Li Wu hadn’t expected to run into Wan Chun here. After answering the question reflexively, the girl’s bright, energetic smile dimmed slightly, but she didn’t ask anything more. She just said “I won’t disturb you then” and walked past.

Li Wu immediately looked back at his phone.

The screen showed only the chat window – Cen Jin had ended the video call.

He hurriedly replied: Why did you hang up?

Cen Jin: You were talking with your classmate.

Li Wu: She’s not my classmate, we just exchanged a few words.

His serious, eager-to-explain demeanor was amusing. Cen Jin said: I’m not jealous or angry.

Li Wu became dejected instead: Why not?

Cen Jin laughed: What do you mean why not? Why would I be jealous of normal conversation?

Li Wu: Then I’ll talk longer next time.

Cen Jin sent an emoji of hands wielding a large knife: I’ll chop you!

Li Wu, having achieved his goal, was so happy he wanted to immediately deliver himself to her for whatever torment she chose: Oh.

Back in his dorm room, Li Wu sat at his desk, opened his laptop to read some papers, and then took out his phone to review his chat history with Cen Jin.

He propped his face with one hand while scrolling with the other, occasionally letting out soft chuckles.

Since school started, this had been his default state every day outside of studying and sleeping. His peony dorm mates could only watch with irritated teeth and itching fists, unable to criticize too much.

Finally, Zhong Wenxuan couldn’t take it anymore: “Li Wu, can you finish laughing in the hallway before coming back in?”

Li Wu immediately suppressed his emotions, flipped his phone face-down, and stared at his computer expressionlessly.

“You guys have it good,” Xu Shuo was also at his wit’s end: “I have to face this guy in the lab too, and I haven’t said anything.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” Li Wu couldn’t maintain his silent mode any longer and hurried to apologize to his roommates.

Xu Shuo seized the opportunity to inquire: “Who are you dating? Not someone from our school, right?”

Li Wu gave him a bland look: “The sister you and Zhong Wenxuan met during freshman orientation.”

“Holy shit?” “No way!”

The words hit like thunder from clear skies, sending the entire male dormitory into an uproar.

Zhong Wenxuan abandoned his game, eyebrows dancing with teasing admiration: “You got yourself a sugar mommy?”

The comment wasn’t pleasant to hear. Li Wu frowned slightly: “It’s just normal dating.”

Xu Shuo thought about the sister’s appearance: “How old is she? 26, 27?”

Li Wu paused for a second: “Thirty.”

His roommates’ jaws dropped as they howled in unison.

This kind of relationship, usually only seen in certain special works, excited these hot-blooded young men immensely. Even after lights out, they continued chattering, wanting to dig deeper.

“I thought there was something between you two last year.”

“How did you end up together?”

“Did you pursue her? Damn, is this what being a top student means? Even your taste is different from normal people.”

“Li Wu, do you still have your virginity?”

“What’s it like dating a woman that age? Must be amazing, right?”

“Be careful, she might just want your body since you’re so handsome.”

…

Their questions became increasingly inappropriate, their discussion more and more outrageous, finally revolving exclusively around matters below the belt. Li Wu listened until his face burned red, lying in bed like a corpse, unwilling to respond with even half a word.

―

As summer heat gradually retreated, autumn quietly infiltrated the human world, laying a new foundation color for the city – the bleakness of rainy days and the warm gold of clear ones.

After completing her department transfer, Cen Jin officially became an account manager.

She was immediately handed two projects – a cosmetics brand and a payment app. Just as she finished dealing with one side, she had to report to the other. Every day was spent arguing with various parties – suppliers, media, clients, colleagues, bosses, finance. She was on 24-hour standby handling all calls and messages, barely able to squeeze in time for a paid bathroom break.

Sometimes her subconscious identity hadn’t fully changed, and she would involuntarily try to get involved in creative matters. Teddy would then sharply rebuke this traitor: “Just be a good switchboard operator and do your job.” Cen Jin naturally wouldn’t back down: “Should I mention how your copy isn’t as good as what I could write with my eyes closed?”

After a chaotic month, Cen Jin was mentally and physically exhausted. Every day after work she was too tired to speak, having spent all her energy on words during the day.

After one failed attempt to convince a client to increase their budget, Cen Jin collapsed back onto the sofa, closed her eyes, and wanted to throw her phone into the toilet and flush it away, never to wake again.

The phone vibrated again.

Cen Jin felt a surge of anger, but upon seeing the caller’s name, her mood brightened. Still, she hesitated before answering, “Hello…”

Hearing her voice so lifeless and weak, he also lowered his tone: “Another exhausting day?”

Cen Jin gave a soft “mm.”

“Should I come back tomorrow?”

Cen Jin pressed her lips together, afraid to disappoint him: “But I have meetings all day tomorrow, and after work, I have to take clients to dinner. You might be asleep by the time I get back.”

“Are you that busy? I wish I were your client, at least I could see your face during dinner.”

Cen Jin wrinkled her nose, not quite understanding: “What do you mean?”

The young man’s joke carried a hint of dejection: “The last few times we ate together, I couldn’t see you – you were always looking at your laptop.”

Cen Jin smiled bitterly: “You think I want to open my laptop as soon as I sit down? What can I do? Clients call, colleagues…”

He interrupted her: “I miss you so much.”

Cen Jin’s heart instantly melted, warmed by these four words: “I miss you too.”

“Then can I come back tomorrow?” he asked again, with a pleading tone that brooked no refusal.

“Alright.” Cen Jin wished she could hold him in her arms right now and ruffle his hair.

―

The next evening at seven, Cen Jin went to the bathroom to change to a less aggressive lipstick color, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed downstairs with Yuan Zhen to meet their client appointment.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they left the building, she glimpsed Li Wu by the plaza fountain. The young man wore a black hoodie, standing tall and eye-catching among the crowd, letting the shifting water lights splash colors across his form.

Cen Jin looked straight at him, her heart racing.

He looked back at her, having waited there for who knows how long.

After a moment of eye contact, Cen Jin squeezed her eyelids hard, thinking she was hallucinating from exhaustion. But this action didn’t make the young man disappear; instead, he became more real and vivid. His previously cool face flickered with a smile, and he seemed about to step toward her.

Cen Jin’s pupils contracted as she glanced at Yuan Zhen beside her. Confirming her colleague hadn’t noticed, she furrowed her brows and glared warningly at Li Wu, trying to force him back.

Her expression and eyes were sharp as weapons as if her territory had been invaded.

The young man understood her meaning and stopped five meters away. He still gazed at her, but his face in the shadows no longer shone, as if covered by a gray, gloomy mask.

Cen Jin had no solution and was in a hurry to make their appointment. She could only temporarily ignore his unhappiness.

Just then, Yuan Zhen suddenly turned to speak to her. Cen Jin quickly smiled in response, drawing away her colleague’s full attention. When her coworker looked away again, she shot another sharp glance back, quickly jerking her chin toward the street corner, signaling Li Wu to leave immediately.

Afraid he wouldn’t understand, she pulled her phone from her trench coat pocket and quickly typed a message: Please go home first.

How could he come to her company without saying anything?

She knew he wanted to give her a surprise, but her work emotions had already accumulated to the brim today, and that container in her heart couldn’t hold anymore, let alone have any space or energy to handle this unexpected situation. His sudden appearance would only be a burden, not a pleasant surprise, especially since she hadn’t told anyone at the company about her new relationship.

Cen Jin grew increasingly troubled.

After pressing send, she looked up again, but her view was blocked by a passing family of three. When they finally strolled past with their laughter, the young man had vanished, leaving only the magical rain-like fountain and various nighttime wanderers.

Cen Jin let out a long breath and followed Yuan Zhen to hail a taxi.

Their purpose for this outing was to sound out the client’s preferences before the proposal, to better understand the brand’s recent inclinations.

The dinner lasted over two hours. The client’s marketing manager was a man in his early thirties, extremely talkative and somewhat oily in his manner.

Yuan Zhen, with years of experience, was long accustomed to such people. She skillfully played along with his jokes, never letting the conversation grow cold.

Cen Jin didn’t dare let her mind wander for a moment. She barely ate anything, focused on learning and memorizing Yuan Zhen’s conversational techniques and tricks to use in future client interactions.

…

It was after eleven when Cen Jin finally said goodbye to them and left the restaurant.

After ordering a car through the app, she switched back to check WeChat. Her young boyfriend still hadn’t replied to her message.

Tucking wind-blown strands of hair behind her ear, the woman sighed softly, tossed her phone back into her bag, and caught her waiting taxi.

Throughout the journey, she leaned back wearily against the seat, her thoughts scattered, letting the lights from outside flow across her face.

…

Near home, Cen Jin stopped in the hallway and took out her powder compact to touch up her makeup.

Only after confirming she looked somewhat radiant did she unlock the door and enter.

The first thing she saw was the young man sitting on the sofa.

His long legs were bent behind the coffee table as he looked at his phone. Hearing the door, he lifted his head, his dark eyes only briefly glancing at her before lowering again. He didn’t say a word, nor did he fly to her side as he usually would.

Clearly in a mood. Cen Jin’s head hurt, and a surge of resentment rose within her. She thought about just ignoring him, but after taking one step inside, she kicked the slippers he had placed out for her. The frustration knotted in her chest instantly loosened, and she felt guilty, her heart aching for this child.

Cen Jin slipped on the slippers, took off her bag and trench coat, hung them up, and immediately sat down beside Li Wu.

“What’s wrong?” Cen Jin leaned closer.

“Nothing.” He turned his face away, avoiding her clinginess.

Cen Jin bit her lip lightly, held back her temper, and took the initiative: “Don’t you recognize the colleague who was with me today?”

Li Wu’s tone was unusually cold: “No.”

“Heh,” Cen Jin’s laugh made her upper body tremble slightly: “Don’t pretend. Didn’t you chat with her during the summer break of your senior year? Quite a few words too, almost got lured away.”

She tried to change the subject, but Li Wu wouldn’t be moved. He just looked at her directly and cut to the heart of the matter: “It’s been three months, and you haven’t told any of your colleagues about our relationship, have you?”

“Yes,” Cen Jin admitted, rubbing her sore eyes: “Because they’ll ask so many questions, they’ll keep bringing it up. I’m already so busy, I don’t want to deal with all that, especially since quite a few people at our company know you, and I don’t need to explain our relationship to them anyway, this is just between us.”

“No, it’s because it’s me,” Li Wu said in just one sentence, but his eyes held more emotion than a thousand words.

“Yes, exactly because it’s you,” Cen Jin took the opportunity to coax him, her voice gentle: “You’re so good, so handsome, so excellent – is it wrong to want to keep you hidden? There are already so many girls at your school eyeing you, is it not okay that I don’t want to create more rivals for myself?”

Li Wu remained silent, knowing perfectly well he wouldn’t be easily fooled.

After a moment of heavy silence, Cen Jin reached for his face, trying to forcefully turn him to face her, planning to soften him with kisses and eye contact.

Li Wu refused to turn, so Cen Jin withdrew her hand and changed tactics, biting his ear hard.

Li Wu was caught off guard, his face turning half red as he turned back, eyes bright and almost glaring at her, mixed with helplessness.

Cen Jin smiled triumphantly and went to kiss him. When he remained unmoved, she sucked and bit until Li Wu’s breathing grew heavy. Finally unable to endure her assault, he pulled her back against him and began returning her kisses.

The young man’s actions carried a hint of venting frustration, rougher than usual, making Cen Jin moan several times.

When they had to separate for air, Cen Jin realized that during their entanglement, one of her legs had straddled between his. She pecked his fresh, flush-covered cheeks and, for the first time, coaxed in a coquettish voice: “Don’t be mad at sister anymore, okay?”

…

Li Wu’s chest rose and fell continuously, hardly able to speak.

…

That night, the nineteen-year-old young man gained new knowledge.

A woman’s lips weren’t just for mutual pecking during embraces – they could also become a warm, wet marsh. He was drawn in, devoured, greedily sinking in, almost willing to give his life.