’We’ve barely scratched the surface,’ Xu Su sighed to herself. ’If Huang Feng knew what I was really thinking, her whole worldview would be shattered.’

Huang Feng tugged on Xu Su’s arm and whispered, "Susu, do you think Fei Qiao is being kept by Jiang Peng? Is she one of those mistresses you mentioned?"

Xu Su froze for a second, then admitted, "I think so."

’In any case, that’s not how you treat a proper girlfriend...’

In her past life, she had been with Zhou Mochen for ten years. Xu Su had never witnessed any of the sordid affairs of the wealthy elite. Everything she saw and heard was polished and glamorous.

But even so, she had seen how the people in that circle treated the mistresses they kept.

These men didn’t see the girls, who all had a price, as people. When they were in a good mood, they’d call them "baby" this and "darling" that, but in reality, they were nothing more than little playthings—the kind that could be thrown away at a moment’s notice...

It was no different from keeping a pet. In fact, it was worse. At least you wouldn’t keep a pet for only a few months. You grow attached to a pet over time; you wouldn’t just give it away...

"Does Shen Chen treat his mistresses like that too?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Huang Feng seemed to see Shen Chen through some kind of filter. She still hadn’t given up hope, asking, "But he’s so gentle and respectful toward you. He’s nothing like that Jiang Peng. I really don’t think Shen Chen is the type of man who disrespects women."

"..."

Xu Su was at a loss for words for a good while before finally snapping, "I may have never seen how he treats his mistresses, but he’s absolutely no better than Jiang Peng. The only reason he’s respectful to me is because of Zhou Mochen, understand?"

"As a person, Shen Chen is a great friend. But you must not, under any circumstances, develop other kinds of feelings for him, you hear me?"

Realizing that Huang Feng might have actually started to fall for Shen Chen, Xu Su went on high alert and warned her sternly, "If you still doubt what I’m saying, then go ask your brother about him. Just ask him straight up what Shen Chen is like as a boyfriend."

Xu Su had thought it through. As long as Shen Chen didn’t try to seduce her friends, she wouldn’t find him as disagreeable as she had in her past life.

As a friend, Shen Chen was genuinely great, and she wasn’t opposed to having him as one. But if Huang Feng really did fall for him, then Xu Su would have no choice but to keep her distance from Shen Chen.

She absolutely could not be the bridge that brought them together. If she let Huang Feng take that step and fall into Shen Chen’s clutches, a girl who had never even been in a relationship would be trapped for at least three to five years before she could get over him.

’As for what Shen Chen was thinking, or whether he even liked Huang Feng...’

’That wasn’t important!’

So what if Huang Feng fell for him first? Shen Chen was the one acting like a player, luring her into developing feelings for him. It was his fault!

Xu Su thought, fiercely protective of her friend, all while rattling on to Huang Feng, painting Shen Chen as the biggest scumbag of the century.

The two chatted as they walked, finally reaching their private room. As they rounded a corner, Xu Su’s gaze swept across the hall. In the distance, she saw a familiar figure leaning against the wall, one foot propped up, a cigarette between his fingers. He looked aloof and rebellious.

He looked nothing like the brilliant academic prodigy he was; this was the spitting image of a teenage delinquent.

Xu Su froze. ’Since when did Xi Zirong learn to smoke?’

When Huang Feng saw her stop walking, she followed her friend’s gaze. Thinking about the pair’s tangled history of love and hate, she tactfully said, "Do you two want to talk? Even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains, right? I’ll head back to our room first."

’"Even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains," indeed...’

Xu Su had to stop herself from laughing at her friend’s very literary choice of words...

Huang Feng covered her mouth, gave Xu Su a meaningful look, and then hurried away. Left alone, Xu Su hesitated for a moment before walking toward Xi Zirong.

She was wearing heeled sandals, and they made a pleasant sound on the cool floor tiles. Xi Zirong’s head was down, one hand stuffed in his pocket and the other bringing the cigarette to his lips in a casual posture.

Xu Su wondered if she was seeing him through her own special filter, because she thought he looked incredibly handsome even just smoking a cigarette...

’He was just so handsome.’

Xu Su stopped about two meters away from him, standing quietly for a moment. Xi Zirong kept his head lowered, completely oblivious to who had arrived, who was passing by, or who was now watching him.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Su took two steps closer. "Enjoying that?"

At the familiar voice, Xi Zirong’s body visibly tensed. He pinched the half-smoked cigarette in his fingers and turned to look at her.

They stared at each other in silence for a long moment before he held the cigarette out to her. "Want to try?"

"..." Xu Su, completely caught off guard, could only stare.

Xi Zirong lowered his gaze and pulled back his hand. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Su suddenly stepped forward, snatched the cigarette from him, and took a drag.

’She was smart. She wasn’t going to choke like some first-timer in a TV drama.’

With that thought, Xu Su drew the smoke into her mouth and quickly blew it out again. She frowned and said, "It tastes awful. You should stop smoking."

Xi Zirong watched her, unconsciously rubbing his fingertips together. His expression was frigid. "Xu Su, don’t provoke me."

"..." Xu Su’s pupils dilated. ’Where did that come from?’

Then a thought struck her. She looked down at the cigarette in her hand and started to understand.

’So, this counted as provoking him?’

’She just wanted him to stop smoking.’

After a moment of silence, Xi Zirong held out his hand to her. "Give it back."

"..."

Xu Su swore this was the first time in her life Xi Zirong had ever asked for something back from her.

Her eyes fell on the silver ring on his finger. Xu Su took half a step back and said firmly, "No."

’I’m going to smoke the whole thing!’

’I won’t leave a single puff for him!’

’Xi Zirong shouldn’t be smoking!’

Driven by this thought, Xu Su raised her hand to put the cigarette back in her mouth. She took a heavy drag, but before she could exhale, her vision suddenly went black. A hand cradled the back of her head, and something cool and soft pressed against her lips...

And the smoke she hadn’t yet exhaled was drawn from her mouth by Xi Zirong.

The unexpected exchange of smoke made Xu Su choke, and she broke into a violent coughing fit.

Xi Zirong pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back. "Still want to smoke?" he asked, his tone unreadable.

Xu Su coughed until tears streamed from her eyes. The moment she finally caught her breath, she heard his indifferent words and angrily shoved him away. "Fine, I was being nosy! If you want to smoke so badly, then go right ahead!"

Her anger only made Xi Zirong laugh. "Didn’t I tell you not to provoke me? I get hard just from looking at you. It’d be a miracle if I could control myself."

"!!" Xu Su couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ’Did he completely lose all his inhibitions the moment he graduated?’

Xi Zirong suddenly grabbed Xu Su by the waist, spun her around, and pinned her against the wall, pressing his body flush against hers. "I misspoke. I don’t even need to see you. I can get hard just thinking about you."

As if to prove his words, the hand on her waist tightened. "Xu Su, I’ve missed you."

Those were the very words she had refused to say during the game of dares earlier, no matter what...

Xu Su’s thoughts were in chaos, her mind a complete jumble, but deep down her heart was screaming, ’Where is he? Where’s the Xi Zirong who used to blush over every little thing?’