The winding trail of water seemed to emit an irresistible allure, drawing all of his attention. Xiao Wang fought against it with all his might before finally tearing his gaze away. Lingering even a second longer would have been an affront to Zhou Zhuofei—and a betrayal of his own instincts.
Yet the sight he had just witnessed was already etched into his mind: the soft, rounded curve of her shoulders, the delicate elegance of her collarbones, the flawless skin that looked as if it had been meticulously crafted by an artist. Just dwelling on it for a moment longer made his throat go dry.
He realized he could no longer see Zhou Zhuofei the same way as before. No matter how hard he tried to turn back, there was no going back. It was like Epimetheus opening Pandora’s box—once curiosity was unleashed, it couldn’t be stopped. The same was true of his thoughts about Zhou Zhuofei.
What had started as a simple desire to look after her had evolved into a need to understand her, and now, into an urge to be close to her.
Suddenly, he felt the overwhelming urge to smoke, as if only that excuse could grant him a temporary escape—a quiet corner where he could collect himself.
Just as he began rummaging through his pockets for his cigarette case, his ears caught Zhou Zhuofei’s soft, startled gasp. His mouth reacted faster than his brain.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think my hair got caught in my necklace.”
She had followed the stylist’s advice and styled her hair in an updo today, but when she lifted it earlier to avoid smudging the necklace with a damp tissue, she hadn’t expected it to tangle when she tried to let it down again—now pulling uncomfortably at her scalp.
At once, Xiao Wang abandoned his thoughts of smoking and stepped closer. “Let me see.”
Zhou Zhuofei tilted her head slightly to give him a better view. “Can you tell if it’s badly tangled?”
The moment he approached, before he could even assess the situation, a rich floral fragrance enveloped him. She must have worn perfume today—pleasant, but he preferred her usual scent.
He wasn’t sure if it came from perfume or body wash, but it was sweet without being cloying, just enough to draw him in, making him want to inhale deeper.
After adjusting to the scent, Xiao Wang steadied himself and answered, “It’s definitely tangled.”
“Is it a lot?” Zhou Zhuofei asked. “If not, you can just pull it free.”
She wasn’t inexperienced—once hair got tangled in a necklace, undoing it was no easy task. It required sharp eyes and patience, and she had never had the latter. In the past, she would’ve just yanked it loose.
“Let me try first.”
Zhou Zhuofei could feel Xiao Wang carefully working at the necklace. Since she couldn’t see his movements, her other senses sharpened. Along with the faint rustling of hair being gently separated, she could even hear his breathing.
Perhaps because they were so close, his breaths sounded unusually heavy—so much so that she couldn’t ignore them.
Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt his fingertips brush against her neck. Sensitive to touch, she instinctively flinched and let out a small sound.
“Ah—”
The moment the sound escaped, both of them froze.
Xiao Wang immediately apologized. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Zhou Zhuofei waved it off. “No, no, it’s my fault. I’m just really ticklish. Even Du Yu makes me react like this.”
Back in college, Du Yu would often tease her—mid-conversation, she’d suddenly poke her waist, and Zhou Zhuofei would always fall for it before chasing her down in mock outrage.
Du Yu had once joked, “How are you ever going to date if you’re this ticklish? Your boyfriend might try to hug you, and you’d end up slapping him.”
Why was she getting distracted again?
Zhou Zhuofei lightly patted her cheeks to refocus. “Maybe you should just pull it free.”
“Let me try a little longer. It doesn’t seem too tight—I’ve already loosened some of it.”
“Then… alright.” Zhou Zhuofei reluctantly accepted his persistence. Every strand of hair mattered!
From then on, Xiao Wang’s movements became even lighter, though he still occasionally grazed her skin.
Zhou Zhuofei knew he was doing his best—avoiding contact entirely was nearly impossible. And if their roles were reversed, she would never have had the patience to help someone untangle their hair.
Even with Du Yu, she’d only make a half-hearted attempt before suggesting giving up. Not wanting to complicate things, she tried her best to suppress her reactions.
Though her shoulders still trembled now and then, at least she managed not to make any more sounds.
What she didn’t realize was that every time she shivered, her shoulder blades quivered like delicate wings—and Xiao Wang’s gaze followed.
It was as if a butterfly had alighted on her back, fluttering its wings at him.
That was why it took him longer than he’d anticipated.
“Done…” Xiao Wang exhaled in relief as he spoke.
“You’re amazing.” Zhou Zhuofei could’ve cheered. She had been on the verge of impatience, yet he had actually managed it. “With this kind of patience, you’d succeed at anything!”
“Thanks for the praise.”
“Wait—what am I saying? You’re already so successful!”
Xiao Wang chuckled before turning back to the driver’s seat and restarting the car.
This time, the drive to Zhou Zhuofei’s neighborhood went smoothly. Xiao Wang pulled over and glanced at her as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
She was always quick to leave, often preparing in advance.
Though he knew it was because she didn’t want to take up his time, he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of regret. He missed that day in the park when they had sat side by side without needing to say a word.
Back then, Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t been weighed down by so many worries—she had radiated a vibrant, sunlit energy.
It seemed he’d have to find another opportunity.
With that thought, he smiled. “Get some rest when you’re back.”
“I will. You too.”
Thinking about it, Xiao Wang had gone above and beyond for her—lending clothes, jewelry, even acting as her chauffeur. The time and effort he’d spent were immense.
“How about I treat you to dinner in a couple of days?”
A meal might not seem like much, but she couldn’t think of a better way to show her gratitude at the moment.
“Didn’t you just treat me last time? If we’re taking turns, it should be my treat now.”
“Nonsense. After all you’ve done for me, I could treat you ten times and still not repay you. Next time is definitely on me—and the time after that too.”
Zhou Zhuofei spoke with such determination that there was no room for argument.
But when Xiao Wang heard her say “next time” and “the time after that,” an unconscious warmth softened his expression.
“Alright, you can treat me every time.”
His voice carried an unmistakable fondness.
Inside the car, the soft interior light blended with the neon glow from the streets outside, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across Xiao Wang’s face. Though the contrast blurred his features, it couldn’t dull the quiet brilliance in his eyes.
Zhou Zhuofei only met his gaze for a brief moment, yet her heartbeat suddenly quickened, an indescribable sensation surging like a spring, filling her chest. The cool air conditioning couldn’t suppress the warmth rising to her cheeks.
She didn’t need a mirror to know—she was blushing again.
“Well, I should go,” she muttered, too flustered to stay any longer. She lowered her head, fumbling for the seatbelt, only to realize she’d already unbuckled it.
Wasn’t this just blatant foolishness?
She didn’t dare dwell on it. Gathering her skirt, she hurried to exit the car. If not for the restrictive outfit, she could’ve run even faster.
“I… I’m leaving now. Goodnight!”
Zhou Zhuofei shut the car door and was about to dash off when Xiao Wang called her back, handing her a paper bag with her clothes inside. “You forgot this.”
She’d been in such a rush that she’d overlooked it entirely. With an awkward laugh, she stepped forward to take it.
“I was so focused on getting home that I forgot about this.”
“I might pass by this area tomorrow. Should I contact you to return the dress?”
She’d already taken off the jewelry and given it back to Xiao Wang, but the gown would have to wait until she got home.
“No problem,” Zhou Zhuofei agreed readily.
“What time works for you tomorrow?”
“Don’t worry, I’m free all day. It’s the weekend—I’m not going anywhere.”
“Then I’ll message you before I come.”
Once settled, Xiao Wang drove off, while Zhou Zhuofei stood at the entrance of her neighborhood, watching the car disappear into the distance.
The summer night’s breeze was warm, doing little to cool the heat in her cheeks. But as the lingering chill on her skin faded, she could no longer feel the warmth on her face.
She walked into the complex, tilting her head up to gaze at the starry sky. Taking slow, deep breaths, she felt the air circulate within her. Her mind gradually awakened, replaying the scenes from the evening.
Xie Lan had said everything felt like a dream—well, wasn’t it the same for her?
It was as if she’d finally lived out a long-overdue summer dream from her eighteenth year.
After a hasty cleanup at home, Zhou Zhuofei collapsed into bed.
She was never an early riser—weekdays were a necessity, but weekends were for sleeping in as long as possible.
Her body clock woke her once, but a glance at her phone confirmed it was still too early. She forced herself up just long enough to feed her cat before burrowing back under the covers.
The second time, she woke naturally. Since she wasn’t hungry, she lounged in bed, idly scrolling on her laptop.
After a while, Du Yu sent her a message:
[Jiang Shen asked me for your contact info. Should I give it to him?]
[Huh? Why’d he go to you for that?]
Zhou Zhuofei found it odd. If Jiang Shen wanted to reach her, wouldn’t he ask Xiao Wang instead?
[No idea. He just messaged me, asking me to pass your info along. I haven’t replied yet, so I figured I’d check with you first.]
Though Du Yu knew about Jiang Shen’s involvement in the plan, she didn’t dare act without Zhou Zhuofei’s approval.
[Go ahead and give it to him.]
If he was already seeking help, being overly guarded would just be unreasonable.
Besides, Jiang Shen had undeniable charisma—unlike Zhan Zilang’s straightforward cheerfulness, he was the kind of down-to-earth rich kid who knew his privilege and didn’t bother hiding it. A little arrogance, but not enough to dislike.
Zhou Zhuofei could tell Du Yu admired Jiang Shen—or rather, he was exactly her type. Still, she wasn’t optimistic about the two of them.
Both were thrill-seekers, the kind who’d struggle to settle down and nurture a relationship. She hadn’t dated much herself, but she’d read enough romance scripts to know how this would go.
Soon, a friend request popped up.
Jiang Shen’s profile picture was a black-and-white anime character. The moment she accepted, a message arrived, asking how things had gone the previous night.
[We met. She recognized me.]
[Well, well, the girl’s got a conscience. Not like the Xie family.]
[Feels like you just insulted a lot of people… Also, I told her everything about me and Xie Huai.]
[Mind if I ask why?]
[Should I have lied? I laid out the facts. Besides, I returned Xie Huai’s check right in front of her.]
(Technically, she’d thrown it at him—but it still counted.)
[Fair enough. Can’t expect too much from polite folks like you.]
[So what’s next?]
[Easy. I’ll go talk to Xie Huai. I’ll frame it as you hiring me to find Zhang Qiaoqiao—gives me a reason to spar with him. Been a while since I’ve seen that annoying face of his.]
[……]
[What’s with the reaction?]
[Nothing. Just marveling at how life works—you can’t escape what’s coming. So, anything else I need to do?]
[Nope. Just wait for the compensation. My bet? Xie Huai’s first move will be throwing money at you to smooth things over. He’s a piece of work, but he’s generous. Mind if I take a cut?]
[Don’t take his money. I’m not doing this for charity. If you need payment, I’ll cover it.]
[Seriously? No money, no credit—you aiming for sainthood??]
[Taking his cash would just muddy things. I want him out of my life—the farther, the better!]
[Got it. I’ll pass that along.]
[Wait, you’re actually going to tell him that?]
[You think I’m joking? Just wait and see.]
Jiang Shen followed up with a barrage of cute stickers—jarring, given his usual demeanor.
After their chat, Zhou Zhuofei killed time on her laptop until her stomach growled loud enough to force her into the kitchen.
Just as she started boiling water, Xiao Wang called.
“I’ll be at your neighborhood gate in about fifteen minutes. Can you make it?”
“No problem. I’m already up.”
“Slept this late? Must’ve been nice.”
Zhou Zhuofei giggled. “Weekends without work are the best.”
Hearing her laugh, Xiao Wang’s voice warmed. “Eaten yet?”
“Not yet. Was about to make noodles.”
“How about some braised dishes? There’s a good place on my way—I can bring you some.”
“Really? Yes, please! I’m not picky—anything tasty works.”
“Then I might be ten minutes later. That okay?”
“Absolutely.”
Hanging up, Zhou Zhuofei immediately turned off the stove. If she was getting good food, she’d need fresh noodles to go with it.
On the other end, Xiao Wang set down his phone, grabbing a file from his desk. To his friend, he said, “I know how to handle it. Oh—can you reserve some of your family’s braised specialties for me?”
The other person had already overheard Xiao Wang's conversation clearly and casually waved him off. "It's just a small favor. You can go pick it up directly."
"Thanks."
"But is this girl the one Old Cao mentioned last time? When are you bringing her around for us to meet?"
Xiao Wang explained, "She's just a colleague. You're overthinking it."
"Come on, if she's just a colleague, why did you take her to Old Cao's place for dinner? And even brought her braised food?" His friend looked skeptical but knew Xiao Wang wasn’t going to elaborate, so he just waved dismissively. "Fine, go ahead. Just remember to help me with that thing!"
Xiao Wang was already walking away, raising a hand in farewell without turning back. "We'll talk later."
His friend could only mutter under his breath as he watched Xiao Wang’s retreating figure, "Keeping secrets, huh…"
Zhou Zhuofei checked the time and got ready to leave. She changed into outdoor clothes, and since she hadn’t washed her hair the night before, she casually tied it into a messy bun.
At first, she hesitated, wondering if she should put in a little more effort. After all, she had dressed so meticulously yesterday—would showing up so casual today give Xiao Wang too much of a contrast?
But she wasn’t one to fuss over appearances, and she figured she should just be real. This was the most authentic version of herself, so she simply adjusted her hair in the mirror to make sure it wasn’t too disheveled before heading out.
Her timing was perfect. After waiting just a short while by the roadside, she saw Xiao Wang’s car approaching in the distance. In the blink of an eye, it pulled up right in front of her.
As the window rolled down, Zhou Zhuofei leaned in and placed the dress inside first. "Did you finish your errand?"
"Already taken care of." Xiao Wang took the dress and handed her a takeout bag still warm with fragrant steam. "I got a little of each kind."
"Thank you!"
Zhou Zhuofei accepted it, squinting slightly against the bright sunlight as she spoke to him, instinctively raising a hand to shield her face. Her eyes narrowed into sleepy slits.
Xiao Wang glanced at her almost absentmindedly. Her face was bare, cheeks flushed faintly pink from the heat, with fine peach fuzz visible under the light—like a ripe, juicy peach.
Unconsciously, his throat moved as if he could already taste the burst of sweet nectar on his tongue, the sensation of tender flesh splitting between his lips, moistening his mouth before sliding smoothly down his throat.
