"……"
Wen Yifan stared at the screen for a long while, the words "desire" and "possession" sending shivers down her spine. Her expression stiffened slightly as her fingers hovered over the screen, slowly typing out a question mark.
Before she could send it, Su Tian, who had just returned from the computer room, interrupted her train of thought.
Su Tian rolled her chair over and leaned in to whisper, "Holy crap, when I walked in and saw that intern, I thought I’d gone to the wrong place. Scared the hell out of me."
Instinctively locking her phone, Wen Yifan looked up. "Hmm?"
"That new male intern," Su Tian said, pretending to glance casually in his direction, her expression dreamy as if she’d fallen in love at first sight. "Oh my god, I’m smitten. The cute puppy type—tall, handsome, and adorable."
Wen Yifan chuckled. "I don’t recall you ever calling Da Zhuang a cute puppy."
Just then, Fu Zhuang happened to pass by.
Su Tian rolled her eyes and said bluntly, "At best, he’s a scrappy little mutt."
"……" Fu Zhuang stopped in his tracks. Though he hadn’t heard the earlier part of the conversation, he immediately took it personally. "Tian-jie! That’s straight-up slander! How am I scrappy?"
Su Tian brushed him off with a few words. "Wasn’t talking about you."
Once Fu Zhuang left, Su Tian continued gossiping with Wen Yifan. "I feel like that cute puppy keeps looking over here. Do you think he’s into you or me?"
As she spoke, her gaze flickered to Wen Yifan’s profile, and she instantly backtracked. "Alright, fine. I’m just embarrassing myself."
"……"
Wen Yifan followed her gaze.
Mu Chengyun was sitting at his desk, his expression cool as he focused on his computer screen. A few seconds later, perhaps sensing their stares, he suddenly looked up. When their eyes met, he immediately smiled shyly.
He did seem rather endearing.
Wen Yifan returned a polite smile before looking away. She didn’t sense anything unusual and said gently, "Don’t overthink it. He’s probably just trying to get to know his colleagues on his first day."
"Just making small talk. How come you’re never interested in handsome guys?" Su Tian grew curious. "Hey, do you even have a type you like?"
"Huh?"
"You seem completely indifferent. What’s your ideal type?" Su Tian began listing options. "Gentle? Domineering? Cheerful?……"
Wen Yifan froze, an image of Sang Yan’s arrogant face flashing inexplicably through her mind.
The moment she realized this thought, her breath hitched. Meeting Su Tian’s expectant gaze, she remained silent for a few seconds before dismissing the idea with a faint smile, offering no answer.
Their brief chat ended.
Wen Yifan went back to writing her article, but soon remembered she hadn’t replied to Sang Yan’s message. She unlocked her phone and reread his words, still feeling as if she’d received some kind of spam text.
But after some time to process, it didn’t seem as shocking anymore.
Instead, she felt oddly numb.
Wen Yifan deleted the question mark in the text box and hesitantly typed again.
[Then are you]
[doing okay?]
Three seconds later.
Sang Yan: [?]
With no concrete memory of what she’d done while sleepwalking, Wen Yifan had no way to explain herself. After checking on the "victim’s" condition, she cut straight to the point: [How do you want to resolve this?]
Sang Yan: [We’ll talk later.]Wen Yifan couldn't help saying, "Seems like you've been thinking for quite a while."
As if truly too lazy to type, Sang Yan sent another voice message.
Just two words, arrogant and matter-of-fact: "Yeah."
"......"
No further words.
As if saying, even if I take ten more years to think, you'll have to wait.
Wen Yifan suppressed her irritation and replied patiently, "Alright, take your time then."
......
Though she said that, if Wen Yifan didn't bring it up, Sang Yan seemed to have completely forgotten about it too.
His attitude was such that while he wouldn't mention it, if Wen Yifan showed even the slightest sign of forgetting, he'd remind her with utterly blunt, accusatory words without batting an eye.
Making it impossible for her to forget her "misdeeds."
Impossible to forget that he was the weak, humble one who'd been wronged.
While she was the heartless libertine who had her fun and forgot.
Over time, Wen Yifan genuinely began to feel that during her sleepwalking episodes, some spirit possessed her, turning her into a john. And the only available "entertainment" in the house happened to be the unfortunate Sang Yan—Street of Vice's top performer.
His price so exorbitant it was unaffordable.
She was drowning in debt.
And this eerie calm before the storm filled her with dread.
Always feeling that beyond this calm, in places she couldn't see, Sang Yan was preparing some major counterattack against her.
After May Day, the team recruited two new journalists through social hiring.
A few days later, the editor-in-chief specifically chose a time when everyone was free to organize a small welcome party for the newcomers. The notice came at noon, though the venue wasn't set yet.
Upon hearing this, Fu Zhuang came to Wen Yifan complaining pitifully: "Sis, the editor said this party will include the welcome I never got."
Wen Yifan didn't get it: "What's wrong with that?"
"I've been interning here for four months! He said he doesn't play favorites," Fu Zhuang said indignantly, "and told me not to feel slighted!"
"That's nice of him," Wen Yifan consoled. "If they didn't include you and only welcomed Fang Li and the others, wouldn't you be like air in this team?"
"......" Fu Zhuang fell silent for three seconds. "That... makes sense."
Mu Chengyun, overhearing their conversation, chimed in: "Yifan-jie, are you coming tonight?"
The gathering wasn't mandatory—most people had work the next day, and the editor emphasized it was voluntary. But out of courtesy, most would attend.
Wen Yifan had scheduled a phone interview with an expert that evening and wasn't sure.
"Not certain yet, I'll see how it goes."
Fu Zhuang made a disappointed sound: "Sis, you have plans tonight?"
Mu Chengyun also asked: "Will you be busy late?"
"Yeah," Wen Yifan said offhandedly. "I'll try to make it."
......
By the time Wen Yifan finished the phone interview and drafted the initial article, it was already past 9 p.m. As she packed up to leave, the editor-in-chief happened to emerge from his office.
Wen Yifan was surprised: "Editor Gan, you didn't go to the dinner?"
Editor Gan Hongyuan, nearing fifty, slightly plump with eyes that crinkled into slits when he smiled—amicable as a Maitreya Buddha—carried a briefcase and beamed. "Just finished a meeting."Wen Yifan nodded.
"You just finished work too, right? Let's go to the gathering together and relax," Gan Hongyuan said. "They've already finished dinner and moved on to the next venue. It's near the company—we can head over together."
Wen Yifan hadn't originally planned to go, but this time she had no choice but to agree.
On the way.
Gan Hongyuan chatted with her about various past events, his voice calm and monotonous, almost hypnotic. At the end of each story, he would add a few motivational quotes or philosophical remarks, hoping to resonate with Wen Yifan emotionally.
Wen Yifan felt nothing inside, but she had to pretend to be moved in front of him.
Their interaction was at least harmonious.
While Gan Hongyuan was lost in reminiscence, Wen Yifan stole a glance at her phone. Checking the group chat, she learned that the second half of the gathering was at Overtime Bar. The group had already arrived and booked a booth, telling those who hadn't arrived yet to come directly.
This location reminded Wen Yifan of Sang Yan.
Lately, she hadn't seen much of Sang Yan at home. He seemed to have gotten busier, no longer lazing around all day—either lying paralyzed on his bed playing with his phone or sleeping idly in his room.
She didn't ask what Sang Yan was up to.
She guessed he had probably found a new job and started living the life of an office worker.
Arriving at Overtime Bar.
A server led Wen Yifan to the booth where the others were seated.
Even from a distance, Wen Yifan could hear their boisterous and excited voices. But the moment they saw Gan Hongyuan, everyone fell silent.
As if something had restrained their natural exuberance, making them less uninhibited.
However, Gan Hongyuan was only there symbolically and didn't stay long before leaving.
Wen Yifan had arrived late and didn't know what game they were playing, so she quietly observed. She sat at the edge, next to Su Tian. During this time, people kept getting up to use the restroom or do other things.
With all the coming and going, the seating arrangements kept changing.
Before she knew it, the person next to her had become Mu Chengyun.
Mu Chengyun seemed to have drunk quite a bit, his cheeks slightly flushed and his demeanor somewhat dazed. When he saw Wen Yifan, he curved his lips into a smile and greeted her politely, "Sister Yifan."
Wen Yifan nodded and reminded him, "Don't drink too much. You still have work tomorrow."
"I didn't drink much," Mu Chengyun said obediently. "Just this one can."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Zhuang returned from the restroom and sat next to Wen Yifan. He looked excited, as if he had gossip to share. "Sister Yifan, I just saw that classmate of yours!"
Wen Yifan turned to him. "Who?"
Fu Zhuang replied, "That one—"
He paused.
Clearly unable to recall the name.
Wen Yifan prompted, "Hmm?"
Fu Zhuang scratched his head, thinking hard before finally coming up with a nickname. "That one! The Gorgeous, Arrogant, and Badass!"
"..." Wen Yifan glanced around.
The bar was too dimly lit, and her seat didn't offer a good vantage point, so she didn't spot Sang Yan. She calmly averted her gaze, neither confirming nor denying, and simply smiled.
Mu Chengyun, however, asked from beside her, "What 'Gorgeous, Arrogant, and Badass'?"
"Haven't I told you about this?" Fu Zhuang pulled out his phone and quickly found the video. "Here, let's admire him together—my idol! My life's dream is to be like him! Rich, handsome, and absolutely badass!"Mu Chengyun took the phone and stared at it for a long while before suddenly saying, "This seems to be Senior Sang Yan."
Fu Zhuang was stunned. "You know him too?"
"Have you not seen that post on the school forum?" Mu Chengyun glanced at it again before handing the phone back. "The one rating the hottest guys on campus. It's still pinned on the homepage, with people bumping it every day."
"Why would I care about who the hottest guy is? I'm not gay," Fu Zhuang retorted. "So you're saying this 'handsome and aloof' guy is also from Nan University?"
"Probably." The video was pixelated, so Mu Chengyun wasn't entirely sure. "If I'm not mistaken."
"Got into Nan University." Fu Zhuang felt even more resentful. "So he's good at academics too?"
"Yeah, I even met him once," Mu Chengyun said. "My former department head was in his class. After their graduation ceremony, I tagged along to their farewell dinner."
Fu Zhuang pressed, "And? Anything juicy happen?"
"Not really, but it left an impression." Mu Chengyun chuckled. "Since it was graduation, everyone drank a little symbolically, but no one overdid it because they had work the next day."
Mu Chengyun continued, "But the two most popular guys from the computer science department—Senior Duan and Senior Sang—one didn’t touch a drop, and the other downed over a dozen bottles without batting an eye."
Fu Zhuang was curious. "Who drank the dozen bottles?"
"Senior Sang."
Hearing this, Wen Yifan paused mid-sip and glanced over.
Fu Zhuang analyzed reasonably, "So maybe he opened a bar now because he likes drinking?"
"Not necessarily." Mu Chengyun recalled. "He seemed in a pretty bad mood that day. Didn’t say a word, just kept drinking. Even when people told him to stop, he ignored them."
"Oh." Fu Zhuang wasn’t particularly interested and remarked offhandedly, "Probably something happened. Graduation season is breakup season. Maybe he got dumped, or his confession was rejected, or the person he liked was moving to another city, leaving him behind."
"Maybe." Mu Chengyun said, "That whole night, I only heard him say one thing."
Fu Zhuang perked up again. "What did he say?"
Mu Chengyun thought for a moment, looking slightly dazed. "It's been too long. I can’t remember."
Fu Zhuang, left hanging, grumbled, "Then why bring it up?"
"..."
The topic was dropped just like that.
Hearing about Sang Yan’s past from someone else, Wen Yifan felt a strange mix of emotions despite having no connection to it. She lowered her head, staring at the bubbles in her glass, and only snapped out of it after a long moment.
...
With work the next day and having been busy all day, Wen Yifan was exhausted. She didn’t stay much longer, finishing her drink before making an excuse to leave.
Mu Chengyun stood as well. "I should head back too."
The others were still enjoying themselves and didn’t press them to stay, only reminding them to be careful on the way back.
The two walked out together.
As Wen Yifan passed the bar counter, her gaze unconsciously flickered toward it before she quickly looked away.
Outside the bar, Wen Yifan was about to head toward the subway station when she remembered Mu Chengyun beside her. "Are you going back to Nan University?"
Mu Chengyun didn’t seem to hold his liquor well. His eyes were slightly unfocused, as if he were tipsy.
"Mhm, yeah."
Wen Yifan said, "Then let’s go to the subway station together."Mu Chengyun replied, "Okay."
After walking just a few steps, Mu Chengyun suddenly appeared unsteady on his feet, as if he were about to collapse. Wen Yifan instinctively grabbed his arm to steady him. "Are you alright?" she asked.
Mu Chengyun mumbled, "I can barely stand."
Wen Yifan hesitated, unsure of how to handle the situation, when suddenly someone approached from behind. A man reached out and yanked the hood of Mu Chengyun's sweatshirt, his expression cold. "Can't stand, huh?"
Hearing the voice, Wen Yifan turned to look.
Her eyes met Sang Yan's profile.
Today, Sang Yan was unusually dressed in a black suit. His tie was loosely knotted, and his jacket hung open, revealing the white shirt underneath. The formal attire did nothing to make him appear more restrained—his arrogance remained unchecked, if not more pronounced than usual.
After speaking, Sang Yan lifted his gaze, his eyes locking onto Wen Yifan's hand resting on Mu Chengyun's arm.
Then, he raised his head and met her eyes.
Wen Yifan was about to speak.
But Sang Yan beat her to it. "Let go."
"..." She immediately withdrew her hand.
At the same time, Sang Yan unceremoniously dragged Mu Chengyun forward as if doing him a favor. Both men were tall and walked briskly, quickly putting distance between themselves and Wen Yifan.
After a while, Mu Chengyun shook off his grip, his earlier dazed expression gone. "Senior Sang?"
Sang Yan also retracted his hand, sizing him up. "Who are you?"
"I'm also a student at Nan University," Mu Chengyun said with a smile. "I've seen you around before."
"Oh." Sang Yan smirked. "Sober now?"
Mu Chengyun showed no trace of guilt, rubbing his head as if still disoriented. "What?"
Sang Yan studied him and suddenly laughed. "Hey, cut the act."
Mu Chengyun froze.
"Got no other tricks? These lousy tactics," Sang Yan said lazily, as if completely unimpressed, "I used them centuries ago."
"..."
Sang Yan chuckled. "If they actually worked, would you even get a chance?"
OpenNovel