His words were like ice water splashed on the table, instantly freezing the atmosphere.

Cen Jin maintained her smile with pressed lips, saying nothing.

Chai Si Ming was the first to break the deadlock: “We were supposed to discuss business, how did this turn into a blind date?”

Zhou Sui An operated his phone for a moment, then put it down as if placing a bet in a game. His elbow then propped on the table: “I’ve deleted the repost. Miss Cen, aren’t you going to return this favor?”

Cen Jin smiled faintly: “I just didn’t expect your price would take this form.”

Zhou Sui An said carelessly: “It’s all private settlement, what’s the difference?”

This was indeed the most efficient and easiest solution, but also sufficiently humiliating. A two-second flash of helpless emptiness crossed Cen Jin’s heart, but she finally nodded: “Fine, you pick the place.”

Seeing this, Chai Si Ming teased: “Sui An, have you taken a fancy to our beautiful Cen?”

Zhou Sui An remained silent, picking up his water glass to drink.

Chai Si Ming continued: “But Cen Jin has a partner now.”

Zhou Sui An lifted his eyes.

Cen Jin said smoothly: “I happened to be dropping him off at school today.”

“Also teaching at our school?” Zhou Sui An set down his glass.

Chai Si Ming: “He’s a student, and a very outstanding one.”

Zhou Sui An’s eyebrows lifted slightly, his gaze toward Cen Jin taking on another layer of meaning. Cen Jin could immediately read this kind of adult-only analysis and definition – somewhat offensive, but he didn’t mind at all, even seeming to provoke deliberately.

“Is Miss Cen strict with discipline?” Zhou Sui An accepted the coffee from the server: “Surely your boyfriend wouldn’t mind just a meal.”

Cen Jin curved her lips, with cold hostility: “Is Professor Zhou strict with discipline?”

Zhou Sui An laughed slightly: “I live alone.” Whether intentional or not, his suggestion was ambiguous.

Chai Si Ming turned his head and laughed, saying unable to bear it: “Enough, Sui An. Just have a meal, let this matter pass, don’t do this, don’t make things difficult for my old classmate.”

Zhou Sui An put both hands in his pockets, his posture becoming more casual.

―

This was the first time since changing careers that Cen Jin missed her previous creative work days.

At least then she didn’t have to face so many messy people or situations, unable to vent her frustration. Though some clients then were also frivolous in words and actions, everyone in the industry still had to maintain some face.

But Zhou Sui An was different. He was like someone from a grey area, completely unafraid to make her experience these subtle but concrete forms of disrespect and mockery. She could only endure.

A typical cultured scoundrel.

Walking silently beside Zhou Sui An, Cen Jin was mentally and physically repulsed, but she had no choice – she had to repay this favor.

After all, her entrepreneurship plan was set, and she would likely have to deal with all kinds of KOLs in the future. The internet was connected like spider silk, and industry reputation was crucial.

The early winter wind was bitingly cold, withered leaves spinning chaotically in mid-air like blind butterflies, caught in their fall by a hand.

The owner of the hand asked: “You know what kind of leaf this is, right?”

Cen Jin glanced at it: “Chinese parasol tree.”

Zhou Sui An said: “The parasol tree symbolized loyalty in ancient times.”

“Is that so.” Cen Jin responded neutrally.

Zhou Sui An casually tossed away the leaf: “You’re my fellow alumnus?”

“Yes.”

“Same major as Chai Si Ming?”

“Mm.”

“How old are you?”

Cen Jin’s brows furrowed slightly: “Professor Zhou seems to be asking a bit too much.”

“Too much?” Zhou Sui An smiled: “This is already too much? What will we talk about during lunch, just eat?”

Cen Jin was silent for a moment, then said directly: “Do you have something against me? If it’s because of the copyright infringement, I can apologize again on behalf of the company. Your photography clip was provided by the brand side, we didn’t intentionally steal it.”

Zhou Sui An looked over, his eyes pitch black: “If I had something against you, I wouldn’t even consider giving a price.”

Cen Jin held his gaze: “But your current approach feels more like humiliation. This isn’t the nature of my work.”

“What nature?”

“Like I’m being ‘sold.'” Cen Jin didn’t mince words.

Zhou Sui An was amused: “I knew another Account Manager before who often had private meals with people. Why isn’t it okay with me?”

“It’s not about the meal,” Cen Jin replied: “It’s your attitude toward me. I don’t know if this is how you usually communicate, but I’m not comfortable with it. To put it bluntly, it’s workplace harassment. I’d rather you just name your price, and we can make a clean exchange.”

Zhou Sui An’s tone was flat, seeming unconcerned: “Is that so? No wonder my interpersonal relationships are so poor, I can only talk to plants.”

His lukewarm response didn’t anger Cen Jin. She concluded: “So I am human, not a plant.”

Zhou Sui An slowly revealed a smile. His gaunt face and extremely pale complexion made this smile appear harmless: “But you’re like a flower.”

Cen Jin took a cold breath, her patience at its limit: “Thanks for the compliment.”

Zhou Sui An looked straight ahead, his gaze becoming somewhat distant. After a moment, he stopped walking: “Miss Cen, let’s cancel this lunch.”

Cen Jin felt it was sudden: “Why?”

“Don’t want to eat anymore.” Zhou Sui An withdrew that mocking attitude, his whole person suddenly becoming quiet.

He took out a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket, and pulled one out but didn’t light it, seemingly just holding it between his fingers as an emotional anchor: “Goodbye.”

Cen Jin finally saw the cigarette brand clearly – an all-white box with a logo of three numbers, 555.

―

Watching Zhou Sui An leave, Cen Jin stood in place, feeling like punching a sponge – unable to gain any traction.

She looked back at her phone, checking Zhou Sui An’s Weibo page. The report about the copyright infringement had disappeared – the man hadn’t deceived her.

Cen Jin sighed slightly, switching to WeChat wanting to talk to Li Wu, and unexpectedly found an unread message from Chai Si Ming.

Cen Jin opened it. It mentioned that eccentric Professor Zhou – saying his ex-wife was also an advertising company account manager like her, who later had an affair with a client during their marriage. Seeing her might have triggered some hostility and emotional transference… Then he apologized for his friend’s rudeness.

Cen Jin read this medium-length text twice, her feelings complex but also understanding: “It’s okay, he didn’t make me treat him to lunch alone.”

Chai Si Ming was finally relieved.

Seeing it was too late to go to the office that morning, Cen Jin slowly walked to the bottom of the Guanghua Building, wanting to have lunch with Li Wu.

As the class was about to end, she sent her location to Li Wu on WeChat.

The young man was exceptionally delighted: Which floor are you on?

Cen Jin replied: Why are you responding so quickly? Aren’t you supposed to be in class?

Li Wu: Because it’s your message.

Cen Jin smiled, answering his initial question: Just on the first floor. Want to have lunch together today?

Li Wu: Yes.

When the class bell rang, Cen Jin welcomed her young boyfriend among the crowd.

Despite his roommates’ complaints, he ran to her side without looking back. Even in this desolate season, the young man was as vigorous and fresh as a spring tree.

Cen Jin couldn’t help but wrap her arm around his waist, and Li Wu immediately hugged her back.

Students on the steps looked over, some grimacing in disgust, others smiling like aunties watching a show. Some recognized this pair who had been popular on BBS recently and hurriedly gathered others to watch.

…

Thanks to her boyfriend, Cen Jin, long graduated, could revisit the flavors of her alma mater’s cafeteria.

They sat together, their auras distinctly different, with an obvious age gap.

But perhaps because their appearances matched, or their energy harmonized, they looked strangely well-suited.

Li Wu ran to every counter, bringing back many different dishes, turning a cafeteria meal into something like a buffet, and repeatedly asking Cen Jin if there was anything else she wanted to eat.

Cen Jin shook her head vigorously: “I’m full. Aren’t you afraid I’ll max out your meal card?”

Li Wu smiled: “I can always add more.”

After eating and drinking their fill, they spent some time cuddling in the car before Li Wu returned to his dorm and Cen Jin drove back to the company.

Along the way, she navigated to a tobacco shop, finding the cigarettes Zhou Sui An smoked in the imported section.

Cen Jin bought two cartons and had the shop wrap them properly.

The next day when Li Wu came home, she gave him the gift box, entrusting him to deliver it to Zhou Sui An.

Li Wu was confused at first, but after Cen Jin explained the reason, he gladly agreed, curious about what the cigarettes tasted like.

Cen Jin patted his cheeks, humming a warning: “If you dare smoke, I’ll smack you.”

Li Wu said: “I quite like it when you hit me.”

“Are you some kind of masochist,” Cen Jin threw a flurry of light punches and kicks, but didn’t use real force: “Like this? Or this?”

Li Wu dodged, and she chased after him, their laughter sprinkling through the corridor.

Of course, her ultimate reward was being pressed back against the wall, receiving deeper, more irresistible punishment.

The next day, fine rain fell densely, the world cold and gloomy. Li Wu saw only one umbrella in the entryway, and afraid that taking it would leave Cen Jin without one, he went to school in the rain.

When he found Zhou Sui An’s office, the young man was already soaked. He wiped his glossy bangs with his sleeve, hesitating at the door.

A female teacher was present, and seeing him peering in, asked curiously: “Who are you looking for?”

Li Wu said politely: “Hello, teacher. I’m looking for Professor Zhou Sui An.”

The female teacher leaned back in her chair: “He’s not here right now.”

Li Wu asked: “When will he be back approximately?”

Female teacher: “Soon, he has class this morning.”

Just as Li Wu was about to turn back to his dorm first, a man appeared at the end of the corridor, wearing a coat and holding an all-black long umbrella. His gait was leisurely, thin, and pale, his bearing similar to those ascetic practitioners Li Wu had seen in British dramas.

Passing by Li Wu, he only glanced at him, his gaze not lingering, and moved on.

But in the moment they passed, Li Wu seemed to sense something, calling out uncertainly: “Professor Zhou?”

The man stopped, turned back, and examined the young student.

He was quite wet but didn’t look disheveled, his hair like wet silver grass, the rain just an accent to his youthful appearance.

Zhou Sui An confirmed he wasn’t one of his students, as none of his students had such striking looks. But the young man’s intense gaze made him somewhat uneasy, worried about facing an unexpected social encounter.

Fortunately, the young man quickly withdrew this emotional gaze, explaining: “Hello, Professor Zhou. I’m Cen Jin’s boyfriend. This is a thank-you gift she asked me to give you for deleting that Weibo post.”

As he spoke, he held out the gift box.

His identity introduction caused Zhou Sui An slight surprise. He didn’t accept it, only asking: “What’s inside?”

Li Wu replied: “Cigarettes.”

Zhou Sui An’s lips curved slightly, his voice as cold as the rain: “If someone were to pass by in the corridor now, this would be considered a bribe, you know?”

The young man seemed prepared for this: “That’s why she had it wrapped in a gift box.”

Zhou Sui An was momentarily speechless.

After a brief standoff, Zhou Sui An accepted it, also saying a light thank you.

Li Wu shook his head saying no thanks necessary, and turned to leave.

Zhou Sui An called him back, raising his umbrella: “Take it, it’s still raining.”

Li Wu politely declined, quickly leaving the corridor.

After he disappeared around the corner, Zhou Sui An carried the gift box into his office, his movements casual.

His female colleague asked curiously who that was, guessing he wasn’t a student from their department.

Zhou Sui An thought for a moment, unable to give a precise definition: “Just a university student.”

Back at his desk, Zhou Sui An stood unwrapping the package. When he saw the cigarette brand, his gaze trembled slightly, and he put both cartons away in his second drawer.

Zhou Sui An turned on his computer, checked his Weibo mentions, reposted and replied to a few he liked, and then browsed through his crowded private message list.

The fourth message was a question about flower species: “Sui God, what flower is this~ Why hasn’t it withered when winter’s almost here? Saw it in my neighbor’s yard.”

Zhou Sui An opened the image, first startled, then stared at it for a long time before replying with four characters: Mountain Michelia.

After turning off the computer, he took out the phone from his coat pocket, opened one chat, hesitated for a moment, then sent a message: I accepted the cigarettes, when will you make up for that lunch you owe me?