Yu Yan returned to her desk in a foul mood. She was just about to vent to Song Jianing when her phone buzzed with an unread message.
It was from He Shuliu.
[I found a job.]
So fast???
Yu Yan was so shocked she sent three question marks in a row.
[What job?]
[Model.] He Shuliu replied instantly, [I sent them my photos and they sent me a signing offer.]
Yu Yan:
He really knows how to find a job.
[So when do you start?]
[Next week, I think.]
A few seconds later, He Shuliu sent another message.
[Do you like this job?]
He’s the one working, so why ask if she likes it?
Yu Yan started to reply “As long as you like it,” but after a moment’s thought, she deleted it and sent “I like it” instead.
He Shuliu sent a sticker of a little puppy, beaming with joy.
Looking at the adorable sticker, the anger Yu Yan had built up over Lin Rang dissolved like a balloon suddenly deflated.
A random question popped into her head—was this modeling job He Shuliu found actually legitimate?
After work, back at home, Yu Yan decided to confirm it with He Shuliu.
The answer she got was that it was indeed a proper modeling job, at a famous company in the industry no less, with great benefits and an excellent work environment.
Yu Yan finally felt at ease.
On the weekend, a Typhoon hit, and Yu Yan hardly left the house, spending the whole time curled up with He Shuliu.
Huang Wenxuan’s case made the news. She scrolled by it and took a quick look, noticing it was getting quite a bit of attention.
Turned out the police had released details about Huang Wenxuan’s condition at death.
Even though the image was pixelated, someone had roughly restored the original—he looked like a long-preserved Mummy, which stirred up heated discussions online.
The debates online mainly fell into two camps: one speculated the killer was some unknown beast from the deep mountains, the other guessed it was a perverted murderer like Hannibal.
Hannibal…
Yu Yan was amazed by people’s imaginations.
But whatever the case, reading through their discussions was rather amusing.
After lounging around for two days, Monday came.
He Shuliu went to the modeling company to discuss his contract in person, while Yu Yan headed back to work.
The moment she approached her desk, she sensed something was off.
Her colleagues’ gazes were all odd, even their leader Chen Feifei’s, with a hint of teasing.
Did something happen over the weekend that she didn’t know about?
Yu Yan wondered to herself. Before long, a coworker sitting opposite poked their head over to talk to her.
“I heard you’re interested in Lin Rang, is that true?”
“What?” Yu Yan looked utterly incredulous. “Me, interested in Lin Rang? Who said that? Why not say I’m his mother?”
The coworker’s eyes widened in shock.
After all, Yu Yan was usually gentle—no one had ever seen her lose her temper or heard her swear, but today she blurted that out.
“I don’t know who started it, but everyone’s saying it like they saw it themselves. They even say you met with Lin Rang alone last week!” The coworker asked cautiously, “Is it true?”
“Of course not.” Yu Yan denied it at once, her expression unpleasant.
Who started these rumors?
Was it those people who secretly watched her talk to Lin Rang that day? Or Lin Rang himself?
Yu Yan picked up her phone, found Lin Rang in the work chat group, and sent him a private message.
[What’s with those rumors?]
A few minutes later, Lin Rang replied.
[What rumors?]
[Don’t play dumb, it’s already reached me. You can’t not know.]
Yu Yan paused, then sent another message.
[Whether it was you or not, please clear it up.]
A few more minutes passed before the chat lit up again.
[You’re too sensitive, aren’t you? I checked, people are just saying we met last week. That’s the truth, so what’s there to clarify?]
[And it’s not like we’re close, so what right do you have to boss me around?]
Yu Yan took a deep breath, forcing her anger down.
If she hadn’t been sure before, these two messages confirmed it—Lin Rang was indeed the one spreading the rumors.
He was deliberately getting back at her.
Yu Yan stared at the phone screen for a few seconds, then decisively locked it.
Rumors stop with the wise. If she let this get to her, she’d only be playing right into Lin Rang’s hands.
Groundless rumors—let him say whatever he wants. When he runs out of tricks, he’ll stop.
Yu Yan ignored the gossipy stares around her. Anyone who came to ask got a curt “Nothing happened,” after which she threw herself into work.
After work, at home, He Shuliu was waiting for her in the entryway as usual.
Yu Yan smelled the aroma of food and was a bit surprised, “Didn’t you go to sign the contract? You’re back so early?”
“Nothing much on the first day.” He Shuliu said casually, “Besides, I signed as a part-timer. I don’t have to go every day.”
“Part-time?” Yu Yan asked with curiosity, “Will there be many opportunities for work?”
“No idea, guess we’ll see.” He Shuliu leaned in closer, blinking, “Were you very tired today?”
Yu Yan was taken aback, “Not really.”
He was too perceptive—even this he could tell.
“I sweated a lot. I’m going to take a shower.”
Not wanting him to know about the work drama, Yu Yan put down her phone and went straight to the bathroom.
He Shuliu watched her enter the bathroom and close the door. Soon, the sound of running water echoed out.
He could tell—she was deliberately avoiding him.
Why? Was she unhappy with the job he’d found?
Or had he done something else to upset her?
He Shuliu didn’t like this feeling.
Retreat, avoidance, a faint sense of distance.
It reminded him of that night they argued—Yu Yan treated him the same way, then drove him out without hesitation.
His unease grew, He Shuliu lowered his eyes, standing quietly, unsure how to rid himself of these negative feelings.
Just then, Yu Yan’s phone suddenly lit up twice.
He glanced over.
Two new messages, both from [Lin Rang].
He remembered that name.
Last time he argued with Yu Yan, it was because of this guy.
The one who blocked Yu Yan in the company lobby before—also this guy.
So he was bothering her in private, too?
He Shuliu tapped the screen—unlocked it successfully. Their fingerprints were both registered, so they could access each other’s phones freely.
On the chat screen, the contact labeled Lin Rang was still typing.
[So? Now you know what happens when you give me attitude?]
[Don’t think it’s over just because you cleared things up. From tomorrow, the rumors will keep evolving. Let’s see if people believe you, or me.]
[If you know what’s good for you, come to me and show some sincerity.]
The sender seemed worried about screenshots and quickly retracted all the messages.
But He Shuliu had already seen them.
In that moment, he realized the real reason for Yu Yan’s strange behavior earlier.
It wasn’t because of him, but because of this [Lin Rang].
All his unease vanished, replaced instead by pure loathing and malice toward the harasser.
—Endless.
If not dealt with soon, people like that would just keep scurrying around like cockroaches.
The water in the bathroom was still running.
Gazing at the “message retracted” notice on the screen, He Shuliu calmly typed a reply.
[Fine.]
[I’ll pick the time.]
Yu Yan came out from her shower to find He Shuliu had already set out the food.
She walked over to the table and sat down, taking the chopsticks from He Shuliu. “Now that you’re starting work, let’s just order takeout for dinner in the evenings.”
He Shuliu’s eyes curved with a smile, “Sure.”
Why is he being so obedient today?
Yu Yan glanced at him in surprise, just about to say something when her phone suddenly lit up.
She picked it up absent-mindedly to check, while He Shuliu glanced at her expressionlessly and asked offhandedly, “Who is it?”
“Chen Feifei. There’s a meeting tomorrow, and she’s making sure we arrive half an hour early.”
Yu Yan replied in a complaining tone as she scrolled through the chat log, suddenly pausing with a “Hm?”
Did Lin Rang message her again? Why did he retract it?
Yu Yan was a bit puzzled, but didn’t bother to follow up.
It definitely wasn’t anything good—just ignore it.
“What’s up?” He Shuliu asked with curiosity.
“Nothing.”
Alright.
Yu Yan blocked Lin Rang straight away and put down her phone, “Let’s eat. We have to get up early tomorrow, so I need to sleep early tonight.”
“Okay.” He Shuliu smiled and didn’t ask any more.
Late at night, 1 a.m.
The pitch-dark bedroom was utterly silent. On the bed, two figures slept intertwined, their breaths slow and steady.
After a while, He Shuliu quietly sat up.
He bent down, touched Yu Yan’s forehead with a gentle kiss, then tucked her in and slipped out of the bedroom soundlessly.
In the darkness outside, the old street was deserted. Most of the streetlights were broken, countless insects circling the few that remained, casting mottled, gloomy shadows on the ground.
Lin Rang stood alone by the roadside, checking his watch impatiently.
What’s with Yu Yan? She set the meeting time herself and still wasn’t here. Was she deliberately standing him up?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, so he took out his phone, about to start a voice call to Yu Yan when footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.
Unhurried, getting closer.
Finally.
Lin Rang clicked his tongue, turned with a scowl, “Why are you so late? Is this your idea of—”
His words cut off instantly as he saw who was standing in front of him, his expression freezing.
The young man stopped in front of him was tall and lean, his expression casual. Jet-black hair contrasted starkly with skin pale as snow.
Though he stood under the dim yellow streetlight, it was as if he’d stepped straight out of the darkness—untouched by warmth or light.
Even the shadow at his feet seemed to spread quietly outward.
It sent a chill down the spine for no apparent reason.
“………………Why is it you?!” Lin Rang stared in disbelief.
He Shuliu tilted his head slightly, half smiling, “We meet again.”