The old bar street always exuded a sense of decay and loneliness late at night. The streetlights, aged and covered in dust, cast a dim glow.

The faint, warm yellow light filtered through the windshield, illuminating the space between Fu Xiling’s forehead and nose. It turned his messy hair and lashes a golden hue, giving him a deceptive air of gentleness and kindness.

Fu Xiling mentioned betting but didn’t specify what the stakes were. It seemed more like a casual remark.

Shi Zhi crossed her arms, quietly staring at Fu Xiling, thinking how utterly inexplicable he was.

The tab for his drinks earlier? He’d paid for it himself, without letting her cover it. As for the “deal” they’d made about keeping her presence here a secret, she wasn’t even sure if his earlier “okay” still held any weight.

Fu Xiling spoke so confidently about Shen Jia not contacting her that Shi Zhi couldn’t help but wonder if he had said something unfavorable about her to Shen Jia.

This man seemed every bit the unreliable playboy.

He was nothing like Shen Jia. Shen Jia preferred light-colored outfits—simple shirts or T-shirts that complemented his ever-gentle “senior” image.

But Fu Xiling? Shi Zhi had seen him twice this semester, both times at a bar.

The last time, he wore a black T-shirt under a denim jacket adorned with fashionable details—sequins and plush toys, as if he was ready to strut down a runway. Tonight, his black T-shirt was paired with a flamboyant floral shirt.

Shi Zhi didn’t trust Fu Xiling, but she trusted Shen Jia and her judgment of people.

Shen Jia’s behavior was unusual, but it couldn’t be because of Fu Xiling. If Fu Xiling had indeed said something about her, Shen Jia wouldn’t believe it so easily.

Shi Zhi had always been cautious and had no intention of betting with someone she’d only met twice.

Fu Xiling didn’t seem to mind her refusal. Before leaving, he asked, “Heading back to campus? Want a ride?”

She declined.

The roar of the sports car faded into the distance as Shi Zhi walked back into the bar, her thoughts still churning over Shen Jia’s odd behavior.

What was going on?

While she was lost in thought, the rest of the staff seemed to be having a great time, their laughter and chatter filling the air as if it were a holiday.

Upstairs, Wan Ran and the others were gathered around the table where Fu Xiling had sat, already divvying up the untouched bottles of alcohol he’d left behind.

Lao Qian enthusiastically called out, asking if Shi Zhi wanted to join them.

From the way they acted, this clearly wasn’t the first time they’d done this. They’d likely been enjoying Fu Xiling’s unclaimed drinks for a while now.

Shi Zhi waved her hand. “You guys go ahead. Just make sure to clean up and lock up afterward.”

Wan Ran, holding a glass of whiskey, blew out a puff of smoke like a seductive enchantress. “Just to be clear, drinks paid for by customers don’t go on our tab, right?”

Shi Zhi wasn’t in the mood to banter with them anymore. She’d already reached the staff corridor by the storage room. Without looking back, she raised a hand and made an “OK” gesture.

Upstairs, Ling Ling’s excited voice rang out: “He’s like a god of wealth! Orders so much but only drinks mineral water. We get commission and fruit platters to eat—this is amazing!”

Lao Qian chimed in, “Don’t eat the watermelon—it’s too cheap. The grapes are the most expensive and sweet. I tried some while cutting the platter.”

That night when they celebrated Shen Jia’s birthday, none of the drinks at the neighboring table were touched either.

The bar was outrageously expensive, practically a money pit, where even a simple yogurt cost over two hundred yuan a glass. Fu Xiling had dared to order Macallan there.

And he didn’t even drink it.

With that kind of extravagance, there was no way he’d be lured here by a top-up promotion.

Especially not her aunt’s promotion: spending five thousand yuan for a mere two-hundred-yuan voucher. A man like Fu Xiling, who drove a sports car and spent money like water, wouldn’t even glance at such a deal.

So, what was he doing here?

Shi Zhi paused mid-step, her gaze sharpening as she looked out the window.

The street outside was dark and quiet. A stray cat crouched by an old trash bin, scavenging for food.

When she’d first moved into the bar, her uncle and aunt had mentioned plans for a massive convention center nearby, which might boost foot traffic.

At the time, the neighboring shop owners had been abuzz with optimism, often gathering to excitedly discuss the news.

But over time, those rumors lost credibility. Expectations fizzled out, and no one mentioned it anymore in the past two years.

What in this area could possibly interest Fu Xiling?

Fu Xiling’s actions were often inscrutable, but there was one thing he’d said that was undeniably true.

That night, Shen Jia did not contact Shi Zhi.

The call came the next morning at six.

As warm and considerate as he usually was, Shen Jia would never have called her this early on a weekend.

Still half-asleep, Shi Zhi groggily answered.

On the other end, Shen Jia seemed even more flustered than she was. Before she could ask any questions, he launched into a hurried explanation about the previous day:

Apparently, just before the concert ended, he’d received word that a childhood friend studying abroad had suddenly returned to the country. Rushing to the airport to pick them up, he’d missed the encore.

“We decided to have a little gathering at my place. By the time we got home, it was late, my phone was dead, and I thought I’d video call you after charging it. But maybe because the concert was so much fun—or maybe because of the drinks—I fell asleep.”

Shi Zhi paused for a few seconds, carefully choosing her words. “It’s fine. I was just a little worried when you didn’t reply.”

“Sorry, that was my bad,” Shen Jia apologized profusely before asking, “Are you still at your uncle’s place? Can you come out today? Let me make it up to you.”

“I’m not going out today. Let’s meet tomorrow when I’m back at school.”

The day Shi Zhi returned to campus, she had no morning classes. As soon as she arrived at her dorm and dropped off her backpack, Shen Jia called her. Answering, she stepped onto the balcony to look downstairs.

The weather was beautiful. Shen Jia stood below, waving at her with a serious expression, not smiling. “Shi Zhi, don’t be mad. Let’s have breakfast together, okay?”

Beside him on a flowerbed was a deep red paper box that read “Cherries”—a gift for her.

Shi Zhi had chosen Shen Jia as her boyfriend after careful consideration. She’d been thoroughly satisfied with every aspect of him.

Faced with the current situation, she wasn’t sure what to do.

Having grown up moving between relatives’ homes, Shi Zhi had lived in places like mahjong parlors, barber shops, and restaurants. She’d dealt with all kinds of personalities and was no naïve innocent.

Shen Jia’s explanations—whether they omitted key details—she could discern.

But were these doubts enough to end their relationship immediately? Or should she wait and observe a little longer?

After two seconds of silence, she gave him an out. “What are we eating?”

Shen Jia brightened instantly. “Anything you want! I drove here, so we can go as far as you’d like.”

“Aren’t you going to the lab?”

“Not before I make sure you’re not upset. Otherwise, I’ll be too distracted to focus.”

They had breakfast together. Shi Zhi didn’t complain or get upset. She was decisive by nature—once she made a decision, she wouldn’t dwell on it.

On the way, Shen Jia kept trying to lighten the mood by chatting. “The tabby cat outside your dorm? I’ve fed it so many times, but it still doesn’t like me. When I tried to pet it earlier, it hissed at me…”

Shi Zhi replied, “Tabbies are smart. It knows you’re the kind of guy who doesn’t text his girlfriend back. It doesn’t like you.”

At a red light, Shen Jia grabbed her hand, repeating twice, “I was wrong,” before adding, “Next time, I promise to notify my girlfriend in advance so you won’t worry.”

Shi Zhi had wanted to ask—someone as meticulous as Shen Jia, who excelled even under the harshest mentor during his graduate studies, never making a mistake—what had caused him to lose his composure twice now?

But she let it slide, smiling instead. “I’ve already punished you. I was going to eat cafeteria buns, but to penalize you, I picked a faraway place instead.”

After breakfast, Shen Jia rushed to the lab but stopped mid-run to come back and say, “Let’s have dinner together tonight. I booked a Western restaurant. You can head there first, and I’ll join after meeting my advisor.”

Shi Zhi followed the location he sent and waited in the fourth-floor restaurant of a mall.

By 8 p.m., she was still waiting, but Shen Jia hadn’t arrived.

At 9:30 p.m., after finishing a steak set by herself, Shi Zhi left the mall and returned to her dorm, finally receiving Shen Jia’s call.

“Sorry, Shi Zhi. My childhood friend seems unwell after being abroad for so long—they’re running a high fever. I’m at the hospital now…”

Shi Zhi replied indifferently, “Take care of it. I’ve eaten.”

Later, Shen Jia called again, but Shi Zhi didn’t pick up.

The next morning, at the cafeteria’s bun stall, Shen Jia intercepted her.

“I went to your dorm and your roommate said you were eating here, so I—”

Shi Zhi interrupted him, staring intently. “That childhood friend of yours who returned from abroad—is it a girl?”

Shen Jia froze.

“Is it a girl?”

“…Yes,” he admitted, grabbing her hand. “But I—”

So this was the root of the issue.

Shi Zhi had always believed she held the upper hand in their relationship.

She thought her rationality ensured she would always know the right words and actions, never losing her composure.

But now, she felt profoundly wronged and deeply hurt.

Her eyes reddened, though pride kept her from breaking down. She suppressed her feelings, speaking in a low, measured voice, “Shen Jia, you know what this is doing to our relationship, right?”

She wrenched her hand free, and the white jade bracelet on her wrist flew off.

Early that morning, Fu Xiling’s presence at University B surprised even Zhou Lang.

Having worked late in the lab, Zhou Lang yawned as he accepted the coffee Fu Xiling brought. “You’ve been hanging around here a lot lately. What’s going on?”

“Fu Xifeng’s back. I’d rather avoid running into him.”

“Oh…” Zhou Lang downed his coffee in a few gulps, looking half-dead. “Let me take you to the cafeteria for some buns. They’re popular, just like the crawfish we had the other day.”

“Let’s go.”

Fu Xiling didn’t mention the other reason he was here—to see if he could run into someone and collect a bet.

As they entered the cafeteria, Zhou Lang nudged him. “Hey, isn’t that Shen Jia and his girlfriend? The vibe’s not great…”

The bun stall was bustling, crowded with people eating, studying, or scrolling on their phones. But some had already put down their chopsticks to watch the drama.

Fu Xiling thought for a moment and walked over.

Before he got far, a string of white beads flew toward him. He caught it effortlessly.