Chapter 1

After the team building event was cancelled, Ding Ya went to a Japanese restaurant with Ying Qixin after work and even had a bit to drink.

Ying Qixin lived close by, so even after getting off the subway, they could still walk a stretch together.

“Xin, I’m getting a dog.”

Ying Qixin tugged Ding Ya along. “Alright, alright, I know! You’ve been talking about it all day. Even the copyright department next door knows you’re getting a dog!”

In the cold December wind, Ding Ya wore a red and white checkered scarf. The tassels at its ends were blown crookedly by the wind, a fitting match for her scattered, rambling words.

Ding Ya had a bit of a baby face. Even though she’d graduated from university years ago, she still looked very much like a student.

She wasn’t tall, her face was round, and the red hair she’d dyed previously had grown out, leaving stark black roots that created a distinct two-toned look.

Ying Qixin asked, “You’re not drunk, are you? Just one drink wouldn’t do that, right?”

She was a bit taller than Ding Ya and pulled the woman who was walking on the curb back down. “What did Little Ming want with you today when he pulled you aside? Was it a confession?”

Ding Ya had her hands shoved in her pockets. The alcohol had made her feel a bit warm. She glanced at Ying Qixin. “How do you know about that?”

Ying Qixin flashed a knowing smirk. “I saw ages ago that he was into you.”

She leaned closer, slung her arm around Ding Ya’s shoulder, and asked in a low voice, “So, did you say yes?”

Ding Ya pursed her lips. “No, I don’t like him back.”

Ying Qixin let out an “oh”. “Everyone says you two look great together. He’s tall and very handsome, has a nice personality, that whole adorable height difference thing… it would’ve been nice, wouldn’t it?”

Ding Ya sighed. “You all just love stirring the pot, don’t you?”

She thought to herself: With my height, I’d have an adorable height difference with just about anyone.

Ding Ya walked forward a few steps and pulled out her phone to check the time.

The city’s neon lights flickered in the night. Ding Ya’s face was flushed from the alcohol, but her eyes were very clear. “I feel absolutely nothing for him.”

Ying Qixin was the same age as Ding Ya; they’d joined the company in the same intake.

Ying Qixin’s own love life had burned through several relationships already, but Ding Ya seemed utterly devoid of such worldly desires. Even when someone pursued her, she remained unmoved, making one wonder if her sexual orientation was just incredibly rigid.

“Everyone loves to watch drama,” Ying Qixin said, hiking the strap of her canvas tote bag further up her shoulder. “It’s mainly because he seems to treat you so well.”

The evening wind was strong and bitterly cold.

It was also the week of Halloween, and just walking down the street, you’d run into people in bizarre costumes.

The hem of Ding Ya’s corduroy maxi skirt was lifted by the wind. Her fuzzy crossbody bag was covered in keychains that any parent would find baffling, jangling loudly with every step she took. It gave her an air somewhat reminiscent of a security guard at a school gate back in the day.

But she looked so youthful. No matter how you looked at her, the only word that came to mind was “cute.”

Ding Ya chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear. “You call that treating me well?”

Her voice was just too sweet. When Ying Qixin first met her, she’d thought Ding Ya was a bit fake. Later, she realized that was just how Ding Ya was, no matter what, and she got used to it.

Ying Qixin asked curiously, “So what would count as treating you well?”

Ding Ya glanced at her. “That, definitely isn’t it.”

Love and dating were topics Ying Qixin struggled to discuss with Ding Ya. Their conversations mostly revolved around other people or gossip.

Their lives were a constant loop, and any fun they had was found online.

Ying Qixin’s relationships were a cycle of breakups and makeups, and Ding Ya occasionally gave her advice on them.

It fit the universal law perfectly: the person not in a relationship is always the one helping those who are.

Ying Qixin looked at Ding Ya curiously, remembering that time she’d asked about Ding Ya’s ideal type.

Unfortunately, Ding Ya had only listed off 2D anime characters, leaving Ying Qixin, who had no interest in games or comics, at a complete loss for words.

Maybe it was the excellent Japanese food they’d had, or maybe the shochu had gone to her head. Ding Ya thought for a moment and, for once, answered the question directly: “They’d have to buy me my favorite in-game skins… and… and light up all my Diamonds for me… and get exclusive music for my social profile… and have a Couple’s Title with me in the game…”

Ying Qixin’s anticipation crumbled. The night wind seemed to freeze her face in a grimace.

It took her a huge effort just to keep smiling. After a few seconds, she managed to speak with difficulty. “You…”

“Are you serious?”

What on earth is all that?! I know you’re an internet-addicted girl, but anyone could do that stuff, right?

And it sounds so dated.

Ding Ya: “Totally serious.”

She pulled her hands out of her pockets and started counting on her fingers for Ying Qixin.

Her hands, slightly smaller than average, were fair and delicate, adorned with a cute Shiba Inu ring.

Her manicure had dangling charms, which drew attention whenever she extended her hands. “Did you ever play Parking Wars? That stuff was crazy hard to snatch a spot in. And playing Farm back then, wow, you even had to set alarms to steal veggies, you know?”

Ying Qixin: …

I never expected a fair-faced girl like you to have lived through the garishly colorful Shamate era too.

She stammered for a while. “That was ages ago.”

“No one plays those anymore. I could understand if you said Honor of Kings.”

Ding Ya shook her head and added, “That’s not the main point anyway.”

Ying Qixin’s ears perked up, but then she heard Ding Ya say, “I don’t know how to explain it. I just don’t feel anything for these people.”

Dating was a very metaphysical thing. Feelings were too.

Ying Qixin nodded. “You don’t go for even such a handsome guy. I wonder what kind of person you’d actually like. What feeling are you looking for? You don’t like girls, do you? You don’t seem like it.”

Ding Ya was bumped by her, and just then, the phone screen hooked on her finger lit up.

There was a message from the person she was supposed to meet tomorrow for the in-person dog adoption—

Hello, would it be alright if I ask a friend to drop the puppy off at your place tonight?

The person seemed worried Ding Ya wouldn’t believe them and even sent a photo.

Ding Ya looked at it several times before replying with “okay.”

Ying Qixin: “What’s up?”

Ding Ya: “My dog is coming to my place tonight! The dog litter box I bought is still sitting in the Hive Box locker.”

She acted like her pants were on fire, her words tumbling out in a jumble. “Xin! I’m… I’m getting…”

Ying Qixin: “A dog, I know. Why is it tonight? Are you going to pick up the stuff now?”

Ding Ya replied to the rehomer with an “Okay.”

The other person immediately responded—

Sorry about this, I’ll ask my friend to deliver the puppy. You’re at the Golden Field Residential Complex, right?

A few seconds later, a call came through. The rehomer’s voice sounded gentle and soft. “Little sister, I’m so sorry. My child needs to be hospitalized, so I can’t make it. I’ve already given the puppy to my friend; she’ll deliver him to you.”

They had originally agreed to meet tomorrow at the IFS Subway Entrance. Ding Ya hadn’t expected such a sudden change to an earlier time. She could only murmur “Mm.”

Rehomer: “That’s great. She’s driving there, so it’ll take a bit of time. You might have to wait a little while.”

Ding Ya made a few more sounds of agreement, then asked, “How will she contact me then?”

The other person said, “I gave her your phone number. She’ll call you when she gets to your complex.”

Ding Ya had found the dog for adoption on Weibo. It was only after adding her on WeChat that she realized the rehomer was a wealthy lady, someone inexplicably obsessed with mongrel dogs. She didn’t think she had anything to worry about in terms of being scammed.

After hanging up, Ying Qixin said, “I’ll wait with you. No work tomorrow anyway.”

Ding Ya: “Thanks.”

Ying Qixin was the ultimate gossip. “Is the person bringing your dog a guy or a girl?”

Ding Ya: “No idea.”

The residential complex where Ding Ya lived had several entrances. Unsure which one the person would go to, she chatted with Ying Qixin as they walked towards the main gate.

Friday nights were always bustling here, with quite a few people patronizing the night market stalls.

The air was thick with the aroma of food. Ying Qixin’s craving hit, and she went off to buy some skewers.

Not long after, Ding Ya’s phone rang.

The voice on the other end was a somewhat androgynous female voice. “Hello, is this Miss Ding? I’m here to deliver the dog.”

Ding Ya let out an “Oh,” said “Hello,” and then, “I’m almost at the complex gate. Where are you?”

This person’s voice was very ordinary, very unremarkable, as if you’d forget it the moment you heard it.

Ding Ya said, “Right at the main entrance.”

She glanced at the security booth, then at Ying Qixin, who was still eating skewers beside her. “My friend and I are standing outside the security booth. You’ll see us when you pull up.”

The person gave an “Mm” in response.

Ding Ya looked around again and saw a black Mercedes-Benz approaching in the distance. It stopped perfectly right at the gate.

Ying Qixin followed Ding Ya’s gaze. “That car? What kind of dog food does a dog in that car eat?”

Ding Ya, unfazed, said, “Let’s go.”

A person stepped out of the car. She was tall, her long boots boasting a heel, and she lifted a carrier out from the back.

Ying Qixin let out a whistle. “So striking.”

The woman’s outfit was crisp and sharp. She seemed to confirm she had the right recipient and strode over with purpose.

The shameless Ying Qixin was already utterly captivated by the stranger’s appearance, tugging at Ding Ya as she whispered, “This lady is so cool.”

Ding Ya stared blankly at the approaching figure, her gaze landing on a mark on the woman’s face as she drew closer. It was a long, thin scar, not very noticeable, but Ding Ya’s eyes seemed to auto-lock onto it with unnerving precision.

Only when the person stopped right in front of her did Ding Ya shift her gaze to the dog carrier, where a fluffy little puppy lay curled up inside.

The proxy rehomer asked, “Your WeChat name is Deep-sea Frozen Fish?”

The woman gave the impression of being somewhere around thirty.

Ding Ya nodded.

The other person handed her the carrier. “Here.”

Ding Ya let out another “Oh” and said thank you.

She couldn’t help but look at this person once more.

Not pale-skinned—deeper than her natural complexion, even—yet somehow, it didn’t detract from her looks. It gave her a strange sort of charm.

Her Mandarin wasn’t perfect; a faint accent could be detected.

Even after the person drove off, Ding Ya still stood rooted to the spot. Long-suppressed memories surged back in a jumbled torrent, swept in by the evening wind, making her head spin.

Ying Qixin noticed her dazed state. Following Ding Ya’s gaze to the rear end of the luxury car driving away, she asked, “What’s wrong with you? Thinking of buying a car too?”

Ding Ya shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

She quietly pulled out her phone, flipped it over, and used the mirror on her phone case to check her face.

Her face was so red, and there was still cumin residue at the corner of her mouth. So far from perfect.

But compared to her past self, the one who had sat on a bus for so long all those years ago, she was already countless times more attractive.

Ding Ya thought: How could I run into her here?

The liar I had that online romance with.

My “husband” who said she’d love me forever, yet didn’t recognize me at all.