“Xiaoyue is here.” A man in a sharply tailored suit was already seated in the dining room.
“Where’s Mom?” Chen Zhaoyue pulled out a chair and sat down.
“She partied too hard last night, still hasn’t sobered up from her hangover.” Speaking of this, Chen An—usually a commanding presence in the business world—could only look helpless.
“Heh.” Chen Zhaoyue had long since gotten used to her fun-loving mother still running wild everywhere in her forties.
“I’m off to school.” Chen Zhaoyue quickly finished her breakfast.
“Goodbye. Your mom and I will miss you.”
“…Sometimes you’re so mushy it gives me chills.” Chen Zhaoyue complained as she walked out of her family’s “Palace” and got into the driver’s car.
Miss Chen, Chen Zhaoyue, twenty-two years old, currently studying Business Management at Haishi’s top university, and preparing to join her family company right after graduation.
“Miss, we’ve arrived.” The driver, Uncle Xu, reminded the young lady who had suddenly fallen into deep thought.
“Oh, alright.” Snapping out of the memory from that night, Chen Zhaoyue opened the car door and stepped out.
She was in her fourth year now, busy with graduation matters, and the university didn’t require her to attend any more classes.
This time, her main reason for coming was to attend the Taekwondo Club’s Graduation Farewell Ceremony and to meet up with her close friend.
***
“Senior Sister, you have to come back and visit us often!” As the farewell party drew to a close, a Junior Sister stood before her, sobbing and sniffling as she expressed her sadness at parting.
“Alright, alright, I will.” Even with Chen Zhaoyue’s maxed-out social skills, she found it hard to handle such a scene.
After all, this wasn’t the kind of workplace where she could rely on “Recognition Technique” or “Dark Psychology”—it was truly a place filled with memories.
Chen Zhaoyue said her goodbyes to each club member. When it was one Junior Sister’s turn, the girl sincerely took two steps back and said resolutely, “C-Chen Senior Sister, this might be the last time we meet, so I want to say—I like you!”
Ooooh~~~
The whole place erupted in excitement, and all eyes turned to them with curiosity.
“Uh… but we’re both girls.” Chen Zhaoyue was momentarily dumbfounded. She’d rejected several Junior Boys before, and thought she was finally in the clear. Who’d have thought there’d be a Junior Sister, too?
The usually quiet Junior Sister with twin ponytails suddenly teared up. “So Senior Sister’s not into girls? Sorry for bothering you!”
She bolted away like a startled rabbit.
“Senior Sister doesn’t know how to cherish pretty girls~”
“Shut up!”
***
After leaving the club, Chen Zhaoyue met up with her best friend.
Her best friend’s name was Tang Chaoyun. Born the same year as Chen Zhaoyue, she had a round face and adorable, innocent-looking almond-shaped eyes. But ever since entering her research group, she seemed to have lost all her vitality.
Chen Zhaoyue saw Tang Chaoyun waving at her from afar.
“How was the farewell, Miss Chen?” Tang Chaoyun giggled, linking arms with Chen Zhaoyue as they sat down in the campus cafeteria.
Chen Zhaoyue recounted the incident from earlier.
“Hehehe, I knew it! The way that Junior Sister looked at you last time was already suspicious. I was right!”
Hmm? Chen Zhaoyue raised an eyebrow. “How are you so good at reading these things? I had no idea. You’re not into girls yourself, are you?”
Tang Chaoyun suddenly shivered, her almond eyes wide. “I’m not into girls! You’re the one who looks like she’d go after cute girls!”
Oh? Someone’s blushing suspiciously.
Chen Zhaoyue let it pass, and her tone suddenly turned serious. “You still remember what I told you before, right?”
“You mean your strange meteor night?” Tang Chaoyun pressed her hands to her cheeks.
“Don’t put it like that.”
“You also said there was someone else possibly watching with you. Are you sure you weren’t dreaming, still hung up on your dream lover?”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Chen Zhaoyue glared at her. “Lately I still feel something’s off, like there’s someone in the world I have a strong connection to.”
“Gonna have a baby?”
Ignoring the tease, Chen Zhaoyue continued, “I want to look into this.”
“Huh? How?”
Even as she quipped, Tang Chaoyun sat up to listen.
“I got someone to pull up the surveillance footage from that route. You’re coming to watch with me.”
“What?! Why do we have to watch it ourselves?”
“It’s too hard to explain to anyone else.”
“I’m not doing it! I refuse!”
“We’ll call Luo Qing, too. Haven’t you two been arguing lately? Here’s a chance to make up.”
“…Who wants to make up with her? No, we were never even on good terms to start! But if there’s heavy lifting, we gotta get her!”
At the mention of a certain person, Tang Chaoyun paused for a second, but then continued grumbling with a tough tone.
Chen Zhaoyue just chuckled.
Luo Qing—her other best friend—had known Tang Chaoyun since they were kids. To outsiders, Luo Qing was a cool, distant beauty, but whenever she was around Tang Chaoyun, a whole different side came out. The two of them had probably been at odds since childhood.
But there was always a subtle tension between them. Even though the three of them were close friends, sometimes Chen Zhaoyue felt like she ought to be hiding under the bed.
They didn’t even get along that well, did they?
After lunch, they met up with Luo Qing, who had just returned from her hospital Internship.
Luo Qing wore a long trench coat, the epitome of a cool, elegant woman. Her phoenix eyes and perfectly shaped brows were both beautiful and commanding.
She looked down her nose at Tang Chaoyun and said to Chen Zhaoyue, “Let’s go.”
“Hey! Chen Zhaoyue, why did you talk to Luo Qing first!”
“Because you’re not very smart.” Luo Qing smiled.
“What did you say?!”
“Enough, let’s get moving!”
Let’s see what really happened that night! Miss Chen lifted her somewhat regretful chest with resolve.