Chapter 3: The Idol Is Back: They Say He’s Single and Easy to Pursue

Zhou Beiming froze.

Lowering his dark, unreadable gaze, he looked at the woman in his arms.

The lipstick on Su Nian’s lips had nearly faded, leaving only a natural flush—rosy and alluring.

Her delicate brows and innocent eyes gave off such timidity that it stirred a wicked urge to bully her thoroughly.

Zhou Beiming’s throat rolled smoothly. He had no interest in anything else now.

He snapped at the cleaner, “Still standing there for what?”

She scrambled to gather her broom and dustpan, wishing she had wheels under her feet.

Silence returned to the stairwell.

Su Nian lay against Zhou Beiming’s chest, listening to the powerful thump of his heartbeat.

He lifted her chin, forcing her to look up. “Everyone’s dying to show their face around me. But you? Being with me is like you’re ashamed.”

Su Nian steadied herself on his shoulder and tried to create some distance between them.

She had followed the rules her whole life—never imagined she’d become someone’s mistress.

Yet here she was, two years in.

And the man was a notorious playboy.

Be seen with him?

She lowered her eyes, always submissive in front of Zhou Beiming. “Weren’t we going to eat? I already ordered.”

Turning her head, she slipped her chin from between his fingers and left first.

They had dinner together, then returned to his place.

Ye Wanzhen hadn’t been wrong—Zhou Beiming really was “seven times a night.”

His desire was fierce. He wouldn’t stop until he’d practically taken her apart.

No matter how tired she was, Su Nian never stayed the night.

Once done, she’d leave.

But tonight, Zhou Beiming sat on the bed, pulled her back by the waist, and nestled his face against her bare back.

His buzzcut brushed her skin, slightly prickly.

Her father had once said that Su Fu had been propped up solely by Zhou Beiming’s money. Until the new energy project took off, it was nothing but a money pit.

And someone had to fill that hole.

So, if Zhou Beiming still wanted her, she wouldn’t refuse.

Su Nian asked softly, “Still want to?”

“Mm.” Zhou Beiming turned her over.

He could see her entire body, and just one look was enough to make his addiction flare.

But seeing her legs trembling, he changed his mind and let her go.

Reaching for his cigarette case, he suddenly remembered—it was in the car.

Su Nian had asthma. As long as she was there, he wouldn’t smoke.

With no outlet and unable to smoke, he could only vent by kissing her soft, addicting lips again.

It wasn’t until Su Nian collapsed again that he finally let up.

Her eyes shimmered, her body flushed. Zhou Beiming chuckled darkly. “Little Bunny, still as useless as ever.”

Su Nian, exhausted, buried her face against his chest, curling up.

Zhou Beiming waited until she calmed down before speaking again. “The old man at home is rushing me to get married. What do you think?”

Su Nian, slightly more comfortable, looked at him with hazy eyes. “I don’t want to be the other woman.”

She was being honest.

Wrecking someone else’s marriage deserved a lightning strike.

But Zhou Beiming twisted her words. “You want to be the legal wife?”

Su Nian frowned slightly but hadn’t answered when he continued casually, “Not impossible. I’ll pick someone to get the license with. The old man will be fuming. Just thinking about it is fun.”

He brushed the bridge of her nose with his fingers. “It’s settled, then. Don’t leave tonight. We’ll register the marriage tomorrow.”

Are you ready for your next casual date?

Crazy.

Su Nian didn’t have his frivolous, devil-may-care attitude. “The Zhou family wouldn’t accept someone from a humble background. I’m not worthy.”

Zhou Beiming played along seriously. “True. You’re not. But I don’t care. No need for pressure.”

When it came to climbing the social ladder, Zhou Beiming was a master.

Su Nian wanted to refuse.

But he didn’t give her a chance. “No prenuptial agreement. If we divorce, you get half the assets. You won’t lose out.”

His net worth was unimaginable.

This man fell for anyone he liked. Who knew when he’d meet someone new and divorce her on a whim?

Still, maybe with money, Su Fu could revive. Maybe her mother would come home more often.

But the way Zhou Beiming stared at her—with eyes full of amusement—made Su Nian feel like he was hiding something.

Then her phone rang.

Su Nian glanced at the screen—Gu Yincheng.

She had deleted his contact, but not from her memory.

She didn’t answer.

Moments later, a text came through:

—Can we meet?

Su Nian froze. She moved on instinct—only to realize her finger was still hooked by Zhou Beiming’s.

He asked, “Don’t want to?”

To him, marriage was a game. No matter how much she stood to gain, emotionally, she just couldn’t do it.

Su Nian gave a soft “Mm.” “Find someone else.”

He had plenty of women. She wasn’t the only one.

She got up from his arms, picked up her clothes, and began dressing. “I’m going home.”

Silence behind her.

Su Nian didn’t go back to the Su residence. Instead, she returned to her own apartment.

It was a gift from her father after she agreed to become Zhou Beiming’s mistress.

Around a hundred square meters. Good location. Close to Zhou Beiming’s place.

His intentions were obvious.

The next morning, Su Nian left early—and ran into Gu Yincheng downstairs.

His tall figure stood in the lobby.

Two years apart, neither of them had changed much.

Su Nian was pursuing her doctorate at A University, dressed plainly like a student. Gu Yincheng still looked clean and composed, like the dependable boy next door.

Only their gazes had changed. Su Nian’s eyes held no more affection—only a cold indifference, like looking at a stranger. Gu Yincheng’s eyes, however, were hazy and unreadable.

He walked up to her and stopped. “Two years, and you’re still mad? What a temper.”

He was only two years older than her, yet always treated her like a child.

Children’s affairs never mattered. Like when adults think it’s funny to strip a child and make them run around naked—never considering the child’s feelings.

Maybe that was how Gu Yincheng had felt two years ago when he saw her confession letter posted on the bar counter. Just amusing, not serious.

Su Nian met his gaze calmly. “I’m not mad.”

Gu Yincheng reached to pat her head. Her back stiffened, and she instinctively took a step back.

The small movement didn’t go unnoticed.

He smiled bitterly. “You say that, but you ignored my message last night, and now you’re acting like you don’t want to see me.”

Su Nian replied coolly, “Really, I’m not mad.”

It was all in the past.

She changed the subject. “Yincheng-ge, is there something you need?”

Gu Yincheng withdrew his hand. “I heard your lab’s working on a new robot system. Our company’s interested in a collaboration. Can you help connect us?”

Su Nian nodded. “I’ll ask Director He. He handles the business side.”

She had learned to code because of Gu Yincheng—dreaming one day they’d work side by side.

Now that the chance had come, everything had changed.

After speaking, she turned to leave, but her wrist was caught.

Gu Yincheng suddenly said, “Nian Nian, I’m single now. Very easy to pursue.”

So much hidden between those words.

Had she heard that two years ago, she might’ve chased him without hesitation. Might never have ended up in Zhou Beiming’s bed.

But now, it sounded grating.

Su Nian suppressed the bitterness and said lightly, “You’re so outstanding, Yincheng-ge. Still young and promising. There’ll be plenty of girls chasing you.”

She tried to pull her hand back.

But he didn’t let go. She couldn’t break free.

A man’s strength always outweighed a woman’s.

They stood side by side—one facing south, one facing north.

He asked, “What about you? Didn’t you like me? Want to give it a try?”

Su Nian was dazed. She could hardly remember what it felt like to like him anymore.

Only the vague memory of secretly loving him, like Su Feixiao.

He’d come and go, and she’d rush to greet him.

For every occasion—big or small, holidays or birthdays—she’d spend days picking out gifts.

When he showed her a rare moment of warmth, she’d be giddy the entire night, unable to sleep, dreaming up a whole fairytale romance in her mind…

But now, that fairytale had long since shattered—replaced by the chaos of adulthood.

“I…”

A soft round of applause interrupted her.

They both looked up—Zhou Beiming had arrived.

A cigarette between his fingers, he seemed to have watched the whole scene unfold.

Clapping lazily, he strolled over at an unhurried pace. “Little Bunny, you always act so obedient. But just one night apart and you’re already putting a green hat on me?”