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Xu En’tang clicked on the notification pushed by the app.
The page redirected, revealing a photo posted just over ten minutes ago, already trending on the hot search list.
The caption read: [#Zhao Man’s Mysterious Boyfriend# After the Special Performance, Zhao Man Secretly Meets a Mysterious Man at a Hotel.]
In the photo, two figures stood outside a hotel.
Zhao Man’s side profile was crystal clear, leaving no room for doubt. However, the man beside her was blurred.
The picture had been taken at night. The man wore a white shirt and black trousers, one hand slightly raised, holding a cigarette between his fingers.
Under the soft glow of the lights, his figure was sharp and striking, exuding a sense of mystery. Even with the blur, he bore a seven-to-eight-point resemblance to Lu Jin.
Xu En’tang still held onto a sliver of hope.
That was until she zoomed in on the photo and saw the man’s wrist—the hand holding the cigarette.
A month ago, to commemorate their first wedding anniversary, she had given him a pair of cufflinks.
There was only one set in the world, unique and irreplaceable.
So, Lu Jin, who was supposed to still be in New York last night, had already returned to the country.
Xu En’tang’s face turned slightly pale as she exited the photo. When she tried to open it again, she found that it had been deleted—along with the trending topic.
Searching Zhao Man’s name, she could still find a few scattered discussions.
“Zhao Man’s trending topic got taken down?”
“It was only up for a little over ten minutes. That was fast.”
“Must be the man’s doing. I heard he’s someone powerful.”
…
Xu En’tang scrolled through her phone when a message suddenly popped up.
Lu Jin: [Are you on your way?]
Xu En’tang: [Mm.]
Lu Jin: [I’m almost there.]
The scenery outside the car window kept changing as Xu En’tang replied to the message and turned off her phone screen.
Lu Jin had gone to New York last week.
Two days ago, during a voice call, he mentioned that he would take her to an event tonight.
She knew his flight was scheduled for today, landing a little after seven. At the time, she had even worried that his schedule was too tight, that he might be exhausted.
Over the call, he had chuckled and said that since it was a friend’s event, he had to show some support. They would meet directly at the venue.
She had always believed he was arriving tonight.
If not for seeing the trending post just now, she wouldn’t have even known that he had returned to the country last night—or that he had gone to Haicheng.
Yesterday had been Zhao Man’s first solo concert in China.
She scrolled through her social feed and saw that several of Lu Jin’s childhood friends had attended Zhao Man’s concert to show support.
So, he had gone too—she just hadn’t known.
Twenty minutes later, the car turned onto Qinghe Road.
Many Beicheng locals knew of Qinghe Road, but very few were aware that there was a No. 88 Qinghe Road.
It wasn’t even marked on the map.
No. 88 Qinghe Road was a private bar.
Lu Jin was probably already there.
Xu En’tang had been here a few times and was somewhat familiar with the place. After getting out of the car, she headed straight inside and walked directly up to the second floor.
Tonight, the venue had been fully booked for a private event, and the atmosphere was lively.
Xu En’tang ran into a few familiar faces and greeted them. They were all people associated with Lu Jin.
She searched the second floor but didn’t see him. Just as she reached the quieter railing area and was about to make a call, she heard his voice.
Looking down past the railing, she saw Lu Jin.
He was still dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, just like in the photo. Simply standing there, he effortlessly drew the attention of many—he was the most striking presence in the room.
Yet, he seemed completely oblivious to the gazes fixed on him, carrying himself with casual indifference.
Beside him stood a man she didn’t recognize. The two were engaged in conversation.
“I—”
“Never thought someone like you would get married so early.”
Lu Jin had married Xu En’tang at the age of twenty-six, which was considered early in their social circle.
For wealthy young men like them, marriage usually came after years of indulgence—only when the time was right, and always with someone deemed suitable by their families.
“It was arranged by my family,” Lu Jin responded carelessly.
Xu En’tang’s fingers tightened around the railing, her knuckles turning white.
So when he had suddenly asked if she wanted to marry him, it had only been because of his family’s arrangement?
Downstairs, the conversation continued. The man chuckled and teased, “Would the great Young Master Lu really listen to his family? Do you think I’d believe that?”
His words made Xu En’tang’s heart tighten—anew, a fragile hope stirring within her.
She knew that someone as unruly and carefree as him would never obediently follow his family’s wishes and marry.
Downstairs, Lu Jin paused briefly before his indifferent, almost cold voice drifted up. “My mother didn’t want me to marry her.”
Xu En’tang’s fragile hope shattered instantly. A chill spread through her veins.
So, he had married her just to defy his mother.
“Miss, are you alright?”
She hadn’t noticed the step in front of her and nearly missed her footing. A waiter quickly steadied her.
She shook her head and murmured, “Thank you.”
Her phone buzzed. Xu En’tang unlocked the screen.
Lu Jin: [You here? Where are you?]
Before she could reply, Lu Jin’s call came through.
Xu En’tang stared at the caller ID for a few seconds, then lowered her hand without answering.
She held her phone and walked downstairs to leave. But after only a few steps, she found herself face-to-face with Lu Jin, who was coming up.
He held his phone casually to his ear with his right hand, his wrist bones visible beneath the cuff of his shirt.
He raised his brows slightly, glancing at her without much thought. When their eyes met, his gaze was both affectionate and detached—the kind that women found irresistible.
Xu En’tang was no exception.
The first time she saw him, she had been twelve years old, and she had never been able to forget him since.
She had loved him for so many years.
Lu Jin put his phone away, his gaze sweeping over the lit-up screen in her hand.
“Why didn’t you answer?” he asked.