Since Lu Xixiao said he wanted to pursue her, he had gradually returned to his former self. In several moments, Zhou Wan felt as if she could see that young boy from the past again.
When he unexpectedly brought up that day's events, certain intimate scenes resurfaced in Zhou Wan's mind.
Her face flushed, and she abruptly stood up: "I'm going to bed."
Lu Xixiao started laughing again.
Zhou Wan's face grew increasingly warm. Pretending not to hear him, she walked straight toward the bedroom, nearly stumbling over her own feet due to her awkwardness.
As she pushed the door open, Lu Xixiao called out to her: "Wanwan."
She turned back.
"Do whatever you want, as long as it's something you like," Lu Xixiao said.
The next day, Zhou Wan scheduled a meeting with the newspaper's HR and took a bus there at noon.
The newspaper office wasn't far from Lu Xixiao's place, with convenient transportation—both buses and the subway provided direct access.
Following the signs, she went upstairs. The traditional print media's decor wasn't as trendy as that of new media companies, but it gave off a warm and reliable vibe.
Zhou Wan approached the front desk to state her purpose and was then led to a small office.
Inside was a messy desk piled high with various newspapers and magazines, leaving almost no clean space.
Zhou Wan froze for a moment.
Then, a head popped up from the stack of newspapers, pushing up a pair of glasses: "Zhou Wan?"
"Yes," she nodded. "Hello, sir. Is the interview here?"
"No interview needed. With your resume, there's no need for an interview."
"..."
This was way too casual.
"Have a seat first, let's chat casually," the man with thick glasses said. "Oh, let me introduce myself—I'm the Deputy Editor. The Chief Editor is on a business trip these days; you'll see her when she returns in a couple of days."
Zhou Wan nodded.
Then, the Deputy Editor discussed her salary in an extremely casual manner. Though it couldn't compare to her previous job, it was quite good for a newcomer.
When Zhou Wan asked when she should start working, the Deputy Editor said, "Do you have anything else to do later? If not, you can start today. I'll have someone set up a workstation for you."
"...Alright."
Zhou Wan first went to the General Affairs Team to collect some office supplies.
The Team Leader of the General Affairs Team was a gentle-looking woman in her forties, who even chatted with her for a while about personal matters—asking why someone with such high qualifications would want to work here, where she was from, and how old she was.
By the time she returned, her workstation had been set up.
As a newcomer, Zhou Wan would start as an Intern Reporter, then assist the Editorial Department before being formally assigned a position.
Sitting to her right was a very cute girl who had also graduated just last year. She turned to Zhou Wan and waved: "Hello, I'm Ji Jie—Jie as in 'pure white'."
Zhou Wan smiled back: "I'm Zhou Wan."
She paused slightly and said, "Wan as in 'draw a carved bow to the full like the moon'."
"Wow—" Ji Jie's mouth fell open. "You really are a top student! Even your self-introduction is different. I want to change mine too. From now on, I'll say... Hmm, what poems have the word 'Jie' in them?"
Zhou Wan thought for a moment: "'Pure white condenses autumn light'—by Liu Yuxi."
"Great! I'm Ji Jie—Jie as in 'pure white condenses autumn light'," she reintroduced herself.
Zhou Wan laughed at her: "Actually, it's still 'pure white'—no difference."
"No, this one sounds much more sophisticated."
"..."Ji Jie was quite the chatterbox. She turned away only to lean back in shortly after. "Oh, right, we’ll probably be heading out for fieldwork together soon."
"What for?"
"Tomorrow is Lei Feng Day, so we’re visiting impoverished households to lend a hand, take some photos, and so on."
Zhou Wan nodded.
Not long after, a man in his thirties with tanned skin—likely from frequent outdoor work—came over to gather the team. Ji Jie picked up two equipment bags, and Zhou Wan helped by carrying one.
The group boarded a business van and set off.
The destination was quite far, in a rural area on the outskirts. The drive was long, and as the road grew bumpy, Zhou Wan began to feel carsick.
The team leader tore open a case of bottled water and handed one to each of them. "We’ll be there in another half hour."
Hearing others call him "Uncle Ye," Zhou Wan accepted the water and said, "Thank you, Uncle Ye."
She unscrewed the cap and took a sip, finally easing the discomfort in her chest.
When she pulled out her phone, she noticed Lu Xixiao had sent her a message: [How was the interview?]
Zhou Wan smiled faintly and described the casual interview process to him. Then, she snapped a photo of the weedy field outside the window.
[Zhou Wan: Heading out for fieldwork now.]
[Lu Xixiao: Where to?]
Zhou Wan sent him her location and slipped her phone back into her pocket.
A moment later, she took it out again and changed Lu Xixiao’s contact name to "6."
The van stopped in front of a dilapidated courtyard. Zhou Wan followed the others out, noticing that the trunk was stocked with daily necessities like rice and cooking oil.
The village head, who was coordinating the visit, arrived. Uncle Ye briefed him on the tasks and asked him to help distribute the rice and oil to the impoverished households and those receiving the minimum living allowance in the village. Their main purpose, however, was to visit one particular grandma—the most destitute in the village.
Zhou Wan carried a camera bag over her shoulder and held two bottles of oil.
Uncle Ye glanced at her. "Can you manage? Don’t push yourself."
Zhou Wan gave him a reassuring smile. "It’s fine."
She followed the group deep into an alley and entered a household. The gate was wide open, but the interior was bare, with almost no furniture and not a soul in sight.
The first thing that caught her eye was a black-and-white photo on the wall.
Zhou Wan looked up at it. Ji Jie leaned in and whispered, "That’s the old lady’s son. He passed away from a sudden cerebral hemorrhage two years ago—only 56."
Zhou Wan lifted her gaze again and saw the grandma in the inner room.
The house was beyond just dirty. What passed for a bed was a crude bench with a blanket on top—the blanket was blackened and stiff as a brick.
As for the grandma, her legs were severely bent and immobile, making it hard to even discern her feet. She was much shorter than average, likely due to childhood polio.
Using a wooden chair as a crutch, she slowly made her way out from the inner room, moving at a painstakingly slow pace.
It took her several minutes to cover just three or four meters.
Watching her, Zhou Wan felt a lump in her throat, unsure how to step in and assist.
Uncle Ye brought the rice, oil, and some vegetables into the kitchen, which consisted of little more than a coal stove with a stainless steel bowl on it.
Wanting to express her gratitude, the grandma—standing closest to Zhou Wan—took her hand and repeatedly thanked her, saying that kind-hearted people like them would surely be blessed in the future.
"Grandma, how old are you this year?" Zhou Wan asked.
"Seventy-nine."If Grandma were still alive, she would be about this age by now.
...
Working together, the group helped Grandma tidy up her home, took a few photos, and chatted with her while conducting the interview.
It was only after their conversation that they learned Grandma had a granddaughter.
Not a biological one—her son never married and remained single his whole life. The little girl was picked up by him when he was already past fifty. She had been abandoned by others, and he brought her home out of pity.
Who could have foreseen the twists of fate? Now, only she and the little girl were left, relying on each other to get by.
The story was too heavy.
It left everyone feeling unsettled.
By the time they left, the sun was setting in the west.
Ji Jie asked, "Uncle Ye, should we include the old lady’s address when we publish the article? That way, more people can help her."
Uncle Ye shook his head. "No, people’s intentions are too mixed these days. We’ve encountered situations before where livestreamers used such opportunities to put on a show, disturbing the person’s peace and making their lives unbearable."
"You’re right," Ji Jie sighed. "But what can we do? Neither Grandma nor her granddaughter has the ability to earn money. How will they manage in the future?"
"The newspaper office will stay in touch. Don’t worry—we’ll help as much as we can. We can organize a donation when we get back. I’ll bring it up with the editor-in-chief tomorrow."
Zhou Wan leaned her head against the car window, staring blankly at the scenery outside.
The image of the old lady and the little girl depending on each other kept reminding her of her own past with her grandmother. Though they had been better off—even without much money, they at least lived with dignity.
Her phone vibrated. Lu Xixiao had sent another message.
[6: Off work yet?]
[Zhou Wan: On my way back.]
[6: I’ll come pick you up.]
Zhou Wan glanced at the car’s navigation system—it estimated another hour.
At this time, traffic was unavoidable. She replied: [It’ll take about an hour and a half to get back. No rush.]
[6: Okay.]
...
By the time the car reached the newspaper office, the sky was already dark.
Zhou Wan got out with the others. After sitting in the car for several hours, her back and legs ached.
She rubbed her arms and was about to send Lu Xixiao a message to say she had arrived when she heard two honks from across the street.
She turned and saw the car window roll down. Lu Xixiao raised his hand to signal to her.
"Zhou Wan, is that your boyfriend?" Ji Jie exclaimed, her mouth agape. "He’s so handsome!"
Zhou Wan wasn’t sure how to explain her relationship with Lu Xixiao. She smiled, waved goodbye, and said, "See you tomorrow."
Ji Jie watched as Zhou Wan got into the car, watched as the car drove away, and watched as she caught sight of the emblem on the rear.
"Uncle Ye," she said, her mouth still hanging open, "is that a Bentley emblem?"
"Yes, that car costs seven figures."
"..."
Ji Jie felt her worldview as a Beijing drifter had been shaken. "There are so many rich people in this world—why can’t I be one of them?"
"That’s not just any rich person."
"You know him?"
Uncle Ye glanced at her. "You didn’t know?"
"Know what?"
"Zhou Wan—the incident with Huang Hui from Shengxing Media was related to her. I heard Shengxing’s downfall had something to do with her. And that man just now was Lu Xixiao, President Lu. Remember? We sent his company an interview request a while back, but it was rejected."
"...So, Zhou Wan’s boyfriend is President Lu?"
"Seems like it."“Then she’s really too humble! If I had a boyfriend like that, I’d at least get a comfortable car for fieldwork!”
Uncle Ye scoffed, “That’s all the ambition you have.”
…
In the car, Lu Xixiao turned his head and asked, “How was your first day at work?”
“Pretty good.”
“Tired?”
“A little.” Zhou Wan smiled. “But I found it quite interesting and meaningful. I really like it.”
Zhou Wan told him about the Grandma she met during fieldwork today. The hardships were almost unimaginable.
Lu Xixiao knew she must be thinking of her own Grandma. He glanced at her and said, “If you’re still concerned, we can go together again this weekend.”
Zhou Wan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled. “Okay.”
“What do you want for dinner?”
“Anything is fine.” Zhou Wan said, “Just nothing too expensive.”
Lu Xixiao found a private kitchen. The location was quite remote, but business was booming—the kind of place where you probably couldn’t get a table without a reservation. However, the waiter seemed to recognize Lu Xixiao. Without asking if they had a reservation, he directly led them to a private room on the second floor.
“Is this place very expensive?” Zhou Wan leaned in and whispered.
Lu Xixiao chuckled. “After all these years, you’re still always worried about me spending money on you.”
Zhou Wan blinked. “Because earning money isn’t easy.”
Lu Xixiao raised an eyebrow. “Actually, it’s not that hard.”
“…”
True. At his level, making money really wasn’t difficult.
“But I feel really bad about it.” Zhou Wan lowered her eyes, looking at the menu. “I’ve hardly ever treated you to anything.”
“Then from now on, just transfer your salary directly to my card. I’ll spend all your money. How about that?”
Zhou Wan answered almost without hesitation, “Sure. But my salary probably won’t cover your monthly expenses. I also have another card with the money I’ve saved over the years—you can have that too.”
“…”
Lu Xixiao had only said it casually and didn’t expect her to actually agree.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll spend all your money?” Lu Xixiao asked with a laugh.
“Since I’m living at your place now, my salary wouldn’t be enough to rent such a nice apartment in B City.” Zhou Wan said, “Spend it as you like. It’s only right that I give it to you.”
Lu Xixiao realized that Zhou Wan’s nature made her always calculate things clearly.
It wasn’t that she was petty—she was actually quite warm-hearted toward others and generous within her means. But even the slightest kindness from others, she would keep in her heart. If it was a bit more, she would feel uncomfortable, as if burdened, afraid she couldn’t repay it—even if the other person never intended for her to repay it.
She had been like this since they first met at sixteen or seventeen. It wasn’t something that could change so quickly.
“Wanwan.”
He lowered his voice, leaning slightly closer, his breath mingling with the air in the private room.
“You’re still too thin-skinned. It’s not a good thing for a man to have too much money—it’s easy to get into trouble.”
Zhou Wan looked at him, blinking in confusion.
“You should just swindle all my money into your pocket, so I can’t get into any trouble. Then I’d have to follow you around every day, behaving well just to get some allowance.”
“…”
After the two finished their meal, they went downstairs to pay.
The waiter said the restaurant was holding a Golden Egg Smashing event that day. Based on their spending, they could smash two golden eggs. He mentioned the winning rate was very high—90%—so basically everyone won, just with differences between big and small prizes.
Lu Xixiao turned his head. “Want to give it a try?”
Zhou Wan nodded.Lu Xixiao picked up the hammer and handed it to Zhou Wan.
"You try it," Zhou Wan said. "My luck is terrible—I definitely won't win anything."
"Maybe today will be different."
Zhou Wan smiled wryly. "Since I was little, I've never won anything in these kinds of events. I've never even gotten a 'free bottle' from a soda cap. It's like bad luck follows me everywhere, and I can't shake it off."
"Just give it a try. You never know."
Zhou Wan didn't refuse again. She chose a golden egg and smashed it open.
Inside was a red slip of paper. She picked it up and looked—sure enough, it read "Thank you for your patronage."
Even with a one-in-ten chance, she still managed to draw the losing ticket.
She sighed helplessly with a bitter smile. "See?"
There was still one more chance.
Lu Xixiao wanted her to try again, but Zhou Wan didn't dare waste the opportunity. "You pick one, and I'll smash it," she said.
Lu Xixiao randomly pointed at one.
Zhou Wan shattered that golden egg. The server picked up the slip inside and broke into a bright smile. "Congratulations! It's the grand prize—the only one in the whole venue!"
Zhou Wan was stunned. Even though Lu Xixiao had chosen it, this was the first time in her life she'd encountered such good fortune. She couldn't believe it. "Really?"
"Really," the server said. "The grand prize is Apple's latest laptop."
As she spoke, she pulled out a box from under the table and handed it to Zhou Wan.
Zhou Wan accepted it and thanked her.
...
Early spring had arrived. The night breeze wasn't as cold as before, and in a little while, flowers would begin to bloom.
Zhou Wan held the laptop box, unable to suppress the smile on her face. "Lu Xixiao, your luck is amazing."
He turned his head to look at her.
The young girl was beaming, her eyes curved into happy crescents. Dressed in a white padded coat and clutching the large box, she looked a bit clumsy.
"Actually, I was going to smash a different one earlier. Good thing I listened to you, or I might have gotten another 'Thank you for your patronage,'" Zhou Wan said.
Lu Xixiao chuckled softly. "Then stick close to me from now on."
Zhou Wan looked up at him.
"I have good luck. Any prizes I win in the future will be yours."
Their car was parked across the street. They stood at the crosswalk, and when the light turned green, Lu Xixiao reached down and took Zhou Wan's hand, leading her forward.
Green light—smooth sailing all the way.
Only after crossing the street did Zhou Wan snap out of her daze. "Lu Xixiao, I think I know why my luck has always been so bad."
"Why?"
"Maybe I used up all my good luck just to meet you."
It sounded like a cheesy pickup line, but Zhou Wan truly meant it.
That incredible Lu Xixiao was now standing right beside her.
He didn't hold her past mistakes against her. He didn't care how deeply she had hurt him before. He was open, sincere, proud, and radiant—yet he was willing to kneel before her and say, "I will love all of you."
Lu Xixiao looked at her for a moment, then smiled too—a brilliant, arrogant smile that was impossible to look away from.
"Yeah, with me, you'll have everything."
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