“Mr. Ning… we don’t have anyone named Changxiao here.”

Ning Zhu was peering into the shop from the doorway. The manager’s words bounced around in his ears without registering: “Hm?”

“Ah.” He snapped back to reality, realizing he hadn’t been clear enough. “Changxiao—‘long’ as in ‘endless,’ ‘xiao’ as in ‘night.’”

“He’s an Alpha, around twenty years old. Jet-black hair, eyes, and eyebrows.” He added the physical description, smiling as he said, “He’s exceptionally handsome. Just ask for the best-looking Alpha in your establishment.”

His confident manner and specific description made the manager wonder if the shop had recently hired someone new—someone so striking that Ning Zhu had come looking for them. He went back inside to have someone check the employee list.

Naturally, there was no such person.

“Could you have misremembered the name?”

When they emerged from the shop again, the manager cautiously inquired, “Or perhaps you’ve mistaken the establishment?”

“…The shop is definitely correct.” Ning Zhu was now somewhat perplexed. “It’s possible his alias here isn’t that. I heard others call him ‘Changxiao.’ Then… what about Fang Huaixin? He should be on good terms with Fang Huaixin.”

“Fang Huaixin left our establishment last month. He only worked here for a few days, so I doubt he formed any deep connections with anyone.”

“…”

After leaving the club and returning to his car, Ning Zhuo’s mind echoed the manager’s words.

No one named Changxiao…?

And according to the manager, Fang Huaixin quit not long after that night. So how did Dou Changxiao know about the other party’s home situation and Fang Huaixin’s sister’s surgery results?

He drifted off in thought for a moment in the driver’s seat. The current situation had caught him completely off guard. Beyond feeling dazed, Ning Zhuo had no other thoughts.

Asking Dou Changxiao directly was the quickest solution. He cradled his phone in both hands, wrists resting on the steering wheel, typing a few words before frowning and deleting them.

An instinctive alarm tugged at him—perhaps the survival instinct honed over years—something about this felt off. Confronting the man directly would likely spell trouble.

Ning Zhuo found himself caught in the middle, wavering, unable to make up his mind.

Just then, a message popped up on his screen.

It was from Cheng Li, saying Ji Chi had arrived at his place and asking when Ning Zhuo would come over.

The other party’s words carried no visible emotion, but Ning Zhuo sensed an underlying urgency.

He couldn’t stand being rushed. After a moment of hesitation in the text box, he decided to head to Cheng Li’s place first. He’d need to calm down before sorting out the matter with Changxiao.

He replied “Right away,” then tossed his phone aside and drove toward Cheng Li’s residence.

Yet as the distance grew, that numbness receded like a tide, and a sense of unease began surfacing like pebbles.

Midway through the drive, these pebbles suddenly jolted his heart with a sharp pang.

He drove without distraction, but upon arriving, he stepped out restless.

His body moved to knock on the Cheng residence door, yet his soul remained trapped in the car.

Cheng Li came to open the door. Ning Zhu first wished him a happy birthday, instinctively reaching for the gift—only to realize he’d been so distracted since getting out of the car that he’d left the birthday present behind.

Snapping briefly out of his dazed state, he said awkwardly, “…I’ll go back to the car to get the gift.”

Cheng Li rarely saw Ning Zhu act so absent-minded and immediately laughed, “You’re already here—come inside first.” He walked ahead to lead the way, then turned back to say, “Oh, my cousin is here today too. He’s actually your junior at school. I’ll introduce you two later.”

Ning Zhu: “Is that so…”

Cheng Li’s birthday gathering had only invited eight or nine people. Besides a few friends, his two older siblings were also present.

During their school days, he often invited friends over to his house. Ji Chi and Ning Zhu were the two he invited most frequently. However, Ning Zhu had always been too busy back then and had only met the other members of the Cheng family a handful of times, almost exclusively in settings like parent-teacher conferences.

“I didn’t want to text you earlier, but my cousin kept pestering me about when ‘Brother Ning’ would arrive after I mentioned you were coming… Such a pain!”

Ning Zhu smiled, thinking Cheng Li’s cousin was cut from the same cloth as him—equally naturally outgoing, already calling him “Brother Ning.”

Cheng Li walked at a leisurely pace, forcing Ning Zhu to follow suit, though inside, his nerves were stretched taut. He wished he could dig a hole and crawl inside, sorting through every odd detail that had unfolded since meeting Dou Changxiao.

He was led into the party hall. Before he could see anyone clearly, a warm voice called out: “Brother Ning!”

Ning Zhu looked in the direction of the voice and saw a somewhat familiar face, causing him to pause in surprise.

The young man held birthday party props in his hands. Spotting Ning Zhu, he waved the props cheerfully at him.

After a moment of recognition, Ning Zhu hesitantly spoke: “You’re… Cheng… Yang?”

Cheng Yang: “Yes, yes! Brother Ning, you still remember my name!”

Ning Zhu froze, looking at him uncertainly.

“…You’re Cheng Li’s cousin?”

Cheng Yang: “Yes, yes!”

“…from S University too.”

Cheng Yang: “Yep!”

Ning Zhu: “…”

Nightclub. Hostess. Colleague.

Cheng family. S University. Cousin.

Only a fool would link these two sets of words together—how could Cheng Li’s friend possibly be so strapped for cash that he’d work as a hostess?

Cheng Yang said cheerfully, “Last time when Fang Huaixin had that incident, I was so preoccupied with him that I never got around to thanking you.”

Fang Huaixin, Cheng Yang.

That night, the two sat in the backseat of the car, the atmosphere thick with tension… As fellow S University students, they weren’t colleagues.

Ning Zhu: “…”

Not colleagues, classmates.

Classmates.

Well.

Changxiao, who was walking with Cheng Yang at the time.

At this moment, Ning Zhu desperately wished his brain could process things more slowly, refusing to quickly piece together the sequence of events and the relationships between people. Yet the answer was already on the tip of his tongue.

Ning Zhu’s voice faltered as he asked, “So Changxiao… he’s also… from S University?”

“Yeah, we’re in the same year.”

“…He’s a student.”

“Right, he’s studying clinical medicine.”

“Clinical medicine…”

“He went home this morning to visit his grandfather. Otherwise, I would’ve dragged him along to hang out.” Seeing Ning Zhu’s face turn pale and then flush, Cheng Yang asked with concern, “Brother Ning, are you feeling unwell?”

Ning Zhu found something nearby to steady himself, head bowed in silence for a long moment before murmuring, “…I’m fine.”

He just kinda wants to die.

Cheng Yang: “Oh, okay.”

He wanted to chat with Ning Zhu a bit more, but the latter was utterly drained of energy.

Cheng Yang watched Ning Zhu drift silently into a corner, as if entering a self-imposed barrier, never once engaging with anyone around him again.

Cheng Yang: “…”

Ning Zhuo replayed his actions toward Dou Changxiao in his mind.

Proposing a crass, naked monetary transaction—Name your price.

Demanding a physical relationship—Mark me once.

Shamelessly pursued relentlessly—“Here, take this card first ^^”

Exploited the other’s vulnerability through threats and inducements—“Let me smell your pheromones, and I’ll delete the video.”

Ning Zhu: “…”

The first three attempts failed due to the other’s fierce resistance; the fourth succeeded through cunning manipulation, solidifying the crime.

The victim, Dou Changxiao—a medical student admitted to S University, a pure and upright pillar of society.

Ning Zhu stood facing the wall in a dim corner for a long while.

After a long pause, he placed both hands over his eyes and rubbed his cheeks hard, thinking: …What kind of scum am I?

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

In Haicheng.

A round table stood by the western side of the small pavilion outside the Dou residence’s first floor. Dou Changxiao sat before his computer, reviewing papers.

Faint whispers of ink and paper drifted through the air. His grandfather was upstairs teaching traditional painting to several apprentices, their occasional murmurs reaching him.

After two hours in this tranquil atmosphere, Dou Changxiao heard a flurry of noise near the gate on the other side of the pavilion. He turned his head to glance over—several students carrying painting supplies were waving goodbye to Dou Linyuan.

A familiar sight, he returned his gaze to the computer screen. The mouse cursor hovered over a paragraph for nearly two minutes before gliding to the WeChat icon in the navigation bar.

He tapped it. The chat page remained frozen on a message from two weeks ago.

He scrolled up with the mouse wheel.

【Ning Huochong:】 It’s fine, no need for you to come. I’ll come find you.

That’s what Ning had said two weeks ago. Yet now, as dusk approached, and Saturday was nearly over, the other hadn’t once asked where he was.

Haicheng and Beicheng were hundreds of kilometers apart. Dou Changxiao always flew back and forth whenever he visited his grandfather.

When Ning Zhu had asked him two weeks prior, Dou Changxiao had already booked his flight back to Hai City for this weekend. Yet the other hadn’t inquired about the location, simply stating, “I’ll come find you,“ with a determination that seemed to defy all obstacles.

Dou Changxiao knew full well that Ning Zhu wouldn’t fly all the way to Haicheng. Yet, for some reason, he didn’t want to dash the other’s hopes and simply replied, ”As you wish.”

Looking back now, he felt utterly baffled by his own reaction…Dou Linyuan saw off several students and stepped into the small pavilion. Spotting his grandson sitting at the corner table, intently staring at his laptop, he approached with a smile. 

“You’re in college now, yet you still bring homework home every time you visit.”

“Just browsing papers out of boredom. Not homework.” Dou Changxiao offered no explanation, simply closing his laptop.

Dou Linyuan shook his head. “You rushed straight here after landing last night. It’s nearly evening now—aren’t you going to visit your parents?”

Dou Changxiao replied, “Lu Chao is home.”

Dou Linyuan chuckled twice. “Ah, you… After all these years, you still can’t stand your brother.”

He sat down on the wicker chair opposite Dou Changxiao. “Why not wait until the holiday break to come back? The weekend only gives you two days off. Isn’t it exhausting to make the trip back and forth?”

“Internships start next week, and I won’t have a moment free for the next two months. That’s why I came back early to see you.”

Though he didn’t show it outwardly, the old man was deeply pleased that his grandson had remembered him. He asked gently, “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

“Morning flight. I have something to do that afternoon.” He needed to let a certain someone smell his pheromones. Ning Zhu didn’t bring it up today, but Dou Changxiao didn’t want to put it off any longer. Better to get it over with sooner rather than later.

“School activities on the weekend?”

“No,” Dou Changxiao replied. “Just something trivial.”

Dou Linyuan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, trivial matters.”

If it’s unimportant, why rush it to tomorrow and cram the schedule so tightly?

He chuckled softly and didn’t press further. Grandfather and grandson chatted leisurely in the small pavilion for a while, gradually feeling the chill of autumn. Haicheng’s northern coastal location meant that by November, the outdoor air turned cool well before evening.

Though Dou Linyan remained robust, he was past sixty. Dou Changxiao rose, gathered his laptop, and stepped indoors.

His phone vibrated repeatedly in his pocket.

Back in the room, Dou Changxiao pulled it out to check.

【Ning Huochong:】Tap (^^)

【Ning Huochong:】Changxiao, remember what I mentioned to you last week?

Dou Changxiao casually set his laptop aside and typed a reply: I’m not in Beicheng. Let’s reschedule for tomorrow.

【Ning Huochong:】^^

【Ning Huochong:】I meant to say, I accidentally deleted the video. You don’t need to come over.

【Ddd:】What trick are you trying to pull now?

【Ning Huochong:】Hahaha

【Ning Huochong:】I keep my promises.

【Ning Huochong:】I’ve caused you quite a bit of trouble lately, I’m really sorry [happy][happy]

【Ddd:】……

【Ning Huochong:】Wishing you academic success [smile]

Dou Changxiao: “…”

At that moment, Dou Linyuan strode into the living room. Turning back, he saw Dou Changxiao still lingering behind, head down, staring intently at his phone.

He asked curiously, “What’s so urgent you couldn’t wait to sit down?”

Dou Changxiao walked over and tossed his phone onto the table. Dou Linyuan studied him. “Who sent you that message? You don’t look very happy.”

Dou Changxiao: “I am happy.”

“…”

Dou Changxiao’s tone was matter-of-fact—he genuinely believed what he said, not speaking in irony. But Dou Linyan observed his grandson, who didn’t exactly look like he was basking in joy….It wasn’t so much that the boy “felt happy” as it was that the other party “thought he was happy.”

Dou Linyan: “Ahem, what’s the good news? Share it so Grandpa can enjoy the story too.“

The deal with Ning Zhu was too shady to discuss openly. Someone as upright and traditional as Dou Linyuan might get furious upon hearing it. Dou Changxiao brushed it off: ”Someone wanted me to do something I didn’t want to do, but it’s canceled now. So it’s good news.”

Dou Linyuan looked surprised. “Someone actually asked you to do something you didn’t want to do?”

Dou Changxiao had always been straightforward, even stubborn at times, since he was a child. The only exceptions were a few times when he had to compromise for his parents’ sake. With his college entrance exam scores, Dou Changxiao could have chosen any university or major in the country. 

His parents, Lu Mao’an and Dou Shu, along with Dou Linyuan, all hoped he would major in business or economics. This would provide a solid foundation for either taking over the family companies or starting his own business. Yet Dou Changxiao insisted on studying medicine.

Dou Changxiao followed the rules, but outside those boundaries, no one could persuade him to do anything he disliked.

“Who has that kind of authority? A teacher at school?”

Dou Changxiao: “No, someone outside the school.”

Dou Linyuan tapped his knee, his tone growing serious: “Did they threaten you?”

Threaten? If air could be considered a hostage.

“No.”

Dou Linyuan: “Then is there some reason you absolutely must do this?”

Dou Changxiao: “No.”

“…”

Dou Linyuan suddenly fell silent, his expression becoming deeply intriguing. No threats, no compelling reason, and the person demanding his action held little real authority…It was entirely optional, yet this kid had chosen to wade into this mess.

Dou Linyuan had never witnessed such “reluctance.” His sixty-odd years of experience, it seemed, were still too shallow. Dou Changxiao poured two cups of tea, pushing one toward his grandfather. He sipped his own slowly, silent for a while.He lowered his eyes, pondering the reason behind Ning Zhu’s sudden change of heart.…A pang of conscience?

For someone like Ning, who’d climb any pole offered to him, it was doubtful he even possessed such a thing as conscience.Therefore, the only plausible reason was: for whatever reason, the other party no longer needed him.

Ning Zhu had handed him his business card the moment they met—nothing more than a whim. So once that whim faded, once he was no longer needed, it was hardly surprising to be discarded like a used item. Even if that discarded scrap still held some resale value. Perfectly logical.

Dou Changxiao paused. So all that bullshit about “sorry for the trouble” and “wishing you academic success” was just the other person’s way of shooing him away when they wanted to get rid of him.

Apologies and congratulations—what a graceful ending. Who knows how many people he’d practiced this on to become so proficient. He half-closed his eyes, an indescribable emotion lodged awkwardly in his chest, inexplicably unsettling.The phone on the desk flashed again. He glanced at it—not a message from Ning Zhu.

【Cheng Yang:】[Image Message]

【Cheng Yang:】Look who I ran into at my brother’s birthday party!

Dou Changxiao unlocked his phone and slowly swiped into the chat page.The image appeared as a small thumbnail atop a long string of text messages. Yet the Omega in the center, head bowed, stood out starkly pale.

Dou Changxiao’s finger paused for several seconds before tapping to open it. The photo filled the entire screen. Ning Zhu stood sideways to the camera, his profile captured in the shot.His head was bowed, a bottle of liquor in his right hand, his expression distant and distracted.

Zooming in, Dou Changxiao noticed a strikingly handsome young man standing beside Ning Zhu. Dou Changxiao recognized him. It was that Alpha named Cheng Li.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

After messaging the victim, Ning Zhu turned himself around, pressing his back against the wall. He stared at his phone, waiting for a reply. Dou Changxiao hadn’t responded, which likely meant tacit approval. The crime had been halted, yet guilt still lingered in his bones. Ning Zhu sensed it would take a very long time to dissipate.

He emerged from the corner, walked to a table laden with wine glasses and other party supplies, and uncorked a bottle. Cheng Yang stood nearby, phone in hand, snapping photos as he darted back and forth, capturing the moment.

Ning Zhu glanced at him twice, attempting to divert his guilt by striking up conversation: “There’s no cake or anything here. Who are you taking these for?”

Cheng Yang replied matter-of-factly, “For Huaixin, of course.”

Ning Zhu: “…”

These stinking little lovebirds—they have to share every single little thing with each other endlessly. He couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. After mentally grumbling a couple of times, he looked away and took out several glasses to pour drinks for the others.

Ning Zhu desperately wanted to down a couple himself—preferably enough to drown his shameful misdeeds—but since he’d driven, he could only watch the others’ glasses fill up, finding solace in their chatter.

Cheng Li spotted Ning Zhu silently serving drinks from afar and thought he might be uncomfortable here. Stepping away from the crowd, he approached: “Hey, you okay? I haven’t heard a word from you in ages.”

Ning Zhu forced a faint smile, signaling he was fine.

If he had any issues, they’d be the kind that only a clean-cut pillar of society would have.

Hopefully, he didn’t leave any lasting psychological scars on the kid.

Sigh, such worries.

“… ” Cheng Li couldn’t shake the feeling that his smile held a bitter edge.

Just then, Ji Chi approached, calling Cheng Li over to prepare for the birthday cake cutting and wish-making.

Ning Zhu had intended to report the former, but now he had completely lost interest.

It was a friend’s birthday party, and Ning Zhu didn’t want to be the killjoy. Moments later, he pulled himself together and plunged into the lively crowd.

Cheng Li’s two older siblings were several years older than everyone else present and much more composed. After mingling with them for only half an hour, they left first. Cheng Yang, being at that age where he loved a good party, stayed behind.

The group gathered together, drinking and playing games. Time flew by amidst laughter, and before they knew it, the evening stretched into the late hours of the night.

Ning Zhu was the only one who hadn’t touched alcohol. When it was time to leave, he glanced at the time—it was almost the next day.

Two Betas were already passed out drunk, and Ji Chi was also feeling the effects. They’d likely all have to crash at Cheng Li’s place tonight.

Ning Zhu didn’t let Cheng Li walk him out. He headed toward the door alone.

Cheng Yang was still somewhat coherent. He struggled to his feet, insisting he wanted to go back to campus, explaining he had a date with Fang Huaixin first thing in the morning.

Ning Zhu was fed a mouthful of youthful lovey-dovey moments, standing by watching the spectacle. Then, suddenly, he remembered his classmate Changxiao, whom he had defiled. That spectator’s mindset was instantly doused with a bucket of cold water.

That person should have had a pure, youthful romance, but instead, their pheromones had been forced upon him twice.

He touched his nose, thinking with self-awareness: He was the biggest bastard in the world.

Seeing Cheng Yang struggling to walk steadily and realizing hailing a cab would be tough, Ning Zhuo considered it and said, “I’ll drive you. S University isn’t far from my place.”

Cheng Yang was deeply moved, clutching him chest in gratitude: “Thank you, Brother Ning!!”

“…” Ning Zhu drove him to the east gate of S University. Pulling over, he glanced at the familiar entrance and suddenly recalled Dou Changxiao’s slurred “east gate” from that drunken night. Only now did he grasp its meaning—too late for regrets.

Cheng Yang slurred his thanks, unbuckled his seatbelt, and opened the door to get out.

Ning Zhu, fearing he might stumble, walked him a bit further, only feeling at ease once Cheng Yang entered the campus gates.

The evening breeze blew gently, rustling the maple grove with a pleasant whisper. Occasionally, a crimson maple leaf drifted out from the campus, swaying leisurely beneath the streetlights—a scene of serene beauty.

Ning Zhu couldn’t help pausing a moment longer, leaning his arms on the low railing beside the campus wall. He gazed into the grounds with a touch of nostalgia.

Back when he was still studying at S University, he’d barely savored college life. His grades hovered just above the passing mark, while his free time was spent scrambling for money amidst chaos.

He never paid attention to what his classmates were doing, who was dating whom in the class, or what the small garden behind the campus library looked like.

He couldn’t quite call it regret, but thinking about the campus experiences he’d missed as the price of success, it would be untrue to say he felt not a shred of regret.

Footsteps echoed faintly behind him, drawing nearer.

Ning Zhu initially paid them no mind, until the sound abruptly ceased just as it seemed about to reach him. Only then did he glance back swiftly.

Dou Changxiao stood several meters behind him, a black backpack slung over one shoulder.

He didn’t know where Dou Changxiao had come from, his hair slightly tousled by the wind. Streetlights and crimson maple leaves formed a backdrop behind him, intertwining with the night’s light and shadow to create a scene.

Yet the other man’s eyes were fixed on him, unblinking.

Ning Zhu stood frozen for a few seconds before snapping back to reality.

“…Changxiao?” he said, followed by an awkward chuckle. “What a coincidence.”

It was indeed a coincidence. The last flight from Haicheng to Beicheng landed close to midnight. Dou Changxiao had planned to find Ning Zhu the next morning, never expecting to run into him on his way back to campus.

Ning Zhu pressed his lips together, unsure what to say.

He drew in a breath of the chilly air, as if pumping it into every limb: “Cheng Yang said you went home. You’re back at school already?”

…Impressive. He silently scolded himself. How old was he, really? Still stuttering from nervousness.

Dou Changxiao walked toward him.

Ning Zhu felt uneasy the moment he saw him, instinctively taking two small steps backward. This unassuming movement, coming from him, was surprisingly light and graceful.

Dou Changxiao: “…What are you hiding from?”

Ning Zhu looked at Dou Changxiao as if watching his own crimes closing in on him. “…I was about to ask you—why did you suddenly come over?”

Dou Changxiao stopped moving. “What were you doing at our school gate?”

“I was bringing Cheng Yang back. He had a bit too much to drink at his brother’s birthday party.”

“You’re quite considerate toward Cheng Li’s younger brother.”

“…” Ning Zhu felt that remark sounded odd.

Dou Changxiao: “What did you mean by that message you sent me? Lost your curiosity?”

Ning Zhu couldn’t possibly explain himself.

Dou Changxiao waited a moment, then lost patience: “Found someone else you want to keep as a sugar baby?”

Sugar baby, sugar daddy… How could this kid use such…

Yet considering his own recent actions, Ning Zhu realized the term was actually quite accurate.

Staring wide-eyed in shock, Ning Zhu also felt a slight flush of embarrassment at the thought of proposing such a sordid monetary transaction to a student.

Seeing him blush and fall silent, Dou Changxiao said, “Got it.”

Ning Zhu rubbed his lips uncomfortably. “I’ve caused you a lot of trouble lately, haven’t I? Um…” He wanted to ask, “Didn’t I leave you with any psychological trauma?” but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Dou Changxiao cut straight to the point: “You have caused me a lot of trouble.”

“What happened before… well, let’s not dwell on it. The message I sent you this evening was sincere,” Ning Zhu said earnestly. “I promise I won’t bother you again.”

Dou Changxiao: “Is that so? And you won’t blackmail me with that video anymore either.”

“Of course not.” Ning Zhu was practically ready to perform a live act of atonement.

Dou Changxiao remained silent, his gaze fixed on Ning Zhu’s face for a moment, his expression inscrutable.

“Agreed.”

The tension coiled around Ning Zhu’s heart instantly relaxed.

Dou Changxiao locked eyes with him, speaking slowly, deliberately, word by word: “The video. I want to watch you delete it.”

Ning Zhu: “…………”

The video was probably in the belly of some fish in Anjiang now.

Ning Zhu mustered the most sincere tone he could muster in his entire life—more earnest than when facing those investors years ago—and said with utmost sincerity: “If I told you I accidentally lost that phone, would you believe me?”

Dou Changxiao didn’t speak, but the corners of his lips twitched slightly.

Ning Zhu saw the sharp canine teeth glinting through his parted lips, a sinister whiteness.

“……”

Seeing that expression, Ning Zhu instantly understood that any further explanation would be futile. The kid would surely think he was up to some trick again.

For a moment, he was at a loss for words, feeling both exasperated and amused. He should have anticipated this situation when he pulled off that empty-handed scam. What goes around comes around—he was getting what he deserved.

Realizing explanation was futile, Ning Zhuo shifted his mindset. Abandoning defense, he adopted a tone of contrition: “I know you won’t believe me, but I genuinely don’t have the video anymore. If you’re still furious or unsettled, how about this…”

Ning Zhu threw caution to the wind. “I’ll dance for you at the school gate. You film it with your phone. Fair trade, huh? What do you fancy? Ballet or tango?”

Dou Changxiao: “…”

Ning Zhu paused, then added, “Just don’t post it online afterward.”

After all, he was a complete amateur, not a professional dancer.

Dou Changxiao: “…                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Ning Zhu smiled faintly. “If you think this jerk’s dancing is worse than your drunken embarrassment, you can propose other terms.”

The CEO of Qisheng Technology—a twenty-six-year-old rising star with a prominent social standing—was offering to perform ballet outside his alma mater and even allow it to be filmed… Dou Changxiao felt this would be the most embarrassing spectacle of his entire life, dwarfing anything he’d ever done before.

But he didn’t take the bait.

The other person’s stance was crystal clear: no matter the cost, he wanted to draw a line between them.

Dou Changxiao stared at Ning Zhu for a moment. “No need. I trust you.”

“Hm?”

Dou Changxiao tugged his suspenders upward. “You didn’t have to make such a spectacle of yourself. I’m heading back to school.”

His tone was matter-of-fact, yet Ning Zhu couldn’t quite put his finger on it—something about the other’s attitude felt off.

Ning Zhu’s brows furrowed as he quickly hooked the tail of the other’s backpack. He genuinely felt guilty toward this kid: “Sigh, I don’t want you to be stubborn with me… Is there a brick in your bag? It’s so heavy, and you’re carrying it on one shoulder without even pulling a suitcase…”

Dou Changxiao: “…”

Ning Zhu struggled a bit to tug his backpack, sighed, and steered the conversation back: “Getting angry at yourself over someone like me? That’s such a waste.”

Dou Changxiao: “I won’t get angry at myself over someone like you.”

Ning Zhuo looked at him for a moment: “But you still seem pretty upset to me. If there’s anything I can do to make you feel better, just say the word. I won’t refuse. Or consider it a debt I owe you. If you ever need anything, come find me at Qisheng. I’ll do whatever I can.”

Dou Changxiao turned his head then, prying Ning Zhu’s hand off his bag as he stared at him.

In that instant, his gaze held an indescribable complexity. It was profoundly heavy, radiating a chill that sent a shiver down one’s spine.

Ning Zhu met Dou Changxiao’s eyes and suddenly realized—

For reasons unknown, the other party seemed utterly unwilling to bury the hatchet with a simple smile.