At this moment, Shi Sui felt like a ball of yarn being maliciously toyed with under someone’s claws.

Blood rushed to her brain, and she almost cursed “fuck” out loud like those street hip-hop kids abroad.

Turning her head, she heard footsteps from outside and remembered her parents were still home.

She could only endure it, pressing her lips tightly together, tearing the note to shreds, and throwing it in the trash can along with the handcuffs.

But after the impulse passed, Shi Sui had to grimly pick up the handcuffs again – what if the trash bag was taken out by her mother without her knowing? If she saw the handcuffs, there would be no way to explain.

So Shi Sui threw the handcuffs into the drawer by her bed and locked it.

Then she lay exhausted in this little room she’d lived in since childhood.

Staring at the ceiling for a long time to calm down, the restless agitation in her chest finally eased.

She began to calmly recall the details of today’s dinner, bit by bit.

The most incomprehensible part was Song Jie’s words trying to set her up with Yan Tingli.

Had she been coerced? Shi Sui couldn’t help but suspect.

But Yan Tingli’s indifferent attitude, and the fact that he showed no reaction even after hearing she’d been in contact with other men made her hesitate again.

After thinking it over, she couldn’t conclude.

Shi Sui simply stopped thinking about it, treating it as false pleasantries from Song Jie.

Anyway, now she was back with her parents, no longer dependent on others, and about to become financially independent.

Even if Yan Tingli threatened her with past events and announced them to the world, she wouldn’t be afraid anymore.

They had slept together – so what? In America, countless people slept together right after meeting.

And having slept with someone of Yan Tingli’s caliber, outsiders would think she was the one who profited.

Thinking this through, Shi Sui felt the whole world suddenly brighten.

Right, she had been making a mountain out of a molehill.

Yan Tingli could only use these petty tricks to scare her now.

Thinking of Yan Tingli’s vile behavior, Shi Sui angrily burrowed into her covers, and the years of accumulated longing almost completely vanished.

Indeed, exes should only be admired from afar.

Just as she was about to close her eyes and rest.

Her door was gently knocked, and Li Yin’s voice came: “Sui Sui, are you asleep?”

Shi Sui poked her head out from under the covers: “Not yet.”

“Then Mommy’s coming in now.”

“Okay.”

Li Yin brought her a cup of warm water, glanced at the air conditioner, pressed it twice to raise the temperature, and sat by the bed: “I came to chat with you.”

“Mm?”

“What you said at dinner today about having contact with boys – was that true?”

“More or less,” Shi Sui answered.

Afraid her parents would keep asking questions, Shi Sui had never mentioned meeting Theodore to them.

Now that it was completely over, Shi Sui briefly and selectively talked about it, but didn’t mention the PDF incident, only summarizing it as incompatible personalities.

“What kind of boys does Sui Sui like then?” Li Yin couldn’t help wondering. “You’re already twenty-three – you really could try dating boys.”

Shi Sui: “I’m only twenty-three and you’re already anxious?”

Li Yin said helplessly, “Of course, Mommy isn’t pressuring you to marry, I just hope you’ll try the feeling of being in love at your best age.”

Shi Sui looked at the ceiling and said thoughtfully, “I like gentle boys with stable emotions.”

“Isn’t that easy to find?”

Li Yin searched in her mind, and many faces immediately came to mind – all decent young men she knew.

But one person was so exceptionally outstanding that all the others paled in comparison.

She couldn’t help but think of what Song Jie had said tonight.

She’d initially thought it was a joke, but after dinner, this usually noble and reserved Mrs. Yan had pulled her aside and mentioned this matter a second time.

Li Yin still didn’t quite dare believe it: “Xiao Li is so excellent, there must be many girls who like him. How could our Sui Sui be worthy?”

But Song Jie still insisted on her viewpoint, wanting the two of them to try.

Her words made Li Yin’s heart flutter – after all, everyone wanted the best for their child.

Which boy around her could compare to Yan Tingli?

Now that she saw her daughter’s requirements were so simple, Li Yin felt relieved.

Gentle and emotionally stable.

Which of these didn’t Yan Tingli possess?

So she said, “What do you think of Xiao Li?”

Shi Sui’s eyebrow jumped as she said in horror, “Mom, why would you ask about him?”

“What your Aunt Song said today, thinking about it carefully, isn’t completely impossible. After all, our Sui Sui is also very excellent—”

Shi Sui immediately dispelled this terrifying thought of Mrs. Li’s, waving her hands repeatedly: “No, not suitable.”

“Where’s the unsuitability?”

“He’s not gentle at all, and his emotions are very unstable.” Shi Sui said coldly.

She really couldn’t help wanting to expose this person’s disguise.

“…Ah?”

Li Yin was confused. Were they talking about the same person?

“Anyway, he’s not a good person.” Shi Sui waved her hand, urgently wanting to end the topic. “I’m tired. Good night, Mommy.”

Seeing her quickly wrap herself in the covers, leaving only her head exposed.

Li Yin laughed.

She couldn’t help but guess that these two might have had some kind of quarrel before.

She knew Sui Sui – outwardly obedient but very grudge-holding. Maybe something had upset her in her teens, and she still remembered it now.

Still childish thinking. She shook her head and turned to leave.

“Click,” the room door gently closed, and the room fell into darkness.

Only in the tightly locked drawer did the pink handcuffs emit a faint flickering light, barely visible.

Outside the huge glass window, the entire city’s night view could be seen.

But inside remained dim, with only the phone screen emitting light. The voice inside gradually weakened, replaced by even breathing sounds.

Yan Tingli closed the app.

Slowly enunciating: “Sui Sui.”

“I’m here, Brother Tingli.”

On the sofa, his finger bones casually scratched the cat’s chin as he asked very puzzledly: “Am I not gentle enough, not emotionally stable enough?”

“I was so good to you today.”

I didn’t even grab you as soon as I saw you.

The 3.0: “You are the most gentle, Brother Tingli.”

Yan Tingli’s lip corners curved in a satisfied arc.

Then his tone suddenly deepened: “So where exactly are we unsuitable?”

The 3.0 was silent for a moment: “We’re suitable everywhere, Brother Tingli.”

Yan Tingli’s chest trembled slightly, emitting pleased laughter.

Lowering his eyelashes, casting shadows: “If only she could be like you, saying things that make me happy. Then there wouldn’t be any problems, would there?”

The 3.0: “Making Mr. Yan happy is my duty.”

But Yan Tingli suddenly seemed to lose interest.

Looking thoughtfully at Ping’an’s contentedly sleeping head, he suddenly ruffled its fur backward.

Ping’an’s body was lifted, meeting its owner’s eyes.

“Do you miss your mommy?”

“…”

“I know you miss her very much.”

“…”

“Soon, Mommy can come keep you company.”

“…”

So noisy, saying it eight hundred times a day.

Ping’an closed its eyes, its tail swishing impatiently.

To adjust to the time difference, Shi Sui rested at home for a week.

During this time, she bought a new domestic phone number, created WeChat, and wanted to gradually contact her old friends.

But currently, she only had Su Han and Zhou Xuyan’s contact information.

Shi Sui was first called Su Han.

After graduation, Su Han had first traveled the world for a year, only recently returning home. Quite coincidentally, she was also preparing to find work and settle in Hangzhou.

“Because everyone’s in Hangzhou, and my dad often stays in both places,” Su Han said on the phone. “It would be so boring for me to be alone in Beijing.”

They immediately arranged to meet at an offline café.

“You’re planning to work at Guangmei Studio?” Hearing about Shi Sui’s internship offer, Su Han looked thoughtful.

“Yes,” Shi Sui sipped her coffee. “I quite liked that animated film they made a few years ago – the production was very sophisticated.”

“It’s not impossible. Guangmei is backed by a big company and has real strength.” Su Han knew some inside information. “But I heard the work atmosphere isn’t good – there’s quite a bit of internal fighting between teams, and several teams have lost people. Plus, they’ve had several big production flops in recent years and are quite short on money.”

Shi Sui didn’t know these details and was a bit stunned: “…Ah.”

“But you’re just interning – if it’s not good, just leave. No big deal.” Su Han comforted her.

Shi Sui could only nod: “I’ll go take a look.”

As if suddenly remembering something, Su Han said out of the blue: “Xue Jing told me about these inside details – she just jumped ship from Guangmei.”

Hearing this old friend’s name again, Shi Sui’s expression froze, and she couldn’t help asking: “How have Jing and Anran been these years?”

“Pretty good. Lin Anran teaches at a high school in her hometown’s provincial capital, and Xue Jing came to Hangzhou, just quit to go to Xinmu – also an established big company.”

Shi Sui had heard of it too. She nodded thoughtfully.

Her hand tightened then loosened on the iced coffee cup: “Could you give me their contact information?”

“Of course, I’ll send it to you.” Su Han tapped her phone screen.

After sending it, she looked up to see Shi Sui’s somewhat anxious expression and couldn’t help but hold her hand comfortingly: “It’s fine – just coax them a bit. Girls are all soft-hearted.”

Shi Sui looked at her, warmth moistening her eyes as she nodded vigorously.

Online communication ultimately wasn’t as sincere as face-to-face. After getting their WeChat contacts, Shi Sui didn’t immediately reach out, planning to wait until the weekend to arrange a meeting.

She never expected that the next day, when Shi Sui went to Guangmei to report, she would run right into Xue Jing.

Compared to college, where she’d always worn a high ponytail and been energetic, the current Xue Jing had big waves, wore shirt and pencil pants, and had become much more capable and mature overall – transformed into the urban professional woman she’d always wanted to be.

It was Shi Sui’s first day reporting, and she’d almost been late because she wasn’t familiar with the domestic subway procedures.

Seeing the elevator about to close, she ran over: “Wait!”

There were still kind people who pressed the open button for her.

Entering the elevator, Shi Sui exhaled deeply, looking up sincerely: “Thank you…”

The next second, all her remaining words stuck in her throat, her eyelashes trembling slightly: “…Jing?”

Xue Jing had recognized her long ago, her lip line pressed tight.

She didn’t speak for a long while.

Shi Sui felt some sourness spreading in her heart, habitually reaching out to coax her, but Xue Jing avoided her.

Her hand froze in mid-air.

At this moment, the elevator door opened.

Xue Jing seemed to be getting off this floor, appearing ready to leave directly.

But before leaving, she couldn’t help but glance at her once, dropping a line: “If you don’t give me an explanation, I won’t acknowledge you.”

After saying this, she snorted coldly and walked away.

Though she left without looking back, the gloom on Shi Sui’s face faded, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Su Han was right – girls were always the easiest to coax.

Saying she wouldn’t acknowledge her, but she still did.

On her first day reporting, it was mainly about familiarizing herself with the work environment.

Regarding her A University undergraduate and overseas master’s background, HR introduced her extensively, and Shi Sui received quite a bit of scrutiny from colleagues.

“Xiao Shi, this is Team Leader Fu Ze. He’ll mentor you from now on.”

Shi Sui greeted him: “Hello, Team Leader Fu.”

The man across from her looked young, around thirty.

His gaze lingered on her face for a long time before he slowly extended his hand with a warm smile: “Let’s work hard together.”

Shi Sui shook hands briefly.

When withdrawing her hand, she felt the sticky sweat from his palm.

She liked to keep her hands dry when drawing, so she took advantage of a break to wash her hands in the restroom.

Nothing much happened on the first day, and she left work right on time.

Shi Sui immediately added Xue Jing and invited her to dinner.

Xue Jing wasn’t polite either, meeting directly at a barbecue restaurant in the adjacent mall.

Her gaze toward Shi Sui was still ice-cold, but her hands never stopped grilling meat, coldly placing several pieces for her.

Shi Sui bit her chopsticks, smiling as she watched her.

“Still not talking?”

Shi Sui collected her expression: “I’m sorry.”

Xue Jing put down her chopsticks: “I don’t accept.”

Shi Sui said earnestly, “I’ve been missing you all these years.”

“Who believes that?” Xue Jing crossed her arms.

Shi Sui paused and said, “I was just hiding from someone.”

Xue Jing’s expression changed: “What do you mean? Did your family owe loan sharks?”

Shi Sui laughed: “No.”

She omitted Yan Tingli’s name and briefly explained the whole story.

Hearing this, how could Xue Jing remember to be angry? She stared with wide, horrified eyes: “Huh? You dated a mafia boss? You could still be discovered while hiding abroad?”

“Anyway, someone powerful and influential.” Shi Sui summarized.

“Oh my god,” Xue Jing patted her chest, showing her former cute expression again. “That’s too surreal.”

“I suspected something was wrong with you back then – which college student goes home every weekend like punching a time card?”

“So, do you forgive me?” Shi Sui reached for Xue Jing’s hand.

Xue Jing: “Though it’s so surreal it sounds made up, I know you wouldn’t lie to me.”

She came over and hugged Shi Sui: “Thank goodness everything’s over now.”

Shi Sui nodded heavily: “Yes.”

Since returning home, everything had been peaceful.

That person was now busy with countless affairs – where would he find time to bother with her?

It seemed that night was just Yan Tingli’s prank.

Given his vindictive personality, it wasn’t impossible. Shi Sui felt relieved.

After returning, Shi Sui also called Lin Anran for a long time.

Lin Anran, who was a teacher, happened to be on summer vacation. The three of them plus Su Han re-formed their group chat and arranged their next meeting.

With her parents by her side and friendships restored, Shi Sui felt immense happiness. Even getting up early every day to squeeze onto the subway for work filled her with energy.

But on Wednesday, Shi Sui overslept again.

Li Yin made noodles and watched her wolf them down without waiting for them to cool, laughing: “Even though it’s this close now, you oversleep every few days. When we move to the new house next week, are you planning to be late every day?”

If Li Yin hadn’t mentioned it, Shi Sui had almost forgotten they’d bought a new house.

She couldn’t help but look up at her curiously.

“It’s fine,” Shi Yue walked over leisurely, saying indulgently, “Dad will buy you a car then. Driving from Bocui Yunwan will be faster than the subway.”

Shi Sui raised her hand in celebration: “Great!”

Speaking of moving, Li Yin told Shi Sui, “We’ve set Sunday for the move. We’re having a small housewarming party on Saturday – just letting you know.”

Seeing she was out of time, Shi Sui swallowed her last bite of noodles, grabbed her bag, and rushed to the door.

Waving casually: “Got it.”

It wasn’t until Saturday morning when she was sleeping in and Li Yin pulled off her covers to wake her up, telling her to hurry and get ready because they were going to the hotel soon, that Shi Sui remembered this event.

She got up lazily, put on makeup, and changed into the white dress Li Yin had prepared for her.

The dress was in a style Shi Sui used to like, but after several years abroad, she now preferred simple, convenient pants.

But Li Yin was determined to dress her up, even pressing her in front of the vanity mirror to personally style her hair in a princess style.

Shi Sui yawned, letting her carry out this “Miracle Sui Sui” makeover plan.

“Done.” After finishing, Li Yin examined her with great satisfaction. “Very beautiful.”

When leaving, even Shi Yue took an extra look, laughing: “Oh, like a little princess today.”

As hosts, their family arrived at the hotel an hour early.

The scale was indeed small – just two tables total.

While her parents negotiated with the hotel manager, Shi Sui sat down bored, casually scrolling through her phone.

After some time, guests gradually arrived. Shi Sui looked up briefly – most were people she didn’t recognize, probably her parents’ work friends from recent years. She politely greeted them and then sat back down.

Until the seat beside her was suddenly pulled out and a familiar, warm voice said: “Sui Sui, is that you?”

Shi Sui turned her head, somewhat surprised: “Aunt Su?” Looking at the man beside her, “Uncle Fang?”

The visitors were Fang Huaijing’s parents, who had always been kind to her.

Both smiled at her, and Su Yu even held her hand, looking her up and down admiringly: “Haven’t seen you in so many years – Sui Sui is getting more and more beautiful.”

“Auntie, you’re getting younger and younger, too.” Shi Sui smiled.

Su Yu beamed, suddenly saying: “Xiao Jing has some company matters and is still on his way.”

“You haven’t seen each other in many years either, right? Don’t know if you’d still recognize each other.”

Hearing this name again, certain unpleasant memories immediately resurfaced. Shi Sui took several seconds to respond: “We should recognize each other.”

Speak of the devil – at this moment, footsteps came from behind.

“Xiao Jing, you’re here.” Su Yu immediately moved aside to make room. “Come sit with Sui Sui.”

The footsteps beside her were light as if someone had sat down.

Shi Sui and the newcomer made eye contact.

Except for his features being more mature, Fang Huaijing hadn’t changed much from before.

He nodded at her naturally.

Shi Sui relaxed and took the initiative: “Long time no see.”

“Indeed,” Fang Huaijing asked, “Gao Linhan said you went abroad for an exchange?”

Shi Sui nodded.

“I asked about your situation abroad later, but couldn’t reach you on WeChat.” He smiled. “Probably changed numbers after going abroad.”

This immediately made Shi Sui think of certain things again.

Fang Huaijing was just being tactful, giving her a way out.

Even before she went abroad, during that summer in the small town, Yan Tingli had willfully deleted Fang Huaijing, who was disguised among the business contacts.

Shi Sui hadn’t even noticed until Yan Tingli casually said: “You have so many merchants in your contacts – are you planning to stock up and open a store?”

“Huh?”

He propped his chin with a matter-of-fact expression: “I deleted the ones that looked annoying.”

Shi Sui was very displeased: “You randomly deleted them – what if I need them later?”

“Don’t worry,” Yan Tingli suddenly sneered, “you’ll never need them.”

Later, after searching for ages, Shi Sui found that normal merchants were all still there – the only one deleted was Fang Huaijing, who she’d disguised as a merchant.

She was speechless.

But thinking about how she was about to go abroad and cut contact with everyone, and that he’d deleted it, Shi Sui didn’t pursue it to avoid another fight.

Coming back from the memory, Shi Sui pulled up her WeChat QR code and handed it to him: “Let’s add each other again then.”

“Alright.” Fang Huaijing took out his phone.

Fang Huaijing’s parents, beside them, smiled as they watched.

Shi Sui received the friend request and was about to accept it.

Just then.

A soft laugh came from above.

Shi Sui’s pupils dilated as she suddenly stiffened.

Thinking it was her imagination, she wanted to confirm when a pair of slender, pale hands rested on her chair back.

The person leaned down, drawing close to the back of her neck.

His breath was like winter mist, moist and sticky as it swept past her ear.

Shi Sui’s chest heaved violently as she quickly turned around.

Meeting Yan Tingli’s dark pupils, slightly curved as he looked down at them.

Clearly a smiling expression, yet Shi Sui couldn’t see any trace of genuine smile in it – instead, it carried a peaceful discord.

“You’ve even added WeChat with Brother Huaijing,” Yan Tingli suddenly winked at her.

Asking softly: “Won’t you add one with Brother Tingli? I might get unhappy about that.”

“When I’m unhappy,” He lowered his voice for the latter half, leaning close to her ear, using a volume only she could hear.

“I want to invite Sui Sui for some red wine.”