For the next week, Li Wu focused on preparing for his final exams, while Cen Jin was immersed in PINA Cosmetics’ new project.

After finishing the brief for the New Year gift set, her team threw themselves into intense preparations.

Thursday afternoon, Cen Jin went to the photo shoot location. At the studio, she met her client, Song Ci, in person for the first time.

The woman had short hair, pale skin, and light makeup, giving off a “minimalist chic” aesthetic beauty that matched Cen Jin’s mental image almost exactly.

But there was one unexpected detail – they were wearing the same coat from the same brand.

Cen Jin felt slightly awkward and found an excuse to take off her coat within minutes of their meeting, to prevent any discomfort for the client.

Song Ci didn’t seem to mind, and seeing Cen Jin’s action, she commented softly: “Nice coat.”

The awkwardness instantly dissolved, and Cen Jin smiled slightly.

The studio was shooting materials for Weibo splash screen ads and WeChat promotional H5. Lu Qiqi had come along with Cen Jin. As the creative team leader and a fan of PINA Cosmetics’ newest spokesperson, she had somewhat ulterior motives for this visit.

The three women stood side by side, watching the popular young actor Meng Xizhou expertly “strike poses” in the photography studio.

His appearance was superior, with excellent camera presence, and his golden ratio face was flawless from every angle.

Lu Qiqi was entranced, showering him with endless compliments.

Song Ci was used to this, and suddenly raised her chin: “Cen Jin, don’t you think Meng Xizhou’s eyes look a bit like your boyfriend’s?”

Cen Jin was slightly surprised, having assumed that a client like Song Ci wouldn’t pay attention to “romantic news” on social media. After a moment’s thought, she replied: “He’s more refined than my boyfriend.”

Song Ci said: “But your boyfriend’s eyes are clearer. What does he do?”

Cen Jin said: “Still a student, studying physics at F University.”

Song Ci let out a disappointed “ah”: “I thought he was a model, was thinking of recruiting him for our company’s shoots.”

Cen Jin laughed and shook her head: “No, he’s just an ordinary person.”

After one set of photos was complete, Meng Xizhou came down to drink water and rest, while they went to look at the unedited preliminary shots with the photographer.

During this time, Cen Jin paid special attention to Meng Xizhou’s eyes – they were indeed somewhat similar to Li Wu’s, both with thick eyebrows and large eyes, naturally forming beautiful eye bags without needing to force a big smile, but Li Wu’s pupils were clearer.

After roughly selecting photos, the coffee ordered by the artist’s assistant arrived at the studio. Song Ci brought a cup to Cen Jin, and as she took it, Song Ci smiled and asked: “Cen Jin, could you sit with me somewhere after we finish here?”

Cen Jin raised an eyebrow and nodded.

Afterward, they found the nearest café.

As the server brought their drinks, Song Ci got straight to the point: “You know my ex-husband?”

Cen Jin was startled, her mind racing through social connections: “Which one?”

“Zhou Sui’an,” Song Ci dropped a sugar cube into her cup, her expression calm: “I saw him in your likes the other day, how do you know him?”

Cen Jin thought for a moment, remembering that Zhou Sui’an had indeed appeared under her public status, but her impression of him hadn’t improved because of it. She only answered: “Because of a copyright infringement issue with an advertising video clip.”

Song Ci asked: “Is it resolved?”

“I think so.”

“That’s good,” Song Ci cupped her coffee with both hands: “Zhou Sui’an is crazy, stay away from him.”

The world was surprisingly small, and Cen Jin belatedly realized: “So you’re his ex-wife?”

Song Ci nodded, understanding in her eyes: “Seems you’ve heard about me?”

“Yes…” Cen Jin hesitated but still wanted to hear what she had to say: “You used to work in advertising too?”

Song Ci said: “Yes, I was at Hengmei before coming to PINA two years ago.”

She continued talking about her ex-husband: “Zhou Sui’an is sensitive, paranoid, calculating, emotionally unstable, like someone with cyclothymia, and it got worse after marriage. He couldn’t stand any men around me, would have people follow me, and plant devices in my car. I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to divorce him, fought a long legal battle to break free. He orchestrated a good show, putting himself completely in the victim’s position – that’s the version of the story you and others have heard, where I play the villain who betrayed the marriage, and I paid a heavy price for it.”

“These years he’s developed into a KOL using his advantages, not just to satisfy his performative personality, but to infiltrate my industry, trying to destroy me like a virus by bringing our ‘past’ into my work. After the divorce, all his girlfriends have been from our industry, and I worry you might become one of them. Though I’m not clear about his exact motives, one thing is certain – he’s an absolute psychopath.”

Chills ran down Cen Jin’s spine, and she found it difficult to judge truth from fiction, only able to continue along: “I haven’t had much interaction with him because I felt uncomfortable around him from the start.”

“Wise judgment,” Song Ci’s voice became more distant and slow: “We should have nothing to do with such people, but to see my child, I have to keep his contact information.”

She took a few small sips of coffee, looking back at Cen Jin, her expression like a calm lake after a thousand storms: “Let’s leave it at that, I need to get back to the company. Will you stay longer?”

Cen Jin was startled, smiling faintly and shaking her head: “I’ll head back too.”

―

Back at the company, Song Ci’s warning still echoed in her ears. Cen Jin asked Li Wu on WeChat: Last week when you returned the coat to Zhou Sui’an, did he say anything else to you?

Li Wu the Errand Boy reported truthfully: Yes, he did.

Cen Jin asked: What?

Li Wu replied: He asked what happened to his specimen.

Cen Jin finally remembered the specimen card she’d thrown in the trash in anger: Why didn’t you tell me?

Li Wu: I guessed you wouldn’t keep something like that, and I was afraid you’d think I was being petty again.

His pitiful expression made Cen Jin both angry and amused: I did throw it away, that very night because it was so disgusting.

Cen Jin asked: How did you answer him?

Li Wu said: I told him I threw it away.

Cen Jin’s eyes curved: Looks like we were of one mind. Did he ask for compensation?

Li Wu: No, he didn’t say anything, just thank you for the cigarettes.

Cen Jin replied with an “okay” and fell into deep thought.

That evening, she discussed the final presentation plan for the Weibo splash screen with Song Ci for over an hour.

At the end of their conversation, Cen Jin couldn’t help asking: Do you know about mountain Michelia?

Song Ci said: Yes, it’s a type of flower, right?

Cen Jin: Yes.

Song Ci said: From courtship through dating, Zhou Sui’an secretly made specimens of a hundred white flowers, and gave them to me when he proposed, saying it meant a hundred years of happy marriage. I remember one of them was Mountain michelia.

So that was it.

While suddenly enlightened, Cen Jin also felt chills: After the divorce, has he been looking for women similar to you?

Song Ci responded flatly: Seems that way.

Cen Jin got goosebumps: He seems like an obsessive.

Song Ci replied: He is obsessive. When I was determined to divorce, he set me up and falsely accused me of having an affair. To discredit me, he wasn’t above lowering his dignity. The daughter was ultimately awarded to him because of this, becoming his tool to control me.

Cen Jin asked: How long have you been divorced?

Song Ci said: Three years.

Cen Jin paused: I’ve been divorced for three years too.

Song Ci: Really? You’ve been divorced? Can’t tell at all.

Cen Jin felt a sense of kinship: Is there anything I can help with?

Song Ci said: No need. For the first two years I was always trying to find ways to gather public opinion resources, how to take revenge and ruin Zhou Sui’an’s reputation, and how to appeal again to regain custody of my child. But later I realized when you’re wholeheartedly climbing higher, you have no time to look back at the foot of the mountain. Some men are nothing but burdens, like Zhou Sui’an, and Yi Hao at your company. All these years, it’s Zhou Sui’an who’s been living in the abyss, not me. He’ll forever be hypocritical and helpless, while I am forthright and open about right and wrong. He’s more pitiful than me – now I’m just glad I got away from him in time. Only in his self-deceptive world am I the “cheating ex-wife,” but at work, I’m Song Ci, a capable version of myself.

Cen Jin felt a lump in her throat and couldn’t type for a while.

Song Ci said: Don’t pity me at all, I’m starting my own business next year. Can’t waste these years of resources.

Cen Jin exclaimed: I’m planning to open a company too.

Song Ci seemed suddenly interested: What are your plans?

Cen Jin replied: Maybe a creative hot shop or MCN. I’ve listed my former marital home for sale, and after it sells, I’ll buy or rent an office on Nanhuai Road to register the company. I switched from ACD to AM to pursue clients.

Song Ci: So you were in creative before, no wonder your sensitivity is so high.

Her approval made Cen Jin smile: I’ve only changed positions for less than half a year, and still have a lot to learn.

The sudden heart-to-heart made these two women, alike in their misfortunes and shared ambitions, feel excited.

Song Ci half-jokingly suggested: Maybe we could start a company together?

Cen Jin’s eyes widened slightly: Really?

Song Ci: Perhaps.

Cen Jin smiled: Yes, perhaps.

Song Ci said: Have another coffee next week? We can talk more?

They clicked instantly, and Cen Jin agreed with a smile: I’d love to.

That night, Cen Jin couldn’t sleep.

Song Ci and Zhou Sui’an’s story was like summer thunder, exploding with illuminating clarity in her mind, keeping her awake, and extending to thoughts about herself and Li Wu.

She couldn’t help but wonder if Li Wu might have become increasingly obsessive if she had been negligent and hadn’t guided him in time. Cen Jin couldn’t know, but she felt a lingering fear and was grateful that everything now was the best arrangement.

―

On January 10th, F University started winter break. Li Wu packed up and went home but didn’t idle away his time, finding a one-on-one full-subject tutoring job in the same residential complex.

His student was a ninth-grade boy, only half a head shorter than Li Wu but childish and tough in personality, with terrible grades. He had frustrated every tutor, who found him impossible to control. The parents were at their wits’ end and could only keep raising the price to lure in tutors.

Li Wu was the type to rise to a challenge when he saw good money. At first, the kid thought he could bully Li Wu because of his youth, complaining to his parents that Li Wu wasn’t reliable, making a huge fuss at home, and trying to drive him away.

But Li Wu remained unmoved and said, challenge me with whatever you’re best at – if I can beat you, you’ll listen to my lessons seriously.

The boy’s competitive spirit was ignited, and he immediately challenged Li Wu to Sudoku and Rubik’s Cube competitions, only to be utterly crushed. The boy finally accepted defeat and was willing to call him Teacher Li.

In the evening, after leaving that household, Li Wu went to the supermarket to buy some ingredients and snacks, planning to make dinner and wait for Cen Jin to come home.

Just as he finished washing the rice and put it in the cooker, the door sounded. Li Wu turned to see Cen Jin coming home, looking travel-worn.

Li Wu raised an eyebrow, washed his hands, and went to welcome her: “You’re home early today.”

Cen Jin unwrapped her scarf, breathing out slightly: “Someone’s coming over for dinner later.”

Li Wu took it from her and hung it up: “Who?”

Cen Jin smiled mysteriously: “A new friend of mine.”

Li Wu controlled himself, not blurting out a gender question.

Cen Jin pretended to be puzzled: “Why aren’t you asking if it’s a man or a woman?”

Li Wu immediately asked: “Is it a man or a woman?”

“A woman, a beautiful sister,” Cen Jin changed into slippers and headed toward the kitchen: “Are you cooking? I’ll help.”

Li Wu followed right behind her, reminding her softly: “You forgot something.”

Cen Jin stopped and turned back: “What?”

“Hug me,” he said without any psychological burden, though his ears turned slightly red.

Cen Jin gave him a sidelong glance: “Tch, I thought it was something important.”

She continued walking forward, but after two steps, she suddenly turned around like in a PE class, standing at attention, rising slightly on her toes, spinning 180°, and falling straight into his arms.

Li Wu was startled for a moment, but caught her naturally, holding her tight.

Cen Jin also wrapped her arms around his waist: “How was today? Did that tutoring kid give you trouble?”

“He did.”

“Hm?” Cen Jin perked up her ears: “How? Tell me so I can enjoy it.”

Li Wu’s voice contained a smile: “He kept asking me, ‘Teacher, how did you get so handsome?'”

Show-off. Cen Jin landed a punch on his back.

Li Wu laughed, trying to be serious, looking down to meet her eyes: “How about you? Did you encounter any unpleasant people or things at work today?”

“Too many,” Cen Jin sighed, resting against his chest and looking up, then pursed her lips: “It’s just too cold outside, my lips are a bit stiff now, can’t speak normally, urgently need little brother’s artificial defrosting.”

Li Wu understood perfectly, lowering his head to capture her lips in a deep kiss.

Their tongues intertwined as they held each other tighter, only parting when they needed air, then changing to peck at each other like two birds fighting over food, looking at each other and laughing. Finally, considering they would have a guest later, they could only hold each other tenderly, reluctant to part, letting their overheated bodies and emotions slowly cool down.

Cen Jin went to the bedroom to remove her makeup and change clothes, while Li Wu returned to the kitchen to prepare food.

After washing away the day’s powder mask, Cen Jin felt refreshed. She was walking out while tying up her hair.

As her gaze touched the window, she suddenly froze – it was snowing outside, the first snow of the season, carried by the wind like pure white flying flowers, floating between heaven and earth.

She called out loudly for Li Wu to come look, and the young man hurried over. They stood side by side watching for a while before he embraced her from behind.

The room was like spring, and they leaned against each other, not speaking, too lazy to move. The window became a frame, and it was unclear whether the snow was in the painting and people were watching snow, or people were in the painting and snow was watching people.