Starting from some random topic, the department members suddenly began playing Truth or Dare.
The dice rattled crisply against the table under everyone’s hands.
"Open!"
Zong Yan slowly lifted her cup. Three dice—all of them were ones.
"..."
She let out a soft sigh.
"Wow, talk about rotten luck! Hahaha!"
Her colleagues burst into laughter. There was no need to compare; Zong Yan’s total was undoubtedly the lowest.
The loser had to accept a penalty.
"Little Zong, Truth or Dare?"
Zong Yan looked down at the alcohol in her glass, hesitating.
Since being hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, she rarely touched the stuff, and her stomach had become much more sensitive than before. Today was a special occasion, so she had followed along and finished half a glass. If she took the penalty, one glass wouldn't be enough to stop the momentum.
Truth? She had no desire to share her personal privacy.
"Hey, Little Zong is still a student. How about we let her skip the drink?"
"What does being a student have to do with it? Students these days play way harder than us. Besides, you have to follow the rules when you play a game. Giving special treatment isn't right, is it?"
"While that’s true..."
A few people began to argue.
Zong Yan glanced over. One was the senior colleague sitting next to her, and the other was a coworker who had never given her a friendly look.
As an intern, she had essentially been "parachuted" into this important department. From the moment she arrived, the supervisor, Yan Ge, had clearly treated her with special attention, showing an intent to groom her. Combined with the fact that she had accompanied him to a core project banquet, some of the veteran employees had begun to harbor resentment.
No one liked a "connection hire" who dropped in out of nowhere.
Although Zong Yan had been hired based on her own merits, changing others' impressions and opinions was always the hardest task. Zong Yan had never been one to put effort into making herself likable.
However, since the other party had put it that way...
"I choose Dare," Zong Yan answered.
She picked up her glass, downed the contents efficiently, and then stood up, waiting for the "host" to announce the penalty.
The nitpicking colleague was about to speak but was immediately cut off by someone else: "How about you go to that table over there—the one with the handsome guy—and ask someone for their WeChat?"
It was the colleague sitting next to her, a beautiful woman in her thirties who happened to be the one gossiping about Si Jiang earlier.
She gave Zong Yan a wink. "Good luck, Student Zong."
As the glass of alcohol hit her stomach, a slight tipsiness began to creep up. She hadn't drunk in a long time, after all.
With a faint flush on her cheeks, Zong Yan gripped her phone, her steps slightly unsteady as she walked toward the booth.
As she drew closer, Si Jiang’s familiar voice became faintly audible.
"Master Si, this little sister wants to toast you. I’ve really been thinking about you for so long."
A young girl with long black hair and a form-fitting white dress was practically leaning against Si Jiang. She blinked her large, watery eyes—enhanced by chestnut-colored contacts—looking at him with a lingering, suggestive gaze.
"You suddenly went abroad last year. I thought Master Si wasn't coming back."
Si Jiang leaned back against the sofa, his expression relaxed. The surrounding clamor gave him a sufficient sense of security, and his mood had improved considerably.
Thus, he casually played along. "Have I met you?"
The girl’s expression stiffened for a moment before turning into a pout. "Master Si, you forgot? I was there for your birthday."
Back then, the two of them had almost kissed. If Si Jiang hadn't suddenly received a phone call and walked out, she probably would have boarded the "Great Ship" that was Si Jiang long ago.
She had heard that Master Si was always generous and never hesitated to take his girlfriends out to see the world. Countless people were waiting with bated breath for a vacancy by his side. Unfortunately, Master Si’s habits had changed drastically after his return to China; he rarely participated in social events. Today was a rare opportunity.
She had to seize it.
The girl’s eyes flickered, her expression shifting to one of lingering fear. "After the earthquake happened, I was looking for you everywhere. When I couldn't find you, I was worried to death."
Si Jiang arched an eyebrow. Watching the girl lean closer and closer, he said, "Oh? Is that so?"
Her pretty face couldn't hide the ambition in her eyes; there wasn't a shred of sincerity to be found in her words.
He was suddenly struck by a wave of revulsion.
Wasn't he long accustomed to this kind of expression, this kind of "emotion"? He provided material value, and the other party provided emotional value—a mutual agreement, an exchange of interests. Most relationships in the world were like this.
He used to navigate this system like a fish in water, living happily and recklessly, enjoying the flattery of men and women to his heart's content.
Why did he feel absolutely nothing now?
The girl’s cloyingly sweet perfume drew closer, her unfamiliar body heat almost touching his skin. Si Jiang frowned, just about to tell her to sit further away.
Then, a low, husky voice—so familiar it made the back of his neck prickle—rang out.
"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt."
The girl’s eyes widened as she watched the lazily reclining Master Si suddenly bolt half a meter away from her. He shoved the people next to him right into the corner.
"Master Si, what are you...?"
Si Jiang didn't care how the others reacted; his scalp was beginning to tingle.
In his peripheral vision, that slender figure, as upright as a stalk of green bamboo, stood before their table. Her gaze lingered almost imperceptibly on him and the girl for a few seconds.
"..."
*Fuck.* The timing was absolutely wretched.
Si Jiang cursed inwardly. What should he do? How should he explain? No, wait, there wasn't really anything to explain, was there? He hadn't done anything; it was the other woman who tried to get close to him. Besides, he hadn't let the other woman touch him. He was still... clean.
Thinking of how Zong Yan had once told him with a look of disgust that she didn't like "dirty things," Si Jiang’s heart suddenly felt a sharp pang.
"Hey, I—"
He stood up, reaching out to grab Zong Yan’s hand.
However, that arm—which looked thin but was actually lean and strong—dodged him without a trace. His outstretched hand hung in mid-air.
Everyone witnessed the scene.
Zong Yan’s expression remained unchanged. She turned her head and picked out a handsome man with relatively long hair. He looked to be in his early twenties and exuded the unique aura of an art student.
"Hello, could I add you on WeChat?" Zong Yan said, nodding slightly toward him.
Gasps erupted from the surrounding people.
A woman who ignored Master Si when he took the initiative to speak... was now hitting on someone else for their contact information?
Moreover, it was as if she didn't even see Master Si’s existence. Even while "hitting on" someone, her posture and tone lacked any warmth, as if she weren't the one expressing interest.
*Tsk, Master Si’s face has gone dark.*
"Uh..."
The long-haired handsome guy felt a bit awkward, stealing a glance at Si Jiang. Should he agree or refuse? What was the relationship between Master Si and this woman? If he accepted, would he be stepping on Master Si’s toes? If he didn't, he’d be embarrassing someone Master Si knew...
What should he do?
The art student’s brain had rarely worked this fast. He shook off the alcohol-induced haze and thought: *But I haven't heard anything about Master Si having a new girlfriend? So it probably isn't that kind of relationship.*
He looked at Zong Yan again, reassessing the woman asking for his WeChat through the eyes of an art major. His expression involuntarily softened.
"It’s Truth or Dare, right?"
Many curious gazes drifted over from nearby, waiting for the drama to unfold.
The long-haired guy flashed a smile and pulled out his phone. "Sure, we can add each other."
Zong Yan leaned down to scan his QR code. From Si Jiang’s perspective, it looked as if their heads were almost touching.
He clenched his fists, staring intensely at the scene.
"Um..." Under Si Jiang’s death stare, the long-haired guy felt compelled to ask, "May I ask, what is your relationship with Master Si?"
Zong Yan withdrew her phone and offered a word of thanks. Then, as if only just realizing Si Jiang was there, she swept a glance over him with the eyes of a total stranger.
"No relationship. We’re not close."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 晏格 | Yan Ge | Design supervisor at Zong Yan's workplace. |
| 司少 | Master Si | A respectful/social title for Si Jiang, indicating his wealthy status. |
| 真心话大冒险 | Truth or Dare | A common party game. |
| 关系户 | Connection hire | Someone who gets a job through personal relations rather than merit. |
| 空降 | Parachuted | Refers to someone appointed to a high or desirable position from outside the usual hierarchy. |
