Zhou Zhuofei sighed heavily, "What else can I think? I can't think about it!"
This wasn't something that could be solved just by thinking.
Du Yu also sighed along with her. The situation was indeed quite complicated. Unlike her and that guy surnamed Han, who had started dating right after meeting and could break up just as easily, Zhou Zhuofei and Xiao Wang had a pre-existing friendship. Whether things worked out or not, future interactions would inevitably be awkward.
"Don't overthink it for now. The main issue is that he's a commitment-phobe. Unless you're really into him, I’d advise against making a move rashly. Otherwise, you’ll easily feel insecure. People tend to be overly anxious when they’re in love—don’t torture yourself like that."
"I know, I shouldn’t lose my head over love, right?"
"Of course you should lose your head over love! But even that has its limits. You still need to consider practicalities. If you think it doesn’t matter and just want some fun, that’s fine too. But with a colleague, you have to be careful—especially since he outranks you."
Zhou Zhuofei replied without hesitation, "But I don’t want to just play around."
Even though she had become much more pragmatic after entering the workforce, when it came to relationships, she still held onto the belief that it was better to have nothing than to settle for less.
But she had never shared these thoughts with Du Yu because their views on love were worlds apart. Discussing it too much would only lead to arguments.
"You have to experience it yourself. Seize your youth! You’re in the prime of your life—what are you afraid of? You can’t give up all opportunities just because of one unlucky guy from the past. Isn’t that just tormenting yourself?"
Du Yu finally blurted out what she had kept to herself for years.
At first, she hadn’t said anything because Zhou Zhuofei was still heartbroken, and she didn’t want to upset her. But as time passed, when she felt it was finally the right moment to talk, Zhou Zhuofei had clammed up instead.
In the end, she was still avoiding the issue.
Zhou Zhuofei’s mind was in turmoil. She quickly cut Du Yu off, "Alright, alright. Thank you, my love guru. I’ll think it over carefully."
Du Yu exhorted her a few more times with earnest concern before finally hanging up.
Zhou Zhuofei stared blankly at her phone. Truthfully, she hadn’t processed a single word Du Yu said afterward. The concept of love felt incredibly distant to her.
It wasn’t that she was resistant to it. Whether reading manga or playing games, she’d often be moved to tears by touching love stories. But when it came to her own life, it was a different story altogether.
To stop herself from overthinking, she deliberately stayed up late gaming, even dreaming about fighting zombies that night. The next day at work, she was still yawning. Fortunately, there were no urgent tasks, so she muddled through the day in a daze.
By the time she got home that evening, she was completely exhausted and went to bed early.
Another day passed. While Zhou Zhuofei was working, she suddenly received a message from Xiao Wang.
[Are you free at noon? I asked Jiang Shen to look into some information, and he said it might require your presence.]
[You went to Jiang Shen?]
[Yes. He’s the most professional when it comes to gathering intel. But he suggested it’d be best if you were there in person.]
[Alright. Where are we meeting at noon?]
Xiao Wang named a café near the office. Zhou Zhuofei agreed on the time and, after lunch, made sure to arrive ten minutes early.
As soon as she walked in, she spotted Jiang Shen waving at her from a corner booth.
Today, he had abandoned his usual casual attire for a formal suit. The fresh look almost made Zhou Zhuofei fail to recognize him.
"Why are you dressed so formally today?"
"No choice. I have a shareholders’ meeting this afternoon." Jiang Shen pulled a wry face. Though he wasn’t involved in running his family’s business, he had inherited company shares at birth, so skipping the shareholders’ meeting was out of the question.
Zhou Zhuofei exclaimed in surprise, "You’re delivering documents at noon before an afternoon meeting? That’s dedication!"
"What can I say? The client was in a hurry."
It dawned on Zhou Zhuofei that the "client" in question was probably Xiao Wang.
She couldn’t help asking, "Did Xiao Wang pay a fortune for your services this time?"
The last time he investigated Han Chubin, it had cost Du Yu several months’ salary. Wouldn’t digging into Xie Huai be even pricier?
Jiang Shen raised an eyebrow. "What’s this? Feeling sorry for your boyfriend’s wallet?"
Zhou Zhuofei froze for a second before replying, "He’s not my boyfriend."
She immediately schooled her expression, careful not to give anything away. After all, Jiang Shen was frighteningly perceptive.
"In that case…" Jiang Shen suddenly leaned toward her, closing the distance between them. "Does that mean I still have a chance?"
The moment he moved closer, Zhou Zhuofei instinctively recoiled.
She said sternly, "That’s not funny."
Jiang Shen burst out laughing, his hearty guffaws shattering the café’s tranquility and drawing curious glances from other patrons.
Zhou Zhuofei was mortified. She quickly lowered her head, shielding her face with one hand.
Jiang Shen finally stopped laughing after a while. "Come on, it was just a joke. No need to be so serious."
Only then did Zhou Zhuofei lower her hand and retort, "Was that supposed to be funny?"
"I’m serious, though. If you and Xiao Wang got together, the problem would actually be solved. Huanyu and Ling Yu are in talks for a collaboration right now. Xie Huai would never dare cause trouble for Ling Yu at such a critical moment. Of course, dating me would work too."
Zhou Zhuofei rolled her eyes. These guys all suffered from the same delusion.
"Is there any solution that doesn’t involve dating?"
"There is, but it’s more complicated."
Only then did Zhou Zhuofei notice the file folder beside Jiang Shen. Though curious, she didn’t ask about it since he showed no intention of handing it over.
Just then, a server came to take their order. Since she had already eaten, Zhou Zhuofei just ordered a dessert. She had barely taken two bites when Xiao Wang appeared at the café entrance.
Zhou Zhuofei happily waved him over. They were seated in a booth with only two chairs—one occupied by her, the other by Jiang Shen. When Xiao Wang approached, he hesitated briefly before choosing to stand next to Zhou Zhuofei.
Understanding immediately, she scooched inward with her ice cream, making room for him.
Xiao Wang sat down and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Jiang Shen glanced at his watch and smirked lazily. "You’re right on time, Xiao Wang. We were just early."
"Let’s get to the point, then." Once seated, Xiao Wang first glanced at Zhou Zhuofei, who was still eating her ice cream, before continuing, "I don’t want to waste any more of your time."
Jiang Shen didn’t waste words either. He handed over the file folder. "Here’s the information Ling Yu requested."
Then he added, "Xie Huai has a decent reputation. Of course, he’s had his share of lovers, but that’s a matter of mutual consent—nothing worth mentioning. However, I did uncover something quite interesting…"
Hearing the emphasis, Zhou Zhuofei looked up attentively.
"Xie Huai’s father was quite the playboy in his youth. He left behind quite a few illegitimate children. You’ve heard about that, right?"
Zhou Zhuofei nodded. Heard about it? She had even dealt with them personally.
"Not long ago, their family recognized another illegitimate daughter. She's quite young, just starting university, and I heard she's officially changed her name to Xie Lan."
Zhou Zhuofei grew increasingly confused. What did this have to do with her situation? Surely they weren’t analyzing Xie Huai’s motives based on his family background?
"This girl used to be called..." Jiang Shen looked at Zhou Zhuofei and spoke deliberately, "Zhang Qiaoqiao."
"What?" The long-forgotten name instantly dredged up a flood of memories, and Zhou Zhuofei gasped aloud. "No way, what are the odds?"
"The Xie family erased most of the records, but the charity still had archives. I cross-checked the photos, and I’m certain Xie Lan is the Zhang Qiaoqiao you've been sponsoring."
Though she trusted Jiang Shen’s competence, Zhou Zhuofei still found it hard to believe no matter how many times she thought about it. "Seriously?"
Was fate truly this unfathomable?
When she first met Jiang Shen, she had considered asking him to help find Zhang Qiaoqiao but eventually gave up. Yet now, it was still through him that she got the answer.
Xiao Wang had never heard Zhou Zhuofei mention any sponsorship and asked in surprise, "You’ve been sponsoring underprivileged students?"
Zhou Zhuofei explained, "It was a project I joined during university, and I just kept it up. But I never met her in person. A few months ago, the contact told me she transferred schools, and I couldn’t get any more details."
The more Xiao Wang listened, the more astonished he became—though on second thought, this was exactly the kind of thing Zhou Zhuofei would do.
"That’s the alternative solution I mentioned. If you compare wealth and influence with Xie Huai, few can match him. But he’s obsessed with reputation and principles. If word gets out about your connection with Xie Lan, he’ll back off. Otherwise, everyone will know Xie Huai harassed the very person who sponsored his sister. How humiliating would that be?"
The plan sounded reasonable, but Zhou Zhuofei hesitated. "But wouldn’t this be bad for Xie Lan?"
Not all sponsored students wanted their past brought up, especially someone as young as eighteen. In Zhou Zhuofei’s eyes, she was still just a kid—her emotional resilience might not be strong enough.
Jiang Shen frowned. "Bad for her? What do you mean?"
"Well..." Zhou Zhuofei struggled to phrase it, but Xiao Wang stepped in. "What Xiao Zhou means is she’s worried bringing this up might remind the girl of painful memories."
Zhou Zhuofei nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Pain doesn’t just disappear. I don’t want to trigger her."
She glanced at Xiao Wang with approval. Truly, the best assistant!
Xiao Wang smiled faintly.
Jiang Shen observed their exchange and cleared his throat impatiently. "At a time like this, is it really necessary to fuss over such details?"
But one look at Zhou Zhuofei’s expression told him his question was pointless. This was why kind people always ended up at a disadvantage—they had too many principles.
Selfish, arrogant people only cared about their own interests and wouldn’t spare a thought for others.
Though he didn’t consider himself the same as Xie Huai, he would never sacrifice his own interests for someone else.
Still, even if he couldn’t do it himself, he respected those with integrity and was happy to work with—or even befriend—them.
That was part of why he agreed to take Xiao Wang’s case.
In City K, countless people wanted to climb Xie Huai’s social ladder. Yet Zhou Zhuofei refused—that backbone alone deserved his admiration.
Another reason was Xie Huai himself. They were roughly the same generation, and growing up, Jiang Shen had endured endless comparisons to him from elders.
After hearing it so often, he naturally developed a rebellious streak.
He acknowledged Xie Huai’s professional success, but using money to pressure a young woman? What kind of behavior was that?
What era was this? Resorting to money to win women was already a sign of incompetence. If she refused, shouldn’t he just quietly back off? Why keep harassing her?
Seeing this approach wouldn’t work, Jiang Shen had to remind Zhou Zhuofei again, "Think carefully. This is the easiest solution right now. Otherwise, consider what I suggested earlier."
Zhou Zhuofei instinctively glanced at Xiao Wang before quickly turning back and shaking her head vehemently at Jiang Shen.
No, absolutely not!
Xiao Wang, noticing her reaction, gave her a puzzled look. But she stayed tight-lipped, and Jiang Shen smirked as if they were sharing a secret.
For a moment, countless questions swirled in Xiao Wang’s mind, but he had no time to dwell. Suppressing his unease, he said calmly, "Why don’t we leave the choice to Miss Xie?"
Jiang Shen perked up. "How so?"
"In two days, Huanyu is hosting a reception. I heard Xie Huai will bring his sister. If Miss Xie recognizes Zhou Zhuofei, we’ll see how she reacts. If it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way."
Zhou Zhuofei thought this sounded reasonable, but there was one issue. "Can I even attend?"
The event was just days away, and she hadn’t heard a word about it—meaning the admin department had nothing to do with it. She definitely wasn’t invited.
"You can." Xiao Wang’s voice was steady, reassuring as ever. "I’ll take you."
"Really? Won’t that cause trouble for you?"
Xiao Wang explained, "I was supposed to bring a plus-one anyway."
"That’s a relief." Zhou Zhuofei exhaled. Maybe after hitting rock bottom, luck was finally turning. Was this the fabled "fortune follows misfortune"?
"The only problem is, Xie Huai will be there. Are you okay with that?"
Before Zhou Zhuofei could answer, Jiang Shen suddenly asked Xiao Wang, "Who were you originally planning to take?"
Zhou Zhuofei blinked. Was that really the pressing issue here?
Xiao Wang replied evenly, "I was going alone."
It wasn’t mandatory, but most guests brought a companion as a sign of respect for the event and its hosts.
He heard Zhou Zhuofei softly gasp. Was it still too much for her?
Given how shaken she’d been at noon, it was understandable if she didn’t want to face Xie Huai again.
"Actually..." He was about to say she didn’t have to go—he could try talking to Xie Lan himself—but she cut him off.
"I can do it!" Zhou Zhuofei declared firmly.
She had thought it through—the bolder the move, the better.
Solving the problem quickly was the best strategy. Dragging it out would only make her suffer longer and waste Xiao Wang’s kindness.
The worst part of helping someone wasn’t failing—it was giving your all, only for them to give up and drag you down with them.
So she couldn’t afford to lose heart—instead, she had to stay positive and make sure Xiao Wang saw that helping her was worthwhile.
"That time was a special case. I was afraid of provoking him with no way to escape. But here, with so many people around, what do I have to fear?"
Zhou Zhuofei added silently in her heart, Besides, Ling Yu is here too. Even if I don’t have confidence in myself, I should at least have faith in the male lead!
Jiang Shen watched Zhou Zhuofei with amusement. Her mood had shifted so abruptly—just moments ago, she had seemed deflated, but now she was brimming with fighting spirit.
Hearing her words, he immediately clapped in approval. "Well said! There’s really nothing to be afraid of. So what if he’s got a bit of stinking money?"
Zhou Zhuofei twitched her lips and corrected, "A lot of stinking money, you mean?"
"..." Jiang Shen paused, then waved a hand dismissively. "It’s not like he earned it himself. He just got lucky being born into the Xie family. If not for that, he might not even be doing as well as you are now. Who does he think he is, putting on airs like this?"
Working as a private investigator, he dealt with all sorts of people daily. The more he saw, the clearer one truth became—these days, there were plenty of capable people out there. They just never got the right opportunities or the right parents.
Some could only struggle aimlessly at the bottom, scraping by. Others took reckless risks and ended up on the wrong path.
So Xie Huai wasn’t all that impressive.
Put anyone else in his position, even a mediocre one, and they’d probably make something of themselves too.
