In the afternoon, Bai Ying received a call from Shen Jin. Neither of them brought up the unpleasant conversation from a couple of days ago.

“Did you go out yesterday?” he asked with a hint of a smile in his voice.

“Yes,” Bai Ying paused, as if reporting casually, “It was organized by the president of our previous club. Those of us who could go did, and it was quite lively.”

“That drama club from before?” Shen Jin asked with interest, “Is there a new play coming up?”

He had previously, with his considerable wealth, sponsored the drama club generously and even took time out of his busy schedule to watch the play she had written.

Now, Bai Ying thought back on the past, and the resentment born from dissatisfaction had completely dissipated. Just as she had professionally played the role of a girlfriend, hadn’t he done the same? At least to outsiders, he had done everything a man could do for his girlfriend.

Their perfect cooperation couldn’t change the fact that it was all just a collaboration and transaction. So what was she angry about?

It was only now that Bai Ying truly understood, and she softened her voice, indistinguishable from before, “No, it’s just that Ye Heng has returned, so the president gathered us for a meal to catch up.”

Ye Heng.

Shen Jin on the other end was unusually silent for a moment, then calmly asked, “Is he back for work?”

“Not really,” Bai Ying’s lips curved slightly, her fingers twirling the phone cord, “He got into a school abroad and will be going there to study soon. He probably won’t be back for a few years. There might be quite a few dinner gatherings recently.”

Shen Jin said with composure, “Indeed, he is young and promising.”

“Do you think so too?” Bai Ying smiled, “He is indeed very good, and I’ve been considering this issue too. What do you think—”

She deliberately paused, then asked softly, “Should I also study abroad in the future?”

After throwing out the question, she patiently waited for the answer from the other end. It was an obvious and clumsy probe; he might think she was testing whether he had romantic feelings for her, but she was testing whether he would, as he said, happily accept and bless her to find someone better and more suitable than him.

Shen Jin didn’t speak, and she didn’t press further. The two of them, separated by a great distance and countries, quietly listened to each other’s breathing.

The longer his silence, the more Bai Ying’s smile gradually faded from her face.

Soon, he returned to his usual self, speaking with ease, “I think we can talk about this when I get back.”

After hanging up, Bai Ying sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought. No one can change another person. Even his grandmother, who he cared about the most, looked at him with hopeful eyes on her deathbed, wishing he would agree to marry and live a stable life, but he never nodded.

He had never thought about marrying anyone, and he was very stubborn about it. She didn’t really care about marriage either, but coincidentally, she was also a very stubborn person. She could choose not to marry, but it would have to be because she didn’t want to, not because the other person didn’t want to and she complied.

The compliance she played to achieve her goal was only temporary. Shen Jin’s offer wasn’t enough; he couldn’t provide the lifetime compensation that would make her act the part.

However, she didn’t regret her initial decision. Risk and reward are directly proportional, and she could think of the worst outcome and accept it. After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, but she still aimed for the best possible outcome.

In the evening, the staff from the annex building had their dinner in batches and dispersed. Jiang Mocheng was unusually quiet today. Although he usually didn’t talk much with others, his presence was not something anyone could ignore.

In the narrow corridor, there was a click, the sound of a metal buckle. Jiang Mocheng lit a cigarette but didn’t smoke it, his expressionless face hidden in the darkness.

A few people were talking in the nearby restaurant. Someone asked out of boredom, “How much did you spend on your date with miss Jiang?”

A man’s voice, tinged with laughter, came through, “Since it’s a date, any amount spent is justified.”

He paused, then added, “That Western restaurant was quite good, she really liked it. It wasn’t a wasted effort. We were going to watch a movie, but she was worried Miss Bai might need her in the evening, so she had to rush back.”

The joy of a first date with someone he liked couldn’t be hidden in his words, “But on the way back, I gave her a box of chocolates.”

With a cigarette between his fingers, the ember flickering, Jiang Mocheng silently snuffed out the cigarette butt. “She was really happy, said she loves chocolate,” the man chuckled.

Another person enviously asked, “Does this mean you’re in a relationship now?”

“No, no,” the man quickly denied, “It’s not that fast. She told me to think it over.”

“Think over what?”

The man sighed, “She has a younger brother, and her parents’ intention is for her to save money for his university after she graduates.”

The other person fell silent too. Liking someone is one thing, but everyone is human and can’t live on dew alone. Being rational about reality isn’t wrong.

“Xiao Jiang is quite nice, She even told you from the start. So what do you think?”

The man sounded hesitant, “I really like her, she said…”

The rhythmic sound of steady and powerful footsteps approached, interrupting their conversation. Yang Yiping turned around and met Jiang Mocheng’s deep gaze, feeling a chill down his spine as if targeted by some dangerous behemoth, inexplicably terrified.

Jiang Mocheng’s expression was unusually calm. But as he passed by the dining table, by Yang Yiping’s side, he suddenly stopped his steps. Although it was only for a few seconds, Yang Yiping couldn’t hide his shock, unable to utter the words “What are you doing?” How had he offended this man??

Bai Ying couldn’t sleep, remembering Shen Jin’s words.

She finally remembered the camera she had left on the bookshelf. She needed to get it back; otherwise, if the cleaning lady found it and accidentally saw that person’s photo, how could she explain it?

She hadn’t done anything yet, not held hands or kissed, and if she was misunderstood to have an unclear relationship with this person, she would be at a loss.

She changed her clothes and left the room, familiar with Shen’s house and knowing which paths wouldn’t lead to encounters with others. She walked briskly to the study, and seeing that the light was off, she was about to step up to open the door when a creaking sound pierced the silent night. Before she could locate the source, her wrist was encircled, and with a whirl, she was pulled into the room by a strong arm.

Bai Ying’s heart almost stopped, frightened to the point of silence, pressed against the wall in pitch darkness.

Her sense of smell became unusually sensitive, and she detected a faint scent of tobacco. For a moment, she thought it was Shen Jin; she was somewhat confused, feeling it was the same scent.

Her hand was held firmly, unable to move, even the tip of her shoe was pressed by his leather shoe.

“You…”

Then, a faint light allowed her to see the person in front of her. His gaze was fierce, his thin lips tightly pressed, his whole body exuding an aura of impending storm, almost completely enveloping her, leaving no escape.

“What do you take me for?”

Jiang Mocheng’s voice was very light, as if coming from underground, with a chillingly cold temperature.

Bai Ying thought he knew her identity, she froze, looking at him blankly and in shock. She had known this couldn’t be hidden for long, but she didn’t expect it so soon, at least not before she had her fun. Who knew that man’s plans were no match for fate.

But, wasn’t his tone, like catching a cheater, a bit off? They had already parted ways, so what if he discovered her identity?!

“Don’t look at me like that anymore.”

Jiang Mocheng’s tone intensified, and he forcefully covered her eyes, “The words you said to me, have you said them to someone else?”

“……”

She tried to calm herself down. She really misjudged him!

Was his shyness all an act? Knowing her identity, how dare he pull her in, how dare he speak to her like this?

There was only one possibility, he didn’t know yet, but he seemed to have misunderstood something.

She remained silent. He had said so much at the start, it was clear he wouldn’t become mute later, she just needed to wait and see.

Jiang Mocheng felt the warm, soft touch, she seemed to blink, her curled eyelashes brushing against the palm of his hand, he stiffened, demanding, “Which number am I?”

“Wait, I don’t understand—”

He bowed his head, his breath spraying on her ear, enunciating each word, “Was the steak delicious?”

“What are you talking about!”

Bai Ying reached out to push him away, but he caught her again, and she couldn’t break free, “Can you speak properly, what steak, what number?”

Jiang Mocheng looked at her as she struggled like a small, weak animal.

He remembered his own restlessness these past few days, his abnormal behavior, his foolish regret, and he couldn’t help but close his eyes.

Gripping her hand tighter, he said in a deep voice, “What do you take me for.”

“Answer.”