Of course, the watch couldn’t be purchased. According to feedback from the wardrobe staff, most of the props from the department store had already been taken by the players, leaving the counters bare. They firmly refused to let Hu Xiu buy it.
Hu Xiu spent several days sighing while staring at her bare wrist. Even an identical model wouldn’t do—a watch not personally fastened with love and acting by Qin Xiaoyi simply had no soul.
Next door in the old residential area, it seemed a student was practicing the piano every day. A simple piece like the Turkish March sounded as if ten fingers were playing with the force of twenty, making Hu Xiu even more irritable. Was the piano rented or the hands borrowed? Was someone chasing after you?
If you have no talent, don’t bother learning. Spending that parallel time on a few more practice problems might even get you into a decent high school. The path of an art student? No chance.
Hu Xiu could easily imagine the girl’s meager talent and inner anxiety.
No matter how she came into contact with the piano, it was clear this wasn’t something she enjoyed. People are always impatient with things they don’t want.
If Zhao Xiaorou’s sharpness came from a sense of superiority, Hu Xiu’s bitterness stemmed from frustration. With no time to see Qin Xiaoyi and the persistent Qian Jinxin hovering around, it felt like she was being herded into the cage of a conventional marriage.
Qian Jinxin, introduced by her father, would persistently call Hu Xiu every night.
Even if he worked overtime until midnight, he’d dial her number. If she didn’t answer, he’d call her father’s phone—a tactic straight out of a homeroom teacher’s playbook.
Their conversations were incredibly dull: work details, childhood memories, embarrassing stories from weekend basketball games—not a single sentence that could pique Hu Xiu’s interest.
After he enthusiastically spent half an hour recounting haunted tales from the philosophy building during his college days in Guangzhou, Hu Xiu finally grew resistant to these midnight phone calls: “Mr. Qian, I have an early meeting at eight tomorrow morning. I’m really tired.”
“Then, are you free on Saturday? I’ll pick you up to play basketball. There’s a fantastic pickled fish place near Yuanshen Sports Center—I’ll take you there. I really love that spot.”
“I have a reproductive science conference all day, doing interpretation work.” Hu Xiu disliked fish and hated pickled vegetables. She picked up a stress relief toy nearby and squeezed it relentlessly: “Mr. Qian, we don’t have to meet on weekends, and there’s no need to call my dad so often either.”
“We’re on the verge of a relationship. Of course, I have to put in the effort.
I know I might not be your type, but I’m very suitable for marriage—no bad habits. Just watch me play basketball, and you’ll see.”
Hu Xiu seriously counted how many times “I” appeared in that sentence. She was so exhausted from rolling her eyes that she felt almost possessed by Zhao Xiaorou: “We’ll see, Mr. Qian. I’m really tired, and I’m genuinely busy on weekends. And please, for heaven’s sake, stop calling my dad. Even when it comes to relationships, it should be mutual consent between two people, right?”
Yet before she could even fully wake up at six in the morning, her father called, speaking with grave concern: “Marriage is a lifelong matter that requires careful consideration. Even if the other person is reliable and sincere, you shouldn’t agree too hastily.
How can you be so frivolous, agreeing after knowing him for less than a month? Just settle this before you’re twenty-seven. If you’re too eager, men will think you’re cheap.”
Even thinking with the back of her head, it was clear: Qian Jinxin had completely misunderstood the phrase “mutual consent” and reported it to her eagerly waiting father.Being misunderstood was one thing, but getting scolded first thing in the morning made Hu Xiu—who already considered herself unlucky—fume even more. She went on Taobao and bought an In-show prop of Qin Xiaoyi for 138 yuan: a glittering, diamond-studded piece she intended to use as her Amulet.
She had relied on this kind of psychological comfort back when she was a fangirl. Lee Donghae’s matching Tiffany bracelet had cost 5,200 yuan, but she bought a 88-yuan knockoff on Taobao and wore it for five years. To this day, the shape of the blood vessels on her left and right wrists remained slightly different.
Others called it metal poisoning, but Hu Xiu believed it was a mark Lee Donghae had left on her during her youthful, starry-eyed days—a reminder that had strengthened her resolve and helped her endure many lonely moments. And the changes brought by that cheap imitation reminded her that high-quality love came at a price; low-cost folk advice, romantic platitudes, and horoscopes would never bring about that sudden, thrilling obsession.
She had let her guard down once, believing in universal love, and had fallen hard. There was no way she would make that mistake again.
The 138-yuan prop was no match for the handsome, deeply affectionate Qin Xiaoyi from the show, and the flutter he stirred in her heart on that rainy night couldn’t be measured by a watch on her wrist. But for now, she needed something like this to transcend her anxiety.
Her job at the hospital wasn’t exactly loathsome, but compared to working with cosmetics and skincare products, it was considerably duller.
Escorting foreign guests for the hospital leadership, arranging schedules and business trips for doctors, coordinating meeting times and locations, and catering to the doctors’ needs—each task could consume hours.
After a month, Hu Xiu understood that administrative work placed her at the bottom of the hospital’s food chain. Interns were striving to become full-time doctors, doctors were busy publishing papers and conducting research to qualify as associate professors—everyone was scrambling to secure their place while still in their prime. And she? She was just a translator.
Though her translation fees weren’t low (even if they were half of what her senior colleague earned), there was no path for advancement within the hospital.
All she could say was that with translation as her In-demand skill, she could drift from junior administrator to senior administrator—a stable, predictable future Hu Xiu could already see laid out before her.
As her father put it, for an ordinary girl like her, having such a job meant half the battle for stability was won. All she needed now was a man.
Of course, Qian Jinxin thought the same. Every week, without fail, he would take the subway after work to wait for her near the hospital, find a restaurant, send her the address, and wave enthusiastically from a distance.
The legendary car-owning Qian Jinxin never drove in the city, claiming the narrow streets weren’t suitable for driving.
Hu Xiu always politely said goodbye to him near the company, then switched her phone to Airplane mode as soon as she got home to avoid his calls.
A few days later, Hu Xiu received a delivery at work—a brand-new phone.
A text message followed shortly: "Hey, did you get it? I bought you a new phone."
The outdated Qian Jinxin, striving to keep up with the younger generation, had eagerly switched to this new form of address after growing tired of calling her "Miss Hu."
Her senior colleague in the office turned and remarked, "Oh, our little Hu got a new phone!"
Staring at this Hot potato, Hu Xiu felt as if her father’s call asking about wedding dates was imminent. She quickly called Qian Jinxin back, insisting she absolutely could not accept the phone, and agreed to meet him after work at the nearby Macros Western Restaurant.The restaurant where she often dined with Zhao Xiaorou was about to be exposed to a man she disliked, and Hu Xiu’s mood grew increasingly sour. Still, she had to return the phone as soon as possible and make things clear.
Slipping out of work early on purpose, the phone in her backpack felt like a ticking bomb.
Hu Xiu ordered an iced cola, her palms as sweaty as the condensation on the cup. Just before Qian Jinxin entered with his bag, he paused to scrutinize a "Spend 100, Save 5" promotion at China Merchants Bank, which solidified Hu Xiu’s resolve: this meal would absolutely be their last.
This was the first time Hu Xiu had taken the initiative to invite him, and Qian Jinxin sat down with a hint of excitement. “What should we eat? Order quickly, and we can unbox the phone together after.”
“I can’t accept this phone.”
“Why not?”
“My old one isn’t broken…”
“Nonsense, your old one is clearly broken—I couldn’t even get through.”
Only because I was avoiding you. Hu Xiu didn’t bother softening her words. “Mr. Qian, I think we… aren’t really compatible. My father might have misunderstood my preferences when he introduced us, but this has nothing to do with me.”
“Huh?” Qian Jinxin finally caught the tone. “I don’t get it…”
“I’m not looking for that kind of stable, pieced-together marriage meant to form a family. Maybe my father thinks I need it, that we’re a good match. But my ideal type isn’t… someone like you.”
“Then what kind do you like?”
Qin Xiaoyi flashed through her mind, but Hu Xiu couldn’t bring herself to say it. Her watch gleamed under the light, reflecting the curved, distorted vein on her wrist.
“I want a love that’s extravagant, textured, utterly captivating. The kind that’s hard to describe but impossible to let go of, even if it’s only briefly experienced. I don’t care about the outcome.”
As she spoke these words, Hu Xiu felt as if she had untangled something within herself. The belongings once thrown downstairs, the unrequited youthful affections, the unhappiness born of rushing into promises and engagements—all of it unraveled smoothly. Her unhappiness had always been tied to wanting results too desperately.
Meanwhile, Qian Jinxin’s expression grew increasingly grim. Pointing a finger at her, he declared sternly, “Xiao Hu, today I must teach you a lesson. ‘Extravagant love, textured’—you might as well stamp ‘I want a sugar daddy’ on your forehead.
‘Briefly experienced’? Even mistresses know to keep it hidden, and you have the audacity to boast about such disgraceful behavior? How heartbroken would Teacher Hu be if he knew? You’ve deeply disappointed me!”
“What?”
“If what you just said were posted on Hupu, you’d be torn to shreds, believe me. You’re lucky only I heard it today.
How can a girl like you exist? Dreaming of indulging with older men in luxury, yet unwilling to settle down and live a proper married life.
If you date me from now on, I’ll have to discipline you properly. By the way, do you have a Shanghai hukou?”
Stunned, Hu Xiu was about to retort when a hand tapped her shoulder. Zhao Xiaorou and Wang Guangming had come to the restaurant for a meal, a freshly turned-off camera in hand—their vlog filming had just ended.
Spotting the suit-clad Qian Jinxin, Wang Guangming, wearing a knitted beanie, eagerly shook hands and struck up a conversation, quickly steering it toward money-saving tips.
Hu Xiu excused herself to the restroom. When she stepped out, Zhao Xiaorou was outside, smoking.The vapor from the e-cigarette was even thicker than tobacco smoke. After a few puffs from Zhao Xiaorou, the scene resembled the Peach Banquet where Sun Wukong wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace.
Just as Hu Xiu approached Zhao Xiaorou, she heard her declare through the haze, "I want a divorce."
This took Hu Xiu by surprise: "Huh?"
"Look at how happily he's chatting with your blind date. Wang Guangming only deserves friends like that. If I don't divorce him now, I never will."
Hu Xiu still didn't understand: "Why are you suddenly talking about divorce?"
"I look down on him. Just because he's the husband of an Internet celebrity, he thinks he's something special. He's always trying to control me, putting a discount on all my desires.
When I film videos and want to buy a bag, he gets me a knock-off. When I want to eat at Wagas, he insists on ordering discounted salads for delivery. He takes detours at night to save ten bucks on gas, comes home and collapses into sleep, and the half hour he wasted comes back as him pacing around noisily. I have to stay up late just to avoid him and continue recording videos, and he's always calculating my money.
He saves barely any money but occupies all my time. Someone like him deserves to go to hell!
Even the Great Compassion Mantra on NetEase Cloud Music costs money to listen to. What does that prove? Even Buddha doesn't save the poor!"
"Calm down a bit." Hu Xiu found it strange - Zhao Xiaorou had always enjoyed filming affectionate videos with Wang Guangming, so why was she now avoiding him to record videos?
"I can't calm down. Being stingy isn't the problem, and wanting to control me isn't the problem either." Zhao Xiaorou said with some defiance: "Lately, he seems to be getting cozy with another small-time Internet celebrity. The money saved from buying knock-offs, the money saved from those detours for gas - he's spending it all on gifts for other girls.
The gift I prepared for Qin Xiaoyi is still in the trunk, untouched, and it's been gradually decreasing recently."
"So you suspect he's cheating?" Hu Xiu was somewhat surprised: "That can't be... He held two wedding ceremonies with you, both with millions of views, and he's always treated you well. Don't jump to conclusions."
"Of course I have evidence." That familiar stubbornness appeared in Zhao Xiaorou's eyes - every time Hu Xiu saw it, she felt like disaster was imminent yet unavoidable; and she had a vague sense that this time, the flames of war would spread to her.
Sure enough, Zhao Xiaorou spoke up: "Hu Xiu, I need your help."
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