Zhou Mi got away with it, but acted smug. Facing an expert, she played dumb: “Hm? So?”

Zhang Lian called her directly.

Zhou Mi’s heart nearly jumped out of her throat as she fumbled to answer, scanning within a ten-meter radius before whispering: “Hello…”

Zhang Lian’s tone carried an obvious smile: “Want to ride back with me tonight?”

Zhou Mi glanced at the empty seat beside her again before straightening up slightly: “Couldn’t you have said that in WeChat?”

Zhang Lian replied: “A phone invitation shows more sincerity.”

Zhou Mi inwardly snorted, confirming their meeting plan: “Still at the subway station?”

Zhang Lian instructed decisively: “Let’s leave at nine. Meet me at the parking garage, still exit A.”

Zhou Mi said, “Alright.”

Zhang Lian added, “I’m at the company entrance now.”

To control the smile that kept threatening to bloom across her face, Zhou Mi scrunched up her eyes and nose: “Do you need to announce that? Are you some head of state disembarking from a plane, needing an honor guard and children with flowers?”

Zhang Lian said coolly: “Not at all. I’m just preventing someone from not seeing me later and causing trouble in WeChat.”

“…” Zhou Mi flatly denied: “I wouldn’t do that, okay?”

Zhang Lian chuckled lightly: “I’m entering the office now.”

Zhou Mi: “…hanging up.”

Zhou Mi quickly ended the call, her earlobes already red like undiluted tomato juice. She rapidly finished her remaining water to cool down, eyes fixed on her computer screen, making a temporary decision not to refill her water until the end of the workday.

—

After eight-thirty, Zhou Mi’s heart felt suspended by invisible threads, making her light-headed and dizzy, as if being tickled by foxtails drawing near and far, occasionally causing intense itches.

She had basically finished her work and could have left early, but absentmindedly lingered for nearly half an hour.

At exactly eight-fifty, Zhou Mi removed her work badge, began clearing her desk, and stuffed miscellaneous items like eye drops and hand cream into her bag. After fastening the metal clasp, she glanced at WeChat on her phone.

Tao Ziyi peeked out from behind a plant across from her: “Mimi, are you leaving? Let’s go together.”

Zhou Mi blinked, speechless for a second: “Sure.”

Tao Ziyi also stood up. Today, she wore a high ponytail with an androgynous workwear look, paired with a palm-sized black waist bag. With a snap of the buckle, her entire appearance was crisp and handsome enough to be featured in any street fashion blog or short video.

Zhou Mi smoothed the wrinkles on her skirt and followed her toward the company exit.

The two walked side by side through the sensor doors. Just as they turned out of the corridor, Zhou Mi’s originally steady pace faltered for a second.

In her field of vision, Zhang Lian stood waiting for the elevator. Noticing people approaching, he glanced over, his gaze lingering almost imperceptibly on Zhou Mi’s face before displaying a formulaic faint smile.

Tao Ziyi greeted him by his English name, and he responded with an “Mm” before saying, “Off work now?”

Zhou Mi’s heart flashed with excitement. Standing before the same elevator door, using Tao Ziyi as cover, she also softly called out: “Boss.”

Zhang Lian maintained his composure: “Mm.”

Zhou Mi very lightly bit her lower lip, her eyelids lowered slightly, using her eyelashes as a filter for her emotions.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

Zhang Lian didn’t move, nor did she and Tao Ziyi.

Zhang Lian said, “Why aren’t you going in?”

Tao Ziyi hesitated: “You first…?”

Zhang Lian said, “You two go first.”

Tao Ziyi secretly tugged Zhou Mi’s arm, and the two women entered like tardy schoolgirls sneaking into class under their teacher’s watchful eye, nodding and bowing as they walked in.

Zhang Lian followed, standing near the elevator buttons, right in front of Zhou Mi. He was truly excessively tall, standing like a mountain ridge rising from flat ground.

Zhang Lian pressed B1, then turned and asked: “Which floor for you two?”

Tao Ziyi glanced at the numbers: “I’m going to B1 too.”

Zhou Mi was slightly startled.

Zhang Lian turned again: “And you?”

This time, the movement was larger, involving his entire upper body, clearly addressing Zhou Mi.

He was doing this on purpose.

Zhou Mi’s fingers hanging at her side curled slightly, her temples tightening a bit as she gave a different answer: “First floor.”

He raised his hand to press it to her, without saying anything more.

The elevator cabin became like a silent, enclosed space heater.

In her peripheral vision was the man’s snow ridge-like white shirt texture extending from his shoulders down, making Zhou Mi’s cheeks flush slightly.

Ding.

First floor arrived.

Zhou Mi exchanged “see you tomorrow” with Tao Ziyi, then formally said “goodbye boss” to Zhang Lian before walking out of the elevator without looking back.

Entering the lobby, her stifled thoughts finally flowed freely.

The wind blew Zhou Mi somewhat awake as she exited. She suddenly remembered Tao Ziyi mentioning her “youthful folly of unsuccessfully pursuing Zhang Lian,” which made her chest feel somewhat congested. She knew Tao Ziyi had her car and would surely go to the parking lot, but still couldn’t help her messy thoughts.

And she had to maintain the lie, making her relationship with Zhang Lian appear clear-cut and clean, barely even nodding to acquaintances in a superior-subordinate relationship.

The hidden joy and expectations that had built up over several hours completely dissolved in the elevator just now, leaving only a lump of stifled, frustrated, paste-like residue.

Distractedly jumping down the last step, Zhou Mi’s phone rang in her pocket. She checked the name, hesitated for two seconds, then answered.

Zhang Lian asked: “Haven’t come down yet?”

Zhou Mi said, “No.”

Zhang Lian said, “I even went to the emergency exit.”

Zhou Mi puffed her cheeks, asking the obvious: “Why go to the emergency exit?”

Zhang Lian said, “Thought you might be more clever.”

Zhou Mi felt inexplicably angry, her breathing unconsciously quickening: “If I were clever, I would have said I’m going to B1 in the elevator. Just go home. I still think it’s safer if we act separately.”

Zhang Lian asked again: “Where are you?”

Zhou Mi was irritated and distracted. The pedestrian light turned green, and she swung her legs rapidly, following the flow of people across the road: “I don’t want colleagues to find out. I’m almost at the subway station. Hanging up.”

The other end went quiet with no response.

Zhou Mi waited a few seconds, still hearing nothing. Her chest felt empty for a moment, and she hung up.

She looked back toward the company building, not knowing what she was still hoping for. Then she pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill her nose and mouth before stepping onto the descending escalator into the subway entrance.

After skillfully scanning her phone’s electronic card, Zhou Mi passed through the gate and entered the subway station.

The platform was crowded with people, many in dark formal attire—white-collar workers like industrious ants.

Standing there, scrolling through Weibo, the subway roared to a stop, air currents surging. Zhou Mi brushed aside her wind-scattered bangs and was about to put her phone back in her bag when it suddenly vibrated.

Zhou Mi pulled it out again, her brow slightly furrowed, unlocked it, and held it before her face.

Zhou Mi was startled—Zhang Lian had sent her his location.

She thought for a moment and decided to open it, intending to prove and inform him that “I’m already on the platform about to board, don’t ask, it’s all futile.”

The next moment, her eyes suddenly widened. On her phone screen, the two dots representing them were almost overlapping.

He was nearby.

Very, very nearby. In the same subway station, perhaps less than a hundred meters apart.

Zhou Mi’s heart immediately pounded like a startled deer. Like a deserter caught in the act, her fingers frantically pressed the upper left corner, quickly escaping the shared map.

But she didn’t move around randomly either. Invisible walls surrounded her as she watched her train gradually leave.

Zhang Lian sent her a:?

Zhou Mi didn’t dare look around aimlessly, afraid her gaze would inadvertently betray her: What?

Zhang Lian: Come find me.

Zhang Lian: Today, I don’t want to meet you at the subway entrance.