"What do you mean 'got it'?"
Zhou Zhuofei looked at Zhan Zilang with confusion. She appreciated his eagerness to help, but her own matters took priority, so she urged him, "Alright, alright, stop worrying about us. Hurry home and be a good son!"
"No way, I have to help you with this today!"
With that, Zhan Zilang raised his arm and called out toward someone behind Zhou Zhuofei, "Xiao Wang!"
Wait—Xiao Wang?!
Zhou Zhuofei whipped her head around and saw Xiao Wang approaching calmly from a distance. Hearing Zhan Zilang's shout, Xiao Wang glanced their way.
"Are you giving Zhou Zhuofei a ride home today too?"
"Not exactly. Xiao Wang, do you have time to do us a favor?"
"Hey, hey, hey—" Zhou Zhuofei had already guessed Zhan Zilang's plan and tried to stop him, but it was too late. The guy was surprisingly nimble and had already sidled up to Xiao Wang.
No, no, no!!
She had never asked Xiao Wang for help outside work hours. This was so awkward!!!
"What's the matter?"
"Zhou Zhuofei's in a hurry for an appointment, and something came up—I can't drive her. Could you help out?"
Without hesitation, Xiao Wang replied, "Of course."
Zhan Zilang grinned and said, "Perfect, thanks!" Before leaving, he even flashed Zhou Zhuofei a covert victory sign.
What exactly are you so proud of?!
While Xiao Wang got into the car, Zhan Zilang whispered, "Zhou Zhuofei, remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Just say it. I’m done guessing..."
Her mind was already spiraling—Xiao Wang probably saw her now as that coworker with no sense of boundaries, shamelessly bumming rides.
"Yesterday, when you showed me those car photos, I said there’s a difference between being low-key and being broke."
Zhou Zhuofei absentmindedly humored him. "Yeah, I think you said something like that."
Zhan Zilang tilted his chin toward Xiao Wang’s car. "This is what I meant—wealthy but understated. And let’s be real, with Xiao Wang’s looks and vibe, you’ll be turning heads!"
(Not that he considered himself lacking, but when it came to mature charm, Xiao Wang had the edge. No big deal—he’d get there someday!)
"Just go already." Zhou Zhuofei weakly waved him off. Before facing Han Chubin, she needed to figure out how to handle the next twenty minutes alone with Xiao Wang.
The thought of the twenty-minute drive to the restaurant made her vision darken.
"Alright, I’m off. Call if you need anything." Zhan Zilang even gave her an earnest pep talk. "Just be yourself and nail it!"
"Go."
Zhan Zilang sped off, and Zhou Zhuofei glanced at Xiao Wang, who was already waiting in the idling car. She hesitated at the door—maybe she should just decline and not waste his time.
But before she could decide, the door suddenly swung open.
She looked up. Xiao Wang had opened it from inside.
"Is there a problem?"
Zhou Zhuofei quickly said no. Well, no backing out now. Besides, she did have something to discuss with him.
Once inside, she buckled up while Xiao Wang pulled up the navigation and asked for the address.
Zhou Zhuofei checked her phone and gave the location.
As the car started moving, she frantically texted Du Yu: Change of plans.
She couldn’t deliberately delay Xiao Wang to wait for Du Yu and the others, so if the timing didn’t align, this plan would fail. Du Yu reassured her, saying everything should be left to fate—if it worked out, great; if not, it didn’t matter. After all, the main event of the day wasn’t in the car.
[Just make sure you perform well later.]
When Zhou Zhuofei finally put down her phone, she noticed they were stopped at a red light. She turned her head slightly and saw Xiao Wang’s hand resting casually on the steering wheel. A beam of sunlight streamed through the half-open window, casting a golden glow over it, as if gilding his skin.
The sight instantly reminded her of classic scenes from comics. Xiao Wang’s fingers were slender, and the veins on the back of his hand faintly protruded, winding like mountain ranges toward his wrist, their lines as smooth as strokes from a comic artist’s pen.
Zhou Zhuofei couldn’t help but glance down at her own hand. Well, hers wasn’t bad either.
Xiao Wang’s voice sounded from her left: “Going out to eat with friends today?”
“Ah, yes.”
“How’s the food at this restaurant? A friend mentioned it to me a while ago, but I haven’t had the chance to try it yet.”
“Actually, it’s my first time too. If it’s good, I’ll let you know.” The dining spot had actually been chosen by Han Chubin, who claimed the owner was a friend of his, though Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t paid much attention.
“Sounds good.”
“Xiao Wang, I really appreciate your help today.”
Even though she was already in the car, Zhou Zhuofei still thought Zhan Zilang’s idea was terrible.
Zhan Zilang was the type who thrived on chaos, always eager to stir up drama, so his involvement was no surprise. But Xiao Wang was definitely not that kind of person.
“No need to thank me. It’s just a small favor. If you’d taken a taxi, you’d probably have had to wait forever.”
Hearing how understanding he was, Zhou Zhuofei felt even guiltier. She had always respected Xiao Wang—not just because he’d helped her professionally in the past, but also because his integrity and work ethic were impeccable.
She had always wanted to find a way to repay him, but the harsh reality was that she couldn’t offer much. The least she could do was avoid causing him trouble.
Even in casual office gossip, whenever Xiao Wang’s name came up, she adhered to the principle of not spreading rumors or speaking carelessly. Something like hitching a ride with him was out of the question, even though she knew he’d agree without hesitation.
Zhou Zhuofei hoped to maintain this image of being considerate and respectful in Xiao Wang’s eyes. Over the years, their relationship had remained steady.
But Zhan Zilang’s outburst today had undone years of her efforts.
Still, she couldn’t blame him. From Zhan Zilang’s perspective, his reasoning wasn’t wrong. Besides, he and Xiao Wang had a personal rapport, so the request seemed more like calling in a favor from Zhan Zilang’s side.
Even so, Zhou Zhuofei was a little worried. After a moment’s thought—and since it was an unusually long red light—she decided to explain the situation.
“Xiao Wang, I should clarify something about today. Zhan Zilang was so eager to ask for your help because there’s a reason behind it.”
Xiao Wang immediately turned attentive. “Oh?”
Zhou Zhuofei summarized the situation concisely. When she mentioned Zhan Zilang’s excitement about showing off his car, Xiao Wang’s lips curled slightly.
“…Anyway, that’s how it ended up like this.” After finishing, Zhou Zhuofei noticed Xiao Wang’s faint smile and asked, “Pretty childish, right?”
"Admittedly, a little, but it's understandable," Xiao Wang replied. "So, what do you plan to do now?"
"Honestly, I don’t have much of a plan. I’ll figure it out once I get there. If the food is good, I’ll complain less. But if it’s bad..." Zhou Zhuofei said bluntly, "then my focus might just be on spewing trash talk."
Xiao Wang couldn’t help but let his shoulders shake with a quiet laugh. This was the Zhou Zhuofei he knew.
At first, Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t left much of an impression on him. The top floor was always bustling with people coming and going, and he never paid special attention to new hires from other departments.
The first time he really noticed her was on a day when he happened to have some free time and spotted her searching through the document shelves.
She had been rummaging for a long time without success, and just as Xiao Wang considered stepping out to ask if she needed help, Zhou Zhuofei mustered the courage to knock on his door and ask for assistance.
Though she tried to appear composed, her flickering gaze and slightly trembling voice betrayed her nervousness.
Xiao Wang helped her find the file, and after a flurry of thanks, she left. Her awkward demeanor reminded him of his own days as an intern.
To his surprise, the next time Zhou Zhuofei came by, she greeted him warmly on her own. Her expression, once tense and reserved, gradually shifted into one of ease and confidence.
Her proactive attitude earned Xiao Wang’s approval, and over time, he began to remember this new colleague named Zhou Zhuofei.
His initial impression of her was that of a fresh graduate—bright, cheerful, and refreshingly unguarded. There was a distinct lack of workplace cynicism in her, something he had long since lost.
So whenever he saw her, he enjoyed chatting with her, if only to reminisce about his own student days.
The next memorable moment came at the end of the year during the company’s grand annual party. Every department was expected to prepare a performance, though Xiao Wang, being part of the executive office, was exempt.
One day, while visiting the admin department, he overheard colleagues discussing their performance ideas.
A male coworker made an inappropriate joke, suggesting Zhou Zhuofei perform in a maid outfit—a remark so offensive even Xiao Wang felt the sting of it.
He immediately looked at Zhou Zhuofei, expecting an outburst, only to see her face tighten, her eyes blazing with fury.
Just as he braced for an explosion, she suddenly grinned, a sharp, humorless smile, and said, "I’m not much of a dancer, but I’m great at makeup. How about I lend you the outfit, x-ge, and do your face instead? You’d definitely outshine me. Don’t be shy—when men say no, they usually mean yes. How will you know if you don’t try? Once you cross-dress, there’s no going back—it’s zero or infinity."
That was the first time Xiao Wang realized Zhou Zhuofei could be so fiercely combative.
So he could easily imagine just how "entertaining" today’s dinner would be.
"Anyway, I should explain things to you first. If it weren’t for Zhan Zilang’s situation... I really wouldn’t want to trouble you," Zhou Zhuofei said earnestly, meeting Xiao Wang’s gaze. "I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again."
Xiao Wang looked into her crystal-clear eyes and felt an inexplicable emotion stir in his chest.
He was well aware of Zhou Zhuofei's attitude toward him, but seeing how highly she regarded him—to the point of refusing to trouble him even with minor matters—he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of unease.
This wasn’t a good sign. He had encountered similar situations before, where he’d unwittingly been placed on a pedestal as someone’s perfect ideal, only to face trouble when he inevitably "fell from grace."
"It’s alright, don’t overthink it. If I have an issue, I’ll speak up directly. You don’t need to be so cautious—I’m not the type to force myself to help others."
He phrased it gently, not wanting to hurt Zhou Zhuofei’s feelings, but he truly had no desire to become part of someone else’s idolization again. At the end of the day, he was just an ordinary person doing his best.
To his surprise, however, Zhou Zhuofei shook her head and said, "Xiao Wang, I know you’re kind, but this is my principle. I can’t trouble others or owe them favors recklessly."
Xiao Wang hadn’t expected such a response. "You hold yourself to such strict standards?"
"They have to be strict. One moment of carelessness could lead to trouble." Now, Zhou Zhuofei understood this saying all too well.
If only she hadn’t replied when Han Chubin sent that ["Are you there?"] message, none of this mess would have happened.
No, wait—that wasn’t right. She had only been engaging in normal social interaction. It was Han Chubin who had been fickle and inappropriate. Why should she blame herself?
Thinking of this, Zhou Zhuofei was reminded of Jiang Shen. By that logic, she shouldn’t accept that discount either, or she’d end up owing him another favor.
"By the way, Xiao Wang, there’s something else I need to tell you about Jiang Shen—"
She had only gotten halfway through her sentence when the traffic light turned green, and the cars ahead began moving. She promptly fell silent. "We’ll talk later. I shouldn’t distract you while you’re driving."
"It’s fine. We can discuss it when we arrive."
The rest of the ride gave Zhou Zhuofei time to sort out her thoughts.
If she wanted to minimize interactions, then the less contact, the better. As for the discount, she could just compensate Du Yu later, couldn’t she? Consulting Xiao Wang about every little thing made her seem like a helpless child with no judgment of her own.
She had expected the twenty-minute drive to feel endless, but in reality, it wasn’t so bad.
Before she knew it, the car had pulled into the open-air parking lot outside the restaurant. Du Yu and Han Chubin hadn’t arrived yet.
Just as Zhou Zhuofei thanked him and prepared to step out, Xiao Wang stopped her. "You never finished telling me about Jiang Shen."
"Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to let you know that I introduced Jiang Shen to my friend. I remember your earlier warning, but I couldn’t think of a better way to help her. If it’s just a normal business transaction, there shouldn’t be an issue, right?"
Xiao Wang had braced himself for something serious, so when Zhou Zhuofei solemnly brought up such a minor matter, he relaxed and chuckled. "Normal business dealings are fine. His professional skills are indeed impressive."
"Mm, Zhan Zilang said the same. That’s why we figured it’d be more reliable to work with him than take a chance on someone unknown."
Seeing that Xiao Wang wasn’t concerned, Zhou Zhuofei finally set her worries aside.
"Glad to hear you say that! I’ll head off now, then."
Xiao Wang looked puzzled. "But your friends haven’t arrived yet?"
Zhou Zhuofei took a moment to process the other’s intention—was Xiao Wang actually willing to cooperate with her?
"Xiao Wang, you…" She quickly rephrased her words: "I thought you’d find this kind of behavior childish."
Xiao Wang replied calmly, "If it were just meaningless showing off, then yes, it would be. But aren’t you trying to teach a lesson to someone who deceived your friend? I think using a few tricks is justified."
Leave it to Xiao Wang to instantly frame their seemingly flawed, immature plan as a righteous cause.
"Xiao Wang, you’re a genius!"
"Don’t flatter me. I’m just an ordinary person," Xiao Wang said, half-joking yet sincere.
"Well, we’re all ordinary people. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already doing an amazing job. I can’t even imagine a better workplace mentor than you. And let’s not demand perfection—no one in this world is flawless."
They were all adults; it was time to face reality. Being competent at one’s job was already impressive enough!
"Fair point. Though my car isn’t as flashy as Zhan Zilang’s…" Xiao Wang teased lightly, "Might not have the same effect."
Zhou Zhuofei immediately protested, "Don’t sell yourself short! Zhan Zilang didn’t even pay for his car himself. Yours is earned through hard work—that’s way more admirable!"
Xiao Wang chuckled at her exaggerated tone. He’d heard plenty of flattery and dealt with many polished, polite people, but none of their words felt as genuine and heartfelt as Zhou Zhuofei’s praise.
Not that he needed compliments to boost his confidence, but not having to put on a facade and being able to speak honestly was refreshing.
"Since you put it that way, it looks like I have no choice but to help today."
Just as Zhou Zhuofei was about to respond, her phone suddenly buzzed violently—it was Du Yu calling. This was their prearranged signal: a call meant the target was about to enter the parking lot.
She showed the screen to Xiao Wang. "They’re coming."
He asked, "Do I need to do anything?"
"Nothing complicated." Zhou Zhuofei gave him another once-over. Right now, he looked no different than usual—at most, he’d unbuttoned his suit jacket for driving, revealing faint outlines of muscle beneath his shirt as he moved.
"You’re already perfect!"
