YJDNY - 45

Fu Rongsen had never been so blatantly rejected by a girl in his life.

With his handsome face and status as the young master of the Fu family, he had relied on these advantages—greater than the sum of their parts—to dominate social circles for years.

To him, this girl was refreshingly cold, genuine, unpretentious, and unlike any other woman he’d met.

Up to this point, it still seemed like the plot of a romantic novel.

Unfortunately, the heroine already had a boyfriend.

Poaching someone else’s partner wasn’t really his style. Director Fu shrugged, abandoning the role of the male lead without much emotional turmoil.

Xiang Ge had mentioned she was meeting her boyfriend. After seeing Fu Rongsen off, she went to the studio to find Qiao Xin. The young girl had already changed out of her work clothes and was sitting on a chair, scrolling through her phone while holding a bottle of water.

When Xiang Ge walked in, Qiao Xin stood up and walked over. Just as she reached the door, Xu Yiqi appeared from the other side.

The woman’s smile was strange yet radiant. Her steps were slow, her gaze fixed directly on Xiang Ge, her tone light and mocking. “How nice. I wish I had an ‘Older Sister Xiang Ge’ like you.”

Xiang Ge glanced at her sideways. “One slap not enough?”

Xu Yiqi didn’t seem upset; her expression remained unchanged. “We’ve known each other for so long. No need to be so hostile, I’m just reminding you. Some people may seem harmless and pure, but they can bite you when you least expect it.”

Xiang Ge pulled Qiao Xin’s hand closer, narrowing her eyes with a smile. “Is that so? Thank you then. Wishing you love and success in your career.”

With that, she tugged Qiao Xin and turned to leave. As they walked toward the main gate, Qiao Xin suddenly stopped, refusing to move forward no matter how hard Xiang Ge pulled.

Xiang Ge looked back suspiciously to see the girl’s serious face. “Older Sister Xiang Ge, I will always love you.”

“...”

Xiang Ge tilted her head. “I have a boyfriend.”

Qiao Xin panicked, gripping her hand tightly. “I’ll never betray you!”

“Oh.” Xiang Ge replied indifferently. “You don’t exactly have any dirt on me, though.”

Qiao Xin thought for a moment. “What about that time you skipped work and asked me to lie for you, saying you were sick when you were actually sleeping at home?”

“...”

After finishing their meal, Xiang Ge initially planned to go home. But remembering her promise to take Qiao Xin to meet her “brother-in-law,” she decided to kill time by heading to an empty studio to review her script.

She sat cross-legged on a yoga mat, leaning against a large glass wall, the script spread open across her lap, while sending a message to Zhou Xingyan.

They had only recently added each other on WeChat.

How do you tell if someone is ignoring you or simply hasn’t seen your message?

Thinking about it, Xiang Ge sent a transfer request.

Three minutes later, Zhou Xingyan responded with a question mark.

Xiang Ge set the script aside, turned over onto the mat, propped herself up on her elbows, and typed: [Dr. Liang’s money. Is Dr. Zhou free now?]

There was a long pause before Zhou Xingyan replied.

Xiang Ge pursed her lips, setting her phone down just as Zhou Xingyan called.

She answered, resting her head on her arm. “What’s up?”

Zhou Xingyan chuckled. “Isn’t it supposed to be you who has something to say?”

“Oh,” she said. “Yeah, I do. I thought you were busy, so I was planning to act first and explain later.”

“Hold on,” Zhou Xingyan’s voice came through amidst some background noise. After a short wait, the sounds faded, and his voice returned, slightly echoing. “Alright, what’s the matter?”

“Let’s go out for dinner tonight. I’ll come find you after you’re done with work.”

Zhou Xingyan paused briefly before asking, “Did you do something wrong?”

Xiang Ge was taken aback. “Huh?”

“When have you ever asked me in advance for anything like this?”

Xiang Ge fell silent for a moment. “Are you expressing dissatisfaction right now?”

Zhou Xingyan quickly denied it. “I’m just expressing... that I’m flattered.”

Xiang Ge wanted to laugh but decided to be honest. “I’m bringing a little girl along.”

Zhou Xingyan’s tone stayed neutral. “Are you that open? One person is enough for me.”

“...”

Xiang Ge hung up the call.

A minute later, Zhou Xingyan sent a message: [I’ll pick you both up after work. What do you feel like eating?]

This kind of decision-making was too troublesome for Xiang Ge. She replied carelessly: [Up to you. You decide.]

Zhou Xingyan complied smoothly: [Does your friend drink tonic porridge?]

“...”

Xiang Ge grumbled inwardly as she typed: [Fine, whatever.]

She spent the afternoon browsing public accounts for restaurant recommendations. By the end, she had completely forgotten her original purpose and started drooling over pictures of delicious food. When she saw something particularly appetizing, she even took screenshots and sent them to Zhou Xingyan.

Although Zhou Xingyan had been busy all afternoon, Xiang Ge hadn’t expected him to reply immediately. It was more for her own amusement.

As Zhou Xingyan’s workday neared its end, Xiang Ge still hadn’t decided where to eat. With a list of restaurants she wanted to try, the decision became increasingly difficult. In the end, she picked a few options and let Qiao Xin choose.

The two of them stood at the entrance, waiting for Zhou Xingyan. While Qiao Xin squatted on the steps, struggling to make a choice, Zhou Xingyan arrived.

Xiang Ge stood up.

The SUV window rolled down, and Zhou Xingyan tilted his head to look at them. “Decided what to eat yet?”

Qiao Xin looked up, letting out a surprised “Ah.”

As the car window slowly lowered, she even imagined Song Zhi’s face appearing behind it.

Qiao Xin shook her head, silently pitying Song Zhi for three seconds, then followed Xiang Ge into the car like a little shadow.

In the end, Zhou Xingyan chose an Italian restaurant with modern decor. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed small round tables surrounded by tall crystal glasses that shimmered delicately.

As soon as Qiao Xin entered, she felt like a third wheel and wanted to leave.

She discreetly glanced at Zhou Xingyan sitting across from her.

Without his jacket, the man’s broad shoulders and lean frame were revealed. He seemed thinner than Song Zhi, with thin lips and a calm, understated demeanor, resembling an immortal figure raising white cranes in an ink painting.

Handsome, quiet, and aloof—he truly wasn’t the same type as Song Zhi. Qiao Xin recalled Song Zhi’s usual expressions and mannerisms, which were stern and intimidating like a stone lion.

She whispered this to Xiang Ge, who couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

The dinner atmosphere was pleasant. Qiao Xin chatted with Xiang Ge, while Zhou Xingyan listened, occasionally interjecting with a few words. Afterward, he drove Qiao Xin home. Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, the girl leaned forward from the backseat. “Older Sister Xiang Ge, how did you and Dr. Zhou get together?”

Xiang Ge thought for a moment before answering. “We’ve known each other for many years, but we lost contact for a long time.”

Qiao Xin widened her eyes. “Oh? So you just got together recently?”

Before Xiang Ge could think of how to summarize their story, Zhou Xingyan, who had barely spoken all evening, calmly said, “Mm. She should have been mine a long time ago, but I wasn’t good enough back then. I didn’t deserve her.”

Xiang Ge was startled and turned to look at him.

Zhou Xingyan kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the steering wheel, focused and serious. A faint smile curved his lips.

“Fortunately, she’s mine now.”

Qiao Xin lived in an old residential area with dim lighting. The yellow streetlights flickered faintly, and the stairwells were covered in advertisements. It was late, and her apartment was on the sixth floor. Worried she might be afraid, Xiang Ge insisted on walking her up to her door. Declining Qiao Xin’s mother’s invitation to come in, she began descending the stairs alone.

She had gone up with Qiao Xin earlier, but now she was walking down by herself. The aging building with peeling walls and broken motion-sensor lights on two floors created an eerie atmosphere.

Xiang Ge reached for her phone to turn on the flashlight but remembered she had left her bag in the car.

Sighing, she felt her way down using the dusty handrail.

The warm early summer breeze flowed through the old wooden window frames of the stairwell, causing the wood to creak softly.

Xiang Ge shivered slightly, quickening her pace as she tried to make out the steps under the faint moonlight.

After descending one flight, she noticed a flashlight beam shining up through the gaps in the railing below.

The light was bright, but there were no footsteps. Whoever was holding it wasn’t coming up.

Xiang Ge paused for a moment before continuing cautiously downward.

Zhou Xingyan stood at the fourth-floor landing, his phone flashlight on. Seemingly careful not to blind her, he angled the light slightly downward. His features were obscured in the deep shadows cast by the light source.

Xiang Ge squinted, recognizing him, and relaxed. She walked over. “Why didn’t you wait in the car?”

Suddenly, Zhou Xingyan raised the flashlight to his chin, shining it upward. The light cast deep, sinister shadows across his sharp cheekbones and hollow eye sockets. His voice was cold and detached, adding to the chilling scene. “I thought you might be scared.”

Startled, Xiang Ge nearly screamed, her body jerking. She froze mid-step.

He wiggled the phone in his hand, the beam of light swaying with the movement, creating shifting patterns of light and shadow. His voice was low and icy. “Come here.”

Xiang Ge didn’t move, glaring at him from where she stood. “Breakup.”

Zhou Xingyan licked his lips and finally lowered the phone, chuckling softly.

Xiang Ge rolled her eyes, still unmoving.

Zhou Xingyan approached, pulling her into his arms. “Scared?”

Xiang Ge struggled briefly but couldn’t break free. He pressed her head into the crook of his neck, muffling her voice. “How old are you?”

Zhou Xingyan hugged her tighter, chuckling again. His chest vibrated as he ruffled her hair gently. “Sorry.”

Without hesitation, Xiang Ge bit down hard on the exposed skin of his neck. Zhou Xingyan hissed in pain.

“Mm,” she hummed, then soothingly licked the bite mark twice with her tongue.

Zhou Xingyan’s fingers, tangled in her hair, stilled.

Her revenge complete, she blinked innocently and pushed against him, stepping back slightly. “Let’s go.”

He didn’t move. Instead, he slipped the phone into his pocket, plunging the old staircase back into darkness. With one hand cradling the back of her head, he murmured, “Wait a moment.”

In the pitch-black stairwell, Xiang Ge could only make out a faint silhouette moving before her. The next second, cool, soft lips brushed against hers.

Slowly caressing her, he murmured indistinct words.

“Shall we kiss before we leave?”