“We’re closing today, not cooking anymore.” Da Zhai stood up and left. Despite saying she wouldn’t cook, she still prepared dishes for customers who came later. Her disdain was obvious, barely stopping short of chasing people away.

But Luan Nian sat there motionless, drinking white liquor with a small plate of peanuts. The tavern’s peanuts were particularly delicious; he drank half a jin of baijiu with them. Da Zhai kept glancing at him while serving other customers, half-wanting to throw him out, but eventually thought better of it. Why compete with someone who came from so far away? She turned and walked to the back kitchen, saying to Old Shang, who was drinking tea: “That Luan fellow is here.”

Upon hearing this, Old Shang stood up and headed outside: “I’ll go meet him!”

“Meet him for what? Sit down! Don’t pay him any attention!” Da Zhai went out to attend to customers, leaving Luan Nian hanging. Sometimes she’d glance at him, noting his presentable appearance, thinking Taotao’s taste wasn’t bad—at least she was dating someone who looked decent.

Luan Nian continued drinking until the last table of customers left.

Da Zhai finished cleaning up and said to him: “We’re closing now, go home!”

Luan Nian got up to pay the bill. Da Zhai pointed to the QR code. Luan Nian scanned it but didn’t confirm payment. He said to Da Zhai: “Rest early. Staying up late isn’t good for older people’s health.”

Da Zhai looked at him once, thinking that Taotao had said she wanted to find someone who spoke nicely during blind dates—wasn’t this man speaking nicely? She didn’t understand young people’s thinking, but anyone who made Taotao uncomfortable wasn’t a good person. She snorted and went to clean the bar. Luan Nian left and transferred ten thousand yuan.

Da Zhai heard the payment notification sound and rushed outside, but he had already disappeared into the snowy night of Ice City.

Shang Zhitao received Da Zhai’s call in the early morning.

“What’s up, Mom?”

“Your ex-boyfriend just came by.”

Shang Zhitao checked the time—it was already two o’clock: “Which ex-boyfriend? Which one?”

“Luan Nian.”

Shang Zhitao was instantly alert: “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing much. He’s gone now.” Before hanging up, Da Zhai added: “Oh, by the way, he drank half a jin of liquor with peanuts and transferred ten thousand yuan when paying. I didn’t serve him properly.”

“How much?”

“Ten thousand.”

“I got it.”

What’s wrong with him? Shang Zhitao cursed in her heart. Ten thousand for a plate of peanuts? If you’re so rich, why don’t you just buy my family’s tavern?

Shang Zhitao hung up and called Luan Nian, but he rejected her call.

What the hell was going on?

Shang Zhitao was furious.

When she got angry, her blood pressure rose, making her feel like her medicine had been wasted. Lying back in bed, she grabbed her phone and messaged Luan Nian: “What’s your problem? Why did you go to the tavern? Do you want my parents to know about all that dirty business from back then? No need for you to tell them, I’ll tell my mom right now that I behaved improperly back then and fooled around with my boss.”

Shang Zhitao picked up her phone, intending to call Da Zhai to confess about her and Luan Nian. Her finger hovered over the dial button for a long time, but she couldn’t bring herself to press it. If Da Zhai and Old Shang learned that their daughter worked in Beijing as her boss’s mistress, how heartbroken would they be that their daughter had such poor conduct?

She slammed her phone onto the pillow, feeling like she had nowhere to vent. She messaged Luan Nian again: “Paying ten thousand for peanuts, you think you’re so rich? Why don’t you pay by the piece?”

In less than a minute, she received a transfer of 300,000 yuan.

Luan Nian also replied: “30 pieces (your family is too stingy with complimentary dishes).”

A moment later, another message came: “While you’re at it, tell Da Zhai about how you sold the bags and left without saying goodbye. Be objective and fair.”

Shang Zhitao was fully awake now, agitated by Luan Nian. She always knew he was difficult and troublesome, and that he had a special talent for annoying people. But in the past, his irritating manner had been subtle; today, he was putting in real effort.

Luan Nian had always resented her for selling the bags. She thought she had explained and apologized clearly when they met in Snow Village, and the matter should have been over. But what about him? He was using his dull knife to hurt her again.

She blocked this number too and went back to sleep.

Shang Zhitao used to be a good sleeper, but in recent years, the pressure had been too great, and good sleep had become scarce. But on days like this, after completing a major project and deciding to give the whole company a holiday, a sound sleep was absolutely necessary.

When she opened her eyes the next day, it was already noon. Remembering that Lumi had a 4 PM flight, she hastily brushed her teeth, washed her face, carelessly threw on some clothes, and rushed out to pick her up from the hotel.

Luan Nian was there too.

Shang Zhitao was somewhat surprised; with his previous temperament, after hearing what she’d said these past few days, he should have left.

No one spoke on the way as Shang Zhitao drove them to the airport. When they got out to fetch the luggage from the trunk, Shang Zhitao handed Lumi some jars and bottles: “Da Zhai said you like these, so she packed extra for you.”

“Our mom’s love for me is almost surpassing her love for you. I’ll personally call and thank her later.”

“Let me know when you finish them. She’s been experimenting with other delicious dishes lately, I’ll send you some then.”

The two chatted endlessly, then Shang Zhitao took out another gift for Will: “Thank you for specifically approving this event for us to execute. I hope we didn’t disappoint you.”

“It’s not over 200 yuan—knife fish made by my mom,” Shang Zhitao explained.

Will nodded and accepted it: “Thank you.”

“I didn’t know Luke would be here too, so I didn’t prepare a special gift for you. Please forgive me.”

Lumi internally cursed; Shang Zhitao’s hardline attitude toward Luan Nian was beyond her psychological tolerance. But Luan Nian’s expression didn’t change; he just gave Shang Zhitao a look and turned to leave.

Lumi caught up with Luan Nian and said, “Luke, I’m going somewhere else after landing today, and it’s inconvenient for me to carry these pickled vegetables. Can I give them to you?”

Luan Nian looked at Lumi seriously and said, “Do you know why you haven’t been fired after all these years?”

“…Why?”

“Because you’re smart.” Luan Nian reached out to take the pickled vegetables: “Tell her to prepare complete gifts next time. Even if I’m not present, a separate portion should be prepared for me. How can a company that can’t even get reception etiquette right run events?”

Fuck.

Lumi cursed inwardly. This stubborn mule’s mouth was truly something else. If you had just been a little nicer in your attitude, wouldn’t they have prepared pickled vegetables for you today? It’s just pickled vegetables! None for you! She even wanted to dive into Luan Nian’s head to see if it was filled with shit.

She caught up again: “You can tell her yourself, you know!”

This hit a nerve with Luan Nian. He wanted to tell her, but did Shang Zhitao give him the chance? In these years, she might not have made other progress, but she’d certainly gotten good at blocking people.

Seeing that he wasn’t responding, Lumi added: “Has Flora blocked you? Then you really can’t tell her yourself.” She snatched back the gift bag and walked away. She wasn’t about to let Luan Nian eat them! Those were made by Da Zhai herself, and Lumi loved them.

Luan Nian was a good person, but he had a loose mouth and an expressionless face. How many people in the company feared him? Yet new interns liked him, secretly asking Lumi: “Is Luke single?”

“Yes, go for it,” Lumi would respond.

The girl did pursue him, staging “coincidental” meetings with Luan Nian every day, actively helping him with reports, staying late whenever he worked late, persisting for almost two weeks.

Suddenly, one day, the young girl looked very dejected. Lumi asked her: “What’s wrong?”

“Luke told me to stay away from him.”

Lumi only heard about other matters secondhand, but everyone had witnessed how Luke had become increasingly strict over the years. Not only that, but what puzzled people most was that he showed no interest in women. Song Ying was so beautiful and liked him so much, but he didn’t care. After a while, rumors spread that Luan Nian’s sexual orientation wasn’t toward women. The gossip became even more mysterious, saying that the men around him were all handsome, part of a circle.

Lumi was anxious hearing this—how could Luke like men? She wanted to clarify for Luan Nian, but the person involved didn’t care. After a while, everyone just accepted that Luan Nian’s sexual orientation was toward men.

When the plane took off from Ice City, Luan Nian’s heart felt empty.

Some people, even when you can’t see them, stand firmly in your memory, not fading even after years; when you do see them, they’re now sharp-tongued, deliberately saying hurtful things that pierce your heart.

Luan Nian had never tasted this kind of feeling before; he didn’t even know how to handle it. He was accustomed to confronting things head-on, never yielding or bowing his head. He had thought about what to talk about before seeing Shang Zhitao again, even rehearsed it. But the rehearsal wasn’t used. After seeing her, he just wanted to figure out why she had sold those bags at a discount, why she had left without saying goodbye.

Shang Zhitao had explained, and the answer made him even more distressed.

He discovered for the first time that he had no way to deal with Shang Zhitao.

She was surrounded by many men, moving among them with ease. When speaking to him, she hit right at his core, not sparing him a second glance.

“Is Director Luan back?” Chen Kuannian asked in the group chat: “Can you treat me to dinner now?”

Luan Nian didn’t respond.

Chen Kuannian continued: “Has Director Luan suffered a serious blow? If you treat me to dinner, I’ll teach you how to pick up girls.” Chen Kuannian had no filter; having found love himself, he was anxious for Luan Nian. He thought Luan Nian was even worse than Song Qiuhan. Song Qiuhan also had a bad personality, and Chen Kuannian had worried that Song Qiuhan would end up alone. But Song suddenly had an epiphany with Lin Chuner. What about Luan Nian? After being entangled with a girl for so many years, he still hadn’t figured it out.

He doesn’t understand a damn thing!

“Come to the bar.” Luan Nian put down his luggage and went to the bar. Chen Kuannian and Tan Mian were already there drinking. They laughed when they saw Luan Nian: “Look at this dejected man!”

They started lecturing him on how to use sweet talk, how to please girls, how to make timely advances with girls. Luan Nian got a headache listening to it.

Finally, he couldn’t help but ask: “Did you two take the same scumbag training course?”

The other two looked at each other, then after a while said: “We’re doing this for your good.”

“If it’s for my good, then move your collection exhibition to Ice City!”

“I won’t go, it’s too cold.”

“Then I’ll send your beloved archaeology professor the videos of you at the Gold Coast two years ago.” Luan Nian took out his phone, and Chen Kuannian quickly surrendered: “I’ll go.”

“Then call now to discuss business.” Luan Nian gave him Shang Zhitao’s number.

“Why not use your phone?” Then he suddenly realized: “She’s blocked you again?”

That “again” was well-used. Luan Nian gave him a look and said nothing more.

Chen Kuannian called the number and heard a gentle voice on the other end: “Hello.”

“Is this Shang Zhitao?” Chen Kuannian crossed his legs: “A friend introduced you to me, said you run an event execution company in Ice City. I want to organize a collection exhibition and a collection release conference. Can I hire you?”

Shang Zhitao paused briefly: “Could you please provide your company information and event requirements?”

“Can I add you?” Chen Kuannian raised his eyebrows at Luan Nian.

“Alright.”

Chen Kuannian hung up and added Shang Zhitao as a friend, muttering: “What’s so difficult about this? Why has someone been blocked again and again?”

After adding her, he sent over his ideas. A while later, Shang Zhitao replied with her thoughts and an initial quote, very straightforward.

Then she asked: “May I ask which friend recommended me?”

Luan Nian said, “Don’t answer. If she asks your name, don’t tell her, just say your surname is Chen.”

“Afraid she won’t take the job if she hears your name?” Chen Kuannian clicked his tongue: “In my lifetime, I’ve finally seen someone who can handle the unyielding Luan Nian.”

He didn’t answer her question but arranged to visit Ice City for a survey the day after tomorrow.

Luan Nian went with him.

Shang Zhitao went to meet them at the airport. At first glance, she saw Luan Nian, and then Chen Kuannian beside him. She had seen Chen Kuannian’s photo before.

Some things were strange—in all those years together, she had never met his friends. In less than a week, Song Qiuhan, Chen Kuannian, and his friends were popping up one after another.

“Are you Shang Zhitao?” Chen Kuannian extended his hand.

“Hello, Director Chen.” Shang Zhitao removed her glove to shake his hand, then extended her hand to Luan Nian: “Hello, Director Luan.”

Chen Kuannian suppressed a laugh, amused by their attempt to hide their relationship, and watched them with interest.

Luan Nian took her hand; it was ice-cold. His fingertips caressed the back of her hand slightly before letting go.

“Director Chen, do you have any food preferences? Any dietary restrictions?” Shang Zhitao asked Chen Kuannian while driving.

“I heard there’s a tavern…”

Shang Zhitao glanced at Luan Nian, who was looking out the window. The shadow of his nose bridge cast on his face, his profile truly handsome. She didn’t know what he was thinking, why he had come to entangle with her after so many years. Was it just for that satisfaction in his heart? Like before, casting a net slowly to trap her. What did he want?

After Fu Dong led Chen Kuannian into the tavern, Shang Zhitao grabbed Luan Nian’s arm.

Luan Nian stopped and looked at her, his eyes falling on her hand.

“What do you mean by all this?” Shang Zhitao withdrew her hand under his gaze.

“Nothing. Just introducing a client to you. Consider it my targeted poverty alleviation.” The northern country was too cold, and that day had seen a big temperature drop. Luan Nian’s ears were red from the cold, his nose was red, and his eyes were slightly red too. Yesterday, he had taken to heart what Chen Kuannian and the others had said. They said if you want to be with her, you need to lower your posture.

“Are you trying to sleep with me like before?” Shang Zhitao was again provoked by Luan Nian’s arrogant attitude; she felt like her medicine had been wasted today, too.

“Fine.” She nodded: “I understand. Director Luan is going to spend a fortune to sleep with someone again, oh no, this time he’s also using his network.”

Her hand was on the doorknob. Before opening it, she said to him: “Tonight, whoever backs out is a fucking coward!”

“You stay right here!”