Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

As these words came out, Qiao Lian heard a small sound coming out from the washroom. The door was about to be kicked open.

She gripped tightly the door handle and retorted loudly, “What nonsense are you saying? That was when we toddlers!”

“Do I care? You indeed stared at my ‘little buddy’ when we were kids, and now you have to be responsible for it.”

“Sun Linan,” thought Qiao Lian, “had he become so clueless after eight years?”

She was completely speechless.

Imagining how the petty Shen Liangchuan would react to this, Qiao Lian badly wished she had a needle to sew this Sun Tzi’s mouth shut.

She winced once again. “Don’t talk rubbish. You… aren’t you busy?

Sun Linan completely missed the hint and continued, “Nope, not busy at all.”

Even if he were busy, he wouldn’t allow himself to be busy right now.

Wincing yet again, Qiao said, “I suddenly recalled something, I have unfinished business and I need to get home.”

Sun Linan looked at her with a sense of uncertainty. “You’re leaving?”

Qiao Lian nodded.

“Let me take you.”

Qiao Lian was stumped.

Her thoughts went back to Best Actor Shen, who was still in the washroom. She immediately nodded. “Okay, let’s go now then.”

She picked up her bag, grabbed Sun Linan and quickly headed to the door.

“Lian Lian, don’t tell me you’re really embarrassed? What’s the big deal? You saw mine and I saw yours. You have a mole on your butt—”

“… Shut up!”

As the conversation disappeared into the distance, the private room was finally empty and the washroom door flung open.

Shen Liangchuan was scowling.

A mole on her butt?

How was it that he didn’t know about it!?

–

Qiao Lian had given Sun Linan a random address since he had insisted on sending her home. It was the address of where she used to live.

Qiao Lian raised her eyebrow as she got into the car. “Sun Tzi, you’re still driving this car after so many years? It has been eight years! It’s an antique!”

Sun Linan’s eyes lit up as he replied, “Because this car holds memories for me.”

Qiao Lian fell silent at these words. Sun Linan’s sudden appearance had somehow brought her back in time eight years ago. The recklessness of her youth and the indulgent lifestyle, it all felt like it had happened just yesterday.

It made it hard for her to differentiate between imagination and reality.

Throughout the journey, Qiao Lian was quiet. Her heart was full of regret.

It was only when the car engine stopped that she realized they had arrived.

She turned to look at Sun Linan. “Sun Tzi, are you still in contact with Third Brother and the rest?”

Sun Linan’s eyes sparkled as he said, “I went overseas eight years ago and eventually headed back to Beijing directly. I’ve had no contact with them since then. What happened?”

Qiao Lian looked away and replied, “I don’t want them to know I’m here. Can you do me a favor and help me keep my whereabouts a secret?”

If those people found out, that person would surely know too.

Sun Linan nodded. “Okay.”

Qiao Lian alighted and took a short stroll around the neighbourhood before she hailed a cab to return to the villa.

She did not realize that Sun Linan’s car was hidden in the shadows, following behind as the cab drove away.

–

It was half past seven by the time Qiao Lian got home.

Shen Liangchuan’s car was parked in the patio. He had obviously been back for some time.

She entered the living room feeling a little guilty, as she was conscious of the grievance she had caused him earlier in the evening.

Shen Liangchuan was now sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper. He looked up stone-faced as he heard her approaching footsteps.

Qiao Lian smiled sheepishly at his cold stare. “Err… Shen Liangchuan, you—”

Interrupting Qiao Lian by folding and placing the newspaper on the coffee table, Shen Liangchuan walked to her and, before she could react, he swept her into his arms wordlessly and headed upstairs.