Back at her apartment, Zhou Nuan looked around at the empty room and gave a bitter smile.
In truth, she wasn’t sharing the apartment with anyone; she lived completely alone.
The “roommate” excuse was simply a way to turn down Jiang Hao’s attempts at intimacy.
There was no choice—before truly confirming their relationship, she had to protect herself.
Previously, she had been naive, believing that love could conquer everything. So when Jiang Hao pursued her relentlessly, even knowing the gap between them was significant, she still chose to date him.
But as their relationship deepened, she increasingly felt that they were from two entirely different worlds.
From their family backgrounds to personal interests, hobbies, and life goals, everything was different.
Jiang Hao belonged to the type who lived leisurely, doing little beyond going to work, driving his flashy sports car, and thinking about where to eat or what fun places to go.
With his family background, he genuinely didn’t need to strive.
Zhou Nuan, on the other hand, had to work hard for everything she wanted.
Her family could offer no help, and in fact, could sometimes hold her back.
Looking at her colleagues and friends, no matter how passionate their love had once been, when they got married, their partners were generally of similar standing. Even if there were differences, they weren’t significant.
Thinking of Jiang Hao, Zhou Nuan sighed. They had been dating for almost a year, and she hadn’t even met his parents.
It was possible they didn’t even know she existed. How could she trust him with herself under such circumstances?
“…Transferring one person’s warmth into another’s chest…” A familiar melody interrupted her thoughts.
Zhou Nuan picked up her phone; it was her best friend Su Xiao calling.
Su Xiao was her university classmate and the indirect matchmaker between her and Jiang Hao. He had met Zhou Nuan through her.
“Warm, why didn’t you invite me out this weekend? Were you out on a date with Jiang Hao again?” Before Zhou Nuan could speak, Su Xiao fired off a rapid string of words, “You really have no sense of decency with the opposite sex!”
“No, I didn’t,” Zhou Nuan hurriedly explained.
“You’re lying again. I saw it yesterday!” Su Xiao said smugly.
“Saw what?” Zhou Nuan asked, puzzled.
“You two going to the movies!” Su Xiao blurted out without thinking.
In fact, she hadn’t seen clearly—she only saw Jiang Hao and a girl enter the theater and assumed it was Zhou Nuan.
“Right? But I was at home studying yesterday.” Zhou Nuan felt a sudden sinking in her chest, and her eyelids twitched.
“Wasn’t it you? Could it have been someone else?” Realizing she might have said too much, Su Xiao quickly corrected herself, “I… maybe I saw wrong. Warm, don’t take it to heart!”
“It’s fine,” Zhou Nuan replied lightly.
No wonder Jiang Hao had suddenly canceled yesterday, claiming work overtime.
So that was it…
Her heart felt an inexplicable sting.
She had considered this possibility but still chose to trust Jiang Hao, not wanting to become someone she herself would despise.
Yet reality had slapped her hard!
“Warm, Jiang Hao still hasn’t introduced you to his parents, right?” Su Xiao asked cautiously.
Having grown up in the same neighborhood, she knew Jiang Hao’s family situation well.
“No,” Zhou Nuan’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Warm, you… should prepare for both outcomes.” Though harsh, as a good friend, Su Xiao had to warn her.
“I know. Xiao Xiao, thank you.”
There was a brief awkward pause.
“Hey, what are you thanking me for? Who are we, anyway?”
“You haven’t gone all the way with him yet, right?” Su Xiao asked cautiously, suddenly thinking of something.
“No.”
“That’s good,” Su Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
If Zhou Nuan got hurt with Jiang Hao, she would blame herself endlessly.
If it weren’t for her, Zhou Nuan wouldn’t even have met Jiang Hao. Although she hadn’t actively played matchmaker, he had met Zhou Nuan at her birthday party. He fell for her at first sight and pursued her relentlessly.
At first, Zhou Nuan didn’t take it seriously. After all, they were from two different worlds. But being young and inexperienced, under Jiang Hao’s intense pursuit and constant “sweet bombardment,” she eventually surrendered and became his girlfriend.
Fortunately, Zhou Nuan remained clear-headed and never gave up on her own goals and aspirations after becoming his girlfriend.
Over the past year, despite a casual, understated romance with Jiang Hao, she never stopped progressing—like preparing for her graduate exams.
This gave Su Xiao some reassurance.
“Then let’s meet again this weekend. I won’t keep you from studying.” Feeling guilty for letting something slip, Su Xiao quickly ended the call.
After hanging up, Zhou Nuan sat in a daze.
Thinking about Jiang Hao’s persistence tonight, her heart filled with anger.
Already on a date with someone else, and he still wanted to push their intimacy further!
Yet there was also relief—fortunately, her resolve had been strong enough to resist his sweet words. Otherwise, regret would have come too late!
Taking several deep breaths, she exhaled slowly, suppressing her emotions, and opened her study materials for the graduate exams.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t focus on the words in the book.
First love was like that. Even knowing from the start that the outcome was uncertain, feelings were still deeply invested.
Hearing such news, her heart ached, as if countless tiny needles were piercing it, painful and sharp.
Two clear tears slid down her cheeks without warning.
Back at home, Jiang Hao had just changed his shoes when he suddenly saw Li Huanying sitting in the living room, startling him.
“Where have you been?” Before he could answer, Li Huanying’s stern voice cut through.
“Nowhere, just sitting with some friends, having tea and chatting,” Jiang Hao answered guiltily.
“With which friends? Where did you have tea?” Li Huanying pressed further, determined to get to the bottom of it.
“Just… Li Chengzhi and them,” Jiang Hao stammered.
“Is that so? Let me call and check with him.” Li Huanying picked up her phone.
“Mom, what are you doing? I’m in my twenties, why do you have to interfere in everything?” Jiang Hao panicked.
“Hmph!” Li Huanying snorted.
This brat! No proof, no action.
She pulled up a video on her phone and held it in front of Jiang Hao. “See for yourself. What’s this?”
Seeing the video, Jiang Hao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Mom… did you have someone follow me?”