When entering the bar, Zhang Lian received a call from another college classmate at the wedding, Wen Liangcai, asking why he had disappeared from the wedding venue without saying goodbye.

To avoid the loud noise inside, Zhang Lian stopped at the door and didn’t go further: “I already told Old Peng. You were smoking at that time.”

Wen Liangcai regretfully said, “I was hoping to catch up after the ceremony, but you left so quickly.”

Zhang Lian said, “Next time.”

Wen Liangcai replied, “When is the next time? You’re so busy, it’s hard to meet up with you.”

Zhang Lian said, “If you want to meet, I’ll be there.”

Wen Liangcai sighed, “I only took two days off, and I have to return to Jing City tomorrow morning. Who knows when the four handsome guys from Renmin University will gather again?”

Zhang Lian laughed, “If we want to meet, we’ll find a way.”

“It’s difficult. As we get older, we have less control over our lives. We don’t have the freedom we had as students,” Wen Liangcai was drunk, speaking incoherently. “Ah, I envy you. You don’t smoke or drink, no bad habits at all. I already have fatty liver.”

Zhang Lian said, “After all, I’ll be growing old alone, so taking care of myself is never wrong.”

Wen Liangcai laughed.

After listening to his roommate complain about life for a few more minutes, Zhang Lian ended the call, suddenly feeling a bit disinterested.

He stood there, considering whether to go in or return home.

The ice-blue light seeped through the curtain of the bar like overflowing seawater, along with faint music.

Zhang Lian illuminated his phone to check the time, then decided not to turn back.

As a small bar near the university, Fate’s interior looked far less impressive than those high-end, crowded establishments in the city center. The setup was relatively simple, but the atmosphere was quite tasteful, with a white tulip on each booth. The ambiance was relatively quiet, not too noisy.

Most customers appeared to be students. Even those deliberately wearing heavy European-style makeup still looked like kids pretending to be adults, unable to hide their innocent awkwardness. Their drinking and singing displayed an almost devout earnestness not found in those large bars, which seemed more like sinful dens.

A buzz-cut young man in a black T-shirt was humming a song on stage with his guitar, the melody familiar.

Zhang Lian didn’t try to identify the song, just sat down on a high stool at the bar. The young bartender glanced at him several times, came over, and handed him the menu: “Handsome, what would you like to drink?”

Zhang Lian took it and scanned from top to bottom roughly. It contained all the usual varieties found in bars, so he casually ordered one.

The bartender responded and turned back to select a bottle from the colorful shelves behind.

Zhang Lian turned sideways to watch the singer on stage, slightly absent-minded.

Two girls sitting nearby had been watching him since he came in, eager to approach him for contact information or to buy him a drink. However, the man’s appearance and aura were lofty and outstanding. Even with a gentle expression, he seemed distant and unapproachable.

He resembled a male protagonist from the big screen with a sense of story, perfect for close-ups, maintaining his style from any camera angle. But when truly approaching to discover more, one would find he was ultimately as illusory as light and shadow projected on a screen.

Zhang Lian didn’t touch that glass of alcohol.

Entering the bar was merely a whim. He had no intention of leaving his car there or calling a designated driver.

Gradually, the young man on stage had sung his fourth song, a relatively upbeat English song:

“I fell in love with a criminal

she stole my heart, and I didn’t know

she got me hooked after just a touch.”

At that moment, Zhang Lian’s right arm was suddenly poked with considerable force, leaving a painful sensation on his skin. He frowned slightly and turned his eyes to look.

The light beam happened to flow past, and a very bright face appeared before his eyes. It was a girl wearing a pink plaid dress. Her face, slightly pink from mild intoxication, was bathed in light, her pupils sparkling, with an undisguised, sly, probing look.

She wore her hair in the simplest ponytail, with some loose strands on top that the light shone through, making them look fluffy.

She looked like a personified peach, with an extremely full sweetness.

As soon as she met his gaze, she smiled triumphantly and happily declared, “Ah, it’s real.”

The girl’s expression was quite magical, or perhaps carried highly contagious germs, causing Zhang Lian to unconsciously curl his lips in response.

“You are G!” she suddenly said in a higher, more excited tone.

Zhang Lian looked at her: “Am I supposed to be fake?”

She said, “But you look like you’re not real.”

“Look carefully,” before Zhang Lian could speak, she began to praise: “You’re handsome, unbelievably handsome.”

She seemed to enjoy repeating herself this way, skillfully employing various tonal particles.

Zhang Lian laughed at her directness: “Thank you.”

The girl pursed her lips for a few seconds, then softly pleaded: “Can I sit with you?”

Zhang Lian replied: “Sure.”

The girl beamed with happiness, slid onto the high stool next to him, and stared at him without blinking.

Zhang Lian returned her gaze: “Why do you keep looking at me?”

The girl said, “I’m afraid you’ll disappear if I blink.”

Zhang Lian smiled: “Didn’t you just confirm I’m real?”

The girl pouted: “But when I’m more than twenty centimeters away from you, you seem fake again.”

Zhang Lian extended his long legs to the floor and pulled his stool closer to her: “How about now?”

They were impossibly close.

The girl covered her lips with her curled fists, completely pleased as her eyes curved: “You’re both handsome and nice.”

Zhang Lian didn’t respond, just continued looking at her. The girl’s smile was captivating.

She seemingly unintentionally glanced at the untouched Margarita on the bar counter beside him: “Is this your drink?”

Zhang Lian nodded.

She asked again, “Why aren’t you drinking it?”

Zhang Lian said, “I still need to drive home.”

The girl immediately pretended to be indignant, accusing him: “But that’s so wasteful. I don’t think you’re as nice now. I’m deducting five points. You’re only at 95 now.”

Hearing this, Zhang Lian picked up the glass and took a sip.

The girl smiled with her eyes slightly squinting, then contradicted herself: “But how will you drive home now?”

Zhang Lian said, “I don’t know. Will you call a car for me?”

The girl froze, her bright black pupils spinning mischievously several times before finally saying: “Deal. But can you stay with me a little longer?”

Zhang Lian responded with an “Mm,” agreeing.

She suddenly put away her cheerful expression and looked dejected: “I want to tell you, today marks sixty days since my breakup.”

Zhang Lian didn’t respond.

The girl asked, “Have you ever had your heart broken?”

Zhang Lian said, “Yes.”

The girl sighed: “Then we’re the same.”

“I miss my boyfriend so much. Even today, I feel I can’t forget him, but he broke up with me just like that, not contacting me at all. I sent him friend requests, reconciliation messages—one was even a thousand words long—but he completely ignored me. You know, he was the one who pursued me back then. He said he would be with me forever, but then his heart changed just like that. He criticized me for this and that. Today I even saw him with another girl, arm in arm.” Her eyes became misty, tears flowing down like dewdrops falling on a white St. Joseph’s lily. “I envy him so much. I also want to move on quickly.”

She pointed at her face, sobbing: “Am I crying?”

Zhang Lian: “Yes.”

“Do I look ugly?”

His eyes were deep: “No, you’re beautiful.”

She immediately broke into a smile through her tears.

The girl’s smile was enthusiastic, and her tears were sorrowful. Even without directly touching her, these emotions could make his heart expand or contract, like a plant returning from death to life.

Since returning to the country, perhaps due to his fixed social circle, Zhang Lian had rarely encountered such women around him, who completely broke and discarded their beautiful exterior shell yet displayed every aspect with such sincerity, freedom, and without affectation, touching people’s hearts.

She was as fragile and transparent as crystal.

So when the girl requested a hug, Zhang Lian agreed without hesitation.

This behavior was already somewhat out of control for him, but when this soft peach was wrapped in his arms, he only wanted to hold her tighter.

Indeed, once one corner was casually pried open, even the most solid glacier could easily slide or even collapse.

The girl began to have more demands. She circled his waist and murmured pleadingly: “Can you be my boyfriend for a day? Just for today, just for one night, please?”

Her voice penetrated from his chest area, like melting cheese, making his thoughts sticky.

Zhang Lian was considering whether to let her go and politely refuse.

At this moment, the bartender behind the counter had already given them a sly glance. Zhang Lian quickly paid the bill, took her out of the bar, hoping she would calm down in the cool night breeze.

They stood at the entrance, soaked in blue light, as if standing in the same cocktail, struggling to stay clear-headed in the intoxication.

The girl beside him had gone quiet.

Zhang Lian lowered his gaze and asked, “Where do you live? I’ll call a car for you.”

The girl finally looked back at him, pouting: “I’m not telling you.”

Zhang Lian fell silent, somewhat regretting the small sip of alcohol he had taken earlier, which made the situation difficult to resolve.

What happened next was even more unexpected. The girl, who had been standing there dejected, suddenly lowered her head and vigorously rubbed her eyes, muttering: “I’m wondering if I’m that bad? Not even for one night? I finally met such a nice and handsome brother…”

Zhang Lian remained still, sizing her up, trying to determine if she was pretending or expressing herself genuinely.

In the end, he guessed she was just drunk.

During this interval of observation, the girl again seized the opportunity to nestle into his embrace, her fair arms binding him like bandages. This time Zhang Lian didn’t push her away, because her tears had seeped into his shirt, creating a warm surge at the position of his heart.

Like a summer wind resistance or a creek, pushing, letting everything flow downstream. Finally, he heard himself ask: “Where to?”

The girl raised her head at his words, surprise overflowing from her wet, reddened eyes: “You agree?”

Zhang Lian’s gaze was deep: “It’s not too late to change my mind.”

She smiled sweetly as if in love, then made an incredible intimate gesture, tapping the tip of his nose, and finally confirming: “You’re single, right? I don’t want to sleep with someone who’s taken.”

Zhang Lian nodded in response.

“Then show me, to seal the deal, no going back.” She immediately puckered her crimson lips.

This adorable, almost reflexive request for a kiss was like a spell-breaking incantation, making all rules and taboos worthless and vulnerable.

Zhang Lian leaned in and kissed her.

They were like two hungry falcons, pecking at each other, entangled endlessly, yet unable to be satisfied. They quickly took a taxi to the nearest five-star hotel.

Everything seemed to be derailing, yet also entering the main theme.

At least when deeply embracing her, Zhang Lian recognized the value and meaning of tonight, not just release. His thoughts soared, racing through the colorful four seasons, mountains and rivers, stars and the universe. His gift was reawakened, the warm flame reignited. Just like the bar name that had suddenly attracted him, fate—it was a kind of destiny.

The girl was not shy at all, her sounds like a recitation, a rhythmic poem, inspiring him to write almost frantically.

In this honest interaction, they tore themselves and each other apart, then reassembled and experienced anew.

In the early hours, the girl nestled in his arms like a young bird in a warm nest, as if moving even a small tail feather would cause her to freeze to death.

Zhang Lian also held her, a strange protective instinct, or rather possessiveness, troubled him for several hours. He barely slept all night.

He warned himself, no more, no more entanglements.

So at dawn, he picked up his clothes from the floor, methodically putting them on while gazing down at the girl on the bed.

She probably wasn’t in deep sleep either. Despite his efforts to move quietly, she suddenly opened her eyes.

One standing, one lying, they smiled at each other.

The girl’s fingers clutched the edge of the blanket: “Can we meet again?”

Zhang Lian paused, about to refuse.

She quickly added, “Just maintaining this kind of relationship.” Zhang Lian lowered his hand that was fastening his cuffs, thinking of other excuses to decline.

Then the girl suddenly sat up, disregarding the slipping blanket, once again fully exposing herself to him, and asked in a tone similar to last night: “Do you want to—”

Her unexpected reactions always suited his taste, like turning pages, each sheet with fresh, vivid new content.

Zhang Lian weighed for two seconds, then smiled: “Okay.” He admitted to himself a degree of greed, mixed with a touch of selfish wickedness.

The girl smiled as if having found a treasure, picking up her phone from beside the pillow: “Don’t worry, I just want to sleep with you. We can agree on three principles. I absolutely won’t bother you normally. We can exchange contact information first.”

She appeared comfortable and experienced, as if this was commonplace for her.

In that moment, Zhang Lian suddenly couldn’t quite identify his emotions. They were complex. He guessed it was the possessiveness that had surrounded him for hours, now creating side effects, aftereffects.

Causing him to be neither generous nor decisive, contradicting himself, disappointment rapidly rising. He had already begun to feel jealous of people he didn’t know or who didn’t exist.

After all, it was probably because this was his first time initiating such an experience.

His expression unchanged, he bent down to wrap her in the blanket, sat on the edge of the bed, and patiently discussed everything with her.

Before leaving, he kissed her once, said goodbye, and was somewhat surprised to see tears sparkling in her eyes again.

He narrowed his eyes and smiled: “You’re crying about this too?”

The girl sniffled: “I don’t know if I’m reluctant to part with you or if I like this goodbye kiss. For more than a year now, my boyfriend hasn’t kissed me like this, as if he has no affection at all.”

Zhang Lian was quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ll extend the room for you until the afternoon. Get some more sleep.”

She obediently replied: “Okay.”

After leaving the hotel and retrieving his car, Zhang Lian lingered for a while in the plaza near his company, then went to the Gucci store to select a cute wallet, planning to give it to her at their next meeting.

—-

When she was first pressed beneath him last night, she complained that her hair was digging into the back of her head, so she removed the band, letting her soft tresses spread completely.

Then she held the hair tie between them, asking quietly: “When you were in relationships before, would you wear your girlfriend’s hair tie on your wrist?”

Zhang Lian glanced at the cherry decoration on it: “Never.”

“Oh.” She pouted slightly, looking a bit disappointed.

Zhang Lian asked: “What’s the point of wearing it?”

The girl asserted confidently: “To show you’re taken, to keep other girls away.”

Zhang Lian laughed softly, his face showing he found it childish and not worth commenting on.

The girl caught on and grumbled unhappily: “No wonder your ex left you.”

Zhang Lian immediately sealed her lips.

Perhaps it was lust, or perhaps something else, but that beautiful, romantic night was like strong liquor, definitely leaving a lingering effect. Looking back, it was like a long night of stars, a glass cathedral, unforgettable. The extreme fulfillment made him feel more deficient, then longing for more.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t had the impulse to break the rules and contact her, but ultimately, he was someone who observed rules and disliked breaking promises.

The other person seemed the same.

On the day of their second meeting, Zhang Lian received a message from the girl in advance: “I arrived early! This time I’ll book the room. Come quickly, I miss you so much.”

The next message was the detailed hotel address.

Just reading these simple words, he could imagine her expression and tone.

Zhang Lian’s lips lifted imperceptibly. He glanced at the time—it was only five in the afternoon, and he was still in a meeting.

He replied with a simple “Okay,” put down his phone, and somewhat distractedly pointed out the shortcomings in the proposal. He looked around, said he had urgent business, and announced the meeting was adjourned.

Everyone was a bit surprised but even happier.

Zhang Lian left the company, went to the store to pick up the dessert he had ordered earlier, and also brought along the gift box containing the wallet from his glove compartment, to test her attitude.

These were indirectly declined by the girl.

It wasn’t unexpected either.

However, on the way back this time, whether due to his mood or the excessive quiet in the car, Zhang Lian felt an inexplicable stuffiness in his heart.

While waiting at a red light, he searched for the song he had heard in the bar based on the lyrics he remembered.

It turned out to be called “Dangerous”:

“I thought she was just so innocent

she’s such a wreck, and I can’t forget

bringing me down, but bringing me up

not the type of girl that you would ever wanna trust

I know that I just met her, I know that I should know better

she’s gonna let you down, but you’ll take her back

she’s just a one-way trip to a heart attack

…

It was just a shot in the dark

Now, I don’t know where it will land

I let her tear me apart, yeah

I wish it had never begun.”

Just as the lyrics said, he truly regretted starting this game, because of his slightly derailed self.

He wished it had never begun, that it was merely a dream.

He was glad that the chance encounter in the company elevator gave him the perfect opportunity to completely end their relationship. However, for some unknown reason, that same night, on the other side of the lake, when he saw the girl turn and leave, almost fleeing, he dialed her number without hesitation.

That moment’s action transcended thought, following his heart, beyond his control. His soul governed his mind; his subconscious determined this was fate, a necessity, a decree from above, a response after prolonged endurance.

In the world, under the moonlight and by the lake, there seemed to be only the two of them, dim, secret, yet safe and quiet enough.

The timing was perfect.

“Why are you running?” The moment the call connected, Zhang Lian cast his fishing line with a deep voice, considering whether to call her by her real name.

But she quickly called out that new name that both separated them and reconnected them. Hearing it, he couldn’t help but smile.

Using this brand-new chip, he, like a predator of the night, used an almost enticing tone to lure her back: “Come over and talk.”