Shi Sui never expected that the Theodore incident would have a sequel.

The next morning, just as she woke up, she received a very long anonymous email in her inbox. Using the PDF format, most popular in study-abroad circles, it dug up and sent her all of Theodore’s dark history from high school to now – alcoholism, fighting, promiscuity, and making girls get abortions.

Everything was detailed and comprehensive – there were even chat messages between him and friends about sleeping with her within three months.

At the end of the email, that anonymous person left her a malicious message: [Looking at this kind of trash, are your eyes blind?]

Shi Sui was incredibly shocked.

Who exactly had Theodore offended?

Recalling last night’s crazy supercar, Shi Sui suspected it might be some girlfriend Theodore had wronged before.

She didn’t understand why they had to curse her out, too.

Her fingers tapped the keyboard in dissatisfaction: [Then you’re not much better either]

Just as she was about to send it, her movement suddenly stopped, and she silently deleted what she was going to reply.

Thinking of that person’s reckless behavior last night, she’d better not provoke someone whose mental state wasn’t quite normal.

When she told Zhou Xuyan about this, the latter was also dumbfounded: “…What kind of psycho did he offend?”

Shi Sui also felt afraid, thinking back on this absurd experience: “Probably some ex-girlfriend.”

“America is still as chaotic as ever,” Zhou Xuyan sighed while saying, “Sui Sui, you should come back home soon. It’s safer here.”

Shi Sui had exactly this intention. Recently, this thought has been growing stronger and stronger.

“I still have one year left in my program, but I’ve already completed my credits ahead of schedule,” she considered for a moment, then said gently, “I can apply for a domestic internship with my professor during summer vacation, stay until next year, then just come back to get my diploma.”

“Really?! You’re planning to come back!” Zhou Xuyan jumped up from the sofa upon hearing this, beaming with joy. “Great, great! I can go shopping and hang out with you again. I’m so sick of those plastic sisters.”

“But I,” Shi Sui paused, saying somewhat apologetically, “might have to return to Hangzhou. My parents are there.”

After reacting for a while, Zhou Xuyan remembered that Shi Sui’s family was no longer in Beijing.

“Ah, oh.” Her face immediately fell.

“But we can still meet quickly,” Shi Sui hurried to comfort her. “By plane or high-speed rail, just a few hours and we’ll see each other.”

“True,” Zhou Xuyan was immediately pacified. “It’s still better than you being in America.”

After saying this, Zhou Xuyan looked at Shi Sui, thought for a long time, but still didn’t tell her that Yan Tingli had already built Zhilian Future’s headquarters building in Hangzhou.

After all, she was finally coming back – there was no need to add unnecessary worries.

When Zhou Xuyan learned that Yan Tingli was going to Hangzhou, she had also suspected his motives.

But soon, after hearing about the policy benefits and resource treatment Hangzhou offered, she gradually dismissed her doubts.

It shouldn’t be that.

Shi Sui had been avoiding him for so many years – even the deepest obsession should have faded by now.

After deciding to return home, Shi Sui’s somewhat gloomy mood suddenly became as bright as California sunshine.

She quickly and actively submitted internship offers to animation companies in Hangzhou, waiting for responses.

At the end of March, while still in the school corridor, Shi Sui saw Theodore, who still had gauze taped to his ear.

Seeing her, his expression froze, his face suddenly became very ugly, he quickly looked away and almost ran off.

Looking like he couldn’t avoid her fast enough.

Shi Sui stood there inexplicably for a while, thinking he probably already knew she had received that PDF.

Probably embarrassed, she thought.

Shi Sui quickly put this matter behind her because she received emails back from several domestic companies.

Her resume had many award-winning works and rich internship experience, so all the company HRs were very enthusiastic.

Compared to the maturity of foreign animation, domestic animation has only shown relatively obvious development in recent years.

Animation production required high standards for technology, funding, and time. A high-quality work might not recoup its investment for years.

After picking and choosing, Shi Sui still selected Guangmei Studio, which had classic animated works and was backed by a major capital company.

She thought, at least they wouldn’t terminate projects due to being too poor.

After everything was settled, Shi Sui video-called her parents to tell them the news of her upcoming return home.

After she happily finished speaking and looked up, she met two expressionless faces on the screen.

Shi Sui blinked, softened her voice, and put on an innocent expression: “…What’s wrong, my dear mom and dad?”

Li Yin, who hadn’t seen her for nearly three years, sneered: “Drawing what kind of pie for your mom again.”

Even Shi Yue, who was usually smiling and pleasant, turned down the corners of his mouth and snorted: “How many times is enough for the boy who cried wolf story?”

“Anyway, someone’s been playing wild outside.”

“Long forgotten her empty-nest parents across the ocean.”

The two sang in harmony, quite sarcastically.

Shi Sui cupped her face and giggled.

She seriously used her phone to show them the internship offer email. Only then did the two suddenly jump up from the sofa and crowd close to the camera to look.

Then they broke into happy smiles: “You’re coming back?!”

Shi Sui nodded heavily, laughing: “Mm, the company isn’t far from home, just two subway stops.”

Li Yin frowned: “What about from Bocui Yunwan?”

Eh? Bocui Yunwan? That expensive residential area?

Shi Sui thought about it and said: “That’s still a bit far, probably need to transfer a few more subway stops. What’s wrong?”

“We haven’t told you about this yet,” Li Yin said with a smile. “The current house is too small. The year before last, your dad and I bought a new house in Bocui Yunwan. It just finished renovating last year, so you can move in when you come back.”

“The distance doesn’t matter – we’ll have your dad buy you a car.”

Shi Sui was stunned in place.

Their family was this wealthy now?

She blinked: “Can I not work when I go back?”

Probably because her expression was adorably mischievous, Li Yin couldn’t help laughing: “Wake up, there’s still some distance before our Sui Sui becomes a rich second generation. This house is still…”

At this moment, the entire video suddenly froze, and Li Yin’s following words couldn’t be heard clearly.

This hadn’t happened for a long time. Shi Sui was first stunned, then her heart suddenly sank, and some cold sweat broke out on her back.

But it was only a few seconds before the video returned to normal.

Li Yin, across from her, saw her dazed expression: “What’s wrong?”

Shi Sui: “The video just froze for a moment.”

Li Yin’s expression was very natural: “Normal, after all, we’re so far apart.”

True.

Shi Sui calmed down again, feeling she was overthinking, and couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly.

How narcissistic would she have to be to think that the current Yan Tingli would still have the leisure to monitor her?

Coming back to her senses, Shi Sui told her parents the specific date of her return.

To buy cheap plane tickets, she had selected her return date several months in advance.

Both parents were elated. Li Yin even immediately picked up her phone, saying she would book their favorite Hangzhou cuisine restaurant right now and take her for a feast as soon as she got off the plane.

Shi Sui watched her parents with laughing eyes as California’s sunshine warmly shone on her.

The excitement and joy in her heart couldn’t be suppressed. She hugged a pillow and rolled around on the carpet like she was having fun: “So happy!”

It was a deep night domestically.

In April weather, the nights were still somewhat chilly.

In the darkness, only the bedroom’s giant projection screen emitted light.

On the screen was Shi Sui from across the ocean.

Sunshine fell on her brows and eyes, and on her beautiful, delicate face was an extremely bright smile.

A soft laugh came from the quiet space.

Cold white finger bones slowly ran through smooth fur as the cat lying on the young man’s long legs contentedly squinted its eyes.

Suddenly.

It was lifted by its front paws by its owner, meeting his dark pupils.

So bright they seemed to glow.

Smiling eyes.

But Ping’an’s ears still instinctively flattened back, becoming airplane ears.

So scary, meow.

“Your mommy is coming back.”

“…”

“Doesn’t Ping’an always feel bored?”

He gently stroked its spine.

“…”

“Then daddy will lock mommy at home to keep Ping’an company, okay?”

He suddenly laughed uncontrollably.

So scary, meow!

Ping’an couldn’t stand it anymore and extended its litter-burying paw to press against his opening and closing mouth.

The next day, the entire mechanically operating Zhilian Future technical department unusually got off work on time.

Since the “CN” model went online, daily registrations increased exponentially. The system couldn’t support such large data volumes and required daily expansion. Besides this, they also had to spend time training larger, more intelligent models.

The entire technical department was barely alive. If not for the annual salary truly matching this workload, few people could last three days under Yan Tingli.

Gao Linhan, who had stayed up several all-nighters, looked with confused eyes at Yan Tingli announcing they could leave work.

After graduation, he was recruited to the company headquarters by Yan Tingli with a high salary.

Being valued by his former rival, Gao Linhan, surprisingly, gave him a very cheap sense of being honored.

Then he heard that person say with boredom: “Picked through them all – they’re all idiots. You’re the only normal person.”

Gao Linhan with an IQ of 170: “…”

Also staying up all night, some people were workhorses, others were male models – Gao Linhan looked at himself, then cast a resentful glance at him.

Days of continuous work and fatigue hadn’t dimmed this face in the slightest.

“Let’s go.” Yan Tingli threw off his lab coat.

Gao Linhan: “Huh?”

“Drinking.”

“You want me to accompany you?” Gao Linhan was quite shocked.

This young master always came and went alone, close to no one, yet he was inviting him for drinks?

“Going or not.” Yan Tingli became impatient.

“Going, going, going.” Gao Linhan remembered the sixty-thousand-yuan bottle of wine from years ago, still savoring the aftertaste.

He couldn’t help saying: “That bottle of wine last time was really amazing,” he gave a thumbs up, “absolutely amazing.”

“Is that so?”

Recalling campus days, Gao Linhan’s lips also curved up. While talking, he followed behind Yan Tingli, eagerly getting into his luxury car, excitedly examining the interior.

“Right, do you still remember? You gave that bottle of wine to Shi Sui in the end. Later, I asked Jing if she had tasted it, but Jing said she never saw Shi Sui bring it back, didn’t know what she did with it.”

As soon as he finished speaking, an amused laugh came from beside him.

He turned to see Yan Tingli’s pale red lips curved up, eyes narrowed, as if recalling something that made him happy, his tone strangely pleased: “You probably could never guess.”

The driver started the engine. Gao Linhan leaned back comfortably, sighing as he looked out the window: “True, that girl Shi Sui always plays disappearing acts. You can’t even contact her when you want to.”

“Jing said that since Shi Sui went abroad for an exchange, she’s been like she evaporated from the world. It’s been several years without a peep.”

As soon as he finished, a cold chuckle came from beside him: “A liar through and through.”

“…?” Gao Linhan suddenly turned to look at him. How did he start cursing people?

“Isn’t that right?” Yan Tingli smiled at him. “Don’t you think that kind of person deserves punishment?”

Gao Linhan was stunned, taking it as a joke: “Fine, if we meet her again next time, we’ll make her drink three penalty cups.”

“Mm, good idea.” Yan Tingli looked out the window, his lip curving deeper.

After all, the red wine still flowed out of her.

It would taste better.

Although Gao Linhan was mentally prepared for Yan Tingli’s wealth, when he arrived at Yan Tingli’s mansion in Hangzhou, he was still shocked again and again.

Huge sheets of glass spanned the entire living room without a single visible seam, offering a full view of the lake scenery.

Gao Linhan knew this type of glass – Apple’s flagship stores used this design, with each panel costing at least a million yuan.

Looking at the interior, all the tech-smart home furnishings were like entering a future world. Sitting on the sofa, just opening your mouth could command robots to do anything.

Gao Linhan knew these were the company’s trial 3.0 version robots, not yet widely deployed, only being tested in a few executives’ homes.

The former Qisheng Technology had focused on smart homes, but the technology wasn’t mature then – version 1.0 could only understand simple commands.

But the current 3.0, integrated with the “CN” model, had reached near-human or even superhuman intelligence levels.

“Good evening, Mr. Yan. I’m a smart butler, Little Snail. What can I do for you?”

Yan Tingli: “I want the red wine from the B2 room on the third floor of the wine cellar.”

“Yes, Mr. Yan.”

Soon, the 3.0 controlled delivery robots to bring red wine from the underground wine cellar.

It was Burgundy, costing over a hundred thousand per bottle.

Gao Linhan was amazed and couldn’t help saying: “Call me for this kind of activity next time too.”

Rich red wine poured into glasses, reflecting Yan Tingli’s slightly upturned eye corners: “Next time won’t work.”

“Huh?” Gao Linhan took a sip, inevitably disappointed.

“I’ll have someone else to accompany me.”

“That would be,” Yan Tingli casually clinked glasses with him, the brightness in his eyes almost impossible to hide as he said word by word: “Someone I’ve been thinking about for a very, very long time.”

Yan Tingli kept his emotions deeply hidden, or rather, he always seemed to be in a bad mood every day, distant as if thousands of miles away.

This time, even Gao Linhan could feel he was very happy.

It was the kind of joy that wasn’t obvious at first glance, but if you got slightly closer, you could detect it, as if even his soul was trembling with delight.

Gao Linhan couldn’t help but tease curiously: “Who is it, that legendary ex-girlfriend?”

As soon as these words came out, Yan Tingli’s lip corners retracted, suddenly became expressionless.

He looked at him coldly: “Who told you it was an ex-girlfriend?”

“…”

Seems like that relationship didn’t end pleasantly.

Realizing he’d stepped on a landmine, Gao Linhan coughed lightly to change the subject: “Let’s not talk about it—”

“I didn’t agree.”

Yan Tingli suddenly slammed down his wine glass.

“Huh?”

Gao Linhan noticed that while he was still sipping and savoring slowly, Yan Tingli had already downed several glasses.

He kept sneering: “I never agreed, so what breakup?”

Gao Linhan took a while to react, then realized he’d learned an earth-shattering secret.

My god… Yan Tingli was the one who got dumped?! What kind of divine woman had such great powers?

Yan Tingli said nothing more.

He had drunk too fast, and this wine was high in alcohol content, so the effects came quickly.

When Gao Linhan looked back, he was supporting his head with his hand, eyelashes lowered, casting shadows. He seemed somewhat drunk – otherwise he wouldn’t let such obvious sad emotions overflow.

Gao Linhan gently clinked glasses with him.

By the time he had carefully finished one glass of wine, Yan Tingli was already unconsciously drunk, his head buried in the sofa blanket.

“I’m leaving then?”

He called out but heard no response.

Asleep?

The entire residence was temperature-controlled and extremely comfortable. He wouldn’t get sick lying there.

And he didn’t like others touching him.

So Gao Linhan prepared to leave.

At this moment.

A mumbled sound came from behind: “Sui Sui.”

“What?”

Gao Linhan didn’t hear clearly.

“Now, you are Sui Sui.”

Huh? What Sui Sui? Who?

Before Gao Linhan’s brain could process this, he heard the 3.0 emit a voice he was extremely familiar with – Shi Sui?!

“I’m here, Brother Tingli.” ???

Gao Linhan’s pupils shook repeatedly.

After several seconds, a muffled sound came from the sofa.

“Say you love me.”

“I love you, Brother Tingli.”

He suddenly giggled, “You’re not Sui Sui.”

“I am Sui Sui.”

“Liar.”

His voice was very low: “She wouldn’t say she loves me.”

The 3.0 seemed to malfunction, responding sluggishly after several seconds.

Then said: “I don’t understand what you’re saying. Please give new instructions.”

Yan Tingli’s head buried even deeper, making no more sounds.

Gao Linhan, who had gotten a mouthful of gossip by the door, couldn’t close his mouth.

He instinctively felt this was another side of Yan Tingli that he didn’t want people to know. Afraid he’d settle accounts after sobering up, he hurriedly and quietly closed the door and left.

Shi Sui packed her luggage at the end of July and boarded the plane from Los Angeles back to Hangzhou.

This time it was quite coincidental – after more than ten hours of flight, landing in Hangzhou happened to be on her birthday.

Looking at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, Shi Sui could no longer contain her joyful mood.

Full of anticipation, she put on her eye mask, preparing to open her eyes again to return to her homeland and see her parents’ faces.

And several days earlier in Hangzhou.

Li Yin specially went to Zhilian Future Building to personally deliver an invitation to Yan Tingli, saying gently, “Sui Sui will be back in a couple of days. Old Shi and I discussed it and plan to hold a small housewarming party in half a month. This house was possible thanks to your help, Xiao Li. If you’re free, you must come.”

Behind the office desk, the young man working wore half-frame glasses, his expression reserved and cold, but when he looked at her, he showed a spring-like smile.

His slender fingers carefully received the invitation: “Of course I’ll come to Uncle and Auntie’s housewarming.”

“Moreover,” he slowly raised his eyes and smiled at her again, “I also haven’t seen Shi Sui for a very, very long time.”

“Don’t mention you – we haven’t seen her for ages either.” Li Yin shook her head and sighed. “This girl used to miss home quite a bit when she was little. After going abroad once, I don’t know what happened to her – only now is she willing to come back.”

“It’s okay,” Yan Tingli played with the invitation, “Once she’s back, she won’t leave again.”

Li Yin: “True.”

“What day does she land?” Yan Tingli’s tone was casual.

“July 28th.” Li Yin smiled. “That day happens to be her birthday too.”

Yan Tingli propped his chin, saying leisurely, “Double happiness. Should invite more people to celebrate.”

“Actually,” he seemed to suddenly remember something, curving his lips, “My parents will be coming to Hangzhou that day to inspect the company. They seem not to have seen Shi Sui for a long time either – they mentioned it a while back.”

Hearing this, Li Yin couldn’t help but feel dazed.

Right, Sui Sui had left in such a hurry back then, she didn’t even properly say goodbye to the Yan family parents. It was impolite.

Now that she was back, it was such a coincidence.

If there was a chance to gather together and thank the Yan family for their kindness, wouldn’t that be even better?

So Li Yin hurriedly said, “I happened to have reserved a private room at Yi Lanshan that day. If Xiao Li and your whole family are free—”

“Naturally, we’ll all be free.” Yan Tingli winked at her lightly, a slight curve at his lips.

Even if they weren’t free, they’d make themselves free.

“Then I’ll go back and have Old Shi call your father to arrange the time early.”

Yan Tingli said unhurriedly: “Good.”

He escorted Li Yin out of the office, watching her back until she disappeared.

Only then could he finally not restrain himself.

Leaning against the doorway, trembling laughter came from his chest, though his expression remained ice-cold.

“Sui Sui.” He murmured her name softly.

Thinking of any expression that might appear on her face when they met again, he almost felt impatient.

“Surprise.”