After school on Friday, Cheng Simian returned home and saw a car parked in the garage—one she had been longing to see.
Su Xianyan was back!
Delighted, Cheng Simian ran straight into the house. While taking off her shoes in the entryway, she noticed a pair of women’s high heels. Could Ye Xiaoxiao be here? Ever since school started, Ye Xiaoxiao had left, and Cheng Simian really missed her cooking.
“Sister Ye,” Cheng Simian called out when she saw a woman’s back by the sofa, though her eyes drifted toward Su Xianyan instead.
He didn’t seem to have gone to the office today. Dressed casually, he looked like a popular senior on a university campus—clean-cut and bright.
“What ‘Sister Ye’?” Cha Yiguan laughed. “Xiaomian, are you missing my Xiaoxiao that much?”
Cheng Simian froze, then looked more carefully at the woman. The woman had already turned around, smiling warmly.
“Simian, long time no see.”
Cai Xinyuan.
“Sorry, I mistook you for someone else,” Cheng Simian said.
Cai Xinyuan used to have short hair; now it reached her shoulders. From behind, her hairstyle did resemble Ye Xiaoxiao’s, so it wasn’t surprising Cheng Simian hadn’t noticed.
“It’s alright,” Cai Xinyuan said. “Simian, you came back at just the right time, so there’s no need for them to pass on the message. Tomorrow is my birthday, and I’m inviting you as well.”
Cheng Simian paused, surprised.
“Inviting me?”
“Yes,” Cai Xinyuan said. “Your uncle and the others are all going. Of course you can’t be missing.”
Cheng Simian looked at Su Xianyan. So he’ll be there too… She hadn’t had a proper conversation with him in a long time. If they went together tomorrow, maybe she’d finally have a chance to spend time with him.
They chatted in the living room for a while. Su Xianyan hadn’t planned on leaving, but suddenly received a phone call—it seemed to be from his family.
Cai Xinyuan asked,
“Was it Grandpa?”
Su Xianyan nodded.
“Yes.”
“Is something wrong?”
“It’s nothing,” he said, yet he stood up. “I need to go back for a bit.”
“Huh? You’re not staying here tonight either?” Cha Yiguan asked.
“No.”
“Xianyan, I’ll go with you,” Cai Xinyuan said as she picked up her bag, then told everyone else, “Make sure you’re on time tomorrow.”
“Got it, Miss Cai,” Cha Yiguan waved at her. “Just focus on getting ready to receive us.”
Cheng Simian sat beside Cheng Qin, her gaze following Su Xianyan. Eventually, he seemed to notice and suddenly looked back at her. Their eyes met. Cheng Simian stared straight at him without any intention of looking away.
Su Xianyan smiled faintly, walked over, and patted her head.
“I haven’t asked in a while—how’s your studying been?”
Cheng Simian pouted.
“You’re so busy, you still remember me?”
Su Xianyan raised an eyebrow.
“That sounds like you’re blaming me.”
“I’m not,” Cheng Simian huffed.
“Really?” A hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.
Cheng Simian lowered her gaze to the floor, feeling inexplicably aggrieved. Fine, maybe I am blaming him a little… but what could she even say?
“When things calm down, I’ll call your teacher and ask about how you’re doing at school,” Su Xianyan chuckled softly. “Don’t let me hear about you doing anything bad there.”
Cheng Simian froze. Does smashing someone’s ankle count…? Probably not. She was helping someone and punishing bullies.
“I didn’t do anything bad.”
“Mm, good—then that’s fine.” After saying this, Su Xianyan picked up his coat from beside the sofa. “I’ll be heading off now.”
He walked toward the door. Cai Xinyuan glanced at Cheng Simian and followed him out.
The garage.
“You drove here, right?” Su Xianyan asked Cai Xinyuan.
“Yes.”
Su Xianyan nodded. “Drive safely.”
Cai Xinyuan smiled. “I will.”
Su Xianyan drove away. Cai Xinyuan did not immediately get into her car; she stood there for a long time.
She thought about how she had known him for many years, yet they had never crossed the line beyond friendship.
Although there was an unspoken understanding between their families, she knew very well that Su Xianyan had never cared about such arrangements. If he didn’t like something, what was the point of forcing him?
She had always believed that he treated everyone with the same emotional distance—calm, restrained, neither passionate nor expressive. She had thought that perhaps this was fine, that maybe there was still a chance for them in the future.
But recently, she was no longer so sure.
Because he wasn’t emotionless—at least not toward that girl.
When Su Xianyan was with Cheng Simian, he looked relaxed. His smiles even seemed more genuine. And the way he looked at her always carried an unspoken indulgence and tenderness.
She admitted that she felt a little envious of Cheng Simian—envious that she could make him pause, make him stay.
But then she reconsidered. Was it even possible? Could Su Xianyan really feel that way about Cheng Simian?
It was absurd. Someone as rational as Su Xianyan—how could he possibly fall for a little girl?
On Saturday, Cheng Simian dragged Cha Yiguan out of bed.
With bleary eyes, he stared at her and groaned, “Xiao Mianmian, are you trying to kill me? Can’t you let people sleep?”
“Master Cha, it’s already eleven o’clock. You’re still sleeping?”
“I went to bed really late last night. Be good—go play somewhere else and don’t bother your Uncle Cha.”
“Uncle my foot!” Cheng Simian smacked his blanket. “Get up right now! Hurry up and come shopping with me—move, move, move!”
Being pestered until all sleepiness vanished, Cha Yiguan reluctantly sat up. “Shopping for what?”
“A dress, of course! Isn’t Cai Xinyuan’s birthday banquet tonight? I obviously need a beautiful evening gown!”
“Huh?”
“No ‘huh’-ing!” Cheng Simian dragged him off the bed. “You’re my only hope now!”
…
Cai Xinyuan’s birthday party was held in a grand villa. By the time Cheng Simian arrived, many guests were already there.
She had attended plenty of large banquets before, but she had to admit that this one was particularly luxurious and refined. From the entrance to the inner hall, every detail had been meticulously arranged.
Cheng Simian’s main objective tonight was Su Xianyan. So the first thing she did upon entering with Cha Yiguan and Cheng Qin was look for him.
“Uncle, why didn’t Su Xianyan come with us? Has he arrived yet?”
Cheng Qin replied, “Don’t worry—he should already be here.”
“Then why can’t I see him anywhere…”
Cha Yiguan slung an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t just focus on looking for Xianyan. You love desserts so much—go eat some. Oh, and be careful not to mess up your makeup or dress. You don’t get to look this pretty every day—you have to maintain it.”
Cheng Simian elbowed him in the stomach. “I’m pretty every day.”
Cha Yiguan’s face darkened. “Fine, fine, you’re beautiful every second of your life. Come on, I’ll take you to get cake.”
Cheng Simian: “…”
Cha Yiguan dragged her off in search of food, while Cheng Qin ran into an acquaintance midway and stopped to chat.
Just as Cheng Simian picked up a piece of cake, Cha Yiguan suddenly let out a low whistle. She glanced at him. “What are you doing?”
“Look—a beauty.”
Following his gaze, Cheng Simian said, “Huh? Isn’t that… what’s-her-name? That actress?”
Cha Yiguan chuckled. “Li Mengmeng. A rising star—very popular lately.”
Cheng Simian nodded. Cai Xinyuan really did have a wide social circle. Quite a few celebrities from the entertainment industry had shown up tonight.
“Xiao Mianmian, you eat first. I’ll be right back.” Cha Yiguan looked every bit the playboy.
Cheng Simian rolled her eyes. “Cha Yiguan, you already have Sister Ye!”
“Shh—don’t talk. I’m going.” He slipped away.
Cheng Simian kicked him lightly. Scumbag!
Now left alone by the dessert table, she lost her appetite and scanned the room again, searching for Su Xianyan.
Just then, someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hey, hello. You look kind of familiar. May I ask who you are?”
Cheng Simian turned around in confusion. When she saw who it was, a knowing smile slowly spread across her face.
Fan Shizong felt that the girl before him looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her. Seeing her standing alone earlier had sparked his interest, and he had decided to strike up a conversation.
She was exquisitely cute—large eyes, long curled lashes, porcelain-smooth skin. She was worlds apart from the heavily made-up women around them. There was a fresh, natural beauty about her, yet within it lingered an inexplicable allure—unintentional, innate.
With such a delicate face, paired with a knee-length white evening dress, she truly inspired a sense of tenderness and protection.
Still… why did she seem so familiar? Where had he seen her before?
From his reaction, Cheng Simian immediately knew he had probably forgotten her. That made sense. The last time they met at the bar, she had been dressed casually and looked much younger. Today, Cha Yiguan had helped her choose a more mature dress, she wore light makeup, and small heels—she looked completely different. Plus, months had passed. A man like Fan Shizong, constantly surrounded by women, naturally wouldn’t remember her.
“Oh—do you need something?” she asked calmly.
Fan Shizong leaned casually against the counter beside her. “Nothing in particular. It’s just that… for some reason, I was drawn to you.” He sucked in a breath. “I really feel like we’re fated to meet.”
Cheng Simian nodded seriously. “Really? I feel the same—we do seem to have quite a bit of fate between us.”
“Huh?” Fan Shizong hadn’t expected the little beauty to show interest in him so quickly. Delight flickered between his brows. “Isn’t that right? We’ve only just met, but it already feels like we really click.”
As he spoke, Fan Shizong casually draped an arm over her shoulder.
Cheng Simian was wearing an off-the-shoulder evening gown that day, so the moment his hand landed, it made direct contact with her bare skin. A wave of disgust rose in her. Just as she was about to give Fan Shizong a repeat experience of fractured fingers, she suddenly heard someone call her name in a gentle yet deep voice:
“Cheng Simian.”
She froze. Fan Shizong stiffened as well.
Both of them turned toward the source of the voice.
He stood there quietly, yet the scene looked like a carefully composed magazine spread. The black formal suit fitted him perfectly, making him appear refined and steady.
At that moment, his brows were slightly furrowed, his expression cool and severe.