This invitation suited Chu Susu perfectly.
It was still early before her shift ended, and Han Xuan’s interview clearly wouldn’t take that long, so Chu Susu suggested switching to lunch instead.
Han Xuan’s watery eyes gazed at her, her response extremely understanding: “No problem. I happened to want to do some sketching nearby anyway. I can wait until you get off work.”
Considering that lunch break was at most an hour before they had to return, and rushing through a meal wouldn’t be enjoyable, Chu Susu nodded.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you to wait a bit longer,” she said. “I’ll book the restaurant. I’m bringing my pet, and many places don’t allow them.”
After that, Chu Susu didn’t linger, or else her desire to get closer would seem too deliberate.
When she returned to the office, Pipi had just woken up and was rubbing against her feet, begging for dog food.
While pouring lunch for the pup, Chu Susu turned on speakerphone to take the call: “Hello, Bro?”
The caller was her aunt’s son, her cousin Fang Chen: “Susu, are you at work today?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m out handling some business and can swing by for lunch with you on the way. I’ll bring the stuff you wanted.”
Previously, when Cousin Fang Chen was on a business trip, Chu Susu had taken an interest in a limited-edition perfume from an overseas physical store and asked him to grab it for her.
But she’d been busy with a project at the time, so it was just a casual mention. She’d soon forgotten about it, and if Fang Chen hadn’t brought it up, she might not have remembered.
“Sure, call me when you get here.”
During lunch break, she met Fang Chen downstairs at a Western restaurant.
Chu Susu had quite a few cousins, and Cousin Fang Chen had grown up with her since childhood, so their relationship was pretty good.
But Fang Chen was upright and stodgy, usually only interested in reading books or sipping tea. When they met, they mostly just chatted about life and work.
Halfway through the meal, Fang Chen suddenly asked, “Are you seeing anyone right now?”
He knew full well she wasn’t into guys.
“…” Chu Susu hated these sudden bursts of family concern. She didn’t answer and counter-asked, “What about it?”
Fang Chen gave her a look like he was exasperated with her stubbornness, but he still phrased it tactfully: “You’re twenty-five now, not getting any younger. It’s best to settle down soon.”
Chu Susu’s expression changed instantly. A hint of displeasure appeared on her pretty face, and she emphasized her words: “Bro, I’ve told you, I’m not marrying a guy.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
After all these years, Fang Chen knew Chu Susu had veered firmly into the wrong lane and would never turn back. He’d long given up trying to persuade her. With a sigh, he said, “I mean, even if you’re with girls, you should find someone long-term and stable. Stop just playing around, okay? That way, the family can relax.”
Chu Susu twirled some creamy pasta on her fork and took a bite, saying nothing.
Her interests came and went quickly. Someone she was into yesterday might be forgotten today. Play was play, flirtation was flirtation—she wouldn’t casually commit to anyone or fall for them easily.
Long-term? Stable? Those words didn’t exist in her dictionary.
People were fickle creatures by nature. Changing one’s mind from morning to evening was perfectly normal. What was wrong with that?
Seeing her lack of enthusiasm, Fang Chen knew she wasn’t listening. He dropped the lecture and tentatively brought up another topic. “Alright, alright, enough about you. Grandma hasn’t been feeling well lately. Go home and see her when you have time.”
“What, they sent you as the messenger again?”
“Don’t think of it that way…”
“I know what I’m doing.”
She took the paper bag Fang Chen handed her, which contained several bottles of the perfume she’d wanted.
Fang Chen had tried advising her before, but Chu Susu had always been wild-spirited and made her own decisions. He knew saying more now would just backfire.
This time, he was mainly out on business and didn’t have much time. After they finished eating, they said goodbye downstairs at the company.
Chu Susu watched him get into the car. Fang Chen waved goodbye through the window, then hesitated as if wanting to say more: “You really won’t go back…”
But before he could finish, she waved him off and hurried back upstairs.
Fang Chen sighed. Things had gotten really bad between Chu Susu and her parents before. He had no idea how long it would take to smooth it over. There was nothing he could do.
He was just about to start the car and plot a route to his destination on the map app when a WeChat message popped up—
“I’ll go home this weekend.”
Fang Chen read it and suddenly smiled in relief. This kid was still the same as when she was little—stubborn mouth, soft heart.
The afternoon at the company was slow. Client issues had been wrapped up, and colleagues were slacking off. Around two o’clock, Chu Susu booked the restaurant in her spare time and sent the address to Han Xuan.
Though she didn’t say it out loud, Fang Chen’s words at lunch had sunk in.
Her grandma was getting on in years, with poor sleep quality. Not long ago, she’d half-somnambulantly wandered at night and taken a hard fall, scaring the whole family into rushing her to the hospital overnight. Fortunately, it wasn’t serious.
Chu Susu decided to call home but worried her grandparents might be napping. After thinking it over, she let it go.
Just then, Li Le’er sent a lazy voice message: “How’s that little lamb you added from the club last night?”
“Ran into her again today.”
Chu Susu told Li Le’er about Han Xuan’s interview at their company. Li Le’er was incredulous and let out an exaggerated wail in WeChat: “Oh my god! Poor little lamb, about to be toyed with by the Sea King. Hope the sheep’s okay.”
“…If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything.”
She was just about to banter more with Li Le’er when her phone buzzed—Han Xuan had replied.
Chu Susu promptly switched chats, ignoring whatever else Li Le’er said.
“I’m afraid I won’t find the place. Can I wait downstairs from your company?”
At some point, Han Xuan had switched to addressing her as “formal you”. Every word was cautious, shy, and polite.
And Chu Susu just ate that up. She shook her head thoughtfully, couldn’t help smiling at the brief message.
“Sure. I get off at 5:30.”
By 5:30, when Chu Susu carried Pipi out of the company building, Han Xuan was already waiting downstairs with her sketchbook in her arms. Seeing her approach, her eyes lit up brightly.
“Su…”
Halfway through, Han Xuan sneezed. “Achoo!” It was like a little bird’s chirp. Afterward, she quickly rubbed her nose.
“Sorry, the AC is cold.”
She explained softly, her nose tip red from rubbing, a bit embarrassed. Her shyness made her whole face flush pink.
Chu Susu blinked, saying nothing, but ripples suddenly stirred in her heart.
How could someone make even sneezing look perfectly aligned with her aesthetics?
If before it had just been lust at first sight, now she was sure she was genuinely interested in Han Xuan. From looks to the personality she’d glimpsed so far, she was completely her type. It was rare to meet a girl this much to her taste.
She just hoped she wasn’t straight, or that would be a real pity, Chu Susu thought.
Han Xuan naturally noticed the little dog Pipi in Chu Susu’s arms. She hesitated, her hand lifting slightly as if wanting to pet it, but quickly withdrew. “Is this your pet?”
Chu Susu led her toward the parking garage, introducing as they walked: “Yeah, this is Pipi.”
She hadn’t missed Han Xuan’s little gesture earlier. Generously, she picked up Pipi’s right front paw, trying to make it shake hands with Han Xuan, coaxing softly: “Come on, this is Sister Han Xuan.”
Pipi was lively by nature and never afraid of people. With Chu Susu’s tacit approval, it jumped straight into Han Xuan’s arms.
Han Xuan’s hold on it was a bit awkward, careful not to hurt it. Even when they got in the car, she kept the same posture, showing no impatience.
“You can put it down,” Chu Susu said with a glance in her peripheral vision while driving. “Your arms might get sore.”
She was also worried Pipi wouldn’t like being held so long by a stranger.
“It’s fine.”
Han Xuan smiled faintly, then—whether from shyness or something—lowered her head, avoiding Chu Susu’s gaze.
Unexpectedly, the usually hyper Pipi stayed obediently nestled in Han Xuan’s arms. Even when they pulled up by the restaurant, it didn’t fidget or make a sound.
Normally, when Chu Susu took it out, it never got this treatment. If it wasn’t causing chaos, it would at least squirm around.
Han Xuan’s slender, fair fingers stroked back and forth over Pipi’s head fur. Probably because she kept her nails short and neat for convenience—no sharp edges, just soft pads—Pipi was especially enjoying it, wagging its tail blissfully.
While stopped at a red light, Chu Susu glanced at her fingertips and her mind wandered elsewhere for a moment. But the thought passed quickly.
After all, Han Xuan painted, so it was probably for easy pencil grip.
Parking was tough here, and the car ventilation was poor—afraid it’d stifle the dog—so Chu Susu had Han Xuan take Pipi inside first while she parked.
But a flashy red sports car ahead was blocking the way. The driver didn’t seem skilled, taking forever to park properly. Chu Susu ended up waiting a full five or six minutes.
Finally her turn. She drove straight forward, but then someone got out of the supercar, eyed her vehicle for a moment, and suddenly charged over aggressively.
The sun hadn’t set yet. Chu Susu wasn’t nearsighted, but she had some degree of astigmatism. Dazzled by the sunset, her vision blurred just right over this person’s face.
It wasn’t until the other party swung her chain bag and smashed it hard against the car window, looking utterly fearless, that she realized who this was.
Straight bangs with exquisite makeup, a little beauty wearing sunglasses.
That familiarly repulsive demeanor—strutting in fine high heels, her voice crisp to the point of sharpness.
“Susu, Chu Susu, it’s you, right?”
The little beauty knocked angrily on her car window again. “Get out of the car.”
She was blocking right in front of the car, and Chu Susu couldn’t just drive past. Han Xuan and Pipi were still waiting back at the restaurant. She didn’t want to waste time, and cold intent couldn’t help but flicker at the corners of her brows and eyes.
The little beauty took off her sunglasses. For some reason, she was so agitated, peering in from outside in a somewhat neurotic manner. “You brought a woman with you, right?”
Soon, she spotted that Chu Susu was the only one inside, but she still wouldn’t let it go. She seemed dead set on finding something. Sure enough, when she saw the perfume bag on the back seat, she started pounding on the glass even more fiercely.
Amid the woman’s clamor, Chu Susu’s gaze suddenly turned utterly cold. Then, she rolled down the window just a crack.
“Xia Zilu.”
She called out the woman’s name accurately. Her voice wasn’t loud or soft—perfectly calm, mercilessly uttering a single word.
She seemed to begrudge the woman even the slightest extra glance, enunciating clearly:
“Scram.”
