The faulty streetlight hung overhead, flickering on and off, seemingly emitting crackling sounds, as if the bulb might fall and hit one’s forehead at any moment.

Let it fall, Jiang Ling thought as she sat by the roadside looking up at the streetlight. It would be best if it fell and gave her amnesia.

After graduation, her classmates had all secured their futures—some pursuing master’s degrees, others taking civil service exams, or finding jobs at companies. Jiang Ling had received an offer from a foreign university, but her parents firmly opposed her going abroad.

To be fair, this couldn’t be entirely blamed on her parents not supporting her. It was more than Jiang Ling’s choice was hardly believable.

She had done quite well on the college entrance exam, but hadn’t filled out her preference form carefully, accidentally ending up in a finance program. Jiang Ling hated math the most, making her four years of university studies painful. In frustration, she decided to switch majors for graduate school.

Going abroad to study Chinese literature.

To her parents, this seemed like nonsense and fooling around.

Jiang Ling truly felt the pressure of graduation season.

Fortunately, she still had two years of graduate school to “leech off” her parents, so she didn’t have to worry about making a living just yet.

Jiang Ling picked up the beer can beside her leg, tilted her head back for a swig, and lazily patted her chest as she let out a drunken burp.

Thinking about all those numbers she’d encountered during her undergraduate years reminded her of the boy she’d had a crush on in high school. He wasn’t normal—imagine someone studying mathematics.

Unbelievable.

Jiang Ling pursed her lips, shouldered her bag, and headed back to her apartment to sleep.

The next morning, when she woke up, it was time to rush to the airport. Jiang Ling rechecked the luggage she had packed days before. Just as she walked out, she received a call from her mother.

“Yes, I’m about to head to the airport now,” Jiang Ling said as she locked the door, running her hand through her long hair. “I know, I’ll be careful, won’t take rides from strangers, won’t wander around late at night. You’ve been telling me this since I was little—I could recite it backward.”

After chatting briefly, Jiang Ling had to catch her flight and hung up.

Her mood had been fluctuating in the days since graduation. At night, her thoughts would run wild and her emotions would plummet, but by morning, it seemed like nothing mattered anymore, as if her previous night’s emotions were just unnecessary drama.

She let out a long breath, turned off her phone, and watched the city grow smaller as the plane took off.

The flight lasted 9 hours, and she caught up on sleep.

After leaving the airport, she called a car and went directly to the dormitory apartment she had rented in advance. It was a four-person room, and when she walked in, the other three girls were already there—all from the same school, one Chinese and the other two blonde, blue-eyed Western girls.

Everyone enthusiastically introduced themselves.

After chatting with everyone for a while, Jiang Ling carried her luggage into her bedroom to organize things. A moment later, the girl living next door knocked twice and walked in.

This Chinese girl was named He Nan. She wore a short-sleeved crop top tied beneath her chest, paired with high-waisted pants that accentuated her figure perfectly, like a slender-limbed spider spirit.

The “spider spirit” leaned against the doorframe, smiling at her: “Jiang Ling baby, want to go out and play tonight?”

The first five words immediately confused Jiang Ling: “Huh?”

The “spider spirit” narrowed her eyes, instantly transforming into a fox spirit, swaying the fox tail behind her as she said: “There’s a hotel next to our school, heard it’s full of handsome guys. Want to go?”

He Nan was incredibly beautiful, and her way of speaking was enticing. Looking at her, Jiang Ling inexplicably nodded: “I… sure.”

He Nan curved her eyes, closed Jiang Ling’s door, leaving behind a light: “I’ll come get you tonight, baby.”

Jiang Ling: “…”

After tidying her room, she sent a message to Shi Niannian to meet up. Shi Niannian was the only person she knew in this city.

The two chatted at a tea restaurant until the afternoon, when Shi Niannian had to leave for other matters. Jiang Ling wandered around for a while before returning to the apartment.

The sky had begun to darken, and He Nan was already applying makeup.

Hearing movement at the door, she turned to look, smiling at Jiang Ling: “You’re back, you can start doing your makeup now. Later, big sister will take you out to play.”

Jiang Ling moved beside her, leaning in to take a closer look.

The fox spirit’s eyelashes were curled and long, with fine extensions attached. When she blinked, they were like little fans, fluttering. Her eyeliner flicked up at the corners, her skin was white with a rosy tint, and she wore a camisole with an eye-catching neckline.

Jiang Ling clicked her tongue: “You’re going with makeup like this?”

The fox spirit let out a matter-of-fact “hmph”: “Of course, this is how you go to a bar.”

Jiang Ling usually wore makeup too, and her technique was decent, but it was always light makeup, nothing like He Nan’s.

He Nan glanced at her and smiled: “I’ll do your makeup.”

Not only did He Nan do Jiang Ling’s makeup, but she also put together an outfit for her—a sequined mini dress that revealed her slender collarbones and back, strikingly white.

“Your skin is so fair, this looks good on you,” He Nan said, looking at her.

By evening, their two other roommates joined them at the bar. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by dazzling laser lights and pounding beats that matched their heartbeats.

The dance floor was filled with swaying waists and hips, and a thin layer of white mist permeated the air, with lights cutting through it.

Jiang Ling followed He Nan inside.

As the group passed through the crowd, many eyes turned toward them. Several men openly complimented them, asking if they could join them for drinks.

He Nan smiled, politely apologized, and declined.

After finding seats, Jiang Ling sat on a high stool and gazed around at the crowd.

He Nan ordered several drinks, and the four girls sat together chatting.

Jiang Ling didn’t particularly enjoy places so loud that one had to shout to be heard. She half-listened to her roommates’ conversation while absently scrolling through her phone.

The drink He Nan ordered for her had a sweet, fruity flavor and went down easily.

Being bored, she drank quickly. Soon, four glasses were empty. He Nan glanced at her, smiling: “Your alcohol tolerance is pretty good.”

Jiang Ling shrugged, not feeling the slightest bit tipsy: “It’s alright.”

However, ten minutes later, she understood—the drink may have tasted sweet going down, but the aftereffect was terrifying.

So when He Nan nudged her with an elbow, pointing to the other side and whispering in her ear, “Look, there’s a handsome guy over there,” she saw a familiar face.

Xu Zhilin.

Two Xu Zhilins.

Jiang Ling knew she was drunk.

“He looks like he might be Chinese too,” He Nan said, resting her chin on her hand, narrowing her eyes slightly. She patted Jiang Ling’s shoulder seriously, “Based on my years of experience, he’s an absolute hottie.”

The man was surrounded by many others, apparently at a gathering. He wore a white shirt, and under the sweeping laser lights, through the thin fabric, one could see the broad shoulders and narrow waist beneath.

He sat lazily, his long, slender fingers holding a glass, the amber liquid inside shimmering with colorful reflections in the light. His chin was slightly tilted back, a faint smile hanging on his face, looking vaguely tipsy as well.

He Nan tapped Jiang Ling’s head: “What’s wrong? Why are you staring?”

She curled her lips in a slight smile. “What, is he your type?”

Jiang Ling wasn’t sure if she was seeing Xu Zhilin, but the evidence proved that after all these years, her type hadn’t changed at all. She still thought the man before her was radiantly handsome.

So handsome that her alcohol-stimulated adrenaline instantly shot to the peak.

Jiang Ling hesitated and said: “…I think I’ve seen him before.”

He Nan burst out laughing: “You’re so cute. What’s the use of telling me this pickup line? You should go say it to him. Though I suggest not using such a cheesy line with a guy like that.”

Jiang Ling turned to look at her: “I’m not going to hit on him.”

“Really?” He Nan raised an eyebrow, her fox-like eyes narrowing, “If you don’t go, I will.”

Jiang Ling muttered: “You don’t even like his type.”

“Oh, but I do,” she said, her slender fingers supporting her face, tapping her cheek. “If you don’t make a move, I will.”

Jiang Ling: “…”

The man in the distance curled his lips into a smile, said something to the person beside him, and those captivating eyes curved, like a boat sailing gently into one’s heart.

Jiang Ling slammed her hand on the bar counter and ordered two more drinks.

He Nan smiled and asked: “Made up your mind?”

Jiang Ling: “I’ll go after I finish these.”

Drinking for courage.

Besides, what was the big deal about greeting her former math teacher? He was just a math teacher. It was perfectly normal to say hello when meeting in a foreign country.

Jiang Ling gulped down one glass while trying to persuade herself.

Today, as soon as Xu Zhilin finished his class, several good friends invited him here. One of them was getting married tomorrow, so this was sort of a last bachelor party.

Among the group, after tomorrow’s wedding, Xu Zhilin would be the only one still unmarried. Tonight, everyone seemed to have agreed to force him to drink.

Drunk or sober, Xu Zhilin didn’t show much difference. From outward appearances, there was almost no distinction. He didn’t get red in the face or neck, and his speech remained clear and coherent.

“Zhilin, you have to drink this glass. You’re the only one here who goes home to no one. Cherish these last moments of freedom,” one of his friends said in English.

Xu Zhilin waved his hand, but after being urged by everyone, he had no choice but to down another glass.

He put the empty glass on the table and got up, pushing past several friends to go to the bathroom.

Just as he stepped out from the booth and looked up, he saw a girl in a silver sequined spaghetti strap dress walking toward him. She had probably had too much to drink and couldn’t walk steadily, but her gaze was fixed directly on him, as determined as if she were going to devour him.

Xu Zhilin looked at her for a moment, then lowered his head and smiled faintly.

Jiang Ling swayed as she finally reached him. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips moist and red, accentuated by the large expanse of fair skin exposed, making her even more eye-catching.

Even though he was quite intoxicated, Xu Zhilin was more composed than she was. He looked up past the girl and saw another girl sitting on a high stool, smiling and watching them.

She had been encouraged to come over and chat him up.

Xu Zhilin had encountered such scenarios many times.

He reached out to steady the swaying girl, gripping her bare arm before quickly releasing it and putting his hand back in his pocket, saying softly: “Be careful, don’t fall.”

Jiang Ling looked at her arm where he had gripped it, her eyes widening slightly, and then heard a familiar yet distant voice, with a detached yet polite tone.

She looked up: “Xu Zhilin, don’t you remember who I am?”

Xu Zhilin raised an eyebrow. The alcohol made his whole demeanor somewhat languid. He leaned slightly forward, approaching Jiang Ling, smiling mischievously: “So you know me, huh?”