From getting in the car to entering the door, Zhou Mi clutched her canvas bag like a food-guarding hamster all the way. Only when they returned to Zhang Lian’s home and she saw Aunt Chen coming forward to hand her slippers did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The slippers were leather, very soft, matching the house’s cool brown tone, and very light, almost imperceptible when worn.

When she stood up, Aunt Chen politely called her “Miss Zhou,” wanting to take her bag and hang it up.

Zhou Mi quickly declined: “I’ll do it myself, I’ll just take it to my room later.”

Zhang Lian walked inside calmly, then turned and asked: “Are you hungry? Just tell Aunt Chen what you want to eat; she’s a great cook.”

Aunt Chen, who had just been praised, smiled like a beckoning cat: “That’s right, Miss Zhou, I know a bit of all eight major Chinese cuisines. What would you like to eat?”

Zhou Mi was still embarrassed: “It’s fine, I’m not hungry right now.” She looked around for where she had left her suitcase in the morning: “I’d like to unpack first.”

Aunt Chen said, “I’ve put your luggage in your room, next to the bed.”

Zhou Mi said, “Great, thank you.”

Aunt Chen smiled: “Miss Zhou, you’re too polite.”

Zhou Mi replied: “Don’t be so formal with me either, calling me Miss Zhou. Just call me Mimi.”

Aunt Chen looked at Zhang Lian, then nodded and agreed: “Alright, I’ll call Miss Zhou Mimi from now on.”

Zhou Mi sighed inwardly and followed Aunt Chen to the guest room. Along the way, they encountered Zhang Lian, who had just washed his hands in the bathroom. He was leaning against the doorframe, unhurriedly wiping his hands with a soft cotton towel.

As they passed by, Zhang Lian called to her: “Mimi.”

Zhou Mi turned her head, thinking she was hearing things.

Zhang Lian nodded toward the inside of the door: “Wash your hands first.”

“…” Zhou Mi immediately turned back to his side.

The bathroom’s high-arched door was like the entrance to a giant’s palace. She stopped and pointed inside.

Zhang Lian made an “mm” sound and sent Aunt Chen away.

Zhou Mi went in and took a quick look around. She found the bathroom decoration quite impressive. The walls were large gray rock-patterned tiles, creating a deep, calm visual effect.

But what surprised her was that the main bathroom sink was a double version, with two identical quartz-gray washbasins, and two matching black-framed round mirrors hung on the wall.

There were flowers placed next to one of the porcelain basins—two ivory-colored freesias in a misty gray frosted vase.

Like some kind of marker or indication, Zhou Mi automatically assumed that was her position and walked over.

Some toiletries were arranged on the counter, not looking cluttered, and with consistent colors. The packages all had English writing on them, very much in harmony with the house’s ambiance.

Why would a non-marriage believer design a private bathroom like this?

Zhou Mi fell into doubt, laboriously found the hand soap, and absentmindedly lathered up. Just as she was about to rinse, her gaze flickered upward, catching sight of Zhang Lian in the mirror.

He hadn’t left but was still leaning against the doorway, watching her through the mirror. Black spotlights cast light from above, giving the man’s face an almost cream-colored warm white, but his expression was detached, as if observing a caged bird or a fish in a pond.

Their eyes met in the reflection.

Zhang Lian lifted the corner of his mouth with an ambiguous meaning.

Zhou Mi immediately averted her eyes, feeling as if she had thorns in her back, and turned up the faucet to rinse her hands clean.

She quickly pulled out a tissue and walked back, pretending not to see him.

“Wash your hands every day when you come back from now on,” he instructed strictly like a surgeon.

“I know—” Zhou Mi responded obediently like a good child and quickly slipped away.

Zhang Lian smiled and, taking advantage of his long arms and legs, grabbed her hoodie’s hood, pulling her back in front of him with almost no effort.

Zhou Mi was startled, shrugging to escape his hold, her eyes bright with warning: “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t get physical.”

Zhang Lian lowered his hand, glanced at both sides of the corridor, and lifted his lips to say quietly: “I told Aunt Chen you’re my fiancée.”

Zhou Mi was stunned for a moment, narrowing her eyes: “So?”

“You’d better play your role well. Don’t slip up and have her send a report to your advisor.”

Zhou Mi stepped back half a step, maintaining a safe distance: “Got it.”

Zhang Lian was unconcerned, raising his left hand halfway: “Give it to me.”

Zhou Mi asked: “What?”

Zhang Lian said, “The tissue you used.”

Zhou Mi: “…”

Zhou Mi clutched the soft cotton tissue, looking bewildered: “What do you want this for…”

“To throw it away for you,” Zhang Lian also frowned slightly: “What did you think I wanted it for?”

Zhou Mi handed it over: “…oh.”

Zhang Lian’s expression was calm: “What were you thinking?”

Zhou Mi’s cheeks shot up in temperature, her tone suddenly urgent: “What was I thinking about what?”

“You might be a bit…” Zhang Lian thought for a moment and gave his assessment: “perverted. At such a young age.”

Zhou Mi’s face was already red, but she still refused to be outdone: “You’re the pervert, blocking the doorway to watch someone wash their hands.”

“It’s something new,” Zhang Lian raised his eyebrow slightly, looking especially frank: “What’s wrong with looking?”

“Next time there’ll be a fee for looking, two thousand per minute,” Zhou Mi began negotiating without any psychological burden.

Zhang Lian gave a mocking laugh, somewhat incredulous: “Are you a fairy?”

“Yes, didn’t you know?” Zhou Mi asserted vigorously, scurrying away in her slippers.

—

After entering the guest room, Zhou Mi locked the door securely, and only then did her body relax.

But her heart was still beating as chaotically as summer hail, pattering continuously on an awning.

She took several deep breaths to calm down, then turned to look at her new room. Suddenly she didn’t dare to walk in further because the floor was covered with carpet, spreading out over a large area. The space was visually about four times the size of her bedroom at home. The desk and bed were separated by a two-panel rattan screen, and the bedding had been selected and changed in advance to a gray-pink suitable for girls.

With mixed emotions, Zhou Mi circled inside and curiously pulled open the inner curtains.

Unexpectedly, there was an independent small terrace outside. She excitedly slid open the glass door and ran to the railing.

The night breeze was intoxicating, the city lights like scattered stars, traffic crisscrossing, flowing like golden syrup. Looking down, it was as if she were in the deep sea, or beyond the sky.

Zhou Mi tucked the stray strands of hair by her cheeks behind her ears, rested her elbows back on the railing, really wanting to give a cliché and corny “Ah—” shout.

After suppressing the urge for quite a while, she held back, silently returned to the room, and concentrated on unpacking her things.

After setting up simply, Zhou Mi reported her safety to her parents and sent a night view picture to their family group chat of three, receiving her mother’s exclamations of wonder. Then she took out her pajamas and toiletries, holding them together, preparing to go out and take a shower.

She secretly opened a crack in the door, observed for a moment, and confirmed there were no living creatures in the vast corridor before fully opening it and walking out.

She wasn’t quite at ease, her posture inevitably stealthy, or rather, sneaky.

From the living room came faint voices; it seemed Zhang Lian was talking with Aunt Chen.

Zhou Mi took a deep breath, repeating to herself like a recording machine multiple times “It’s okay, you can be more natural, can’t you?” to brainwash herself, and then quickly walked out of the corridor.

The first thing she saw was Zhang Lian sitting at the kitchen counter, eating something.

Aunt Chen was washing dishes.

The man had his long legs propped on the crossbar of the black high stool. Upon seeing Zhou Mi, he put down his spoon and raised his eyebrow to ask: “What’s up?”

Zhou Mi stood straight: “I’m going to take a shower.”

Zhang Lian tilted his face: “Go ahead, no one’s stopping you.”

Zhou Mi said, “I’m afraid I don’t know how to use the switches.”

Zhang Lian was silent for a moment, then left his seat and walked to the bathroom.

Zhou Mi followed closely behind.

Zhang Lian went straight to the inner room.

An all-white bathtub was placed by the door, emanating a deep-water pearl-like luster. Zhou Mi only glimpsed it once, then averted her gaze as if there was static electricity.

But Zhang Lian paused: “Do you want to take a bath?”

Zhou Mi shook her head twice.

Zhang Lian said, “You can if you want to.”

Zhou Mi replied: “I don’t have that kind of leisure.”

Zhang Lian smiled once, walked to the shower area, and beckoned: “Come here, I’ll only say this once.”

Zhou Mi immediately came forward, fully attentive.

“Left is cold, right is hot, turn this up to increase water temperature, down to decrease, pull this to switch to the top rain shower head, pull again for the handheld one. The other shower modes and water pressure adjustments, I’ll explain in detail later,” he demonstrated with his right hand in the air, explaining simply and clearly, finally turning back: “Understand?”

Zhou Mi tucked in her chin, stood straight, and nodded: “Mm.”

Zhang Lian also straightened up: “Then I’ll go out?”

Zhou Mi put on a seeing-guests-off face: “Please.”

Zhang Lian couldn’t help but smile, but didn’t move.

After an awkward moment, Zhou Mi was reaching her limit of patience, changing from seeing a guest off to driving one away: “Go.”

He suddenly said, “Your pajamas are quite cute.”

Zhou Mi’s eyes froze, immediately wanting to throw everything in her hands at his face.

Noticing the girl’s suddenly darkened expression, Zhang Lian stopped teasing her: “I’m leaving.”

Zhou Mi curved a smile completely devoid of emotion: “Alright, please.”

Zhang Lian took two steps out, then stopped again, turning back to look at Zhou Mi, who had followed out to set down her things: “By the way.”

Zhou Mi’s small face wrinkled warily: “Hm?”

Zhang Lian casually pointed to the cabinet under the sink: “There are some skincare products inside. If you like any, just open and use them.”

Zhou Mi glanced from afar, not paying much attention, just wanting to get him out of the same space quickly: “Oh, okay, I’ll look later.”

Zhang Lian finally left.

Zhou Mi closed the door and could finally breathe normally. She lined up her toiletries, was about to squeeze toothpaste, then stopped and bent down to open the cabinet below.

Zhou Mi was dumbfounded and slowly squatted down.

Inside were all high-end skincare sets: Guerlain, La Mer, La Prairie… and not just one box, as if he had bought enough for three months?

Terrifying, exaggerated, indescribable, too luxurious. Zhou Mi shuddered all over, shook her head, and immediately closed it, pretending not to have seen.

Even though Zhang Lian’s shower had comfortable and fine water spray, and the shower system was so intelligent it felt like bathing in a hot spring, Zhou Mi had no heart to appreciate it. She finished her battle shower at the fastest speed and came out, sneaking through the corridor, rushing to the safety zone like she was running from poison gas.

On the way, she passed by the study, its door wide open. Unable to restrain herself, she glanced inside.

The man was sitting behind the monitor, leaning against the chair back, one hand casually on the mouse, seemingly working.

In an instant, Zhou Mi withdrew her gaze and continued walking briskly.

Peripherally catching a glimpse of a goose-yellow figure flashing past the door, Zhang Lian lifted the corner of his mouth, leaned forward back to the desk, propped his chin to read a few lines of email, and let out an almost inaudible laugh.

She wasn’t the only one who felt uncomfortable.

He did, too, somewhat.

Thinking this, he picked up his phone, found Zhou Mi’s name, and sent her a message: There’s coconut custard Aunt Chen prepared for you in the kitchen, in the temperature-controlled cabinet. Eat it before going to bed.

A moment later, Zhou Mi replied: I’ve already brushed my teeth.

Zhang Lian: Brush again after eating.

Zhou Mi: NO.

Zhang Lian: Objection invalid.

Zhou Mi: You eat it for me.

Zhang Lian: No.

Zhou Mi: What’s wrong with a big man like you eating two portions?

Zhang Lian: Go eat it, don’t make Aunt Chen sad.

He brought up the kindhearted Aunt Chen, a reason without flaws. Zhou Mi had no strength to rebut, and could only put on a cardigan and walk out of the guest room.

On her way to the kitchen, she remarked again that living in such a house, one’s WeChat step count must skyrocket.

When she reached the kitchen, Zhang Lian was standing behind the counter, seemingly drinking water.

Zhou Mi was stunned for a moment, meeting his gaze as he slightly turned his head.

The man put down his water glass and took out her dessert from a black cabinet nearby.

“Eat,” he said.

Zhou Mi walked over, tiptoed up onto the high stool, set down her phone, pulled the coconut shell over, and put a spoonful in her mouth.

Heavens, it was delicious, with a smooth, clean sweetness, not inferior at all to those desserts from popular internet-famous shops.

Zhang Lian also sat down, right across from her, arms crossed in front of him, watching her eat without changing his expression.

After realizing his calm behavior and direct gaze, Zhou Mi’s forehead twitched, her head almost dipping into the coconut shell, and she went from slowly savoring to storm-like inhaling.

Zhang Lian noticed this, curved his lips, then took out the phone from his pants pocket, lowered his eyes, and tapped on the screen for a while.

Soon, Zhou Mi’s phone, by the bowl, vibrated several times.

Zhou Mi glanced at it, seeing it was a WeChat message notification, and unlocked it with a puzzled face.

Zhou Mi’s expression jolted. It was a message from Zhang Lian. Apart from the startling ten thousand yuan transfer in the chat box, there were also two casual lines:

Zhang Lian: Buying five minutes.

Zhang Lian: Eat slowly, don’t choke.