The commotion was anything but small, and as the story spread, it morphed into a tale of Lin Zhongxi snatching a woman away from his own cousin.
Everyone who knew Lin Zhongxi was curious about what kind of woman could make him lose his composure like that, but none dared to come straight out and gossip about it.
Only Zheng Beiqing appeared, looking sharp and dashing in her jockey uniform.
Zhou Keqi, who had been leaning on the terrace with a cold face, softened his expression slightly at the sight of her.
But Zheng Beiqing's gaze didn't go to him. Instead, she stared straight at He Cheng, who was sitting on the sofa, still looking fragile and shaken from her scare.
He Cheng hadn't noticed the commotion at the door. She had just finished a cup of hot water, and her emotions had returned to normal, the fear that Liang Jiahao had instilled in her by sawing through the door finally easing.
Now, however, a new worry crept in. In her panic, she had smashed a vase and used a shard to cut Liang Jiahao's chin. He wasn't the type to let things go easily—he would definitely seek revenge.
Apparently, he had connections with the school leadership. What if a single word from him could cost her her place at university? What would she do then?
She had worked so hard to get into HKU. Was she going to let some piece of trash ruin her education?
She looked up, feeling lost, and met Zheng Beiqing's gaze. The two women sized each other up.
Zheng Beiqing lifted her chin. "Pretty thing. No wonder that dumb root took a liking to you."
Zhou Keqi rubbed his brow. Zheng Beiqing had grown up in America and only half-understood most Chinese idioms, often making up her own. Her Cantonese and Mandarin were even worse, yet she insisted on speaking Chinese despite being terrible at it.
"Dumb root" was her way of saying "dumb fuck."
Because she felt the word "root" suited a man who had a dick.
He Cheng, hearing her words and tone, assumed the woman was hostile toward her.
"What dumb root? You need to study Chinese properly. Why don't you sign up for a Chinese course at HKU?" Lin Zhongxi picked up a racing paper and made to smack her on the head, but she dodged and shoved his hand away.
She frowned. "Enjoying being the dean, are we?"
"You can't even protect your own woman, and you still have the nerve to lecture me?"
Lin Zhongxi sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, looking a bit at a loss. "Who's my woman? She's my student!"
"I know. By day, she's your student. By night, she's your woman."
He Cheng realized she was the subject of their conversation and hurried to explain: "There's nothing between me and Vice Dean Lin. Today is only our second meeting. He saved me."
Zheng Beiqing pursed her lips into a smile. "I know who you are. You're Jockey No. 7."
Lu Qi's eyes lit up in sudden recognition. "It's you! Our Chengzi bet on you to win and made a hundred bucks!"
Zheng Beiqing looked genuinely surprised. Today was her little darling horse's first race, and not many people had bet on it to win. She hadn't expected to run into one of them. She warmed up to the young woman a little.
The arrogance in her eyes receded. "You've got good taste. My little darling is fierce."
As they chatted, the police that He Cheng had called finally arrived.
Since Liang Jiahao had already left and He Cheng hadn't suffered any physical harm, the police said they couldn't file a case.
After handling her matter matter-of-factly, they turned to chat with Lin Zhongxi and Zhou Keqi, smiling obsequiously and offering flattery. They must have known each other.
A sour, suffocating feeling welled up in He Cheng's chest like overflowing acid. She curled her fingers. She was the victim here—why were the police's eyes all on the men in the room?
He Cheng felt deflated and disappointed, and a lingering fear crept in. If Lin Zhongxi hadn't happened to be here, given the police's attitude, would she have made it through tonight safely?
Zheng Beiqing was annoyed to see the police hovering around the two men on the terrace. She plopped down on the sofa, back straight, and said, "Are you people confused?! The victim is right here! What are you smiling at those two men for?"
The police officers paused, their faces slightly reddening, but they didn't dare offend her—after all, she was the woman by Zhou Keqi's side.
The room fell into an awkward silence.
"Vice Dean Lin, your useless cousin scared that girl half to death, and now you're playing the good guy?" Zheng Beiqing had pieced together the whole story from the police's remarks, and she turned to Lin Zhongxi with a cold glare.
"And you're all standing around discussing how what that dumb root did isn't a big deal?"
"Is it because the girl's too weak to fight back?"
He Cheng was stunned. So Lin Zhongxi and Liang Jiahao were cousins. No wonder Liang Jiahao was so terrified of him.
A chill ran down her spine. The victim was still right here, and they were already openly discussing how Liang Jiahao was innocent.
She stared at Lin Zhongxi in disbelief.
If Lin Zhongxi was the "school connection" Liang Jiahao had mentioned, then why had Lin Zhongxi just saved her from Liang Jiahao's hands?
Like Zheng Beiqing said—was he just putting on an act, playing the good guy?
He Cheng didn't want to stay any longer, but she couldn't directly confront them either. Fighting against the powers that be required leverage, and she had none.
She stood up abruptly, grabbed Lu Qi's hand coldly, and headed for the door, only to be stopped by Lin Zhongxi's voice.
He Cheng straightened her back, clutched the hem of her clothes, and turned around with an indifferent expression. "Thank you for today, Dean Lin. Since you're Liang Jiahao's cousin, I assume you're on his side. The fact that he tried to hurt me is real. The police say they can't file a case, but the police station isn't my only option for seeking justice. Online public opinion spreads fast. If you don't want me to expose this, then my demand is simple: let me finish my four years at HKU in peace and graduate without trouble."
Lu Qi, who was closest to He Cheng, could sense her hand trembling slightly—clearly frightened, though she maintained a composed facade.
Lin Zhongxi smiled, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. Moments ago, he had been all amiability, but upon learning of his relationship with Liang Jiahao, she had quickly grasped the situation and begun defending her own interests.
"Classmate He Cheng, you've misunderstood. I'm not that villainous, and I've never shielded wrongdoers. On the day you graduate from HKU, I'll be the one to turn your tassel."
This meant she would be able to graduate from HKU safely.
He Cheng let out a breath of relief and looked at Zheng Beiqing. "Thank you for speaking up for me."
She gave a slight bow before turning to leave.
Lin Zhongxi didn't try to stop her.
In just a few dozen minutes, her emotions had risen and fallen. Even Lu Qi was holding her breath for He Cheng. The dean claimed he didn't shield wrongdoers, but they were relatives after all—no matter what, there would be some bias.
It all came down to whether the dean had a conscience.
The clouds in the west had faded to gray, and as dusk settled, the surroundings slipped into a cool stillness. The two walked out of the Jockey Club, where lights blazed and voices clamored.
It was like a gate—the noise and heat inside abruptly cut off.
Outside, the air was crisp and clean, carrying the damp freshness of newly formed night dew.
City neon flowed in the distance.
He Cheng looked up. Not far away, the door of a black sedan opened, and a figure in white stepped out. The streetlamp cast a dim halo that split above his head, illuminating his sharply defined features, with two shadows falling beneath his lashes.
Through the air, their eyes met. The light in those phoenix eyes behind the lenses was faint in the night, like distant morning mist.
She froze for a moment.
She hadn't expected to run into Zong Xubai here. He had returned from his business trip to the United States.
He stood by the car door, gazing over from afar.
Lu Qi spotted Zong Xubai too and let out a small "wow," excitedly tugging at He Cheng's clothes and exclaiming how handsome he was.
"Oh my god, oh my god, there's a handsome guy over there who seems to be staring at us…"
The night outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his white shirt flowing smoothly to tuck into his waistline. His frame was tall and straight, and his expressionless face hinted at the commanding presence of one long accustomed to power.
Suddenly, the man's thin lips parted slightly. "He Cheng."
Lu Qi started, looking at He Cheng. "Oh my god, is he calling you? When did you meet someone this fine?"
He Cheng said calmly, "It's Mr. Zong."
Lu Qi was taken aback. So this was the benefactor Mr. Zong. He really was extraordinarily outstanding.
After what she'd just been through, He Cheng wasn't in the best mood, but since Zong Xubai had called her name, it meant he wanted her to come over. She couldn't just walk away, so she slowly made her way toward him.
The two stood face to face.
The man before her had eyes so indifferent they were almost intimidating. Lu Qi held her breath—she wanted to look at the handsome guy, sure, but getting this close? She'd be too shy!
So embarrassing. So embarrassing.
She consoled herself: no harm in looking since it's free, and he wasn't paying her any attention anyway.
"Were you hurt?" Zong Xubai swept his gaze over the exposed skin on He Cheng's body, finding nothing unusual.
So Mr. Zong had heard about her situation too. Dean Lin must have told him.
They were friends, so he surely knew Liang Jiahao as well. They were all in the same circle—she had no idea what their relationship was like.
He Cheng felt uneasy and frowned, shaking her head. "No."
"Going back to school? I'll give you a ride."
"No, we'll take the MTR." Her words were stiff and curt.
After all, she was young and couldn't hide her bad mood—her emotions were written all over her face. Zong Xubai noticed her sour expression. Young girls were too easy to read. "What's wrong? A few days ago you were calling me Daddy, and today I've become an old relic?"
Hearing the word "Daddy," He Cheng felt embarrassed. She hadn't expected Mr. Zong to joke with her again after so many days.
She said awkwardly, "That's not it."
"Then have you lumped me in with the bad guys too?"
From the word "too," she gathered that Lin Zhongxi had also told Zong Xubai why she'd insisted on leaving. It wasn't that she was indiscriminately lumping him in with the bad guys—it was just that they were aligned in interests, and she feared they might think like the police did, that this was a trivial matter.
Half her thoughts exposed, He Cheng shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
She was mulling over how to phrase it. Mr. Zong was her benefactor, and from the news she'd seen before, he was clearly someone who couldn't tolerate disgusting men who couldn't control themselves.
"Everyone has some secret darkness in their hearts. Even if Mr. Zong has ill intentions, they certainly aren't the kind I just experienced. You wouldn't stoop to their level."
After she finished, Lu Qi—who had been focused solely on the handsome man—turned her gaze to He Cheng, somewhat stunned that she would say such a thing.
A laugh burst from Zong Xubai's nose, like a god detached from the mortal world hearing something amusing, his whole demeanor coming alive. "We've only known each other a few days. How can you be so certain I wouldn't stoop to their level?"
He Cheng tilted her head up, speaking with childish earnestness. "No, I've known you for seven years. We just never met face to face."
At those words, a warm spring breeze seemed to fill the air around them. Zong Xubai narrowed his eyes, his gaze deep. "A Xi praised you for being brave and resourceful, unflinching in danger, neither crying nor making a fuss. But hearing it, I only feel my heart racing."
"I've sponsored this outstanding student for so many years. I hope her qualities shine in bright classrooms and boundless open fields, not in enduring filth."
Like a crumpled piece of paper smoothed out again, He Cheng's wrinkled, constricted heart was eased. She froze, her eyes clear and trembling with a watery shimmer, gazing at him with a bright light in her stare.
Such warm words coming from her sponsor's mouth felt especially unreal. She had spent nineteen years walking out of the mountains, never once imagining that the resilience forged by life's hardships, the wisdom fed by books, and the maturity taught by the coldness of the world would one day be gently acknowledged by someone, meant to unfold and glow in bright classrooms and boundless open fields.
Her excellence was always meant to grow openly under the sun, to bloom between heaven and earth.
Her throat tightened. She drew a soft breath, a sheen of moisture gathering in her eyes, and spoke in a voice that was light yet solemn: "I will."
She would display her knowledge in the classroom and stride forward courageously in the open fields, not letting his expectations down.
The girl's back was ramrod straight, as if encouraging herself, or perhaps inviting others to trust her. The light fell on her small, rounded ears, and her head was bathed in a soft, fuzzy glow.
Zong Xubai broke into a faint smile and asked slowly, "Can this old friend of seven years know what your little secret darkness is right now?"
A casual, seductive tone, paired with the earnest reverence of someone ready to listen.
He Cheng bit her lip, hesitating for a moment, then answered honestly, "Of course, I hope Liang Jiahao gets a taste of his own medicine and never shows up in front of me again in this lifetime."
A little darkness within his expectations. The girl was still inexperienced, too innocent. Even her malicious thoughts seemed to be nothing more than a vague hope that evil would be repaid with evil, that he would vanish from her sight.
Zong Xubai gave a slight, knowing nod and tilted his chin toward the car behind him. "Can you get in now?"
He Cheng felt embarrassed again. She had just briefly turned him down, never expecting him to ask again.
He opened the car door, palm facing down on the roof, to keep He Cheng from bumping her head. Lu Qi followed closely, realizing belatedly that Zong Xubai had opened the door for her too.
Uncle Bing, in the driver's seat, asked, "What brought you here to play?"
"I wanted to experience Hong Kong horse racing. Uncle Bing, this is my roommate Lu Qi. Uncle Bing, this is…"
Zong Xubai closed the car door but didn't get in right away. Under the blue-toned light, he walked toward the police officer who had just come out from nearby and struck up a conversation. The officer was deferential, bowing and scraping, respectful yet fearful of him.
He Cheng's phone rang. Ye Yanzhi was calling her via video.
Earlier in the restroom, flustered and panicked, she had sent him several WeChat messages. She hadn't mentioned that she'd run into trouble, only that she was afraid something might happen to her and told him not to come to Hong Kong.
Afraid Ye Yanzhi might notice something through the video, He Cheng declined it and switched to a voice call instead.
"What's wrong? Why did you hang up on my video? I want to see you."
Uncle Bing heard the voice and glanced at the rearview mirror. He Cheng held her phone, head bowed and eyes lowered. He assumed she was about to cry to her boyfriend after the scare, but instead heard her say softly, "I'm outside. It's not convenient."
"You can do it outside too. It's not like you're video-calling your boyfriend for something shady—why are you being so cautious? And why did you suddenly tell me not to come to Hong Kong? Didn't we agree to meet next week?"
He Cheng glanced out the window. The night was steeped in a somber blue by the neon lights, and that slender, towering white figure stood amid it all, his expression cold and indifferent.
Around him was the gaudy, scattered reality, noise thick and sticky in the air, yet he was like a pearl accidentally left behind here, glowing with a gentle luster, utterly out of place amid the flashy clamor.
"I just think it's a bit wasteful. Your round-trip high-speed rail ticket costs a few hundred, plus food and fun—before you know it, you've spent over a thousand."
After finishing with the police officer, the officer watched him leave.
He walked back toward the car.
Behind his glasses, those peach-blossom eyes, usually warm and moist, now held a cold, faint frost. Through the car window, she knew he couldn't see inside, yet when his gaze swept over, her spine stiffened for no reason.
As if the glass didn't exist, his gaze pierced through the barrier, landing on her directly, without a hint of error.
He opened the passenger door and swung his long legs in.
Ye Yanzhi's teasing voice came through just then: "We're not even married yet, and you're already saving me money?" He chuckled. "Didn't I get a tutoring job? Don't worry about money. Some money is meant to be spent—spending it on something worthwhile isn't a waste to me."
"Orange, I miss you so much. I can't wait for next week."
Zong Xubai closed the car door and, hearing those words, lifted his eyelids to look at the rearview mirror.
The warm orange overhead light fell on He Cheng's face, layering her cheeks with a soft, gentle warmth. She seemed scalded by the glow, her lashes drooping lightly.
That thin layer of skin was nearly translucent under the light, its fine luster like flowing molten gold, making her shyness seem precious.
He Cheng felt a little flustered. When would he ever break that habit of casually saying he missed someone?
The car owner's presence carried an inexplicable chill as he entered. She felt too embarrassed to be affectionate with her boyfriend in front of everyone, so she instinctively lowered her voice: "Let's talk when we get back."
"What's wrong? Where are you? Why are you being so secretive? I said I miss you, and you just hang up without any reaction? You're so cold and heartless."
The cheap phone's earpiece was of questionable quality, the voice on the other end crackling with static, leaking harshly from the receiver—every word, every syllable, painfully clear in the overly quiet space.
He Cheng truly didn't know how to respond. "I'm out with Lu Qi."
She nudged Lu Qi with her elbow, and Lu Qi, quick on the uptake, chimed in, "Yeah, she's with me."
Zong Xubai lowered his lashes and adjusted his glasses, letting out a cold snort, barely audible.
But Uncle Bing, with his hyper-sensitive nerves, caught it clearly. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, a flicker of unease running through him—his young master had never sat in the passenger seat before, and the pressure was suddenly palpable.
"I'll hang up now. Talk later."
"Alright, have fun with Lu Qi. I heard Hong Kong-style milk tea and salted lemon seven-up are really good—you should try them."
"No, I'll wait until you come to Hong Kong and we'll have them together."
Ye Yanzhi laughed at her foolishness: "Fine, we'll video call when you get back. I should be free around 10 PM tonight. Remember to take pretty photos and send them on WeChat—I want to see you."
He Cheng hummed softly in agreement, her voice carrying an unconscious hint of clingy sweetness. "Okay, bye."
After hanging up, the world suddenly narrowed to the confines of the car, so quiet that the only sound was the faint rustle of leather seats as she adjusted her posture slightly.
The word "bye" made Zong Xubai furrow his brows. Every time she said goodbye to him, it was always a distant, formal "goodbye."
Uncle Bing cleared his throat and spoke first: "So, back to school now?"
Lu Qi felt she had no right to answer, and He Cheng figured this was Zong Xubai's car—she had no say in where the owner decided to go. She looked up toward the passenger seat, only to accidentally meet Zong Xubai's deep, ink-dark gaze in the rearview mirror.
Her heart clenched. Had Mr. Zong been watching her all along?
Was her talking disturbing him?
In the mirror, a faint smile curved at the corner of Zong Xubai's lips. "Hungry? Want to grab something to eat?"
He Cheng shook her head, voicing her thoughts softly: "We'd like to head back to the dorm. We're a bit tired today."
Zong Xubai paused, then said in a low voice, "Alright, go rest early."
The hand clutching her clothing relaxed. He Cheng let out a steadying breath and thanked Mr. Zong.
Zong Xubai didn't respond, nor did he withdraw his gaze, letting his dark eyes scrape across her face in the mirror—forceful, almost sticky with intensity.
Two pairs of eyes locked in the mirror.
One sank in shadow, too obscure to read its temperature; the other met it openly, blinked, then curved her lips in a polite, grateful smile—a silent thank-you once more.
Then she turned away, leaving him only a profile.
Both hands clasped her phone on her lap, demure and restrained.
The ride was silent.
Outside the window, the street scenes raced past, neon lights dissolving into flowing ribbons of color, trailing dazzling, dreamlike arcs through the night. Even after what had happened to her at the racecourse, the city's pulse kept turning tirelessly beneath countless sleepless lights.
Lu Qi felt time drag for the first time—longer than in the Jockey Club bathroom.
The car finally arrived downstairs at Taikoo Hall in silence.
The two thanked him again, then linked arms and headed up.
[Port·ZHB6] didn't drive off immediately.
Only when the two figures had completely vanished into the night, entering the brightly lit building, until even the last blurry dot disappeared from sight.
Zong Xubai lowered the car window. The muggy wind surged in but only swirled within the cramped space, failing to dispel his restlessness.
His gaze pierced through the hazy night, landing on a dim orange streetlamp not far away.
The halo of light spread sluggishly, enveloping a few tireless moths circling, round after round.
Lin Zhongxi called at that moment. "Where are you? There's a deal I want to discuss with you."
"Our school is short on research equipment. How about you invest fifty million?"
Zong Xubai rubbed his temples. "You've got the wrong number."
From years of knowing Zong Xubai, Lin Zhongxi could hear his lack of interest. "Don't hang up—I have something serious. Your girl seems to have dropped something. Should I throw it away?"
He sent a photo to Zong Xubai's phone.
It was a strikingly conspicuous red braided cord.
He'd seen it before—worn around He Cheng's neck, her pendant, plain and simple. He'd once wondered what charm hung from it; turns out it was an ancient coin.
She'd probably dropped it at the racecourse when Liang Jiahao was bullying her.
He narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. At a meeting once, his secretary came in to pour tea, wearing a red braided cord on her wrist. He'd asked, "Is this style popular now?"
The male secretary had looked a bit embarrassed: "It's from my girlfriend. It's my zodiac year, so I wear a red cord."
Was He Cheng's cord also a gift from her boyfriend?
Lin Zhongxi, as if deliberately, pressed on: "Hey? Is it He Cheng's? Should I toss it? Or hand it over to you?"
"Speaking of which, the students at our school really need that batch of equipment…"
"Prepare a proposal for Jason. Have it delivered to HKU within half an hour."
As he had requested, within half an hour, the woven collar was delivered to him. He picked up the woven cord—a thin red string that had been worn day and night around her slender neck, brushing against her skin and collarbone, intimately close to her.
He gently rubbed it, as if he could feel her warmth through the red cord.
A little restless.
He lit a cigarette, his wrist resting loosely on the windowsill, palm facing down, knuckles rising in uneven ridges as they hung in the breeze. The cigarette was held between his fingers, the ash blown away by the wind before it could fall, the ember glowing and fading in the dark.
He tilted his head back, his lashes drooping as he finished his meal. It was almost ten o'clock—was she video-calling her boyfriend?
What if he had gotten there first?
He opened WeChat, which he rarely used, tapped on He Cheng's chat window, and without hesitation, made a video call.