He didn’t reply again. Su Hao picked up a toothpick and began eating the fruit. After just a few bites, she was already full. She closed the lid and lay down, preparing to take a nap.

Her phone buzzed again. It was a WeChat message from Su Qian.

Su Qian: Haohao, how was your first day at work? Did Zhou Yang go to the company?

Su Hao: It felt pretty good. He did come—he just went downstairs to eat.

Su Qian paused for a moment, then brought up Zhou Yang again.

Sigh.

Su Qian: That’s good then. The weekend’s coming up in a couple of days—remember to come home for dinner.

Su Hao: Okay. If I don’t have to work overtime, I’ll come.

Su Qian: Mm.

They chatted for a bit longer. Su Hao put her phone aside and took a nap.

The afternoon was busy. Su Hao followed Chen Yu around, helping with various tasks, and occasionally assisted Lu Mimi with statistics. Lu Mimi worked decisively and efficiently. Being around her made Su Hao a little nervous, afraid of making mistakes.

Lu Mimi lumped Su Hao into the same category as Chen Yu and said bluntly, “You—you’re clearly not cut out to be an accountant. You’re only suitable to be a cashier with Chen Yu!”

Su Hao smiled, lowered her head, and kept working.

She didn’t respond.

Lu Mimi snorted coldly and dumped more work onto her.

Cashiers handled money, accountants handled the books—but the top positions were almost always held by accountants. Lu Mimi was clearly ambitious.

During lunch break, Chen Yu pulled Su Hao into a group chat.

The group name was [When Will Love Arrive (6)]

Su Hao: “……”

The group was made up of Feijie employees. Though Lu Mimi and Chen Yu didn’t get along, both were in the group. Lu Mimi immediately sent seven or eight photos.

Su Hao tapped one open.

They were photos of Zhou Yang eating in the second-floor cafeteria with Miss Li. Several executives were there too—Director Zeng and Assistant Lu included, though the shots were taken from afar.

Miss Li had ordered steak but seemed unused to it, poking at it with her fork, her brows tinged with grievance.

Zhou Yang leaned back in his chair, sipping coffee, looking lazy and indifferent.

Still—handsome man, beautiful woman. Easy on the eyes.

Tang Yao: Is this Miss Li from that Li family?

Guan Xian: Yes. That Li family. Old money, elite lineage.

Chen Yu: How long has she been chasing President Zhou? I’ve lost track.

Tang Yao: About half a year? Can a playboy like President Zhou really endure a six-month dry spell? Or is he just getting pickier?

Lu Mimi: Hah. Maybe he’s played enough.

Chen Yu: Clearly, she’s about to succeed.

Lu Mimi: Pfft.

The two of them started sniping at each other again in the chat. Seeing this, Su Hao quietly muted the group—and then left it altogether.

It was mid-month, so work wasn’t too heavy. They got off at six.

Su Hao went downstairs with Chen Yu. Chen Yu asked, “Where do you live?”

Su Hao recalled the name of the complex. “Huahui.”

“Huahui?! You actually managed to rent there? That’s so close to work!” Chen Yu looked envious.

Su Hao smiled. “It really is close. I got lucky.”

“I have to take the subway for forty-five minutes every day. From here, you just turn there, take the underground passage, then make another turn—you’ll reach your place in ten minutes if you know the way.” Chen Yu pointed out the route.

Su Hao felt grateful. “Thank you. I took a taxi this morning.”

“That close? Probably just the starting fare.”

“Yes.”

They chatted a bit longer. Su Hao watched Chen Yu enter the subway station before turning onto the main road Chen Yu had pointed out.

Sure enough, she reached Huahui Residential Complex quickly.

She stopped by the supermarket next door to buy groceries, planning to cook dinner. Just as she reached the stairwell, her phone rang.

She looked down.

Zhou Yang: He’ll be there in half an hour.

Who?

Su Hao froze for a few seconds, then realized—it was the man Zhou Yang had introduced at noon. Only then did she notice that someone had sent her a friend request on WeChat a few minutes earlier.

She hadn’t checked her phone, so she hadn’t accepted it yet.

She tapped “Accept.”

The name was: Shen He.

Su Hao let out a breath. She glanced at Shen He’s profile picture, then at Zhou Yang’s beside it. Her mood slowly settled.

So many years had passed.

What needed to be forgotten—had to be forgotten.

She hurried upstairs, put the groceries into the fridge, then glanced at what she was wearing. Out of politeness, she decided to change.

She went into the master bedroom and changed into a little black dress. These clothes had been bought by Liao Yun before she left.

Once changed, she stepped out.

Her phone buzzed.

She bent down to pick it up.

Shen He: Su Hao, want to have dinner together tonight? I’m almost there.

Su Hao paused, then typed.

Su Hao: Sure. Message me when you arrive.

Shen He: Okay.

Holding her phone, Su Hao stood still for a moment. Then she walked to the balcony and looked outside. Unfortunately, the balcony faced inward toward the complex; only the kitchen window overlooked the street.

Her emotions were calm, but there was still a hint of uncertainty.

She turned back, picked up her small bag, and went out—she didn’t want to keep him waiting.

She rarely wore high heels; the shoes she had on were low-heeled.

At this hour, the sun was setting, the afterglow hanging in the sky. Su Hao checked her phone several times.

Soon, a black Mercedes pulled up at the entrance of the complex.

Beep, beep.

Her phone rang as well. She looked up.

Inside the car, a young man leaned back in his seat and smiled at her. He looked refined and handsome—it was the same man from the photo Zhou Yang had sent earlier.

She walked toward the car.

From a distance, her black dress fluttered in the wind. The breeze was strong, giving her a slightly unsteady look, but it made her skin appear even paler.

Shen He cleared his throat and quickly got out of the car to open the door for her.

Su Hao paused, then said softly, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Shen He replied cheerfully and returned to the driver’s seat.

This—this was exactly the kind of woman he liked. Gentle, soft-spoken.

He’d hit the jackpot.

There was a faint scent of perfume in the car. Su Hao sat quietly. Shen He got in and smiled at her.

“Haohao, what would you like to eat?”

Su Hao glanced at him, hesitated, then said, “Anything is fine.”

“Sorry—I haven’t really chatted with you yet and already asked you out. It’s just that I normally live in Kyoto. I came this time to help my brother-in-law deal with some things. I wanted to see you before I left.”

“It’s okay.”

“Does it feel sudden?”

“Not really.”

“That’s good. On the way here, I was worried you wouldn’t come down.”

“I would.”

Her replies were brief, but her voice was incredibly gentle. In the car, aside from the faint perfume, her voice was the most captivating thing.

Shen He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

Zhou Yang’s introduction really couldn’t be wrong.

Perfectly matched to his taste.

The car merged onto the main road. The afterglow faded, gray clouds rising on the horizon and covering half the sky.

Su Hao held her bag, watching the traffic and the view outside. After some thought, she asked, “Do you… know about my situation?”

Her question carried tension.

But her mother’s concern—and insistence—gave her courage.

Although that past wasn’t something she had wanted, it was a hurdle her mother had never been able to get over.

Su Hao understood her mother’s feelings.

She respected them, too, which was why she was willing to step forward and try.

“I know. What era is this already, Haohao? Don’t worry about those things. I don’t mind.” Shen He glanced at her, his handsome face full of sincerity.

Su Hao immediately relaxed and smiled at him.

That smile dazzled Shen He. It took him a moment to look away.

The atmosphere in the car warmed noticeably. Su Hao gazed at the city, her hand resting lightly against the window.

Following Su Qian’s advice, Shen He chose a Cantonese restaurant—not high-end, but delicious. He took Su Hao there for dinner.

He had thought she was simply gentle in temperament—but during the meal, he realized she was also very considerate. Most importantly, when he spoke, she rested her chin on her hand and listened attentively.

Her eyes were beautiful.

Like stars.

She listened as if she truly admired him.

Shen He’s mood soared.

Though his topics jumped around a bit, Su Hao would ask whenever she didn’t understand. Shen He eagerly explained.

Midway through—

While Su Hao went to the restroom, Shen He messaged Zhou Yang.

Shen He: Oh my god, Brother Zhou Yang—Haohao is AMAZING. I like her so much ahhhhh!

Zhou Yang: Oh?

Shen He: Forever grateful.

Zhou Yang: You like her after just one meeting? Sounds like you’ve never seen a woman before.

Shen He: That’s not it! You don’t understand.

Zhou Yang didn’t reply again.

Su Hao returned just then. Shen He put his phone away, glanced at his watch—there was still time.

“Haohao, do you know how to play pool?” he asked.

Su Hao sat down, wiped her hands with a napkin, glanced at him, and shook her head. “No.”

“Want me to teach you?”

💝 Support the Team

April0427

✍️ Translator

💙 PayPal