Shang Zhitao could barely remember what Xin Zhaozhou looked like the last time she saw him.

She only vaguely recalled his sun-scented jersey and his sun-tanned face that revealed snow-white teeth when he smiled. He was also a male classmate who many female classmates had crushes on.

She led Luan Nian to find Lee, when she heard someone call her name from behind: “Shang Zhitao.” She turned around and saw the 20-year-old Xin Zhaozhou and the 25-year-old Xin Zhaozhou strangely overlapping, forming a new person, someone who felt a bit unfamiliar yet incredibly familiar to her.

“Xin Zhaozhou.” She smiled.

Luan Nian turned around and stood there, one hand in his pocket, the other on his luggage handle, with no intention of speaking. Xin Zhaozhou, however, was polite and said to Shang Zhitao: “Won’t you introduce us?”

“Oh, sure.”

“This is my boss Luke, and this is my… friend Xin Zhaozhou.”

“Wasn’t he an ex-boyfriend?” Luan Nian exposed her, deliberately making her uncomfortable.

Xin Zhaozhou was a bit surprised, but he still nodded: “Yes, ex-boyfriend.”

“Go reminisce with your ex-boyfriend. I’ll find Lee myself.” He nodded to Xin Zhaozhou and walked away. Shang Zhitao’s ex-boyfriend wasn’t bad, in his twenties, the best time of life. What the fuck does this have to do with me?

Lee picked up Luan Nian and, seeing his stern face, thought he was dissatisfied with the Guangzhou branch’s work. So he said to him: “Luke, the problems with these clients in the first half of this year were not within our expectations. The market has changed this year, and the client’s product lines have also changed, giving us no preparation time. But we also have responsibilities. Moving forward, we’ll make more predictions to avoid such situations.”

“Good.” Luan Nian only responded with this word. When leaving the airport, he saw that the driver of the car next to them was Shang Zhitao’s ex-boyfriend. Nice car. What was her ex-boyfriend’s name again? Xin Zhaozhou.

Lee’s car paid the parking fee and left first. Luan Nian looked back and saw Shang Zhitao sitting in the passenger seat of her ex-boyfriend’s car, not looking completely at ease. The two seemed awkward, as if there were still remnants of old feelings.

Shang Zhitao couldn’t articulate her feelings toward Xin Zhaozhou. Is this how everyone feels when meeting their ex-boyfriend? Afraid that Xin Zhaozhou would bring up the past. She secretly messaged Lu Mi: “Zhang Qing is now your ex-boyfriend. If one day you meet Zhang Qing, what would you talk about? Would you be nervous?”

Lu Mi replied: “I don’t know if I’ll see Zhang Qing again, but I do know I ran into Will at the nightclub. So fucking exciting. The guy was dressed like a monk, with buttons fastened to his neck. I felt suffocated just looking at him.”

After a while, Lu Mi sent another cautious message: “Fuck, Will saw me. He grabbed my collar and asked if my family member wasn’t sick, why was I at a nightclub? I explained that my dad was originally scheduled to be discharged tomorrow, but he returned home by himself today. You know what he said? He said I was talking nonsense!”

“I’ve never been treated like this before. I told him if he grabbed my collar again, I’d get mad at him. But it turns out he knows some martial arts and threw me out of the nightclub.”

“Wuwuwu. I just wanted to go dancing.”

“I went back in, and he threw me out again. He also said I should explain to him at the company tomorrow why I lied about taking time off. What the fuck did I lie about?”

Seeing Lu Mi’s messages one after another, Shang Zhitao burst out laughing. Xin Zhaozhou heard the laughter and glanced at her, seeing the same girl from their school days, with light in her eyes when she laughed. His heart dropped like a massive stone into a deep pool, creating splashing waves.

“It’s my colleague,” Shang Zhitao told him.

“Are the colleagues you met after starting work nice?” Xin Zhaozhou asked her.

“Except for a few colleagues who are difficult to get along with, most people are very nice.”

“That boss Luke just now doesn’t look easy to get along with,” Xin Zhaozhou said.

Shang Zhitao remembered Luan Nian’s murderous eyes and murmured, “He’s okay. Just don’t provoke him.” If you provoke him, he’ll strip your tendons and peel your bones without satisfaction, and still want to grind your bones to dust.

“Have you ever provoked him?”

“No.”

Xin Zhaozhou smiled: “Looks like my peach is doing well at the company.” When they were dating, he often said, My peach is amazing, my peach is cute, my peach is smart.

Classmates said Xin Zhaozhou had a face like a peach blossom, with countless underclassmen thinking of him, and that he would cheat sooner or later. But Xin Zhaozhou had been wholeheartedly devoted to her. Wasting his good looks.

It took Shang Zhitao a long time to respond to him, saying: “Actually, it’s been very hard.”

Over these years, she had stayed up many nights, experienced many setbacks, endured many grievances, and cried secretly many times. There were a few times when she felt she couldn’t go on.

“I know,” Xin Zhaozhou said. “You’re alone in Beijing, with only Sister Yao Bei as an old acquaintance. It’s not easy to have persisted until today.”

“Sometimes I wonder, if I hadn’t come to Shenzhen back then, but had gone to Beijing with you, would I also be able to persist like you until today?”

“I heard from Sister Yao Bei that your colleague likes you, you’ve made many new friends, your work is going smoothly, you haven’t missed a promotion or raise every year, and you’ve independently taken on big projects, showing great leadership. Whenever Sister Yao Bei tells me these things, I think about how the girl I once held in the palm of my hand has grown up. It was I who pushed her out to face this hardship alone.”

Xin Zhaozhou pulled the car over to the side of the road and rolled down the window. He didn’t want Shang Zhitao to see the moisture in his eyes, because he knew they couldn’t go back. Xin Zhaozhou felt sorry for Shang Zhitao. He was sorry that he wasn’t resolute enough and chose to be with his parents at graduation. At that time, he lacked confidence and the courage to be reckless. Although he claimed Shang Zhitao was the love of his life, when she was confused, he chose to let her fight alone.

He was selfish.

“Don’t mention things from the past anymore,” Shang Zhitao looked out the window. “It’s my first time in Shenzhen, and I’ve discovered there’s a reason you chose to return here. This city is nice. Is it convenient to buy cosmetics? Do you often go to Hong Kong?”

“I used to go once a week, but now that the company has more employees, I go once a month. Have you applied for a Hong Kong and Macau travel permit? I can take you to see.”

“To Yi Lok Street? I heard that ‘Echoes of the Rainbow’ was filmed there, and I’ve wanted to visit since watching the movie. There was a time when I liked this film. When I was on a business trip to Guangzhou, I specifically went to Lin Heung Teahouse to buy double-yolk lotus paste mooncakes to send to my parents.”

“Okay. If you want to go.”

“I’m just kidding, I don’t have a travel permit.”

She wanted to go, but couldn’t go with him.

Shang Zhitao had her principles. Meeting an old friend, having a meal, taking a walk, chatting casually—that was enough. She didn’t ask for more.

She couldn’t give more, nor did she want more.

Xin Zhaozhou looked at Shang Zhitao and smiled: “You’re still the same as before, unable to lie. When you lie, you don’t dare look at me.”

“How can you say I don’t dare!” Shang Zhitao looked at him, saw a pair of eyes full of smiles, and turned her head away again.

“Your travel permit is in your backpack, I know. But I never force Shang Zhitao to do anything.”

Shang Zhitao smiled.

She had planned to go to Hong Kong for the weekend after work on Friday. Grace had even asked her to bring back two cans of infant formula.

Xin Zhaozhou took Shang Zhitao to see the sea at the mangrove forest. The drive wasn’t far, and the scenery was quite nice. He told Shang Zhitao, “I’ll bring my parents here on the weekend. We bought a two-bedroom apartment nearby. My parents go to the market in the morning and watch the sunset in the evening.”

“That’s nice. This is the life you wanted back then. You’ve realized your wish. It must feel great, right?”

Xin Zhaozhou nodded: “Actually, during the first two years, I didn’t do well. Foreign trade business was difficult, and although my parents had some connections, we only got small orders. Later, my parents sold a larger apartment and gave me the money for inventory, which gave me a new opportunity. After the Lunar New Year last year, I received my first big order, and things started to look up.”

“Have you given your uncle and auntie’s house back to them?” Shang Zhitao asked.

“Yes. Last month.”

“That’s great.”

Shang Zhitao was genuinely happy for Xin Zhaozhou. When she had previously chatted with Sun Yu, Sun Yu said she hoped her ex-boyfriend would be childless, but Shang Zhitao didn’t have such thoughts because she and Xin Zhaozhou hadn’t separated due to betrayal, but because of choices. They had both chosen the lives they wanted, so there wasn’t much hatred. Only just after the breakup, Shang Zhitao felt that Xin Zhaozhou didn’t love her enough.

Xin Zhaozhou bought her a popsicle, choosing her once-favorite red bean flavor. Xin Zhaozhou remembered all of her preferences—crayfish, red bean popsicles, milk bread slices, cherries, strawberries.

Shang Zhitao accepted it, saying thank you. Xin Zhaozhou’s popsicle relieved the stuffiness of Shenzhen’s summer night, sweet and cool, truly wonderful.

“Are you still going to the classmate reunion tomorrow?” Shang Zhitao asked him.

“Yes. To pay the bill.”

“Okay, Director Xin.”

“Don’t say that. I’m far behind your clients. I hope that after my unremitting efforts, I can become your client. Then I can specifically request you to serve me.”

“I think that day won’t be too far off.”

The two intentionally avoided many past events, both feeling they shouldn’t break the beauty of this evening.

Shang Zhitao felt that Xin Zhaozhou was like an old friend, a different kind of old friend. This old friend had an intimate past with her and now stood at just the right distance. No matter what, that period couldn’t be erased.

At the hotel entrance, Shang Zhitao said to Xin Zhaozhou: “Xin Zhaozhou, I know that at tomorrow’s reunion, everyone will bring up the past. What I want to tell you is that I’ve never regretted dating you, but I did resent you for not being able to come with me to Beijing. I was too young then, too immature.”

Xin Zhaozhou nodded and patted her head: “I know. What’s past is past.”

“Can I hug you today? I’m afraid if I drink too much tomorrow, I won’t be able to hug you,” Xin Zhaozhou said. He knew that after tomorrow, Shang Zhitao wouldn’t see him again. This meeting was one he had sought with all his efforts because he wanted to see that pure, happy, and innocent girl from back then. Afterward, it seemed that no girl was like her, yet every girl seemed to have her shadow.

Shang Zhitao didn’t answer him but reached out to grip his shirt. Look, the boy who once wore sports T-shirts now wore dress shoes and shirts. People inevitably grow up, don’t they?

She stepped forward closer to Xin Zhaozhou, her head against his chest.

Shang Zhitao wasn’t stone-hearted. This was someone she had loved. Although that love wasn’t as intense as breaking through clouds and piercing the sun, either then or now, it was a love that had seeped into her heart like a gentle stream.

It took Xin Zhaozhou a long time to reach out and hold her tight.

He especially remembered that time, their first hug, when neither knew where to put their hands. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight years had passed.

He used all his strength to hold Shang Zhitao in his arms and said to her: “Shang Zhitao, no matter when, no matter what difficulties you encounter, as long as you ask, I will help you.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Shang Zhitao watched Xin Zhaozhou get into his car, then turned and entered the hotel. A familiar figure entered the elevator—who else but Luan Nian?

Shang Zhitao stood in the elevator lobby for a while. She could openly say goodbye to Xin Zhaozhou but didn’t dare to ride the same elevator as Luan Nian.

Luan Nian felt he had recently stumbled into Shang Zhitao’s men’s nest—roommate, sports guy, ex-boyfriend—it was fucking amusing. After returning to his room and replying to emails, he suddenly didn’t know what to do.

He turned on the stereo to listen to music—vintage Cantonese songs.

Luan Nian could be romantic at times, with different inspirations in different places. For instance, now, he called room service for ice, opened the liquor from the mini-fridge, lit a cigar—the air had a Hong Kong flavor.

Sam Hui’s “Dare to Love, Dare to Do” best matched his current mood. With the cigar between his fingers, slightly dancing on the floor to the music, singing loudly along, entertaining himself. The doorbell rang. He swayed his head as he went to open the door, reaching out to accept the ice, only to see a somewhat shocked Shang Zhitao.

The surroundings became quiet.

In her years of working with Luan Nian, Shang Zhitao had never seen him like this. No, that’s not right—during his first year as director, he sang on stage with this same unrestrained and carefree demeanor. Also on that day, at Luan Nian’s home, Shang Zhitao completely broke down.

Luan Nian hadn’t expected Shang Zhitao; he thought it was room service bringing ice. He closed the door, then reopened it a few seconds later, everything back in order: “What is it, Flora?”

“You said we should practice once more before meeting the client?”

“When did I say that?”

“Last Friday.”

“Will the client not live until tomorrow?”

“No, Lee just informed me that the client has moved the meeting time to tomorrow morning. In the afternoon, the client wants to take us to visit their factory.”

Luan Nian moved to the side, keeping the door open: “Come in.”

The music was still playing, and Sam Hui was still singing: Wild embrace, kisses that need no rest, no need to breathe air…

Shang Zhitao didn’t know whether to retreat or advance.

“What’s wrong, Flora? Not practicing anymore?”

“Oh.”

She put her hand on the doorknob and heard Luan Nian say, “The door is open.”

With the air of honesty and a clear conscience. Shang Zhitao nodded and followed him in. His accommodation standard was different; the secretary had booked him a suite. Luan Nian went to turn off the music, sat on the sofa with a coffee table in front, and gestured: “Sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

The cigar wasn’t finished. He took another puff, put it out, and left it on the ashtray. The faint smell of cigar wafted through the room. Shang Zhitao didn’t dare breathe deeply, afraid the smoke was poisonous. No, afraid she couldn’t resist tearing off Luan Nian’s clothes.

Human interactions are like people taming pets; over time, they start to resemble each other. Like Shang Zhitao, her mind was full of thoughts of tearing Luan Nian apart or biting him hard. Very much like Luan Nian.

Room service arrived with ice, breaking Shang Zhitao’s sensual thoughts. Luan Nian got up to take the ice and poured it into a glass. Even when traveling, he still had his cleanliness obsession, bringing his cup. Recently, Chen Kuannian had given him a skull glass for drinking liquor, which he had casually packed into his suitcase when packing.

He poured ice into the glass, poured in liquor, held the rim of the glass with his thumb and forefinger, tilted his head back for a big sip, and casually bit and chewed on a piece of ice.

The crisp sound of the ice breaking and Luan Nian’s roguish appearance made Shang Zhitao feel as if she had entered a triad den, where the gang leader was preparing to torture a betraying traitor. She felt inexplicably tense, her knees pressed tightly together, with something surging inside her.

Fuck. Shang Zhitao learned from Lu Mi, why the fuck am I so pathetic?

She thought this but refused to give in. I have a fighting cock in my heart, I can’t lose! She opened her computer, eyes fixed on it: “Shall I start?”

“Whatever.”

Luan Nian put the glass down on the coffee table with a bang. He sat on the sofa, which sank beneath him. Shang Zhitao almost couldn’t stay seated. She looked back at him, and he had already leaned back against the sofa: “Go ahead.”

“Flora, hurry up. Don’t delay my nightlife.”

“What nightlife?”

“Colorful nightlife. Hurry up.”

Shang Zhitao looked at the PowerPoint, seriously trying to recall: How was I going to present this again?

After a long while, she finally began: “On the first page…”

Luan Nian’s phone rang, and Shang Zhitao heard a woman’s voice: “I’m downstairs at your hotel.”

“Okay. I’m coming down now.” Luan Nian stood up and finished his drink in one gulp, then said: “Practice by yourself. If your presentation isn’t good tomorrow, leave the planning department.”

Shang Zhitao sat there, snapped her computer shut with a bang, anger rising.

She strode out, with Luan Nian following behind, closing the door and walking with her to the elevator lobby. Shang Zhitao’s face was red with anger, looking quite beautiful. Luan Nian, looking at her angry red face, suddenly spoke: “Flora, why aren’t you reminiscing properly with your ex-boyfriend?”

“What does ‘reminiscing properly’ mean?”

“Reliving old memories? Sleeping together?”

Shang Zhitao thought for a moment: “I’m nervous about presenting the plan tomorrow, not in the mood. After the dinner tomorrow evening, we have plans.”

She spoke seriously, looking at Luan Nian. She wasn’t lying; they were indeed meeting tomorrow.

Luan Nian’s mouth twitched, a cold smile, as he entered the elevator.

Shang Zhitao also entered the elevator, but her room key card malfunctioned, preventing her from going to her floor. She looked at Luan Nian.

“Beg me.”

Shang Zhitao wouldn’t, so she went to the first floor, to the front desk, planning to verify her information and get a new card. She saw a woman approaching Luan Nian, about 178 cm tall, wearing a thin-strapped top, light jeans, and exaggerated earrings—very wild and extremely beautiful.

Luan Nian walked out with her but suddenly turned back, catching Shang Zhitao peeking red-handed. He raised his eyebrows at her, then took out his phone and asked her: “How’s my ex-girlfriend?”

…

Outside the hotel, the girl said to Luan Nian: “Where do you want to go, little brother?”

“Don’t call me little brother.” Luan Nian glared at her.

“If I don’t call you little brother, what should I call you?” Luan Siyan scoffed. “Don’t act so formal with me. If you make me angry, I’ll tell my uncle. It’s not your first time in Shenzhen, so why should I treat you to a midnight snack? Can’t you afford to eat yourself? I’m paid by the hour and still have to serve you. Will you compensate me for my loss?”

Luan Nian listened to her nagging without saying a word.

He was in a bad mood, his mind full of thoughts of killing Shang Zhitao. But he also felt he should restrain himself. She was a nice girl, so why shouldn’t she date whoever she wanted? Why should she be hung up on him?

Seeing him not speaking, Luan Siyan asked: “Gone mute?”

…

Since childhood, Luan Nian could never win arguments against her; her tongue was even sharper than his. The elders in the Luan family were all refined and elegant, but in their generation, each was more rebellious than the last.

Seeing Luan Nian like a defeated fighting cock, head drooping, was quite amusing to Luan Siyan. So she said: “Where’s my proud little brother?”

“Where’s my presumptuous little brother?”

“Where’s my arrogant little brother?”

“Where’s my conceited little brother!”

“Where’s my…”

“Sister!” Luan Nian finally called out to her. He knew that if he didn’t speak up, Luan Siyan would express all the negative idioms she knew in this way, chattering endlessly, unceasingly, extremely noisy.

Luan Siyan laughed loudly: “Hey! Good little brother! Sister will take you for congee!”

What’s so good about congee? Luan Nian cursed her stinginess in his heart. His phone lit up, and he opened it to see a message from Shang Zhitao:

“Your ex-girlfriend is really pretty, with a good figure. But I have advantages too, such as…”

“I have big breasts.”

F*ck! Luan Nian finally cursed out loud!