly: “The ‘nian’ in Shu Nian.”

“Oh, that ‘nian’.”

Having drunk alcohol, Shu Nian’s cheeks were flushed, her appearance tinted by the yellowish glow of the street lamps. She suddenly jumped forward, leaping into his arms.

Xie Ru He instinctively embraced her.

Shu Nian looked up with a smile: “Then it is yours.”

Hearing these words, Xie Ru He lowered his eyes to stare at her, suddenly laughing, then brushed the corner of her eye with his fingertip: “Yes, I know it’s mine.”

Shu Nian thought for a moment, then foolishly placed both her hands in his palm: “Yours.”

Xie Ru He complied obediently: “Mine.”

Like a child, Shu Nian continued: “Yours, yours.”

Xie Ru He smoothed her bangs, his tone gentle and indulgent: “Mine.”

Shu Nian tilted her head, feeling something wasn’t quite right, and earnestly reminded him: “I said it twice.”

Xie Ru He was silent for two seconds: “…Mine, mine.”

Soon, Shu Nian emerged from his embrace, holding his hand as they walked forward: “What time is it now?”

Xie Ru He lowered his head to check the time: “Nine o’clock.”

Shu Nian nodded: “Thank you.”

“Let’s go home.”

“Why don’t you ask me,” Shu Nian looked at him seriously, “why I said thank you.”

Xie Ru He was taken aback, thinking she had thanked him for telling her the time. He thought for a moment, then obediently asked: “Why did you say thank you?”

Shu Nian pressed her lips together, like a little old man, very solemnly saying: “Thank you for liking me.”

“Hm?” Looking at her expression, the corners of Xie Ru He’s mouth turned up, “Why thank me for that?”

“I just feel that it’s something worth being grateful for.”

His affection had persisted for so many years.

Perhaps in this lifetime, it was the greatest gift heaven had bestowed upon her.

Because Shu Nian spent a lot of time in the recording studio, often staying for half a day. She didn’t want Xie Ru He to spend all his time waiting for her, so one day, she proactively suggested that when it was time, she would call him.

Then he could come pick her up.

Xie Ru He didn’t quite agree at first. Even after Shu Nian made the suggestion, he still waited outside as usual. But after many times, fearing Shu Nian would get angry, he had to compromise.

Taking his laptop to a nearby café, he would sit there for half a day.

Gradually over a month, Shu Nian’s progress was almost complete.

On this day, Shu Nian arrived at the recording studio at the usual time. She didn’t have many sessions left, and Huang Li Zhi intended for her to finish all the recordings today.

Shu Nian was halfway through recording.

After many days, Miao Man had found some free time and appeared in the recording studio to complete the remaining progress.

She rarely appeared in the studio, and Shu Nian, following Huang Li Zhi’s instructions, accommodated Miao Man’s schedule, finished recording one session, and vacated the booth.

Shu Nian walked to the break room, took a bottle of water for a sip, and texted Xie Ru He. Soon after, she got up and used the equipment nearby to practice her lip-syncing.

After some time, Shu Nian left the booth.

There was no bathroom in the booth, but each floor of the building had public restrooms. Previously, during this time, Shu Nian would run out to chat with Xie Ru He for a bit.

Thinking of this, Shu Nian took out her phone again and aimlessly sent Xie Ru He an emoji. Her attention was focused on her phone, watching the path with her peripheral vision.

Xie Ru He replied quickly: [What’s up?]

Before Shu Nian could respond, she suddenly noticed a man standing at the end of the corridor, right next to the restroom. In this hot weather, he was wearing a hat and mask, looking particularly strange.

Shu Nian only glanced once, quickly lowering her eyes again. But feeling the person looked somewhat familiar, she raised her eyes again after a few seconds.

She happened to meet his gaze.

In an instant, Shu Nian recognized who he was.

It was Xu Ze Yuan, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Xu Ze Yuan was probably making a phone call, but the person on the other end hadn’t picked up. Even through the mask, one could see his expression was extremely impatient, his mood poor, brows furrowed.

The moment he saw Shu Nian, his gaze paused, his eyes somewhat cold.

As if he didn’t recognize her, Xu Ze Yuan simply looked away.

Shu Nian didn’t notice his inappropriateness and replied to Xie Ru He: [I’m checking what you’re doing.]

Half a minute later, Xie Ru He sent a video, filming the scene around him, with his face appearing at the end. Perhaps because of the lighting, his face showed no expression, yet didn’t appear cold.

Then, Xie Ru He wrote: “Watch the video.”

Shu Nian: [What video?]

Xie Ru He: [The video you dubbed.]

Seeing this, Shu Nian’s mood suddenly improved. The corners of her mouth turned up as she happily asked: [Which one are you watching? How do you know which ones I voiced?]

Just then, she reached the bathroom door.

Shu Nian put her phone in her pocket and went inside.

When she came out, she found Xu Ze Yuan still standing in the same place, but he was no longer on the phone. He was looking down, his hat brim concealing his facial expression, playing with his phone.

Shu Nian guessed he was probably there to find Miao Man and didn’t pay much attention. She turned, dried her hands with a paper towel, and walked toward the recording studio, then took out her phone.

Just as she was about to check Xie Ru He’s reply.

Footsteps sounded behind her, accompanied by a strong force grabbing her wrist. She wasn’t prepared and had no time to react; her phone fell directly to the ground.

Because of this sudden commotion, Shu Nian’s breathing stopped, her throat felt like something was blocking it, unable to make a sound. She looked up, her eyes still showing bewilderment, and gradually rising fear.

The next second, she saw Xu Ze Yuan’s tense features, as if he was extremely angry.

Xu Ze Yuan’s expression was very unpleasant as he said word by word: “You didn’t see me?”

Shu Nian’s body instantly froze. She struggled forcefully but couldn’t shake off his hand. A feeling of unease and irritation surged in her heart, making her words sound rigid, the end of her voice trembling slightly.

“What are you doing?”

“I want to ask you something,” Xu Ze Yuan’s tone was cold, “Are you living with A He now?”

Shu Nian pressed her lips tightly: “What does that have to do with you?”

“Aren’t you disgusting?” Her response was no different from confirmation. Xu Ze Yuan gave a cold laugh, increasing his grip on her wrist, his words venomous and offensive, “When you were with me, you wouldn’t even let me touch your hand, making me think you were so pure, but now you’ve readily climbed into someone else’s bed?”