The library remained silent.
As Lin Zhiyan and Le Mang left, Ai Wen frantically gathered the books and devices on the table, wanting to chase after them. Or rather, she should have followed the moment Lin Zhiyan walked away—but with Le Mang nearby, she hadn’t dared.
Yet now, even with Le Mang gone, Li Siheng was still there.
He watched coldly as Ai Wen packed up, and just as she took a step to leave, he spoke: "Ai Wen."
Her heart burned with frustration, but she didn’t dare show it, forcing herself to stop with a stiff expression.
"You’re close with her, but haven’t you realized you two aren’t from the same world?" Li Siheng’s voice was soft. His gray-black eyes slowly swept over her, a gaze that traveled upward before finally locking onto hers. "Don’t you think her very existence is irritating?"
Ai Wen shivered under his stare, startled by the sharpness so unlike his usual silent, wooden demeanor. Her voice trembled slightly. "I don’t know what you mean, but I don’t believe in judging people by their background. She’s a good person."
By the end, her voice steadied, and she added, "You and Senior Ze Fei have already treated her unfairly. Can’t you at least let her have friends?"
Li Siheng smiled. Golden light streamed through the glass, illuminating his gray-black hair and striking features. Perhaps it was the brilliance of the light, but even his usually dull appearance now seemed impossible to look away from.
"You’ve misunderstood me," he said.
The moment the words left his lips, the dazzling radiance faded.
Li Siheng stood. "If you want to find her, I’ll take you."
Ai Wen froze. "How do you know where she is? And why would you help me? You clearly—"
She caught herself and quickly shut her mouth.
"Someone just told me she got into Le Mang’s car," Li Siheng continued. "She’s probably at his place now, but you won’t be able to get in alone—not even as his cousin."
Ai Wen’s fingers tightened around her book. She said nothing, recognizing the veiled mockery but unable to refute it. It was the truth—her parents relied on Le Mang’s family, and even her mother’s position as a court instructor had been secured through Le Mang’s mother’s recommendation. The only time she and her parents visited was during family gatherings.
In the end, she silently got into Li Siheng’s car.
Before long, the car stopped outside Le Mang’s estate.
As soon as they parked, Ai Wen spotted several other cars pulling up in the rearview mirror. Her hands clenched over her knees, nerves twisting in her stomach—she had a sinking feeling it might be her aunt’s car.
Her premonition proved correct.
A butler approached their car and addressed Li Siheng. "Madam Esella says it’s been too long. She’s missed you."
Only then did the butler seem to notice Ai Wen. "Miss Ai Wen, you’re here as well."
Li Siheng nodded with a polite smile and stepped out.
Ai Wen fidgeted with her dress before reluctantly following. The moment she exited, her gaze landed on Aunt Esella’s fiery auburn hair—the same shade Le Mang had inherited—gleaming like molten copper in the sunlight. It was paired with the emerald badge of the Head Court Instructor, pinned to her chest, its green shimmer mirroring her piercing eyes.
Ai Wen glanced down at her own red hair, suddenly finding it dull and lifeless in comparison.
Some differences were decided the moment you were born.
Aunt Esella embraced Li Siheng warmly before smiling. "Le Mang came back first? Why didn’t he wait for you?"
Then she turned to Ai Wen, her smile still in place. "Ai Wen, you’re here too. Send my regards to your parents."
Ai Wen forced a smile but didn’t dare reply.
Li Siheng answered smoothly, "I had some business to take care of, so I told Le Mang not to wait."
Then he added, "Is he in the lounge or his room?"
The butler standing nearby hesitated before answering awkwardly, "He’s in the garden… with a classmate."
Aunt Esella’s smile vanished. "Perfect. I have something to discuss with him. I’ll join you."
Le Mang’s car pulled up in front of an extravagant villa, where a line of servants rushed forward—some opening doors, others helping him out of his coat. When Lin Zhiyan stepped out from the other side, she was met with the near-theatrical display of wealth and grandeur, her mind reeling.
What was he bringing her to his house for?
Had their relationship escalated beyond what she’d assumed?
She’d just wanted to scrape together some book money—was she really about to dive into the deep end after just a few days of school?
Lin Zhiyan kept her expression neutral, but internally, she’d already decided: if it came to that, she’d play along before quietly curling up to cry. That way, she could secure more money than expected while making it easier to cut ties later.
"Enough, get away from me!" Le Mang seemed embarrassed to be pampered in front of her, shooing the servants off before turning to her. "Stop spacing out. Follow me."
Lin Zhiyan obeyed, trailing him through a maze of opulent buildings and lavish decor, her mind buzzing with disbelief.
The world had plenty of rich people, but her understanding of wealth had always been abstract. Seeing it materialize before her eyes felt like stumbling upon some mythical beast.
By the time Le Mang stopped, her brain was still racing, churning out half-baked criminal schemes.
The impoverished soil of District 16 had truly raised her rotten.
She sighed inwardly.
Le Mang led her to a sprawling garden, where flowers bloomed in blindingly vibrant hues. They walked deeper into the grove until they reached a small wooden shed. He stepped inside and emerged with a toolbox.
Click.
Inside were several finely crafted axes.
Le Mang hefted one and handed another to her. "Help me chop wood."
Lin Zhiyan: "…What?"
So Le Mang’s real name is Wu Gang.
Ugh. Manual labor?
Might as well have taken the other route.
Her soul withered.
Le Mang tossed his coat aside, rolled up his sleeves, and gripped the axe with both hands before hacking into a tree. He swung with the fury of a man possessed, his green eyes blazing, his red hair whipping with each motion.
Wood chips flew everywhere.
Between swings, he roared: "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Li Siheng, you bastard! You deserve to be used as Ze Fei’s lackey, kicked around like a dog! Go to hell!"
Lin Zhiyan blinked. "You’re venting?"
"Yeah!" Le Mang paused, panting, and glared at her. "Why are you just standing there? Start chopping! You still want your money, don’t you?"
Lin Zhiyan hesitated. "Should I yell too?"
Le Mang’s eyes flickered. "Wait—was I yelling?"
"Loud enough to deafen me, so if you keep going, I won’t hear a thing." She smirked, lifting her axe. "But Li Siheng really is the worst."
Le Mang exhaled sharply before attacking the tree again with renewed fury.
After several more swings, he spat, "He’s just good at pissing people off."
You’re not exactly harmless either.
But at least you’re not dangerous.
Lin Zhiyan smiled but played along, swinging her axe in sync. Yet after a few strikes, a surge of raw anger shot from her chest to her arms, fueling her swings until she was hacking away with wild enthusiasm—as if the tree were one of the school’s privileged elites.
For a moment, the two of them seemed like wildlings, hacking at the tree with such fervor that they lost all sense of time and place.
After more than ten minutes, both were panting heavily, collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion.
Le Mang’s face was drenched in sweat. His red hair clung to his flushed, fair skin, and wood chips stuck to his face and strands of hair, making him look like a red-haired tin woodman straight out of a fairy tale.
Lin Zhiyan’s mind was numb, every cell in her body trembling as a tingling numbness spread from her hands to her shoulders and then to her temples.
Le Mang glanced at her, first noticing the fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose and the flush on her cheeks.
"What’s wrong? Done with the tree, so now you’re going to chop me up next?"
Her puzzled voice rang out.
Le Mang’s gaze lifted, meeting her dark, inky eyes. His lips moved slightly, his voice hoarse as he said, "You were enjoying yourself just now too. You’re also angry at Li Siheng, aren’t you?"
"I’m not angry," Lin Zhiyan thought for a moment before replying. "I’ve grown so numb that I can’t even muster anger for most things anymore."
"Liar," Le Mang retorted, as if unable to comprehend. "You’re clearly quick to anger, always snapping back with a mouthful of words."
Lin Zhiyan raised her hand, reaching toward him. "If someone were truly angry, they wouldn’t actually say so much."
It’s all just playing a role—who would actually dare to challenge the elites?
Le Mang instinctively flinched away, then quickly added, "I’m not used to people touching me."
"It’s fine," Lin Zhiyan withdrew her hand, her eyes lingering on his red hair before drifting to his face. "You’ve got a lot of wood chips on you."
Her tone was light, carrying a hint of amusement.
Whether it was her gaze or her words that unsettled him, Le Mang felt a fire ignite in his chest, burning all the way up to his head. He sprang to his feet, still struggling to catch his breath, his words stumbling. "E-enough! I like having wood chips on me! Y-you—you should leave already!"
As he spoke, his trembling hands fumbled over his body, growing increasingly frustrated. He bent down to grab his jacket, rummaging through it before snapping, "Just go, you’re in my way!"
Bro, the money—where’s the money?!
Do elites like you even stiff people on payment?!
Lin Zhiyan was frantic, staring at Le Mang.
But under her gaze, Le Mang only grew more agitated, as if the fire inside him had spread through his entire body, leaving him restless. Finally, he tossed his jacket aside, glanced around, bit his lip, and yanked the watch off his wrist before throwing it at Lin Zhiyan, who was still sitting on the ground.
"Consider this your payment," he said stiffly. "Now get out of here!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Le Mang realized something was off. He watched as the smile faded from Lin Zhiyan’s face, replaced by a calm, unreadable expression—her dark eyes reflecting his own image back at him.
…No, I didn’t mean—
…Ah, poker face.
The term flashed abruptly in his mind.
His brow twitched. "I—"
But the words clogged in his throat.
An apology wouldn’t come. Bowing his head was impossible. He had long grown accustomed to being rude and offensive—after all, he relished looking down on others. But having indulged in that, he now had to bear the weight of this moment, the stone lodged in his throat. He stood frozen.
Lin Zhiyan picked up the watch from the grass and stood.
Le Mang’s eyes flickered. "If you don’t want it, just throw it away. It’s all I have on me right now."
He wanted to explain, but the words came out all wrong.
It’s over.
That was all that echoed in his mind.
He didn’t even understand what was over, but his body felt cold, the earlier sweat now a clammy, sticky dampness clinging to his skin.
Lin Zhiyan examined the exquisite, gem-encrusted watch. "It looks expensive, but unfortunately, I don’t know its worth, and I don’t know anyone who would."
She debated whether to play the part of the wronged party, accepting the watch and leaving with dignity. But then she noticed Le Mang’s curled fingers and abandoned the idea—this thread could be drawn out longer.
Le Mang, unable to bear her words, snapped, his voice sharp. "Just take the damn watch and go, alright? I’m sick of looking at you—get out!"
Yet even as he spoke, he turned to leave himself, as if forgetting he was the one who belonged here.
His rationality was hanging by a thread, his chest tight with the urge to hide. But after just two steps, warmth suddenly encircled his wrist. His heart lurched, and he whipped around. "What are you—"
The words died in his throat.
Lin Zhiyan was carefully fastening the watch back onto his wrist, her head bowed in concentration.
Le Mang’s voice wavered, his heart rising and falling erratically. "Why are you giving it back?"
"My work isn’t worth this much," Lin Zhiyan said, releasing his wrist. "You can pay me the standard hourly wage for the central district—ask Ai Wen for my terminal ID. I’ll accept the transfer this time."
She paused. "Or, you don’t have to pay at all." A faint smile touched her lips. "Chopping wood with you was actually kind of fun."
For a moment, it was as if Le Mang had come back to life. His nose stung, the tension in his scalp easing into a prickling itch. His voice was barely more than a whisper, like the faintest line drawn by a ballpoint pen. "Why didn’t you throw it in my face?"
"Maybe because I think you’re different from them," Lin Zhiyan replied lightly. "If you don’t want to see me, I’ll head back. See you at school."
"I—I didn’t mean—" Le Mang faltered, then finally muttered, "See you at school."
Before Lin Zhiyan could respond, a stern woman’s voice cut through the air from nearby. "It seems your discussion is over."
Le Mang stiffened, turning to look.
—His mother, Li Siheng, and Ai Wen.
They had been standing there for some time.
Lin Zhiyan tensed as well—not out of embarrassment at being caught in a romantic moment, but in anticipation of being handed a wad of cash and told to stay away from Le Mang. Reality, however, disappointed her.
Esella pulled a slender, polished riding crop from her pocket, stepping toward Le Mang. The whip sliced through the air with a sharp whoosh before raining down on his shoulders, arms, and waist.
"Where are your manners? Your posture?" Esella’s voice was icy. "You uncultured brat!"
Le Mang’s handsome face twisted in anger. "Mom!"
Esella’s gaze was frigid. "You’ll come see me later."
She turned to Li Siheng and Ai Wen, smiling faintly. "You two talk."
From start to finish, Lin Zhiyan might as well have been invisible—dismissed without a second thought.
Once Esella left, Li Siheng sighed. "You really need to fix this habit of yours."
"None of your damn business!" Le Mang shouted, his face still marked with red streaks, though his entire neck and ears burned a deeper pink. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Lin Zhiyan. "All of you, just—get away from me! Especially you, Li Siheng! What are you even doing in my house?!"
He clawed at his red hair, as if the heat inside him might steam through his scalp.
I’d rather she stormed off thinking I insulted her than see Mom hit me like that.
"I’ll go ahead," Lin Zhiyan said.
Le Mang turned away, dropping back onto the ground with his back to them.
Right now, he wanted nothing more than to chop down a few more trees.
"Ah, wait—I actually came to find you," Ai Wen quickly interjected, stepping to Lin Zhiyan’s side. "I already called a driver. Let me take you home. Oh—wait, are you still working?"
Lin Zhiyan smiled slightly. "Just finished. Thanks in advance, then."
She and Ai Wen had only taken a few steps when her reply reached Le Mang clearly. He buried his head in his knees, his eyes glistening with moisture.
Li Siheng stood behind Le Mang and remarked, "I thought Esella would stay at the Mod Palace for a few more days."
The Mod Palace was the official residence of the royal family of Huanxing.
Le Mang snapped, "Get lost."
Li Siheng glanced at Le Mang’s red hair, now speckled with debris, and lowered his gaze. "Sorry."
The clouds on the horizon were dyed crimson by the sunset, then faded into the gray of night.
A car slowly pulled up by the roadside, where garbage piled up along the street.
"Thanks for bringing me back," Lin Zhiyan said to Ai Wen, then added with a chuckle, "But did I waste your time? You seemed upset the whole way. Did Li Siheng threaten you or something?"
"No, it's just..." Ai Wen bit her lip, hesitating before finally saying, "I’m happy to see you and Le Mang getting along better. But at the same time, I feel like... I don’t know anything."
Her words came out haltingly.
Lin Zhiyan paused, then replied after a few seconds, "Honestly, I only just realized it myself—that we’re getting along better."
Ai Wen blinked. "What?"
Lin Zhiyan grinned. "Maybe it’s because you’re so nice that I’ve started associating redheads with good people. So I couldn’t bring myself to dislike Le Mang that much. And then, by accident, I found out he’s actually kind of fun."
She knew the words sounded cheesy, but they seemed to work. Sure enough, Ai Wen smiled—though the expression faded just as quickly.
Ai Wen murmured, "Yeah, his family is... nice."
Though not entirely.
She didn’t voice the contradiction, only watched as Lin Zhiyan got out of the car. After a few steps, Lin Zhiyan turned back as if sensing her gaze, waving cheerfully.
"Buzz—"
The vibration of her terminal interrupted her stare.
[Le Mang: Give me Lin Zhiyan’s ID.]
[Le Mang: Now.]
Ai Wen bit her lip.
The night deepened, fine raindrops seeping through the cracks of a shabby house with the wind.
Lin Zhiyan had paced nearly forty thousand steps in her tiny four-by-four-meter room, despair weighing on her heart.
Damn it, why hadn’t Le Mang added her and sent the money yet?
Had she overplayed her act?
Did he really think chopping wood together was some sweet memory that didn’t require payment?!
Fuck! She should’ve just run off with his watch!
This was bad—really bad! Classes started in two or three days, and now everything was ruined!
Outwardly calm, Lin Zhiyan was internally exploding, clutching her head and silently screaming into her bed. After cycling through a thousand desperate thoughts, she started bulk-downloading social apps.
At this point, she needed a backup plan.
As she debated whether she could scrape together enough money in two days by being both an online tutor and a digital philanthropist, her terminal buzzed—a friend request popped up.
[Verification message: If you still want your pay, accept this now!]
Lin Zhiyan exhaled sharply in relief and immediately hit accept.
The moment she did, a barrage of messages flooded in.
[Le Mang: Come to where you got out of the car last time.]
[Le Mang: Pick me up!]
[Le Mang: Hurry! This weather is terrifying!]
...I wanted money, not you delivering yourself to my doorstep!
Lin Zhiyan wanted to scream.
...Patience. Patience. Patience.
It’s fine. You’ll figure something out!
After a bit of self-pep-talk, she threw on a raincoat and rushed outside.
The fine rain fell like silver threads, and the night fog crept in, turning every building into a looming monster. No wonder Le Mang had said it was scary—it really was unsettling.
Lin Zhiyan hurried to the spot where she’d last gotten out of the car, spotting headlights in the distance, blindingly bright. A figure darted through the light, stepping forward. Raindrops clung to his red hair and sharp features, his green eyes gleaming. He waved frantically, jumping up and down to make sure she saw him.
"Here! Here! Come quick!"
His voice was bright with excitement, his red hair whipping in the wind.
Lin Zhiyan closed the distance in a few strides, but Le Mang met her halfway, grabbing her wrist and pulling her along. His clothes were soaked a shade darker by the rain and mist, droplets clinging to his neck and threading through his hair.
He dragged her to the back of the car and popped the trunk open with a sharp click.
Proud and triumphant, he announced, "This is your payment. No complaints now!"
Lin Zhiyan looked—and saw a trunk full of books. The crisp scent of new paper and ink filled the air, every volume still sealed in plastic. All of them were required reading for her elective courses.
She was silent for a long moment.
Le Mang grabbed her shoulders and shook her, equal parts frantic and annoyed. "Why aren’t you saying anything?! What’s wrong with this?! Lin Zhiyan, don’t push your luck, I swear—"
He cut off when she rose onto her tiptoes, staring up at him.
Le Mang’s pupils constricted, his gaze locking onto hers.
Then, in one swift motion, she tore off her raincoat and draped it over his head. The translucent fabric was dotted with tiny droplets, and he blinked in confusion, vision blurred. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Her hand pressed against the raincoat, warmth seeping into his hair.
Through the crinkling plastic, Le Mang could only see her face, distorted and surreal. But then, barely audible over the rain, her voice came softly.
"Were you standing in the rain for long?"
His throat bobbed.
For once, none of his usual brash words came out—just a shaky, "Yeah."
Lin Zhiyan smiled. "Then come to my place to shower and change. Don’t catch a cold."
She seemed to reconsider. "Ah, wait, actually—"
Le Mang ripped the raincoat off his head and yelled, "No take-backs! No ‘actually’!"
