1

In mid-November, a heavy rain gently ushered Lucheng into winter.

Zhou Zichen and Xu Yu started a business together. In the years since graduation, he hasn't really taken care of himself. At this class reunion, he searched through his closet but couldn't find many suitable clothes.

"Boss, I can actually explore by myself."

Zhou Zichen didn't have a driver's license, and it was raining so he couldn't get a taxi. He originally just wanted to hitch a ride with Xu Yu, but he didn't expect Xu Yu to "accompany" him shopping.

"fine."

"I guarantee a swift and decisive victory, and that the mission will be completed immediately."

Zhou Zichen stood by the sign, solemnly swearing an oath while quickly browsing the men's clothing brands on the sign.

Xu Yu looked down and carefully examined the photo in her WeChat Moments.

I've lost weight.

Zhou Zichen didn't notice this detail. He quickly located a men's clothing store on the second floor, bought the clothes efficiently, and was just about to follow Xu Yu to the supermarket on B1 to buy milk when he saw a couple flirting in the distance.

After Xu Yu finished processing the two work requests she received, she put away her phone and followed Zhou Zichen's gaze, immediately spotting Ji Shengsheng playfully fighting with her boyfriend.

To be precise, it was with her boyfriend of ten years.

More accurately, it was his "ex" whom he hadn't seen for three years.

At this moment, he is a discarded, old "third party" standing in a dark corner.

When Ji Shengsheng turned her head, Zhou Zichen suddenly saw her face clearly and immediately shut up in surprise.

He knew something about Xu Yu and Ji Shengsheng's affair.

Faced with this awkward situation, he felt it was his responsibility to defuse it: "Boss, is that the guy from the art academy next door? Should we go say hello?"

Xu Yu had been staring at the other person for a while.

Just like in the photos, she's lost a lot of weight since college, and the loose dress makes her look even thinner.

Her facial contours are more defined, and the dimples on her cheeks are more prominent than before.

Her hair was waist-length, with some messy strands at the ends tangled unruly around Xing Xing's arm.

"No need." After saying that, Xu Yu calmly withdrew his gaze. "We're not familiar with each other."

...

Ji Shengsheng bought an ice cream cone on the second floor of the mall and waited for about ten minutes before Xing Xing finally arrived.

Although she and Xing Xing went abroad to study together during their senior year, they were in different countries and were far apart. It had been a year and a half since they last met.

"Ji Shengsheng".

Seeing Ji Shengsheng about to enter a women's clothing store from afar, Xing Xing quickly chased after her and took the bag from her shoulder when he got to her side.

Hearing the familiar voice, Ji Shengsheng turned her head to look at Xing Xing.

As far back as she can remember, Xing Xing has never been punctual.

Being late for school, missing flights... all sorts of things, although the two often have to travel together, she has long been used to doing her own thing first after arriving.

Rather than describing them as childhood sweethearts, it would be more appropriate to describe their relationship as best frenemy.

She and Xing Xing grew up in the same compound. Their parents were colleagues and friends. In addition, the two of them got along well and worked together in a good way. Their parents had always wanted to bring them together.

Influenced by romance novels during her early romantic years, she had fantasized about childhood sweethearts being together, but she soon realized that Xing Xing was only decent-looking; otherwise, he had a long list of bad deeds.

For example, when faced with the favor of someone he dislikes, Xing Xing often uses her as a shield, regardless of Ji Shengsheng's protests.

Over time, Ji Shengsheng, who was in junior and senior high school, became Xing Xing's "unofficial girlfriend".

In reality, they weren't as close as rumored. Ji Shengsheng was focused on her studies and didn't care about the rumors Xing Xing spread.

As compensation for his reputation and for cleaning up the mess, Xing Xing took on all of Ji Shengsheng's chores and activities he didn't want to participate in.

In addition, it also includes breakfast for all six years of junior and senior high school.

"I still have to ride my bike to take you home tonight, why don't you mention that?"

Speaking of the past, Xing Xing said with some grievance: "Do you know that I still have chilblains on my hands? They're from shoveling snow for you in the winter. Including yours, I had to do this duty two days a week! For six whole years."

The reason Xing Xing had frostbite on his hands was because he always had a snowball fight with his classmates when he shoveled snow. They even had to stand together on the playground as punishment because they forgot to shovel snow during the snowball fight. Ji Shengsheng scanned the clothes in the store and wanted to choose a dress he liked.

"You were even selected as the captain of the school health team, and you didn't even express your gratitude to me for this great favor."

"I swept all of that out myself, one broom at a time, with all my hard work!" Xing Xing was so angry she wanted to slap Ji Shengsheng's arm. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome." Ji Shengsheng quickly dodged his hand, then pointed to the pine green velvet dress on the shelf and looked at the sales clerk waiting beside her, "Hello, please get me a size S."

After not seeing each other for more than a year, Xing Xing felt that Ji Shengsheng's attitude towards him seemed even colder, completely lacking the affection of "absence makes the heart grow fonder." He couldn't help but poke Ji Shengsheng's shoulder: "Aren't you being a little too cold to me?"

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Ji Shengsheng took the dress from the saleswoman and looked at her intently. “I’ve always been this cold to you.”

Xing Xing: "..."

"...By the way, how's that female colleague you said you had a crush on a while ago?" Ji Shengsheng recalled the long story Xing Xing had told her. "I remember you also said that this time you would definitely turn over a new leaf, try your best to provide emotional value, and find a partner properly?"

Xing Xing sent too many messages, and she was too busy, so she only opened one and didn't pay attention to the subsequent developments.

“Actually, I think she’s quite interesting and easy to get along with,” Xing Xing said, still feeling a bit angry when she thought about it. “I was thinking of flirting a bit more and playing hard to get, but she said I was too childish and that she found me annoying.”

Ji Shengsheng pondered for a moment, then said, "...Hmm, so you have a new target?"

"Not yet, but I'm planning to try my luck with someone from my own neighborhood. I think you..."

Although she knew Xing Xing was joking, Ji Shengsheng still stopped him in time: "...Don't try anything with me, I also think you're childish."

"I get annoyed just seeing you."

"...Alright, alright, go try on the clothes, my dear." Xing Xing waved his hand, declaring a truce. "I have something to do later."

"You can leave now, but remember to pick me up around nine o'clock."

It was difficult to get a taxi where she lived at night, so he arranged with Xing Xing in advance to take her home.

After saying that, Ji Shengsheng went into the fitting room and focused on trying on clothes.

After confirming that she would need some more time, Xing Xing answered a phone call and turned to leave.

Zhou Zichen withdrew his gaze.

Although Xu Yu said "we're not familiar" and "we don't need it," his eyes never left Ji Shengsheng for a second.

He watched Ji Shengsheng and her boyfriend patting each other's arms and poking each other's shoulders, engaging in all sorts of physical contact, laughing and joking, and then watched Xu Yu standing calmly in the corner observing everything. He felt a strange sense of dread.

"Boss, shall we go?"

Zhou Zichen saw Xu Yu withdraw his gaze and proceed cautiously.

Since we're not familiar with each other, and I don't want to say hello, and I've already witnessed their sweet interaction, there's no reason for me to stay here any longer.

"I'm not leaving." Xu Yu put away his phone. "When acquaintances meet, they should always greet each other."