Xu Youqing shrank back, her back pressing against the door panel, her voice tight. "The business is finished…"
Jin Zongmin released the strand of hair. "Use me, then toss me aside?"
He didn't step back—instead, he moved a fraction closer, his eyes locking onto her. "Xu Youqing, where did you learn this trick of burning bridges once you've crossed?"
To be fair, regarding Chairman Zhao's matter, Jin Zongmin had been standing up for her.
"That's not what I meant," Xu Youqing said.
Jin Zongmin furrowed his brow. "You can care about anyone's affairs, but why is it that when it comes to mine—" He paused, his gaze pinning her evasive eyes. "You won't even look, won't even ask?"
Xu Youqing knew she was in the wrong, so she asked him, "Then… is there anything else you need?"
Jin Zongmin said nothing, just looked at her.
Seeing that he wouldn't speak, she shifted her arm slightly, as if she wanted to leave.
Jin Zongmin suddenly spoke up. "Can't you tell? I'm sick."
Xu Youqing was taken aback.
She had asked him at the door earlier. She'd never seen a sick person with this much strength, so she figured he must be fine. Still, sick people probably craved attention—Jin Zongmin seemed to be no exception.
"Then… have you taken your medicine?" Xu Youqing asked, her tone softening a few notches.
Jin Zongmin didn't answer, just kept staring at her.
Whenever he went silent, she grew flustered.
But even if he were unwell, there would be a whole crowd of people lining up to take care of him. Xu Youqing spoke up. "Master Chen should be outside. Should I go call him to take you to the hospital?"
"No need." Jin Zongmin's reply was curt, his gaze still glued to her face.
"Then… I have Secretary Gao's number. Should I call him to come look after you?"
"He's on leave."
Xu Youqing shifted to the right, trying to escape that suffocating stare.
"Then… what should we do?" She smoothed her hair, not daring to glance in Jin Zongmin's direction.
It was like casting pearls before swine.
Normally, one look from Jin Zongmin and the people around him would immediately understand what he meant.
Xu Youqing had no idea how to read his cues.
Jin Zongmin leaned in. "Can't you tell? I'm looking for an excuse to keep you here."
Xu Youqing tensed up again. "You… stop toying with me."
Jin Zongmin lowered his head, moving even closer. "How am I toying with you?"
Xu Youqing didn't dare speak, didn't dare look at him.
"Do you see me toying with anyone else?" Jin Zongmin stared at her.
"I wouldn't know about your affairs," Xu Youqing said quietly.
Even if she did know, she couldn't say so.
That time she'd stumbled upon his date, hadn't he said those words to that girl named Fu Xiaoting?
Perhaps because Jin Zongmin was sick, his usual dominance felt gentler today.
He watched her head, wondering what she was thinking, and said softly, "I'm letting you know now."
The distance between them was too close, the atmosphere too intimate.
This kind of conversation couldn't continue.
Xu Youqing looked at him and, thoroughly ruining the mood, stated plainly, "I don't want to know."
"Why?" Jin Zongmin's patience ran out, and he began pressing in again.
She didn't answer.
"Because of that boyfriend of yours?"
Before Xu Youqing could speak, Jin Zongmin let out a cold laugh. A thin layer of frost settled over his eyes. "You think he's anything good?"
Those words struck a nerve in Xu Youqing.
She looked up. "Mr. Jin, I don't think we need to continue this conversation."
Jin Zongmin didn't press further. He pulled back slightly, watching her stubborn yet frightened expression, and suddenly let out a low chuckle.
"Xu Youqing, guess what…"
"If he can't make it in this city, hits a wall everywhere he goes… do you think he'd still be circling around you every day, putting on his little act of devotion?"
Xu Youqing stood frozen in place.
The threat in Jin Zongmin's words was unmistakable. What was he implying?
Seeing the unease gathering in Xu Youqing's eyes, Jin Zongmin knew he'd made his point, but he wasn't in a hurry to force an answer from her right now.
He slowly withdrew his hand, his face settling back into its usual aloofness. "Just a few words exchanged, and you're already this rattled."
Jin Zongmin sat back down on the sofa, his brow furrowing slightly from discomfort.
He seemed to be letting her go.
Xu Youqing glanced at him. He really did seem… unwell today. But she didn't dare linger. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly said, "Get some rest," and pulled the door open.
Jin Zongmin leaned back against the sofa, watching Xu Youqing's retreating figure. Running off that fast—she really didn't care about him at all. Even if he were lying in bed dying, she'd probably just yank the door open and walk away.
He irritably reached for his cigarettes.
A few minutes later, Secretary Gao called.
"Mr. Jin, are you feeling unwell? Should I have Dr. Chen come over?"
Jin Zongmin held the cigarette between his fingers without lighting it. "Who told you?"
"Miss Xu just called."
Jin Zongmin gripped the phone, a satisfied smile curling at the corner of his lips.
…
Saturday evening.
After her part-time shift ended, Xu Youqing was looking for her keys when she spotted a dark gray scarf still in her bag. It was the scarf Han Zheng had wrapped around her last time they went out to eat, when she'd said she was cold on the way.
She could return it to him today.
When she arrived at Han Zheng's door, Xu Youqing was about to ring the bell when she heard the sound of an argument coming from inside. Her hand froze mid-air.
"…Then what do you think it means to me?" It was a woman's voice, somewhat familiar.
"We all drank too much." Han Zheng's voice came through, muffled, carrying a sense of helplessness.
"Drank too much?" The woman's voice rose, laced with obvious disappointment and accusation. "Is that all it was?"
After a brief silence, Han Zheng spoke: "It's all my fault."
"This isn't just your fault." The woman cut him off, her tone suddenly dropping. "Han Zheng, I wasn't drunk."
As her words faded, an even longer silence followed.
Xu Youqing stood outside the door, her finger hovering in mid-air, unsure whether she should go in.
Suddenly, the door in front of her was yanked open from inside.
Fan Meidi stood at the doorway, her eyes seeming slightly red.
Seeing Xu Youqing outside, Fan Meidi was visibly taken aback. She lowered her head, quickly averted her gaze, and without even greeting Xu Youqing, hurried away.
Xu Youqing stood at the door, watching Fan Meidi's retreating figure, finding it strange. Fan Meidi was usually the most socially adept person—always smiling at everyone—she would never be so rude.
"Youqing?" Han Zheng appeared at the door, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "You… when did you get here?"
"Just now." Xu Youqing held up the scarf in her hand. "I came to return your scarf."
Han Zheng's expression was somewhat unnatural. He stepped aside to let her in. "Why didn't you call ahead? I would have come to pick you up."
"I happen to be passing by anyway." Xu Youqing stepped into the entryway, bent down to change her shoes, and asked with feigned casualness, "What happened between you and Boss Fan…? She didn't look too happy when she left, and she didn't even acknowledge me."
Han Zheng remained silent.
Xu Youqing straightened up and looked at him. "Are you two… alright?"
Han Zheng froze for a moment, unconsciously touched his earlobe, and avoided her gaze. "We're fine. Just some disagreements over winery matters—differences of opinion."
"Oh." Xu Youqing gave a slight nod.
She knew that little habit of his all too well. Whenever he wasn't telling the truth or felt under pressure, he would unconsciously touch his ear.
Xu Youqing didn't call him out on it, but doubt piled up in her mind. Was he lying? And if so, why… would he lie?
"I'll go wash my hands." Xu Youqing said.
She turned on the faucet, letting the warm water run over her fingers. As she reached for the soap dispenser, a faint fragrance caught her nose—something like roses mixed with jasmine.
Her hand froze.
This scent… it was almost identical to what Fan Meidi had carried as she passed by the door earlier.
She dried her hands and walked back out.
Han Zheng was sitting on the sofa, head bowed, scrolling through his phone—his thumb tapping at the screen as if replying to a message.
"Where should I put your scarf?" Xu Youqing asked.
Han Zheng looked up. "Just hang it on the coat rack in the bedroom."
Xu Youqing walked into the bedroom. The room was tidy, without any excess decoration—Han Zheng had always lived simply.
She walked to the coat rack and hung up the scarf. As she turned to leave, she caught that scent again—roses mixed with jasmine. She glanced at the overcoat Han Zheng had hanging nearby.
"Youqing?" Han Zheng's voice came from the doorway.
Xu Youqing snapped back to the present and turned around. "Oh, the scarf's hung up."
Han Zheng walked in. "I happen to be free today—there's a nice new Shanghainese restaurant nearby. Want to go try it together?"
The moment the words left his mouth, his phone rang from his pocket.
Han Zheng glanced at the screen, answered it, and listened for a few moments. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Alright, I understand… I'll head over in a bit."
He hung up and looked at her with some apology. "Youqing, I'm sorry—a big client just showed up unexpectedly tonight. I'll need to go over there in a while…"
"It's fine. We can have the meal another day. Work comes first."
Xu Youqing paused, then asked, "Will you be drinking tonight?"
Han Zheng gave a helpless smile. "When a big client comes, I have to keep them company."
Xu Youqing looked at him, knowing how hard his journey had been. The more he earned, the more impressive he looked in front of others—but at his core, his work was still about putting on a smile and reading people's moods.
She remembered that day at the dinner table when Jin Zongmin had casually told him to drink. Even if Han Zheng loathed that man with every fiber of his being, he still had to steel himself and down the glass.
People like Jin Zongmin, standing at the top, seemed able to dictate the rise and fall of those beneath them with a single glance or a single command.
Even a moment of displeasure on their part could easily crush the stability that ordinary people like them clung to with everything they had.
Xu Youqing was silent for a few seconds. "Do you have any ingredients at home? Eat something before you go—drinking on an empty stomach is bad for you."
She remembered how he'd even coughed up blood last time.
With that, Xu Youqing headed toward the kitchen.
Soon, a steaming bowl of tomato and egg noodles was set on the table. Clear broth, a golden fried egg resting on top, sprinkled with fresh green scallions—simple yet warm.
Han Zheng sat down at the table, picked up his chopsticks, and looked at the bowl of noodles. Suddenly, he said in a low voice, "Youqing, I feel… like I'm dreaming."
Xu Youqing sat down across from him and, hearing this, gave a soft smile. "It's just a bowl of noodles. You're getting more and more dramatic."
"I'm serious." Han Zheng looked at her earnestly. "I've actually dreamed of this."
Han Zheng lowered his head and took a few bites of noodles, his chewing slowing down as if lost in thought.
After a long moment, he suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat muffled: "Sometimes I think, the harder people try to hold on to something, the easier it is to make mistakes… and mess things up."
Xu Youqing's heart stirred slightly. Watching Han Zheng's lowered brows and eyes, she replied softly, "I suppose there's nothing in this world that's ever completely foolproof."
"Yeah." Han Zheng acknowledged with a nod, then raised his head. "Youqing, you… have always believed in me, right?"
Xu Youqing nodded. "Mm, I believe you." Then she deliberately teased him: "Are you trying to give me some kind of warning?"
She did believe him—that was the truth. They had known each other since high school, and over all these years, she had watched him build his achievements step by step.
Han Zheng had his smoothness and his difficulties, but in front of her, he had never truly deceived her or deliberately hidden anything major.
Her trust in him was something accumulated over years.
Han Zheng seemed to let out a breath of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.
Xu Youqing watched him quietly.
A smile returned to Han Zheng's face, but for some reason, when it landed in her eyes, it inexplicably felt… hollow.
On the surface, she appeared at ease, but the faint sense of unease in her heart hadn't dissipated. This time, he really did seem to be hiding something. But what exactly? She didn't know.
Maybe she was overthinking it. Just like… she was also hiding what had happened at Jin Zongmin's place.
Sometimes, lying might just be a way to protect, to avoid trouble, to maintain the hard-won peace in front of her.
That's what she told herself.
…
Weekend, at her aunt's house.
The moment Xu Youqing walked in, she was greeted by the rich aroma of home-cooked food. The table was laden with dishes, far more elaborate than usual.
"What's the special occasion today? Cooking so much?" She set down her bag and asked in surprise.
Her younger cousin Xiao Ze ran out of the room, his face brimming with excitement: "Sis! Dad found a new job! The pay and benefits are amazing!"
"A new job?" Xu Youqing looked toward her aunt, who was coming out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of soup.
Her uncle wiped his hands as he walked out of the kitchen, his face flushed with joy, his voice booming: "I'm now the driver for the boss of Huan Yu Group!"
"Huan Yu?" Xu Youqing spoke up. "That's a pretty big company."
"You bet it is!" Her uncle sat down at the table, poured himself a glass of baijiu, and took a satisfied sip. "And I have to say, we've got our Youqing to thank for this!"
Xu Youqing was puzzled. "Thank me?"
"That's right!" Her uncle set down his glass, beaming. "A few days ago, a Mr. Gao came to our door specially. Said he was an old client of yours from your porcelain restoration work, that he really admires you. He came by to visit and brought a lot of expensive gifts."
"He heard that I'd been driving for over twenty years and just lost my job, and he immediately said a friend of his company was looking for a steady, reliable older driver. He recommended me on the spot!"
Yu Shiqiang grew more pleased with himself as he spoke: "Your uncle's skills here, they speak for themselves! I went for a test drive, and the big boss himself met with me—extremely polite, no airs at all—and hired me right then and there! The salary and benefits are ten thousand times better than that lousy company before! They even provide a dedicated car, and the perks are incredible!"
The younger aunt came out carrying the last dish, giving him a reproachful look: "That's enough, you're getting too big for your boots. Whether it's a big boss or a small boss, remember—driving safety always comes first!"
"I know, I know!" the uncle replied cheerfully.
He paused, then suddenly said with a grin: "Does that Mr. Gao have his eye on Youqing? He seems young and quite the handsome fellow."
Xiao Ze chimed in: "Sis has a boyfriend—isn't it Brother Han Zheng?"
Su Mingxia shot Yu Shiqiang a glance. "Don't talk nonsense. Young Han is a decent kid too."
Yu Shiqiang clutched his wine glass. "Well, his education doesn't measure up to our Youqing by a long shot." He waved a hand. "Alright, enough of that."
The atmosphere at the table was lively. Xu Youqing kept her head down eating, but she didn't take in a single word—her mind was churning.
Mr. Gao… an old client… Huanyu Group…
She was almost certain that Mr. Gao was Jin Zongmin's secretary, Gao Xiang.
After the meal, she returned to her room, closed the door, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed Secretary Gao's number.
The call was picked up quickly, and Secretary Gao's voice was as steady and professional as ever: "Miss Xu, hello."
"Secretary Gao," Xu Youqing got straight to the point, "my uncle's job… did you arrange it?"
"Miss Xu needn't be so polite," Secretary Gao said in a gentle tone, impeccably thorough. "I simply thought that your uncle, with his rich experience and honest character, happens to be exactly the kind of person Huanyu needs. This was merely a routine personnel recommendation—no need for Miss Xu to overthink it."
He paused briefly. "Mr. Jin also hopes that you and your family can live a bit more comfortably."
With a few words, he had dressed up what was clearly an "arrangement" as a "happy coincidence" and "a gesture of goodwill."
It honored Jin Zongmin's "intent" while deftly dispelling Xu Youqing's acute unease about being "beholden" and any potential refusal.
Xu Youqing gripped her phone, momentarily at a loss for words. Refuse? The job was already settled, her uncle and the others were overjoyed, and she truly couldn't bear to ruin it. Besides, Secretary Gao's words had already sealed off every avenue for a graceful decline.
"I understand," she finally said in a low voice. "Still… thank you, Secretary Gao."
"Miss Xu is too kind. If there's anything you need, please feel free to contact me at any time." Secretary Gao ended the call politely.
Xu Youqing sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the heavy darkness outside the window. She knew that behind all of this was Jin Zongmin.
He didn't even need to show his face—just a slight flick of his fingers could easily resolve the problem that had troubled her family for so long, delivering a "favor," or perhaps a "hold," to her in a way she couldn't refuse.
Should she call him? To say thank you? Or to ask what he was up to this time?
Her finger hovered over that name in her contacts for a long moment. In the end, she locked the screen.
Forget it.
It was better if she had no contact with him at all. Any form of contact, any single word, could become the fuse that dragged him deeper into her life.
She couldn't bear it.
…
Xu Youqing packed up her materials and headed back to the dormitory. This week's schedule was packed full. However, the roster for the Tomb No. 2 project still hadn't been confirmed. That string in her heart remained taut, never settling into place.
Her aunt, on the other hand, brought good news—the family's cash flow had loosened up, and she told Xu Youqing not to worry about money anymore. So she stopped looking for part-time work.
Suddenly stepping out of that nonstop grind left her feeling strangely hollow.
After class on Friday, Xu Youqing gathered her things, planning to head to the library. Just as she reached the ground floor, her phone rang.
"Youqing, you're free this weekend, right?" Xu Weiyue asked.
"I am. What's up?"
"I feel really bad about leaving you on your own last time." Xu Weiyue's tone was sincere. "There's a new glamping resort nearby—I saw the photos, and it's gorgeous! Let's go for a couple of days?"
Before Xu Youqing could say anything, Xu Weiyue rushed on: "Give me a chance to make it up to you, okay? I really want to go myself, but going alone is no fun."
Xu Weiyue seemed carefree on the surface, but she was actually quite thoughtful. She was worried Xu Youqing might be concerned about the cost. With things put that way, declining would only make her seem distant.
"Alright." Xu Youqing smiled.
A cheer came through the phone. As if afraid she might change her mind, Xu Weiyue hastily added, "I'll book the room then! I'll pick you up early Saturday morning!"
After hanging up, Xu Youqing stood downstairs, looking at the book in her hand that she'd planned to take to the library, and curved her lips slightly. A rare weekend off—getting out for some fresh air wasn't a bad idea.
…
The glamping resort was called "Songyue."
It was tucked away in a mountain hollow at the edge of the city, nestled against hills and water. The car wound around several bends along the mountain road before arriving.
The entire resort had a Zen aesthetic—gray-tiled roofs, white walls, rustling bamboo shadows, and a faint scent of sandalwood floating in the air.
The courtyard was paved with fine white pebbles, with a few slabs of bluestone winding through them like a dried-up stream. In the distance stretched the rolling mountains; up close lay still water, where a few koi fish slowly flicked their tails in the pond.
"Not bad, right?" Xu Weiyue leaned in.
Xu Youqing nodded, her mood finally easing a little. The tension of the past few days seemed to scatter slightly in the mountain breeze.
She followed Xu Weiyue through the covered walkway toward their room. At the end of the walkway was an open terrace facing the mountain view. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo blinds, spilling onto the ground and shattering into fragments.
Xu Youqing was about to turn and say something to Xu Weiyue.
Out of the corner of her eye, a figure came into view.
That person was standing on the other side of the terrace, one hand in his trouser pocket, his side turned toward her, looking down at his phone.
The sunlight traced his tall, upright silhouette—broad shoulders, a clean jawline. He wore a dark gray cashmere sweater, with a watch on his wrist.
It was him.
How could it be him?
Xu Youqing's steps came to an abrupt halt.