Chapter 1

The afternoon sun came out intermittently, and the bleak autumn wind gently blew the sycamore trees by the roadside. The withered yellow sycamore leaves swirled in the breeze and eventually fell back to the side of the black Martin boots.

A young woman in a khaki trench coat stretched out her slender, fair, and rosy fingertips and gently pinched a sycamore leaf that had fallen beside her shoe.

People came and went on the street, each with their own purpose. Xing Bei held a yellowed sycamore leaf in her hand, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

A sudden phone ringtone sounded, and Xing Bei took her phone out of her bag and glanced at it.

It was her ex-boyfriend, whom she had broken up with two months ago, calling. Xing Bei hung up without thinking and blocked his number as well.

A gentle breeze brushed against my cheek, and the stray hairs that had fallen around my ears danced in the air.

Perhaps influenced by the gloomy atmosphere of the overcast day, some deliberately ignored memories were inevitably stirred up.

*

Two months ago, the temperature in Chanjing changed suddenly. She got caught in the rain for a short while, and given her poor health, she unsurprisingly fell ill.

At that time, Chi Qingtang had to go back to Qingyang for something, and she had no one to help her at the hospital. She thought for a long time before calling Zhou Xuzhe.

She knew that Zhou Xuzhe was busy with work abroad and had to follow up on projects frequently. She would handle what she could herself, and if all else failed, she would ask Chi Qingtang for help.

This was one of the few times she sought Zhou Xuzhe's help, but unfortunately, Zhou Xuzhe didn't answer until almost 11 p.m. when she received his reply.

As usual, he was working on a very important experimental project recently, and after thinking about it, she decided not to bother him so as not to distract him from his work.

But to her surprise, on her third day at the hospital, when she went downstairs to eat in the cafeteria, she saw the person who should have been busy with a project abroad feeding another girl intimately in the hospital cafeteria.

Her eyes showed a rare tenderness towards Zhou Xuzhe, and she stood there stunned for a long time before she came back to her senses.

She took out her phone and opened the chat window with Chongzhou Xuze, her fingertips trembling as she tapped the screen.

After typing a sentence, I quickly deleted it and swiped to the bottom right corner to send him a video call.

Xing Bei looked at the person sitting diagonally opposite her while holding her phone. The gentle-smiling man put down what he was holding, and his smile vanished instantly when he saw the note on the screen.

The next second, Xing Bei's phone vibrated. Zhou Xuzhe hung up without thinking. Xing Bei looked at the person on the other end and couldn't help but sneer.

The person sitting next to Zhou Xuzhe glanced at him and said softly, "Brother Aze, if it's urgent, you should go back first."

Zhou Xuzhe looked away from the screen and gently patted her head: "It's nothing, it's not important."

With only two tables between them, or perhaps because the hospital was very quiet at the time, Xing Bei clearly heard Zhou Xuzhe say those words.

What do you mean by "not important"?

They've known each other for so many years; even if there's no romantic feeling between them, as friends, it's not something to be described as insignificant.

At that moment, she really wanted to rush over and ask Zhou Xuzhe why, but her last bit of reason held her back.

She knew it would be pointless and would only make her seem like a madwoman; her deep-seated pride wouldn't allow her to do it.

Seeing the two of them being so sweet together really makes me feel disgusted.

After returning to her hospital room in a daze, Xing Bei sat on the edge of the bed in a daze. A phone rang, and her gaze shifted from the window to her hand.

Looking at the contact name 'My Favorite Xu Ze' on her phone, Xing Bei closed her eyes, and a tear silently rolled down her cheek.

A year ago, she had a vague feeling that something was wrong with Zhou Xuzhe.

At the time, she thought that it was because she and Zhou Xuzhe had not seen each other for a long time that she lacked a sense of security and became suspicious of him.

Later, some problems gradually surfaced. No matter how much she deceived herself, she kept a way out for herself in her heart.

Only when Xing Bei finally heard the answer did she realize that even though she had been prepared for it, she still couldn't help but feel heartbroken when it happened.

In the end, Xing Bei didn't answer Zhou Xuzhe's call. Zhou Xuzhe, seeing that she didn't answer, didn't call back either, and his explanation was just a single sentence:

I'm busy, let's talk tonight.

Xing Bei's gaze fell on the blank chat box, and her slender fingertips slowly slid upwards.

It seems that starting about six months ago, she and Zhou Xuzhe started chatting less and less. Their work time zones were different, so they didn't chat at the same time and met very rarely.

When they first got together, although they didn't talk much, Zhou Xuzhe would report his schedule or take the initiative to ask about her. Now, she chooses to ignore his obvious distance.

Perhaps she had already realized it, but she just didn't want to give up on the relationship she had held onto for so long, and watched herself sink deeper into despair.

That night, Xing Bei lay in bed unable to sleep. The next morning, at the crack of dawn, she broke up with Zhou Xuzhe.

Without waiting for Zhou Xuzhe's reply, she directly blacklisted him on WeChat.

Over the years she had been with Zhou Xuzhe, she thought she could at least hold a place in his heart, but reality ultimately dealt her a harsh blow.

If they had separated as soon as they realized something was wrong, they wouldn't be only now realizing that Zhou Xuzhe never liked her.

*

Looking at the shoulder-length short hair that was being blown about by the breeze in the shop window, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Xing Bei raised her hand to tuck the stray hairs that had been blown by the wind behind her ear, and strode towards Xihai International.

Zhou Xuzhe spends most of his time abroad, occasionally returning to stay for a few days. In their third year together, she rented an apartment in Xihai International with Zhou Xuzhe.

I was sent on a business trip for almost half a month by my company a while ago, and now that I have some free time, I finally have time to move.

The company requires overtime work at any time, and Xing Bei doesn't come here often. After a quick packing, she only had two suitcases.

Xing Bei pulled her suitcase to the door, paused for a few seconds, and turned back to take one last look at everything inside.

The few memories she had of this place vanished completely the moment she locked the door. Stepping out of the community gate marked a new beginning.

The weather in Chanjing after autumn has never been very good, and the already gloomy sky was now filled with rolling dark clouds.

A white light illuminated the night sky once more, and raindrops fell in an instant.

Xing Bei stood under the bus stop sign, frowning as she looked at her phone. Her car had broken down a few days ago and still hadn't been repaired.

It was rush hour, and with the rain, it was even harder to hail a ride-hailing car.

Xing Bei looked around while holding her phone, the hem of her khaki trench coat fluttering at her legs.

The stuffy air made her feel uncomfortable. Just as Xing Bei was planning to stay another night at Xihai International, a black Bentley with its hazard lights on stopped in front of her.

Her already furrowed brows furrowed even more deeply. Just as she was about to look away, the rear window of the car slowly rolled down.

A refined and handsome profile was revealed from the black interior, with a silver earring on his left ear swaying slightly with his movements.

The man inside the car was dressed in a suit and tie, with a noble and aloof demeanor. His fine, loose hair hung down over his strong brow bone, and he had a straight nose and thin lips.

Despite being a cold person, she has a pair of alluring fox eyes, like a noble white fox in the snowy mountains, making people want to get closer.

After Xing Bei saw it clearly, a hint of surprise flashed in her puzzled eyes.

This place is quite a distance from the city center, so why would Lu Runxu be here?

Before she could even speak, a lazy, teasing voice came from inside the car: "Miss Xing, did you have a fight with your boyfriend?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept over her side: "Miss Xing's boyfriend is so irresponsible. He didn't even try to stop her in this rainy weather."

Xing Bei glanced at him indifferently, feeling utterly speechless. She must have forgotten to check the almanac before going out today.

"It's hard to get a taxi in this rainy weather, how about I give you a ride?" Lu Runxu opened the car door and walked towards her.

Xing Bei looked at the drivers on her phone who hadn't accepted her order yet, then looked up at the sky. White lights were still flashing in the distance; the rain wasn't going to stop anytime soon.

She glanced down at the people inside the car, and after hesitating for a while, she finally decided to get in.

Lu Runxu naturally took the suitcase from her hand, and the person behind him glanced at it and got into the car.

Once she got in the car, the man's gaze fell on her, so intense it was impossible to ignore.

Xing Bei glanced at him with some annoyance and gave the address to the people in the front row: "Assistant Lin, go to Platinum Mansion."

Secretary Lin looked at Lu Runxu through the rearview mirror and saw that his boss's gaze was lingering affectionately on the person beside him. He silently looked away.

He said the boss left work so early today because he was helping Ms. Xing move.

The boss's actions were like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—he had no good intentions.

Xing Bei looked out the window at the buildings rushing past.

She sighed helplessly. Luckily, she had rented an apartment near the company beforehand; otherwise, it would have been too much trouble to get back to Qingyang so late at night.

The car remained quiet throughout the journey. After giving the address, Xing Bei didn't want to talk to Lu Runxu and leaned back to rest for a while.

Upon arriving at Platinum City, Xing Bei had just opened the car door and hadn't even had a chance to step out when someone behind her suddenly grabbed her wrist.

She looked at Lu Runxu with a puzzled expression: "What are you doing?"

A slight smile curved the corners of the man's lips, and a sly glint flashed in his dark eyes: "I kindly escorted Miss Xing home, shouldn't you at least invite me up for a cup of tea?"

Xing Bei knew he hadn't planned ahead, so she smiled insincerely and said, "I'm sorry, we don't have any tea at home, but I can pay for the ride."

Lu Runxu had no intention of letting her leave so easily: "I just want some tea."

Xing Bei gave a light "humph" and ignored him. She hadn't taken more than a few steps with her suitcase when Lu Runxu pulled her back. She glanced at him and withdrew her hand, letting Lu Runxu be her free laborer.

The atmosphere in the elevator was strangely quiet. As she watched the numbers ticking down, Xing Bei's heart suddenly raced.

Standing by the door, Xing Bei entered the password, and with a 'beep', the door slowly popped open.

Xing Bei had her hand on the doorknob and hadn't even turned on the light when she suddenly felt a sense of being lifted into the air. Xing Bei couldn't help but gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around the neck of the person in front of her.

A cold sensation instantly crept up Xing Bei's spine, while a sliver of light shone through the crack in the door.

Looking at the serious-looking man in front of her, before she could even pull her hand away, Lu Runxu had already gripped it tightly.

A bad feeling instantly welled up inside Xing Bei, and she asked uneasily, "Lu Runxu, what are you going to do?"

There was no reply. The light outside dimmed, and in the darkness, she couldn't see the other person's emotions at all. All her senses were extremely sensitive at that moment.

Xing Bei sensed something unusual about him, and she closed her eyes in fear the moment he leaned down.

The next second, Lu Runxu pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her neck and gently nuzzling her. Xing Bei was completely stunned and stood there, not knowing what to do.

Wait a minute, something's not right about this direction.

Before she could react, the arms around her waist tightened, and Xing Bei slowly reached her hands, which were hanging at her sides, to Lu Runxu's back and gently patted him twice.

The cool air coming in from the window gradually brought Lu Runxu back to his senses. Xing Bei's fingertips, which were resting on the arm of the person in front of her, curled up slightly, but she didn't dare to look up into the other person's eyes.

The person in front of him looked down at the silent person in his arms, gently picked her up and carried her to the sofa, a faint joy flashing in his fox-like eyes.

Upon learning of Xing Bei's breakup from Yi Zesu, he couldn't wait to appear before her immediately.

I had been holding back my emotions for almost two months without contacting her, but I completely lost it when I walked in the door.

After regaining her composure, Xing Bei looked at the expressionless man beside her, as if he wasn't the one who had just lost control. Xing Bei chuckled softly.

A hypocrite who acts all respectable but is actually despicable.

Lu Runxu's voice was slightly hoarse: "Miss Xing, I am not a good person. If you look at me so bluntly, things may not go well later."

Upon hearing this, Xing Bei smiled slightly, moved closer to Lu Runxu's side, and gently stroked his cheek.

The warm fingertips touched my skin like a feather brushing against me, with a subtle, alluring touch.

When Lu Runxu met her captivating peach blossom eyes, Xing Bei looked more like a little fox than his own fox eyes, exuding charm with every smile and frown.

He swallowed hard and stopped Xing Bei's misbehaving hand: "Xing Bei."

His cool voice carried a subtle warning. Xing Bei laughed as she watched him try to control his physical desires and lay down on the sofa.

Lu Runxu looked at the person laughing hysterically to the side, his beautiful peach blossom eyes glistening with tears, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Damn it, she teased me again.

Xing Bei gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips and leaned lazily against the sofa backrest: "Mr. Lu, it's getting late."

The meaning is clear: it's time to leave.

Lu Runxu looked at her, his gaze falling on the red mark on her fair neck, and he chuckled softly.

The man's deep, magnetic chuckle was exceptionally clear in the room, and Xing Bei stared at him, puzzled.

What's wrong with this jerk? He suddenly started laughing.

Could it be that they're up to some wicked scheme again?

Lu Runxu stood up, straightened his clothes, and gave her a cryptic smile: "Miss Xing, see you next time."

Xing Bei rolled her eyes at him without any politeness.

After the person left, the room became completely quiet. Xing Bei's smile gradually faded, and her beautiful peach blossom eyes turned serious.

A faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air, intertwining with the camellia blossoms on her body, subtly entangling her mind.

It also reminded her that everything that had just happened by the door was real. Xing Bei lay half-reclined on the sofa, gently pinching her brow.

The sound of rain outside the window unexpectedly reminded her of the first time she met Lu Runxu.

Her meeting with Lu Runxu was also quite serendipitous, much like the most common pickup line in idol dramas: his phone happened to be dead and turned off while he was buying coffee.

If a very handsome man asks you for help, anyone would be willing to help him, especially since she is the kind of person who is extremely obsessed with looks.

Cloud Cafe was her favorite place to hang out after get off work, and she didn't run into Lu Runxu that many times.

Occasionally, when they sit down and chat for a bit, Xing Bei discovers that he understands her thoughts quite well, giving her the feeling of finally finding a kindred spirit among thousands of people.

She wasn't someone who enjoyed making friends, and there was a hidden reason behind her adding Lu Runxu's contact information—she had a slight crush on him.

Moreover, she had an indescribable feeling about Lu Runxu, a strange sense of familiarity, especially his eyebrows and eyes, as if she had seen them there a long time ago.

But she searched through her memories and couldn't find a single person who matched Lu Runxu.

This made her feel very strange.

Lu Runxu always had a unique scent, like sandalwood, but with a hint of mint.

The two don't conflict when they're combined; it's like the feeling of relaxation after a rain in Jiangnan. She also really liked the scent on him.

The rain outside the window was getting heavier and heavier, as if it wanted to wash the entire city of Chanjing clean.

Xing Bei walked to the French windows, closed them, and looked at the long river of neon lights outside. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

On this unusual rainy night, something unspoken seemed to be growing with the falling raindrops.