The person answering the phone was Director Li’s student and also Qing Hang’s colleague.

Both Li Yu and he had been invited by Zhou Heng, and they arrived late.

Cheng Wanyue disdained playing mind games in front of a romantic rival. She put on her sunglasses and went over to say hello.

Qing Hang was also straightforward and didn’t deliberately try to avoid suspicion. He carried a lounge chair to a shaded spot and, after Cheng Wanyue sat down, went to help prepare the charcoal.

Zhou Heng had called Li Yu three times yesterday before successfully inviting her out. Her moments of glory were in research laboratories and at various forums and lectures. While she wasn’t completely out of place at casual gatherings like this, there wasn’t much for her to do.

Barbecuing had no fixed formula and relied entirely on life experience. Li Yu had severe germophobia, and the grilled meat skewers inevitably had some charcoal ash on them. Just looking at them made her lose her appetite.

Director Li’s student probably didn’t want to keep talking about work either, so he took a few steps away under the pretext of getting water, leaving only the constantly moving Zhou Heng with Li Yu.

However, Cheng Wanyue, who was equally idle, seemed to possess some kind of magic. Everyone, whether they knew her or not, would chat with her. Perhaps it was that even the most ordinary things became interesting when she told them.

Qing Hang found a good spot to start grilling. He had selected a large plate of items, but notably didn’t take any lamb.

Li Yu saw him casually hand Cheng Wanyue a small handheld fan. Cheng Wanyue immediately put down her phone, talking to Meng Qi while playing with the fan, without even glancing in their direction.

She had seen girls who were desperate for love, lowering themselves endlessly due to a lack of security, demanding their partners cut off contact with friends of the opposite sex out of fear of loss, eager to show affection in public, throwing tantrums if their partner wasn’t fully compliant, slamming things and walking away, waiting to be coaxed back.

They seemed to hold the upper hand in the relationship, but were as humble as dust.

Li Yu had noticed earlier that Qing Hang wanted to hold Cheng Wanyue’s hand, but she had avoided it.

“It’s still a bit hot today. We could come again during the National Day holiday,” Meng Qi said, her eye on the small fan in Cheng Wanyue’s hand. “Wanyue, bring your brother along next time.”

Cheng Wanyue had many plans for October, but the most important was the wedding of Cheng Yuzhou and Zhou Yu. “In early October, we’ll be returning to Nanjing for a wedding. Cheng Yanqing will be busy, and I’ll be a bridesmaid, so we probably won’t have time.”

“A classmate’s wedding?”

“No, my second uncle’s son.”

Xu Qian joined the conversation, “You’re from your brother’s side of the family. How can you be a bridesmaid?”

Cheng Wanyue said, “There’s no rule against it. My sister-in-law and I grew up together. Her parents have passed away. By being her bridesmaid, I’m representing her family.”

“So will you go back to Nanjing before the National Day?”

“I’ll go back after watching the flag-raising ceremony.”

Meng Qi tried to dissuade Cheng Wanyue from this idea. Tiananmen Square on National Day was more crowded than any popular tourist attraction, requiring people to queue from the early hours of the morning.

Cheng Wanyue’s grandfather had served in the military. Since she was in Beijing, she wanted to see it.

Cheng Yanqing should be able to manage it, but Qing Hang was less certain—he didn’t get holidays.

With people all around, Cheng Wanyue leaned back and tilted her head to watch him prepare the grilled eggplant she liked.

“I went there in my sophomore year. Watching it live feels different,” Zhou Heng brought over two plates of peanuts and edamame, conveniently positioning himself to her left. “When I have time, I’ll write up some tips for you.”

Cheng Wanyue smiled. “Thanks.”

Li Yu hadn’t spoken all this time. Zhou Heng could tell she was so bored that she wanted to leave early. “Qing Hang, none of us knows what food restrictions Shi Jie has. You should help her with the grilling.”

“No need. I’m not hungry,” Li Yu stood up, preparing to go to the restroom.

She received a phone call and needed to rush back to the university.

Zhou Heng patted Qing Hang’s shoulder. “Don’t you have something to do too? Want to catch a ride with Shi Jie?”

Li Yu was equally direct. “Zhou Heng, could you give us a moment?”

“Sure, you two talk. I’ll get some fruit,” Zhou Heng understood immediately. As he left, he called the other colleague away, too.

The air around the grill was heavy with smoke and heat. Watching Qing Hang’s surgeon’s hands skillfully apply oil and seasonings, Li Yu felt as though she had never truly known him.

During their university years, he hardly participated in gatherings with classmates, spending all his spare time in the library and laboratory. He had published three high-impact-factor papers as an undergraduate. Their family backgrounds were different, but their lifestyles were very similar.

She disliked being misunderstood. “Zhou Heng didn’t tell me you would be here, let alone that she would be here too.”

Qing Hang understood what she meant. “Cheng Wanyue has reasons to be angry. She doesn’t get upset with me without cause. Shi Jie, please don’t think too badly of her.”

“She’s very likable,” Li Yu simply didn’t like her, but hadn’t reached the point of disliking her. She rarely disliked anyone. “The jade pendant incident was indeed my fault. I’ve reflected on it afterward. We’re just fellow students from the same academic lineage. I had no right to keep your valuables, but it’s not entirely my fault either.”

She was very focused when working, often forgetting even to eat.

“Since you two have made up, I won’t explain further.”

Li Yu arrived the latest and left the earliest.

Tempted by the aroma, Cheng Wanyue wanted to try grilling something herself. She took a skewer of marinated chicken wings—this kind of semi-prepared food only needed to be cooked through and would taste fine.

Zhou Heng came over to teach her. Qing Hang was distracted for a moment, causing his sausage to burn.

He thought that he could teach her, too, and would do a better job than Zhou Heng.

Cheng Wanyue touched the brush and got oil all over her hand. Zhou Heng was about to get some napkins, but Qing Hang rose before him.

Qing Hang took two wet wipes and, right in front of Zhou Heng, held Cheng Wanyue’s hand and carefully cleaned off the oil.

Xu Qian knocked over a plate of skewers and called Zhou Heng over to help clean up the mess. Zhou Heng looked at Qing Hang with words caught in his throat, but before he could say anything, Xu Qian pulled him away.

“What’s wrong with you? Why call someone you don’t know? Isn’t that awkward?”

Zhou Heng sighed helplessly. “Shi Jie Li’s father is the director of neurosurgery—Qing Hang’s boss. Neither of them is the proactive type. Director Li asked me to find opportunities to push them together.”

Xu Qian smiled without humor. “You certainly get involved in a lot.”

…

Cheng Wanyue sat in Qing Hang’s previous spot. She was grilling quite skillfully, with Qing Hang standing beside her, fanning her.

She picked up a decent-looking beef skewer and waved it. “Try what I grilled.”

“Let me taste what you grilled.” Qing Hang bent down, just about to take a bite, when she suddenly moved it away.

He leaned in further, and she hid the beef skewer behind her back.

“What were you talking about with your senior?” Although Cheng Wanyue was sitting far away, she wasn’t blind. Before leaving, Li Yu had only spoken to Qing Hang.

Qing Hang asked her in return, “Who was that man outside your door when I came to get my phone?”

“He came to get his helmet.”

“Why was his helmet at your place?”

“I rode on his motorcycle once and forgot to return it to him. I don’t know his name,” Cheng Wanyue only remembered Chi Yue’s face. “There are many handsome guys out there. Do I need to know every one of them?”

Her knee hit the chair, and she looked down to check if her clothes were dirty.

Zhou Heng suddenly strode over. “Wanyue, I have something I want to tell you.”

The sun was glaring, and Cheng Wanyue couldn’t see Zhou Heng’s expression, but she could tell something was off with Qing Hang.

Qing Hang grabbed her wrist. “Let me speak first.”

Before Zhou Heng could do anything, Cheng Wanyue was pulled away by Qing Hang.

“Don’t go over there and get in the way,” Xu Qian blocked Zhou Heng. “Wanyue has a good personality, comes from a good family, is beautiful, and has a fantastic figure. She’s perfect for Qing Hang. I’d lock them together right now if I could!”

Zhou Heng was unwilling to give up. Meng Qi had helped him invite Cheng Wanyue out; he at least had to try.

“I met her first.”

“They’re from the same hometown and knew each other in high school,” Xu Qian angrily stomped on his foot. “You can’t tell that I like you, and you can’t tell that Wanyue likes Qing Hang?”

Zhou Heng froze, standing stiffly under the blazing sun for a long time.

Without warning, a sun shower began. The raindrops were warm. Xu Qian pulled the dazed Zhou Heng under the parasol, knocking over the table with grilled skewers. Although Zhou Heng hadn’t fully regained his senses, he instinctively protected her.

In less than ten minutes, the rain stopped.

A rainbow appeared on the horizon. Everyone was under the umbrella, but Qing Hang and Cheng Wanyue were nowhere to be seen.

They were drenched in a secluded spot.

When it first started raining, Qing Hang had thought about finding shelter with Cheng Wanyue. After running about fifty meters, she noticed a cat under a tree. By the time he had rescued the cat from the bushes, they were both completely soaked.

By the lakeside stood a small pink house. The door was locked; it was probably just a backdrop for visitors to take photos.

They stood under the eaves. After the rainbow disappeared from the sky, raindrops were still falling steadily. The cat had run off, too.

Cheng Wanyue hooked her pinky finger with Qing Hang’s. “I don’t want to go back for the barbecue.”

Even though she hadn’t eaten a bite.

“Did you bring protection?” She stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear.

Qing Hang covered her mouth with his hand. Although his expression didn’t change, his gaze was no longer as calm as before.

Her short hair was still dripping, and his hastily wiped glasses were covered with water marks, but he could still clearly see his reflection in her eyes.

“Who carries that around?”

“Then go buy some…”

Her muffled words were trapped in her throat. The next moment, her hand, which had been trying to slip under his shirt, was pinned behind her back. His kiss transitioned from a cautious exploration to a greedy demand.

The rain was evaporating in the sun, making the air humid and stuffy.