After speaking, Zhou Zhuofei let out a long sigh of relief.
After holding it in for so long, she could finally speak her mind.
Day after day, using the excuse of doing what’s best for his girlfriend to ask others for help—didn’t this guy realize how useless and spineless he seemed?
Without even glancing at Han Chubin, she lowered her head and sipped her drink.
Han Chubin’s expression darkened. Earlier remarks could still be brushed off as him overthinking, but the phrase "useless man" left no room for interpretation—it was a direct insult.
Had he misjudged his approach? Last time, when they were picking a bag, Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t reacted this strongly. How had things escalated so much in just a few days?
Regardless, he needed to keep his composure. Losing his temper would only prove her point about him being a "useless man."
He promptly apologized with sincerity, "My apologies. I heard Du Yu calling you that and followed suit. How should I address you then?"
Zhou Zhuofei shot him a glance, her impatience unmistakable. Her expression practically screamed, "Do you really need to ask?"
Useless and spineless—what a combination!
"Can I call you Zhouzhou?"
"What are you two talking about?"
Du Yu had spotted Zhou Zhuofei’s strained expression from afar and hurried over to intervene.
Han Chubin felt an odd sense of relief at Du Yu’s return. He quickly brought up the naming issue, carefully omitting the rest of the conversation.
He had already noticed that Zhou Zhuofei only truly cared about matters involving Du Yu, so she wouldn’t ruin the birthday surprise.
"It’s simple—just call her by her name," Du Yu said dismissively. "What else were you planning to call her?"
For a brief moment, Han Chubin faltered, but he quickly regained his composure. "It’s just that people in our circle are used to nicknames. I’ll try to adjust."
"How hard is it to change a name? Just remember it."
Han Chubin opened his mouth but found no retort. In the end, he swallowed his frustration in silence.
Zhou Zhuofei stayed quiet, lost in the blissful haze of a full stomach. She refused to let venomous words ruin her happiest moments.
After a while, she finally spoke, "Are you two done eating?"
The subtext was clear: If you’re not finished, hurry up. If you are, let’s leave.
"Pretty much," Du Yu said, glancing at Han Chubin, who immediately took the hint and stood up. "Should I take you both home?"
Zhou Zhuofei declined without hesitation, "No need. I’ve got plans with a friend."
Han Chubin, ever the considerate one, asked, "Where are you meeting? Do you need a ride?"
Zhou Zhuofei smirked. "Thanks for the concern, but your priority right now is taking your girlfriend home."
Her words were a pointed reminder of his duties as a boyfriend.
Suddenly, Han Chubin had an epiphany. Maybe Zhou Zhuofei’s change in attitude stemmed from her belief that he wasn’t treating Du Yu well enough—that he wasn’t fulfilling his role as a boyfriend.
In an instant, his logic fell into place. If he couldn’t demonstrate his potential as a good boyfriend, how could he ever win her over?
Resolved, he said to Zhou Zhuofei, "Then take care. I’ll see her home now."
Zhou Zhuofei waved him off, no longer interested in conversation. She only reminded Du Yu to message her once she got home.
As she watched the two leave the restaurant, a hollow feeling settled in her chest.
Sure, she’d vented her anger, but it all felt meaningless. Wasting time on a guy like Han Chubin was pointless.
The satisfaction of seeing him squirm didn’t even compare to the thrill of battling minor enemies in a video game.
Useless men truly lived up to their name—they couldn’t even provide decent emotional entertainment.
Zhou Zhuofei lingered at the restaurant until she received confirmation that Du Yu was safely in the car before leaving.
Meanwhile, she kept up her conversation with Zhan Zilang.
Though he wasn’t present, he’d been closely following the drama.
Zhou Zhuofei summarized the events succinctly, and when Zhan Zilang learned about Han Chubin’s passive-aggressive remarks, he launched into a heated rant on social media.
[What’s this guy’s problem? ‘Only relying on parents’? I’ve been investing since high school—what was he doing?]
[He’s jealous.]
[Pfft. Driving some mediocre car and acting like he’s hot stuff. If he’s so ambitious, why not strap on wings and stand on his car as a naked angel? Bet everyone would call him ‘legendary’ then.]
[...]
[Zhou-jie? Why’d you go quiet?]
[Just picturing the naked angel.]
[Check the third photo I sent you.]
[Thanks, kind soul.]
[No problem. You done eating? Want me to pick you up?]
Zhan Zilang was practically itching to rush to the restaurant and confront Han Chubin head-on.
[Too late. Maybe next time.]
[Dammit! When will I get to witness drama like this?]
Zhou Zhuofei realized Zhan Zilang’s enthusiasm far surpassed hers. She’d already cycled through anger, excitement, and indifference, while he was still riding the high.
Maybe it was because he’d never encountered such a situation before. To him, it was fresh and thrilling.
But she’d seen it all too many times. No matter the cause, these emotional entanglements always ended the same way.
No pure love. No unwavering promises.
Perhaps in this world, the only perfect love story belonged to Ling Yu and Cen Huan—after all, this was their world.
Zhou Zhuofei stepped out of the restaurant into the golden glow of dusk, the sky painted in hues of red that lulled the senses.
She snapped a photo and posted it with a caption:
[Want to go home.]
She’d long since blocked Han Chubin, so there was no risk of him snooping into her life.
As she walked toward the roadside, Zhan Zilang continued messaging, still fixated on missing out.
[What else can I join in on?]
[Anything. Just let me in. How about I treat them to a meal?]
[You’d do that? But I don’t want him getting even a sliver of benefit.]
[Zhou-jie, don’t be like that. Think of it as spending a little for premium entertainment. Isn’t that a steal?]
[You rich people...]
Mid-rant, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.
The screen displayed two bold characters: [Secretary Xiao].
Zhou Zhuofei froze. Wait—was Secretary Xiao also waiting for updates?
She answered immediately. "Xiao Zhou, you’re done?"
"Yes."
"Have you parted ways with them? I’m nearby—need a ride home?"
"Ah, really? Wouldn’t that trouble you?"
"Not at all. I’m heading that way anyway. Still at the restaurant?"
"Yes, I’m by the roadside now."
"Give me five minutes, I'll be right there." Xiao Wang said succinctly before hanging up the phone.
The phone screen returned to the chat interface with Zhan Zilang, who had sent several emojis after noticing Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t replied.
Zhou Zhuofei finished typing the message she had left incomplete earlier and sent it, then put her phone away, focusing on the traffic by the roadside to avoid missing Xiao Wang’s car.
She figured Xiao Wang must have seen her recent social media post and decided to offer her a ride home. Not a bad deal.
Soon, Xiao Wang’s car appeared in sight. She waved, and as it pulled over, she quickly stepped inside.
"Secretary Xiao, sorry to trouble you again."
Xiao Wang glanced at Zhou Zhuofei’s expression, expecting something different. Instead, she looked weary, her shoulders slightly slumped, her slender frame bathed in the evening glow, exuding an air of melancholy.
What’s wrong with her?
"Get in first," he said.
Zhou Zhuofei fastened her seatbelt, and Xiao Wang immediately asked, "Dinner didn’t go well?"
"Not really. The food was good, and I said what I needed to say."
Xiao Wang cut straight to the point. "Then why do you seem so down?"
Was it that obvious?
Without much thought, Zhou Zhuofei replied casually, "Probably just ate too much. Feeling a bit drowsy."
"You can adjust the seat and take a nap if you want."
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t dare actually sleep. "I’d rather stay awake. If I nap now, I won’t be able to sleep tonight."
Xiao Wang turned on the car stereo, playing a soothing piano piece.
"Then let’s listen to some music."
Zhou Zhuofei unconsciously tapped her fingers to the rhythm, watching the scenery blur past the window. The atmosphere was oddly serene.
By the time the song ended, her mood had lifted somewhat.
In the end, she was just overthinking things. She wasn’t even looking for love—why worry about whether true love existed in the world?
She shifted her attention back to Xiao Wang. "Secretary Xiao, aren’t you going home this weekend?"
Having known him for years, Zhou Zhuofei was somewhat familiar with his situation. Xiao Wang was a local, with family in the city, but he had moved out and bought a high-end apartment near the company.
"I was planning to…" Xiao Wang trailed off, sighing faintly.
Though the sigh was soft, Zhou Zhuofei caught it. She hesitated to pry, not wanting to intrude on his personal matters.
Xiao Wang had intended to visit his family today.
Since starting work, he had moved out, leaving his mother, stepfather, and half-brother at home. Despite his busy schedule, he tried to go back on weekends for a meal.
His relationship with his stepfather and brother was decent. His mother had remarried when he was nearly in middle school, and he’d never been able to bring himself to call his stepfather "Dad," so he’d always referred to him as "Uncle."
But that title always reminded him that his real father was someone else.
With his brother’s birth, the family seemed more complete, making it even harder for Xiao Wang to say the word "Dad."
He understood his mother’s struggles and had done his best to play the roles of a good son and brother. Still, once he was financially independent, he moved out immediately—it was better for everyone.
Today, he’d gone home only to find it empty. His brother was away at university, and a call to his mother revealed that she and his stepfather had left the day before to attend a wedding in his stepfather’s hometown.
"I thought you were too busy to come back recently," his mother said apologetically over the phone.
Xiao Wang reassured her warmly. "It’s fine. You two enjoy the trip. Let me know if you need money."
"We’re fine, expenses here are low. We’ll be back next week—I’ll make you spicy crayfish!"
Hanging up, Xiao Wang left without hesitation and returned to his car.
Just then, Ling Yu sent him a message. After handling it, he checked social media and saw Zhou Zhuofei’s post, guessing she’d already finished dinner and parted ways with her friend.
Remembering she lived in the same direction as the company, he called her on a whim.
Someone should go home happy today, he thought.
He just hadn’t expected her to be in low spirits too.
Zhou Zhuofei sensed the awkwardness and scrambled to change the subject. "Back in school, I always dreamed of living alone—doing whatever I wanted. But after I started working and actually got my own place, I realized…"
She deliberately paused, giving Xiao Wang room to engage.
He played along. "Realized what?"
"That I was absolutely right. Living alone is amazing—total freedom, peace of mind and body. No one tells me what I can’t leave on the coffee table or when to take clothes off the drying rack. I do whatever I want…"
She concluded emphatically, "Growing up is great!"
"True, adulthood does come with a lot of freedom."
Xiao Wang envied Zhou Zhuofei’s optimism. It wasn’t just about age or experience—it was an innate positivity, a rare gift.
"What are your plans after getting back? Gaming?"
"Not today. Just finished a playthrough—I’ll probably just relax."
"Want to stop by somewhere nearby?" Xiao Wang suggested. "There’s a lakeside park with a nice view."
"A park? Feels like forever since I’ve been to one." Zhou Zhuofei rubbed her nose. Since she had nothing else to do, and Xiao Wang had offered, she agreed readily.
She could tell Xiao Wang wasn’t in the best mood either. Adulthood brought freedom, but also its share of troubles.
In times like these, people needed an outlet to vent their emotions.
For her, it was petting cats, talking to herself like a director, or gaming—aggressively mashing buttons.
For someone as reserved as Xiao Wang, confiding in others was unlikely. But a scenic stroll was a good alternative.
Once Zhou Zhuofei agreed, Xiao Wang immediately changed course, heading to the lakeside park he often visited.
Nestled in the city’s bustling district, the park was bordered by dense trees that muffled the urban noise. At the outskirts, Zhou Zhuofei spotted residents taking evening walks, but the deeper they went, the quieter it became.
Finally, they reached the central artificial lake. At dusk, the water resembled a tranquil gem, reflecting the fading light in shimmering hues.
Zhou Zhuofei had seen plenty of lakes in games, but the real thing was incomparable.
"So beautiful," she murmured, forgetting Xiao Wang was beside her as she stepped closer for a better look.
It seemed she was still too much of a homebody. Du Yu had no interest in natural scenery, so most outings with her revolved around eating or shopping. Zhou Zhuofei herself rarely ventured out, and without a car, even after living in City K for seven or eight years, her daily radius barely extended beyond her university, workplace, and neighborhood.
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t know how long she had been lost in thought when she suddenly realized Xiao Wang was no longer there.
She glanced around but didn’t spot him. Deciding not to search further, she figured he might just need some time alone. After all, everyone had their phones—it wasn’t like anyone could really get lost.
Spotting a nearby bench, she pulled out a tissue, wiped it down, and sat. Honestly, an occasional stroll like this wasn’t so bad.
After being cooped up in cubicles for too long, people inevitably started feeling trapped. Only by stepping outside did they remember the world had no ceiling.
Just then, Xiao Wang reappeared from somewhere, holding two drinks. He walked over and handed her one.
"Zhou Zhuofei, have some water."
She took it and was surprised to see it was apple juice. "Secretary Xiao, you still remember I love apple juice?" she exclaimed.
How could anyone’s memory be that sharp?
