Shen Zhirou opened WeChat and saw a message from “Lu Fanghuai.”

She hadn’t replied to his previous messages, and he hadn’t sent any more. She thought that maybe things between them were over.

But now, after Xu Jia had told her it was all a misunderstanding, he had sent another message.

“Is it that Lu Fanghuai?” Xu Jia asked, seeing her staring at her phone. “Honestly, if you feel something, just go with it and see how it goes. After all, you two already know each other.”

“Mm.” Shen Zhirou nodded without hesitation.

She pointed towards her room, indicating, “I’ll head back now.”

“Okay, I’m going to catch up on sleep. You handle dinner yourself; I won’t be eating,” Xu Jia said, waving as she walked to her room.

Entering her room, Xu Jia let out a relieved sigh, thankful that Lu Fanghuai turned out to be the uncle. She couldn’t believe she had suggested something as outrageous as asking her friend to steal someone else’s man. She must have been out of her mind, probably due to the alcohol.

Xu Jia collapsed onto her bed and fell asleep instantly.

As for Shen Zhirou, she returned to her room and opened her chat with “Lu Fanghuai.”

She was startled by the sight of a 5200 yuan transfer.

Shen Zhirou: [What?]

Zhou Jiayu: [I wanted to confirm you got home safely. Now that I’ve seen your reply, I’m relieved.]

Zhou Jiayu sat in his office chair, looking at Shen Zhirou’s message. He found her response endearing.

Shen Zhirou, seeing Zhou Jiayu’s message, couldn’t help but laugh.

Shen Zhirou: [It’s been a long time; I got home ages ago.]

After a moment, she added, [I might have forgotten to reply earlier.]

Zhou Jiayu: [Work keeping you busy?]

Seeing her say she simply forgot to reply lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.

The next moment, seeing the transfer returned, his brow furrowed.

Shen Zhirou: [Yes, a bit busy, so I didn’t check my phone.]

Zhou Jiayu: [Are you free now? Want to have dinner together?]

Dinner together?

Shen Zhirou hesitated.

Her first instinct was to agree, but thinking of Zhou Jiayu’s face reminded her of all the awkward moments they had shared.

Zhou Jiayu watched his phone screen, waiting for her reply.

After a while, he cautiously sent another message.

Zhou Jiayu: [Are you busy?]

Shen Zhirou: [No.]

Zhou Jiayu: [Don’t want to have dinner with me?]

Shen Zhirou: [No, I was just thinking about what to eat. What do you want to eat?]

Zhou Jiayu: [Where are you? I’ll come pick you up. We have a few hours before dinner, so we can discuss it.]

Zhou Jiayu grabbed his car keys. He felt an urgent need to see Shen Zhirou, fearing that continued messaging might drive him crazy.

She always made him anxious, worried that she might reject him at any moment.

When he saw the address she sent, he immediately jumped up and rushed out.

---

The location was a bus stop outside the residential area.

Shen Zhirou, wearing a white dress, looked pure and enchanting.

Seeing her, Zhou Jiayu felt his throat tighten.

Lowering the car window, he called out to her.

“Little Darling!”

Shen Zhirou thought Zhou Jiayu was still driving Lu Fanghuai’s blue car, so at first, she didn’t react. When she met Zhou Jiayu’s gaze in the car, her face turned crimson.

“Don’t call me Little Darling,” she said softly as she got into the car under the curious gazes of others. “My name is Shen Zhirou.”

Shen Zhirou…

What a beautiful name.

She looked delicate and charming, just like her name suggested.

Shen Zhirou fastened her seatbelt and asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“Choose whatever you like. I’m not picky.”

“I don’t know…”

“Take your time, there’s no rush. We still have plenty of time before dinner,” Zhou Jiayu said, driving aimlessly through the city with her.

After driving for a while, he asked leisurely, “Why did you return the transfer I sent you?”

“It… was too sudden.” Shen Zhirou couldn’t explain it well, but a sudden transfer of over 5000 yuan from someone you barely knew was unsettling.

“It wasn’t sudden. I thought it through and did it willingly,” he said. He originally wanted to transfer 8888 yuan, considering it a lucky number, but felt 5200 conveyed his feelings better.

Seeing Shen Zhirou’s hesitant expression, he continued, “Feel burdened? No need to. This is from a boyfriend’s heart.”

“Aren’t I your boyfriend yet? I remember you said it was love at first sight when we first met,” Zhou Jiayu gently reminded her of their first meeting.

“I’m not someone who takes things lightly. When I added you on WeChat, it was because I wanted to get to know you better,” he said, admitting that while he initially added her because of Lu Fanghuai, she had left an imprint on his heart from the start.

Shen Zhirou listened to his gentle voice and wanted to say that she was just saying random things back then!

But during their date, many small details had moved her. She had initially thought he was a player, but now, those small gestures amplified his good qualities and made her heart flutter.

With countless words unspoken, Shen Zhirou finally responded softly, accepting him as her boyfriend.

The atmosphere in the car warmed, easing the initial awkwardness between them.

The car continued to roam aimlessly until they saw the city bathed in the glow of the sunset.

“So beautiful!” Shen Zhirou said, holding her phone up to take pictures of the sunset outside the car.

Zhou Jiayu glanced at her and changed lanes, driving towards the sunset.

As the sky darkened, he asked, “There’s a great spot to view the night scenery. Do you want to go?”