Since graduating last June and telling Jiang Yan to stop seeking her out, Zhou Wan hadn’t seen him again.

On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Jiang Yan sent her a greeting message, which Zhou Wan didn’t reply to.

She could never forget that day when Jiang Yan called saying he needed to see her about something, leading her to go meet him. If she hadn’t gone, Lu Xixiao wouldn’t have had to kneel, his dignity trampled, nor would he have been hurt.

She couldn’t forgive Jiang Yan on Lu Xixiao’s behalf.

She felt that continuing any contact with Jiang Yan would be a betrayal of Lu Xixiao.

As journalists are particularly sensitive to news, everyone quickly saw the news about Jiang Yan.

Having just covered a campus manslaughter case, receiving such joyous news led to mixed feelings of both delight and melancholy.

It was extremely rare for a Chinese person to receive the highest physics award, especially someone so young. Uncle Ye immediately began gathering information about Jiang Yan, planning to interview him tomorrow.

“He’s from Pingchuan?” Uncle Ye turned around. “Zhou Wan, you’re from Pingchuan too, right?”

“Yes.” Zhou Wan paused before saying, “We were high school classmates.”

Uncle Ye exclaimed, “Really? What a coincidence! Is your Pingchuan City some kind of blessed land? Everyone from there seems to be an academic genius!”

“Jiang Yan was always ranked first in school. In his second year of high school, he won first prize in the National Physics Competition and secured early admission to university.”

Uncle Ye said, “You two seem quite familiar! Perfect – do you have his contact information? Could you quickly call and ask if we can interview him tomorrow?”

“No, I haven’t been in contact with him for a long time.”

Zhou Wan found the New Year’s greeting message Jiang Yan had sent her, copied his phone number, and sent it to Uncle Ye. “This is his number. You should contact him.”

Uncle Ye was a man of action.

He called Jiang Yan immediately, but he must have been busy and didn’t answer.

It wasn’t until they were almost at the newspaper office that he called back.

Uncle Ye put it on speaker, and Zhou Wan heard Jiang Yan’s voice: “Hello?”

“Hello, hello, this is Ye Zhuo from the Daily News. We happen to have a colleague who was your high school classmate who had your phone number, so I’m calling to ask when would be convenient for us to interview you.”

Jiang Yan: “My high school classmate?”

“Yes, her name is Zhou Wan.”

Zhou Wan: “…”

Jiang Yan paused before saying “Oh” with a slight smile in his voice: “That’s fine, but I have had many events to attend recently. I’ll only be free after 7 PM tomorrow. I hope that time works for you.”

“That’s perfect, that works for us. Then we’ll meet tomorrow evening at 7,” Uncle Ye said.

After hanging up, he smiled and said, “I didn’t expect such a genius to be so easy to talk to. I thought they were all eccentric types.”

…

The car had just pulled up to the newspaper office.

Lu Xixiao was already waiting for her, his car parked across the street. Zhou Wan said goodbye to her colleagues and ran over.

She opened the car door and got in: “Have you been waiting long?”

“Not long.” Lu Xixiao leaned over to help her with her seatbelt. “Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?”

Zhou Wan checked the time and saw it was already 7:30 PM.

“Let’s eat at home. It’s not very healthy to always eat out,” Zhou Wan said.

One particular word made Lu Xixiao smile: “Alright.”

“But I think there’s not much in the fridge. Let’s stop by the supermarket first.”

This was Zhou Wan’s first-time grocery shopping with Lu Xixiao. She had seen a question online before asking what daily activities brought the most happiness, and someone had answered shopping at the supermarket with someone you like.

The supermarket was lit with warm lights, crowded and noisy, filled with the atmosphere of everyday life.

Lu Xixiao was still wearing his dress shirt and suit, exuding an air of cold elegance that drew frequent glances from others.

Noticing these looks, Zhou Wan couldn’t help but turn to look at Lu Xixiao as well.

He raised an eyebrow, silently asking, what is it?

“You’re still the same as before.”

“Hmm?”

“Girls look at you wherever you go.”

Lu Xixiao smiled and shamelessly nodded: “Yes, their gazes are like they want to undress me.”

“…”

“But you can hold my arm, then they won’t covet me anymore.”

His voice was low as he bent slightly, close to Zhou Wan’s ear, his hot breath brushing against it as he spoke.

Zhou Wan felt ticklish and uncomfortable, quickly stepping aside while rubbing her ear, trying to appear calm as she turned her head: “Would you like some strawberries?”

Lu Xixiao smiled: “Sure.”

Zhou Wan stood by the refrigerated section, head lowered as she carefully selected a box of the freshest-looking strawberries.

Lu Xixiao then placed his hand on her shoulder, lazily half-leaning against her, putting half his weight on her. Zhou Wan had to plant her feet firmly to avoid being knocked over.

This position brought them extremely close.

Although they had done far more intimate things, that time Zhou Wan had been crying with a splitting headache, her thoughts unclear and blindfolded. When she recalled it now, she remembered each distinct sensation, but the actual scene remained blurry.

Unlike now, under bright lights and public view.

“Lu Xixiao,” Zhou Wan pressed a hand against his waist, “you’re too heavy.”

“I’m tired,” he drawled lazily, “I’ve been working all day, won’t you let me lean for a bit?”

“Then let’s finish shopping quickly, you can rest when we get back.”

Lu Xixiao wouldn’t listen, insisting on leaning against her, his fingers constantly playing with her hair strands, being incredibly clingy, turning what should have been a ten-minute shopping trip into half an hour.

Back home, Lu Xixiao washed the vegetables while Zhou Wan cooked.

After dinner and her shower, Zhou Wan picked up her phone and saw Uncle Ye had shared information about Jiang Yan in the work group chat.

Zhou Wan clicked on it, finding a list of Jiang Yan’s various awards over the years.

She hadn’t deliberately kept track of him these years. Although people often called him a genius when they were students, Zhou Wan had never looked into the details.

During those years without Lu Xixiao, she didn’t know what she was holding onto, aligning herself with him, feeling that forgiving Jiang Yan would be betraying Lu Xixiao.

Only now did she realize how well Jiang Yan had developed over these years, truly achieving his former dreams.

In high school, Zhou Wan once asked him a question: what kind of person do you want to become?

Jiang Yan’s answer was to achieve success and fame.

Looking at it now, he had indeed accomplished that.

*

The next day.

Zhou Wan had originally planned not to join the interview with Jiang Yan, feeling the relationship was awkward and it would be better not to show her face, but Ji Jie was suddenly assigned to another task.

Uncle Ye, knowing she and Jiang Yan were classmates, naturally called Zhou Wan to come along.

Zhou Wan had no reason to refuse, so she went.

On the way, she sent Lu Xixiao a message saying she had to work overtime on a field assignment.

[6: Where are you going?]

Zhou Wan sent him the location from the work group chat, at the exhibition center.

[Zhou Wan: Not sure when we’ll finish. You don’t need to pick me up.]

Jiang Yan had suddenly gotten some work to handle, so he had to change the interview location to the exhibition center, planning to do the interview right after finishing his work.

At the location, Zhou Wan set up the camera and reviewed the interview questions again.

“You know, this Jiang Yan doesn’t look like a physics genius at all,” Uncle Ye said. “He has such full hair and is quite handsome, looking just like a normal good-looking guy. When I used to see photos of geniuses, they all had their peculiarities.”

Zhou Wan didn’t respond, and Uncle Ye turned to ask: “By the way, Zhou Wan, did he have a lot of girls who liked him back in school?”

Zhou Wan thought for a moment before answering: “I think some girls did confess to him, but he never paid any attention to dating back then and didn’t interact much with classmates either.”

Uncle Ye nodded: “That’s typical of geniuses.”

They waited in the room for half an hour before the door finally opened.

Jiang Yan walked in: “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. That work matter suddenly became urgent, and I couldn’t get away.”

Uncle Ye smiled and quickly said: “No problem, no problem, Mr. Jiang, please have a seat.”

He wore a gray dress shirt with suit pants, the shirt tucked in, clean and upright, with thin-framed glasses and refined features, exuding the reserved scholarly air and rigorous demeanor unique to science students.

He lifted his eyes to look at Zhou Wan, smiling naturally: “Zhou Wan, long time no see.”

Zhou Wan responded with a polite “Mm” and “Long time no see.”

“What a coincidence, I hadn’t expected little Zhou to be your high school classmate,” Uncle Ye said. “Mr. Jiang, what tea would you like?”

“Just mineral water is fine.”

Jiang Yan sat down on the sofa. “Zhou Wan and I used to be desk mates. We were both supposed to participate in the physics competition back then, but she encountered some issues and couldn’t go. It was a shame – with her abilities, she definitely could have gotten early admission too. Who knows, you might have been interviewing her today instead.”

Jiang Yan had indeed changed from before.

He was no longer the bookworm others used to call him. He had become much more talkative, attentive to all aspects, smooth and sophisticated.

“Is that so?” Uncle Ye raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I couldn’t tell. I thought Zhou Wan was a liberal arts student.”

Zhou Wan turned on the camera, interrupting the topic: “Uncle Ye, let’s begin.”

…

After the interview, Zhou Wan saved the recorded content and sent it to her colleague.

She closed her laptop: “Uncle Ye, I’m going to the restroom.”

Coming out of the bathroom, while washing her hands, she heard footsteps behind her. Zhou Wan looked up, seeing Jiang Yan approaching her in the mirror’s reflection.

“Zhou Wan, how have you been?” Jiang Yan asked.

“Pretty good.”

“I saw online about what happened at Shengxing Media, knew you left that position,” Jiang Yan said. “Was it because of that incident? With your abilities, you shouldn’t be working as a following photographer at a small newspaper, taking orders from others.”

The words didn’t sit well with her, and Zhou Wan couldn’t help but frown.

Jiang Yan: “If you need help, I can assist you. You can tell me which companies you’d like to work for.”

“Thank you, but I think my current job is quite good. I like it,” Zhou Wan said.

Jiang Yan thought she was just being stubborn and frowned: “Zhou Wan, it’s been so long, why are you still like this? People need to look forward. At least now I can help you.”

“But I don’t need it,” Zhou Wan said. “Jiang Yan, I made it very clear when we graduated – because of what happened that year, we can’t be friends anymore.”

After speaking, Zhou Wan pulled out a paper towel to dry her hands and turned to leave.

As she passed his shoulder, Jiang Yan suddenly grabbed her wrist.

She stopped in her tracks.

Jiang Yan gritted his teeth, lowering his voice: “Zhou Wan, but I’m different from before. I’ve succeeded, I’ve already succeeded. No one looks down on me anymore. They all say I have unlimited potential, and that I’ve achieved success and fame. I will reach the pinnacle, and you’ll see me there.”

Zhou Wan frowned deeply, trying hard to pull her hand away: “Jiang Yan, let go of me first.”

“Why won’t you ever look at me?”

After leaving Pingchuan City, no one looked down on him anymore. Everyone praised him, envied him, and was jealous of him. He had left all those humiliations behind in Pingchuan City. Here, he was Jiang Yan the physics genius, the youngest achiever with the most unlimited potential.

Having grown accustomed to those admiring and worshipful gazes, he found Zhou Wan’s attitude toward him even more unbearable.

“Why?!” Jiang Yan stared intently into her eyes. “Zhou Wan, when we were in school, you were the only rival in my heart, and also a comrade fighting alongside me. We are people of the same world!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a disdainful snort sounded from behind.

Lu Xixiao stood not far away, his emotions unreadable.

He had a cigarette between his lips, a point of crimson. This area was mostly empty, spacious, and quiet, even breathing sounds seemed amplified.

“You sure know how to flatter yourself.”

He flicked his cigarette ash, his anger hidden beneath a casual exterior. “The same world as you? Someone like you, worthy?”

While Jiang Yan was stunned, Zhou Wan finally pulled her hand free and obediently ran to Lu Xixiao’s side.

Jiang Yan watched the scene before him.

Images from their school days floated in his mind – it was just like this back then.

He had thought Zhou Wan and Lu Xixiao had long since broken up, that they could never be together again.

He gave a cold laugh: “At least I’m better than a spoiled rich kid like you. If it weren’t for your father and grandfather, would you be where you are today?”

Jiang Yan didn’t know that Lu Xixiao rarely had contact with the Lu family anymore, nor did he know that Lu Xixiao’s current success was entirely his own doing.

But Lu Xixiao couldn’t be bothered to explain any of this to him.

All along, Jiang Yan had seen him as a thorn in his side, but Lu Xixiao had never even considered him worth noticing.

Lu Xixiao laughed lightly: “Back then, you were the one desperately calling Lu Zhongyue father, doing anything to get into the Lu family. How come you’re singing a different tune now? Jiang Yan, do I need to remind you – it’s not that you didn’t want it, it’s that you couldn’t have it.”

After speaking, he didn’t wait for Jiang Yan’s response, taking Zhou Wan’s hand and turning to leave.

His strides were long, and Zhou Wan had to jog to keep up with him.

“Lu Xixiao,” she jogged along, looking up to observe his expression, “why are you here?”

“Just happened to be attending a meeting.”

Once in the car, Zhou Wan thought for a moment and decided to explain: “Lu Xixiao, I only met with him because of an interview assignment. I don’t know why he grabbed me and said those things. After what happened that year, I pretty much cut off contact with him.”

Lu Xixiao’s anger was somewhat soothed by her gentle yet earnest tone.

He turned his head to look at Zhou Wan for a while, then reached out to ruffle her hair, saying: “Afraid I’m angry?”

“Mm.”

“Oh—”

Lu Xixiao dragged out the sound, gripping her wrist. Her skin was delicate – it would turn red from cold water, and easily marked when grabbed. Now there were faint fingerprints on her wrist, very light, but just seeing them was irritating.

His fingertips traced over those marks, back and forth, then he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to the skin of her wrist.

“I am a bit angry,” he said, his voice slightly muffled.

Zhou Wan blinked, her wrist tingling, heart racing.

Then she saw Lu Xixiao open his mouth and bite the soft flesh on the inside of her wrist, his teeth grinding slightly.

It hurt a little.

Then Lu Xixiao bit down harder, and Zhou Wan could feel his teeth sinking into her skin.

She pressed her lips together, enduring it.

Lu Xixiao always had these wicked impulses toward Zhou Wan, unable to resist the urge to hurt her. He didn’t know what psychology drove this, sometimes thinking he was quite perverted, but he just couldn’t help it.

He liked seeing his marks left on Zhou Wan’s body.

Unconsciously, he bit down harder again.

Sitting up straight, he saw the ring of teeth marks left on Zhou Wan’s wrist, the skin red and hot.

Looking up again, the young woman must have been in pain – her brows were still slightly furrowed, eyes rimmed red, yet she hadn’t made a sound.

Zhou Wan looked at him, not angry at all, and asked in her characteristically gentle way: “Are you still angry?”

At that moment, Lu Xixiao felt like a complete beast.

“Does it hurt?”

Zhou Wan shook her head.

Even though her eyes were red from holding back tears.

Unfortunately, being a beast was addictive.

“I’m not angry anymore, but I’m jealous.”

Lu Xixiao settled back comfortably, always one to push his luck when it came to Zhou Wan – or as Huang Ping would say, he was being difficult.

He put on a cold face and said flatly: “Comfort me.”