Chapter 2

Before heading out, Zhou Wu donned a simple and convenient black hooded sweatshirt.

He frequently stayed at this hotel, and the staff had picked up on some of his habits. By the time he went downstairs, the valet had already brought around another car from the hotel garage to the front entrance.

The black G-Wagon had a high base, but with Zhou Wu’s long legs, he easily stepped in.

After tipping the valet, Zhou Wu turned the steering wheel and drove out, glancing at the hotel’s designated parking area for electric bikes as he left.

In that small space filled mostly with delivery bikes, there was only one exception.

It was a beige bicycle, quietly parked among the delivery bikes, its handlebars slightly tilted.

Strangely, Zhou Wu instantly felt that this was Wen Ci’s bicycle.

A honk from behind snapped him out of it, and Zhou Wu refocused on the road.

Blue Bar.

When Zhou Wu arrived, the atmosphere was buzzing, and an employee quickly stepped up to guide him inside.

The first floor was filled with lively music and dancing, men and women closely entwined, the scents of perfumes and bar fragrances mingling to a point that made Zhou Wu uncomfortable.

He inexplicably thought of Wen Ci’s scent from earlier, a light, indeterminate floral fragrance. Zhou Wu frowned slightly and pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt.

The employee led him all the way up to the second floor.

The second floor was a platform overlooking the first floor, slightly quieter, functioning as an open VIP area.

This bar was owned by Zhou Wu’s friend, Qin Yun, not for profit but to have a fun spot in the country. Qin Yun often splurged, inviting popular singers and celebrities to perform, turning what was meant to be a casual venture into the hottest bar in Jiang City, where reservations often required connections.

As soon as Zhou Wu appeared, someone on the second-floor sofa shouted.

“Look who’s here.” Qin Yun patted the woman beside him and said with a smile, “Baby, sit over here and make room for him.“

The woman obediently moved aside, and Zhou Wu glanced at the indentation on the sofa, imagining the heavy scent of perfume lingering there.

Ignoring Qin Yun, Zhou Wu took the drink from the server, leaned against the railing, and lazily scanned the floor below.

Qin Yun laughed and stood up, walking over with his drink. “Seriously, man, you didn’t even tell your brother you were back in the country?”

“Didn’t tell you, but you still found out,” Zhou Wu replied.

“I wanted to invite you to Europe to watch a game, and only found out from Qiao Qiao that you flew back to Jiang City today.”

Zhou Wu clinked glasses with him, his tone indifferent. “Can you stay away from my secretary?”

“Hey, I knew Qiao Qiao before she became your secretary.” Qin Yun handed him a cigarette. “So, the contract with the Americans is all signed?”

Zhou Wu responded with a mild “Mm,” without taking the cigarette. His habit was minimal; even one cigarette every few days was considered a lot for him.

Once again, Qin Yun couldn’t help but deeply admire Zhou Wu.

The Qin and Zhou families were among the top-tier families in Jiang City, and the two families were old friends, so he and Zhou Wu had been friends since they were kids.

Qin Yun loved to play, skipping school, fighting, drinking, and smoking, never missing out on any trouble. Zhou Wu wasn’t a model student either, with many of their mischiefs done together, and he had even more disciplinary records than Qin Yun in school.

The only difference was, despite his love for fun, Zhou Wu had exceptional learning abilities. Even during his school years, after reading his self-criticism on stage, he would directly receive competition awards, making him remarkably strong.

Even now, while the rest of them were still learning company management, Zhou Wu, just past 26, was already navigating the world of power and wealth with ease, having secured several hugely significant projects.

“Impressive. How about this, the day after tomorrow, I’ll organize a party for you. Let’s celebrate.”

Zhou Wu refused: “You want to throw a party yourself, don’t drag me into it.”

He glanced back and said, “Clear out the people, it’s too noisy.”

Qin Yun clicked his tongue, called a waiter, and had him lead the guest’s downstairs to continue the party. “Next time, let me know when you’re free, and I’ll arrange something for you. By the way, are you still staying in a hotel this time?”

“Yeah.”

Since Zhou Huacheng brought his second illegitimate son home last year, Zhou Wu had hardly returned to that house all year.

He hadn’t spent much time in Jiangcheng this year and hadn’t yet arranged for a new home.

“Still staying at the Jinjiang?”

“Yeah.”

Qin Yun gave him a deep look and couldn’t help but clink glasses with him again. “Brother, you really are a romantic fool.“

Zhou Wu paused, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “What?”

“Come on, don’t pretend in front of your brother,” Qin Yun said softly. “Didn’t Duan Wei get married at that hotel? It’s been more than a year since she got married, and you still can’t let it go?”

Duan Wei was their classmate. The three of them had been in the same class from elementary school all the way to high school and were childhood friends.

Zhou Wu and Duan Wei had dated for two months. Zhou Wu confessed to Duan Wei after graduating from high school. They had only been dating for a few days when they went to different universities, starting a long-distance relationship.

—-

Two months later, Duan Wei said that long-distance relationships were too difficult. Zhou Wu was abroad, with a time difference, and she currently had someone else she wanted to date, so she broke up with Zhou Wu.

It wasn’t until he received the wedding invitation that Zhou Wu learned the person Duan Wei wanted to date was their high school class president.

As a result, Duan Wei’s wedding that year turned into a small high school reunion.

Zhou Wu looked away. “Just got used to staying there.“

“Back then, someone disappeared halfway through the banquet.” Qin Yun patted his shoulder. “It’s okay, be stubborn in front of me, I won’t expose you.”

Zhou Wu brushed his hand off and forced a smile. “Get lost.”

Qin Yun didn’t leave. He remembered something else. “By the way, did you receive the invitation to the school anniversary? Are you going?”

—-

At the end of the month, Jiangcheng Middle School, their alma mater, was celebrating its anniversary. The class group had already notified them several times.

For graduates like them, the school would send personal invitations.

Zhou Wu: “Received it, not going.”

“I figured. Never mind, I’ll go by myself. Actually, I visited a few days ago. My niece goes to the elementary school next to the middle and high school. I picked her up a few times for my sister.” Speaking of this, Qin Yun remembered something. “Hey, guess who I saw?”

Zhou Wu wasn’t interested and responded perfunctorily, “Who?”

“Wen Ci.”

Zhou Wu looked at him.

Qin Yun thought his gaze was questioning and smiled. “Oh, you probably don’t remember her. She was a girl in our high school class. The one who always sat in the front row.”

Zhou Wu’s memory was clear. “The English class representative.”

“Yeah, her. I can’t believe you remember!”

“She now teaches at Jiangcheng Elementary, teaches my niece English.” Qin Yun recalled Wen Ci’s appearance. “I always thought she’d become a teacher.”

Zhou Wu asked, “Why?”

“Not sure, just a feeling. She looked obedient, spoke gently, and seemed like a girl who listened to her family. Such people usually enter stable careers, either as teachers or civil servants.” Qin Yun countered, “Don’t you think? Hey, didn’t you say you don’t smoke? Why are you lighting up?”

Zhou Wu, standing lazily, exhaled smoke and selectively responded, “I agree.”

Gentle, clean, obedient. That was everyone’s first impression of Wen Ci.

Including Zhou Wu.

Before Duan Wei’s wedding, Zhou Wu’s impression of Wen Ci was exactly like Qin Yun’s: remembered her face, seemed obedient, nothing more.

So, on Duan Wei’s wedding day, when Zhou Wu left the banquet to smoke in the hallway and saw Wen Ci Walk into the dim light, he was momentarily stunned.

That night, Zhou Wu had drunk a lot, leaning lazily against the wall. When Wen Ci approached, he couldn’t distinguish whether the lingering alcohol smell was his or hers.

Wen Ci stood in front of him. “Do you like Duan Wei?”

Her voice was as he remembered: low, light, like a whisper in the ear.

Zhou Wu frowned, about to leave, but Wen Ci took a step closer.

“By the way,” Wen Ci whispered, “I like her groom.”

Then, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.

Wen Ci’s kiss, unlike her alcohol smell, was soft, like her. Soft lips, tongue, the skin around her mouth, all felt very comfortable. Her mouth had no alcohol smell, only a faint fruity scent. Zhou Wu lazily lowered his head to kiss her, wondering which drink at the banquet had such a strong fruit flavor.

Zhou Wu wasn’t one for carnal desires. Growing up in an overly affluent family, he had seen too much emotional and physical filth, making him cautious about such matters. Even when dating Duan Wei, they had only briefly kissed.

Maybe he was too drunk that night.

Wen Ci’s awkward and reckless kiss led him to take her upstairs.

When he woke up, Wen Ci was already dressed, with the kiss marks he left on her ankle peeking out from under her long skirt.

She stood by the sofa, seemingly waiting for him to wake up. When their eyes met, she softly said, “Sorry, I was drunk last night.”

Zhou Wu expected her next words to be something like ‘Yesterday was a mistake, please forget it,’ and was about to nod when she continued, “Can we keep this relationship? Until Duan Wei changes her mind.”

Zhou Wu thought for a long time before understanding what she meant.

During the wedding, when Duan Wei came over to toast, she took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, leaned close to his ear, and playfully asked, “Zhou Wu, if I regret it in the future, will you still want me?”

Zhou Wu replied, “We’ll talk about it if you regret it.”

Their conversation was overheard by Wen Ci.

At that time, Zhou Wu found it ridiculous. What did it mean? His ex-girlfriend was marrying the person she liked, so they would huddle together for warmth, comforting each other until that couple divorced?

To this day, Zhou Wu still finds it both infuriating and laughable when he thinks about it.

Zhou Wu actually should have refused, but he didn’t.

He couldn’t quite explain why. Maybe it was because Wen Ci, dressed in a clean, pure white long dress, standing there and asking him if they could maintain a casual relationship, was too novel and incongruous.

Maybe it was because Wen Ci had beautiful eyes, and it was hard to refuse her requests when she looked directly at him.

Or perhaps it was simply because they had such a great time that night.

In any case, by the time Zhou Wu came to his senses, they had already established this kind of relationship.