Chapter 14: Happiness

The next morning at ten o’clock, the selection for Z’s autumn collection endorsement officially began. The moment Xu Yiqi saw Xiang Ge, her expression became a kaleidoscope of emotions.

Xiang Ge had her earphones in, lounging lazily in the corner. She glanced up indifferently at Xu Yiqi but, considering they were from the same company, gave her a smile.

Xiang Ge thought she had been quite friendly.

And the other party was equally adept, quickly adjusting her facial expression. Standing by the door with a warm and enthusiastic smile, she waved to Xiang Ge: “Xiang Ge, you’re here too.” Clacking over in her high heels, her expression a mix of regret and sincerity, she said, “You’ve just landed the cover of SINGO and now this Z endorsement. You’re truly amazing. Seeing you makes me feel like I don’t stand a chance this time.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly in the relatively quiet room.

There were more than a dozen people in the room, from various fields, including a few currently popular actresses. Hearing her words, their gazes subtly drifted toward Xiang Ge.

The small sprout of friendliness in Xiang Ge’s heart withered away. Leaning against the wall, she raised her eyes and cast a listless glance at Xu Yiqi: “Don’t act so surprised like you’ve never seen the world before.”

Xu Yiqi’s expression stiffened slightly, struggling to maintain her composure.

Fu Rongsen conducted the endorsement selection as if it were an audition, calling each person in one by one to take a set of photos. By the end, he hadn’t appeared.

Xiang Ge was the last one. After waiting all day, she finally left the Z company building at four in the afternoon.

Cheng Mu and Gong Mo were already waiting for her outside. Xiang Ge got into the chauffeured car, glanced at her watch, and tapped the front seat: “Little Wooden Head, let’s go home.”

Cheng Mu hesitated: “But Mr. Song said…”

“It’s fine. I’ll explain to him tomorrow.”

Gong Mo turned to look at her: “An emergency?”

Xiang Ge leaned back into the seat, nodding solemnly: “Yes, extremely urgent. You can report to him first.”

Zhou Xingyan finished work after five o’clock. Before he arrived, she needed to get home to change clothes, remove her heavy stage makeup, and reapply a more natural “little fresh and artsy female writer” look.

It was rush hour, and time was tight. Unable to wait, Xiang Ge started removing her makeup in the car.

By the time she got home, she hopped out of the car and hurried upstairs. Not yet ready, Zhou Xingyan called her.

Xiang Ge was wearing lingerie, the back hook still undone, hanging loosely on her chest as she rushed to the bedside to answer the phone.

“I’m here,” the man’s voice sounded slightly lower and somewhat distorted over the phone.

This was the first time they had spoken on the phone.

Xiang Ge paused momentarily. Before she could speak, Zhou Xingyan continued: “I’m waiting for you downstairs.”

I’m waiting for you downstairs.

Xiang Ge held onto the lace strap of her lingerie, pausing briefly to process his words before replying softly: “Okay.”

Ten minutes later, Xiang Ge emerged from the elevator wearing loungewear and woolen slippers, stopping on the steps in front of the entrance.

Zhou Xingyan’s car was parked right in front of her. He stood leaning against the car, holding a bag. Catching sight of a white figure in his peripheral vision, he looked up.

Then he froze.

He hadn’t expected her to come down so directly.

The woman’s hair softly cascaded down her shoulders. She wore a white cotton loungewear set, light blue slippers, her pale feet peeking out from the soft fur.

Standing on the marble steps of the apartment entrance, she smiled and waved, looking clean and comfortable.

Zhou Xingyan glanced at her indoor slippers, straightened himself, and walked over, handing her the bag containing the lunchbox.

She didn’t immediately take it, instead scanning him up and down, her gaze landing on his meticulously buttoned collar.

Xiang Ge tilted her head, took two steps forward, and suddenly extended her delicate hand, her fingertips lightly resting on the edge of his shirt collar.

Zhou Xingyan stiffened.

Standing on the steps, she was at eye level with him or even slightly taller. Her fingers leisurely slid along the edge of his collar to the front, where she lowered her lashes and reached up to unbutton his shirt.

She leaned forward gently, her lips pink and her skin appearing as tender as peeled egg whites under such close proximity.

Wearing her loungewear and slippers, her entire presence exuded a faint sweet scent of laundry detergent mixed with body wash, giving off a lazy, soft illusion.

Zhou Xingyan pursed his lips, remaining still, allowing the woman to brazenly flirt in broad daylight.

The fabric of the shirt was soft. Unbuttoning two buttons, the collar loosened slightly, revealing the contours of his neck and the subtle curve of his collarbone.

Satisfied, Xiang Ge withdrew her hand and stepped back slightly: “Now it looks much more comfortable.”

Zhou Xingyan narrowed his eyes: “You seem quite experienced?”

Xiang Ge curved her lips, her eyes twinkling: “I have even more experience.”

Lowering her gaze, she leaned closer, her voice soft and low: “Dr. Zhou didn’t wear a tie today. Actually, I can tie a better-looking knot.”

Zhou Xingyan’s brow twitched.

Zhou Xingyan didn’t like wearing ties.

Although the school issued uniforms during high school, students usually wore sports attire daily unless otherwise instructed to wear uniforms.

The day of the 100-day pledge ceremony before the college entrance exam was the first time Xiang Ge saw Zhou Xingyan in uniform.

He was waiting for someone outside the school convenience store. Xiang Ge happened to walk out with a cup of bubble tea, casually glancing around when she spotted him by the entrance.

The youth was tall and slender, impeccably dressed in a uniform, his short black hair neatly styled, exuding the aura of an exemplary student.

Except for the thin tie casually wrapped around his wrist.

Zhou Xingyan also looked up, his gaze meeting hers.

Xiang Ge froze, instinctively hiding the bubble tea behind her back.

After staying at Zhou Xingyan’s house during winter break, she developed a strange fear of him due to his scolding over her many little quirks.

Sure enough, two seconds slower in her movements, the youth noticed. His handsome brows furrowed as he called her name: “Xiang Ge.”

Xiang Ge responded weakly.

“Are your wounds healed?”

“No.”

“Then why are you drinking bubble tea? It’s full of preservatives. Don’t you want to get better?”

“…No.”

“Do you have water?”

“…”

Zhou Xingyan sighed, handing her a bottle of mineral water that hadn’t been opened yet.

Xiang Ge lowered her head, about to take it, when she noticed the red tie folded twice and casually tied around the youth’s wrist.

Each academic year had different tie colors. As a freshman, Xiang Ge’s was navy blue; seniors wore red.

This red was particularly unattractive.

Xiang Ge suddenly understood why most of the senior students she had seen lately weren’t wearing anything around their necks.

Blinking, she looked up: “Are you going to give a speech soon?”

The senior student representative remained silent.

Xiang Ge pointed to the tie on his wrist and laughed: “Are you really going up there like this, Senior Zhou?”

Zhou Xingyan had intended to put it on before going up.

Before he could finish speaking, Xiang Ge suddenly shoved her bubble tea into his hands, freeing both of hers. She untied the tie from his wrist, spread it out, and smoothed it flat.

Raising her hands to his shirt collar, she pulled it up, placing one end of the tie around his neck and threading it through.

The cotton fabric rubbed softly, creating a rustling sound. She pinched the other end with one hand, slowly pulling it out to the front.

The bright red tie wrapped around her delicate, fair fingers as she leisurely lowered her lashes, calmly tying a Windsor knot.

At the entrance of the school convenience store, people continuously came and went. Zhou Xingyan was entirely surrounded by her and the tie in her hands, drawn into her presence.

When Zhou Xingyan arrived at the private banquet room, the atmosphere was already lively. The soon-to-be bride and groom were being cheered on by everyone as they drank the ceremonial toast.

His university class monitor was getting married next month. The bride was his high school sweetheart whom he had pursued through university. After seven years of on-and-off love, they finally became a couple. Before the wedding, they gathered former classmates for a pre-wedding celebration.

Zhou Xingyan sat down in an empty seat beside them. A man next to him immediately placed three clean empty glasses in front of him and filled them: “Dr. Zhou is the last to arrive! Come on, three shots—no excuses. You’re lucky it’s only today. If you dare to be late for the wedding next month, the class monitor will beat you to the ground!”

Beside him, Liang Shengxi, with a mischievous grin, draped his arm around Zhou Xingyan’s neck: “That’s a misunderstanding. Dr. Zhou is busy—busy finding you a sister-in-law!”

Dr. Zhou promptly drained the three shots pushed in front of him, coolly swatting away Liang Shengxi’s hand.

Liang Shengxi didn’t mind, still grinning widely. His sharp eyes immediately caught Zhou Xingyan’s open collar, prompting him to whistle: “Our abstinent Ah Yan has even left his shirt buttons undone while chasing after the enchantress sister.”

As soon as he spoke, the gazes of everyone at the table fell on Dr. Zhou’s—collar area.

Zhou Xingyan: “….”

Seeing his tacit acceptance, the group erupted again, their gossip spirits wildly ablaze.

Liang Shengxi was extremely satisfied with this reaction and began fervently promoting the enchantress sister stock, using all the vocabulary he had accumulated during his college entrance exam Chinese essay to vividly describe a perfect fairy-like character. After finishing, he cheekily turned to the man beside him and asked: “Ah Yan, am I right?”

Zhou Xingyan had been quietly listening to Liang Shengxi’s endless praise for a long time. When asked, he finally raised his eyes and chuckled: “Why are you so excited? It’s not like she’s your enchantress sister.”