Zhou Mi certainly wouldn’t accept this money, but after returning to her bedroom, she tossed and turned at least fifty times on the bed, counted eight hundred sheep, and still couldn’t muster even a hint of sleepiness.

At one in the morning, Zhou Mi resignedly took out her phone and messaged He Miaoyan: Yanyan, are you asleep?

He Miaoyan, worthy of her title as champion of staying up late, replied instantly with a question mark.

Zhou Mi felt a sense of belonging: I have insomnia.

He Miaoyan said: I thought you were tumbling in the sheets until now.

Zhou Mi’s tone seemed to leap off the screen: ??? What are you talking about? We have separate rooms, okay?

He Miaoyan: Then why are you living with that dog of a man?

Zhou Mi thought about it, couldn’t articulate clearly, and could only express her feelings: I don’t want to get involved with him again, I have a bit of PTSD in that area, you know?

He Miaoyan said: I can understand.

Zhou Mi continued: But he is.

She pondered for a long time, but couldn’t think of an appropriate word: So good at that.

He Miaoyan: At what? You’re speaking in riddles.

Zhou Mi couldn’t put it into words, so she told her friend everything that had happened tonight in detail.

He Miaoyan: Damn, who could resist that?

Zhou Mi said: I feel like he just wants to sleep with me, to continue that kind of relationship.

He Miaoyan: Mm, it’s quite obvious.

Zhou Mi: I regret it a bit now, I should have been honest with my mom before.

He Miaoyan said: Actually, it’s not too late to be honest now.

Zhou Mi turned on her side, acknowledging: That’s true.

He Miaoyan hit the nail on the head: You’re always intermittently regretful but never end it. Fundamentally, you can’t bear to give up the feeling of being with Zhang Lian, otherwise, you would have cut it off on the first day of your internship.

Zhou Mi sighed deeply: Ah, it’s so annoying.

He Miaoyan said: Since things are already like this, just take it one step at a time.

Zhou Mi agreed weakly: Fine, let nature take its course.

The effectiveness of this venting session was approximately zero. On the contrary, it made Zhou Mi’s thoughts even more tangled, impossible to sort out, sometimes realistic, sometimes poetic…

After staring at the ceiling light for a quarter of an hour, her eyelids finally grew heavy.

—

Zhou Mi didn’t know when she had fallen asleep, but when her phone alarm woke her, it was already eight in the morning.

The blackout effect of the curtains was too excellent, the entire bedroom still as dark as a valley at night.

Zhou Mi quickly jumped out of bed, holding her hair tie as she ran out.

Along the way, she carefully rubbed away the sleep from her eyes, maintaining the best awakened state.

As a result, only Aunt Chen was at home, who smiled and greeted her as soon as she saw her: “Miss Zhou, you’re awake.”

“Morning, Aunt Chen,” Zhou Mi corrected again: “Mimi.”

Aunt Chen realized and changed her words: “Oh, Mimi.”

Zhou Mi looked around for a few seconds: “Zhang Lian… where is he?”

Aunt Chen replied: “He went out for a run.”

Zhou Mi nodded, her thumb pointing to the corridor: “Then I’ll go brush my teeth first.”

Aunt Chen smiled again: “Alright, come have breakfast afterward.”

Zhou Mi wasn’t at all surprised by Zhang Lian’s self-discipline, because his usual state didn’t seem like someone in his thirties, at least not the kind of man in his thirties within Zhou Mi’s cognition.

But he also had nothing to do with childishness; the scent on him was deep and stable. This scent had no discernible bitterness or sweetness, but it wasn’t untraceable—it was the sedimentation of experience, the evaporation of emotions, the ease and confidence in his every move.

Zhou Mi, facing the mirror, carefully applied face cream, then went to the dining room for breakfast.

The breakfast was as sumptuous as a fine hotel, with bowls and plates spread out, displaying an array of colors that stimulated one’s appetite.

Zhou Mi took a sip of the freshly squeezed thick fruit and vegetable juice, with a flavorful, sweet, and sour taste, and couldn’t help but furrow her brow.

Seeing this, Aunt Chen explained: “Today, Mr. Zhang said to prepare a Western-style breakfast. Is it not to your taste?”

Zhou Mi looked up: “Not at all, it’s super delicious.”

Only then did Aunt Chen smile with relief and continue cleaning the counter.

Zhou Mi chatted with her, guessing she wasn’t a local. Aunt Chen was curious how she knew, and Zhou Mi said, “Your accent doesn’t sound local.”

After a few more exchanges, the two gradually became familiar. Aunt Chen talked about her daughter, saying she was about the same age as Zhou Mi, currently working as a bank teller at an ICBC branch in the capital.

Just as Zhou Mi was about to say something nice, the home’s keypad lock sounded, and Zhang Lian walked in. He was wearing a full set of all-black sportswear. From a distance, his figure looked as slender as the kind of body structure that would only appear in a game CG.

So good-looking.

Seeing him in athletic wear for the first time, Zhou Mi had only these three words in her head.

As he turned around, he removed his neck-hanging earphones and greeted Zhou Mi: “You’re up.” His voice was still a bit breathless.

“Mm,” Zhou Mi curved her lips into a smile, swallowing the half-chewed raspberry in her mouth: “Good morning.”

Zhang Lian nodded slightly, walked to the bedroom, and when he came out again, he had returned to his corporate elite look of shirts and pants that Zhou Mi was most familiar with.

When he sat down, the beautiful morning sunshine immediately transformed into fancy prison food.

Zhou Mi no longer dared to chew boldly, and restrained herself, using a knife and fork to saw at the bagel in front of her bit by bit.

Aunt Chen brought Zhang Lian black coffee without any milk or sugar. He took a sip and asked: “Still dropping you at the subway station today?”

Zhou Mi nodded.

Zhang Lian observed her for a couple more seconds: “Haven’t put on makeup yet?”

Zhou Mi was stunned for a moment: “It’s quick, I can do it in five minutes.”

Zhou Mi was suddenly surprised: “How do you know I wear makeup? I hardly ever do eye makeup, and not many men can tell.”

Zhang Lian said, “No wonder your dark circles are so heavy.”

“…” Zhou Mi was speechless, biting her lip forcefully: “So what? Dark circles are the medals of a hardworking life.”

She always had these peculiar little theories; Zhang Lian laughed as he heard: “Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Zhou Mi made an “mm” sound: “Of course I’d have trouble sleeping in a new place.”

Zhang Lian looked dubious: “But your sleep quality in hotels before wasn’t bad?”

Zhou Mi propped her chin, squeezing words through her teeth: “I was really tired during those times, okay?”

Zhang Lian said, “Is that so?”

Zhou Mi couldn’t bear it anymore: “Can you stop hinting at me all the time?”

Zhang Lian put down his cup: “What am I hinting at?”

Zhou Mi gulped down a mouthful of fruit and vegetable juice, using it like alcohol to boost her courage: “You know very well what you’re hinting at, don’t play dumb here.”

Zhang Lian smiled again, he rarely showed such a clear and understandable smile: “Is my image in your heart that vulgar?”

Zhou Mi nodded: “Then be more refined, be a proper, pure boss and roommate, and don’t always think about coercion and enticement.”

Zhang Lian said, “I want to have a normal relationship with you, but you always think in that direction.”

Zhou Mi made a “whoa” sound: “I didn’t forcibly kiss you in the car.”

Zhang Lian said, “You were the one who provoked it.”

Zhou Mi forked a small piece of bread into her mouth, eyeing him: “I can only say, the benevolent see benevolence, the lustful see lust.”

Zhang Lian continued to calmly cut his bacon: “That phrase should be used to describe you, making up a whole drama just from a tissue.”

Zhou Mi: “…”

She quickly finished the bread, emptied her juice, and stood up by pressing on the table: “Hurry up and finish eating, I have something to give you.”

Zhang Lian paused, raising his eyebrows: “What?”

Zhou Mi smiled enigmatically: “Our cohabitation return gift, I forgot to give it to you yesterday.”

Zhang Lian compressed his breakfast time and went to Zhou Mi’s room.

The girl was sitting at the dressing table, concentrating on applying lipstick. He didn’t enter rashly, waiting until she had finished pressing her upper and lower lips together before smiling and knocking twice on the doorframe.

Zhou Mi hadn’t expected him to be so quick, hurriedly capped her lipstick, and stood up formally.

“Where’s the thing?” Zhang Lian asked.

“Just a moment.” Zhou Mi raised her hand, turned to go inside, dug it out from her suitcase, and walked out clutching it.

Zhou Mi stopped in front of him, with a bright smile: “Hand.”

Zhang Lian lowered his eyes, not moving: “What?”

“Hold out your hand,” Zhou Mi emphasized again.

Zhang Lian offered his right hand, holding it flat in mid-air, watching to see what kind of trick she would play.

Zhou Mi also raised her tightly clenched right fist, suspended it above his hand, and then opened it all at once.

A light silver men’s ring fell into his palm.

Zhang Lian was a bit surprised.

Before he could ask, Zhou Mi fluently explained: “This is a ring I carefully selected for you after searching all over Taobao, thirty yuan, just consider it the contract fee for the next three months. We’ve both given each other the best tokens and remuneration within our abilities, believing this will be a very pleasant and sincere cooperation. Don’t you think so, boss?”

Zhang Lian laughed, his thick eyebrows slightly raised, with implied meaning: “Not bad, Zhou Mi.”

Zhou Mi immediately frowned, as if about to cry: “Why aren’t you calling me Mimi anymore? Don’t you like the gift I specially prepared for you?”

Zhang Lian enclosed the ring back in his hand, very seriously: “Thank you, I accept it.”

“I’m so happy,” she smiled again, like a beautiful artificial flower, excessively sincere and sweet.

Zhang Lian said, “I hope you can be this happy every day for these three months.”

Zhou Mi replied: “You too.”

Zhang Lian’s arm dropped back to his side: “Alright, time for work.”

Zhou Mi: “Mm.”

Watching him walk out the door, Zhou Mi immediately slumped her shoulders, then felt somewhat proud that the scene she had rehearsed many times in her mind had gone so smoothly.

She clenched her fists and mentally cheered “yes!” three times for herself, then went back to pack her things, swaying her head and tail.

The cup Zhang Lian had given her last night was still in her canvas bag; she had opened it to look before going to bed.

The actual item was as expected, the one she had been reluctant to put down in the morning, looking at it from all angles and planning to order online when she got back.

But having received it in this way, she didn’t know how to handle it for the time being, so she just put it back in its original packaging box.

After a brief contemplation, Zhou Mi stuffed it back into her canvas bag, deciding to take it to the office for use.

—

Zhou Mi felt she might have offended Zhang Lian.

To the subway entrance, he didn’t say a word to her, staring straight ahead the whole time, like a handsome driving machine without thoughts or feelings.

Anxious before getting out of the car, she took the initiative to say goodbye and sweetly added, “Drive safely.”

Only then did Zhang Lian glance at her, giving a cold “mm” sound.

Unbelievable.

This person has a bad temper and is petty, China’s famous double standard.

He can ridicule others unscrupulously, but doesn’t allow others to counter him in the same way?

Zhou Mi grumbled in her heart, then stopped in front of the elevator and snorted coldly. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became, so she took out her phone and removed the petty person from his pinned position.

In a daze, Zhou Mi heard someone calling her name.

Like a switch, the noise and clamor of the lobby instantly surged back into her ears. Zhou Mi followed the sound and found Jiang Shi standing on her left.

The young man smiled brightly: “Morning, Zhou Mi.”

Zhou Mi hurriedly stuffed her phone back into her pocket: “Morning, Jiang Shi.”

His eyes were bright: “You remembered my name.”

Zhou Mi nodded: “Yes, your name is easy to remember.”

Jiang Shi tilted his face and smiled, not speaking for a moment.

Zhou Mi seemed to read a bit of frustration in it and quickly explained: “Like mine, we both have two…”

He looked at her again, his demeanor strangely becoming expectant.

Zhou Mi paused, stuttering to complete the conversation: “Both have two characters.”

Jiang Shi’s smile didn’t decrease in sugar content: “Can I add you on WeChat from the group?”

Zhou Mi nodded again: “Of course.”

At this time, the elevator arrived at the first floor, and a group of people filed out. Probably in a hurry, they were all walking very fast, somewhat rushing headlong.

Jiang Shi quickly raised his arm across, blocking in front of Zhou Mi to prevent her from being bumped.

Zhou Mi stepped back in surprise, and after the elevator emptied, the two of them entered the car one after another. Zhou Mi quickly thanked him.

Jiang Shi said, “It’s nothing.”

The elevator quieted down, like a dried-out sponge—no matter how much you twisted it, it seemed to squeeze out only awkward air.

Zhou Mi had a natural fear of this frozen situation. She bit her lip and decided to try initiating conversation with this creative department colleague: “Jiang Shi.”

“Hm?” The young man turned to look at her with slight surprise.

Zhou Mi smiled: “What a coincidence, it seems like we’ve run into each other in the elevator two days in a row.”

Jiang Shi didn’t respond.

Zhou Mi inwardly thought this wasn’t good and began to ponder what was wrong with what she had just said.

The floor numbers on the metal wall silently accumulated and jumped in the black frame. When it went from 9 to 10, Jiang Shi suddenly spoke: “Have you ever thought that maybe I was waiting to ‘accidentally’ run into you?”

Zhou Mi wasn’t stupid; she naturally understood his implied meaning. The air froze for a second, and the elevator doors opened.

She looked at him steadily, not knowing how to respond.

“Remember to accept my friend request,” Jiang Shi smiled broadly, walked out, and left these words in the elevator.