Everyone in the world knew that Su Mianmian liked Tang Yunzheng.
Only he pretended not to know.
Until he put the bracelet that represented “Love of This Lifetime” on another girl’s wrist.
Someone, indignant on Su Mianmian’s behalf, asked him, “After all these years, what have you been treating Su Mianmian as?”
Tang Yunzheng’s lips curled slightly as he gave a careless smile.
“Just my little childhood friend. What else could she be?”
…
On the day Su Mianmian turned twenty, Jiangcheng, which had been drenched in rain for days, suddenly cleared. The sky was a pristine, cloudless blue.
Just after Su Mianmian entered A University’s cafeteria at noon, her best friend Song Zhi squeezed through the crowd like a slippery loach and linked arms with her, wearing a mysterious expression.
“Sweetheart, I went out this morning to buy some study materials. Guess who I saw?”
Su Mianmian picked up two trays and handed one to Song Zhi.
“Who?”
Song Zhi grinned and leaned close to Su Mianmian’s ear.
“Tang Yunzheng. He was at a jewelry counter choosing a bracelet called ‘Love of This Lifetime.’”
As soon as Song Zhi finished speaking, she noticed the tips of Su Mianmian’s ears turning crimson.
Her grin widened, and she nudged Su Mianmian teasingly with her shoulder.
“Hey, do you think that guy Tang Yunzheng is going to confess to you tonight?”
Now Su Mianmian’s whole face had gone red, not just her ears.
“I don’t know. Don’t make things up.”
Song Zhi put a few pieces of red-braised pork[1]A Chinese dish, hongshao rou, made by slowly braising pork in a seasoned sauce, typically with soy sauce and sugar. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); on her tray. Seeing how appetizing it looked, she couldn’t help adding a few more.
“Tsk. If you ask me, that guy should’ve confessed to you ages ago. For years he’s been hogging the toilet without taking a dump[2]A crude Chinese saying about monopolizing something without actually using it. Here, it criticizes someone for discouraging potential suitors without committing to a relationship. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, hanging around you all day. All those older and younger students who have crushes on you want to make a move, but none of them dares.”
Su Mianmian thought the first half sounded reasonable, but halfway through, something seemed off. Once she realized what Song Zhi meant, she waved her serving tongs as if she were about to hit her.
“You brat, Zhizhi[3]Repeating a syllable of someone’s given name is a common way to form an affectionate or familiar Chinese nickname. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });! Who are you calling a toilet?”
The two of them laughed and bickered as they filled their trays. They had just found a table and sat down when Su Mianmian’s phone beeped twice. She opened it and saw a message from Tang Yunzheng.
The first was a birthday sticker featuring a husky holding a “Happy Birthday” sign.
Right after it came another message: Tonight at nine. Yunfan Club, Room 888. I’ll be waiting for you.
Song Zhi spotted the two messages at once and let out an exaggerated “Wow.”
“Well? I was right, wasn’t I? I don’t care—I’m coming with you tonight. There’s no way I’m missing such a romantic and momentous occasion.”
Su Mianmian didn’t say anything, but fireworks seemed to be going off inside her. She spent the entire afternoon distracted in class, repeatedly scrolling through pictures of the “Love of This Lifetime” bracelet on her phone while imagining what it would be like when Tang Yunzheng confessed to her that night.
Their homes were close together, and they had grown up playing together, sharing many experiences that involved no one but the two of them.
They’d gotten their ears pierced together, watching each other grimace in pain before bursting into laughter.
They’d skipped school together just to go watch the light show at Times Square.
They’d welcomed many New Years together, wishing each other a happy new year as fireworks burst overhead…
Later, they agreed to attend the same university. As they grew older, they grew closer and closer. Su Mianmian felt that only the thinnest barrier stood between them and becoming a couple.
And tonight, Tang Yunzheng would finally be the one to break through that barrier.
…
That evening, Su Mianmian and Song Zhi arrived at the entrance of Yunfan Club right on time.
They had barely stepped out of their taxi when a black BL slowly pulled up. The driver got out and hurried around to open the rear door.
Song Zhi saw him and tugged at Su Mianmian’s hand.
“Hey, let’s bet. Is the person getting out of that luxury car going to be a gorgeous hunk or a bald, potbellied guy?”
Su Mianmian glanced at the conspicuous license plate on the back of the car.
“What’s the wager?”
Song Zhi gritted her teeth.
“Whoever loses has to fetch the other one’s meals for a week!”
Su Mianmian’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Deal.”
Song Zhi gave a sly grin.
“Then I’ll go first. I bet he’s bald and potbellied.”
In her experience, rich, handsome guys usually drove sports cars themselves, like Tang Yunzheng.
Su Mianmian pursed her lips and pretended to deliberate.
“Then I guess he’s a gorgeous hunk. Maybe he’ll even be wearing a bespoke suit and gold-rimmed glasses.”
The words had barely left her mouth when a gleaming pair of leather shoes appeared before them. Then a man in a suit stepped out of the car unhurriedly.
He straightened up, casually smoothed the wrinkles from his suit, and surveyed the area through his gold-rimmed glasses. His gaze happened to meet Su Mianmian and Song Zhi’s from a short distance away.
Song Zhi got a good look at him and sucked in a sharp breath, then discreetly pinched Su Mianmian’s arm.
“Holy crap. He’s not just gorgeous—he’s a work of art!”
“You idiot. You even guessed he’d be wearing glasses. You should set up a stall on a footbridge and tell fortunes.”
Su Mianmian smiled with her lips pressed together, but said nothing. She started toward the man.
Su Mianmian pulled Song Zhi along. “Hey, hey, what are you doing?” Song Zhi protested.
“Just saying hello,” Su Mianmian replied calmly.
She stopped three steps away from the man and greeted him obediently. “Brother-in-law[4]The Chinese kinship term can also be used for a sister’s fiancé, even before the marriage takes place. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
Brother-in-law?
Song Zhi was stunned. The man nodded slightly, his handsome, phoenix-shaped eyes[5]A traditional Chinese description of attractive, elongated eyes, often with slightly upturned outer corners. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); sweeping over her before settling on Su Mianmian.
“Out with a classmate?”
His voice was deep and resonant.
Song Zhi was a complete sucker for a good voice. His deep voice made her heart melt, and she instantly felt she’d wasted the money she’d spent earlier on that cool, restrained “voice-actor boyfriend”[6]A voice-based romantic fantasy or companion experience associated with voice performers. The text does not specify the exact service she paid for. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });…
Su Mianmian gave a soft “Mm.”
“Are you here for a business meeting, Brother-in-law?”
Gu Yizhou nodded and answered briefly.
“I have a business engagement.”
After the greetings, the three fell silent. Gu Yizhou checked the time on his wrist.
“Come on. Let’s go in together.”
The three of them headed toward the lobby, with Song Zhi and Su Mianmian trailing a couple of steps behind.
Song Zhi tugged at Su Mianmian’s hand.
“I don’t care. You cheated. That bet doesn’t count.”
Su Mianmian covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
“How did I cheat? You never asked whether I knew who was in the car.”
Song Zhi let out a teasing “Hey!” and attacked Su Mianmian’s ticklish spot. Su Mianmian yelped and sprang away, running straight into Gu Yizhou’s back. Fortunately, he reacted quickly and grabbed hold of her, keeping her from falling to the floor.
As soon as Su Mianmian stood upright, her face flushed bright red.
“I’m sorry, Brother-in-law. I didn’t mean to.”
Song Zhi hurried over to help her too.
“Brother-in-law, did she hurt you? It’s my fault—I was fooling around with Mianmian.”
Gu Yizhou slowly released Su Mianmian’s arm.
“It’s fine. Just try not to fool around in crowded places next time. Someone could get hurt.”
The two girls murmured, “Okay,” and stood there like a pair of quails. Only after Gu Yizhou had disappeared completely down the corridor did Song Zhi finally let out a breath.
“Mianmian, since when did you have such a gorgeous brother-in-law? How did I not know?”
Su Mianmian tore her gaze away and pulled Song Zhi toward room 888.
“He got engaged to my older sister six months ago. It’s a business marriage alliance[7]A family-arranged match intended to strengthen business or social ties. This is also a familiar trope in Chinese wealthy-family romance fiction. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });.”
“Oh,” Song Zhi said, her eyes shining.
“Your sister must be so happy she laughs in her sleep. Imagine ending up with someone that exceptional through a marriage alliance. So cool, so restrained—just looking at him every day would make you scarf down three bowls of rice!”
Su Mianmian didn’t reply. Was it really that dramatic? Ever since her sister got engaged, she’d been gloomy every day.
…
When the two of them arrived at room 888, they saw that Tang Yunzheng’s whole group of buddies were there too.
The coffee table was piled high with all kinds of liquor, and in the middle sat a cake. Through its clear box, they could see that it was decorated like a dreamy princess.
Tang Yunzheng was leaning back halfway on the sofa, drinking. When he saw Su Mianmian, he immediately sat up straight and patted the seat beside him.
“Xiao Mianmian[8]Xiao means “little” and is used before a name as a familiar or affectionate form of address. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, come sit over here.”
Seeing this, Song Zhi gave Su Mianmian a discreet shove.
“Go on. I’ll sit over there and record your big moment later.”
Su Mianmian went along with it and sat down beside Tang Yunzheng. As soon as she did, he put an arm around her shoulders and said by her ear, “Xiao Mianmian, happy birthday!”
Then he pressed an elegant little jewelry box into Su Mianmian’s hand.
They were sitting so close that they could hear each other breathe. Su Mianmian flushed from the tips of her ears all the way down to her neck, and the palm holding the gift box grew slightly damp.
The others immediately began teasing them.
“So it’s Mianmian’s birthday today. No wonder Brother Zheng[9]“Brother” here translates ge, a familiar or respectful address for a male associate; it does not necessarily indicate a family relationship. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3729673_1_9').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3729673_1_9', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); has gone to all this trouble.”
“Cake and a present—looks like this is true love, no doubt about it.”
“Hey, didn’t Brother Zheng say he had something important to announce today? What is it? Come on, tell us. We can’t wait any longer.”
At that, Su Mianmian’s heart began beating even faster, thump-thump-thump. It felt like it was about to leap right out of her throat.
Tang Yunzheng laughed and scolded them, giving the boy who had just spoken a kick.
“I’m not even in a hurry. What are you rushing for?”
He’d barely finished speaking when the private-room door opened from the outside, and a young woman in a red spaghetti-strap dress appeared before them.
“Sorry, am I late?”
References[+]