Zhou Jiayu immediately went to find Lu Fanghuai.

They were sitting in the hotel’s restaurant, having breakfast.

Zhou Jiayu spoke up, confirming once more with Lu Fanghuai, “You really didn’t do anything to betray Wenting, did you?”

“How could I do anything to betray her?”

“You better be honest. Fang Wenting is right behind you now.”

Lu Fanghuai paused in the middle of peeling a durian and tossed the durian husk onto the ground, “Last week, I won 20,000 yuan on a scratch-off ticket, but I lied and told you I only won 2,000! Does that warrant kneeling?”

Zhou Jiayu: “… If you have the guts, say that with the spiky side facing up.”

Lu Fanghuai turned to look behind him and saw no sign of Fang Wenting.

The first time he was deceived by a friend, and it was at a time like this!

Picking up the durian husk from the floor, Lu Fanghuai felt like throwing it at Zhou Jiayu.

“I’m asking if you haven’t been messing around with any other women?”

“How could I! What are you trying to say? Stirring up trouble? Did you suddenly realize how great Wenting is and develop feelings for her?” Lu Fanghuai ate the smallest piece of durian and packed the rest into a box, intending to take it up to Fang Wenting later.

When he came down, Fang Wenting mentioned she wanted durian, so he went to the fruit store next door to get it and even peeled it himself for her.

For ten years, nothing had changed—Fang Wenting ate freshly peeled durian, and he would settle for just licking the residual durian flavor off a disposable glove. And yet, Zhou Jiayu suspected him of flirting with other women?

This conversation was going nowhere.

Lu Fanghuai wanted to leave, but then Zhou Jiayu coughed and said, “I’ve been hiding something pretty serious from the girl I like. If you were in my shoes, how would you explain it to her?”

“What have you been hiding? It depends on the situation. How serious is it? Let’s hear it.”

“Cough, I used your name…” For the first time, Zhou Jiayu felt a bit embarrassed in front of Lu Fanghuai.

But there was no other way. Last night, Shen Zhirou had said that if he wasn’t Lu Fanghuai, she wouldn’t be with him.

He couldn’t live his whole life under Lu Fanghuai’s name, could he?

At first, Lu Fanghuai didn’t catch what Zhou Jiayu was saying.

When he finally understood, he grabbed two durian husks, “Don’t let Wenting find out about this. It’s a misunderstanding that’s hard to clear up. I don’t even know any Shen Zhirou. If Wenting finds out, I’ll have to kneel. You’d better explain it clearly for me!”

Zhou Jiayu: “…”
–

Afternoon

Moon Lake Park

Shen Zhirou had spent the entire day taking photos and was so tired she could barely stand. She sat down by the flower bed, massaging her calves, when a bottle of water was handed to her. She looked up and saw it was a familiar photographer named Xiong Hao.

Like her, this photographer wasn’t signed with any agency and took freelance gigs. She had met Xiong Hao six months ago during a rough patch when she was trying to get any photography job she could. Whenever he got a project with a client, he would recommend her as a model, and they gradually became friends.

“Thanks,” Shen Zhirou said, expressing her gratitude.

“Once we finish shooting over there, we can call it a day,” Xiong Hao said, checking the photos in his camera before glancing at her.

He pointed to his collar, unable to hold back his curiosity any longer, “Is that a hickey?”

“Where?” Shen Zhirou asked, pulling out her phone to check her reflection. She pulled her collar aside and saw a small hickey that hadn’t faded yet.

Seeing her reaction, Xiong Hao put down his camera, “Got a boyfriend?”

“Just started dating,” Shen Zhirou replied honestly, standing up and brushing off her clothes. “Do I need to return the sample clothes? If so, I’ll go change in the public restroom over there.”

Xiong Hao nodded, watching her walk away. He wanted to call out to her but ultimately decided against it.

Shen Zhirou headed to the restroom with the makeup artist who had been with them for the day. They took a shortcut up a grassy slope, at the top of which was the public restroom.

As she was about to reach the top, she glimpsed a figure that looked a lot like Zhou Jiayu. Looking more closely, she realized it really was him.

Just as she was about to climb up to him and ask how he knew she was working there today, she saw a woman emerge from the restroom and walk towards him.

Shen Zhirou noticed Zhou Jiayu was holding the woman’s bag for her. Looking closer, she recognized the woman as the same one she had seen at the cinema last time!

Confused, Shen Zhirou felt her phone vibrate.

It was a message from Xu Jia.

Xu Jia: “When are you coming back today? I have something to talk to you about.”

If Xu Jia was messaging her, it must be urgent.

Shen Zhirou looked up, but Zhou Jiayu and the woman were already out of sight. She quickly replied to Xu Jia.

Shen Zhirou: “I’m almost done here, I’ll be back soon.”

After sending the message, she thought for a moment and decided to ask, “Are you home? What’s the matter?”

Xu Jia: “I need to discuss something with you. Would you like to meet your boyfriend’s family?”

Xu Jia: “We’ll talk when you get back.”

Staring at Xu Jia’s messages, Shen Zhirou couldn’t help but think about Zhou Jiayu with that woman. Could it be that the family Xu Jia mentioned was her? Lu Fanghuai’s niece?