Lin Shuang’s moods were usually quite stable; she rarely got angry, and if something worth getting angry over happened, her way of venting was fairly ordinary.

The bank card Zhou Zheng had given Lin Shuang had spending alerts. That day he received a dozen or so text messages about deductions in succession, amounts ranging from a few dozen to over a thousand yuan, the largest being twenty-nine thousand — probably a bag.

There was a message from Lin Shuang on WeChat, terse and to the point.

【Bought some things.】

He guessed she was either in a very good mood today, or an extremely bad one — the reason unknown. The night before, the two of them had been fine, and when he left in the morning she was still sound asleep, nothing seemed off.

【Okay.】

When he had a free moment, Zhou Zheng stepped out of the office, found a quiet spot, and made a call — to a friend he’d known from a university club, named Daxun.

“Got any work over there lately?” Zhou Zheng asked.

A laugh came from the other end. “You have free time lately? It’s not even summer break yet — aren’t you teaching?”

This friend was a freelancer, mainly picking up odd jobs in data analysis. Over the past couple of years his business had grown steady, he’d built up a fixed client base, and had even gathered a small team under him.

“I’m teaching, pretty busy,” Zhou Zheng said, running a hand through his short hair. “Got any small jobs? I can free up some time each week.”

The two had a good rapport; Daxun let out a “heh.” “What, short on money?”

Zhou Zheng made a vague “mm” sound. “There’s just been a lot more places needing money lately.”

“That doesn’t add up. Your little city doesn’t have big expenses, you don’t have expensive tastes, your school salary is stable, and you’d already saved enough for a house — what else are you spending on?”

Zhou Zheng laughed. “What do you think?”

“Dating, or getting married?” The two hadn’t seen each other in years, but still kept in touch now and then. “Hadn’t heard you had anything going on lately — since when?”

They chatted for a while, and Zhou Zheng gave a rough introduction of Lin Shuang.

“Congrats, man. Tell you what — I’ve got a data modeling job in the medical field, pays pretty well. I was originally planning to handle it myself, but if you want it, I’ll pass you the main module and we can split the rest of the workload between the two of us. It’s a tough project though, high requirements, uses a lot of software — see if you can manage it.”

Daxun sent over a document. Zhou Zheng skimmed it roughly. “I’ll take a careful look when I have time — shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“Alright, I’ll set up a group chat later, we’ll look over the client requirements together, then keep in touch online. Payment split stays the same as before — seventy-thirty.”

“Thanks.”

That afternoon, after Zhou Zheng finished a meeting and left the school, Lin Shuang was no longer at the tea shop. Nana said to him with a grin, “The boss lady said, if Teacher Zhou came by today, I should tell you — she went out shopping with a friend, there’s a dinner gathering tonight, she’s not coming back to the shop, and you don’t need to look for her.”

“Got it, thanks.”

Lin Shuang’s phone went unanswered, but the spending alerts kept coming in, one after another, all the way until past ten at night.

Judging from the amounts, Zhou Zheng roughly guessed she’d probably had afternoon tea for two, eaten dinner, bought a few things, and finally had a cup of coffee.

That night when Lin Shuang got home and saw Zhou Zheng’s messages, she replied briefly.

【I’m going to sleep. Whatever it is can wait till tomorrow.】

She must be quite unhappy today.

Zhou Zheng was restless all night. After finishing evening study supervision and heading back, the apartment felt cold and empty, his messages marked read with no reply. He opened his computer and patiently worked through the materials Daxun had sent.

The next day, when Lin Shuang saw Zhou Zheng come in, her expression was flat — she didn’t even lift her eyelids. She pulled a gift bag out from under the counter and handed it to him, saying indifferently, “Here, for you.”

“What is it?” he asked with a smile. “A gift?”

“A gift-redemption voucher from the mall. Nothing great, this was the only thing halfway decent.”

A blue thermos.

“Keep it in your office for tea.”

“Sure.” Zhou Zheng smiled and accepted the gift, then asked her, “Want to go out tonight? What do you feel like eating?”

He had no evening supervision duty today; his time would be free after four in the afternoon.

“Don’t want to.” She kept her head down, playing with her phone, ignoring him, her tone flat. “Wore myself out shopping yesterday, don’t feel like doing anything today. Teacher Zhou, go be busy with your own stuff.”

A whole “keep out, I’m irritable” kind of look.

She’d gotten new false eyelashes done yesterday, and on impulse had bought colored contacts — her eyes looked round and pretty, feathery lashes casting dense shadows underneath, thoroughly hiding the look in her eyes as well.

Zhou Zheng touched a strand of her dyed hair gently, and asked in a soft voice, “Did you go get your hair dyed at the salon yesterday?”

Hearing his gentle tone, she felt nothing but irritation, and slapped his hand away with a crack, shoulder twisting to the side, fine brows drawing tight, voice sharp and clipped: “You’re only noticing now that I dyed my hair? Isn’t that a little late? Where were you earlier! Don’t touch me!”

This fit of temper had come from nowhere at all.

Zhou Zheng’s hand froze in midair.

Nana and Kevin were both at the counter; hearing Lin Shuang’s sharp retort, they both looked up and bumped elbows with each other.

Zhou Zheng paused quietly for a moment, then asked her gently, “Why are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Did I do something wrong?” Zhou Zheng’s tone was mellow. “Are you angry at me?”

“No.” She cut off the conversation, thoroughly displeased. “Don’t talk.”

Her phone had the sound effects on, and Lin Shuang buried herself in playing a game.

Zhou Zheng glanced up at Nana and Kevin as if asking a question; the two shook their heads in unison, putting on an expression of not knowing, not understanding, then shook their heads and sighed again — sure enough, good-looking people get spoiled, Teacher Zhou’s such a good man, and the boss lady’s got him wrapped completely around her finger.

He looked at Lin Shuang again, somewhat at a loss, unsure what to do, hands clasped together, lips pressed thin, sitting quietly to the side.

When she finished a round of the game, Lin Shuang stood up, went to the back to change clothes, came out carrying her bag, digging around in it for lipstick with her head down, not really addressing anyone in particular: “I’m going to the beauty salon. I want chicken soup tonight — you make it at home.”

Zhou Zheng stood up along with her. “Okay.”

Lin Shuang flagged down a taxi at the roadside and left, without saying another word to Zhou Zheng. He turned and went home to make dinner — there were fresh ingredients in the fridge; the chicken was from the chicks his grandmother raised, the mushrooms were wild ones picked in the mountains, which Lin Shuang loved. Zhou Zheng had specially brought two back over the weekend and frozen them.

When she came home, she smelled the food in the stairwell, and her steps slowed. The door wasn’t locked — he’d left it open for her. The old-fashioned range hood in the kitchen was roaring away; she saw Zhou Zheng with his back to her, absorbed in cooking, and without meaning to, she stopped, leaning against the doorframe, quietly watching for a moment.

Zhou Zheng only realized she was home when he heard the sound of her high heels. She kicked off the heels, put on her fuzzy slippers, and leaned on the balcony windowsill to smoke, wisps of smoke curling up. She shifted position, cigarette held out the window, facing the cactus on the balcony.

Zhou Zheng casually set her shiny high heels on the shoe rack.

“Dinner’s ready.”

Lin Shuang stubbed out her cigarette and came over.

The two of them ate a quiet meal — not that they didn’t speak; Zhou Zheng chatted with her warmly while Lin Shuang played on her phone, eating with her head down, ears closed off, treating him as nothing more than air.

After dinner, Lin Shuang played games on the couch. Zhou Zheng came out from washing the dishes, saw her stony expression, eyes not even lifting, cold and aloof, and leaned in: “What’s wrong?”

Lin Shuang frowned, eyes fixed on her phone, and swept a hand out to wave him off.

Zhou Zheng let out a soft breath, switched on the desk lamp, and sat down to prepare lessons at his desk.

When she finished the game, Lin Shuang hugged her knees and zoned out for a while, then looked up to see Zhou Zheng’s upright figure sitting at the desk. She tossed her phone aside, opened the wardrobe, and began trying on outfit after outfit in front of the mirror.

The full-length mirror stood right beside the desk, and Lin Shuang put on a whole “immersive dress-up” show in front of Zhou Zheng.

She dragged the rug over in front of the mirror, tried on her dresses one by one, then brought out her perfumes, lipsticks, accessories, and heels, admiring herself in the mirror from every angle.

Every time she changed dresses she changed her accessories to match, casually smoothing a fold here and there. Zhou Zheng heard the rustling sounds of her changing clothes and found it hard not to look up; one glance was enough to catch sight of her reflection in the mirror.

His gaze was caught by her; the person in the mirror curved her lips into a striking smile, almond eyes half-lidded in the mirror, giving him a glance both seductive and cool.

Even the way she undressed was distinctive — first slipping the strap off one shoulder, easing it down bit by bit, like a beautiful snake shedding its skin, each inch downward more voluptuous than the last.

Zhou Zheng didn’t know if she was doing it on purpose or not; he simply set down his pen, sat motionless, and silently watched her in the mirror.

Under his gaze, she acted as if no one were watching, peeling off the fitted dress she wore, taking off the shapewear underneath, laying it on the desk, leaning close to the mirror to run her hands over her own body.

Zhou Zheng felt a headache coming on, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

He heard a faint, barely audible scoff of laughter.

Their eyes met in the mirror; Lin Shuang smiled brilliantly and lifted her chin.

Zhou Zheng glanced over a couple of times, brows knitting slightly. “You’ll catch cold, be careful.”

She toyed with her long hair, took off the accessories on her neck and hands, tossed them lightly onto the desk, fingers resting on his shoulder, her graceful body pressing in against the desk as she climbed up to straddle his lap.

The person glared at him coldly: “What business is it of yours.”

A fragrant, silky little vixen had wedged herself right in front of Zhou Zheng.

“You stinking man.” Lin Shuang’s eyes glimmered with shifting light, palm braced on his leg, lips curled, tone flippant and disdainful. “Peeping at me.”

He felt her skin was slightly cool to the touch, opened his own jacket, and wrapped it around her, drawing her completely into his arms.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, soothed by his body heat.

Zhou Zheng let out a low breath and lowered his head to kiss the little vixen in his arms.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”

She dodged his kiss, her cold fingertip pressed against his lips, tone impatient: “Don’t touch me. Touch me again and I’ll really be angry.”

Zhou Zheng frowned at her, his head aching.

She clearly had the air of someone icy and untouchable, yet she was clinging and snuggling into his arms, hand slipping inside his shirt for warmth, teasing him without restraint.

The two of them tangled together like conjoined twins, the beauty in his arms; his breathing grew ragged, and he couldn’t help looking up at her.

Lin Shuang glared at him coldly and pinched him hard on the leg.

Zhou Zheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and slumped back in the chair, head tilted up.

She sat in his lap, laughing, half seductive, half radiant.

Zhou Zheng jerked again as if shocked, pinched on the arm by Lin Shuang.

“Zhou Zheng, if you’re preparing lessons then prepare your lessons. If you dare touch me, I’ll pack my things and walk out tomorrow.” Lin Shuang pressed her fingertip to his Adam’s apple, smirking coldly as she threw out the threat. “I mean what I say.”

She was the one scheming, taking the initiative to sit on him and provoke him, yet only letting him look and not touch.

“You’re doing this on purpose to tease me.” He gritted his teeth. “Shuangshuang, what exactly is wrong?”

“So what if I’m doing it on purpose? I feel like teasing you today.” She had the tone of someone eight hundred years worth of unhappy. “Whose fault is it that I’m in a bad mood.”

Bad mood, and she was using it to toy with him?

Zhou Zheng patted her back: “Get down. If you’re in a bad mood, if something’s wrong, let’s sit down and talk.”

Lin Shuang gave a light snort and pinched him again. Zhou Zheng abruptly knitted his brows, the chair scraping back with a screech; he lifted her and tossed her onto the bed.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him, absolutely refusing to let go, dragging him down to tumble onto the bed with her.

“Shuangshuang, don’t tease me, I don’t have that kind of patience.” His tone was helpless as he pried at her hands. “Let go, let’s talk.”

“Nothing to talk about. You’re just craving my looks, your whole mind’s set on sleeping with me.” She bit his cheek, the tip of his nose, coiling around his body like a snake. “Zhou Zheng, you’re not the least bit proper — see a woman and all you think about is her naked, who knows how filthy your mind really is.”

He was left breathless by her, his own temper flaring too, face flushing red as he pressed her down: “What exactly is wrong with you?”

Lin Shuang gasped, her temper even worse than his, biting down hard on his shoulder, kicking at him with all her strength, shoving him clean off. Zhou Zheng, who had only been lightly braced above her, staggered backward, his lower back slamming into the corner of the desk.

The blow wasn’t light — the desk’s corner was quite sharp, and it caught Zhou Zheng right in the lower back, even knocking the desk askew.

He gripped the corner of the desk, hissing softly in pain — the ache took a good while to pass. Zhou Zheng opened his eyes, a knot of unreleased frustration in his chest, and looked at her twisted expression on the bed, her pretty brows furrowed too, her bright eyes dark and cold as she looked at him: “Go to sleep early. I’m going to the school office for a bit.”

No one spoke in the room. Zhou Zheng grabbed his keys and went out the door; Lin Shuang curled up with her back to the room, in bed.

It was only a short ten minutes to the school gate, but he was tight-chested and his back ached, so he walked slowly. By the time he reached the gate his head had mostly cleared, and worrying about Lin Shuang being alone at home, he turned back.

Well, wouldn’t you know it — in that short twenty minutes, Lin Shuang was no longer at home.

A lipstick tube still stood open on the desk, uncapped, velvet red, its slim case glinting with sparkle. Looking further, the dress and necklace draped over the sofa were gone, the heels were gone, and the small handbag was gone too.

Lin Shuang had packed up and gone out to run wild.

His girlfriend had thrown a tantrum for no reason at all, and in the end had slipped out while he was gone.

Zhou Zheng’s head was splitting; he really couldn’t help grinding his back teeth.

The calls he placed kept getting cut off. Half an hour later, Lin Shuang finally picked up; there was booming music in the background on the call. He frowned: “Where did you go?”

“Playing at a bar.”

He was genuinely angry now, his tone scolding: “This late, and you just ran off without a word? Even if you go out, you could at least answer your phone.”

A light laugh came from the other end. “You can run off, but I can’t go out? Who do you think you are, controlling me like this.”

Zhou Zheng closed his eyes and sighed. “Shuangshuang, talk properly.”

“Do I need your permission or a report just to go out and have fun? That’s just my temper — deal with it if you can, and if you can’t, forget it.”

A long silence on the phone.

“It’s already eleven o’clock, it’s very late, it’s not safe out there.” He lowered himself, humbling. “Where are you, I’ll come get you.”

Lin Shuang gave the address — a bar called SPACE.

Zhou Zheng went to the bar to find her. There was a performance on that night, plenty of people; Lin Shuang sat among the crowd holding a drink, chatting happily with the people beside her.

She wore a sheer, flowing dress, shoulders and neck bare, like a black swan under the tinted lights, smiling charmingly, the center of attention. She looked up without meaning to — Zhou Zheng didn’t know how long he’d been standing there off to the side.

“You’re here?” She waved him over, her laughing voice bright and pretty. “When did you get in?”

The few men beside her hesitated a little: “And this is…”

Lin Shuang’s eyes brimmed with charm: “Just a friend I recently met.”

Zhou Zheng’s expression was extremely poor.

There was an empty glass and a decanter on the table; Lin Shuang held out a glass to him. He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets, only looking at her, refusing to take it.

“You’re so annoying, won’t even drink, why come to a bar at all.” She withdrew her hand with a laugh and took a sip herself.

The man beside her glanced at Zhou Zheng and murmured to Lin Shuang: “Gorgeous, is this guy chasing after you? Why’s he standing there like some kind of school disciplinarian?”

Her gaze rippled, she glanced at Zhou Zheng, covered her mouth to laugh, leaned close to the man’s ear, said something under her breath, making the man burst out laughing.

Zhou Zheng silently counted to ten in his head, then stepped forward, pushing the people around Lin Shuang aside, his face composed: “Excuse me, please make way.”

He wedged himself in beside Lin Shuang, pushed away the man’s hand that had been leaning on her shoulder, and drew her close, putting some distance between her and the others.

“Hey there, come to start trouble? Gorgeous, is your friend here a little too much of a busybody?”

“She’s my girlfriend.” Zhou Zheng stared at the man in front of him, eyes sharp. “Stay away from her.”

Lin Shuang turned her head away: “How do you prove I’m your girlfriend?” She sized him up. “With all these men to choose from, I’d pick you specifically? What makes you worthy of me?”

The people nearby burst into laughter.

His brows furrowed, a flash of anger in his dark eyes, and he suddenly bent down, gripping her chin firmly, and in front of everyone, kissed her red lips.

Pinned by his grip, the pain in her fingertips was impossible to ignore; the sting made her frown slightly as she was forced to tilt her head up to meet his kiss, her red lips parting slightly, without the least resistance, the hand holding her glass obediently resting on her knee, quietly enduring his kiss.

This relationship — one look and it was clear it was no ordinary thing.

The kiss ended; the man beside them watched with great interest. Light rippled in her eyes; she said nothing.

Zhou Zheng’s strength was surprisingly great — or perhaps it was because she was so light — the pain from the man’s grip was undeniably real, gripping her waist, nearly lifting her clean off the booth seat, half carrying, half embracing her as he hauled her out.

Lin Shuang, in pain, and feeling her face flush under so many watching eyes, reached out and struck him hard, then suddenly remembered the collision at home earlier and, half sulking, half resentful, wrapped her arms around his neck instead.

She’d deliberately stirred up trouble, but she truly did love the meals he cooked, loved his patience and his yielding, loved that forceful kiss just now.

The people nearby whooped and whistled: “Bro, keep an eye on your own woman, don’t let her run around loose — she’s this pretty, you lose her and you’ll never find her again.”

Zhou Zheng dragged her all the way to the bar entrance, collected her bag, and asked her: “Where’s your coat?”

“Didn’t wear one.” The weather wasn’t cold; she’d only draped on a shawl when she left.

He took off his own jacket and put it on her; Lin Shuang let him do as he pleased, docile, the zipper pulled all the way up.

The jacket held his warmth — very warm.

She pouted, turning her head away from him.

He didn’t look at her either, standing beside her, waiting for a taxi by the roadside.

“Why have you been unhappy these past two days?”

“I haven’t been unhappy about anything.”

She had taken out her anger at Xie Xiaomeng on Zhou Zheng instead — not because of Xie Xiaomeng’s meddling, but because what Xie Xiaomeng had said was very much on point.

She gave her time and her body, spent his money, enjoyed his body, drained his energy, and felt it was all quite equal — but thinking it over carefully, it really wasn’t equivalent at all; the two of them held very different worth.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked.

“No, it’s got nothing to do with you.” She explained, “You think my temper’s all that good? I’m sometimes just like this — bad mood, find someone to take it out on, that’s all. Only once I’ve gotten someone else upset do I actually feel happy inside.”

Zhou Zheng said nothing.

She smiled a little. “Can’t take it? Plenty of men can’t. If you can’t take it, you should’ve said so early — we could’ve ended things sooner.”

“Zhou Zheng, do you want to end things with me?” Her smile was full. “You’d be more at ease.”

He turned his head to glance at her, reached out, and tugged at her sleeve.

Pulled along by him, she stumbled forward a couple of steps, tripping against him, and Zhou Zheng caught her with a reverse embrace, turning her into his arms.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, easily encircling her body.

Lin Shuang twisted, trying to squirm free.

“Don’t move. I’m a little cold, let me hold you for warmth.” He rested his chin on her shoulder, a bit of a nasal edge to his voice. “Let’s wait here, the taxi will be here soon.”

“I didn’t know before, but I know now. From now on, whenever you’re unhappy, just take it out on me — vent at me, that’s fine.” He nuzzled her temple. “Just don’t run wild outside, don’t hang up on my calls — I was just downstairs on the road looking everywhere for you.”

“Your temper’s this good — paying, working, enduring, and letting me bully you too?” She curved her eyes, mocking him. “Truly moving stuff, worthy of the most devoted boyfriend in history.”

“But sorry to say, I couldn’t manage being the most devoted girlfriend in history myself — probably not worthy of you. If you’d come a little later, I’d have already left with another man.”

Zhou Zheng kissed her temple, tightening his arms around her: “Go out and have fun all you like, just don’t leave with anyone else. Wait for me to come get you — I’ll come.”

“Don’t be angry anymore. I shouldn’t have made a move on you when you were in a bad mood.” His tone was muffled. “I’ve gotten my punishment — just now, carrying you out… my back still really hurts.”

Her eyes grew a little moist, and the last knot in her heart dissolved away to nothing.

“Zhou Zheng, do you like my face? Or my body?” she asked him. “You’re smart, and you teach for a living — you can’t be that dumb, can you… don’t books always say that a person’s soul is their most beautiful part? Does the happiness I bring you really amount to that much?”

He buried his head in the crook of her shoulder, not sure how to explain it — it was hard to put into words. At first, of course, what had drawn him so deeply was her face and her laughter, but over time it had gradually become a kind of aesthetic preference, deep-rooted and impossible to shake.

She was his poppy flower — one taste, and he was addicted.

“No wonder they say men are creatures ruled by their lower half — even Teacher Zhou can’t escape it. But surface things like this get boring fast, don’t they.”

Lin Shuang’s fingertip brushed his cheek: “When do you plan on getting bored of me?”

“Give it a while yet,” he said vaguely. “Are you bored of me?”

She was silent a moment, then answered honestly: “Not yet, for now.”

Zhou Zheng let out a soft breath.

She shook his hand: “Let’s go to the hospital, get that hit from earlier checked out.”

“No need, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Let’s go get it checked.” She insisted. “This matters more than you think.”

The taxi went straight to the hospital; they got an X-ray done, and there turned out to be nothing serious, just a patch of bruising. The doctor prescribed an ointment for reducing swelling and dispersing bruising.

Lin Shuang held the medicine, feeling quite guilty inside already.

That day was a whole ordeal that didn’t end until the middle of the night; the next morning, the two of them woke early, hearts both a little heavy.

The morning light was gentle; they kissed with quiet understanding, touching each other carefully, like tender spring light and spring water.

“Coming over again tonight?”

“Don’t you have evening study supervision tonight?”

“I can drop you off during the break between evening study sessions… you can play at home by yourself for a bit…” He stroked her eyebrow, looking at his own reflection in her clear pupils. “After evening study’s done, I’ll come back and cook you apple soup — how about that?”

She still felt guilty inside. Thinking it over, spending money every day on taxis to and from work, home was really just a place to sleep and shower — no different, really, from being with Zhou Zheng.

Lin Shuang nodded: “Okay.”