After Jin Yiken finished speaking, the air seemed to burn. Their breathing was warm. Everyone present was quite quiet.

…

“Did you tell my mom my iCloud password?” That was her response.

Next to her, Long Ziyi immediately reacted, striking her arm with an elbow. Jin Yiken’s face showed no change at all, but the fingers of his right hand flicked twice against the back of his left hand. Well, that guilty signature move was unmistakable. Long Ziyi immediately followed up with: “Well, we’re done talking then. Let’s disperse, in-law.”

She called it out so smoothly.

But Long Qi knew she was eager to interrogate about the two children matter.

Lian Shao Zi tilted her forehead. Her assistant paid the bill alone.

…

In the taxi ride back, Long Ziyi’s first action was to fiercely poke her forehead with an index finger, bombarding her with: “Don’t you know how to negotiate? You’re also born from me—how can you be such a fool? You believe whatever people say, right? If it weren’t for your mom, you’d let people play you like a monkey for six months!”

She didn’t talk back.

She just leaned toward the window, not glancing at Long Ziyi once. There was a driver in the front seat, so Long Ziyi temporarily didn’t bombard about the two children matter, only grabbing onto the previous issue and talking nonstop. During a gap when she swallowed, Long Qi finally inserted: “Alright, I know.”

“I was foolish too, I admitted my mistake. Considering my physical and mental losses this time are severe, can you let me off for a while? Right now I don’t even have a boyfriend by my side.”

Only then did Long Ziyi quiet down for a bit.

The car was moving. Her forehead pressed against the cool window glass, staring outside in a daze. Long Ziyi crossed her arms. After a long while of breathing up and down, she made a “tsk” sound: “It’s just that I brought the wrong bag. Lost the battle.”

She was reminiscing about the “confrontation” with Lian Shao Zi.

Long Qi turned her head, looking at the patent leather bag Long Ziyi had placed in the center of the seat, then withdrew her gaze, forehead continuing to press against the window glass: “I’ll buy you one.”

“I have one! Left it at home, didn’t bring it over. Ah, I was in such a hurry this time, Lu Zimu grabbed a bag for me.”

“I know, but you only have one, right? I’ll buy you another.”

“Save that money for living expenses.” Long Ziyi waved her hand.

She’d been about to say something else when the driver in the front seat suddenly asked in the island’s local dialect: “Is that car behind following you?”

At first she didn’t understand. The driver pointed at the rearview mirror, and only then did she turn to look behind. She just happened to see a camera lens protruding from the window of an SUV behind them. The two or three cars closely following also seemed to be the same, following especially closely. People were leaning half their bodies out to photograph her—very dangerous. All reporters who were clinging to this incident and keeping close watch on her. She sighed, turned back around, and took out her phone to call Lao Ping.

Lao Ping had been holding back for a long time this time.

The media had been waiting too long, and outside there were all sorts of opinions. Plus, when Jin Yiken dealt with Yu Peng that time, half the circle’s famous entertainment industry people and young masters went in for a night. Though the matter was resolved quickly, some wind had leaked out more or less. Some believed it, some didn’t. The incident became more and more outrageous as it spread. Wu Jiakui and Ban Wei had already separately issued their respective PR response plans. Only at Long Qi’s end, because Lao Ping had been considerate of her emotions all along, he hadn’t consulted with her about how to make a statement.

She’d have to stand before the media cameras eventually. No need to explain anything, but she had to show some kind of state.

And if she’d definitely decided not to sue Yu Peng, Lao Ping suggested that for the sake of her future entertainment career and personal reputation, the yacht incident should be explained as simply as possible.

Lost footing, fell into the sea.

Wu Jiakui and Ban Wei could help refute rumors about going to the station. As long as they didn’t acknowledge the existence of this matter, the media wouldn’t dare to speculate recklessly about what happened on the yacht following the trail.

“Because,” he said, “no matter what the truth on the yacht was, whether you’re the victim or not, as long as there’s such a topic of conversation, someone will fill in stories, shaping the matter however they want. I know your temper—you can be indifferent—but over time it will affect the public impression, and some commercial collaborations will have restrictions for us.”

She understood, but she was already somewhat tired of this routine.

She also knew that online there were even rumors about her participating in a “drug party” on the boat.

On the day of checking out of the hospital, Long Ziyi bustled about ordering Lu Zimu to pack her luggage. She sat on the sofa by the window with her knees drawn up. After listening to Lao Ping’s long PR response plan, she replied: “The promotional period for ‘Cold Cicada’ has two more months left. I’ll do these activities, which counts as showing my face to the media. For the rest of the jobs that haven’t been finalized yet, help me decline them all. I want to rest for a while.”

Lao Ping was mentally prepared for this.

After pondering for a moment, he said: “It’s just that some brand endorsements we’ve already signed have rigid regulations about your exposure rate.”

“Then I’ll pay them compensation.”

After this sentence, Lao Ping knew her attitude. He drew in a breath and nodded: “How long do you plan to rest?”

“Maybe,” her finger tapped on her knee as she replied, “until I finish university.”

Lao Ping was scared to death.

But in front of Long Ziyi, Lao Ping didn’t dare say anything. He also knew that once she’d made a decision, ten oxen couldn’t pull her back. He could only bitterly carry out PR responses, telling the outside world it was a falling-into-the-sea accident. To recuperate her health, media activities for the next month would all be suspended. She couldn’t participate in “Cold Cicada’s” promotion immediately either.

During this period, Long Qi stayed at Long Ziyi’s place.

Long Ziyi herself was busy with work. Lu Zimu couldn’t do housework either, so they hired an auntie to make soup for her every day. Lu Zimu freeloaded food and drinks. After just ten days, her whole person had rounded out considerably. Meanwhile, she remained covered by a layer of faint depression. She thought about the yacht incident, thought about the disease she might have contracted, thought about the child that was gone, thought about what Lian Shao Zi said. Every night, various scenes and thoughts about the future spun through her mind. After more than ten days, her whole state was no different from when she’d just been discharged from the hospital—pale skin, light eyebrows, not talking much.

Long Ziyi hadn’t noticed these things.

She counted the days. It was now the third week after the yacht incident. It was already possible to test whether she’d been infected. She was eager to arrange going to the hospital for testing. Long Qi was sitting in the rocking chair on the balcony at the time and didn’t respond. It was Lu Zimu who tugged at Long Ziyi before she shut her mouth.

But Jin Yiken had noticed.

Every evening at eight or nine o’clock was video call time with him. Over there it was midday. He really was very well-behaved. Each time he was either in his residential apartment or at school, with books, computer, or drinks and lunch by his elbow. She ate blueberries on the sofa while he sat over there with his legs crossed, looking at the laptop on his knee, asking her: “What gift do you want for your birthday this year?”

“Every year you ask in advance. Very uncreative. Besides, it’s tomorrow. Asking now shows very little sincerity.”

“Because every year you’re not satisfied.”

“Last year was okay. Didn’t you show me a double rainbow?”

“I showed you a house. The double rainbow was coincidental.”

“Then I was also quite unsatisfied last year.”

He looked up from his laptop to glance at her. She sat on the sofa, picking at the blueberries in her bowl.

“You’re still eating fruit as a meal replacement? Stop losing weight. It’s enough already.”

“No, I already ate dinner. This is after-dinner fruit.”

He withdrew his gaze, smiling. When Long Qi looked over, it happened to be at the angle where his chin was slightly tilted. So that’s why she couldn’t stand seeing him smile on video calls—so good-looking she could die, yet she couldn’t kiss or touch him. She leaned back against the sofa: “Jin Yiken, if I really married someone else, would you really wait for me to divorce before marrying me?”

He nodded with pursed lips.

“You wouldn’t even mind that I’d had a relationship with someone else? If it were me, I’d mind to death.”

“Did I say anything when you kissed your Teacher Zang like that?”

Okay, he was starting to bring up old matters.

She laughed: “You think I didn’t see how dark your face got back then?”

“Then you’re wrong. In this lifetime, I’m the only one you’ve kissed. While filming, properly experience someone else so you can better know where my distinction lies. You think my perspective is that narrow?”

“Who says I’ve only kissed you.”

Blurted out instinctively.

Still picking at the blueberries in her bowl, eyes lowered. It wasn’t until three or four seconds passed without hearing a response that she belatedly looked at the screen. Jin Yiken had been staring at her until now. Then the laptop on his knee was placed on the chair beside him. The chair legs scraped underneath. Instantly he’d moved a step closer to the screen, looking like “this master is all ears.” She laughed with a breathy sound and replied: “Come on, you were intimate with Bai Aiting before me. Did I say anything?”

He didn’t speak.

“What,” she continued teasing, “you have a first kiss complex now?”

He still didn’t speak.

The finger picking blueberries slowed a bit. She changed her tone: “Don’t tell me you never kissed Bai Aiting.”

“My relationship with her was marriage, not dating. I discussed this point with her. She’s very clear about it.”

Leaning back a bit, Long Qi was very unconvinced: “Bai Aiting posted so many dating statuses related to you, and you never once kissed her?”

“Her posting statuses is her business. Me not kissing her is my business. You think I’m that thirsty?”

“Did you kiss Dong Xi?”

The second before, Jin Yiken’s eyes had been sharp. Now he was caught off guard and restrained them. Long Qi immediately threw a blueberry at the screen. He actually instinctively tilted his head to the side. She extended her index finger: “You won’t kiss Bai Aiting, but you’ll kiss Dong Xi?!”

From the study, Long Ziyi wearing reading glasses opened the door with a “click” and poked her head out: “What’s wrong with you? Keep it down. Zimu is writing something.”

Click—the door closed.

“Are you jealous of Dong Xi or jealous of me?” He immediately operated with a “wolf’s heart and dog’s lungs” in return.

Unable to react for a moment, she threw a second blueberry fiercely at the screen. This time Jin Yiken behaved—his head didn’t move. She immediately pressed on with questioning: “When Wu Jiakui kissed you, you especially enjoyed it too, right? Who else have you kissed!”

“Why don’t you tell me who else you’ve kissed besides me? That Dou Junyun?” His head tilted. “He still owes me car money. Can you help me go collect it?”

“Who would kiss that kind of scumbag!”

“Gu Mingdong?”

“I’m not that undiscerning, okay? Besides, Gu Mingdong’s true love is you, okay?”

“Zhuo Qing?”

“If Zhuo Qing could kiss me, would I have let you sleep with me right under your nose?”

Jin Yiken’s thumb didn’t move. His four fingers clicked across the table: “Earlier?”

She didn’t speak.

“Impressive, you,” he threw seven sarcastic words at her. “Middle school. Early romance.”

“So your first kiss was actually me?” She seized control of the topic.

“Then who was your first kiss?”

Jin Yiken refused to let go.

Her thumb scratched her forehead with a “tsk” sound.

“Tell me.” He pressed on tightly.

“I don’t even remember what that person looked like. Talking about it is so boring.”

“I’m just listening casually. With your temper, besides me, someone else treated you like treasure.”

This statement she couldn’t accept.

She put down the blueberry jar, spread her hands, and loudly replied: “Jin Yiken, before I met your gossip-monger wife Bai Aiting in high school, I was a little flower bud that everyone loved at school, okay? The boys competing to walk me home after school were packed at the school gate like a mass brawl. The homeroom teacher had to come out to manage the situation. I was the school beauty! I was also the class president elected by the girls! It was just Bai Aiting buzzing around me like a green-headed fly, gossiping endlessly. My three years of high school turned out like that—really ten thousand thanks for her special attention!”

“If Bai Aiting is a green-headed fly, what are you?”

Jin Yiken returned this sentence. Within half a second she’d reacted, throwing a third blueberry at the screen. About to curse, at this moment the doorbell rang. Jin Yiken laughed heartlessly over there, even tilting his forehead to tell her to go answer it.

“Mom!” she shouted toward the study.

“It’s for you,” he said. “Go answer it.”

She looked at him. He tilted his forehead again, urging her to go.

What scheme was he up to?

She opened the door. A delivery person stood at the door, holding two large gift boxes in his arms, one blue and one white. The gift boxes had ventilation holes on the edges. Seeing her, he had her sign for them. She asked what they were. The delivery person shrugged without saying. Then, recognizing her, he was a bit excited but embarrassed as he asked for a personal autograph. After she signed, the delivery person left. She closed the door.

Quite heavy, and things were moving around inside.

She carried both boxes to the sofa. Jin Yiken watched her on the screen but still didn’t plan to tell her what they were. He gestured with his lips for her to first open the blue one. She used the hair tie on her wrist to tie her long hair behind her head and used her rare patience to untie the silk ribbon. The moment she lifted the box, she heard a soft, tender cat meow. Her eyes instantly lit up. Two milky white little creatures in the box poked their heads out, both extending little paws while looking at her and meowing. That instant was incredibly cute. Her irritation was pressed down. Her whole person softened too. She immediately looked at Jin Yiken, and even through the screen he could see the light in her eyes. He smiled too.

She picked up one of the kittens. Very small—one hand could hold it. Soft white fur, blue eyes. Ears and tail were both gray. The area around the eyes was light gray. She asked: “Is this the type of cat from Si Bolin’s family? So cute.”

“Ragdoll cat. Especially like you.”

Then she looked at the other little creature in the box. It was a little puppy, unable to get out of the box. Its little paws clung to the box edge, barking crisply. Its tail wagged so diligently. Its eyes were as big as grapes. She looked and wanted to laugh: “And this one?”

“French Bulldog. Also like you.”

“Where does it look like me? It looks like a little pig. It looks like you—that pestering look.”

“Then you raise them. You’ll know once you raise them.”

He said over there.

One cat and one dog, one delicate and one silly. The house instantly became lively. So really, cute little lives truly have a healing effect. The gloom that couldn’t be brushed away recently disappeared. Everything before her eyes was also bright. Her mind was full of these two little creatures. In the other white box were cat food, dog food, a cat bed, a dog bed, and various kinds of small toys and small snacks. Her interest was tremendous. She turned back to praise: “This year’s gift—I’m super satisfied.”

After that, things got busy.

Just researching what these two little creatures ate and drank could take up half her day. Then there were names. Jin Yiken insisted the Ragdoll cat’s name had to include the character “Qi.” So within five minutes she’d come up with them. The little French Bulldog was called “Wukong,” the Ragdoll cat called “Qi Jie.” When Jin Yiken learned of this, both already recognized their names and were running all over the place. He had nothing to say. Long Qi was quite happy, even asking him: “If Long’er and Wukong both fell into the water, who would you save?”

“Qi Jie.”

“Qi Jie didn’t even fall into the water.”

“I’m afraid it’ll get splashed with water droplets,” he said.

His biased heart was really very obvious. He’d even reserved another arm tattoo spot for Qi Jie when she grew up.

As the temperature became muggy and cicada sounds grew more raucous, this year’s midsummer quietly arrived. During the first month of university summer vacation, she still stayed home lying around. She hadn’t had such days without work or flying all over the place for a long time. She watched all the movies she should have watched before and books on performing arts majors. She also rejoined her previous class group chat and started calculating which courses she’d missed, while getting familiar with these classmates who’d been in the same class for a year but whom she’d barely met.

The class president was a girl called Ge Yinling with an extremely cold appearance.

When looking at the group members’ profile pictures, she’d already noticed her. A film photo with very three-dimensional features—black hair, cool pale skin, eyes showing little desire. At first glance, the type that would be quite difficult to pursue. And the more she looked, the more familiar she seemed. Not just having seen her on campus—it seemed like, after thinking for a long time, shuffling through her mind, she finally remembered that in the first half of the year there was a nostalgic youth drama with decent reputation. She’d played the second female lead in it.

So also a semi-debuted young artist who attended classes while filming.

Didn’t really seem like class president material though.

While she was looking, her phone “dinged.” A message from Lao Ping came, reminding her to remember to try on the formal dress Fire&Gun sent over. The last “Cold Cicada” promotion event was in one week.

Thanks to Wukong and Qi Jie, her spirits had been especially good these past few days. She’d been nourished by Auntie’s soups until her complexion was rosy. Moreover, Long Ziyi had elderly person sleep habits—forcing her to sleep before ten every night and dragging her to morning exercises at six. After half a month of not staying up late, not drinking alcohol, and not smoking, by the day she attended the promotion event, her activity photos exploded across the entire internet.

Real-time trending search number one.

Fire&Gun also deserved half the credit. Lao Ping said this brand simply doted on her like a biological daughter. What they’d sent was an ultra-seasonal formal dress that hadn’t been exhibited yet—high-end yet rebellious light orange strapless top paired with a high-slit white skirt, exposing her midriff. Long curly hair tied up high, real diamond necklace. Full of summer vibes and young supermodel feel. Her attractiveness reached another peak. Those fashion accounts and bloggers all went crazy reposting.

That evening there was also a real-time trending topic about her and Zang Xipu having zero interaction throughout the entire event.

Really nothing to chat about. No matter how much Zang Xipu’s gaze lingered on her, she completely didn’t respond, always looking at the director, or the host, or the audience below. So from beginning to end, Zang Xipu also didn’t throw any conversation topics at her. Near the end of the activity, he even left early.

Wu Jiakui, because she was busy filming Director Shao’s drama, didn’t attend this last wave of promotion.

So Ban Wei struck out again.

He came in his supercar, specifically waiting backstage until the activity ended. Especially bored, he said he thought an activity announcement had been issued. Long Qi was changing clothes in the dressing room, replying through the door: “You still can only rely on official announcements to track her schedule? Can’t tell—you’re this bad at pursuing people?”

“Didn’t I tell you long ago that Wu Jiakui is hard to pursue?” After finishing, he added a killing blow: “Can you compare? Even Dou Junyun could ask you out.”

The door opened with a “click.” She’d finished changing into a gray T-shirt and jeans, loosening the high ponytail that had been tied especially tightly at the back of her head, replying lightly: “That’s right. Even Dou Junyun could ask me out. When you were pursuing me back then, I wasn’t even willing to drink a cup of tea from you.”

Ban Wei straightened his body. This reminded him that he’d once been crazy about her too. He shook his head with a “tsk” sound, like recalling dark history. Long Qi threw the hair tie she’d removed at him, running her fingers through her long hair. He looked up to change the subject: “Aren’t you starting school soon?”

“One more week.”

“Your campus is also in that Zhaohua Pavilion area, right?”

“What do you want to do?”

“Go drinking there tonight.”

“Not drinking,” she applied lotion and moisturizer to her hands. “What’s good about going to campus? I’ve been abstaining from alcohol recently.”

“Come on, your drama school’s evening activities are the most interesting. The week before school starts, the small bars nearby are so lively,” Ban Wei raised his leg, scrolling through his phone. “Gotta go, gotta go. Anyway, Jin Yiken isn’t controlling you either. Find a quiet bar. You drink tea, I drink alcohol.”

Still aiming for the drama school’s beautiful female college students.

On the table, her phone had several unread messages from Long Ziyi, saying she and Lu Zimu wanted to have some couple time and telling her to be tactful and come home later. She’d already fed Wukong and Qi Jie.

This mom really was direct and shameless. Sighing, she replied to Ban Wei: “You clearly just want a free designated driver. You want to comfortably get drunk on good alcohol, then have me drive you and your car back.”

“Aye, we’re brothers.”

Ban Wei sent an elbow to her arm. She rolled her eyes.

In the end, she still went.

Lively was really lively. Even though it was a quiet bar, many men and women came and went. Moreover, this place Ban Wei picked just happened to have a group of students holding a pre-school party. They all seemed very familiar with each other, gathering together raising glasses and drinking, with varied clothing styles and elaborate, individualistic makeup and hair. They should all be from the drama school without a doubt. She wore a baseball cap pulled down low, arms crossed, following behind Ban Wei, sitting at a round table in the corner of the quiet bar.

Ban Wei also pressed down his cap. His popularity among college students was much hotter than hers. On Zhaohua Pavilion street, nine out of ten bars played his music. Ban Wei making music was really awesome. Even the band on stage now was singing one of Ban Wei’s new singles from this year.

The lead singer was a male student.

Playing quite enthusiastically too, wearing a tank top and black ripped pants. His shoulders and neck were already covered in sweat. One hand gripped the standing microphone, the other raised a half-drunk beer bottle. Quite handsome. When he sang, it was even more moving than Ban Wei’s original. Half the girls below the stage went crazy singing along with him. Ban Wei also shook his leg to the music’s rhythm. Long Qi said: “If you had that appearance, you’d definitely be more popular than now.”

“He sings pretty well,” Ban Wei said, “but I’m way more handsome than him.”

She scoffed.

“Can this compare to Kenken?” Ban Wei added.

“Don’t drag comrades in. I didn’t mention him at all.”

But while Ban Wei joked around, he wasn’t arrogant about his talent at all. He acknowledged that others sang well. Originally he’d come to look at girls, but now was willing to stay longer for this band. He ordered more alcohol and continued rambling about his pursuit of Wu Jiakui. Long Qi’s ears were about to grow calluses from listening. At this moment, that lead singer’s enthusiasm was at its peak. The half bottle of alcohol he was holding suddenly sprayed into the venue. She’d originally been bantering with Ban Wei, when her eyes suddenly felt cool—she’d been splashed.

Ban Wei crossed his legs laughing loudly. She took off her cap, using tissues to wipe.

Following the laughter, the male lead singer on stage looked over. Just finished singing a song, panting heavily. He took the water a teammate handed over to drink, then used a towel to wipe his sweat-covered face. After looking here for two or three seconds, he turned to speak with the sound engineer.

The pre-prepared intro to a rock song paused. After four or five seconds of preparation, it switched to an American country song.

The bar’s lights rotated. The melody was nostalgic. The style change was so great—like it was specifically requested for someone to hear. She put her baseball cap back on. Ban Wei’s alcohol arrived. He was just talking about the fourth time inviting Wu Jiakui to watch his concert and being rejected. His right elbow rested on the chair back, his left hand habitually gesturing in the air.

That lead singer stood in white light, mouth against the standing microphone, tapping into the rhythm on beat.

…

Every time we have to say goodbye

I’m counting down until we say hello

Every touch is like the strongest drug

I don’t know how much longer I can go

…

Quite nice to listen to.

While being verbally bombarded by Ban Wei, she glanced at the stage. And that one glance happened to meet the lead singer’s burning gaze staring at her.

…

I never had something that I can’t walk away from

But, girl, my self-control’s so paralyzed

When it comes to you, no, I ain’t got no patience

There’s something ’bout you girl I just can’t fight

…

Originally thought it was coincidence.

But this lead singer kept his gaze fixed, not withdrawing it. The emotion in the lyrics was intense. He sang intensely too, keeping his eyes on here—thick and fervent, like an old friend known for a long time, or a former lover who’d just gone through an entanglement. Strange. Over time, Ban Wei also followed her gaze to look over.

Immediately laughed: “You know him?”

“Don’t know him.”

“He’s staring at you.”

“He’s staring at you, not me.”

Ban Wei shook his chin, following the rhythm to listen to the song. After no more than five seconds, he couldn’t help saying again: “Such intense eye contact—he’s recognized you and wants to hit on you.”

“Nonsense.”

After Ban Wei leaned against the chair back sitting for a while, he pulled out his phone from his pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“Sending it to Kenken, letting him know how popular you are domestically.”

“Are you sick?” She slapped Ban Wei with a menu. Ban Wei grinned and dodged. At the same time, the song entered its climax. This male student sang bent over.

You’re like that cigarette

That shot of 100 proof

No matter how much I get

I’m always craving

That feeling when we kiss

The way your body moves

No matter how much I get

I’m always craving you

Craving you

…

Singing so emotionally, with such a nostalgic style, made people unable to help recalling some innocent growth experiences. But these experiences were occupied fully by Jin Yiken—her mind full of his eyes and the corners of his mouth when he smiled, his Adam’s apple when drinking and his fingers when holding cigarettes, his eyebrows when he carelessly crossed his legs staring at her, his physics test papers corrected until completely red, and his low whispered sweet talk pressed against her ear every time he entered her body from behind.

Done for. Only two months, and she’d already progressed from mentally missing that bastard to physically missing that bastard. Her heart felt restless and dry.

At this moment, the lead singer let go of the microphone and came down from the stage, heading in this direction.

Ban Wei whistled. Long Qi found him annoying and gave him a white-eyed glare.

“Coming for you.” He guaranteed.

And just as Ban Wei’s words landed, that male lead singer very ungraciously passed over their table. His sweaty arm lightly touched and rubbed against Long Qi’s shoulder. He leaned down to the table behind them, directly kissing one of the girls at that table.

At this instant, the music hadn’t stopped. The bar’s atmosphere was extremely high. The girls at that table also laughed and clapped. One girl’s voice rang out bright: “Just marry him! Ge Yinling!”

…

Ge Yinling.

The name was familiar. Long Qi joined in the excitement and turned back to look. A round of passionate kissing had just ended. The lead singer straightened up, lovingly stroking the long hair behind the girl’s ear. Even though the scene was so heated, that girl’s eyes only held light joy. She slightly straightened up, calmly speaking at his ear. A girl with a loud voice next to them continued teasing: “Ooh, what are you arranging in private!”

Looking at the reactions of the surrounding people, they all knew about the relationship between these two. So they must be a couple in passionate love. Long Qi turned her head toward Ban Wei: “You just made me very embarrassed.”

Ban Wei sat slanted, his attitude unchanging: “At least eight out of ten lines in that song were sung for you to hear. I could tell. Don’t not believe it.”

As the words fell, the loud-voiced girl burst out again: “Isn’t this Long Qi?”

Suddenly being cued, she stopped joining in the excitement and turned back around. That girl immediately saw the person next to her. Her scream was like slaughtering a pig: “Ban Wei!!”

People at surrounding tables gradually looked over. The commotion was a bit big. She checked the time—it wasn’t early. She consulted with Ban Wei about preparing to leave. When getting up, most people had recognized her and Ban Wei. The atmosphere became lively again. Later, Ban Wei simply took off his cap. The venue instantly erupted in a burst of cheering and screaming. They raised wine glasses toward him. He raised his baseball cap and shouted: “Everyone keep playing! This round’s on me!”

Under the jubilant applause, cheers, and phone flashlights, she crossed her arms. Under Ban Wei’s escort, she walked out of the quiet bar.

“That girl earlier was called Ge Yinling, right?” As soon as they stepped out, he asked.

“Took a fancy to her? She has a boyfriend though.”

“No,” the two walked toward the parking lot direction. Ban Wei’s hands were in his pockets. “You didn’t know? She’s Shao Guo’an’s niece.”

Her steps slowed slightly.

Shao Guo’an, Director Shao, the person Zang Xipu once introduced her to meet. A person with a voice in the Beijing circle. Xi Jing’s backer.

“Isn’t Jiakui currently filming Director Shao’s film? This girl also has a role in it. Not much screen time. I saw her when I visited the set last time. A genuine connections person.”

They reached the parking lot. With an unlocking sound, Long Qi opened the driver’s side door: “So you specifically telling me this—what’s the meaning?”

“Just letting you know. The interpersonal relationships in the circle are ultimately like that. Not saying you need to maintain them, just don’t have conflicts.”

“So people without backing—I can have conflicts with them?”

“Hey, don’t I worry about your temperament being too impulsive?”

She closed the door, started the car, and replied: “Got it, thanks. But I’m not an unreasonable person either. Whoever’s good to me, I’m good to them. Maybe I’ll even really like her.”

Ban Wei shrugged.

Home.

Driving Ban Wei took her an hour. It was now exactly twelve midnight. Thinking it was late enough, she used her key to open the door. The door had just opened a crack when Wukong was already wagging his tail, poking his head through the gap. So cute. The living room lights were on, bright. She picked up Wukong. After closing the door and turning around, she saw Lu Zimu sitting by the dining table.

…

Her hands were bound behind the chair back with a belt.

“…” Immediately a curse exploded in her heart. Out loud she asked: “You two play this extravagantly?”

Lu Zimu had originally been half asleep, half awake. Hearing the sound, she turned her head. Immediately her voice came out weak as silk: “Ah, Qi Qi, you’re back. Quick, quickly feed me a few bites.”

On the table was a table of cooked food, not a chopstick moved, all cold. Qi Jie was nestled by Lu Zimu’s cotton slippers. Long Qi felt a bit alert. She crouched down to pick up Qi Jie too, each hand holding one: “Did a thief break into the house?”

“No,” Lu Zimu immediately shook her head. “Don’t talk first. Quickly feed me a few bites. I have no strength to talk.”

Lu Zimu’s phone was placed at the table’s edge.

“Where’s my mom?”

“She’s in the room.”

“Then let me untie you first.”

“Don’t. She’s still angry. Later she’ll be even more explosive. Just feed me.”

“My mom tied you up?”

“Mm, right.”

“What’s she angry about?” She put the cat and dog back on the floor, taking chopsticks from the table as she asked.

Lu Zimu sighed: “The publishing house’s female editor invited me to dinner to discuss the book. I chatted with her for a few extra lines.”

“Just that?”

Lu Zimu pursed her lips and nodded. Long Qi asked again: “My mom’s possessiveness is this strong?”

Pursing her lips again, nodding her head very heavily. The resentment was really heavy. And just as a spoonful of soup was about to be fed to her mouth, the bedroom door made a loud “click.” Startled her greatly. Her hand shook. Soup spilled into Lu Zimu’s neck. Long Ziyi’s head poked out: “Long Qi! You dare!”

Even Qi Jie’s fur stood on end. “Meow” she cried and scurried onto the sofa. Long Ziyi immediately continued: “Come in! I’m organizing your luggage for school. Stop paying attention to her. Let her stay hungry!”

The door slammed shut.

But Long Qi didn’t listen.

Her movements were quick. She rapidly poured soup into the rice. Lu Zimu also cooperated by quickly opening her mouth. After feeding two bites, Long Ziyi’s volcanic voice erupted again: “Long Qi!!!! Do you still want to go to school or not!”

She put down the bowl, patted Lu Zimu’s shoulder twice, then rushed toward the bedroom.