Xu Yumo's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She quickly averted her gaze, packed up her computer in a flustered attempt to cover it up, and hurriedly followed after him.
Once inside the elevator, the metallic walls reflected the image of the two of them standing side by side.
He Linxi had one hand in his pocket, tilting his head slightly to look at her. "What do you want to eat?"
"I'll follow your lead." Xu Yumo stared at the constantly changing floor numbers and said politely, "He… you decide."
"Since we've already reconnected as old classmates, why are you still being so formal with me?" He let out a low chuckle, a hint of subtle teasing in his tone.
"…"
Xu Yumo grumbled inwardly. This man looked untouchable, cold and aloof—who would've thought he actually cared so much about old classmate ties?
No wonder at the summit that day, he'd made an exception and accepted the white paper she'd abruptly handed over.
She suppressed the subtle strangeness in her heart and followed the thread of conversation. "Well then, is there anything good to eat around here? Any recommendations?"
"There's an izakaya and a French restaurant. Both are pretty good."
Considering that the atmosphere of a French restaurant might be too formal and make people feel constrained, Xu Yumo didn't hesitate for long and decisively chose the izakaya.
The izakaya was tucked away in a quiet alley behind the office building, carrying a sense of tranquility amidst the bustle.
As they pushed open the door, they were greeted by a wave of warmth mixed with the scent of charcoal fire and sake. It was the dinner rush, and the place was packed with diners, the noise unceasing.
"Mr. He, I'm terribly sorry, but the private room you usually reserve is fully booked today. There are only two seats left at the counter." The owner came forward, explaining with an apologetic expression.
He Linxi didn't make the decision immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Xu Yumo. "Do you mind? If not, we can switch to the French place."
"It's fine. The counter is great." Xu Yumo shook her head.
Compared to sitting face-to-face in a quiet, enclosed private room staring at each other, she felt that this noisy, lively atmosphere could somewhat dilute the awkwardness of being alone together.
The two sat down side by side at the counter.
Warm yellow overhead lights spilled down, casting the countertop in a soft, warm glow, and also closing the distance that had once been so clearly defined between them.
After ordering, He Linxi's phone on the counter suddenly vibrated.
He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, and stood up. "Sorry, I need to take a work call."
"No problem, go ahead." Xu Yumo nodded.
The man's tall figure pushed through the door and disappeared into the night. Inside the bustling izakaya, smoke curled through the air. Xu Yumo sat alone on the high stool, watching the chef on the other side of the glass deftly flipping skewers over the charcoal fire.
A server brought over a flask of warmed sake. She poured herself a cup and took a slow, measured sip.
The slightly astringent yet sweet warm liquid slid down her throat. Before the long-awaited sense of relaxation after continuous work could even settle in, a somewhat grating female voice suddenly pierced her ears.
"Well, well, if it isn't Xu Yumo?"
Xu Yumo's fingers gripping the cup stiffened. She followed the voice and her breath caught slightly.
It was Jiang Yao.
Zhou Shiye's first love from high school, and also his longest-lasting, most frequently on-and-off ex-girlfriend.
Throughout Xu Yumo's long years of unrequited love, her existence had always been like a deeply buried thorn—impossible to ignore, and equally impossible to remove.
Jiang Yao was wearing a white cashmere coat today, with a fitted knit dress underneath, her face done up in elaborate, flamboyant makeup. She approached on high heels, a hint of condescending scrutiny in her eyes. "Long time no see, Miss Xu."
Xu Yumo set down her cup, her expression faint as she slightly curled her lips. "Long time no see."
"How rare. You didn't go skiing with Zhou Shiye today?"
Jiang Yao's gaze swept critically over Xu Yumo's utterly ordinary chunky knit sweater and jeans, a mocking smirk curling at the corner of her lips.
Xu Yumo's chest tightened sharply, a dense wave of sourness spreading through her.
So Jiang Yao knew about Zhou Shiye going skiing in the northern suburbs too.
It seemed he'd called Jiang Yao along again.
Right. That was just how Zhou Shiye was. Every time he was between relationships or feeling bored, the spot by his side always circled back to Jiang Yao, his one and only first love.
And she would forever remain just the good friend who didn't even have the right to be jealous.
Xu Yumo forced herself to straighten her back, swallowing down the bitter surge rising in her throat. Her tone was cold, devoid of any fluctuation. "Him going skiing—what's that got to do with me?"
"What's it got to do with you?" Jiang Yao laughed derisively, as if she'd heard a joke, her gaze growing even more contemptuous. "Aren't you the one who loves trailing after him like a little shadow? Who are you trying to fool?"
"I have my own work to attend to." Xu Yumo couldn't be bothered to argue with her in public, and simply turned her face away.
But Jiang Yao wouldn't let it go. She stepped half a step closer on her high heels. "Busy with what? Busy drowning your sorrows alone in this izakaya? Don't tell me Zhou Shiye went skiing and didn't even invite you?"
Xu Yumo instinctively tightened her grip on the wine glass in her hand, her knuckles turning faintly white.
She took a deep breath, about to fire back, when a lazy voice suddenly pressed down from behind her: "Run into an acquaintance?"
Along with a faint scent of cold sandalwood, a suit jacket carrying a chill brushed past Xu Yumo's shoulder. The man's tall, straight figure stood silently at her side.
Jiang Yao looked up at the sound. The moment she recognized the face before her, her entire body stiffened. The sneer and smugness that had been on her face froze instantly, and a barely concealed shock flickered through her eyes.
Xu Yumo didn't notice Jiang Yao's loss of composure. She turned her head, meeting He Linxi's deep, dark eyes, quickly reining in her emotions. Her tone was calm as she said, "Not really an acquaintance—just a former high school classmate."
"Is that so?" He Linxi rested one hand on the edge of the bar, his gaze sweeping lightly over Jiang Yao. His tone was languid. "She went to No. 1 High too? I don't recall seeing her."
The air subtly congealed for a moment.
Jiang Yao's meticulously made-up pretty face shifted from red to white in the span of a few seconds. Her expression was so awkward it had nowhere to settle, and even the barely maintained curve of her lips looked stiff.
Back in the day, she had been the school beauty at No. 1 High—adored by all, outshining everyone. Her romance with Zhou Shiye had been nothing short of sensational, making her the absolute center of attention wherever she went.
But now, He Linxi had wiped all of that away with a single casual "I don't recall."
This was even more devastating than being publicly humiliated to her face.
Watching Jiang Yao tremble with fury, yet unable to lash out under the weight of He Linxi's presence, Xu Yumo felt something in her chest—which had been stifled all week—suddenly crack open, giving rise to a thread of gratifying satisfaction.
Jiang Yao clearly still wanted to salvage the last shred of her dignity. She took a deep breath and forced out a smile, though her tone was no longer as composed as before: "He Linxi, right? I've heard a lot about you. Maybe we just never crossed paths before."
"Mm."
He Linxi couldn't even be bothered to offer a perfunctory "perhaps." He simply gave a cold, nasal acknowledgment, then lowered his gaze to pick up the hot towel from the table and wipe his hands.
The smile frozen on Jiang Yao's face could no longer hold. The sense of superiority she'd been flaunting in front of Xu Yumo vanished without a trace. Emotions churned violently in her eyes for a moment, but under He Linxi's utterly indifferent demeanor, she didn't dare squeeze out another word.
"Well, enjoy your meal. I have friends waiting for me." She awkwardly gave herself an out, then fled on her high heels.
Only when Jiang Yao's figure had completely disappeared behind the screen did Xu Yumo let out a long, quiet breath.
She turned her head to look at the man beside her, who was unhurriedly pouring tea, and said softly and sincerely, "Just now… thank you."
"For what?" He Linxi picked up his teacup, his tone flat. "I genuinely have no memory of her."
"…"
Xu Yumo was at a loss for words.
This man—hadn't he just been brazenly claiming at the company earlier that his "memory has always been excellent"?!
She'd originally assumed that if he remembered even her crush on Zhou Shiye, he must also remember the widely known relationship between Jiang Yao and Zhou Shiye, and had helped her out of the situation as a favor.
But now, he was seriously telling her he truly had no recollection.
For a moment, Xu Yumo couldn't figure this man out.
After a brief silence, she helplessly raised her glass and lightly clinked it against the rim of his, changing the subject: "Regardless, thank you for the hospitality."
"You're welcome." He Linxi gave a faint tug at the corner of his lips.
When they stepped out of the izakaya, the night chill was even sharper than when they'd arrived. Xu Yumo instinctively pulled her down jacket tighter around herself.
He Linxi buttoned his suit jacket, glanced sideways at her, and his voice was deepened by the night: "Going home?"
"I was planning to head back to the lab and run the stress test I didn't finish earlier." She answered honestly.
He Linxi paused at that, raising an eyebrow with a hint of amusement: "Is there any need to push yourself this hard? Even if you ran through all the tests this weekend, I wouldn't have the tech department evaluate the collaboration until next week anyway. Or…"
His narrow eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone suddenly slowed: "Are you really still not over your heartbreak, and can only numb yourself with high-intensity work?"
Xu Yumo's breath caught.
She had always dreaded that feeling of being seen through in her misery—especially speculation tinged with pity.
"That's not it at all… you're overthinking it." She lowered her eyes, avoiding his probing gaze. "Since the results won't come until next week anyway, I might as well go home and rest."
"Sure." He Linxi withdrew his gaze and asked casually, "Where do you live?"
"Anheli area."
"Conveniently on my way. I'll drive you. Wait here—I'll go get the car."
Xu Yumo opened her mouth, the words "No need to trouble yourself, I'll just take the subway" not yet out, when the man had already turned and strode off into the night, leaving her no room to refuse.
Five minutes later, the low rumble of an engine cut through the silence of the alley.
A dark gray Aston Martin rolled up slowly and came to a steady stop in front of her. The car's lines were sharp yet elegant, casting a cold metallic sheen under the dim streetlights—understated, yet carrying an undeniable flair that was hard to ignore.
It was somewhat reminiscent of the impression the man himself gave.
The window rolled down, and He Linxi's cold, chiseled profile appeared in the interplay of light and shadow.
Xu Yumo instinctively walked around the front of the car and reached for the rear door.
"Xu Yumo."
He Linxi rested one hand loosely on the steering wheel, tilting his head to look at her through the lowered window. His tone was languid, yet carried a faint, elusive hint of displeasure and pressure: "Are you really planning to treat me like your chauffeur?"
Xu Yumo froze mid-motion, snatching her hand back as if burned. Flustered, she said, "That's not what I meant…"
"Come sit in the front," He Linxi ordered flatly.
Xu Yumo had no choice but to open the passenger door and obediently climb in.
The cabin was filled with warm air, enclosed and intimate. The man's cold sandalwood scent, mingled with the aroma of premium leather seats, enveloped her from all sides.
She pulled the seatbelt across and clicked it into place. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught his profile still carrying a hint of coolness, and afraid he might still be bothered by what happened earlier, she added a quiet explanation:
"I just thought sitting in the front passenger seat wasn't quite appropriate… What if you had a girlfriend, and she found out later—that wouldn't be good."
He Linxi was just gripping the steering wheel, about to merge onto the main road. Hearing this, he turned his head and glanced at her.
The neon lights outside the window flashed past rapidly, blurring into an unreadable darkness at the edges of his eyes.
He curled his lips slightly and said in a casual tone, "Don't worry, I don't have a girlfriend."