He had checked his phone twelve times.

Chen Yi sat astride the chair like a conquering general, cigarette dangling from his lips, thick eyebrows furrowed, his attitude naturally imperious. Perhaps when the call connected, he could offer an olive branch—he would pick her up after work, and they could renegotiate the living arrangements. He could move out and leave this apartment to her…

After two rings, Miao Jing immediately hung up. Shortly after, a WeChat message arrived saying she was in a meeting with colleagues, would manage on her own, and told him not to worry about her and focus on his own business.

A meeting this late at night.

He stared at that line of text on his phone screen, his expression growing cold. Looking on with disdain, his tongue scraped against his cheek before his jaw clenched, grinding his teeth in silence.

Fine then.

He settled comfortably back on the sofa, long legs lazily propped on the coffee table. The smoke in his chest felt thick and stifling, only released when it began to hurt slightly, the rich smoke swirling to blur his features.

In Teng City’s September, the weather was still stiflingly hot. Chen Yi got up and went to the pool hall, playing sullenly by himself all night. The next day when Bo Zi came over, he found Chen Yi lying on the sofa, completely listless. He’d been in this state frequently lately. When Bo Zi spoke to him, Chen Yi gave a noncommittal grunt, hands stuffed in his pockets as he walked out distractedly.

Returning home, the place was naturally empty, cigarette butts piled like a mountain on the coffee table. In all the time since Miao Jing had returned, the siblings weren’t close, with sparse conversations in their chat history. All day, Miao Jing had sent him just one message, saying the milk in the fridge was about to expire and asking him to deal with it.

Chen Yi called people up, looking for entertainment—whether at restaurants or KTV, inviting others for mahjong. The response was overwhelming, and Tu Li came too. They ordered a table full of good food and drinks, everyone at the table chatting with flushed faces and flying spittle. Chen Yi smoked cigarette after cigarette. At the KTV, he remained just as unsociable. Tu Li played mahjong with Dimples and their group, catching glimpses of him sunk into the sofa with a beer watching music videos, the colored lights flowing across his deep features, giving him a depressed yet rakish sensuality.

After the party broke up, Chen Yi called a substitute driver to go home. Tu Li held onto his arm, observing his lazy, tipsy state as he turned to look out the window, his profile sharp. He held a lighter in his hand. Tu Li pried open his fingers—the silver lighter had been warmed by his body heat until it was scorching. She trembled at the heat, her body going soft as she slipped the lighter into his pocket, her fingers teasing him inside the pocket.

No response?

Chen Yi came back to his senses, turning to look at her, his brow furrowed, dark gaze rolling over her face, somewhat impatiently pulling Tu Li’s hand out.

“Go back to your own home.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Tu Li smiled sweetly, breathing against his ear, “Gone vegetarian?”

His gaze turned cold for a moment, eyelids lowered, voice husky but not angry, just impatient and completely unsympathetic: “Get lost.”

“What’s wrong?” She patiently tried to please him, voice coy and sweet, “What’s on your mind? Let me help you work it out?”

“Shut your mouth.”

Tu Li silently cast him a coquettish glance, looking down to pick at her manicure.

Just recently, Chen Yi had been constantly impatient, seemingly preoccupied. Although he’d never been particularly warm toward her before, he’d at least had his playful, unrestrained moments. She’d never seen him so gloomy. Even if the sky were falling, he could lazily hold it up, shoulders squared, back straight.

She had a slight intuition but couldn’t figure out the details no matter how much she pondered.

They each returned to their own homes, Tu Li also secretly nursing her anger. Finally, she messaged Miao Jing, who said she wasn’t home, was on a business trip, and didn’t know the situation.

The next morning early, Chen Yi went to Miao Jing’s workplace, thinking of meeting face-to-face. Some things were better said in person, and besides, what about all her things at home? If she was living at the company, he could help bring them over.

He called several times, but Miao Jing didn’t answer.

The factory area didn’t casually allow visitors. The security guard accepted a pack of cigarettes from Chen Yi and helped him make an internal call to inquire. Miao Jing’s extension wasn’t answered—she probably wasn’t at her desk. The guard asked around and said Engineer Miao wasn’t in the company, she’d gone on a business trip.

“Gone on a business trip?” Chen Yi put his hands on his hips, frowning, “When did she leave?”

“She hasn’t been here these past few days.”

Chen Yi was stunned, his expression bewildered and quite unfriendly: “Alright, thanks for your help.”

A wasted trip. Driving back, there wasn’t half a car in sight for a long stretch of the development zone road. The road was empty, and there’s always a bit of wildness in people’s bones—the car’s speed suddenly became light and free as a curse flew out the window: “Damn girl!”

Tell her to leave and she leaves—that wouldn’t be Miao Jing.

This girl had a streak of cunning in her bones—taking advantage of his absence to break in and live here, did she understand what it meant to usurp someone’s home?

Miao Jing had gone on a business trip, going with her supervisor to inspect equipment at a supplier’s facility. She also carried several car body stamping parts, struggling with the thirty-kilogram aviation case, so she’d brought Lu Zhengsi along on this business trip.

The destination was an industrial city in the north, with a tight schedule. The supervisor was keen to train his subordinates and handed the project over to Miao Jing. During the day, she followed the project manager and supplier’s engineers into the workshop and onto the operating platform. Northern business culture revolved around drinking, so there were dinner engagements in the evening. After returning to the hotel, she still had to write reports. Lu Zhengsi’s qualifications were less extensive than Miao Jing’s; he assisted her work, and the two of them were busy until one or two in the morning before resting.

After just these few days of the business trip, any single engineer they encountered actively added Miao Jing’s WeChat—a rare female engineer, beautiful in appearance, professionally competent, perfect to an unbelievable degree. At the dinner table, Miao Jing was the only woman, pleasing to the eye no matter how you looked at her. The project manager formally promoted his company’s engineers to Miao Jing, saying that after project delivery they could provide on-site technical support, and settling down in Teng City wasn’t out of the question. Miao Jing’s supervisor, surname Tan, helped her refuse drinks, saying red-faced and anxiously that they shouldn’t let their treasures flow to outsiders, the department had only this one female engineer who should be treasured, and no one else could have her no matter how envious they were.

Miao Jing entered the industry because she liked this kind of work atmosphere, not because she liked special treatment. The people around her were all engineering men, all technical positions. Most of their conversations were about work and projects, without so many intrigues and power struggles as in business settings.

After the social obligations ended, she returned to the hotel to continue working. Upon entering her room, she first called Chen Yi—seeing his calls from earlier that morning.

“Hey.” The voice on the receiver was electromagnetic in its hoarseness.

Miao Jing’s fingers tapped on the computer keyboard, her phone on speaker placed to one side, her voice cool and clear: “Did you need something?”

“Nothing much.”

“Mm.”

The call seemed about to end when after a blank moment, the man’s lazy voice sounded again.

“Where did you go for your business trip?”

“Jin City.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I’ll be home Friday.”

She said home.

Chen Yi was silent for a moment, his voice ethereal: “Didn’t you say… you’d never come back in this lifetime, why are you coming back?”

Miao Jing’s tone was light as clouds: “Didn’t you also tell me to get lost, to get completely lost, so why did you come looking for me at work?”

He let out a derisive laugh, tone casual: “Aren’t you going to move your things from your room? I’ll throw them out sooner or later.”

“You said the same thing when I was in university. Did you throw them out?”

“…”

Chen Yi rubbed his face and pressed his lips together without speaking.

Time grew quiet again, and Miao Jing asked him: “Where are you?”

“Pool hall, I’m watching the store tonight.”

“Is that so? It’s quite quiet on your end.” Miao Jing hooked the corner of her mouth.

Chen Yi asked her in return: “How lively did you think it would be?”

Before hearing an answer, there was a knock at the hotel room door. Miao Jing got up to put on her jacket: “Hang up, my colleague is here, we have some business.”

“What business so late?” Dissatisfaction leaked into his voice, “Man or woman?”

“Lu Zhengsi. Talking about work.”

The one knocking was indeed Lu Zhengsi, carrying a laptop bag, standing at the hotel door with a smile: “Engineer Miao, did you see the email?”

“I saw it, I found the drawings too, there are several positioning holes that need to be modified. Let’s quickly revise the drawings and send them to the supplier for mold modification.” Miao Jing turned to pack her things, “Wait a moment, I’ll get my computer. There’s a small reception room downstairs in the hotel, shall we go there?”

“Good.” Lu Zhengsi waved his phone, “I saw you only had a few bites at dinner. Jin City’s barbecue is famous, the lamb skewers and grilled lamb chops are highly rated. Shall I order some late-night snacks delivered to the hotel?”

“Sure!” Miao Jing smiled, “We think alike, I was also thinking of getting some snacks. Do you drink coffee? How about I buy us two cups?”

“Maybe beer would go better with barbecue?” Lu Zhengsi’s thick eyebrows relaxed as he smiled, “I’m fine with coffee too, what kind of coffee do you like, Engineer Miao?”

“Then you must like beer and iced coffee…”

Lu Zhengsi stood at the hotel door chatting with Miao Jing. Miao Jing grabbed her computer and phone from the table, discovering the call time was still counting up second by second. She raised an eyebrow, ended the call, stuffed the phone into her laptop bag, closed the door, and walked out with Lu Zhengsi.

Chen Yi was indifferent, stuffing his phone back in his pocket, frowning as he sat at the bar.

Miao Jing had grown closest to Lu Zhengsi recently.

The two were assigned to the same small group, responsible for the same car body component design. At work, Miao Jing would look after Lu Zhengsi. They worked overtime together, spending considerable time in contact, and would chat occasionally during breaks.

Lu Zhengsi learned that Miao Jing was also from Z Province, their hometowns not far apart. He later discovered she hadn’t returned home for many years and her memories of home were hazy. He would occasionally give her hometown snacks, sometimes awakening Miao Jing’s childhood memories. She would also talk to him about Teng City’s customs and cuisine, and sometimes when he went out on errands, she would help offer advice.

The two got along easily and comfortably, their conversations matching well. Lu Zhengsi was attentive and thorough with her, maintaining a normal “good relationship” as colleagues without crossing boundaries. Miao Jing had many choices—the company had numerous single young men, plenty to choose from. The newly hired female headlight design engineer downstairs even had the department promising to help her find a boyfriend. With Miao Jing’s outstanding looks and work capability, a large batch of ambitious young men watched her eagerly.

However, her beauty was ice-cold and aloof, and her work was strictly professional and meticulous. She never joked or played around with people, and those who weren’t familiar with her didn’t dare approach easily. Even though Lu Zhengsi had feelings for her, he didn’t dare express them directly.

Taking advantage of this business trip, the two occasionally chatted about personal matters during their journey. Miao Jing asked if he had ever dated, and Lu Zhengsi responded somewhat melancholically: “I had a girlfriend in university, but she signed with a job in another city, and also because of some other reasons, we broke up amicably.”

“That’s a bit like one of my previous relationships,” Miao Jing smiled.

With similar experiences, they had new topics to discuss. Lu Zhengsi took the opportunity to ask about her love story, and Miao Jing shared frankly, in just a few words, simple, free, and generous.

“Engineer Miao, you don’t look like someone who dates.”

“Is that so?” Miao Jing smiled, “Do I look like someone from a nunnery?”

“That’s not what I meant, I mean you’re… very special…” he wracked his brains to organize his words.

Lu Zhengsi wanted to say she looked like the type who would have persistent suitors while she walked ahead, disdainfully ignoring them with pride.

Miao Jing changed the topic: “So do you have anyone you like or are pursuing now?”

“I’m not pursuing anyone else, as for liking…” Lu Zhengsi looked at her and smiled, scratching his head embarrassedly, hesitating to continue, “What about you, Engineer Miao?”

The atmosphere subtly shifted, and Miao Jing smiled brilliantly, sighing: “I don’t either, I probably won’t date again.”

Lu Zhengsi felt a moment of melancholy in his heart.

“However…” she thought for a moment, her clear, tranquil eyes gazing at Lu Zhengsi, “could you help me with something?”

“What is it? Just ask, Engineer Miao.”

“If you don’t mind, could you be my next boyfriend?” Miao Jing’s expression was gentle as she spoke softly, “Of course, it doesn’t have to be real, and it won’t be for long, just two or three months.”

“?” Lu Zhengsi’s heart suddenly jumped, he blinked hard, his expression dumbfounded, “Engineer Miao… you…”

Miao Jing explained leisurely: “Someone at home is seriously ill, it would be nice to give them some good news to be happy about.”

“…”

She smiled apologetically: “This request is a bit abrupt. If I’ve made you uncomfortable, then I apologize, pretend I never said it.”

When Miao Jing and Lu Zhengsi returned to Teng City on Friday, he sent her home. The two carried their suitcases upstairs, but before Miao Jing could take out her key, the door opened from inside—Chen Yi was leaning against the doorframe, chewing gum, his long legs blocking the way as he silently observed the two of them.

Miao Jing frowned ever so slightly, glancing at him before graciously inviting Lu Zhengsi in: “Zhengsi, come in and sit for a while.”

“My brother, Chen Yi,” Miao Jing introduced, “Company colleague, Lu Zhengsi.”

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

The two men’s hands met in a ceremonial handshake, but Lu Zhengsi felt the grip was a bit heavy, a bit tight, clasping with effort.

After being away for a week, the home was messy again. Miao Jing invited Lu Zhengsi to sit in a chair, found a cup to pour him water, smiled apologetically about the state of things, and then went to her room to change clothes, leaving Chen Yi and Lu Zhengsi waiting in the living room.

Lu Zhengsi’s gaze quietly observed Chen Yi, with a somewhat probing yet ambiguous meaning.

“How was the business trip?” Chen Yi’s posture wasn’t very polite, his tone indifferent, “You two in the same department?”

“Very smooth.” Lu Zhengsi then introduced himself, saying he and Miao Jing were from the same hometown in Z Province, studied the same major in university, were in the same department and group, responsible for the same car body component.

Chen Yi’s handsome face was full of smiles: “No wonder you two work overtime together.”

“Smoke?”

“Thanks, brother, I don’t smoke.”

They’d barely exchanged words when Miao Jing came out of her room, changed into an elegant dress, her lipstick a somewhat bright color. Meeting Lu Zhengsi’s gaze, her starry eyes brightened slightly as she lowered her head, smiling as she tucked her long hair behind her ear, inviting Lu Zhengsi out to eat.

“Shall we have a hotpot?”

Lu Zhengsi naturally agreed. Miao Jing picked up her bag to leave, with Lu Zhengsi following her, hesitantly looking at Chen Yi.

“Brother Chen Yi, aren’t you coming?”

“My brother has many friends and social obligations, he doesn’t eat with me,” Miao Jing didn’t look back, her voice carrying a smile, “Just the two of us are fine.”

“You two go ahead and eat, I have plans tonight,” Chen Yi shrugged indifferently.

The two left Chen Yi behind.

He turned on the television, eyes fixed on an incomprehensible drama series, lazily settling into the sofa to smoke, but couldn’t get through the cigarette, a spark flickering at his fingertips.

An hour and a half later, Miao Jing returned alone from dinner, smelling the smoke-filled room, frowning as she asked Chen Yi why he was still there.

“Not going to the pool hall today?”

Chen Yi gave a faint “mm,” turned off the TV, and took his cigarette to the balcony. Miao Jing returned to her room, coming out shortly after, changed into a loose-fitting T-shirt and pants, carrying dirty clothes to throw into the washing machine on the balcony.

Each occupied their corner of the balcony.

Miao Jing asked with her back turned: “Do you have any outer clothes to wash? Dark colors, I have too few pieces here.”

“Yeah,” he answered lazily, then reached to lift his T-shirt, crossing his hands to grab the hem, pulling upward to reveal a glimpse of narrow waist cinched by gray drawstring athletic pants, then a flat, hard abdomen, compact bundle of muscles, sloping upward to sculpted chest muscles, the man’s protruding honey-colored skin, collarbone, Adam’s apple, and neck.

The black T-shirt flew through the air, whooshing as it hit Miao Jing’s head, her vision going dark from the shirt still warm with body heat, rich with the scent of sweat and tobacco, skin respiration, and faint soap fragrance.

Miao Jing’s heart wavered, and her hand holding the detergent container wavered too, clearly noticing detergent spilling onto her fingers.

“Chen Yi!!” Her tone wavered, like rippling, surging lake water.

The clothes completely covered her head, wrapping around her head and shoulders. Miao Jing heard his low, hoarse, frivolous laugh, then footsteps approaching, stopping just behind her, her back feeling heavy pressure, scorching body heat transmitted across the tiny distance.

He reached out a hand, brushing past her shoulder, roughly yanking the T-shirt on her head. The clothes slid down with his force, messing up her hair, and scattering it across her face. His elbow knocked against her shoulder, hard bones pressing against her. She remained silently wordless, waiting for the last bit of fabric to slide from her cheek, finally, her vision clearing as the clothes dropped in his hand, his knuckled fingers releasing as the clothes fell into the washing machine.

Miao Jing’s face was burning, her whole body rigid, sensing his grinning behind her, his dazzling, unrestrained bad-boy smile silently blooming in the dim night, mixing with autumn’s endless lingering heat, full of life and steaming hot.

“Alright, you can wash now.”

He turned and entered the room, softly whistling.