Sang Lu froze for a moment, clutching her phone.
She slowly turned to look at the owner of the coat.
Feng Yan had his head slightly tilted back, eyes closed, exuding an aura that kept others at arm's length.
It was as if he had merely tossed his jacket to her on a whim, with no intention of offering further explanation.
Sang Lu withdrew her gaze in a daze.
Unnoticed by her, the man's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
The difference in their sizes was stark—Feng Yan's jacket hung loosely on Sang Lu, yet it enveloped her snugly, instantly warming her up.
Cool night breezes drifted in, scattering the faint warmth that had gathered at the tips of her ears.
In her heart, confusion outweighed surprise.
How had Feng Yan known she was a little cold?
Hadn't he had his eyes closed the whole time?
She hadn’t even sneezed or anything.
But in the next instant, joy eclipsed her bewilderment.
Her mood lightened considerably.
Why overthink it?
The important thing was—today hadn’t been a waste!
Yes!
Her relationship with the "Ice Block" had genuinely inched a tiny bit closer.
……
“What kind of background does that Sang Lu chick have? How’d she manage to marry into a family like the Fengs?”
At a barbecue joint outside the TV station, Group B had gathered to eat and gossip about the day’s events.
A bespectacled man slammed his glass onto the table.
His eyes gleamed with lewdness behind his lenses as he spoke:
“Who knows? Maybe she’s just good in bed.”
“What else do those elite heirs look for in a wife? Someone who knows how to please a man. Who knows what she’s like behind closed—”
Before he could finish, smack—
Luo Kai slapped him hard on the back.
“Shut your damn mouth, you idiot. Do you have a death wish? You think you can just casually discuss that man’s family affairs? If you want to talk shit, do it far away from me. Don’t drag me down with you.”
Just the mention of Feng Yan’s name made Luo Kai recall the icy glare he’d received earlier.
Even now, the memory sent a chill down his spine.
The bespectacled man gulped down his drink, swallowing his resentment, and forced a grin.
“Yeah, yeah, Brother Kai. Let’s drop that chick and talk about something fun—”
Someone asked, “Like what?”
“Like celebrating Brother Kai’s upcoming exchange opportunity at Qingmang TV! Now that’s some good news.”
“Oh, right, right!”
As the group cheered, Luo Kai’s phone buzzed.
[Director Wang: Luo, come to my office tomorrow morning.]
The TV station didn’t operate on a fixed weekend schedule—teams rotated shifts.
Luo Kai stared at the screen, startled. “Director Wang wants to see me tomorrow.”
Those around him immediately egged him on:
“See, Brother Kai? What did I tell you? Director Wang’s definitely calling you in to deliver the good news!”
One eager colleague raised his glass:
“Come on, let’s all toast to Brother Kai! Forget today’s mess. From now on, we’ll stick with Brother Kai and ride the wave to success!”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers—”
Though Luo Kai felt a flicker of joy, an undercurrent of unease remained.
As everyone toasted in his honor, he discreetly sent a message under the table:
[Director Wang, can you give me a heads-up? Is this good news or bad?]
Director Wang replied almost instantly:
[You don’t know what you’ve done? And you still expect good news?]
Luo Kai stiffened, his grip on the phone tightening.
[Director Wang: Since you’re asking now, I’ll break it to you early. The station’s cracking down on all unauthorized fundraising due to the rumors spreading. Luo, the violations they’ve dug up on you… well, it’s more than just one.]
Luo Kai’s face darkened.
Director Wang’s next message was blunt:
[You have two choices: get fired, or resign voluntarily.]
Thud.
His phone hit the floor.
“What’s wrong, Brother Kai? So happy you can’t even hold your phone steady?”
Luo Kai clenched his fists.
His face twitched before he suddenly slammed his own head with his hands.
“It’s over. It’s all over. Years of work—gone to hell!”
……
“Oh no, I almost forgot to tell you—”
Back at Qinghe Bay, Sang Lu had just sat down on the shoe bench when she suddenly looked up at Feng Yan.
“—The station’s sending me on a business trip next week. A five-day exchange program at Qingmang TV. I leave Monday.”
Feng Yan was loosening his tie with one hand. At her words, his gaze lowered.
Their eyes met briefly.
The warm yellow light of the entryway cast a soft glow over Sang Lu’s fair, delicate cheeks.
Her head tilted up slightly, her naturally curly hair framing her bright, clear eyes.
One second, she had started with “Oh no,” but the next, her eyes suddenly curved into crescents.
“But don’t worry~ I’ll definitely be back by Saturday. I won’t miss Doctor Ji’s visit.”
She beamed up at him, her smile reflecting in the deep, dark pools of his pupils.
Feng Yan’s expression faltered for half a second before he gave a slight nod.
With the recent rise in temperatures in the capital, Aunt Zhang had already swapped out the cotton slippers in the shoe cabinet for silk ones.
Sang Lu bent down, slipping into the delicate silk slippers. One ankle peeked out from the hem of her skirt, revealing a slender, pale wrist of skin.
One stood, one sat.
Feng Yan’s tall, imposing figure completely enveloped Sang Lu’s smaller frame.
His lashes dipped slightly as his heavy gaze traced over her.
She seemed so… small.
Her wrists, her ankles.
And… the waist he had briefly held.
It felt as though she could snap with the slightest pressure.
Yet her spirit was the complete opposite—tenacious, vibrant, bursting with life.
Just as his thoughts wandered, he noticed Sang Lu had finished changing her shoes.
Out of nowhere, she produced a hair tie. As her sleeves slid back, revealing delicate wrists, she effortlessly gathered her curls into a loose bun. A few stray strands framed her neck, accentuating the gentle curve of her collarbone.
Feng Yan suddenly remembered the cherry blossom hair clip she had worn before.
She always seemed to have these little accessories—brightly colored, adorned with playful patterns.
This hair tie, for instance, featured a cheerful orange sunflower.
