Cen Jin lived by the principle that no cold war should last through the night, but she still slept poorly that evening. Vivid nightmares pressed down on her until she could barely breathe, and before five o'clock, she sat up in bed, leaning against her pillow in a daze.
She opened WeChat and clicked into Wu Fu's Moments.
Unexpectedly, he had updated his status with a photo.
The content was familiar—a convenience store beneath their office building, with a pedestrian passing by the entrance, their form blurred into a ghostly trail as if wandering through the night.
Wu Fu had a keen eye for composition; even with just a phone, he could edit photos to resemble movie stills. His aesthetic talent was remarkable, and even the designers in their department said he was wasted coming from a copywriting background.
But no matter which path he took, he was now an ACD (Associate Creative Director), able to oversee everyone from a higher position.
Cen Jin stared at the photo, gradually enveloped by a deepening sense of loneliness. She found it hard to tell whether this loneliness stemmed from herself, Wu Fu, or perhaps both. Even though many colleagues and clients had liked and joked beneath the post, creating a lively scene, the photo itself felt desolate and cold.
Cen Jin felt a bit more balanced psychologically; she guessed Wu Fu wasn't having an easy time either.
She lay back down, intending to make the most of the remaining two hours of sleep.
The quality of her second sleep was exceptionally high; the woman felt as if she had just closed her eyes when she was startled awake by the sound of a rolling suitcase outside.
Cen Jin picked up her phone to check the time, then got out of bed and left the room.
A tall, slender figure in white was already standing in the living room.
It was Li Wu, wearing the sport jacket she had bought him, with the classic Adidas stripes on the sleeves—one black, one gold—adding a touch of bright vitality to the youth. But he had zipped it all the way up, as if deliberately toning down this newfound boldness he hadn't yet grown accustomed to.
His dark, clear eyes glanced sideways, meeting hers.
Just as he was about to say good morning, Cen Jin spoke first: "When did you wake up?"
Li Wu replied, "A little after six."
Cen Jin glanced at the rolling suitcase by his leg: "All packed?"
"Mm."
Cen Jin wasn't surprised by his efficiency and self-sufficiency. She smiled and asked, "What do you want for breakfast?"
Li Wu said, "Anything is fine."
"I'll go back to my room to wash up first. You wait for me on the sofa."
"Okay." Li Wu nodded.
Cen Jin retreated to her room and, while brushing her teeth, quickly ordered breakfast. After changing into casual clothes, she stepped out of the bedroom.
Li Wu was indeed obediently sitting there, silently reciting English vocabulary from behind his book.
Cen Jin chuckled: "Is the college entrance exam tomorrow? Why the rush to save every second?"
He was quite absorbed and only noticed her presence in the living room when he heard her voice. His eyelids lowered, and his gaze first fell on her slender, pale ankles. She was wearing camel-colored cropped pants and, above that, a gray-brown cardigan. Her hair was down today, with soft, gentle waves, one side tucked behind her ear, giving off a carefree, soft elegance.
Cen Jin was different from the women in the village. In the three days they had spent together, she had never adorned herself with any bright or gaudy colors, yet she was far from plain. On the contrary, she was effortlessly beautiful.
Li Wu closed his book with both hands and quickly averted his gaze from her face.
As he was about to zip up his backpack after putting the textbook inside, Cen Jin asked, "Did you bring your phone and charger?"
Li Wu looked up: "Yes," he added, "They're in the suitcase.""Alright," Cen Jin walked to the entryway, pulled a stack of cash from her bag, returned and placed it on the coffee table: "Take this cash for now. It's not much, just two thousand yuan, for unexpected needs."
Li Wu was taken aback and immediately refused: "No need, I have a meal card."
Cen Jin rubbed her forehead: "What if you need to buy books or stationery? There are good food options outside campus too. I don’t want you eyeing other kids’ snacks enviously."
"..."
Her thoughtfulness was unsettling. Li Wu began to regret it—that KFC meal might have given Cen Jin the wrong impression. He really wasn’t as gluttonous as she imagined.
"Keep it." Cen Jin dropped the words and walked to the kitchen to operate the coffee machine.
Li Wu wanted to return the money, but seeing the woman’s relaxed figure behind the counter, he couldn’t bring himself to disturb her.
He noticed some books and magazines under the coffee table, so he took out a thicker one and subtly glanced at Cen Jin. She was facing away, leaning casually against the counter with one hand, and seemed unlikely to turn around anytime soon.
He lowered his gaze, quickly tucked the two thousand yuan into the book, smoothed the title page, and returned it to its place before letting out a relieved sigh.
—
After breakfast, Cen Jin effortlessly took Li Wu to Yi High School.
Teacher Qi had already sent the dormitory building and room number to Cen Jin’s WeChat early in the morning. Following the dorm supervisor’s directions, they quickly found the place.
It was a typical, raw four-boy dorm—books scattered, shoes strewn about, chairbacks serving as the most convenient storage for clothes instead of cabinets. The trash bin was mostly filled with drink cans, and the plastic basin on the balcony was piled with dirty laundry, waiting to be taken to the laundry room only when it overflowed.
Li Wu’s desk and bed, previously unused, had been taken over as temporary storage by the other three roommates’ clutter.
At the moment, the students were all in class, leaving the dorm empty and silent enough to hear a pin drop.
With no place to stand, Cen Jin simply stayed by the door, keeping company with the water dispenser.
Li Wu was also at a loss, hesitant to touch others’ belongings, and could only stand idly.
But waiting around wasn’t productive. After a brief survey, Cen Jin rolled up her sleeves, walked over, and swept everything off the desk by the door to the side, ignoring the clattering falls. Then she gathered the piled clothes from the chair and distributed them among the other three.
After finishing, she turned back, dusted her hands, and said, "Use it."
The young man was stunned by her decisiveness, momentarily dazed.
"What are you afraid of? It’s your space to begin with." Cen Jin walked to the balcony, turned on the tap to wash her hands, and called inside: "Bring a towel. Wipe down the desk and chair before putting your things there."
"Okay." Li Wu responded, quickly fetching an old towel from his suitcase and hurrying to the balcony.
Cen Jin held out her hand: "Give it to me."
Li Wu said, "I’ll do it."
"Give it to me." She left no room for argument.
Li Wu handed her the towel.
As soon as she took it, Cen Jin complained: "Is this a roof tile? So stiff."
"..."
She scrubbed it under the running water, her movements and force completely misapplied—less like washing a rag and more like kneading dough. Whether due to the towel’s texture or the cold water, the fair skin on the back of her fingers gradually turned red.
Li Wu couldn’t bear it and offered again: "Let me wash it."
Cen Jin tilted her head to glance at him, her eyes full of doubt.
Li Wu held his breath and fell silent.
Cen Jin turned off the tap and wrung the towel: "Is there a problem with how I’m washing it?"
"...No.""Then why fight for it, why show off," she handed over the towel, "Clean up the rest yourself."
Who was the one really showing off? Li Wu took the damp cloth that was still dripping, unable to voice his thoughts.
Having fully indulged in her sense of ceremony, Cen Jin walked back inside, took a cotton towel from her bag, and leisurely wiped her hands. Seizing the moment, Li Wu quickly wrung the rag several times until it stopped dripping, then calmly returned.
Half an hour later, Li Wu's desk, wardrobe, and bed boards were spotlessly clean, standing out as the tidiest in the room. He worked with such efficiency that it required no supervision, even surpassing the high-priced hourly cleaners Cen Jin usually hired. She couldn't help but imagine that this skill could be a valuable asset—if Li Wu didn't get into university, he could likely earn a decent income in the housekeeping industry.
The sound of the boy closing a drawer interrupted her thoughts. Cen Jin snapped back to attention: "Finished?"
Li Wu turned his head: "Yeah."
Cen Jin glanced at her wristwatch: "Class is about to end soon. When your roommates return, I'll treat them all to lunch. They're your classmates—consider it a chance to get to know them early." She laid out the plan methodically: "After the lunch break, I'll take you to meet your homeroom teacher, then we'll get your school uniform measured."
Li Wu looked uneasy.
Cen Jin noticed: "What's wrong?"
Li Wu relaxed his brow: "It's nothing."
"Here we go again," Cen Jin said keenly, catching the subtle shift in his expression. "Don't you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"It's too much trouble," Li Wu admitted, no longer hiding his thoughts. He was here to study and didn't want Cen Jin spending extra money and effort on unnecessary social interactions.
Cen Jin studied him briefly before agreeing: "Fine, you can socialize with them on your own. You're all the same age—you'll have more to talk about. I won't interfere."
Li Wu stood up: "That's not what I meant."
"I know, I'm just giving myself an out," Cen Jin sighed inwardly at his stubbornness and revised the plan: "Then let's go out for lunch first. After eating, you can return to the dorm, and I'll rest in the car. We'll meet at Wen Zhi Building at 2 p.m."
Li Wu gave a quiet "Mm."
They found a casual eatery near the school gate. As their food arrived, the long chime of the school bell echoed from campus. Soon, the restaurant flooded with students in blue-and-white uniforms, their faces fresh and youthful.
Cen Jin, with her meticulously applied makeup, stood out like an anomaly, drawing sidelong glances, but she remained unperturbed as she scooped up her rice bowl.
She only managed half of her meal before feeling full. Wiping her mouth, she began surveying the bustling surroundings.
Her eyes drifted back to the menu on the wall. After scanning it top to bottom, she remarked, "I suppose I was rather foresighted, Li Wu. Look how quickly this place filled up with students—some must be boarders tired of the cafeteria. Giving you that money this morning was the right call."
Li Wu, who had been drinking soup, choked abruptly, turning his head to cough heavily.
"What's with you..." Cen Jin trailed off, hurriedly passing him a tissue. "Drink slowly."
Li Wu took it, recovered his composure, and resumed eating in silence.
The boy's plate was spotless—not a single grain of rice remained. It reminded Cen Jin of her friend’s large dog that devoured every meal voraciously. She couldn’t help but smile.
For some reason, she sensed no shabbiness in Li Wu—only sincerity, a genuine reverence for food. This sincerity carried a touch of nostalgia; he seemed out of place in this era of extravagance, evoking images of simplicity and fervor from a bygone, tumultuous time.After finishing their meal, the two walked out side by side. As they approached the school gate, Cen Jin asked, "Does it feel real now?"
Li Wu lowered his gaze. "What?"
"The feeling of being a student," Cen Jin said, her eyes following a ponytailed girl who brushed past them. "Not having to worry about anything, being able to study without concerns, just like most kids here."
She was genuinely happy for him.
But for Li Wu, it wasn't that he had nothing to worry about—after all, he was still keeping secrets from Cen Jin.
He could only nod silently.
Cen Jin took something from her bag and held it out to him. "Take it, your dorm key."
Li Wu accepted it and tucked his hand back into his pocket.
"Don't lose it," she reminded him repeatedly, then asked, "You remember the way back to the dorm, right?"
"I remember." He gripped it tightly, feeling it press against his palm. Just as she said, it felt undeniably real. Another door in his life was about to open.
With half her mission accomplished, Cen Jin took a slow, deep breath. "I'm going to nap in the car. You can head back now."
"..." Li Wu pressed his lips together tightly.
Cen Jin glanced at her phone screen. "See you this afternoon."
Li Wu nodded.
The woman turned and walked toward the parking garage.
Perhaps the weather was too fine, the sunlight too glaring—Li Wu's eyes grew slightly moist, but the breeze dried them almost instantly. Unconsciously, he followed her.
"Sis..."
He called out softly, almost under his breath, then gritted his teeth and raised his voice. "Sis!"
Cen Jin turned back, squinting slightly, her face bright under the sun.
Li Wu jogged to catch up with her, his breathing steady. "The money you gave me this morning—I tucked it inside the book called Blossoms under the coffee table, the one with the gray cover."
His eyes, as always, were intense—so intense they seemed fiercely focused and earnest. "I don't need it, and I can't accept it."
For a moment, their eyes locked. Cen Jin's expression darkened, and she said coldly, "Suit yourself."
With those two words, she turned and walked away without hesitation.
Hesitating for a second, Li Wu watched her retreating figure. "If I ever need it in the future, I'll ask to borrow it."
The woman paused mid-step, then continued forward without looking back.
Li Wu stood still, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. He kept watching, watching, until she disappeared from view.
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