Jiang Wenzhe turned down all his upcoming work and rushed straight home.
When he got home, he deliberately kept the sound of opening the door and his footsteps to a minimum, so much so that when he walked up behind Lin Sangyu, she didn’t even notice him.
She was wearing a shirt she’d snagged from his closet, crouched on the floor with her silky, cascading hair draped over her shoulders, trying to figure out how to open a mountain peach.
She was both silly and mischievous.
Jiang Wenzhe raised his leg with a forced smile and gave Lin Sangyu a light nudge with his jet-black, stiff leather shoe.
Lin Sangyu: !!!
Startled, she immediately turned her head, her mouth opening slightly out of reflex. Her expression was one of utter bewilderment, her eyes wide and bright.
“Hi, good afternoon,” Lin Sangyu swallowed hard; under the glare of the incandescent light, her face had turned deathly pale. “Um, I… I…”
Her mind went blank; she didn’t know how to explain herself. Her lips trembled for a long moment, but she couldn’t form a single coherent sentence. Lin Sangyu could only bow her head so low that all Jiang Wenzhe could see was a tiny whorl of hair.
“Go on,” Jiang Wenze said, his expression cold as he looked down at her. His voice was icy and detached, hanging over Lin Sangyu’s head like a ghost. “Go on with your lies. Go on with your deceit.”
“…I wasn’t lying to you,” Lin Sangyu said, pressing her lips together, her voice trembling.
“You haven’t?” Jiang Wenze leaned in slightly, lifting Lin Sangyu’s chin with his fingertip to force her to look him in the eye.
Lin Sangyu was terrified. She clasped her hands together frantically, rubbing her fingertips back and forth, her whole body beginning to tremble as cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
“She’s really timid,” Jiang Wenzhe thought.
“…I’m sorry.” Lin Sangyu blew her nose, her eyelashes trembling. In the blink of an eye, her eyes welled up with tears; her beautiful almond-shaped eyes seemed veiled in a mist, holding a pool of spring water.
“Trespassing into someone’s home, stealing their property, and concealing the fact that you’re a monster to elicit sympathy,” Jiang Wenzhe sneered. “You’ve got quite a lot to apologize for.”
“I didn’t mean for it to turn out this way,” Lin Sangyu shook her head hurriedly, tears streaming down her cheeks and smearing her face. “I was… I was starving to death, which is why I was forced to come to your house. Please, don’t kick me out.”
“If you couldn’t figure it out as a sugar glider, how can you not understand as a human? You’ve got arms and legs—what can’t you do?”
Tears streamed down Lin Sangyu’s cheeks in big drops, falling onto Jiang Wenzhe’s fingertips—they were scalding hot.
“But being human is so exhausting. They all bully me, and I don’t even have human parents,” Lin Sangyu said, pouting.
“How exactly do they bully you?”
Jiang Wenzhe didn’t shy away from giving Lin Sangyu a direct, unflinching once-over—her slender arms and legs, and the fact that she did nothing but cry—it was quite possible she was being bullied.
Under Jiang Wenzhe’s intimidating gaze, Lin Sangyu began to choke out her story:
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve never had a mom or dad, and my brothers and sisters have all died one after another.”
“So I started foraging for berries and insects to eat. I don’t know how it happened, but one day I ate a transparent red berry, and suddenly I turned into a human.”
“Back then, I hadn’t yet learned to switch forms freely. When I turned into a human, I was just a tiny baby, and a kind person took me to an orphanage.”
“But the director of the orphanage treated us terribly—we were always hungry and cold. The other saw that I was an easy target and often stole my food. I almost starved to death. It’s so hard being human!”
Jiang Wen furrowed his brow and asked, “So, did you just go back to being a sugar glider?”
“Yeah, I’m a sugar glider to begin with. Being human was something I was forced into,” Lin Sangyu nodded. “Later, once I learned to shift forms, I flew away on my own. Even as a sugar glider, I still go hungry, but at least I don’t get bullied.”
“Then why aren’t you with your sugar glider group right now? What are you doing wandering around the human world all by yourself?”
Aren’t sugar gliders social animals?
“That was true at first, but after I went back, I made a lot of new friends,” Lin Sangyu said, starting to tremble again as tears streamed down her face even more fiercely, the corners of her eyes flushed crimson. “But I don’t know why I haven’t died. Sugar gliders only live for six or seven years—once their time is up, they die. But I haven’t.”
An inexplicable emotion welled up inside him, and Jiang Wenzhe’s voice grew hoarse: “Do you have a human lifespan?”
Lin Sangyu was crying so pitifully, so desperately—it was heartbreaking.
Jiang Wenzhe felt a sudden tightness in his chest for some reason. He moved the fingertips that had been supporting her head away and pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands.
“Yeah, I’m so unlucky,” Lin Sangyu said, her eyelashes lowered. “Every friend I’ve ever truly cared about ends up dying right in front of me, one after another.”
They’d been such good friends just the day before, catching bugs together—so why had she turned cold the very next day?
At first, Lin Sangyu couldn’t bring herself to believe it. She would always stay by her friend’s body, shaking and rocking it over and over.
She pleaded helplessly, “Please, don’t die… I’ll never slack off again. I’ll give you half the bugs I catch. Just pay attention to me—please…”
Her unanswered pleas shattered into the night.
Gradually, Lin Sangyu came to understand and numbly accepted this reality.
As a child, she watched her adoptive parents’ bodies gradually stiffen and grow cold.
As she grew up, she buried one friend after another with her own hands.
For sugar gliders, that translucent red fruit—that so-called “longevity”—
Is it truly a blessing or a curse?
Ever since then, Lin Sangyu has stopped making friends.
She distanced herself from her them and began living a solitary life.
At that time, it had been sixteen years since Lin Sangyu became a sugar glider and fourteen years since she became human.
It has been ten years and three months since then.
As she recounted what had happened earlier, Lin Sangyu had been sobbing uncontrollably. A moment later, she stopped crying, but her gaze remained vacant and unfocused, fixed on some unknown point, quiet and pitiable.
Was it because she had finally realized that tears were useless in her own presence?
But then why didn’t she wipe away those tear streaks?
Was she waiting for him to take pity on her?
Never mind, I’ll take pity on her just this once, Jiang Wen thought to himself.
He reluctantly pulled out a tissue and wiped Lin Sangyu’s face haphazardly, not exactly gently.
Afterward, the tear streaks were mostly gone, but her face had been rubbed until it was bright red.
So delicate—is this part of her charm, too?
An untimely image suddenly flashed through his mind: the little creature nestled in the palm of his hand as it ate, curled up in the crook of his neck sleeping peacefully, and rubbing its round little belly in the sunlight while chirping at him.
Jiang Wenzhe let out a soft sigh. It seemed that whether as a sugar glider or a human, this little one was just as delicate.
He reached out as gently as he could, rubbing the cheeks he’d just rubbed red, and said in a warm voice, “Stop crying. What’s your name?”
“Lin Sangyu. The director gave me that name,” Lin Sangyu replied obediently.
Jiang Wenzhe gave a slight nod to show he’d heard her.
“So what’s your name?” After spending these past few months together, Lin Sangyu knew that although the man in front of her was still cold and aloof, he was no longer angry with her.
“Jiang Wenzhe.” His reply was brief and to the point.
“Which ‘Wen’? Which ‘Zhe’?”
Jiang Wenzhe raised an eyebrow. “If I tell you, will you know?”
Lin Sangyu muttered, “I’ve been to school, you know—even if not for very long.”
“That’s practically illiterate,” Jiang Wenzhe exhaled slowly. “Get up. Come back to the room with me.”
“Is it time for bed?” Lin Sangyu stood up.
Jiang Wenzhe stared at her. “Put on your pants. There’s a difference between humans and animals, you know? Or do you want to stay naked forever?”
“I can turn into a sugar glider…” Lin Sangyu kept her head down, continuing to fiddle with her fingers.
Jiang Wenzhe raised his voice. “Stop always thinking about becoming a sugar glider to avoid things. Since you’re human, act like one. Otherwise, I’ll throw you out.”
“You’re not going to take care of me anymore?” Lin Sangyu panicked instantly; tears welled up in her eyes again as she tried to grab Jiang Wenzhe.
Jiang Wenzhe took a step back, leaving Lin Sangyu’s grasp empty. He said coldly, “That’s right, I’m not going to take care of you anymore. What good does being a sugar glider do for this household? I’ve been so good to you—and what have you done in return?”
Nothing but deception, nothing but deception.
“You haven’t been kind to me at all!” Lin Sangyu snapped angrily.
“In what way haven’t I been kind to you?” Jiang Wenzhe thought to himself that simply allowing her to stand before him and speak was already the height of generosity.
“Every time you bathe me, you scrub my boobs so hard it hurts!” Lin Sangyu crossed her arms over her chest, her beautiful face a pale white tinged with pink, looking pitiful.
Jiang Wenzhe stared at her for a moment, feeling as if he couldn’t see the future ahead.
What kind of nonsense was she talking about?
Wasn’t that gentle enough?
“Hurry up and follow me upstairs to put on some pants.” He decisively steered the conversation back to where it started.
“Oh.”
Lin Sangyu trailed behind him, looking dejected, following his every move.
Jiang Wenzhe grabbed a pair of casual pants at random for her, along with a pair of underwear he’d never worn.
Before closing the door, he instructed, “Call me when you’re done changing. If the pants are too big, just cinch them with a belt. I’ll be right outside.”
“…Got it.”
Turning his gaze back, Jiang Wenzhe dialed a number: “Jiang Xiao, order me a few sets of women’s clothes—for someone about 1.65 meters tall, weighing… weighing 90 jin. I need them right now.”
For a moment, Jiang Xiao thought he was hearing things: “W—women’s clothes?”
“Mm.” With that, Jiang Wenzhe immediately hung up.
With a heavy heart, he opened the “Same-City Instant Delivery” shopping app and, with a grim expression, ordered several pairs of women’s underwear.
Five minutes later, Lin Sangyu opened the door, still wearing only that shirt.
However, Jiang Wenzhe was considerably taller and broader than her; the shirt completely covered her buttocks and even reached her knees.
Jiang Wenzhe looked at her bony legs exposed to the air and frowned. “Where are your pants? Why aren’t you wearing them?”
What kind of behavior is this?
Doesn’t a young woman even know the meaning of the word “shame”?
“The underwear is too big, and I can’t fasten a belt over it,” Lin Sangyu said timidly, lowering her eyelashes.
“Then go without underwear—just wear the pants.”
“Oh, okay.” Lin Sangyu ducked her head back inside.
After putting on her clothes and pants, Lin Sangyu opened the door again and asked, “Where am I supposed to sleep?”
“Go sleep in your own bed.”
“But I’ve turned into a human… it’s too small.”
Why is this such a hassle?
The villa was huge, with four whole floors. But since Jiang Wenzhe lived alone, there was naturally only one bedroom—which meant there was only one bed.
“Then go sleep on the couch.”
Lin Sangyu pouted but didn’t reply.
Jiang Wenzhe crossed his arms over his chest, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “What’s the matter? Not satisfied? Want to sleep in the bed?”
“Is that okay?” Lin Sangyu’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him expectantly.
Jiang Wenzhe said haughtily, “Don’t even think about it. You’ll never get into my bed in this lifetime.”
Lin Sangyu tilted her head curiously. “Why? Isn’t it warmer to sleep together?”
Jiang Wenzhe couldn’t tell if she was genuinely clueless or just playing dumb: “ Men and women shouldn’t be too intimate—do you understand?”
“What don’t I understand? What are you talking about?” Lin Sangyu looked at him in confusion.
“……”
Jiang Wenzhe didn’t want to waste any more words on her, so he simply picked her up in his arms without a word, carried her down to the living room on the first floor, and set her down gently on the sofa.
He said coldly, “You’ll have to sleep on the couch.”
Knowing she couldn’t win an argument with Jiang Wenzhe, Lin Sangyu settled for the next best thing and said, “All right, but I’m a little cold. Can I use a thicker blanket?”
So, with a stern expression, Jiang Wenzhe fetched the thickest blanket in the house.
*
The next morning.
“Get up. You have one minute.” Jiang Wenzhe pulled back Lin Sangyu’s blanket and stood in front of the sofa.
She’d been anxious all night and hadn’t slept well. Lin Sangyu rubbed her eyelids but still couldn’t open them, her voice slurred: “What’s up?”
“We’re going clothes shopping. I don’t want a wild person running around my house without pants.”
After lunch, a few rays of sunlight filtered through the clouds, gently draping the earth in a warm, golden veil.
“Wow, so this is what it feels like to ride in a car,” Lin Sangyu rolled down the window all the way, letting the fierce wind blow through her long, flowing hair. “Ahhhhh… Faster, faster!”
“Do you think the road is your home?” Jiang Wenzhe glared at her. “In the human world, you have to follow traffic rules.”
“Then can you turn the road into my home?”
Jiang Wenzhe looked very wealthy; buying a road shouldn’t be too hard for him, right?
“That’s a pipe dream. Shut up.” Jiang Wenzhe’s patience had run out.
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
Jiang Wenzhe took her to a clothing store where he had long been ordering custom-made clothes.
When the saleswoman saw Jiang Wenzhe arrive in person, she froze for a moment.
After all, this big spender had never set foot in the store again after his first visit to have his height and measurements taken. Every month, his assistant would select styles from the new arrivals and have them delivered directly to his doorstep in his exact size.
This time, not only had he come in person, but he was accompanied by a very pretty young woman.
But the outcome was the same as always: the man casually bought a few outfits that the young woman was trying on, and for the rest, he simply had the saleswoman take her measurements so that clothes could be delivered to her monthly, just as they were for him.
It seemed time was still a precious commodity.
After finishing their shopping, Jiang Wenzhe got ready to get in the car and head home, but he waited for ages while Lin Sangyu stood in front of the car, craning her neck to look around, refusing to get in.
He said in a sharp tone, “What are you dawdling for?”
Lin Sangyu hesitated for a moment, blinked, and said slowly, “Can we go window-shop for a bit before heading home?”
“Do I look like I have time to spare?” Jiang Wenzhe’s tone grew even colder. “Get in the car. Don’t make me say it again.”
“…But I’ve never been to any of these places,” Lin Sangyu suddenly slipped into the car, leaning her head close to Jiang Wenzhe’s face. Her eyes were glistening as she pleaded, “Please, you’re such a nice guy.”
Lin Sangyu moved so quickly that a gust of wind followed her every movement. Jiang Wenzhe was momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of her face.
He stared at Lin Sangyu for a long time, saying nothing.
Lin Sangyu was naturally beautiful—the kind of beauty that was natural and unadorned. Her skin was as white and lustrous as jade; her eyebrows were neither too thick nor too thin, with a soft, gentle arch; her eyes were jet-black and luminous, seeming to glow no matter what expression she made; her lips were thin on top and full below, with the corners turned up slightly; and her chin was slightly pointed and sharply defined.
Then there was her brown-black hair, which glowed a brilliant golden hue in the sunlight, each strand distinct and defined.
Perhaps it was just a momentary lapse of concentration, but Jiang Wenze’s refusal suddenly turned into—
“This is a one-time exception.”
“Yay!” Lin Sangyu cheered, raising her arms high. “You’re such a really, really, really nice person.”
Jiang Wenze suddenly regretted it. Sure enough, beautiful things were the most seductive.
Lin Sangyu walked with a light step, almost skipping along as she looked here and there.
Whenever she spotted something she wanted to buy, she’d turn around and look at Jiang Wenze with that pitiful expression.
Unsurprisingly, Jiang Wenze chose to spend money to avoid trouble every single time.
He didn’t want to see that look on her face anymore.
It was really annoying.
As night fell, the lights sparkled brightly, and the streets were bustling with people.
Lin Sangyu walked cheerfully ahead on her own, while Jiang Wenzhe slowed his pace, trailing behind her like a shadow.
*
By the time Lin Sangyu finally ran out of energy, it was well past eleven o’clock when they got home.
As soon as she opened the door, an uninvited guest was waiting inside.
“Oh my, you’re finally back,” Tang Lin roared from the couch. “Hey, wait—who’s this?”
Jiang Wenzhe glanced at Lin Sangyu and casually replied to Tang Lin, “Is that any of your business?”
“Holy shit, what do you mean it’s none of my business? You’ve skipped work for two days in a row without a reason. I came all the way to your place to check on you, and this is the attitude you give me?”
Jiang Wenzhe replied coolly, “Mm. ”
Facing a stranger, Lin Sangyu felt a bit nervous. Her body instinctively leaned toward Jiang Wenzhe, and her hand trembled as she slipped her arm through his.
Jiang Wenzhe didn’t pull away.
Tang Lin suddenly raised his voice: “Damn it, you’re not coming to work because you’re hiding a mistress here, aren’t you?!”
“Watch your mouth.”
Jiang Wenzhe pulled his arm away, patted Lin Sangyu on the back, and instructed, “Go wait for me in the bedroom.”
Tang Lin roared inwardly: They’re even living together!!
Watching Lin Sangyu disappear at the end of the hallway, Jiang Wenzhe finally turned his gaze back to Tang Lin and said, “What? Is something wrong?”
“I didn’t come looking for you about anything in particular, but now there is,” Tang Lin said, leaning back on the sofa, crossing his legs, and asking with interest, “Go on, what’s going on? ”
“Nothing much.”
“You’ve got a mistress stashed away in a secret apartment—and you say there’s nothing going on?” Tang Lin said. “Are you messing with me? I’ve never seen anyone who can just walk into your bedroom so casually.”
Jiang Wenzhe thought back to what had happened recently, and the corner of his mouth twitched. “I’m about to go bankrupt—how could I be keeping a woman?”
“You’re bankrupt?”
“Yeah, I’m bankrupt,” Jiang Wenzhe shrugged.
A bug that casually steals a few thousand or even tens of thousands from me—no wonder I’m going bankrupt.
At the end of the staircase, in the shadows.
Lin Sangyu’s heart was pounding, and her breathing grew rapid.
What?
Bankrupt?!!
I’d better find myself a new sugar daddy ASAP.
But wouldn’t that be a bit unethical?
Even though Jiang Wenzhe has a sour expression, a bad temper, gets angry easily, and is a total neat freak who has to scrub me clean every single time…
But in some ways, he’s actually pretty nice—like today, even though he’s about to go bankrupt, he still took me shopping for clothes and food, without buying anything for himself…
Sigh, and he’s so handsome, too.
Lin Sangyu crouched on the floor, tracing circles on the ground with her fingers, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
“Bang—”
The sound of a door slamming came from the first floor; it seemed the guest had already left.
The moonlight grew deeper, spilling onto the ground like a clear lake. Outside the window, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a sense of quiet tranquility.
Everything was so perfect, yet she had to receive such terrible news.
Lin Sangyu took a deep breath and gave her chest two firm slaps to psych herself up.
Then she ran downstairs, step by step.
Appearing before Jiang Wenzhe, out of breath, she placed her left hand on her hip, extended her right hand, pointed her index finger at him, and exclaimed, “It doesn’t matter if you’re bankrupt—I’ll take care of you!”