Chapter 1

That was the first time she saw him. In a private box at the Era Palace. Accompanying the boss to entertain clients, she originally did not need to be there, as there was a secretary for such matters. However, due to a coincidence that day, she was forced to go instead.

The next day, she asked Pingting for his phone number and found a moment to call him after work. His voice paused for a moment before he realized, "Oh, it's you!" He sounded as calm as if he were listening to a weather report. "Are you free later?" It was a bit noisy on his end, and she was straightforward; the amount of money was not insignificant to her, and having it in her bag every day made her anxious. If she were to encounter a thief one day, wouldn't she have to cover the loss herself? "Are you free later?" It was a bit noisy on his end, and she was straightforward; the amount of money was not insignificant to her, and having it in her bag every day made her anxious. If she were to encounter a thief one day, wouldn't she have to cover the loss herself?

Since then, no matter how many calls Pingting received, she always made excuses. Although she was young, she understood that certain matters always require a match in social status. This principle has been passed down through generations for thousands of years; if it were not a truth, it would have been washed away by the tides of time. She and they were ultimately not on the same path.

He half-supported and half-held her, placing her in the room. The living room is extremely small, the room is extremely small, and the kitchen is also extremely small, all combined are still not as large as his bedroom. However, though the sparrow is small, it has all its vital organs. He went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and then noticed that she seemed to have a preference for butterflies; there were butterflies on the cup, the plate, and the bowl. After pouring a glass of water and returning to the room, he saw that she was still in a daze, murmuring softly: "Don't take medicine, I only drink water. I want to drink water." It turned out that she felt as if she had returned to Jiangnan, that place that haunted her dreams. When she was a child, every time she caught a cold or had a fever, her father and mother would stay by her side, taking turns to feed her water and medicine. He was hearing her speak in such a spoiled tone for the first time, and his heart stirred. It is often said that the land of Jiangnan has soft Wu dialect, yet she had also learned to speak authentic Beijing dialect.

Perhaps it was because she was dressed too ordinarily, or perhaps it was because the beautiful and graceful Mei was holding her hand as she approached, those few men glanced over slightly, yet they continued to tease and joke, while some sang.

The car was silent, and she was not familiar with him at all. Even the rustling sound of the tires rolling over the ground could be heard clearly. She lowered her head, opened her bag, and handed him an envelope. He only glanced at it slightly and asked, "What is this?" In fact, he already understood. Her face flushed, and if being petty was being petty, she said, "Here is the money I owe you." He remained silent, gripping the steering wheel tightly and turning in a different direction.

Yu Pingting pulled her straight to the mahjong table, took the phone resting on the table, the latest model from Apple, which had even been reported in the central news recently, with only hearsay that it had not yet begun selling domestically. She had never understood such brands, but after rolling around in the market for these past few years, she had learned to recognize them. Before she could react, Yu Pingting giggled and said, "This is my university classmate—Zhao Zimo." She smiled and nodded slightly, and the few people also raised their heads and nodded slightly in her direction. He was one of them, sitting directly across from her, glanced at her briefly, then lowered his eyelids. She could see very clearly, a pair of distinctly black and white peach blossom eyes.

She was about to throw away the white chips in her hand when a lazy voice whispered in her ear: "Don't hit that!" The warm breath gently brushed against her ear, sending an indescribable tingling sensation through her. Looking up, she saw his eyes, as dark as black jade, filled with a soft smile: "Hit this!" When the game paused, they counted the chips and she had won several tens of thousands. Only then did she realize they were playing with a base of one hundred thousand. The three men laughed and scolded, "We thought it was a gift of money, but in the end, it turned out to be a scam. First, they confused us, then they struck. " He merely smiled gently and handed her the money. Looking up again, she saw his eyes, as dark as black jade, filled with a soft smile: "Hit this!" When the game paused, they counted the chips and she had won several tens of thousands. Only then did she realize they were playing with a base of one hundred thousand. The three men laughed and scolded, "We thought it was a gift of money, but in the end, it turned out to be a scam. First, they confused us, then they struck. " He merely smiled gently and handed her the money. She refused, saying that this money was equivalent to several months of her salary. Finally, Pingting came over and whispered in her ear: "Don't make a fool of yourself. Just take it."

The phone rang several times, and when the other party saw that it was not answered, they hung up. She felt relieved, no longer having to fumble in the dark, and soon fell into a deep sleep. By the next day, she finally found a phone, opened it up, and saw a mobile number that was not one she usually dialed, but she did not pay much attention to it.

It is uncertain whether it was due to that card game, but in the end, everyone else assumed they were being "understanding and considerate." Only he and she remained. He had never seen her drink so much before; usually, when others toasted her, she would merely smile and change the subject, only taking a few sips when absolutely necessary. However, on this day, she had drunk too much, her eyes were hazy, and she could barely walk straight. Autumn had already arrived, the weather was quite cool, and the wind blew in through the car window, causing her hair to flutter. On this day, she had drunk too much, her eyes were hazy, and she could barely walk straight. Autumn had already arrived, the weather was quite cool, and the wind blew in through the car window, causing her hair to flutter. There seemed to be nothing to say between them; he did not speak, and she did not know what to say either. If he had said something, she would have responded a few times, but she would never take the initiative to start a conversation.

When they met again, he was still holding a beauty in his hands. He merely glanced at her, without even a smile. Naturally, she did not go over to greet him. A large group of people were chatting and laughing, making a racket. By the time they were leaving, he had already taken that beauty away, not knowing where he had gone to indulge in pleasure. The person who was sending her home jokingly remarked, "That guy, why is he so impatient, looking just like he has just gotten drunk."

Her tolerance for alcohol is actually not very good, but compared to a Southern girl, it is still acceptable. This is mainly because when she was a child, her father would often hold her on his lap while drinking, allowing her to dip her chopsticks slightly into his drink. Every time her mother mentions this, she says it is due to her early bond with her father; although she is a girl, her father raised her with great care. It is important to note that in her hometown during her birth, the preference for sons over daughters was quite severe. However, her father never held such views. She is always very restrained during social gatherings, and if she approaches her limit, she never takes another sip.

She is capable, but not particularly skilled. Every New Year, when she returns to her hometown, the neighbors, uncles, and aunts enjoy gathering in pairs to play mahjong and pass the time. In just a short while, several rounds have already been played. One of them turned around with a smile and said, "Jiang Shao, you seem to be in a good mood today, here to give away money." He paid no attention and merely squinted his eyes. In fact, they were playing with chips, and she did not understand the rules well, losing several rounds in a row.

Later, things became less intense. She was responsible for import and export matters, and was busy every day to the point of being overwhelmed. That evening, feeling in a bad mood and just starting to work, her phone rang again from Pingting: "Zimo— you must come to save me. I am drunk—" She slurred out an address. She knew the place and had been there a few times.

I initially thought that Pingting was just being polite when she said we should keep in touch more often. Little did I expect that on the third day, while she was still working overtime, I received a call from her. Without any preamble, she asked, "Where are you? I'll come pick you up!" As she took a sip of water, I replied, "I'm working overtime at the office." With a tone that left no room for refusal, Pingting said, "Meet me at the main entrance of your office in twenty minutes." Before I could even swallow the water, she had already hung up the phone.

You scoundrel, it has been so long, and you haven't contacted us. Everyone says you have vanished from the face of the earth—" Yu Pingting exclaimed, "Now that I have run into you today, I will not let you off easily." Her face flushed slightly, but fortunately, the lighting could conceal it. For others, four years of university life might be about studying and enjoying their youth, but for her, it was merely about working, studying, and working again. Where was there any time to cultivate relationships with classmates? "Now that I have run into you today, I will not let you off easily." Her face flushed slightly, but fortunately, the lighting could conceal it. Occasionally reflecting on her university life, the greatest regret was this matter. Yet, there was nothing to be done; even if time could be reversed, she would still choose the same path.

That day was the second time she saw him, driving a silver-gray Mercedes-Benz. At first, she did not pay attention and directly got into the car carrying Pingting. It was only when they arrived at the villa in the suburbs and parked that she noticed his car right behind them. He was dressed quite formally that day and did not even glance at her, nor did she greet him. She had never been one to take the initiative, and moreover, she was well aware of herself and felt it unnecessary to provoke someone of his stature.

Moreover, his female companion is estimated to be able to circle around the outer ring several times; what is Zhao Zimo to her? One must act according to one's capabilities, and she is well aware of that. After a month or two, Pingting called: "Why have you gone missing again? You haven't even contacted me. I just returned from a trip to Europe, and you didn't reach out. Don't you know to give me a call? Do you really dislike me this much?" Thus, they reestablished contact.

After waiting briefly at the entrance, she spotted his silver-gray car. Suddenly, she realized that she had been a bit absent-minded; at this time of day, such a conspicuous vehicle parked right at the company entrance was bound to attract disapproving glances. She hoped that no colleagues would see her, and hurriedly got in, saying, "Drive." He was wearing a pink shirt, and seeing her flustered demeanor, he had no idea what was going on and quickly started the car.

In that private room, the atmosphere was filled with bright lights and flowing wine, with smoke swirling in a hazy manner, accompanied by fine wine and beautiful women. Those who enjoyed it might feel as if they were in paradise. For her, it was of no consequence; on ordinary days, she would occasionally indulge with friends or colleagues, and it was indeed a place to go. However, if she became merely a companion, it would feel unbearably dull. She found an excuse to step out to the corridor for some fresh air

He did not contact her, and naturally, she did not contact him either. The last time, the phone number that Pingting gave her was noted down casually, and she had long forgotten which document that piece of paper was tucked into. She had never thought about having any entanglement. In fact, what was there to contact about? It was merely a one-night stand! It is not that she is particularly open; this encounter with him was actually her first. It just so happened that it was the anniversary of her father's death, and every year on that day, she would feel sad, especially after talking to her mother, which made her feel even lonelier and more sorrowful. It was just a longing for home, a desire to return home immediately, to eat the wontons made by her mother, to eat the zongzi wrapped by her mother. While drinking, she had the thought of wanting to get drunk; when he was taking her back, she also had a moment of clarity. She only felt lonely and desolate, wanting to grasp onto a piece of driftwood. Like a dodder flower, she wanted to lean against a big tree, borrowing a bit of strength. If it is said that he took advantage of her, it would be more accurate to say that she benefited from him.

The car came to a stop in front of a restaurant. As soon as she entered, a man who appeared to be the manager approached her: "Young Master Jiang, it has been a while since you last came. The usual place?" Looking out through the large glass windows, the view from over fifty floors up was naturally clearer than that from her office on the lower floors. As the lights began to twinkle, the entire city resembled a sleepless metropolis. The tableware was white with a vividly printed butterfly, and the outer rim was gilded, exuding opulence and grandeur. She felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, continuously touching the butterfly. In reality, it was different; the items available in that small town were all extremely cheap, and especially so over a decade ago, they must have been quite crude. Yet, the things remembered are always the most beautiful, simply because they belong to the past.

Pushing the door open, she saw a table full of people, most of whom had already eaten quite a bit. As soon as Yingting spotted her, she swayed over: "Aren't you here? Zimo, come help me pour for them." A beauty is indeed a beauty; even when drunk, she radiates charm. She hurriedly helped her sit down. Raising her head, she noticed him holding a cigarette, slightly tugging at the corner of his mouth, appearing to smile yet not quite. His eyes resembled a deep autumn pool, gazing directly at her, unfathomable.

The light in the corridor was dim, and the crimson sconces on the wall illuminated the exquisite glass floor tiles, making them appear even more delicate and translucent. A waft of fragrant air passed by, yet she did not look up. The person walked a few steps but turned back: "Zi Mo? Zhao Zi Mo!" The voice was sweet and tender, yet the tone was unmistakably familiar. She suddenly raised her head, and to her surprise, it was Yu Pingting, a classmate from her school days.

She never expected that Yu Pingting's private room would be so luxurious, far more opulent than the ones booked by her company's CEO. Several men were gathered around two tables building a metaphorical Great Wall, while others were singing with beautiful women. There was no deliberate display of formal attire, yet an indescribable calmness and composure prevailed, clearly indicating that this circle was different from both her current and past circles. She could never penetrate this circle, nor had she ever thought of doing so.

After returning home and taking a shower, it was already quite late, and the weather had turned cold. Snuggling into the warm quilt, all I wanted was to sleep. Just as I began to feel drowsy, I heard the phone ring. I reached out, but after fumbling around the bedside for a long time, I couldn't find it. I cursed inwardly, "I wonder which annoying foreigner likes to disturb people's sweet dreams!" In the import-export business, there was no way around it; when they were sleeping, you were at work, and when you were sleeping, they were still at work. So, making a living is not easy. However, she was quite adept at telling lies. One day, when her mother called to ask if she was finding her job difficult, she thought to herself, "I wonder which annoying foreigner likes to disturb people's sweet dreams!" In the import-export business, there was no way around it; when they were sleeping, you were at work, and when you were sleeping, they were still at work. So, making a living is not easy. However, she was quite adept at telling lies. That day, when her mother called to ask if her job was hard, she replied, "What difficulty? It's just chatting with them in a foreign language." This reassured her mother, which was a good deed in itself.

She actually knew when he left; by the time the alcohol had worn off in the late night, she was already awake. People are like this; when drunk, they are muddled, and can use alcohol as a source of courage to do anything, but once sober, they become timid. She could only pretend to be asleep, not daring to move at all. It was only at dawn that he finally left. She only knew that he seemed to push the door open and then came back in, not knowing what for. She certainly did not have the courage to open her eyes and meet his gaze. After a while, he closed the door and went out, and then she heard the sound of the main door closing; this time, he truly left.

After a while, I became somewhat familiar with this group of people. Firstly, it was because Pingting called me often, and I felt it was truly impolite to refuse her every time. Secondly, although she was well-acquainted with this city, she was all alone, inevitably feeling lonely and desolate. After working overtime, looking out from the glass wall on the 18th floor, the lights twinkling one by one made me feel pitiful as I saw myself all alone. Holding the cup I bought as soon as I entered the company, with a white base and colorful stripes, it was light and elegant, reminiscent of the toothbrush cup my father bought for me when I was a child, which had two colorful butterflies on it, ready to take flight. I liked it so much that the first thing I did every morning was to rush to brush my teeth. Later, I playfully broke it, and since then, there have been no more butterflies. Yet, that color and those butterflies have remained imprinted in my mind. Later, I playfully broke it, and since then, there have been no more butterflies. Yet, that color and those butterflies have remained imprinted in my mind.

He supported her as she leaned against him, feeling her warmth like cotton, weightless. He slowly brought the cup to her lips. She gulped down all the water in one go, as if still unsatisfied, and extended her tongue to lick a few times. He felt a loud thud in his mind, as if all the blood in his body rushed to his head. Yet she remained unaware, slowly shifting positions in his embrace, her soft lips brushing against his neck—he felt as if he had suddenly suffered a crushing defeat, unable to contain himself, and kissed her fiercely.

She was born in a small city in northern Zhejiang, in the picturesque Jiangnan, which is beautiful like a landscape painting throughout the four seasons. It is a region that has long been known as a land of fish and rice in China. However, her mother, in order to support her and her sister's education, has always lived frugally. Since she was admitted to one of the top universities in the city, she has worked every day to earn money, never willing to let her mother spend even a dime on her. The hardships she endured during this time are beyond the comprehension of those born with a golden key.

"Come sit with me for a while, and give me your phone number. Over the past few years, the classmates have gathered a few times, but no one has been able to contact you." She had a bit to drink, her cheeks slightly flushed, as if she had applied a layer of rouge, making her even more radiant. When she first entered the school, she caused a sensation throughout the Foreign Languages Department, and in recent years, she had become more fashionable; even a popular female star standing next to her would be overshadowed. Back then, she and her were merely acquaintances; if it weren't for the class trip organized that year, they would probably just nod at each other, smile in greeting, and then pass by without further interaction.

In fact, being with them was merely about dining, singing, and playing mahjong as a form of entertainment. When there were many people, it was easy to joke around, and everyone was carefree; when something funny happened, it was hard to stop laughing. On that day, he had a bit too much to drink, and as he moved between two tables, one person was missing. For some reason, he pointed at her, drawing the attention of everyone in the room: "Let her take the lead for a moment. If she loses, it counts as my loss; if she wins, it counts as her win." She did know how to play mahjong, but felt embarrassed. Yingting noticed her awkwardness and pushed her into the seat, laughing as she said, "With Jiang Shao backing you up, just play. What are you afraid of from these three men!"