Before heading home, Xiao Wang made a detour to the office to handle some tasks. After returning, he took a short break and rummaged through the kitchen, pulling out long-neglected cooking utensils, contemplating which ones he could bring to Zhou Zhuofei's place.
This little project took quite a bit of time. By the time he snapped out of it, the sky outside had already darkened.
He ate a simple meal, mulled over his next steps, and eventually headed to the gym on the top floor of his apartment building, planning to do a few sets of bench presses.
Zhou Zhuofei never hid the way she looked at him, so Xiao Wang knew exactly what she liked.
He added a little more weight to his usual load. Sweat gradually soaked his wristbands, and the ache crept up his nerves. Gritting his teeth, the veins in his neck strained like taut strings, pulling the metal equipment to its limit.
Finally, the set was over.
Xiao Wang gasped for breath, wiping his face with a towel.
In the salty air thick with sweat, his senses dulled, and he could barely distinguish any scents.
But the moment he thought of her, it was like biting into a piece of milk candy—first, a subtle sweetness spread between his teeth, then, as saliva mingled with it, the flavor bloomed fully on his taste buds.
He pressed his tongue against his molars, as if savoring the imagined sweetness.
Abruptly, Xiao Wang stood up, tossed the towel aside, and resumed his training.
That evening, Zhou Zhuofei lounged at home, idly watching TV and playing with her cat. The day had flown by, yet the night dragged on, leaving her mind prone to wandering.
She had considered telling Du Yu but then thought better of it—it was too soon, and what if things changed? She decided to wait a couple more days.
But… if she didn’t tell anyone, how was she supposed to process it all alone?!
Zhou Zhuofei rolled around on the couch with her cat, nearly tumbling off the edge in her distraction.
It suddenly struck her that Du Yu’s advice had been quite sound—her overreaction was simply due to her lack of dating experience.
Everything was new to her, and she had no idea how to handle it.
Still, being new had its perks—every moment was a fresh experience. She just wondered what Xiao Wang’s situation was.
Recalling his effortless charm, she mused—no one could be that naturally skilled, right?
But was it appropriate to pry into his past on the very first day of dating?
Thus, the pitfalls of being a dating novice revealed themselves. Was there anyone who could teach her how to do this properly?!
When would she ever become one of those smooth-talking romance experts from novels, the kind who could make someone fall head over heels with just a few words?
So Zhou Zhuofei changed plans on the spot. She opened her gaming platform and dug through her neglected library of unplayed games, settling on a romance visual novel to test her skills.
The premise even matched her life—the protagonist was a career woman in the city.
Zhou Zhuofei eagerly propped her laptop on her knees, ready to dive in.
Having played so many games, she’d long since cracked the underlying logic of these stories—just align her choices with the love interest’s preferences, stay focused, and a happy ending would be a breeze.
So she breezed through one character’s route in just a few hours. But afterward, she didn’t feel as moved as she’d expected. Instead, it all felt… underwhelming.
The plot and choices were predictable. Though some lines carried a romantic flair, no amount of buildup could compare to a single real-life moment of heart-fluttering excitement.
As the ending credits rolled on the screen, Zhou Zhuofei slid her mouse and closed the window.
Oh well. She’d just have to figure it out herself.
The next morning, well-rested, Zhou Zhuofei began her usual workday routine.
She left home at her usual time, boarded her regular bus, and after getting off, headed straight for her go-to breakfast spot. As she stood at the end of the line, she instinctively glanced ahead.
Luck was on her side today—only five people ahead.
She pulled out her phone to prepare for payment, only to see a message from Xiao Wang:
[Did you leave yet?]
[I brought you breakfast—a tuna and egg salad sandwich. Left it on your desk. If you like it, no need to buy anything else.]
Both messages had been sent while she was on the bus. The crowded commute made her avoid using her phone, so she’d missed them.
Plus, she’d subconsciously assumed the day would only really start once she settled at her desk, so contacting Xiao Wang hadn’t even crossed her mind.
A tuna and egg salad sandwich? That sounded delicious!
Zhou Zhuofei made her choice instantly. Replying to Xiao Wang as she went, she stepped out of the line.
Who knew she could skip the queue for breakfast? Suddenly, Monday didn’t seem so bad.
She’d always known Xiao Wang arrived at the office early, but she hadn’t expected him to be there this early—early enough to buy breakfast and leave it at her desk.
He’d even assured her the office had been empty when he dropped it off, so no one would notice.
Even so, when Zhou Zhuofei stepped into the office, she couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. She peeked around cautiously, and once sure no colleagues were watching, hurried to her seat.
There, beside her keyboard, sat a paper bag. Without even setting her bag down, she reached for it, eager to see what was inside.
The moment she touched it, she noticed the bag had some heft—there had to be more than just a sandwich.
Opening it, she first spotted a fragrant bundle wrapped in foil, along with a bottle of milk and a palm-sized container filled with grapes, cherries, and blueberries.
A sticky note on the container read: [No need to wash—ready to eat.]
At first, when Xiao Wang said he’d brought her breakfast, she’d assumed he’d bought it somewhere.
But now, the more she looked, the more it seemed like… he’d prepared it himself?
She sat down to investigate further, but first, she replied to Xiao Wang’s message and snapped a photo of the spread.
With that done, she finally settled in to examine her breakfast properly.
Picking up the foil-wrapped sandwich, she found it still warm. As she peeled back a corner, the aroma rushed into her nose, instantly making her stomach growl.
Unwrapping it fully revealed a steaming sandwich, its golden-brown surface hinting at the rich filling inside.
Distraction was the greatest disrespect to good food. Zhou Zhuofei took a huge bite—the bread carried the rich scent of butter, crisp on the outside yet soft inside. Paired with fresh lettuce, tangy tomatoes, creamy eggs, savory tuna, and the zing of mayo—
At this very moment, this was the most perfect sandwich in the world!
Zhou Zhuofei ate with immense satisfaction, only remembering halfway through to send Xiao Wang a message praising it.
[This sandwich is sooooooooo good!]
She added a tearfully moved emoji for emphasis.
[Glad you like it. Any suggestions for improvement?]
[None at all—it’s already the most perfect sandwich in the world!]
[Then should I bring you another tomorrow? Or if you’d like to try a different flavor, that’s fine too.]
[Really? Then I’d be the happiest person alive! But you already arrive early, and now you’re making sandwiches—what time do you even wake up?]
Xiao Wang couldn’t help but smile at the reply. He hadn’t even mentioned it, yet Zhou Zhuofei had already guessed.
Normally, he made his own breakfast, though much simpler. Today, while preparing it, he’d naturally thought of Zhou Zhuofei.
Knowing she usually bought breakfast from the shop downstairs, he’d timed his message accordingly.
He hadn’t explicitly said he’d made it himself, wanting to give her the choice—to try it if she was curious or stick to her usual if she preferred.
As he pondered how to respond, footsteps echoed outside. He looked up to see Ling Yu striding toward his office.
Without hesitation, Xiao Wang quickly typed, [Talk later.] Then he stood, grabbed a folder, and followed Ling Yu inside.
The moment Ling Yu sat down, Xiao Wang took his place beside the desk, fully focused and ready for work. “Director Ling…”
Zhou Zhuofei received Xiao Wang’s message and guessed he must be busy. Not expecting an immediate reply, she leisurely finished her sandwich and opened the container of fruit.
Soon after, Luo Jing arrived at her desk, eyeing the spread and teasing, “Oh? No steamed buns today? Switching things up?”
Zhou Zhuofei replied with a smug “Mhm.”
Luo Jing then noticed the fruit container. “And fruit too? Eating healthy today, huh.”
“Gotta treat myself sometimes,” Zhou Zhuofei said, feigning nonchalance though her grin nearly reached her ears.
As more colleagues arrived, not wanting to draw attention, she quickly finished, tidied her desk, tossed the trash, and stashed the container.
She sent Xiao Wang another message, reiterating her love for the sandwich and asking how to return the container, then headed to the morning meeting.
Returning afterward, she immediately saw Xiao Wang’s reply:
[Give it to me after work. I’ll drive you home.]
The message caught her off guard—then she remembered. Right, it’s normal for a boyfriend to pick her up. Glancing at the paper bag by her feet, she felt it all underscored today’s difference.
—She was in a relationship.
At her lowest, Zhou Zhuofei had once believed love wasn’t essential, at least not for her.
She could handle life alone, managing everything without needing someone else’s involvement.
Yet now, Xiao Wang was weaving his way into her routine, and so far, it didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. In fact, it felt... nice.
She could already imagine Du Yu’s reaction: “Told you so.”
But either way, this had to be a good sign, right?
As the workday ended, Zhou Zhuofei carried the paper bag with the container out of the building.
Meeting at the underground parking lot felt too conspicuous, so they’d agreed on a street corner near the exit.
Xiao Wang’s car pulled up shortly after she arrived.
She slid into the passenger seat, and he asked softly, “Too hot out?”
“Not really. I barely waited long enough to sweat.” She checked her makeup in her compact mirror, then noticed something in her periphery.
Angling the mirror toward Xiao Wang, she caught his reflection—staring intently at her.
“What are you looking at? Is my makeup smudged?”
“I’m looking at…” His voice lowered, though nothing could dull its warmth. “My girlfriend.”
