Xue Qiandai, who rode to work in a Mercedes-Benz, was in a daze all day, and would stare blankly and smile foolishly when no one was around.

Her unusual behavior caught Jian Yan's attention, and the two friends were very worried.

Jian Yan nudged her shoulder discreetly: "Did you guys... eat apples? Did you take any precautions?"

A few days ago, Xue Qiandai asked Jian Yan about it, and Jian Yan returned it to her exactly as it was.

Most people would have been mortified, but Xue Qiandai couldn't be reasoned with. She looked utterly dejected. "Don't even mention it! My period came at the worst possible time. I completely missed my chance to seduce a beauty. Sigh!"

That's such a pity!

Hey girl! Can't you be a little more reserved?

"Dai Dai, be a lady, be a lady."

Xue Qiandai rolled her eyes. "Can being a lady put food on the table? Someone like my beauty is beautiful, talented, and devoted in relationships. Do you think I could get her if I didn't take the initiative? Let me put it this way, if you can remain calm and collected towards your senior Yuan, then it's not true love."

Jian Yan: "..."

How can being reserved and introverted mean we're not truly in love? That's an oversimplification.

However, when mentioning Senior Yuan, Jian Yan clasped her hands in a gesture of respect, like a chivalrous heroine: "Dai Dai, on behalf of Senior Yuan, thank you for the interview."

Xue Qiandai chuckled, "No problem, we shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders."

In the afternoon, a mass text message alerted the people in the coffee shop, and a loud cheer erupted inside.

"Payday! This month's salary is so much more than last month's!" You Duoduo was the first to shout, jumping so high he was practically doing a hula dance. "Dai Dai, you brought us good luck."

He wanted to hug Dai Dai, but Xue Qian Dai retreated a thousand miles away, saying, "Forget about hugging. If my boyfriend sees you, he'll break your legs."

Jian Yan looked at them with a smile. This was the first time she had received such a high salary since she started working; it was over ten thousand!

Lan Shan glanced at the text message, her expression unchanging. Did that string of numbers smell like coffee? Did it?

In the afternoon, Xue Qiandai and Jian Yan delivered afternoon tea to Huo Yunchao as usual, and also happened to catch the interview with Huo Yunchao by Fashion Vanguard magazine.

Xue Qiandai didn't disturb them and returned to the shop after delivering the package.

When it was time to leave work, there was a person standing outside the store, holding a bouquet of red roses in his hands. It was Jin Heng.

"Dai Dai, can I have a meal with you?"

Xue Qiandai didn't accept his flowers. She walked up to him and calmly said, "Jin Heng, in this world, I only accept one person's red rose, and that person's name is Huo Yunchao. Don't you already have Hua Se?"

Jin Heng grabbed her wrist. "Dai Dai, you shouldn't be like this. Didn't you say that the Chief Justice's dates have never been repeated? Why can't your date be me?"

"Because the Chief Justice met her Mr. Ruth, Huo Yunchao is my Mr. Ruth." When she said this, Xue Qiandai was absolutely certain and full of confidence.

Oh, so Huo Yunchao was the one who ended it all.

——————

In Sanlitun, Beijing, there's a popular saying: "God created water, and mankind makes wine; the world is neither new nor old. Wine is the last safe haven in this world."

As night falls, Sanlitun becomes thick and sticky. There is a bar street here that welcomes one soul after another—disappointed, triumphant, crazy, or unrestrained—in the alluring night.

Jin Heng entered a bar called "Fugue". In Sanlitun, where land is incredibly expensive, the place didn't feel cramped at all; the space was quite spacious. The words "Born to be a drunkard, die to be a wine jug" were spray-painted on the window.

How magnificent!

Jin Heng went straight to the bar. Two couples were drinking and singing, slightly drunk and whispering sweet nothings to each other.

It hurts my feelings and is an eyesore.

A row of drinks was laid out in front of the bartender. He gestured for him to join in, "Mr. Jin, which drink would you like to accompany you tonight?"

Jin Heng is a regular here.

The unique feature of bars in Sanlitun is their random mixing. Therefore, Jin Heng didn't have a standard answer: "It has to be bitter and strong."

"As you wish." The bartender swirled his glass and began mixing. Two minutes later, a cocktail was placed in front of Jin Heng.

"This new cocktail is called 'Beijing Smog,' please try it."

The name sounds exciting!

Jin Heng raised his glass. The initial taste was intense, a blend of smoky and cigar flavors, with the vodka's smokiness almost evoking the image of Sisyphus's arduous labor. "Indeed, it's strong and bitter enough. I can almost picture the laborers pushing a boulder uphill."

The bartender raises a finger; a connoisseur can tell the difference with just one word.

"Have you ever felt that there are things you want but can't have? People you want to surpass but can never quite reach?"

The wine, once it touched my heart, opened me up. Things I would normally find difficult to say, I could now confide in them.

The bartender shrugged. "Too many, too many to count. So I usually don't worry about those things." He's quite insightful.

"Besides, once you have a glass of wine, you feel at ease. CHEERS." Seeing Jin Heng drinking alone in silence, the bartender decided to act as his temporary drinking buddy.

Jin Heng then raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp. "Well said. It's a pity that not everyone can let go."

"Drinking alone is so boring, why don't I keep you company?" The woman sat down next to Jin Heng. She was beautiful, with smoky makeup, as alluring as the night. Then she tossed a crumpled cover onto the bar. "You're not drowning your sorrows in alcohol because of him, are you?"

Women are like flowers.

The cover features a face that rivals that of a superstar.

"Huo Yunchao and His Business Empire", by Yuan Mu.