After that day of parting, Zhou Tingzhao didn’t see her for several consecutive days, until one noon when Pei Feng brought him to a Hong Kong-style restaurant.

It was mealtime, and the restaurant was packed with people, yet Zhou Tingzhao could spot her at a glance. Sang Ru sat by the window, glancing over while chatting with her companions. She paused, then nodded slightly at him with a smile.

Zhou Tingzhao returned the greeting and sat down with Pei Feng in another area.

From then on, Director Zhou ate Hong Kong-style cuisine for quite a few days, but never again encountered the person he wanted to see. Instead, he only inadvertently boosted Pei Feng’s confidence in food recommendations.

That day, after working a few extra hours, Zhou Tingzhao arrived at the parking lot quite late. He heard what seemed to be an argument near his parking space.

“It’s not appropriate to leave without waiting for the car owner.”

Another male voice sounded fierce and intimidating: “What’s it to you?”

The woman fell silent for a moment, then clicked her tongue and said, “I suppose it’s none of my business. In that case, I’ll just show this video to the car owner when they arrive.”

“You!”

Sang Ru shrugged indifferently, deliberately flashing the recorded video in front of him.

The man decided to get out of his car. “The car I scratched is this one, not yours! Mind your own business!”

As he said this, he tried to grab her phone. Sang Ru kept her hand behind her back and stepped away, retreating until she bumped into someone. That person wrapped his arm around her shoulder, shielding her behind his back, allowing others to see only his broad back.

Zhou Tingzhao looked down at the shorter man in front of him and said, “Sir, let’s talk civilly.”

“Another busybody? This doesn’t concern you, get lost!”

Zhou Tingzhao smiled slightly and pointed to the car nearby. “This car belongs to me.”

The man’s face visibly faltered for a moment, though he tried to maintain his composure. “Just because you say it’s yours doesn’t make it so.”

Zhou Tingzhao took out his car key and pressed a button. Sure enough, the car unlocked with a beep.

Sang Ru peered out from behind him with a smirk. “Well, now the video won’t be necessary.”

The man was clearly in the wrong, and seeing that he had provoked someone not to be trifled with, he reluctantly called his insurance company to settle the claim after some resistance.

Sang Ru had no reason to stay any longer, so she said, “I’ll be going then. I’ll send you the video later; it can serve as evidence.”

Zhou Tingzhao turned around and, after a moment, smiled and asked, “Do you have my contact information?”

Sang Ru initially wanted to say they were still in the dining group chat, but on second thought, she opened her phone and presented her QR code to him. “You can have it now.”

Zhou Tingzhao gazed at her intently without saying anything, then raised his hand to scan. With a “beep,” her profile page appeared.

This interface was very familiar to him. Since the establishment of their common group, he had clicked on her profile picture many times. This was the first time he had sent a connection request.

When Sang Ru reached the street, she received his first message—

“Thank you. I’ll treat you to a meal someday.”

The musical theater group she wanted to see was performing here. Sang Ru came alone, but at the end of the show, she encountered a familiar face at the exit.

Zhou Tingzhao stood noticeably tall among the crowded audience. Unlike his usual suited appearance, he wore a loose white T-shirt and black pants.

She had never heard that he had an interest in musicals. Sang Ru initially thought of pretending not to see him, but when she glanced over again, her eyes met his directly.

“What a coincidence,” Zhou Tingzhao said as he walked over.

“Mm,” Sang Ru responded, appearing natural as she walked alongside him. “I didn’t know you liked these too.”

Zhou Tingzhao’s voice was very soft: “I do.”

Following the crowd out, they could hear people nearby exchanging their impressions of the show, discussing the appearance of the main characters, the bold plot arrangements, and the stage movements.

The two remained silent for a while, until Sang Ru, listening to the conversations, suddenly asked, “Why did you choose ‘Spring Awakening’?”

Zhou Tingzhao remained silent for a long time before stopping and saying, “Rebirth.”

Sang Ru gave him a rare, genuine smile. “Others see decay and chaos, but you see rebirth?”

“Don’t you?”

Sang Ru raised her eyebrows slightly without responding.

“Then let’s make a bet,” Zhou Tingzhao said. “If you feel the same way, why don’t I fulfill my promise to treat you right now?”

Sang Ru moved her lips, but was interrupted by his words: “After all, being in debt doesn’t feel too good.”

It was Sang Ru herself who had suggested eating at the street barbecue stall. When they arrived, however, she realized that compared to her tight-fitting dress, Zhou Tingzhao’s casual outfit seemed more suitable for the atmosphere.

What had started as a polite offer had become reality. Sang Ru wasn’t yet accustomed to sitting face-to-face with him like this. Her eyes remained fixed on the menu, only occasionally looking up at him.

They each ordered their food, and the owner, taking back the menu, asked, “What would you like to drink? Draft beer is our best seller.”

Sang Ru looked pointedly at Zhou Tingzhao. “No alcohol. I’ll have a bottle of coconut juice.”

Zhou Tingzhao said, “The same.”

After the owner left, Zhou Tingzhao said, “I still need to drive. Don’t worry, I won’t drink.”

Sang Ru responded with an “Oh,” somehow recalling how he had leaned on her shoulder the last time he was drunk, sleeping so peacefully.

Zhou Tingzhao seemed to be thinking of the same incident. As their gazes met, they both inexplicably turned away and smiled.

The barbecue stall’s business only became bustling at night. New customers arrived at the table behind Sang Ru, creating quite a commotion. Sang Ru couldn’t help but find their occasional exclamations of “Thanks for the rocket, fans!” and “Give me some 666 in the chat!” rather amusing as she ate.

However, as she was enjoying herself, the “melon” (drama) came to their table.

The female streamer was heard saying, “Just eating is boring. I see a handsome guy at the next table. Sisters, watch me get his WeChat.”

She carried herself properly and had no intention of controlling her volume. Sang Ru heard every word, and clearly, so did Zhou Tingzhao.

Sang Ru noticed his eyebrows furrowing slightly, his expression turning unpleasant. She found it even more amusing and decided not to intervene, curious to see how he would respond.

The streamer sister came over with her selfie stick, pointing the camera directly at Zhou Tingzhao. “Handsome, do you have a girlfriend?”

Zhou Tingzhao looked at Sang Ru, and the streamer sister also looked over. “Excuse me, are you…”

Sang Ru squinted and smiled, then firmly shook her head.

Zhou Tingzhao’s expression became even more difficult.

“Then handsome, can I add your WeChat?”

Zhou Tingzhao took a napkin and methodically wiped the oil from his fingers. “No.”

Everyone present: …

Her companions were two big guys who were reading comments from the live stream audience at the barbecue table behind them. One of them read aloud, “So cool? Cool my ass!”

The other shouted toward their table: “Brother, give us a break!”

The streamer sister probably hadn’t experienced such a rejection before. She looked at him pitifully and said, “Don’t be so harsh. Not just anyone can add me to WeChat either.”

Zhou Tingzhao raised his hand and gently pushed her phone away. “Neither can mine.”

The other side was momentarily speechless, then looked suspiciously at Sang Ru and asked, “Your friend isn’t gay, is he?”

Sang Ru couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t know either.”

As soon as she said this, she felt Zhou Tingzhao’s knife-like glare. His voice matched his temper from before, hard as a rock, with words coming through gritted teeth: “I’m not.”

“Then why won’t you add me? Sister here has a good figure, a nice butt, and money too. Looking at your outfit, you’re probably a college student, right? If you don’t want to be friends, I could be your sugar mommy!”

Sang Ru really couldn’t hold it in anymore and leaned on the table, laughing until her stomach hurt.

Zhou Tingzhao gritted his teeth. “Thank you, not interested.”

Sang Ru took a moment to testify: “He’s… probably quite wealthy.”

“A rich second generation?” The streamer sister’s eyes lit up. “That’s even better! If we get together, it would be money on top of money!”

Sang Ru left her seat, laughing, and moved to stand next to the big guy at the back table to watch the scrolling comments on the screen, ignoring the burning gaze from behind her.

“Sister! Go for it!”

“What’s so great about this man? Except for his face, he’s just pretentious!”

“The lamb skewers must be getting cold…”

The big guy even turned the screen a bit toward Sang Ru. “Pretty interesting, right?”

Sang Ru: “Indeed.”

She even wanted to shout at Zhou Tingzhao now: Add her! Quickly add her!

But she didn’t dare.

On the screen were Zhou Tingzhao’s magnified features. He was handsome, although the excessive beauty filter made him look somewhat unlike himself. The real person looked better. Sang Ru looked at the man just over a meter away, thinking that he must not lack girls pursuing him…

The screen suddenly shook, focusing on his clothes. Zhou Tingzhao had finally reached his limit of patience. He stood up with an ashen face and said, “You’re disturbing me. Please leave.”

“Don’t be angry, handsome. You don’t have a girlfriend, so why refuse me?”

Not having one didn’t mean he didn’t have someone he wanted. Yet that person had moved beside another man, intently watching his predicament. Zhou Tingzhao was about to explode with anger.

“I do.”

The streamer sister was confused. “You have a girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” She immediately rolled her eyes and walked away unhurriedly.

“I still have principles. If you already have a girlfriend, why would I still try to add you? That’s beneath me.”

Sang Ru heard her voice getting closer, but her mind was still stuck on Zhou Tingzhao’s earlier statement about having a girlfriend. She couldn’t quite identify the feeling that surged through her heart.

“Hey, pretty girl, why don’t you add me instead?”

Sang Ru came to her senses, responding woodenly, “Huh?”

It was the crew-cut big guy who had cursed Zhou Tingzhao’s handsomeness. He said with a matter-of-fact expression, “I think you’re quite beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?”

…Was this the consequence of watching the show?

“No, but…”

“Then it’s fine! Come on, show me your QR code!”

“No need.” Sang Ru stood up, intending to leave.

The big guy also stood up, grabbing her wrist. “Don’t go! Let’s chat a bit more!”

His voice sounded rough, making her somewhat afraid. Before Sang Ru could voice her refusal again, Zhou Tingzhao gripped the man’s wrist and said in a deep voice, “Let go.”

Sang Ru felt the pressure on her wrist loosen, only to tighten again, making her wince in pain.

The crew-cut big guy wasn’t comfortable either, but he still said contemptuously, “You think I’ll let go just because you tell me to? Who are you?”

“Beauty, leave your WeChat before you go.”

Sang Ru tried hard to pull her hand back, but then she heard Zhou Tingzhao speak in a tone she had never heard before, enunciating each word: “WeChat your ass.”

Then he threw a punch.

The two men started fighting, leaving the other big guy, the streamer sister, and Sang Ru standing dumbfounded.

Sang Ru came to her senses. “Stop fighting!”

Initially, the other two also tried to stop them a couple of times, but then the streamer sister ended up pointing her phone at the fighting men, live-streaming the scene. The remaining big guy continued drinking his beer, occasionally glancing at the screen to see what the online viewers were saying.

There was no helping it—from asking for WeChat to fighting, the livestream’s viewership had multiplied several times.

Nearby, some people left while others with more courage or those standing farther away watched the commotion. Sang Ru was truly speechless; this time she couldn’t find anything to laugh about.

“Stop fighting or I’ll call the police!”

No one listened to her. The restaurant owner also came out to try to stop the fight, but the two men continued their heated exchange.

It wasn’t until nearby city management officers rushed over that the two were forcibly separated.

Sang Ru went to Zhou Tingzhao’s side and saw that his once-pristine white T-shirt was now stained in various places, with a wound on his temple. She felt both angry and guilty.

“Are you okay?” She pulled at his clothes, checking up and down for injuries. Full of apologies, she said, “I’m sorry.”

With her head lowered, she looked particularly pitiful, even though she was the one apologizing…

Zhou Tingzhao’s raised hand was just an inch from the top of her head. His palm was also covered in dirt, looking utterly filthy. This was probably the most disheveled day of his life.

In the end, his hand didn’t come down. Zhou Tingzhao lowered his head, looking at her, and said softly, “It’s fine.”