Jiang Weifeng leaned down, his gaze happening to fall upon the girl’s jet-black hair. The casual bun she had tied held more charm than the meticulously styled looks of the professional models he often saw.
He deliberately took another step forward. For every step he took, she took one back; after two rounds, she was backed into a corner with nowhere left to retreat.
Lin Jiang’s ears turned from white to pink, then to a deep crimson.
It was like the moon setting and the sun rising.
Jiang Weifeng’s mood brightened slightly.
The elevator soon reached the first floor. He stepped out ahead of her.
"I’m free the day after tomorrow," Jiang Weifeng said, coming to a halt at the elevator entrance.
Lin Jiang understood. "You’ll pick the place?"
"You decide," Jiang Weifeng smiled. "Doesn't your mother own a restaurant? No one knows food better than you."
Lin Jiang nodded. "Then... let’s stay in touch."
Jiang Weifeng gave a nod and tossed his car keys lightly in his hand. "Alright. Go on back up. I’m heading out."
Lin Jiang stood straight with her hands behind her back, obediently saying, "Goodbye."
Jiang Weifeng let out a soft "mm" from his throat and turned to leave.
Lin Jiang stood there, watching his figure slowly vanish from sight. The net that had ensnared her seemed to disappear along with the scent of tobacco and rain.
Perhaps... there really were fish in this world that craved the net.
***
It was late May.
Swallows twittered, and roses bloomed in splendor.
Twenty hours had passed, and Lin Jiang was still indecisive. It wasn't about the restaurant, but rather—her outfit.
In her hesitation, she called Wang Jiaqian. However, Jiaqian was busy with her shop’s new arrivals and was in the middle of a spat with Qin Zhao over work, so Lin Jiang didn't want to bother her. After a hurried hang-up, her internal struggle resumed.
It wasn't until evening that she finally decided to go shopping.
The mall was crowded. Lin Jiang browsed shop after shop, trying on several pieces but finding nothing she liked. Dazzled by the endless rows of clothing, she turned her attention to bags. The clerks in the luxury boutiques were all keen observers; they could estimate a customer’s spending power with a single glance. Seeing Lin Jiang’s attire, they immediately knew her budget and enthusiastically introduced the latest arrivals.
Ultimately, Lin Jiang took a fancy to a white handbag.
The clerk beamed, praising her excellent taste, and then added casually, "Miss, this bag would go wonderfully with a certain dress we have in the store."
Her interest piqued, Lin Jiang followed the clerk to see the garment.
It was an ivory-colored maxi dress adorned with crystal flowers. From a distance, the style looked exquisite, so she asked to try it on.
While the clerk went to retrieve the dress, Lin Jiang scanned the other outfits in the shop. Just then, through the glass window, she saw a woman in a purple suit drop her keys. As the woman bent down to pick them up, Lin Jiang’s gaze met her face.
In that instant, Lin Jiang felt a silent jolt of distraction.
The woman didn't notice her. She picked up the keys, tucked them into her bag, and walked away.
"Miss, you can try it on now," the clerk called from beside her.
But Lin Jiang’s interest had vanished in a heartbeat.
She apologized, saying something urgent had come up, and quickly swiped her card to pay for the bag.
By the time she stepped out of the store, the woman was gone. She stared blankly in the direction the woman had disappeared for a long moment before continuing her shopping and eventually heading home.
The next day, Lin Jiang woke up early.
She browsed the comments on her radio show’s latest update while rummaging through her wardrobe for something to match her new bag. Among the comments, one caught her eye: *"I’ve long since become the kind of thick-skinned girl who can listen to dirty jokes without blinking, yet when I think of you, I still want to wear a white dress for you just once."*
A few simple words, yet they carried a weight that resonated deeply within her.
Lin Jiang chose a French vintage white dress. It featured a square neckline that accentuated her collarbones and a bow at the back that draped elegantly below her shoulder blades; the rest of the back was exposed.
She had truly put effort into her appearance this time, even using a curling iron to style her hair. But just before leaving, she looked in the mirror and felt it looked too deliberate, so she straightened it again.
She wasted so much time that, in the end, he was the one waiting for her.
When she arrived, he was already in the private room, his back to her as he perused the menu.
She let out a silent sigh of relief. Walking over, she forced a smile. "I'm late."
Jiang Weifeng shifted his gaze from the mousse cake on the menu to the person before him.
As she approached, she brought with her a faint breeze scented with Givenchy’s *L’Interdit*. He had learned about it not long ago while shooting a perfume spread for a magazine. If he remembered correctly, the scent contained orange blossom, musk, and tuberose.
It was sweeter than the cake.
And her meticulously dressed self was more intoxicating than the fragrance.
"As long as you’re here, it’s not late," Jiang Weifeng said with a smile.
Lin Jiang glanced at him and then lowered her head as if unintentionally. The words felt vaguely comforting, but she didn't have time to dwell on them because he spoke again. "So, what are you planning to treat me to?"
Lin Jiang called the server over. Taking the menu, she scanned it briefly before looking at him. "I'm not sure what flavors you like?"
"Anything is fine with me." Jiang Weifeng stretched, his gaze sweeping over her. As he brought his arms down, he propped them on the table, resting his chin on one hand while his other hand toyed with a napkin.
His posture reminded Lin Jiang of their teenage years. Once, during New Year’s, she had run into his family dining at her mother's restaurant. He had looked just like this back then—utterly indolent, with words seemingly lingering on the tip of his tongue but never spoken.
Like a mystery.
Back then, she had suddenly encountered a breeze and thought the spring waters were just beginning to rise, never realizing he had always been a hurricane, a towering wave. But her joy had been extinguished, like water meeting water.
No one knew.
She pushed the thought away, refusing to let herself go down that path.
"Château Cheval Blanc—this wine is quite good. Would you like some?" She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, finding her voice.
Jiang Weifeng shifted his position, still resting his chin on his hand, and nodded. "I don't know much about red wine. You decide."
Lin Jiang pursed her lips, her eyes darting across the menu as she murmured to herself, "That day you came to my house for dinner, your tastes seemed to lean toward lighter flavors."
Her voice was so soft, like a gentle breath of air circling his ear, that when he finally processed it, a sharp shiver ran through him.
Jiang Weifeng’s gaze darkened as he stared at her, asking a question he already knew the answer to: "What did you say?"
She replied quickly, "Nothing."
She was focused on ordering, her lips slightly pursed and her brow furrowed in thought over the dishes, leaving her no time to observe his reaction.
Jiang Weifeng instinctively let out a silent laugh.
*Vrrr—*
Just as his eyes crinkled with a smile, a vibration sounded.
Lin Jiang looked up just in time to see him pick up his phone, his expression softening into a broad smile. She quietly set down the menu and watched as he stood up. "I need to take this."
She didn't speak, only nodded with a faint smile.
As he disappeared through the door, she still heard him say, "Lillian."
She knew. His assistant.
Right, his assistant.
"Miss, have you finished ordering?"
Perhaps the ordering process had taken too long, for even the good-natured waiter couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
She blinked and recited the names of the dishes. The waiter recorded them diligently. Once she finished, he asked, "Would you like any dessert?"
"Um..." She barely had to think. "The mousse cake."
After the waiter left, Jiang Weifeng returned.
It was mid-afternoon, and the sunlight splashed boldly into the room, filtering through the intricate patterns of the curtains to cast shadows on the table and floor. This light intertwined with the glow of the ceiling chandelier, creating a refined shimmer wherever it touched.
He walked into the room as if gilded by that very light.
In that second, Lin Jiang thought of a deity.
But that was absurd; he wasn't even wearing a proper suit. A white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers tucked in at the waist, and clean sneakers—compared to his outfit, her sophisticated look felt a bit too formal.
The thought annoyed her. "Where did you go?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of a pout she didn't even notice.
Jiang Weifeng seemed to be in an excellent mood. "Something very important came up."
"What was it?"
He glanced at her, still smiling. "I'll tell you after we eat."
Lin Jiang lowered her head and let out a soft "tch" that he couldn't hear. Seeing him sit down, she suddenly remembered something. "I didn't know what you wanted to eat, so I took the liberty of ordering..."
Her phone screen lit up.
"Sorry, I... also need to take a call."
Lin Jiang paused, said "Hello," and her expression darkened minute by minute.
When she hung up, she didn't wait for Jiang Weifeng to ask. She bit her lip and spoke with deep apology, "Um, it looks like this meal isn't going to happen..."
And it truly wasn't.
***
Jiang Weifeng drove Lin Jiang to the Xingfu Apartments as fast as he possibly could. After parking, they rushed upstairs.
Lin Jiang was startled the moment she entered the hallway. She tiptoed to her door and opened it.
She gasped.
Yoga Lin once sang: *I have been wandering all my life, yet I have never seen the ocean.*
Lin Jiang didn't know why that song came to mind, because right now, she was clearly seeing an ocean. And she hadn't even started wandering yet.
Yes, Lin Jiang’s rented apartment was flooded.
"Stay there and don't move. Take a video for the landlord. I'll go in first to see how bad the damage is." Jiang Weifeng didn't hesitate. He took off his watch and handed it to Lin Jiang along with his phone, then waded into the water.
Lin Jiang called out softly from the doorway, "Hey, be careful. Don't slip."
Hearing this, Jiang Weifeng turned his head, arched an eyebrow, and flashed her an "OK" sign with a smile.
Lin Jiang was momentarily dazed by his radiant smile. When she snapped out of it, she cursed herself for being a fangirl at such an inappropriate time.
While Lin Jiang made calls outside, she watched Jiang Weifeng enter the kitchen and bedroom. He shouted to her from across the room, "A pipe burst in the kitchen. It's all water here, and the living room is flooded too—it's past the ankles. But luckily, except for the doorway, your bedroom is dry."
A moment later, he came back out and asked, "Where’s your circuit breaker?"
"It's outside. I'll go turn it off," Lin Jiang said after a thought.
Jiang Weifeng nodded and looked around.
The layout was simple: one bedroom, one living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. It wasn't large—certainly much smaller than his place—but it was warm and unique. The interior had clearly been recently renovated with warm tones and was decorated with many trinkets that girls love.
Then, he turned his head and saw the vase on the dining table. He froze.
He walked over for a closer look. The flowers had withered beyond recognition, but the ribbon tied to the stems hadn't faded. The pattern on the ribbon was distinctive; it was the reason he had chosen it back then.
Indeed, it was the bouquet he had given her.
"Jiang Weifeng." Someone called his name from behind, making his heart itch.
He turned around. The girl had indeed entered the room and was standing right there.
"Those flowers... I didn't get around to throwing them away," she explained, glancing at the bouquet on the table.
Jiang Weifeng said, "I know."
He knew everything now.
"The landlord just called the property management. They're coming up now. Why don't you head back first?" Lin Jiang looked at him, her expression serious.
"What, I'm already soaked, and now you want to kick me out?" Jiang Weifeng’s hair brushed against his eyes, his expression unreadable. "So, I didn't get to eat today, acted as a chauffeur for nothing, and waded through a flood, only to be driven away without even a 'thank you'?"
His voice was lazy, and she couldn't tell if he was complaining or... acting spoiled.
Hearing this, Lin Jiang didn't know what to do. She lowered her head, standing there blankly.
Jiang Weifeng looked down and happened to see her back—smooth and fair like a piece of jade. He wondered if it would feel warm to the touch.
"Has anyone ever told you that you look beautiful when you lower your head?" Jiang Weifeng asked softly.
Lin Jiang looked up in surprise, her hand reaching up to touch the back of her neck. "Really?"
"Yes," Jiang Weifeng smiled, leaning against the dining table. "Not only that, you look beautiful when you're dazed, too."
Lin Jiang didn't dare meet his eyes. She wanted to look down again but suddenly remembered his compliment and became flustered. Trying to maintain a facade of calm, she asked, "Do you read Eileen Chang too?"
To her surprise, he replied, "Who?"
"Eileen Chang wrote a novel where the male lead praised the female lead just like that," Lin Jiang replied.
"Is that so?" Jiang Weifeng nodded, appearing uninterested. As if just following the conversation, he asked, "Then why did the male lead say those things to her?"
Hearing his question, Lin Jiang relaxed quite a bit. "It was just a line of sweet talk. The male lead was interested in her at the time, so..."
As she spoke, the second half of her sentence caught in her throat, and she forced herself to swallow it.
Sensing something was off, she gathered her courage to meet Jiang Weifeng’s gaze. In that single instant, she felt the world spin.
The man before her had eyes that were terrifyingly dark, his emotions a bottomless abyss. Like a raging sandstorm, like a dense forest, like a surging deep sea—all things vast and mysterious, perilous and dangerous.
Lin Jiang instinctively stepped back. From the moment they had reunited until now, everything rushed into her mind at once.
Coincidences? But no one ever said a coincidence couldn't be an arrangement.
It was like watching a suspense film; at the very last shot of the final episode, a sudden twist occurs. Every detail and every bit of foreshadowing from before snaps into place. The audience gasps, finally knowing the answer.
She actually wanted to flee.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 王佳倩 | Wang Jiaqian | Lin Jiang's friend. |
| 秦照 | Qin Zhao | Wang Jiaqian's partner. |
| 纪梵希的心无禁忌 | Givenchy L'Interdit | A specific perfume mentioned in the text. |
| 莉莉安 | Lillian | Jiang Weifeng's assistant. |
| 幸福公寓 | Xingfu Apartments | Lin Jiang's apartment complex (lit. Happiness Apartments). |
| 张爱玲 | Eileen Chang | A famous Chinese writer (Zhang Ailing). |
| 林宥嘉 | Yoga Lin | A famous Mandopop singer (Lin Youjia). |
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