Fu Ming Yu never had the habit of scrolling through Moments. For him, a phone was simply a communication tool, not a social one.

But tonight, as he lay in bed already prepared to sleep, an impulse made him open Moments.

The first post was from Ruan Si Xian.

Nothing substantial—Fu Ming Yu scrolled past it.

Two or three seconds later, his finger paused, and he pulled the page back up.

Wild dog?

This apartment complex had the best property management in the country. A stray dog couldn’t get in.

No matter how he looked at it, he felt Ruan Si Xian was subtly cursing him.

Sometimes when people plant a suggestion in their minds, they easily fall into it. Fu Ming Yu suddenly felt a surge of heat, with an unresolved irritation suspended in his chest.

He walked to the window and pulled back the curtains. Outside, a light rain had started to fall.

Fu Ming Yu turned and picked up his phone, calling his assistant.

“Tomorrow morning, pull up all my schedule records for the past year.”

After a pause, he added, “Make it two years.”

Ruan Si Xian’s Moments post received many likes and comments, with people concerned about whether her living environment was unsafe.

At this point, Ruan Si Xian felt somewhat embarrassed. She should have just made the post visible only to Fu Ming Yu. Now she had to respond to her friends’ concerns.

As for Fu Ming Yu, he seemed to be in a good mood and commented: “Really? Show me some time.”

Si Xiao Zhen came out after her shower, and it was Ruan Si Xian’s turn to bathe. Before putting down her phone, Ruan Si Xian replied: “Sure 😊”

Show you, indeed.

Should I point you to a mirror so you can look at yourself?

After her shower, she saw Fu Ming Yu had replied again: “Tomorrow morning, then?”

Holy crap.

Is this dog of a man asking me out?

Ruan Si Xian didn’t reply anymore, tossing her phone away like a hot potato and jumping into bed, diving under the covers.

Si Xiao Zhen, taking advantage of not having to work the next morning, stubbornly fought sleep.

“Ruan Ruan, I’m still shaken. I’m so useless—I panic when things happen, not like you who’s always so calm. If only we could share some of those qualities.”

With no response, she propped her head up to look and saw that Ruan Si Xian was already asleep, her breathing even.

Si Xiao Zhen tucked Ruan Si Xian’s blanket and fell asleep leaning against her shoulder.

That night, Ruan Si Xian slept restlessly.

She had scattered dreams, and later somehow dreamed of a dog. It wasn’t a vicious dog—a neatly groomed poodle—but when it barked at her, her legs went weak with fear.

Frightening enough, but the person holding the dog’s leash was none other than Fu Ming Yu.

Ruan Si Xian was genuinely afraid of dogs.

When she was little, she went to the countryside where farm dogs roamed freely. Though most were gentle, there was always that one frenzied one that chased her for half a street, finally frightening her so much that she fell to the ground. The dog came up and bit her pant leg. With snot and tears all over her face, Ruan Si Xian kicked at it with her other foot, which seemed to anger the dog, and it bit her without hesitation.

Thankfully, villagers arrived in time to grab the dog. Ruan Si Xian was taken to the hospital by her parents for a shot. Already afraid of dogs, she was now completely traumatized.

Whenever a dog approached, her scalp would immediately tingle, and even her breathing pattern would become irregular.

The dog in her dream woke her just as dawn was breaking.

Ruan Si Xian leaned against the headboard for a while. Beside her, Si Xiao Zhen was still softly snoring. She slowly got out of bed, tiptoed out, went downstairs for an hour-long run, came back for a shower, changed clothes, ate something quick, grabbed her bag, and left.

She wasn’t busy these days, participating in online orientation training at home, but today, despite it being the weekend, she had to go to World Airlines to meet the crew before tomorrow’s inaugural ACJ31 flight.

When she reached the elevator, she deliberately checked the time.

Eight o’clock sharp. This apartment complex wasn’t affordable for ordinary office workers, so there shouldn’t be many people around at this hour.

However, as the elevator opened, she immediately retracted her assumption.

She thought she had woken up early enough, but Fu Ming Yu was even earlier, already standing in the elevator looking as dapper as ever.

Though she had anticipated eventually encountering Fu Ming Yu in the elevator after learning they lived in the same building yesterday, she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Fu Ming Yu had been looking down, adjusting his cuff, but when he looked up and saw Ruan Si Xian, he didn’t seem surprised at all. He held the elevator door open and nodded, signaling her to enter.

Now, seeing him reminded Ruan Si Xian of the poodle in her dream. With her heart still pounding, she entered and automatically stood on the opposite side, as if separated by vast distances.

“Good morning, Mr. Fu.”

Fu Ming Yu was about to respond when she added, “Up so early to walk your dog?”

After speaking, Ruan Si Xian noticed Fu Ming Yu was looking at her, those deep eyes rippling with an enigmatic smile.

“…”

Ruan Si Xian wished she could slap herself, figuring the lingering effects of last night’s dream had caused her to tangle herself in her own words.

She snorted through her nose, put on her earphones, and stopped looking at Fu Ming Yu.

Just as the music started playing, one of her earphones was removed.

Ruan Si Xian turned her head, “What are you doing?”

“Let’s talk,” Fu Ming Yu said, holding her earphones. “I feel like you always have some hostility towards me. Is that my imagination?”

He watched Ruan Si Xian, noting every minute change in her expression.

The person before him still had a bare face, her hair tied back in a short ponytail, her eyes narrow and elongated, the corners lifting slightly when there was a hint of a smile on her face.

“Ah, I resent the wealthy.”

“…”

Because there was a touch of amusement on her face, it was hard to tell if she was speaking truthfully or joking.

Perhaps she was mostly joking.

Regardless, Fu Ming Yu had no desire to continue the conversation.

The earphone was released, dangling at her chest.

Seeing Fu Ming Yu’s impressive expression, Ruan Si Xian lowered her head and smiled with pursed lips.

But this smile didn’t last two seconds before it was interrupted by the scene before her.

The elevator stopped at the 10th floor, and an elderly lady with a Labrador entered.

A cream-colored Labrador… tongue hanging out… panting… padding about…

This was too much—Ruan Si Xian felt she couldn’t breathe. Her face turned pale, and she retreated to the corner of the elevator, tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

Although the owner held the leash, the dog seemed overly active, constantly trying to get to Ruan Si Xian, each time nearly pouncing on her before being pulled back by its owner.

Even so, Ruan Si Xian remained rigid, unable to move, with fine beads of sweat quickly forming on her forehead.

…

Every second in the elevator stretched infinitely.

Ruan Si Xian clenched her teeth, feeling a chill down her back, when Fu Ming Yu suddenly stepped in front of her.

The entire scene was completely blocked from view, and she caught a whiff of that faint cold fir scent.

Ruan Si Xian’s body gradually relaxed, and she slowly looked up.

She realized Fu Ming Yu was truly tall, a full head taller than her 1.7 meters, with broad shoulders that perfectly filled out his suit.

With Fu Ming Yu in front, the dog easily jumped onto his leg.

Two paw prints appeared on his black pants.

Fu Ming Yu was the kind of person who looked impeccable from head to toe, making these two paw prints particularly conspicuous. The dog owner was also anxious, pulling the dog back and tightening the leash.

Half a minute later, the elevator reached the first floor. The dog owner hurriedly said “Sorry” and left with the dog.

Fu Ming Yu showed no particular reaction, and just turned back to glance at Ruan Si Xian.

“Going to World Airlines?”

With no more dog smell in the air, Ruan Si Xian took a deep breath and nodded.

Fu Ming Yu stepped out, and Ruan Si Xian followed behind him.

“You’re really afraid of dogs?”

“Yes,” Ruan Si Xian said softly. “I was bitten as a child.”

Fu Ming Yu slowed his pace, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.

Ruan Si Xian didn’t notice his smile, her attention fully on his pants.

She paused, took a tissue from her bag, and handed it to Fu Ming Yu.

Fu Ming Yu accepted the tissue, bent down to wipe his pants, and as he stood up, asked, “Need a ride?”

A gentle cross-breeze wafted between the two in the lobby. The heavy rain had just ceased, the air still damp, this breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass.

Ruan Si Xian nodded, “Thank you, then.”

Bai Yang was walking along the landscaped lawn with his head down, stepping back and forth as if looking for something.

The apartment complex was quiet, with occasional elderly people out for walks. Few commuting young people were visible at this hour, though there were many out for morning runs.

Bai Yang turned to see Fu Ming Yu and Ruan Si Xian approaching. Though surprised, he immediately walked over and stood respectfully.

“What are you doing?” Fu Ming Yu asked.

“Oh, looking for a dog,” said the naive Bai Yang. “Didn’t Miss Ruan say there was a wild dog here last night? I just saw a black shadow dart into the bushes, and I wanted to see if there was a wild dog. If so, we should notify property management.”

Fu Ming Yu’s expression subtly darkened, while Ruan Si Xian tilted her head up, looking at the scenery.

Bai Yang turned to Ruan Si Xian again, “Miss Ruan, where did you see the wild dog last night? Was it dirty?”

Ruan Si Xian, with an impassive face and steady heart, pointed ahead, “Over there. It might have been caught already.”

Fu Ming Yu glanced at her and said in a deep voice, “Get in the car.”

The driver had already parked nearby, waiting.

The atmosphere inside the car remained peculiar.

Fu Ming Yu and Ruan Si Xian sat at opposite ends of the back seat, neither speaking, while Bai Yang naturally sensed this strange atmosphere and dared not ask anything.

Until he looked at his iPad and remembered something.

“By the way, Mr. Fu, yesterday afternoon Mr. Qin sent an invitation to the office. His wedding is on the seventh of next month. Will you attend?”

“Mr. Qin?”

“The son of Zhengxi Steel’s chairman, Qin Jia Mu.”

Fu Ming Yu closed his eyes and thought for a moment, “Isn’t he the one who had coffee spilled on him by one of our flight attendants that year?”

“Yes,” Bai Yang nodded. “They’re getting married.”

That person… Ruan Si Xian remembered too. She had flown with that flight attendant a few times before—a gentle, lovely girl with two dimples when she smiled, quite memorable.

Already getting married… she should only be twenty-six this year.

As Ruan Si Xian was reminiscing, Fu Ming Yu suddenly said beside her, “Clever move.”

?

Ruan Si Xian turned to look at him. His eyes were still closed, the corner of his mouth showing a faint, almost imperceptible mockery.

Here we go again!

Memories from three years ago came flooding back—the same smile, the same tone.

Ruan Si Xian’s chest suddenly tightened.

This man was something.

What a “clever move” indeed, just like when he said “You might as well dream” back then!

Having nothing better to do with this morning’s chat, Bai Yang showed some interest, “Since Mr. Qin’s father doesn’t seem very pleased, the wedding is proceeding without his approval, so on your end…”

“I won’t go,” Fu Ming Yu said. “No need to give him face. Decline on my behalf.”

Bai Yang said okay and turned back, noticing a bottle of mineral water beside him, which he casually handed to Ruan Si Xian.

“Miss Ruan, would you like some water?”

Lakundis Mountain Range mineral water, in a glass bottle with a metal cap.

Ruan Si Xian wasn’t too eager to accept it. Bai Yang added, “Oh, this is hard to open. Wait a moment, I’ll…”

“I’ll do it,” Fu Ming Yu took the bottle from his hand, about to twist it open when Ruan Si Xian grabbed it.

“I’ll do it myself.”

Fu Ming Yu saw her staring into his eyes, clear and bright, with an indescribable intensity.

Just as he was trying to decipher this look, there was a soft “pop” by his ear—Ruan Si Xian held the bottle with one hand, flicked her thumb, and the cap was off.

“Wow…” Bai Yang couldn’t help but let out a soft exclamation, “Such strength…”

Seeing this, Fu Ming Yu smiled, “As expected from a woman who can send people flying.”

Ruan Si Xian looked at him, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and said, “I can also send people six feet under.”

…

The atmosphere in the car suddenly froze.