Evening, Nan Yin’s mother’s small apartment.
As Nan Yin had predicted, her mother Lín Wēiwǎn immediately began pressuring her about marriage and blind dates the moment she saw her. Fortunately, Ruan Yu and Wen Ling were there to placate her, explaining that Nan Yin was currently pursuing a boyfriend she liked.
They promised to bring him home to meet her soon.
Only then did Lín Wēiwǎn stop relentlessly pushing Nan Yin to go on blind dates.
After enjoying Lín Wēiwǎn’s delicious cooking, Ruan Yu headed home. Wen Ling stayed to chat with Nan Yin about work starting the next day before taking a taxi back to the studio. Worried her mother might bring up blind dates again, Nan Yin decided to leave with Wen Ling.
As they reached the apartment building entrance, Lín Wēiwǎn indeed came chasing after them—not to pressure her about blind dates, but to hand her a bag of watermelon.
She told her to take it back to her apartment.
Nan Yin didn’t particularly like watermelon, but since it was a gift from her mother, she accepted it.
Carrying the watermelon while hailing a taxi, Nan Yin handed it to Wen Ling, suggesting she have it as a late-night snack. Wen Ling, always a bit of a foodie, was delighted and happily took the watermelon.
Nan Yin ruffled her fluffy short hair and said, “Wake up early tomorrow. We’re going car shopping.”
“It’s inconvenient not having a car now that we’re back here for work.”
Wen Ling nodded. “As you wish, Nan Jie.”
With that settled, Nan Yin finally took a taxi to the Oriental Gate.
Arriving at her apartment, Nan Yin pressed the elevator button. As she waited for it to descend, she suddenly remembered the lipstick mark Ruan Yu had left on Fu Shi’s car window earlier that day.
She immediately turned back and, relying on memory, found Fu Shi’s parking spot.
Sure enough, the military-green Hummer loomed like a behemoth on the ground. The lipstick mark on the left-side window was still there, untouched.
Nan Yin opened her bag, took out a pack of wet wipes, and began wiping the glass.
She cleaned it bit by bit.
After a while, her phone dinged with a notification. Someone must have spotted her—her high school classmates knew she had returned to her hometown.
The group chat was buzzing: 【Is the great beauty Nan really back? Wasn’t she doing well in the capital? I saw news recently that her design work won an international award abroad.】
【Hey, can’t she come back if she wants? Are you guys not allowing her to return to her hometown?】
【Isn’t this small town worse than the big city? What’s she back for?】
【I heard it’s for blind dates.】
【Damn, a beauty like her needs blind dates? Weren’t there plenty of wealthy heirs in the capital chasing her?】
【Those circles in the capital aren’t something a small-town girl can easily break into.】
【True, oh well. Even if she couldn’t enter those circles, it’s such a pity for a beauty of her caliber to come back to this small city for blind dates.】
【Hey, hey, why are you all so sure she’s back for blind dates? What if she’s just here on vacation or for an investment?】
【Yeah, who started the rumor that she’s back for blind dates?】
【Fang Xinya said it! Her mom knows her aunt!】 As expected, this high school rival of hers hadn’t changed a bit. Even after all these years apart, she still loved gossiping about her.
One of these days, she’d find a chance to rip that tongue out.
【Oh, really?】
【Stop making noise, why don’t we tag her and ask her to clarify?】
As soon as someone suggested it, a nosy old classmate actually tagged Nan Yin. Nan Yin couldn’t be bothered to respond and ignored it, continuing to wipe the lipstick mark off the car window.
Since she didn’t reply, the group chat had nothing more to gossip about.
Suddenly, class monitor Zhou Feng proposed: “Since the great beauty Nan Yin is back, and our renowned Fu Shi is also starting a business in Su City, why don’t we organize a gathering?”
“It’s been many years since we last saw each other, so it really is time to meet up?”
The monitor’s suggestion was excellent, and all the lurkers in the group emerged, one after another agreeing: “Monitor, we agree.”
Seeing everyone so enthusiastic, Zhou Feng grew even more excited and immediately tagged Nan Yin: “Classmate Nan, will you come?”
This time, Nan Yin finally surfaced: “I’ll come.”
After sending the message, she went offline.
Actually, Fu Shi wasn’t in this group, and the monitor hadn’t had a chance to get his contact information.
Once Zhou Feng confirmed that Nan Yin would attend, he started asking in the group who knew Fu Shi and could invite him. After asking around, a few guys actually had his contact.
They had previously applied to work at Fu Shi’s company.
And had kept his contact information.
These men were quite eager and immediately took the initiative to reach out.
However, whether he would be willing to come was another matter.
Nan Yin certainly hoped he would.
After some thought, Nan Yin decided to take the initiative herself. Later, she would go knock on his apartment door and ask?
Having made up her mind, she continued wiping the lipstick marks off the car window.
The last bit of lipstick on the black tempered glass film was stubbornly stuck, and Nan Yin couldn’t wipe it off. She could only breathe softly onto the glass, rubbing it as she did so.
As she focused on wiping, a car sped up from behind.
Soon, the car parked in the spot next to the Hummer, and someone got out.
Nan Yin was still standing on her tiptoes, breathing on the glass.
She hadn’t changed out of her cheongsam today. The tight-fitting dress accentuated her alluring figure, making her look almost too enchanting.
Especially as she leaned against the cold, massive body of the car, her posture as sinuous as a water snake. From behind, it was a sight that stirred a dry-mouthed fascination.
When Fu Shi walked up from behind her, car keys in hand, the man’s throat involuntarily tightened.
Suppressing the darkness in his eyes, he slowly approached, his voice cool: “What are you doing?”
Suddenly hearing the familiar, rough voice, the woman paused her actions and instantly turned to face the man who had already drawn near.
He was really tall.
At 190 cm, his height seemed to envelop her.
Especially since his physique was that of someone who exercised regularly—robust and muscular.
The muscles in his arms were as hard as stone, with bulging, chaotic veins that spoke of raw strength.
It was a symbol of power.
With just one glance, Nan Yin felt her heart pounding uncontrollably. The man she had been thinking about for years—she really wanted to reel him in.
Only then would her coming here be worthwhile.
“Here, helping you wipe off the lipstick,” Nan Yin waved the red-stained tissue between her fair fingertips, the color of lipstick smeared all over it.
“Sorry about that!”
Fu Shi glanced at her hand, then at the car window, his tone unconsciously softening a little: “No need to wipe it.”
“I’ll get the car washed tomorrow.”
Nan Yin curled her lips: “A car wash isn’t as good as my personal touch.”
“Besides, it shows my sincerity.”
Fu Shi narrowed his eyes: “Thanks.”
With that, he didn’t seem inclined to linger with her and turned to head toward the elevator.
Nan Yin followed his steps. They lived on the same floor, right across from each other, which was quite convenient.
“You really don’t remember me? We were classmates for three years, after all.” Nan Yin kept pace with him to the elevator entrance. The man pressed the floor button, his voice still cold and detached: “I’ve been busy.”
Oh? Busy, understood.
“It’s okay, I remember you.” Nan Yin’s voice was pleasant, soft and gentle: “You’re single, right?”
Fu Shi didn’t respond, silently waiting for the elevator to arrive. Nan Yin turned to look at him: “Not denying it means you’re single?”
“Classmate Fu, then I’ll pursue you, okay?”
Fu Shi frowned, somewhat unable to understand why she had suddenly returned this time and just as suddenly declared her intention to pursue him. It felt utterly inexplicable. “Are you this casual? Just meeting again and you want to chase after a man? I’m not someone you can just play with as you please.”
“Provoke me, and you might easily get played to death.”
His words carried a double meaning.
Hinting that she shouldn’t try to toy with him, or she might not even realize she’s being played to death.
Nan Yin was almost amused by his words: “What makes you think I’m casual? I’ve known you for three years—isn’t that enough?”
“Besides, I think you’re quite good and want to pursue you. Is that unreasonable?”
Fu Shi didn’t want to say more: “There are plenty of good men in Su City. I’m not your prey.”
As soon as he finished speaking, ding—the elevator doors opened right on cue. The man strode in with his long legs.
Nan Yin was left speechless by his words. Pressing her red lips together, she followed him into the elevator. The man frowned at her: “Why do you live here?”
Did he not know she had rented his apartment?
Before Nan Yin could answer, a sudden meow echoed through the garage. A ginger stray cat brushed quickly past her heels.
Startled, Nan Yin lost her balance and let out a soft cry, tumbling directly into Fu Shi’s arms.