For seven days of alternating pain and itchiness, Diao Zhiyu stayed by Hu Xiu's side. During the first four days of pain, they distracted themselves by stuffing fruits in their mouths, chatting, and playing games. They played GTA: Vice City together, with Diao Zhiyu being utterly terrible—constantly using the PANZER cheat to summon tanks, earning Hu Xiu's complete disdain. The last three days were unbearably itchy, and Diao Zhiyu gently rubbed her over her clothes with his fist in broad strokes. Hu Xiu found the mix of pain and itch both embarrassing and thrilling, afraid it might ignite a spark, so she didn’t dare say anything.
On the morning of the stitch removal, Diao Zhiyu insisted on accompanying her to the hospital—just a minor procedure!
At the hospital, Pei Zhen wasn’t there. The nurse quickly finished with scissors, pulled open the door, and left. Diao Zhiyu glanced and said, "The holes from the stitches are still there on your wound."
"Does it look scary?"
"Not at all, such small marks. Dr. Pei did a great job with the sutures."
Taking advantage of the rare weekend off, Hu Xiu dragged Diao Zhiyu to an Escape Room. The American horror-themed plot and live acting, complete with jump scares, made Hu Xiu cry from fear.
When they came out, Hu Xiu was drenched like a newborn lamb, tearfully staring at Diao Zhiyu's expressionless face: "How can you have no reaction at all to the scares?"
"Because I know it's all fake," Diao Zhiyu smoothed his hair. "Let's go..."
After eating, they ducked into a comic book store. Diao Zhiyu wandered between the shelves and suddenly spotted an authentic copy of I"s, getting incredibly excited.
The full set of six volumes cost four figures, but he hugged it like a treasure. Buying two ice cream cones on the street, before Hu Xiu could take a bite, Diao Zhiyu pressed one cone firmly onto the other and pulled them apart, doubling the size of the ice cream. He said proudly, "Eat up..."
He really is mischievous, Hu Xiu thought, never having noticed Diao Zhiyu was this playful before; and—he really loves Kazurou Oki.
As for the translation job Hu Xiu turned down, it was related to reconstructive medicine in a county-level city, with Pei Zhen as the keynote speaker.
Sitting in a restaurant eating, Hu Xiu stuffed a rice cake into her mouth: "Such a minor stitch removal really didn’t need you to take time off. 007 is such a great Immersive Theater—missing one show is a shame."
"Not a shame at all. Dancing and being an NPC are both just cogs in the plot, no breakthroughs."
"Why, at just twenty-three, are you always thinking about breakthroughs?"
"If actors don’t push themselves, what’s the point? Just be a dead fish? Lately, I’ve been looking for Immersive Theaters with more interaction than 007, preferably with more small theaters where I can have room to perform."
"Try movies or TV dramas again."
"Not trying anymore. They’re not for me."
"Why?"
Diao Zhiyu turned serious: "The scripts are all about doing whatever the director wants, ending up as nothing but sugary romances or heart-wrenching dramas—no depth."
"Don’t underestimate love stories either. I used to not get these Cinderella-meets-prince tales.
But look at us—you have to believe such things exist in the world."
"Love definitely exists. I just don’t believe in overly shallow stories, and the actors' skills are hit or miss. At this age, if I film those, I’ll be ruined."
Hu Xiu always felt there was more beneath his words—those days in Hengdian must not have been pleasant, and at the very least, that script must have been some third-rate narrative for him to reject it so firmly.Perhaps feeling the timing wasn't right, Hu Xiu changed the subject: "Zhao Xiaorou and Li Ai haven't seen each other for a long time. They act like complete strangers now, and it always makes me uncomfortable."
"Can Li Ai really be happy dating Ma Liang?"
"You were away filming before, so I didn't get to ask earlier. Since Ma Liang also stayed at your place before, what kind of person is he really?"
"A complicated multi-talented individual." Diao Zhiyu wasn't particularly fond of discussing others, but clearly held some criticism toward Ma Liang: "Hard to figure out. If you say he's simple-minded, when you connect all his actions they appear quite shrewd; if you say he's cunning, he genuinely doesn't seem to have much brains."
"I heard from Zhao Xiaorou that he previously worked at a scarf designer's studio with low pay and hard work, so she helped him change jobs."
"Probably his resume was genuinely inadequate and he could only rely on internal referrals." Diao Zhiyu continued putting food into the hotpot without pause: "I was the one who introduced him to that scarf designer job. After his breakup during that Live Action Role Playing Game session left him unemployed, I took pity on him and suggested he learn design, starting as an assistant... but I heard he still hasn't really mastered Photoshop."
The character portrait was becoming increasingly peculiar. Hu Xiu casually asked: "Did any of your friends go to Mexico during the Spring Festival?"
"Mexico?" Diao Zhiyu took out his phone and showed her the screen: "Are you talking about this Mexico?"
A WeChat user named tigerbaby had gone to Mexico with his wife during the New Year period, posting a video of them by the seaside with the caption "Rode a scooter to the beach specifically to film this video as requested by friends. South America, beauty."
"Who is this person..." Hu Xiu wondered while thinking, what level is this? He can't even distinguish between nouns and adjectives.
"That's the boss and designer. Ma Liang calls him Tai Ge. Back when I was in university, he ran a streetwear brand and hired me to shoot promotional videos. Why do you ask?"
"Zhao Xiaorou messaged Ma Liang during the Spring Festival, and Ma Liang said he went to Mexico."
"How could Ma Liang possibly go to Mexico? He's such a penny-pincher who mooches food and accommodation to save rent money. Even when going to Huaqiao he'd wish someone would swipe his metro card for him - he's all too happy to accept handouts."
"It's that bad?"
"Tai Ge told me Ma Liang insists on waiting for him every day in the parking garage to go to work together. It's incredibly annoying.
Tai Ge and his wife have a very large sofa at home. During one period when Ma Liang was heartbroken, Tai Ge took pity on him and let him sleep on their sofa. He ended up staying for six months, to the point where the couple lost their intimate life.
Eventually Tai Ge had to forcefully kick him out using pregnancy planning as an excuse; but Ma Liang still mooches rides. Rain or shine, whenever Tai Ge opens the B2 elevator door, Ma Liang would pop up - no one knows where he actually sleeps.
Later Tai Ge practically developed Stockholm syndrome - if Ma Liang didn't show up for a day, he'd wonder if he had done something wrong."
This made Hu Xiu laugh until tears welled up: "Why does Ma Liang love sleeping on other people's sofas so much..."
"With friends it's the sofa, with girlfriends it's the bed. I initially wanted to warn Zhao Xiaorou to be careful, but later thought I might just be being petty and not generous enough.
I feel like Ma Liang is another type of PUA - while others break people down, he lowers himself, but the end result is the same: making others wonder 'What did I do wrong? Why is he ignoring me? Is there still a chance for us?'"
This logic was truly astonishing. Hu Xiu pondered that if this was Ma Liang's acting skills, they were almost supernatural.It's already absurd to make others comfortable by lowering oneself, only to withdraw and make them uncomfortable in the end; and for this to be done by the clueless Ma Liang—it's simply unbelievable.
Since Li Ai and Zhao Xiaorou had their falling out, Hu Xiu rarely got to see Zhao Xiaorou. After all, with the team tasks and Li Ai's mess mostly handed over, Zhao Xiaorou had no time to catch her breath.
Leaving the venue, Hu Xiu noticed the fourth floor of Joy City was hosting a pop-up store for Juicydoll's new products. Remembering she had once studied makeup copywriting, she decided to take a look.
Just as she stepped onto the escalator, she spotted the original team from Enlighten. The beauty group now not only handled luxury brands but had also started marketing for local brands.
The design of the "Lucky Year Fortune Slips" clearly bore Emily's planning—she was the type to consult fortune-telling even before heading out for a pitch, believing good luck ensured smooth sailing.
Xiao Bai and Momo from the design department greeted her, and for a moment, Hu Xiu felt dazed, as if she had returned to those days of grinding out copy, pulling all-nighters, and answering endless calls.
Then... Cuixi couldn't be far off. Hu Xiu lingered for a while, even buying a set from the "Best Fortune" makeup series, and sure enough, she spotted Cuixi in high heels, a nude-colored blazer, and green eyeshadow.
Months apart hadn't changed Cuixi—still assertive, her high heels clicking sharply, fully immersed in supervising the pop-up store even though it was an offline event, going all out to ensure client satisfaction.
From Hu Xiu's understanding, local beauty brands, whether for campaigns or social media, were far more generous with budgets than some luxury giants. By being thorough and keeping clients happy, Cuixi could easily secure next year's KPIs and a raise—
She had long heard gossip from fellow designers that Cuixi loved splurging, especially on men.
But as a dynamic, single woman who, at thirty-one, had both brains and drive, Cuixi still commanded Hu Xiu's admiration.
Cuixi seemed pleased to see Hu Xiu: "Who contacted you to come here?"
"Just passing by..."
"We all miss you. It's hard to find copywriters as cooperative and efficient as you these days."
More like easy to fool. Hu Xiu replied, "I learned a lot in your team too. Even after resigning, I still think of you all occasionally."
"Not at all, I'm just muddling through. Are you dating anyone now?"
"Yes..."
This made Cuixi look her up and down. Still as frumpy as ever, she felt slightly balanced and pointed at the Juicydoll shopping bag: "Thanks for the support. If you like it, post a Weibo with the hashtag #JuicydollLightOfLocalBrands. I'll do a behind-the-scenes role draw for a little gift.
Let's grab a meal sometime. I'm a bit busy today—have to accompany clients—so it's not convenient. Another day, for sure."
"I should get going too."
"You seem to have changed a lot. I mean, besides your style, your mental state seems much better. The power of love?"
As if suddenly remembering something, Hu Xiu asked, "Cuixi, do you know Ma Liang?"
A convulsive twitch crossed Cuixi's face, identical to Hu Xiu's own frantic expression years ago upon hearing Qin Xiaoyi's name.
She tensed up for a few seconds, and even when she spoke, she didn't relax: "You know him?"
"He's my friend's boyfriend."
Checking her watch, Cuixi said, "Let me treat you to afternoon tea."The two found seats at a nearby coffee shop, where they could still see the steady stream of customers at Juicydoll in the distance. Cuixi began sorrowfully, "How is Ma Liang doing now?"
"He seems to be working as an account executive at an agency, though I'm not entirely sure what he does. Do you know him?"
"That man..." Cuixi swirled her coffee cup with the melancholy of someone drinking alcohol. "He told me to wait for him, but he's already moved on to a new girlfriend."
Hu Xiu had intended to maintain her composure, but this... Ma Liang didn’t seem all that charming, did he?
"We met at a bar—he struck up a conversation while we were playing darts. I was going through a dry spell back then, and when a younger guy showed interest, it was hard not to be swayed. He has a really nice nose."
At this point, Hu Xiu’s inner commentary couldn’t be contained. Of course it’s nice—Pei Zhen, the top face-sculpting master in plastic surgery, a genuine old-school craftsman, had a hand in it.
"When we were dating, he stayed at my place. No matter how late he worked overtime, I always had a hot meal waiting.
He was especially skilled at making pigeon soup—it tasted exactly like the kind from The Cook, where you have to wait in line just to get a bowl.
He promised me that even though he didn’t have much money, he’d give me everything he had. Back then, he spent his entire monthly salary of sixteen hundred on me.
Once, I was working late at the office in the rain, chasing after a client’s proposal. He waited downstairs for a long time and gave me an MK bag—MK, a brand I haven’t carried in years.
But he was so proud of it. He’d saved for five months just to buy it for me. Later, I noticed the corners were already scuffed—it was a secondhand item he’d bought on Xianyu. I didn’t mind much, just thought it was naive of him to pay two thousand for a used bag—so inexperienced.
When I got my bonus, I asked him what he wanted. He never coveted my money, just wanted a stable job.
I bought him a full set of clothes, tailored and styled from head to toe, even CK underwear, and got him into a client-side company. He worked incredibly hard, sometimes driving his boss home at three in the morning."
Lost in her memories, Cuixi made Hu Xiu realize that this woman wasn’t invincible after all—Ma Liang had struck right at her weak spot.
As Cuixi gazed out the window with a dreamy look in her eyes, Hu Xiu even felt a pang of sympathy. No one wins in love—the formidable, shrewd Cuixi, who docked others’ salaries to please clients, now seemed utterly foolish.
Her sincerity left Hu Xiu bewildered. They say those involved are often blind—first Cuixi, then Zhao Xiaorou. Where exactly did Ma Liang’s charm lie?
"How did you two break up in the end?"
"Right before bed, I saw his chat history. He’d told his mother about me, and she said, 'This woman isn’t wealthy enough, and she’s not from here. Marriage would be too hard on you both. Break up.' We both cried, insisting money wasn’t the issue, but his mother wouldn’t budge. No matter how good the relationship, it wouldn’t last without her blessing.
To keep him, I gave him an IWC Portuguese, worth a hundred thousand—half a year’s bonus gone, just so he could wear it home and prove to his mother I had financial stability.
His mother still refused. In the end, he confessed that continuing like this would be too difficult—without their parents’ approval, financial strain would wear them down.
I cried myself to sleep that night. When I woke up, he was gone, leaving only a note: 'You’re the love of my life. I’ll work hard. Wait for me.'"Hu Xiu found the story increasingly unsettling no matter how she considered it: "That watch..."
"You want to say he's a gold digger, right? I've thought that too, especially since he stopped replying to my messages afterward and completely disappeared.
I'd have nightmares thinking he just used me for accommodation, climbed up using my connections, and swindled both my youth and money from me.
Whenever I thought this way, I couldn't sleep, grinding my teeth in resentment until I sought therapy.
But the pigeon soup doesn't lie, nor do the eyes of that drenched boy waiting for me in the rain. Even if I'm deceiving myself, I have to swallow this bitterness—at least I got to sleep with a young man.
After all, as an out-of-towner staying in Shanghai with lavish spending habits, no man I meet through matchmaking would ever bring me pigeon soup in a thermal cooker."
Hu Xiu felt a pang of discomfort hearing this. Cuixi took a deep breath and straightened her back: "How embarrassing to talk about these things after so long apart. But after resigning, I realized how sharp you are—a simultaneous interpreter! I always thought you were just an average copywriter. What does your current boyfriend do?"
"An actor..."
"Oh? Do you have a photo? Let me see..."
Having heard so many secrets, Hu Xiu felt obliged to share. She pulled up a photo with Diao Zhiyu.
Cuixi studied the picture intently for several seconds: "Qin Xiaoyi from Snowpiercer?"
"You know him?"
"I binge-watched three seasons for him. Later I felt he showed no interest in women, thought he was gay. You're... quite resourceful."
Cuixi stood up, regarding her with newfound respect: "If you see Ma Liang, say hello for me. Ask if he still remembers Cuixi who lived across from Guilin Park.
If he plays dumb, use his original name—hardly anyone knows it."
"He has a different name?"
"His registered name was Ma Wuliu. His father named him that way because he was the sixth child in his generation—local families have many children."
Cuixi's eyes suddenly ignited with combativeness: "I've told you my story. If he remains a heartbreaker, hopefully his girlfriend can make use of these details."
Only then did Hu Xiu understand—Cuixi was passing this blazing torch of vengeance to her, expecting her to relay it to Zhao Xiaorou.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, but no amount of romantic nostalgia could make swallowing abandonment any easier.
The gossip burned in her hands like live coal. Leaving the Joy City mall, she immediately called Zhao Xiaorou: "Earth-shattering news—Ma Liang's ex is Cuixi! Where are you? I'm coming over."
The voice on the other end remained eerily calm: "Ma Liang left me a note and disappeared. Know what it said? That he felt unworthy of me, so this was his only way out. Zhao Xiaorou, got dumped by a fucking coward!"
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