Ming Can reached the car door. The sleek, black car reflected the fading sunlight. Not far away, Chen Yixiao stood under a bare tree, watching Ming Can leave. Someone walked up to him and greeted him, “Hey, Yixiao… Huh, that car looks familiar.”

The newcomer was Chu Zhiyu. She and Chen Yixiao had graduated from the same high school and had known each other for years.

Chen Yixiao: “Familiar? That’s Ming Can’s ride.”

“Oh, maybe I was mistaken.” Chu Zhiyu looked away, teasing him with a smile. “You’re not even in the orchestra. Why do you keep tagging along to our rehearsals?”

Chen Yixiao: “I’ve helped with the concert venue, promotion, and ticketing. Can’t I just come to watch you rehearse now?”

“Sure, sure.” Chu Zhiyu nodded lazily. “I’m just giving you a friendly reminder. If you’re interested in her, you should make it more obvious. Not just at B University, but even at our A University, several guys in the orchestra have only met Ming Can a few times and are already talking about pursuing her.”

Chen Yixiao: “Oh, let them try.”

Chu Zhiyu: “…”

Chen Yixiao watched the black car drive away, his gaze calm and distant behind his gold-rimmed glasses.

There were countless people pursuing Ming Can, and without exception, they all ended up washed ashore, rejected. To be honest, Chen Yixiao still didn’t understand what kind of person Ming Can might like. He only knew she would never be interested in impulsive, self-centered young men.

Ming Can didn’t forbid others from liking her. Most of her male friends had some level of affection for her. As long as they didn’t show too much aggression or impulsively confess their feelings, she could peacefully maintain a friendship with them.

Therefore, Chen Yixiao’s strategy was to simmer like warm water, never sticking his neck out too far. As for how long it would take, only heaven knew.

…

Ming Can got into the car and casually closed the door. She had thought that once she was inside, she’d be shielded from the cold outside and could warm up. But as soon as the door shut, she couldn’t help but shiver, caught off guard by the inexplicable chill inside the car.

“Why is it so cold in here?” Ming Can hugged her coat tighter, speaking with mild dissatisfaction to the person in the driver’s seat. “Turn up the heat. Don’t let Miaomiao catch a cold.”

Chi Xiao: “Okay.”

Turning her head, Ming Can noticed the car seat installed in the back. She had personally picked it out, buying four different brands in total. One was for this car, and the other three were for the new SUV they had just bought. Since the new car hadn’t been delivered yet, Chi Xiao was still driving the old one with the two of them.

“This is really nice.” Ming Can carefully inspected the car seat’s shape, material, and sturdiness. Seeing Miaomiao snugly settled inside, she smiled. “Now you can sleep comfortably.”

Miaomiao’s eyes darted between his parents, sensing that the atmosphere between them was still normal. He silently breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Ming Can fastened her seatbelt and leaned toward the heater vent, spreading her slender, pale hands to feel the warm air blowing out.

The airflow was strong, and the temperature wasn’t low, but for some reason, the car still felt chilly.

As she warmed her hands, Ming Can casually asked Chi Xiao, “What did you two do this afternoon? Did you make anything for Miaomiao to eat?”

Chi Xiao: “Not much. He had half a bowl of fruit salad.”

Ming Can: “Was it cold? Don’t give him too much cold food.”

Chi Xiao: “Okay.”

His tone was short and cold, as if the words were reluctantly forced out of his throat. Ming Can finally glanced at him, noticing his stern, statue-like profile. He held the steering wheel with one hand, the veins on his pale hand faintly pulsing, as if he were exuding impatience.

Ming Can turned to Miaomiao, gesturing toward Chi Xiao with her chin, silently mouthing: What’s wrong with him?

Miaomiao couldn’t read her lips, but fortunately, his superpower caught her thoughts: [What’s wrong with your dad? He’s only been taking care of a kid for half a day, and he’s already acting like this, giving me attitude?]

Miaomiao quickly shook his head, mouthing back: No, no.

Ming Can: Then what’s wrong?

Miaomiao: I don’t know.

After the bath this afternoon, Dad’s mood had taken a turn for the worse. Seeing Uncle Yixiao clearly made it even worse. Miaomiao didn’t fully understand the complexities of adult emotions, but he could sense that Dad probably didn’t like Uncle Yixiao.

Ming Can didn’t think too much about it. Chi Xiao had always been a bit cold and detached. Maybe she was just being overly sensitive.

Ming Can leaned back lazily against the seat, getting straight to the point. “I took Miaomiao to a trial fencing class yesterday. It was pretty fun. I bought twenty lessons, and they’re held at his elementary school. I’ll take him once a week from now on.”

Chi Xiao: “Hmm.”

Ming Can made all the decisions about Miaomiao’s extracurricular activities—what classes he would take, where they would be held, and how many sessions—on her own, only informing Chi Xiao after everything was settled.

Ming Can continued, “It’s winter now, and a lot of parents in the group chat are taking their kids skiing. I missed this earlier, so I just signed Miaomiao up for a one-day children’s ski experience class the day after tomorrow. Skiing is a bit complicated—you need equipment, it’s in the suburban ski resort, and it’s also a bit risky. So, I’d like you to come with me to accompany Miaomiao during the class. Also, staying at the ski resort for just one day feels too short. I thought about staying an extra day to let him play around, so I booked a hotel for two days and one night. Unfortunately, I booked too late, and the hotel was fully booked. I didn’t dare to ask my family for help, so I only managed to get one room for me and Miaomiao. You’ll have to book a room at another hotel yourself.”

Ming Can rattled off a long list, assigning tasks to Chi Xiao but leaving his accommodation unarranged, clearly embodying the spirit of a ruthless capitalist.

Chi Xiao: “Which ski resort?”

Ming Can replied, “Yunshan Ski Resort. It just opened a couple of years ago, so it’s not too crowded. The older resorts are more popular, but I was worried about running into parents I know, so I picked a new one.”

Chi Xiao kept his eyes on the road, speaking indifferently, “Cancel the room you booked. I’ll book a villa.”

“The small villas at the resort?” Ming Can was surprised. “Those were booked out a long time ago…”

After a moment of silence, she realized something. “Is this ski resort owned by your family?”

Chi Xiao: “Yes.”

Ming Can: “Alright, but be careful when you book the room. Don’t let your family notice anything.”

“They won’t,” Chi Xiao said. “I invested in this ski resort myself.”

No need to involve the family.

“Oh.” Ming Can nodded, glancing at Chi Xiao through the rearview mirror. It suddenly dawned on her that during their entire conversation, he hadn’t once looked her way. His tone was icy, and his fingers were tapping irregularly on the steering wheel, clearly showing impatience.

Ming Can finally couldn’t hold back anymore. She straightened her back and frowned at him. “Did someone upset you?”

Chi Xiao replied quickly, “No.”

“Then why do you look so grumpy?”

“…”

In the safety seat beside them, Miaomiao sensed the tense atmosphere. Afraid that hearing too many intense thoughts might make him faint, he quickly turned off his superpower. Feeling that wasn’t enough, he raised both hands to firmly cover his ears, sinking deep into the safety seat while silently chanting, “Don’t listen, don’t listen, Miaomiao is chanting.”

The car sped onto the elevated highway, and the expansive scenery outside the window seemed to compress the interior space even more. Chi Xiao felt a tightness in his chest, his temples throbbing. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Is Chen Yixiao part of the orchestra?”

“No. He was just helping out today.” Ming Can shot back, “What’s wrong with Chen Yixiao?”

Chi Xiao: “Nothing.”

Ming Can was irritated by his one-word answers and sneered, “Do you have some grudge against him?”

The dark car raced along the highway, the increasingly dim night scenery outside whizzing past like a blur.

Chi Xiao’s emotions were hard to explain. Even if he could explain the present, the future was still unclear. He could only endure it, with no way to ease the tension.

Still looking straight ahead, Chi Xiao forced a smile. “Yes.”

Ming Can: “…”

Nonsense. What grudge could he possibly have with Chen Yixiao? It couldn’t be because of her. The number of words she exchanged with Chen Yixiao in a day didn’t even come close to the amount she had just spoken to Chi Xiao in the car.

Ming Can gripped the door handle, her chest rising and falling. An indescribable frustration, born of being brushed off, washed over her in waves.

The air inside the car seemed to solidify. The thousand-year-old ice block in the driver’s seat casually gazed ahead, while Ming Can stopped staring at him and turned to look out the window, trying to figure out the source of her inexplicable irritation.

Her temper was usually quick to flare, but if she got angry, it was always for a clear reason. Rarely did she feel this way, where even she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.

Why was she so agitated now?

Because Chi Xiao’s cold, aloof attitude was getting on her nerves.

But wasn’t Chi Xiao always like that?

Thinking about it, not really.

Ming Can recalled her recent interactions with Chi Xiao—especially after they had laid their cards on the table, leading to more frequent contact. His face was still the same, appearing cold and distant, but his temperament wasn’t what she had initially thought. Around her, he was always humble, patient, and accommodating. Whatever she asked, he did without question or hesitation.

In just a few days, Ming Can had grown accustomed to his deference. No matter what she said, she expected him to respond like he had that day when he replied in Spanish, “I’m sorry, I’ll work harder in the future,” showing complete submission. But today, he had changed. His cold, impatient demeanor wasn’t what Ming Can had come to expect, and she couldn’t stand it.

Good heavens.

It was as if Ming Can had just realized how easily she could be swayed by others’ emotions.

She had interacted with many other friends before and never felt this way.

The elevated highway was clear, and after a few minutes, they exited the ramp. After a series of right turns, they entered the neighborhood and slowly arrived at the residential building.

Miaomiao, still curled up in the safety seat with his hands covering his ears, had fallen asleep.

The car came to a stop, and the person in the driver’s seat didn’t even say “We’re here.” He simply pushed the door open and got out.

Ming Can’s fiery temper wouldn’t let her fall behind. She swiftly got out of the car and walked around to the other side. The two met at the door next to Miaomiao’s seat, their tension palpable.

“I guess you’ve got me figured out,” Ming Can said, her lips curling. “I seriously suspect you’re trying to manipulate me.”

Chi Xiao: “…?”

Ming Can: “Do you have any issues with me?”

Chi Xiao: “No.”

“Really?” Ming Can tilted her head up, her delicate eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, her sharp gaze piercing into him. “If you have any problems with my arrangements, you can voice your suggestions. If you don’t speak up, don’t blame me for taking charge. I do like to call the shots, but I’m not completely unreasonable. If you hadn’t acted like you were fine with everything I said before, I wouldn’t have been so domineering…”

Her long, rambling speech was utterly baffling. Chi Xiao couldn’t understand what she was getting at, his brow furrowing slightly.

Ming Can caught the change in his expression. “What’s with the frown?”

Chi Xiao: “Nothing.”

Another single-word answer that could drive someone to madness. Would saying one more word cost him a year of his life?

Ming Can gritted her teeth. “Senior, it’s not like we just met. You don’t need to maintain your aloof persona around me. Do you want to count how many words I just said compared to how many you said? Can’t you speak? If you can, then you just don’t want to talk to me, right?”

Another rapid-fire barrage of words.

Chi Xiao took a deep breath, wanting to frown but forcing himself to hold back. As he watched the girl in front of him firing off words like a machine gun, her crimson lips opening and closing, he couldn’t help but recall a memory from many, many years ago—

Back then, he was about seven or eight years old. While hiding out at a neighbor’s house to escape the noise, he unexpectedly encountered a little girl dressed exquisitely, her face as beautiful as a doll’s. It was Ming Can as a child. She cornered him and unleashed a barrage of questions: Why was he hiding here alone? Why wasn’t he going out to play? Why wasn’t he talking? Why wasn’t he answering her? If he wasn’t mute, then he must be deliberately not speaking? Did he not like talking to her?

Chi Xiao had always preferred quiet, and she had backed him into a corner. He desperately wished she would stop talking, hoping she could just be quiet for a moment. Her chatter was giving him a headache, but his silent pleas went unheard. Not only did she keep talking, but she also started bossing him around, telling him what to do. He had to listen to her. He had to become a more outgoing child. He had to go out and play with her. Otherwise…

There was no “otherwise.” Chi Xiao didn’t know what came over him, but he ended up following her instructions, playing with her and becoming her friend. There was something about her—a strange, almost magical force that made people want to obey her, to submit to her.

The scene fast-forwarded more than a decade.

Chi Xiao’s thoughts returned to the present. The radiant young woman in front of him was still chattering away, asking if he had any issues with the extracurricular classes she had signed Miaomiao up for. If he had any objections, he needed to voice them now, immediately, or it would be too late…

Chi Xiao had to admit that his mood today was terrible, and his patience had run out. He could no longer hold back. Watching her lips move, a strong impulse surged within him—an urge to silence her by covering her mouth.

“Mmm…”

Her words were muffled as Ming Can tilted her head back, her eyelashes trembling violently. She looked up at him in disbelief.

He had suddenly raised his hand and covered her mouth.

His warm, dry palm pressed directly against her lips, his slightly rough fingertips pinching her cheeks, sinking into the soft flesh.

Ming Can’s heart leapt into her throat, almost jumping out of her chest. Her clear eyes flickered with shock, anger, and a hint of indescribable nervousness.

For a brief moment, the young man in front of her had leaned in with an undeniable sense of aggression, making her think—just for a second—that he was about to kiss her.