His words were like splashing a glass of ice water on the table, instantly freezing the atmosphere.
Cen Jin pressed her lips together, maintaining a faint smile without speaking.
Chai Siming was the first to break the deadlock: "Weren't we supposed to discuss business? Why does this feel like a blind date?"
Zhou Suian tapped on his phone for a moment before setting it down, as if placing a bet in a game. He then rested his elbows on the table: "I've already deleted the repost. Isn't Miss Cen going to return the favor?"
Cen Jin smiled lightly: "I just didn't expect your price to take this form."
Zhou Suian replied casually: "It's all private settlement. Is there any difference?"
It was indeed the most efficient and comfortable solution, but it was still frustrating. A fleeting sense of helpless emptiness passed through Cen Jin's heart before she finally nodded: "Fine. You choose the place."
Seeing this, Chai Siming teased: "Suian, do you have your eye on our beautiful Cen?"
Zhou Suian remained silent, picking up his glass to drink water.
Chai Siming added: "But Cen Jin is already in a relationship."
Zhou Suian lifted his eyes.
Cen Jin said neutrally: "I came today because I happened to be dropping him off at school."
"He teaches at our university too?" Zhou Suan set down his cup.
Chai Siming: "He's a student, and an outstanding one at that." Zhou Suian's eyebrow twitched slightly, and his gaze toward Cen Jin took on another layer of meaning. Cen Jin could immediately decipher this kind of judgment and definition unique to adults—somewhat offensive, yet the other party didn't care in the slightest, even seeming provocative.
"Does Miss Cen have strict rules at home?" Zhou Suan accepted the coffee from the waiter: "Surely your boyfriend wouldn't mind you just having a meal with me."
Cen Jin curled her lips, her expression cold and tense: "Does Professor Zhou have strict rules at home?"
Zhou Suian chuckled: "I'm the only one in my household." Whether intentional or not, his words carried a suggestive ambiguity.
Chai Siming tilted his head and scoffed, unable to bear it: "Suian, that's enough. Let's just have the meal and consider the matter closed. Don't make things difficult for my old classmate."
Zhou Suian slipped his hands back into his pockets, his posture growing even more languid.
―
This was the first time since changing careers that Cen Jin missed her days in creative work.
At least back then, she didn't have to deal with so many messy people or situations, unable to vent her frustration. Although some clients had been flirtatious, everyone was still in the industry and had to maintain some dignity.
But Zhou Suian was different. He was like a person from the gray areas, completely unafraid to let her feel these subtle yet concrete slights and mockeries. She could only endure it.
A typical wolf in sheep's clothing.
Walking silently beside Zhou Suian, Cen Jin felt physically and mentally repulsed, but she had no choice—she had to repay this favor.
After all, her startup plan was on the line, and she would likely have to interact with all kinds of KOLs in the future. The internet was as intricately connected as spider silk, and reputation within the circle was crucial.
The early winter wind blew coldly, and withered leaves spun chaotically in the air like blind butterflies. One of them was caught mid-fall by a hand.
The owner of the hand asked: "You know what kind of leaf this is, right?"
Cen Jin glanced at it: "Plane tree."
Zhou Suian said: "In ancient times, the plane tree symbolized loyalty."
"Really." Cen Jin replied indifferently.
Zhou Suian casually tossed the leaf away: "You and I are alumni?"
"Yes."
"Same major as Chai Siming?"
"Mm."
"How old are you?"
Cen Jin frowned slightly: "Professor Zhou, aren't you asking a bit too much?""Is it too much?" Zhou Suian smiled: "If this is too much, what will we talk about during the meal? Just the meal itself?"
Cen Jin fell silent for a moment before speaking frankly: "Do you have some issue with me? If it's about the copyright infringement matter, I can apologize to you again on behalf of the company. Your photography clips were provided to us by the brand, we didn't intentionally steal them."
Zhou Suian looked over, his eyes dark: "If I had an issue with you, I wouldn't even respond to your quotation request."
Cen Jin maintained her gaze: "But the way you're behaving now feels more like you're humiliating me. My job isn't like this."
"Like what?"
"Like 'selling'." Cen Jin didn't mince words.
Zhou Suian was amused by her: "I knew an Account Manager before who often had individual meals with people. Why can't it be the same with me?"
"It's not about the meal," Cen Jin replied: "It's your attitude toward me. I don't know if you usually communicate like this, but personally, it makes me uncomfortable. To put it bluntly, it feels like workplace sexual harassment. I'd rather you just give me a straightforward quotation, and we can exchange payment for service directly."
Zhou Suian's tone was indifferent, as if he didn't care: "Is that so? No wonder I have such poor interpersonal skills that I can only talk to plants."
His nonchalant attitude didn't anger Cen Jin. She concluded: "So I'm a person, not a plant."
Zhou Suian slowly revealed a smile. His thin face and extremely pale complexion made the smile appear completely harmless: "But you resemble a certain flower."
Cen Jin took a sharp breath, her patience nearing its limit: "Thank you for the compliment."
Zhou Suian looked straight ahead, his gaze becoming somewhat distant. After a moment, he stopped walking: "Miss Cen, let's cancel this lunch."
Cen Jin was surprised: "Why?"
"Don't feel like eating anymore." Zhou Suian shed his teasing manner, suddenly becoming completely solemn.
He took out a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket, pulled one out but didn't light it, seemingly just wanting to hold it between his fingers as an emotional anchor: "Goodbye."
Cen Jin finally saw the cigarette brand clearly - the pack was completely white with a logo of three numbers: 555.
―
Watching Zhou Suian leave, Cen Jin stood where she was, feeling like she'd been punching cotton - all effort with no effect.
She withdrew her gaze, took out her phone, and checked Zhou Suian's Weibo page. The repost about the infringing video was gone - it seemed the man hadn't lied to her.
Cen Jin sighed slightly and switched to WeChat, wanting to talk to Li Wu. Unexpectedly, she found an unread message from Chai Siming.
Opening it, she read about that eccentric Professor Zhou - how his ex-wife, like her, had been an Account Manager at an advertising agency, but later had an affair during their marriage and ended up with a client. Seeing her might have triggered some hostility and emotional transference... The message concluded with an apology for the friend's rudeness.
Cen Jin read the moderately long message twice, feeling complicated but also somewhat relieved: "It's fine, he didn't actually make me treat him to a meal alone."
Chai Siming seemed relieved by this.
Seeing that it was already too late to go to the office this morning, Cen Jin slowly walked to Guanghua Building, thinking she'd wait to have lunch with Li Wu.
As class was about to end, she sent her location to Li Wu on WeChat.
The young man was unusually excited: "Which floor are you on?"
Cen Jin replied: "Why did you reply so fast? Aren't you paying attention in class?"
Li Wu: "Because it's your message."Cen Jin smiled and answered his initial question: "It's on the first floor. How about having lunch together today?"
Li Wu: "Sure."
When the class dismissal bell rang, Cen Jin welcomed her young boyfriend amidst the crowd of students.
Despite his roommate's grumbling, he jogged over to her without looking back. Even in such bleak weather, the youth remained as vibrant and graceful as spring trees.
Unable to resist, Cen Jin wrapped an arm around his waist, and Li Wu immediately returned the embrace.
Students on the staircase cast sidelong glances - some making disgusted faces, others watching with amused smiles. Someone recognized the couple who had recently gained popularity on the BBS and quickly pulled their companion to join the spectators.
...
Thanks to her boyfriend, the long-graduated Cen Jin could revisit the flavors of her alma mater's cafeteria.
Sitting together, they carried distinctly different auras with an obvious age gap.
Yet perhaps due to their compatible appearances or harmonious energies, they looked strangely well-matched.
Li Wu ran to every food window, gathering various dishes until the cafeteria meal resembled a buffet, repeatedly asking if Cen Jin wanted anything else.
Cen Jin shook her head vigorously: "I'm completely full already. Aren't you afraid I'll drain your meal card?"
Li Wu laughed: "I'll just recharge it."
After eating their fill, the couple spent some intimate time in the car before Li Wu returned to his dormitory, while Cen Jin drove back to her company.
On the way, she navigated to a tobacco shop and found the brand of foreign cigarettes Zhou Suian smoked.
Cen Jin bought two cartons and had the shopkeeper wrap them carefully.
When Li Wu came home the next day, she handed him the gift box, asking him to deliver it to Zhou Suian.
Initially puzzled, Li Wu readily agreed after Cen Jin explained the reason, curiously wondering what cigarettes tasted like.
Cen Jin patted his cheek and warned with a hum: "If you dare smoke, I'll beat you up."
Li Wu said: "I actually quite like it when you hit me." "Are you some kind of masochist?" Cen Jin delivered a series of playful punches and kicks without real force: "Like this? Or this?"
When Li Wu dodged, she chased after him down the hallway, their laughter scattering like broken pearls.
Of course, she was ultimately repaid by being pressed back against the wall, receiving a deeper, more irresistible punishment.
The next day, fine rain fell steadily under gloomy skies. Finding only one umbrella in the entranceway, Li Wu worried Cen Jin would have none if he took it, so he walked to school in the rain.
By the time he found Zhou Suian's office, the young man was thoroughly drenched. Rubbing his dark, glossy bangs with his sleeve, he hesitated at the door.
A female teacher inside noticed him peering in and asked curiously: "Who are you looking for?"
Li Wu replied politely: "Hello, professor. I'm looking for Professor Zhou Suian."
The teacher leaned back in her chair: "He's not here right now."
Li Wu asked: "When will he likely arrive?"
The teacher said: "Soon, he has class this morning."
Just as Li Wu turned to return to his dormitory, a man appeared at the far end of the corridor. Wearing an overcoat and holding a pitch-black long umbrella, he walked with languid steps, looking gaunt and pale - his demeanor reminiscent of the ascetic mages Li Wu had seen in British dramas.
Passing by Li Wu, he only gave him a quick glance before moving on without further attention.
But as they brushed past each other, Li Wu sensed something and uncertainly called out: "Professor Zhou?"
The man stopped and turned back, examining the young man.
Though clearly soaked, he appeared anything but pathetic - his hair like damp miscanthus grass, the rainwater merely accentuating his youthful vitality.Zhou Suian was certain this young man wasn't one of his students, as none in his classes possessed such striking features. Yet the intensity of the boy's gaze made him uneasy, fearing an unexpected social mishap.
Fortunately, the young man soon softened his expression and explained his purpose: "Professor Zhou, I'm Cen Jin's boyfriend. She asked me to deliver this thank-you gift for deleting that Weibo post." He extended the gift box in his hands.
The introduction gave Zhou Suian pause. Instead of accepting it immediately, he asked, "What's inside?"
Li Wu replied, "Cigarettes."
A faint smile touched Zhou Suian's lips, his voice cool as rain: "If anyone were to pass by this corridor right now, this would constitute bribery, you know."
The young man seemed prepared, as if briefed beforehand: "That's why she used a gift box."
Zhou Suian fell silent momentarily.
After a brief standoff, Zhou Suian accepted the gift with a terse thank-you.
Li Wu shook his head, saying it was no trouble, and turned to leave.
Zhou Suian stopped him, tilting his umbrella upward: "Take this, it's still raining."
Li Wu declined politely and quickly disappeared around the corridor corner.
Only after the young man vanished did Zhou Suian casually weigh the gift box in his hand and head back to his office.
A female colleague curiously asked who he'd been speaking to, guessing it wasn't a student from their department.
Zhou Suian thought for a moment before offering vaguely, "Just a university student."
Back at his desk, Zhou Suian stood while unwrapping the package. When he saw the cigarette brand, his eyes flickered almost imperceptibly before he stored both cartons in his second drawer.
Powering on his computer, Zhou Suian checked his Weibo mentions, responding to a few selected comments before browsing through the crowded private message list.
The fourth message inquired about flower species: "Suian, my idol, what flower is this~? Why hasn't it withered as winter approaches? Spotted it in my neighbor's yard."
Opening the attached image, Zhou Suian first stared blankly, then gazed at it for a long while before replying with four characters: Smiling Michelia.
After shutting down his computer, he retrieved his phone from his pocket, opened one particular chat, hesitated briefly, then sent a message: "I've accepted the cigarettes. When are you making up that lunch you owe me?"
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