The bathroom was right next to the balcony. Xiang Yuan had come over to use it when she accidentally overheard the conversation between the two people. She instinctively stopped in her tracks.

“You just added the last sentence yourself, didn’t you?”

Xu Yanshi clearly knew Chen Shu’s temperament inside and out. With his back to Xiang Yuan, he leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He lowered his lead and let out a chuckle.

Chen Shu took a drag on her cigarette, neither confirming nor denying, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. As she flicked the smoke away, she said, “When did you become so lacking in confidence? Trust me, if you used even a tenth of the charm you use on Xiang Yuan on that boss’s daughter, even married women would be willing to divorce for you, and even aunties would be willing to reincarnate for you.”

Xu Yanshi kept his head down, saying nothing. His side profile looked clean and a little distracted.

Chen Shu stubbed out the cigarette and asked curiously, “Hey, are you two really just classmates?”

“Mm.” He answered softly.

But Chen Shu frowned in suspicion, eyeing him up and down with clear skepticism. “You seem to know her pretty well though? I’ve known you for so long, and while I wouldn’t say you’re stingy, going out in the middle of winter to buy crayfish for someone is really not like you.”

Xu Yanshi didn’t respond. From the living room, Gao Leng’s voice rang out, loud and piercing. “Sister Shu!”

It completely cut off their conversation.

Chen Shu casually glanced in the direction of the bathroom. Startled, Xiang Yuan quickly shrank back into the restroom. The door remained slightly ajar.

Chen Shu responded to Gao Leng with a vague hum, then thoughtfully stared at the gap in the bathroom door for a few seconds before slowly looking away. “Forget it, I won’t say more. But let me give you a heads-up. Chen Shan may be getting transferred soon. The board hasn’t been too satisfied with her performance in recent years and might send her to the Shanghai branch. If she’s gone before you get moved to headquarters, I think you should seriously consider what I just said. Her leaving won’t be good for you.”

Xu Yanshi casually stuffed his hands into his pockets and said mildly, “No need. Help me turn it down.”

Chen Shu couldn’t believe her ears. She lowered her voice, gritted her teeth, and said angrily, “Do you know how much a square meter costs inside the Fourth Ring in Beijing right now? Do you know how many people work their entire lives and still can’t afford an apartment like that? And you just reject it like it’s nothing? What the hell are you thinking?”

Xu Yanshi said nothing.

Chen Shu lost her patience. She let out a heavy sigh and, no longer wanting to argue, left one last line, “I really don’t know what kind of magic potion Chen Shan fed you.”

And then she stormed off in her high heels, heels clacking like a battlefield general.

Xiang Yuan came out of the restroom, leaned quietly against the wall, and gazed for a moment at the broad back of the man standing on the small balcony. Then she gathered her courage, went to the kitchen, grabbed two cans of beer, and headed toward him.

The moment she stepped out, Xu Yanshi noticed her. He turned to glance at her but quickly looked away, his expression unreadable.

Xiang Yuan handed him one of the beers and, under the moonlight, tried to sound casual as she asked, “Do you know what it means to have your wish granted?”

Xu Yanshi took the beer without opening it and placed it on the railing. He gave her a sidelong glance. “What?”

Xiang Yuan popped open her can and took a small sip with visible enjoyment.

“It’s when the person you like happens to like you back. Or when the cake you’re craving is already in the fridge. It’s when your desire is fulfilled right when you feel it.” Then she patted him hard on the shoulder and added with a serious tone, “Life’s short. Enjoy it while you can.”

They stood side by side, facing the park. In the misty night, the lake in the center of the park glowed faintly silver, like a bronze mirror studded with stars, nestled among artificial rock formations. Surrounding it were lush pine trees. People gathered below in small groups— playing chess, dancing, walking dogs. Nearby, old and new buildings stood intermingled. Neon lights flickered, and the city was bursting with color.

Xu Yanshi pulled one hand from his pocket and used it to open the can with a quick flick of his finger.

Xiang Yuan stared in amazement at his smooth one-handed beer opening. Then she heard him ask in an offhand tone, “Heard everything?”

Seeing him holding a beer and looking her over, Xiang Yuan immediately raised a hand as if taking an oath.

“I really didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I was just coming to use the bathroom and happened to hear you two talking……”

Xu Yanshi smiled without saying anything, seemingly unconcerned.

Xiang Yuan thought there would be a long silence. She didn’t dare start a new topic, so she just sipped her beer under the moonlight. But then, unexpectedly, she heard a soft voice beside her.

“Then I hope all your wishes come true.”

His voice was quiet, yet carried a strange power that pierced straight through her chest. She was shaken, stunned for a long time before she could react. It might have been the best blessing she had ever received.

‘May all your wishes come true. May every desire be fulfilled instantly.’

Her chest tightened, and her breath caught. She felt unprepared, caught off guard. She bit the edge of her can and, under the faint moonlight, peeked at the man beside her. The open collar of his jacket brushed gently against his cheek, reminding her of the clean-cut youth he used to be.

She softly replied, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He took a sip of beer, smiling as he brushed it off.

Though there were still many questions she wasn’t ready to ask, Xiang Yuan was brimming with curiosity.

After a pause, she said, “And thank you for the seafood sauce and crayfish today. I didn’t expect that after all these years, you’d still remember.”

He hadn’t expected her to bring that up. Truth was, Xu Yanshi had only done it out of convenience. He’d once heard Feng Jun talk about this ‘wish-fulfillment’ theory. He said this girl had been spoiled since childhood and that if she didn’t get what she wanted, she could throw a fit. Back in high school, if she couldn’t eat what she craved, she’d complain endlessly. So sometimes, when Feng Jun was too busy gaming to go out and buy things, he’d call Xu Yanshi— who was studying at the library— to help. After doing it a few times, Xu Yanshi remembered her preferences. Later, whenever they had hotpot, Feng Jun couldn’t even recall what seafood sauce she liked, but Xu Yanshi would mix it up for her without a second thought.

Those memories came rushing back. It felt like he hadn’t stepped out of that past role yet.

Xu Yanshi turned, leaned against the railing, set his beer down beside him, and gave her a sideways glance. “Don’t overthink it. I just don’t like it when women throw tantrums.”

“I’m not overthinking it.” Xiang Yuan mimicked his pose and leaned on the railing, her eyes lowered, smiling brightly. “It’s not like I’d be shameless enough to think you liked me. You’re smart and have a good memory, so it’s not surprising that you remembered my habits. I always knew it was you buying those things back then. Feng Jun was just taking the credit. But I’m curious. Did he boss you around a lot? Even if he’s rich, he couldn’t treat people like that, could he?”

Xu Yanshi chuckled, lowering his head, but didn’t answer.

Then Xiang Yuan added, “But about that thing in the grove……”

Xu Yanshi cut her off with a sideways glance, “Did you come tonight just to dig up old dirt?”

Xiang Yuan quickly passed the blame, “Hey, don’t wrong me. I clearly said I wouldn’t come. You’re the one who called me.”

“Fine, I brought this on myself.”

Xu Yanshi raised his hand in surrender.

For a moment, neither of them spoke, and they both looked away in opposite directions.

After thinking it through, Xiang Yuan started again, “I just think, since we’re already here, we might as well clear the air. Let’s leave the past behind and focus on work. I’ve broken up with Feng Jun for ages. Can’t we interact as two individuals now? I get the feeling you still see me as his girlfriend.”

Xu Yanshi asked, “Since when did you become so motivated?”

Xiang Yuan waved a hand. “Let’s just say, like you guys, I want to change my fate.”

“Like us? What makes you different?”

Of course, I’m different. Even if my business fails, I still have billions in assets to inherit. Do you?

But she couldn’t say that. So Xiang Yuan simply smiled and raised her beer can. “Stop picking at words. Come on, cheers. We’ve agreed, right? No grudges, no past baggage. From now on, we start fresh!”

Xu Yanshi didn’t respond. He glanced at her, then turned his head away.

Xiang Yuan, unfazed, continued with the new script, “Let me reintroduce myself. Hello, I’m Xiang Yuan, leader of Tech Team Two.”

She thought she heard him mutter, “Boring.”

She hadn’t expected him to play along anyway and was just about to drink and leave when she suddenly felt a light nudge on her hand.

She looked up in surprise. At some point, Xu Yanshi had picked up his beer can and tapped it lightly against hers, then lazily and briefly said, “Xu Yanshi.”

For some reason, those three syllables stirred her heart more than anything he’d done for her lately. It was enough to make her feel like a little deer had crashed into her chest.

And then, there was that blessing from earlier.

May all your wishes come true.

────ρя


The next day, at the office.

While everyone else was happily receiving gifts, only Xu Yanshi’s desk remained empty. Faced with his icy stare, Xiang Yuan nearly dropped to her knees and called him ‘dad.’

She sheepishly pulled out two lollipops again. “So here’s the thing, about these lollipops……”

Xu Yanshi glanced sideways at her, clearly waiting to hear how she’d spin it.

“These were from Gao Leng! He saw them in the northwest and remembered you liked them! I tried to stop him! I told him it was embarrassing to give lollipops as your first gift for someone, but he wouldn’t listen! Before I could even stop him, he had already bought them. I promise to teach him a lesson next time.”

Xiang Yuan rattled it all off in one breath, stuffed the lollipops into his hand, and ran off.