“Holy crap!” Ruan Yu was utterly shocked. “I thought you were joking! But if you want to reel him in, I’ll help you.”
She knew Nan Yin had liked Fu Shi since high school—the universally acknowledged heartthrob and top student of Su High back then—but that man’s personality was too cold and arrogant.
And he wasn’t like other quiet, aloof academic elites.
He didn’t have the restrained, refined elegance of other men; his gaze was as aggressive as a wild beast’s.
He was the beastly type.
With his nose in the air, he never paid any attention to girls throughout high school.
So no one knew what kind of girl he liked?
Nan Yin’s red lips were alluring, exuding deadly charm. “It’s fine, I’ll snag him myself.” The man she’s set her eyes on, of course she has to get him herself.
Relying on others would be no fun.
“Let’s go, let’s check out the apartment.”
Ruan Yu nodded. The two chatted animatedly, heads close together, while the little assistant Wen Ling was a bit baffled. What were they scheming?
“Nan Jie, what are you two plotting?”
Nan Yin didn’t hide it from her. After all, Wen Ling was attentive and loyal to her. “I told you before, one of the reasons I came back is to snag a man.”
“My high school crush.”
“I’ll head out first. Help me tidy up the studio these next few days. I’ll come over once I’ve settled into the apartment.”
Wen Ling cutely gave an OK sign. “Alright, Nan Jie. Wishing you success.”
The two best friends hadn’t seen each other for years and indeed had thousands upon thousands of things to say. Once inside Ruan Yu’s Audi A5, Nan Yin took off one of her Chanel pearl earrings and placed it in her bag. “Want to come over to my place for dinner tonight?”
“My mom made your favorite sweet and sour fish.”
At the mention of sweet and sour fish, Ruan Yu’s mouth watered instantly, and she licked her lips. “With Auntie’s cooking skills, I’m definitely going.”
“But are you asking me to join so your mom won’t drag you into a blind date?”
Truly best friends, even after years apart.
Ruan Yu could read between the lines of Nan Yin’s words.
Nan Yin almost bowed to her in gratitude. “You really are the best.”
“So, will you help me?”
Her mother was quite stubborn and wouldn’t listen to a word she said.
She insisted on forcing her into a blind date with the son of a hotel manager she knew before.
Nan Yin had zero interest and didn’t want to upset her either.
Ruan Yu burst out laughing. “Sure thing. Soothing your mom is my specialty.”
“But you can’t keep this up forever, right?”
Nan Yin leaned an arm against the car window. “Let me snag Fu Shi first.”
“If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll go on the blind date.”
Ruan Yu admired her determination. Honestly, Fu Shi really was a catch, both in high school and now, but he was just too hard to pursue.
How many wealthy socialites and daughters of officials in the city wanted him?
And he paid none of them any attention!
Ruan Yu didn’t hold much hope for Nan Yin’s attempt to snag Fu Shi. After all, his family background wasn’t ordinary in the traditional sense.
He was a genuine military compound kid.
His grandfather was a military commander, his father was the head of a certain bureau, and his mother and her younger brother started a business, running a listed group in Shanghai’s elite circles.
Top-tier family background.
He himself didn’t want to mix in Shanghai’s circles with his mother. After serving in the military and being discharged, he returned to his hometown to start his own business.
Well, in short, it’s a bit of a challenge.
“Sweetie, you can try to reel him in if you want, but I don’t mean to discourage you—I’m just worried you might hit a wall.” Ruan Yu held the steering wheel, offering well-intentioned advice. “If he gives you the cold shoulder, let’s know when to quit? Otherwise, those rivals of yours from high school will definitely mock you in the group chat if they find out you struck out.”
Nan Yin couldn’t be bothered with those petty, jealous women from high school and let out a light scoff. “Whatever.”
Just as Nan Yin was about to say something more, suddenly, a tall and imposing Hummer abruptly swerved right in front of their little Audi.
It happened so fast that Ruan Yu was startled, nearly rear-ending it.
Damn it!
Ruan Yu slammed on the brakes, breaking out in a cold sweat, and couldn’t help but curse under her breath. “What the hell? Who is this?”
“So rude?”
“Yinyin, hold on tight. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.” Ruan Yu might look pretty, but she had a bold and outgoing personality.
She couldn’t tolerate a car suddenly cutting in and hogging the lane like that.
Nan Yin gripped the handle. “…”
“Babe, calm down?”
Ruan Yu huffed, “There’s a limit to what one can endure.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll just cut him off a little.”
Nan Yin sighed helplessly. “Fine.”
“Alright, watch this. A female driver isn’t someone to mess with.” Ruan Yu hummed twice and stomped hard on the accelerator.
The small Audi shot ahead of the military-green Hummer.
Firmly blocking its path.
The Hummer had cut in because of an urgent matter. Inside, the handsome yet aloof man in a black T-shirt hadn’t expected the Audi in front to be so bold. However, he acknowledged he was in the wrong first.
He didn’t bother making a scene with them.
His dark eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, swerving into another lane. Once in the other lane, he instinctively glanced over at the car he’d just passed.
With just one look, he caught sight of a familiar profile. The coldly handsome man’s gaze froze for a moment, but he didn’t think a woman like her, who thrived in the big city, would return to a small town like Jiangnan.
Maybe it was just an illusion?
Calmly, he withdrew his gaze, stepped on the accelerator, and sped ahead.
The Hummer, with its high ground clearance and steady build, overtook them quickly.
In comparison, the Audi was like a little sister—no match at all. In no time, the Hummer left them behind, turning right at the intersection up ahead and disappearing from sight.
Even though the imposing Hummer was gone, Ruan Yu couldn’t help but grumble. “Next time I see it, I’m definitely smashing that Hummer.”
“Think you’re so great with a Hummer?”
Nan Yin patted her shoulder. “There, there, don’t be mad. Maybe they had something urgent?”
“Forgive and forget, okay?”
“Let’s go check out the apartment first?”
Ruan Yu glanced at Nan Yin. “Oh, right. Business first.”
“Let’s go see the apartment.”
The apartment Ruan Yu helped her rent was at the Oriental Gate Apartments, the most expensive housing in all of Suzhou. To reel in her man, Nan Yin was willing to splurge.
Fortunately, she had done well in Beijing before, with savings adding up to nearly eight million yuan.
Renting a place at the Oriental Gate Apartments was more than enough.
The two women parked their car in the apartment’s underground garage. As they got out, Nan Yin immediately spotted the Hummer that had cut them off earlier, parked not far from their car.
Was the owner of this Hummer here too?
What a coincidence?
Nan Yin stared at the license plate for a moment before turning to Ruan Yu, who was locking the car door. “Yubao, what a coincidence.”
“The car that cut us off earlier is here too.”
Ruan Yu saw this and immediately perked up, a smile curling at the corner of her lips. “Well, well, enemies are bound to cross paths. Wait for me, sis—I’m going to get my revenge.”
Nan Yin: ??
“What do you want to do?”
“Forget it, he didn’t really do anything to us.”
Nan Yin, having just returned to Su City, didn’t want to stir up trouble. Ruan Yu, however, was more headstrong by nature—if she had a grudge, she had to settle it. Especially after he had cut her off earlier, nearly causing a rear-end collision that scared the wits out of her.
Didn’t she deserve a little payback?
“He deserves it. Let’s teach him a lesson so he knows to follow the rules next time.” Ruan Yu took out a lipstick from her bag, along with a silk scarf to wrap around her face. She quickly ran to the back of the Hummer and wrote a few large red characters on the rear window: “Lane Hog!”
After finishing, she felt much better.
Nan Yin stood by, facepalming helplessly.
With her mission accomplished, Ruan Yu tossed the lipstick into a trash can and pulled Nan Yin along to check out the apartment.
The apartment was on the 17th floor. Ruan Yu had asked her cousin, who had gone through all sorts of trouble, to find out that it was Fu Shi’s property—he had bought an entire floor of apartments in the Oriental Gate building.
Luckily, there was a vacant unit for rent, so she quickly asked her cousin to help her rent it from Fu Shi.
When they reached the 17th floor, Ruan Yu handed the key card to Nan Yin. “Sweetie, the rest is up to you.”
“My cousin said Fu Shi lives right next door.”
Everything was in place—all that was missing was the right opportunity.
Nan Yin pinched the golden key card, a faint smile curling her crimson lips. “No problem, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Ruan Yu gave an OK sign.
Nan Yin swiped the card and entered the apartment. It was indeed a luxury unit, beautifully furnished, and she quite liked it. Even with a monthly rent of nearly twenty thousand, she wouldn’t feel the pinch.
“Not bad. I’ll tidy up first and take a shower—it’s so stuffy in here, I feel all sticky. Make yourself at home.” Nan Yin placed the key card on the cabinet and began unpacking before heading to the shower.
Ruan Yu sat on the sofa, scrolling through her phone and playing games.
Unbeknownst to them, in the parking lot, the man had gone downstairs to fetch something from his car. As he approached, his eyes immediately caught the red lipstick marks on the rear window.
His dark eyes narrowed dangerously, and he frowned, pulling out his phone to dial a number. His voice was low and steady. “Qin Deng, help me check the surveillance footage in the apartment parking lot. See who scribbled on my car.”
“Once you find them, hand them over to you. I have other matters to attend to.”
After finishing the call, the man took out another car key and walked straight to a G-Class parked in another spot. He opened the door, got in, and drove away.