SY - 30

The lights in the lounge were dim, and it wasn’t crowded. An unknown band was performing, playing melancholic tunes.

All the songs they sang were about breakups—heart-wrenching and soul-shattering.

Jiang Yan Zhou held a cigarette between his lips as he pushed open the door to step outside.

Qin He watched his retreating figure, intending to tell Song Zhi that Jiang Yan Zhou was here too.

However, before he could say anything, she quickly said, “Wait for me,” and hung up the phone.

Qin He felt a momentary daze, suddenly transported back to when they were all barely teenagers.

During his years abroad, he had thought of that time countless times.

Those days had been peaceful and pleasant.

Spoiled and domineering Song Zhi, along with rebellious and carefree Song Luo—nothing had changed; they were still who they used to be.

He suddenly felt relieved.

________________________________________

After finishing her run, Xia Wanyue returned just in time to see Song Zhi debating which bag to take out.

She wiped her sweat with a dry towel and walked over. “Got plans?”

Song Zhi sought her advice: “Which one do you think matches my outfit better?”

Xia Wanyue sized her up. The look was pure and ladylike—not her preferred style.

“Going for the old character setup again?”

Her hair seemed a bit messy, so Song Zhi undid it and redid her braid. “My brother is coming back from abroad today.”

Xia Wanyue was taken aback. “Isn’t he supposed to return more than a month from now?”

“It’s another brother.”

With Song Zhi being so beautiful, her brother must be quite the handsome man.

Xia Wanyue, like a cat smelling fish, leaned closer. “Is your brother single?”

In the end, Song Zhi chose a limited-edition Dior matte white chain bag, which seemed to pair better with her dress.

“He’s single, but having spent so many years abroad, I’m not sure if he has any casual flings.”

Being conservative, Xia Wanyue immediately backed off at the mention of such things. “Then forget it.”

Song Zhi wasn’t sure if Qin He, with his reserved personality, had any casual relationships.

Zhang Yiming quickly sent the address using Qin He’s phone.

Song Zhi took a taxi there—it was neither near nor far, taking about forty minutes to arrive.

She had been to this place before. It was a bustling area where the second-generation rich loved to hang out.

Jiang Yan Zhou had never come here.

He wasn’t part of the spoiled elite circle. Mature and steady, he was exactly the kind of successor favored by elders.

Concerned that Song Zhi might get lost, Qin He called her:

“Should I pick you up?”

She had just gotten out of the cab and looked around at the winding streets, completely disoriented.

So she obediently nodded: “Sure.”

After sending him her location, she stood waiting.

Qin He arrived soon. He hadn’t changed much, except for looking even more mature.

His gentle eyes and warm smile remained familiar.

Song Zhi wasn’t a strong person. From childhood to adulthood, someone had always shielded her from the storms. Having never faced any adversity, fate suddenly dealt her a fatal blow.

It was a weight she couldn’t bear.

During that time, without Jiang Yan Zhou and Qin He, Song Zhi wasn’t sure if she could have made it through.

Every night, she cried. Qin He stayed up all night with her, telling her stories and making her laugh.

In difficult times, people tend to rely heavily on the one who gives them a sense of security.

Qin He was like a floating log on the sea, keeping her from drowning.

These years, while he worked abroad, they occasionally kept in touch. But Song Zhi never told him about her relationship with Jiang Yan Zhou.

It was too disgraceful.

She didn’t even know how to introduce their relationship to him.

Friends with benefits? Or sugar daddy?

So she simply avoided mentioning it.

The temperature had started to drop these days, possibly the last cool spell before summer.

The weather forecast said there would be light rain tonight into tomorrow. Song Zhi didn’t think much of it, but it really started drizzling.

Excitedly, she rushed over and hugged him: “Brother Qin He, I’ve missed you so much.”

Qin He affectionately patted her head: “I’ve missed you too.”

The rain intensified. Fearing she might catch a cold, Qin He took off his jacket to cover her head: “Let’s go inside first, or it’ll pour soon.”

Song Zhi nodded.

She had a habit of not looking left or right while walking. Qin He loosely guarded her, preventing her from being hit by passing vehicles.

Song Zhi had so much to say to him, chattering non-stop along the way.

“Have you seen Weibo? I’ve become super popular recently.”

“You know Director Luo Feng, right? I’m the lead actress in his new movie.”

“I even beat the Best Actress winner.”

Her delicate face was full of pride.

Qin He listened quietly, finally giving an affectionate smile: “Our little Zhi is amazing.”

Song Zhi blushed easily and loved hearing compliments.

Spoiled since childhood, the sweeter the words, the more she enjoyed them.

In fact, many times when she got angry with Jiang Yan Zhou, it was just to make him comfort her.

Though she had a princess-like temperament, she calmed down easily if consoled.

But Jiang Yan Zhou never comforted her.

He was a pragmatist, accustomed to solving everything with money.

“By the way,” Qin He noticed her long, swan-like neck and suddenly remembered, “I bought you a gift.”

He pulled a box from his pocket—black velvet.

Song Zhi asked curiously: “What is it?”

He said: “Open it and see.”

Song Zhi opened the box and was immediately delighted: “A limited-edition necklace from J House? This is very hard to get.”

She had wanted it for a long time, but it was an exclusive 80th anniversary edition from J House. To match the date, only 80 pieces were available globally.

And you had to preorder three months in advance.

Even after trying various connections, Song Zhi couldn’t get one. She would often look at magazines, longing for it.

Qin He said: “Fortunately, I know the designer of this brand.”

Song Zhi was startled and became nervous: “You didn’t sacrifice yourself, did you?”

Who knows what goes on in her mind?

Qin He chuckled silently: “Sort of.”

Song Zhi frowned: “Then it’s a loss.”

Qin He raised an eyebrow: “Oh?”

She looked serious: “With your looks, that’s worth more than just a meal.”

This whimsical thought hadn’t changed at all.

He shook his head with a soft laugh: “Just had dinner with her.”

The rain eased slightly.

Qin He suddenly remembered that Jiang Yan Zhou was also here today.

So he mentioned it to Song Zhi: “Since you’re both in Beicheng, you should have contacted each other, right?”

Song Zhi didn’t hear the latter part clearly because her mind was preoccupied with the phrase “Jiang Yan Zhou is here today.”

Just yesterday, she had firmly decided to cut ties and never see him again. Yet here she was breaking that vow the next day.

Recalling her harsh vow from yesterday,

“If I speak to Jiang Yan Zhou again, I’ll gain ten pounds!”

Gaining ten pounds would be more unbearable than losing her life.

Song Zhi hesitated, wondering if she should find an excuse to slip away.

Qin He’s voice came again: “Smoke less, it’s bad for your health.”

Song Zhi was momentarily distracted. Looking past Qin He’s back, she saw Jiang Yan Zhou standing by a Roman column.

Most of the light was blocked by the pillar, leaving only faint, fragmented illumination.

His expression was obscure, the cigarette in his fingers glowing and fading several times.

He seemed to be looking at her, or perhaps not.

Jiang Yan Zhou didn’t have a heavy smoking habit. He smoked a lot during high school but rarely touched cigarettes in college.

Now, he only smoked occasionally when feeling frustrated with nowhere to release it.

But recently, he had smoked more frequently.

Unrestrained.

Qin He gently advised him. Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan Zhou shifted his gaze to Song Zhi behind Qin He.

She wore a daisy-print dress, her hair neatly tied in a high ponytail, seemingly without makeup.

Just like six years ago—pure and clean.

Perhaps only in front of Qin He would she behave so well.

He sneered and extinguished his cigarette.

Qin He brought Song Zhi to him: “Do you remember her? Song Zhi, Song Luo’s sister.”

For a moment, Song Zhi felt like Qin He was pimping her out.

He was almost ready to quote a price.

Song Zhi smiled: “Important people tend to forget things. I guess he doesn’t even remember who Song Luo is, let alone me.”

Qin He didn’t notice the thorns in her words.

But Jiang Yan Zhou could hear them. After so many years together, his understanding of Song Zhi went beyond just knowing her body.

He knew all her thorns.

Jiang Yan Zhou descended the steps. His usual clear and smooth voice had grown hoarse from recent heavy smoking.

“Not forgotten.”

He stood directly in front of Song Zhi.

Due to the height difference, he had to lower his head to see her face: “Can’t forget.”

Song Zhi paused at his words.

Qin He noticed the strange atmosphere between them and subtly changed the subject: “It’s windy outside. Let’s go in first.”

Jiang Yan Zhou’s presence was overwhelmingly powerful and oppressive. Though unwilling to admit it, Song Zhi truly couldn’t stand up to him anymore.

She masked her inner fear with coldness and followed Qin He inside.

The people in the lounge had been eagerly awaiting Song Zhi’s arrival.

When her slim, tall figure pushed open the door, the crowd erupted.

“Damn, even as a grown-up, she’s still a goddess.”

“Absolutely stunning, that aura.”

Zhang Yiming waved frantically at her: “Little Zhi, come here and sit next to Brother.”

He had just returned from overseas, his skin tanned dark. Under the dim lights, only his white teeth floated in the air.

Severely appearance-focused Song Zhi sat down on the far-right sofa without hesitation.

Zhang Yiming sighed. Indeed, this girl was still the same as when she was little.

Princess syndrome, appearance association, full of flaws.

Back then, Song Luo complained endlessly: “This sister of mine is the most troublesome person I’ve ever met. If the milk tea I bring her is too hot or too cold, she won’t accept it. Her late-night snacks even have to be weighed. Last time she went sketching with classmates, the weather suddenly changed. All she had were summer clothes and skirts. I went to deliver clothes, and she refused to wear them because they were the ones she planned to throw away.”

Song Luo, with his explosive temper, insisted on fixing her bad habits: “She’s spoiled. If she doesn’t experience some hardship, she’ll never learn.”

Jiang Yan Zhou glanced at the heavy clouds in the sky. The weather forecast had issued an orange warning—cold air was coming these days.

Without saying a word, he bought a ticket back to Heshi that night. After a sleepless night, he brought Song Zhi the specific clothes she requested.

Song Luo was fuming: “What’s wrong with you? Song Zhi takes advantage of every inch you give her. If you indulge her once, she’ll keep acting spoiled and making you cater to her forever.”

He didn’t seem to mind and simply said: “Then I’ll keep indulging her.”

Who would have thought that after six years, Song Zhi’s flaws remained unchanged.

Zhang Yiming teased her with a smile: “Song Luo used to worry every day that with your temper, you’d never get married.”

Song Zhi lifted her chin slightly, like a proud swan: “Can’t I bloom brilliantly on my own?”

Zhang Yiming nodded: “Sure, whatever you say goes.”

He asked the waiter for an extra glass and gave it to Song Zhi. “Song Luo can hold his liquor well. As his sister, you shouldn’t be too far behind, right?”

He poured her a glass of whiskey, pointed at himself, then individually at everyone present.

“Old classmates, those we gathered with a month ago, those we met a few days ago, and these two whom we haven’t seen in six years, plus the sister of an old classmate. Now that we’ve finally met, getting drunk tonight wouldn’t be unreasonable, right?”

Jiang Yan Zhou calmly declined: “I have an engagement tonight.”

Qin He politely declined as well: “I need to meet my university advisor later.”

Zhang Yiming could only shift his expectant gaze to Song Zhi, who indeed had nothing planned for the evening. She was about to nod in agreement.

Beside her, Qin He laughed: “Little Zhi will pass. She’s a girl.”

Zhang Yiming exchanged glances with a few others and immediately broke into suggestive smiles: “Protecting our little Zhi so much?”

Song Zhi boldly declared: “Of course! My Qin He protects me. Why would he protect you?”

She was like a kitten guarding her food, fiercely defending the kibble in her bowl.

Qin He helplessly shook his head with a smile.

He glanced at Jiang Yan Zhou, who had been quiet the entire time. He didn’t know what Jiang Yan Zhou was thinking, his eyes fixed on the glass coffee table. His pale, slender fingers played with the lighter in his hand.

Qin He asked him: “You and Little Zhi are both in Beicheng. Haven’t you met?”

Song Zhi said: “President Jiang is extremely busy. How could a small celebrity like me catch his eye?”

Before Qin He could respond, a light metallic click sounded as the lighter extinguished its final flame.

The knuckles lightly pressed against the side, the touch icy.

Jiang Yan Zhou slightly raised his eyelashes, his gaze leisurely shifting between Song Zhi and Qin He.

Finally, it settled on Song Zhi’s face.

“Not only have we met.” His response addressed Qin He’s earlier question.

“We were together for three years.”