Under such intense car headlights, Jin Yiken withdrew his gaze and looked at her.

She also looked at him, seeming to glimpse in a certain instant a subtext like “WTF” in his eyes, but it disappeared in a blink. Ban Wei’s car quickly arrived at the entrance. He got out smiling, climbing the steps with practiced ease. In the last second before Jin Yiken turned to deal with people, his eyes still stared at her with an attitude of being exasperated with her. But after turning around, he had the air of a naturally born social circle heavyweight—shoulders lazily bumping with Ban Wei’s, their palms crossed, casually striking together in greeting. Ban Wei looked up at the villa. “Awesome! How many rooms does this have?”

“Haven’t gone in yet.” Following the conversation, he looked at the villa, his gaze also seemingly inadvertently sweeping across her body, replying to Ban Wei, “What brings you here?”

“Nothing. Long Qi sent me the location. The hotels down the mountain are fully booked.”

Jin Yiken didn’t respond, hands in pockets. The Land Rover’s car door also opened. Fang Xuan and Lao Ping got out. Wu Jiakui didn’t get out, still sitting in the passenger seat with raised knees, her gaze steadily falling on Jin Yiken through the windshield. She seemed to see something but didn’t intend to say it. The emotions in her eyes were quite intriguing.

The van door also opened.

Xu Yifen, covering the collar of her clothes, leaned down to exit the car, following behind Lao Ping. Lao Ping came up and shook hands with Jin Yiken, immediately introducing her from behind. “Yifen, Xu Yifen.”

Xu Yifen stood at the bottom of the steps, having to look up at him. After one glance, she looked straight ahead again, a bit reserved. It seemed she really hadn’t had any contact with this “big benefactor” who threw money around like it was a joke. Before she could speak, Fang Xuan’s loud voice burst out from behind. “Hey, where’s this house’s garage? It looks like it might rain tonight. My car needs to be in the garage.”

His chin pointed to the right.

Only then did he glance at Xu Yifen. No dialogue occurred—it was all Lao Ping talking. At this moment, Ban Wei plopped his butt onto the swing, making it sway. Long Qi frowned. Ban Wei asked, “What were you two just doing? Arranged to meet?”

“Who guaranteed me they’d get Wu Jiakui away?”

“Changed my mind. I think the atmosphere here is better, more suitable for me and her to talk about love. Besides, there are no rooms down the mountain, and Jin Yiken already agreed. Oh right, I ran into a friend of yours at the service center down the mountain.”

“Who?”

Bang—!

As the words fell, another car door slammed on the tree-lined path.

Actually, when Ban Wei mentioned it, she’d already guessed which idle person it was. Looking over, she indeed saw Zang Siming getting out of the car with arms spread wide. He let out a loud “woohoo,” exaggerated to death, shouting at her and Jin Yiken, “I’ve been here two days before I knew such a great place existed. You guys really know how to party!”

Jin Yiken recognized Zang Siming without much reaction, still standing in place with hands in pockets. Zang Siming pointed at a second-floor room with a balcony. “This young master is staying there.”

Psycho.

The girl he brought was also there, getting out from the passenger seat. After sun exposure, her skin was a bit more wheat-toned than when seen during the day. Wearing a cool tank top with bohemian shorts, she stood beside Zang Siming, arms crossed, surveying the surrounding environment. The sky grew darker and darker. Street lights on the tree-lined path lit up. Fang Xuan shouted loudly, figuring out how to open the garage door. Lao Ping chattered incessantly. The originally tranquil mountain villa became incredibly noisy. Wu Jiakui finally got out of the car.

Click—bang.

She wore a halter short dress with a tasseled shawl, half-exposed shoulders, not a trace of smile on her face, arms crossed as she ascended the steps. Zang Siming’s eyes immediately fixed on her, his mouth making tsk-tsk-tsk sounds.

And Jin Yiken now finally paced up to the entrance. Midway, without looking sideways, he pressed the remote key toward the garage area. Only then did the garage door roll up with a whirring sound. Fang Xuan, who’d been crouching there researching for a long time, stood up shouting, “Damn it, you could have opened it for me earlier. Thank you for your great mercy.”

The main door key inserted into the lock. He lowered his head to open the door, his shoulders and body covered with a layer of indiscernible gloomy emotion—completely different from when he’d just gotten out of the car. It seemed he didn’t plan to answer that question Long Qi had asked. The door opened with a click. Ban Wei entered first, his voice echoing inside. “Not bad, buddy! The living room’s quite spacious.”

By the time Long Qi entered, Ban Wei had already gone upstairs to wander. Lao Ping was carrying her and Xu Yifen’s suitcases. Wu Jiakui had preemptively taken a seat on the fabric sofa in the living room. The sofa area was quite large, surrounding a coffee table and fireplace—clearly meant for hosting tea parties with friends. Above the fireplace was a large-inch wall-mounted TV. Below was a large woolen carpet. This house was Tuscan style inside and out. Several doorways were arched. Looking around, the space was expansive, with complex layers and a strong vacation atmosphere.

Jin Yiken was adjusting the central air conditioning and lighting brightness on one side of the living room.

Ban Wei shouted from upstairs again, “Should we order butler service? The kind where someone specially serves, cooks, and does living arrangements? I saw it at the service center.”

“Not suitable for our group.”

Right.

Ban Wei finally remembered his artist status, rushing downstairs to reply “makes sense.” Zang Siming, upon entering, marched straight to the kitchen area, asking if there was alcohol. Ban Wei answered in a second, “Everything has to be pre-ordered, buddy. You call the service center number. They deliver alcohol very quickly.”

Then facing the living room, “I looked around. Both the second and third floors have rooms for people. Four bedrooms on the second floor, three bedrooms on the third floor. How many of us are staying tonight?”

Fang Xuan raised her hand. “Me and Kuikui. The two of us can share one room.”

“Wait…” Long Qi’s brain finally caught up at this moment. She spoke up, “This is an audition, okay? Not a social mixer. What’s with this formation?”

“Uncle Ping said we could come.” Wu Jiakui finally spoke. “We’ve all checked out of our rooms down the mountain.”

“I checked out too.” Zang Siming, fearing chaos wasn’t chaotic enough, floated a sentence from the kitchen.

“I couldn’t even book a room in the first place,” Ban Wei said.

“Let’s assign rooms.”

Jin Yiken ended the topic in a breezy tone, still with his back to everyone. The indoor air conditioning airflow changed with his operation. Ban Wei immediately followed up, “Good! We have four men and five women. Second floor has more rooms—women stay there. Third floor for men, how about that? Uncle Ping and I can share a room.”

Long Qi looked at him. He didn’t participate in Ban Wei’s topic. After finishing with the AC, he took out his phone, dialed, and held it to his ear—already ordering from the service center. Zang Siming came out from the kitchen holding a can of carbonated beverage. “That’s no fun. Mix it up. Why separate men and women? You think this is a dormitory? Whoever wants to sleep with whoever can room together.”

As he said this, he looked in her direction. “I don’t mind three people sleeping in one bed either. Open to all comers.”

She didn’t respond, just rolled her eyes.

The girl Zang Siming brought crossed her arms again. Jin Yiken hung up the phone and once again methodically entered the topic. “Reverse it. Men on the second floor. Third floor has better privacy—women on the third floor.”

“Right!” Fang Xuan immediately slapped her knee. “I was just about to say that.”

“That works too, but the third floor has fewer rooms. Fang Xuan and Jiakui in one room. Then there’s Long Qi, Yifen, and…”

Ban Wei’s eyes looked at Zang Siming’s girlfriend who hadn’t spoken much. She replied, “I’m Chen Shan.”

“She shares a room with me,” Zang Siming said.

“Then that settles it…”

“Actually,” Chen Shan interrupted the decision, “I could share a room with the girls and stay on the third floor too.”

Zang Siming looked in her direction. Long Qi also glanced once, picking up the conversation. “Then you can share a room with me.”

Chen Shan turned her head. Long Qi withdrew her gaze to look at Zang Siming. Zang Siming made a “heh” sound. The can in his hand popped open with a “psh.”

“The south-facing room with the balcony on the second floor is mine. You all choose the others. Dinner’s already ordered—arrives in half an hour. I’m going to sleep and adjust to jet lag. Don’t wake me.”

Jin Yiken still carried a lazy air, his tone slow and drawling. After giving these instructions, he headed to the second floor without his gaze lingering on anyone. Zang Siming shouted, “Isn’t that room mine?!”

“Who paid for it?”

Zang Siming choked for a few seconds. By the time he said “This old master can also sign the bill,” Jin Yiken had already closed the second-floor bedroom door.

…

Not a single word of communication with her. Not a single glance in her direction.

Whatever.

She didn’t eat dinner with them that evening either—on a diet. Ten minutes after Jin Yiken went upstairs, she also returned to the third floor to rest. She chose a large bedroom facing west. To leave a room for Chen Shan, she didn’t lock the door. But with Ban Wei around, it was always noisy. What’s more, this time there was Fang Xuan whose voice was louder than anyone’s. Even wearing earplugs, the laughter and chatter from the first floor was still very loud. Finally, when she got up to get a cigarette, the door opened—Chen Shan arrived.

She happened to be rummaging through boxes and cabinets looking for a lighter. After their eyes met, this girl turned and pulled a lighter from her bag with a flick. Flame shot up. She came to the bedside to offer her the light. After the cigarette was lit and she took a drag, Long Qi sat back a bit. The bed surface bounced. She braced her hands behind her. The T-shirt collar slid toward her shoulder. Chen Shan said, “You’re really even prettier in person than on TV or in magazines.”

“You’re not playing with Zang Siming?” she replied.

“There’s a girl downstairs called Xu Yifen. He prefers staring at her.”

“Same old habits.”

“Thank you just now.”

“No problem. Coming out with someone like him, recognizing his true colors midway and pulling out is very normal.”

After hearing this, Chen Shan seemed hesitant to speak. At Long Qi’s second glance, she replied softly, “He paid money for me.”

This sentence entered her ears. Her hand movement was a beat slow. Cigarette ash fell, burning her leg with a sharp sting. She immediately brushed it off, gasping. Chen Shan also reacted quickly, pulling tissues, grabbing a glass of water from the bedside to apply to her leg. Long Qi said, “It’s fine, I’ll do it myself.”

“I’ll go ask for some medicine. Burns leave scars—very troublesome.”

“No need. It’s just a small spot. In three or four days it’ll scab over.”

Speaking, she glanced at Chen Shan. “Really no need.”

“I’m really sorry.”

“Really, it’s fine.”

She set the glass of cool water on the bedside table. The cigarette in her hand still had two-thirds remaining. Chen Shan said, “I… agreed with him beforehand to only accompany for one day, no overnight. But he brought me out of the province and temporarily added money and requirements. I…”

Her gaze wavered on Long Qi, then withdrew. “I’m telling you this with no other meaning. If you mind, I can go back to sleep on the second floor.”

“No, just sleep here.”

Adding a sentence, “From now on, always share a room with me.”

Chen Shan’s eyes lifted. “His temper is quite bad.”

“His temper isn’t as bad as mine.”

Only then did she seem somewhat reassured. Her hand crossed her arms again. “I originally thought people in your circle would be quite difficult to get along with. I was still nervous just now. Anyway, thank you.”

“What circle?” Flicking ash into the glass on the bedside table, Long Qi asked casually. Chen Shan looked at her.

“Oh… I mean the friend circle centered around you, Jin Yiken, and Si Bolin. Wuzi, Pengzi, plus now Wu Jiakui, Ban Wei… Actually, I’ve only heard about it. First from friends, later from Zang Siming.”

“So how did Zang Siming describe me?”

“…”

The cigarette burned between her fingers. Long Qi said, “It’s fine. Whatever he said, just tell me. Even if I seek revenge on him, I’ll wait until after you leave.”

Chen Shan smiled quite awkwardly. “Actually, you can tell right away it’s bragging.”

“You tell me.”

Perhaps hearing the threatening tone of “tell this old lady everything” in her words, Chen Shan paused, seemingly organizing her language. Two seconds later, she spoke, “He, he mentioned you and Wuzi, saying the girls in this circle all have personality. They’re truly beautiful, but…”

Long Qi looked at her.

“…but they’re just… not good in bed.”

“In bed.” She repeated.

“He said he’s slept with every single one.” Chen Shan said.

…

Chen Shan immediately turned to point at the bathroom. “Then I, I’ll go shower first.”

“Watch out for slippery floors.”

“Mm.”

The bathroom door closed with a click. The cigarette between her fingers burned to the end. Long Qi sat in place, smoke drifting around her body.

…

Five minutes later, with a whoosh, she threw off the covers. Wearing slippers, she walked straight out the door. From the third floor to the second floor, then from the second floor to the first floor. The noise from the living room grew louder and louder—chainsaw sounds. This group of people was huddled in the sofa area watching “Scream 2.” All the lights were off like a blackout. Zang Siming stood at the edge of the sofa. She went up and kicked his lower back. Zang Siming was tall—he knocked forward a step without falling. Fang Xuan, startled by the sudden commotion, shrieked. The popcorn in her hands scattered all over the sofa. Ban Wei was also scared and shook, continuously shouting three times, “Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!”

“What the hell!”

The last two words carried heavy emphasis. Zang Siming turned back and recognized her, immediately pointing at her. She instantly replied, “I’ve found you annoying since noon.”

“Then you fucking pick your timing. Kicking me at this moment—I’ll sue you for attempted murder!”

“You’re mouse-hearted?”

Zang Siming was provoked by these words to step forward. Just as he got within a meter, Ban Wei pulled him saying, “Hey, it’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s talk nicely, eat some late-night snacks, and chat slowly.”

On the coffee table sat a large basin of crayfish with a very strong smell.

Wu Jiakui and Fang Xuan simultaneously shifted one position to the side, away from the “accident scene.” Lao Ping came up to mediate. Zang Siming shouted at her, “Wait! What did I provoke you with today, may I ask?”

“Zang Siming, let me make this clear with you. Starting today, you can stay here, but don’t even think about doing or saying any messy things! Don’t you dare have any damn ideas about any girl in this house. I’m watching you!”

Zang Siming’s eyes really did unconsciously glance at Xu Yifen, pointing over. “Oh, you want to pursue her?”

This response strategy was brilliant—making Ban Wei freeze, stuck mid-motion. Zang Siming laughed. “You want to pursue her? You should have said so earlier. You just like this type of dish—I understand! But you still have one lying in bed on the third floor. You want to have them all?”

Ban Wei immediately pressed Long Qi’s shoulders to prevent her from striking. She didn’t strike—she kicked, landing one right on his knee. Zang Siming, in pain, supported himself on the sofa, covering his knee, raising his arm to point. “Long Qi, I’m telling you! It’s not your place to speak in this house! Before, I gave Jin Yiken face. Now I…”

His phone rang in his pocket.

Still covering his knee, frowning and gasping three times, he pulled out his phone for a glance. He didn’t reject it though, holding it to his ear. “Hello!”

“Keep talking. Don’t be a coward.”

She provoked. Ban Wei came over again to press her shoulders, mediating quite dutifully. Zang Siming pointed at her once, listened silently for three seconds, then replied to the phone, “I didn’t start it! Each grievance has its source, each debt its debtor. At worst, it takes two to tango. Long Qi kicked me first. You…”

His words were blocked. He listened again to what was said on the other end. Who knows what was said—his facial hostility began to recede. After pacing left and right listening for half a minute, he glanced at Long Qi and replied lowly, “Fine.”

After hanging up, he pointed at Long Qi two or three more times, then said, “Let’s argue more quietly.”

Fang Xuan had been watching quite enthusiastically. At this moment, she choked on the cola she was drinking. Long Qi immediately knew who had called. Her enthusiasm for the fight dropped by eighty percent. She had Ban Wei remove his blocking hand. “Nothing to discuss.”

“Let’s talk. I’m quite enjoying chatting with you. Talk. Hit me, baby.”

This person started being shameless again. Really nothing to discuss. She prepared to head back to the third floor. Lao Ping asked once whether she was eating late-night snacks. She glanced at the coffee table—besides crayfish, there was a large basket of snacks on the table.

“All this came with dinner?”

“Yes.”

Inside were two packs of chocolate beans.

Neither Wu Jiakui nor Xu Yifen held snacks—both needed to control their food intake. Fang Xuan’s hands held a huge pile of all puffed food. She glanced at the chocolate beans. Lao Ping understood immediately and brought them over. Zang Siming still wanted to pull her to argue. She shook off his hand. “Don’t get handsy. I’ll report you for sexual harassment.”

She turned to ask Lao Ping, “Do you have ice cubes?”

…

Five minutes later, holding chocolate beans and ice cubes, she returned to the third floor. Chen Shan was still showering. She sat back at the bedside, pulled out a towel, wrapped the ice cubes in it, found the spot on her leg that had been burned earlier, and pressed it on. The burning skin, soothed by the ice, made her hiss and gasp.

She originally thought this matter was over.

But the next morning, Zang Siming still appeared like a lingering ghost on the third floor. It was eight in the morning. The air conditioning seemed broken. Long Qi was literally awakened by heat, covered in sweat, sleeping extremely uncomfortably. She prepared to open windows and doors for ventilation. But the moment she opened the door, she fucking saw this person Zang Siming—scaring her into cursing half a profanity. The heat all over her head was covered by a layer of cold sweat. By conditioned reflex, she punched his shoulder. “What the hell! Are you sick!”

Zang Siming was particularly gratified.

He stood leaning against the doorframe, holding a mini electric fan in his hand, saying, “Bringing you wind. Apologizing and making amends.”

His eyes were also technically skilled—as he spoke, he swept a glance at her half-wet low neckline. Chen Shan in the back had also woken up. Zang Siming said, “The third-floor AC has a problem. The second floor is fine. I was thinking you’d be awakened by heat, so bright and early I’m inviting you to sleep in my place. Long Qi, you’re most afraid of heat.”

“Completely awake now. Won’t sleep anymore.”

She returned to the bathroom to wash up simply, tying her hair and folding past Zang Siming. Wu Jiakui actually got up earlier than her and was also heat-tolerant, practicing yoga on a yoga mat at the third-floor balcony entrance. She could really focus—her lines quite elegant in the morning light. No wonder Zang Siming could patiently wait at the door with eyes never taking a break. She went downstairs without looking back.

The second floor was indeed cooler than the third floor. The AC cold air made her whole person comfortable. Looking around, several room doors were open. Going all the way down to the first-floor living room, the early morning light was extremely bright, making her raise her hand to shield her forehead. Outside a window of the villa, the sea view below the mountain was unobstructed, the sky also clear for ten thousand miles. The living room TV was still on. Fang Xuan apparently hadn’t gone upstairs at all—covered with a blanket, in a half-asleep state sprawled on the sofa. At the window-side rectangular solid wood dining table, Jin Yiken sat there.

He was up.

Wearing a tank top and beach shorts, legs crossed, a notebook on his lap, flipping through it. After walking a few steps closer, she saw clearly it was the script Xu Yifen had taken. She pulled out a chair. Jin Yiken looked up at the sound. Long Qi didn’t look at him.

He sat at the first position on the east side of the dining table. She sat at the first position on the opposite west side—diagonal corners. On the table was breakfast—fried eggs, bacon sandwiches, cream puffs, and some vegetable and fruit salad. Quite abundant.

“Woken by heat?”

Withdrawing his gaze from her sweat-dampened neck, he asked.

She didn’t acknowledge him.

She poured water into her glass.

Having received no response, Jin Yiken looked at her a second time.

Just then, someone beside her handed over a glass of milk and a plate of freshly made sandwiches. Following the milk, she glanced at who it was. Originally thinking it was butler service or something from down the mountain, it turned out to be Xu Yifen. Long Qi reacted, “You made this?”

Xu Yifen’s movement slowed. “Oh, I got up this morning and saw only eggs in the fridge. Uncle Ping was just about to go down the mountain, so I hitched a ride in his car to buy some ingredients and daily necessities. I thought everyone’s breakfast would be healthier if freshly made.”

“Why did Lao Ping go down the mountain?”

“The studio has some matters to handle.”

…

What matters to handle? He simply found it difficult to be a person caught between her and Xu Yifen, these two little Buddhas. He also consciously felt out of place with the group of young people in the villa—so he fled.

Jin Yiken had already stopped paying attention here, flipping through the script, his cheeks slowly moving. The breakfast in front of him was already half-eaten.

“Then you got up quite early,” she casually replied.

“I’m used to it. When I lived in a studio apartment, I also had the habit of making my own breakfast.”

“Studio apartment?” Even though Xu Yifen mentioned it casually, Ban Wei coming downstairs behind her had ears as sharp as anything, quite good at catching key points. He teased, “Yifen, single, huh? Heard that~”

“Qiqi, what do you usually eat for breakfast?” Xu Yifen changed the subject.

“She doesn’t eat any.”

Before she could reply to this sentence, Jin Yiken, without looking up, tossed one over from the diagonal opposite.