Category: Friend(GL)

Chapter 7: The Reason

Zhou Tianzui arrived home just past eight o’clock. Her mother opened the door: “So early?” She exclaimed, “Did you, did you eat?”

“I ate.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Qinghe Hotel. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the matchmaker.”

Yu Qiao was annoyed: “What’s with your attitude? Do you think I want you to go on blind dates? Do you think I want you to be picked over?” Her eyes reddened as she spoke, “I don’t! I also want you to find a partner, get married, have children, and live a fulfilling life.”

Zhou Tianzui lowered her head: “Mom.”

“Don’t call me Mom.” Yu Qiao said, “I don’t deserve to be your mother. What am I supposed to say to your father when I see him after I die? That you died alone? With no one to take care of you?”

Zhou Tianzui pressed her slightly aching head: “Mom, can we not talk about such distant things?”

“Distant?” Yu Qiao wished she could poke her shoulder. “How is it distant? Do you think you’re still twenty? Just graduated? How many more years do you have to waste? You’re thirty! You’ll be thirty-one after the New Year! Yes, you’re capable at work, you’re impressive, but you also need to start a family!”

Zhou Tianzui said, “I know.”

“Know, know, you know everything.” Yu Qiao’s anger didn’t subside, but intensified as she spoke, “Besides making me angry every day, what else do you know? There are so many eligible people at your hospital, in the same unit as you, wouldn’t it be good to be together? If you found someone at the hospital, I could save myself some worry!”

Zhou Tianzui sat on the sofa, slightly irritated: “Mom, if you say any more, I’m leaving.”

Seeing her tense face, Yu Qiao couldn’t hold back. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She simply plopped down on the chair opposite her, lowering her head to wipe away her tears. Zhou Tianzui was a little helpless. She got up and went over to Yu Qiao: “Mom, there will be someone suitable next time.”

“Next time?” Yu Qiao said, “You make it sound so easy. There aren’t that many people who are perfect at first glance. Don’t relationships all require work? You just don’t listen!”

Zhou Tianzui coaxed her: “Okay, it’s my fault for not listening. Our beautiful Yu, don’t be angry anymore.” She hugged Yu Qiao, her voice soft, “Hmm? Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

Yu Qiao’s anger subsided a little after hearing her comforting words. She said, “You still need to go on blind dates. I’ll talk to Aunt Liu later and find a few more.”

Zhou Tianzui lowered her head: “Okay.”

“Don’t you dare fool me.” Yu Qiao said, “Xiao Tian, Mom can’t be with you forever. If only back then…”

“Mom.” Zhou Tianzui interrupted her, her expression not very good. Yu Qiao held back and said, “Anyway, I’ll choose a few more for you.”

Zhou Tianzui’s expression softened: “I know.”

Yu Qiao said, “Did you eat your fill tonight?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Actually, I didn’t.” Her expression changed quickly, a faint smile appearing on her face. “Beautiful Yu, make me some dinner.”

Yu Qiao gave her a look and went to the kitchen to heat up the food.

Zhou Tianzui sat on the sofa, looking at her phone. The message she sent to You Ruxu hadn’t been answered. She pressed the phone screen, hearing Yu Qiao say, “Do you want some chicken soup? I’ll make you some?”

She turned her head: “Don’t bother, I’m not hungry either, I’ll just have something simple.”

“You, you’ve been spoiled by your father. You’ve been a picky eater since you were young.” Yu Qiao said, “I don’t know who you take after. Your father and I aren’t picky eaters.”

Zhou Tianzui fiddled with her phone, listening to the sounds from the kitchen. She tossed the phone aside, and just as she did, the ringtone went off. She frowned slightly, seeing You Ruxu’s name on the caller ID.

She declined the call, the screen flashing. Yu Qiao said from the kitchen, “By the way, I saw Xiao Xu at your apartment last time. If I had known she was back, I wouldn’t have barged in. Did she tell you about this?”

Zhou Tianzui looked at the pillow and said, “Yes.”

“She didn’t blame me, did she?” Her tone was cautious. Hearing her tone, Zhou Tianzui was unhappy: “Why would she blame you?” Her tone changed, her voice much lower, “What right does she have to blame you?”

It was almost a murmur.

Yu Qiao didn’t hear it in the kitchen, only hearing the first part of the sentence, and said, “It’s my fault too. I should have called you first. I’ll still make some chicken soup, you can take some back for her?”

Despite You Ruxu’s background, even though Yu Qiao didn’t want to climb the social ladder, she didn’t want to offend her either.

Zhou Tianzui sank into the sofa, listening to the muttering behind her, and picked up her phone again.

Chen Xiang was about to despair. She helped You Ruxu to her door, but she didn’t know the passcode. She tried all ten of her fingers on the fingerprint lock, but it didn’t work. She couldn’t find any keys in You Ruxu’s bag either. Helpless, she had to call Zhou Tianzui.

Using You Ruxu’s phone.

She didn’t have Zhou Tianzui’s number.

She called twice, but no one answered. She was already thinking of taking You Ruxu to a hotel when Zhou Tianzui finally picked up. She blurted out, “Dr. Zhou.”

Hearing the voice, Zhou Tianzui frowned and looked at the number on the screen. She hesitated: “Who is this?”

“It’s Chen Xiang.” Chen Xiang’s voice was youthful and friendly. Zhou Tianzui gripped the phone, hearing Chen Xiang say, “Teacher You is drunk, and the passcode to your door…”

Drunk.

Zhou Tianzui recited a string of numbers. Chen Xiang quickly pressed them, and the door opened. Chen Xiang said, “Thank you, Dr. Zhou. I’ll hang up now.”

The phone screen went dark. The call lasted less than a minute. She looked at Yu Qiao, who was busy in the kitchen, and said, “Mom, I’m not eating.”

Yu Qiao immediately came out: “What’s wrong? Did the hospital call?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “No, it’s You Ruxu. She’s drunk, and her friend asked me to pick her up.”

“Oh.” Her mother believed her without a doubt. “Then go quickly, don’t keep people waiting.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay.”

She looked at her mother, silent for two seconds: “Mom, I’m sorry.”

Yu Qiao paused: “Hmm?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “For making you go to all this trouble.”

“It’s nothing.” Yu Qiao said, “I can eat it tomorrow. Remember to make something to eat when you get back.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay.”

Leaving the residential complex, Zhou Tianzui stepped on the gas pedal and returned to the rented apartment. When she parked downstairs, she looked up. Every household had their lights on, including hers. She gripped the steering wheel, thought for a few seconds, and got out of the car.

When she entered, Chen Xiang hadn’t left yet.

Chen Xiang originally planned to leave after settling You Ruxu down, but she was worried that You Ruxu might suddenly act out due to the alcohol, so she decided to wait until she was sound asleep before leaving. Just as she sat down on the sofa, she heard the door open. Chen Xiang quickly stood up, a little restrained: “Dr. Zhou, you’re back.”

Zhou Tianzui looked up at her, expressionless, and nodded: “Hello.”

“Hello, hello.” Chen Xiang said, “I’m Teacher You’s colleague.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu: “How did she get drunk?”

Chen Xiang gave a dry laugh: “Teacher You’s report had a great response, so we wanted to celebrate. Unexpectedly, she drank too much.” Originally, Chen Xiang wanted to drown her sorrows, but You Ruxu kept drinking more and more, even trying several new drinks. When they left the bar, she could still walk and was relatively conscious, but she became confused when they reached the door.

Zhou Tianzui looked at the person lying on the sofa. Chen Xiang probably didn’t know which room was You Ruxu’s, so she put her on the sofa. Seeing Zhou Tianzui’s expression, Chen Xiang said, “Then Dr. Zhou, I won’t disturb you any further.”

She also smelled of alcohol.

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll take you home.”

“No, no need.” Chen Xiang said, “My designated driver is downstairs. Thank you, Dr. Zhou.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded, watching Chen Xiang leave. She sat on the sofa, took off her coat, leaned back against the pillow, and turned to look at You Ruxu.

The wind occasionally blew in from the balcony, causing You Ruxu’s hair to flutter. She seemed cold, curled up in a ball. Zhou Tianzui watched for a few minutes, then got up and closed the balcony door, drew the curtains, and carried You Ruxu back to her room.

As soon as she touched You Ruxu, she woke up.

Opening her slightly intoxicated eyes, she saw Zhou Tianzui and frowned. Zhou Tianzui also looked at her. They were stuck in the doorway. Just as Zhou Tianzui opened her lips, You Ruxu pinched her face, her fingers cold. Zhou Tianzui frowned.

You Ruxu pinched her cheeks: “Why are you back?”

Zhou Tianzui’s tone was cool: “Are you not happy that I’m back?” She looked at You Ruxu: “Did I interrupt something good?”

You Ruxu said, “What am I…”

She seemed to remember something and explained, “Are you talking about Chen Xiang?” She was surprisingly clear at this moment. “She has a boyfriend.”

Zhou Tianzui’s expression softened slightly. The room was dark, the light from the living room filtering in through the door, their faces dappled and unclear.

The living room and the bedroom were exceptionally quiet, only the sound of their breathing.

Zhou Tianzui turned her head. In the dim light, she saw You Ruxu’s expression, very different from usual.

You Ruxu called out, “Zhou Tianzui.”

She asked, “Why did you want to become a doctor?”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t answer.

You Ruxu said, “Do you know why I wanted to become a reporter?”

Zhou Tianzui turned her head, looking at her. The light from the doorway shone on her, casting a large shadow. You Ruxu was enveloped by the shadow. She looked up, meeting Zhou Tianzui’s gaze, her lips moving slightly.

Zhou Tianzui asked, “Why?”

Her voice was a little lower.

You Ruxu opened her mouth, but suddenly couldn’t speak.

Chapter 6: Not Coming Home

“Don’t be nervous.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Rest assured, I won’t breathe a word about us to anyone outside.”

After saying that, she smiled at You Ruxu: “I’m very obedient. Whatever A Ran says, I’ll do.”

You Ruxu gripped the edge of her bag tightly.

It was her who had stipulated that their relationship couldn’t be revealed to the outside world, not even half a word. Due to her profession, she couldn’t publicly acknowledge such a “relationship.” This was the only condition she had put forward when she got together with Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui didn’t mind, holding her at the time and saying, “Don’t worry, whatever A Ran says goes.”

She knew about Zhou Tianzui’s bad temper, but she also knew how much Zhou Tianzui valued promises. If she promised something, she would definitely do it. So, they had been together for three years, sharing a bed, and even her mother didn’t know about their relationship.

You Ruxu said, “I—”

“Or can you say it now?”

Zhou Tianzui tested the waters slightly. You Ruxu lowered her head, not replying, using her silence as a response. Zhou Tianzui lifted her eyelids, looking at the traffic outside, and said, “The sunset is nice.”

The sunset outside was a vibrant red, spreading across the sky. You Ruxu sat in the passenger seat, looked up, her side profile tense. Zhou Tianzui said again, “I saw the report today, the response is good, congratulations.”

Skipping the previous topic, You Ruxu said, “Thank you.”

“Don’t be so polite.” Zhou Tianzui reached out and took You Ruxu’s hand, holding it in hers, giving it a squeeze. Looking down at the fair and smooth back of her hand, she said, “If you’re so polite, how am I supposed to introduce you later?”

Her tone was cool. You Ruxu stiffened, finally pursing her lips and pulling her hand back, opening the car door. The traffic was still jammed. They were stopped at the curb, so getting out of the car wouldn’t affect the cars in front or behind. You Ruxu said, “I’m going home.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her: “Not coming with me?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m not going.”

Zhou Tianzui’s expression remained unchanged as she watched You Ruxu close the car door. The traffic ahead started moving, and she stepped on the gas pedal, leaving You Ruxu behind. Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu standing by the road through the rearview mirror, her hands tightly gripping the steering wheel, the veins on the back of her hands prominent. She put away the relaxed expression from their earlier conversation, closed her eyes, her face slightly darkening.

You Ruxu walked a few steps along the road to the bus stop. She looked ahead, and Zhou Tianzui’s car had already disappeared into the traffic, the taillights a red line. She couldn’t even find Zhou Tianzui’s car for a moment.

Several people were standing at the bus stop, whispering about the traffic jam, their words laced with annoyance. You Ruxu looked at her watch, sitting quietly at the bus stop.

The traffic moved.

Cars drove past.

New cars arrived.

She didn’t move, like a stone statue. Even those who wanted to strike up a conversation with her, seeing her like this, didn’t dare to approach. You Ruxu sat silently for an unknown amount of time. A cold wind blew, accompanied by a familiar voice.

“Teacher You!”

She looked up. It was Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang stopped the car beside her and said, “Teacher You, are you waiting for the bus?”

You Ruxu said, “Mm.” After a few seconds, she said, “Not waiting for the bus.”

Chen Xiang laughed: “Then what are you doing? Looking for inspiration?”

Although it wasn’t winter yet, the weather was strangely cold. Jindu’s weather was always extreme, either scorching summer or freezing winter. You could wear a cotton-padded jacket in the morning, short sleeves at noon, and a down jacket in the evening. Others would say, “You guys are lucky, you experience all four seasons in one day!”

Chen Xiang wanted to roll her eyes.

You Ruxu said, “Not really.”

Chen Xiang said, “Then, how about I give you a ride home?” She said, “We’re going in the same direction.”

You Ruxu nodded: “Thank you.”

Chen Xiang laughed: “No problem at all!” She said, “If the station knew I could give you a ride, they’d be so envious. But Teacher You, you’re really amazing. This collaboration with CCTV, the station leaders are overjoyed. You left the meeting early, and after you left, the big boss came down…”

She was very talkative, chattering non-stop, and had a good temper.

Completely different from Zhou Tianzui.

But at this moment, she shamefully wondered, what was Zhou Tianzui doing? Was she introducing herself on the blind date, or was it over?

You Ruxu looked down at her phone. Full signal, but no messages.

Chen Xiang looked at the road ahead. The traffic jam had cleared, and the car smoothly entered the lane. She said, “Teacher You, do you want to celebrate?”

You Ruxu turned her head: “Celebrate?”

Chen Xiang made a drinking gesture: “Have a drink?”

You Ruxu thought for a moment and said, “Okay.”

Her agreement was so readily given that Chen Xiang was a little surprised. But with such big news, she was probably happy. For convenience, Chen Xiang found a quiet bar near You Ruxu’s apartment. The bar had few people, a good atmosphere, and wasn’t too noisy. Even though it was dimly lit inside, You Ruxu still attracted some attention when she entered.

She sat by the window. From her seat, she could see the entrance of her residential complex. As long as there were cars coming and going, she could see their license plates.

Chen Xiang sat opposite her: “Teacher You, what would you like to drink?”

You Ruxu said, “Anything is fine.”

Chen Xiang had worked with You Ruxu for a while and knew she could hold her liquor, so she suggested, “Then let’s try the new drink?”

You Ruxu nodded: “Okay.”

The new drink was called Wild Rose, a vibrant red. Ice cubes were placed in a transparent glass, along with the liquor. It had a faint fragrance. As soon as You Ruxu sat down, someone came to chat her up. She wasn’t impatient but simply smiled and said, “Sorry, I’m not interested.”

She pushed the offered drink back.

There were many people coming and going, quickly submerging their corner. Chen Xiang laughed: “Teacher You is still so popular.”

You Ruxu smiled at her, taking a sip of Wild Rose. It had the fragrance of roses, which inexplicably reminded her of Zhou Tianzui, also like a wild rose, covered in thorns. One touch, and you would be pricked, your heart bleeding.

She took two more sips. Chen Xiang’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and hung up irritably. The phone continued to ring, as if it wouldn’t stop until she answered. Chen Xiang gritted her teeth and threw the phone back into her bag. You Ruxu looked at her: “What’s wrong?”

“It’s my boyfriend.” Chen Xiang said, “The guy I told you about before.”

You Ruxu had met him, a recent university graduate, very young. Chen Xiang hadn’t originally wanted to be in a relationship, but after he pursued her for three months, she was moved and decided to give it a try. Not long ago, when they went to the countryside, the university student had even taken a bus to go see her. They seemed to have a good relationship.

You Ruxu asked, “Did you have a fight?”

“No.” Chen Xiang swirled her drink, the joy gone from her face, her eyes red. “He cheated on me.”

You Ruxu was stunned.

Chen Xiang said, “I knew men weren’t reliable, but I didn’t want to believe it.”

You Ruxu asked, “Didn’t you just recently…”

“Just recently, he went to the countryside to see me.” Chen Xiang wiped the corners of her eyes, her voice choked. It seemed she was drinking tonight because she was troubled. “On the way back, he and a girl he met on the bus hit it off. When I got back, they were both sleeping in my apartment.”

She blinked and laughed: “So shameless!”

You Ruxu remained silent.

Chen Xiang said, “Teacher You is so much better. Teacher You, have you ever thought about being in a relationship?”

You Ruxu’s expression changed slightly at her question. She took a sip of her drink. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about it, it was that she didn’t dare to. She could lose everything in this life, but she couldn’t lose her qualification as a reporter.

Seeing her silence, Chen Xiang took a sip of her drink: “Actually, it’s quite nice not being in a relationship. It’s just that everyone at the station is anxious like monkeys.”

Seeing that You Ruxu was single and not in a relationship, everyone tried to get close to her. Not just the midday news team, but even their rivals, the evening news team, had quite a few people interested in her, wanting to ask her out whenever they had a chance.

You Ruxu always declined politely, so now there were rumors that she was against marriage.

Chen Xiang had also heard these rumors, but she had never asked You Ruxu, because You Ruxu rarely talked about her private life. Everyone’s understanding of her was only superficial.

A strong family background, her father worked in the court, her mother was a professor. She had been a princess since childhood, pampered and privileged. Many people didn’t understand why she came to Jindu TV Station to be a reporter. With her father’s connections, she obviously had better choices. Even if she wanted to be a reporter, she didn’t have to come to a third-tier city like this.

But not only did she come, she had stayed for several years. Chen Xiang asked the question she hadn’t dared to ask before: “Teacher You, why did you come to Jindu?”

You Ruxu looked at her. She wouldn’t have answered such a question before. Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps her unstable emotions, but she said, “I lived here for a while before.”

Chen Xiang nodded: “Did you study here?”

“No.” You Ruxu smiled. “When I was very young.”

She looked at her glass. Half of the drink was gone, revealing the ice cubes, their sharp edges. She touched an ice cube with her finger, and it sank slightly, then floated back up. You Ruxu said, “I quite like it here.”

“That’s true.” Chen Xiang was a native of this place. She said, “Although it’s a third-tier city, the transportation is actually very convenient, not inferior to first-tier cities. And we have a good ecological environment, housing prices aren’t high, it’s very suitable for living.”

You Ruxu agreed: “Mm.”

Seeing that she was very approachable today, Chen Xiang boldly asked, “Then Teacher You, will you settle down here in the future?”

You Ruxu said, “I haven’t thought about it.”

Whether she hadn’t thought about settling down, or hadn’t thought about living here in the future, she didn’t clarify, and Chen Xiang didn’t ask further, because her phone rang again. Annoyed, Chen Xiang answered the phone and yelled, “Are you done yet?!”

Just as her voice fell, You Ruxu’s phone lit up, displaying a message from Zhou Tianzui.

Zhou Tianzui: [Not coming home tonight.]

You Ruxu’s mind buzzed. She gripped her glass tightly, hearing Chen Xiang still roaring, “Enough! Get out of my apartment tonight! Get out! If you call me again, I’ll call the police and report you for harassment!”

The sound faded in and out, as if it was right next to her ear, then far away. Her fingertips pressed against the rim of the glass, leaving marks. Chen Xiang slammed her phone on the table.

She panted, took a large gulp of her drink, and said, “I’ve never seen anyone so shameless, actually staying at my place.” Her eyes reddened. “I shouldn’t have believed his lies! I shouldn’t have given him my house key!”

You Ruxu looked up at Chen Xiang with a numb expression.

As if she was looking at herself.

Yes, she wasn’t a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl anymore. Why would she still pour her heart and soul out because of someone’s sweet words?

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Zhou Tianzui: Not coming home today.
You Ruxu: Don’t come back ever again.

Chapter 5: Friend

Zhou Tianzui’s gaze darkened upon receiving You Ruxu’s reply. She clutched her phone tightly. It wasn’t that You Ruxu had never refused her requests, but more often than not, You Ruxu would acquiesce.

Like this time.

Zhou Tianzui sat in her chair, hearing Zhao Mingqi say, “My goddess is trending!”

To be precise, it was a clip of You Ruxu’s interview that was trending. This time, the subject of the countryside interview was an elderly man over seventy years old, who had dedicated his life to teaching and educating others. Even after retirement, he offered free classes at home, nurturing many university students, cultivating generations of pillars of society, truly a teacher with countless successful students.

It perfectly fit the theme of Touching China.

So, after watching the Jindu news, the program team contacted the person involved, and only after obtaining consent did they announce the nomination. Zhou Tianzui remembered that before going to the countryside, You Ruxu had been investigating the counterfeit brand goods case. Later, when the issue gained traction and became a hot topic, she went to the countryside. Her leader had criticized her quite a bit for this.

She knew this because she heard it when the leader called You Ruxu before they went to bed, the scolding voice too loud.

Yet, You Ruxu still went resolutely. Regarding topic selection, You Ruxu was always confident and had a keen sense of what was important, more so than any reporter Zhou Tianzui knew. So, hearing Zhao Mingqi’s words, Zhou Tianzui wasn’t surprised at all.

She lowered her eyes, looking at the documents on the screen, hearing Zhao Mingqi and He Wei quietly discussing the matter. Zhou Tianzui frowned slightly and looked at the two. Zhao Mingqi immediately felt as if needles were pricking him, his whole body aching. He quickly and unnaturally said, “I’ll go check on the patients.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Go check on the pregnant woman in Ward 3.”

The pregnant woman in Ward 3 was a week past her due date and had been on oxytocin for two days without any effect. Zhou Tianzui planned to perform a C-section tomorrow. Zhao Mingqi nodded: “Okay.”

Seeing him leave, He Wei couldn’t help but move closer to Zhou Tianzui, whispering, “Dr. Zhou.”

Everyone said Dr. Zhou had a bad temper and was the strictest doctor in the department. Those who came under her wing were often “skinned alive,” and she had volunteered to work with her. No one could understand it.

Actually, if she had a choice, she wouldn’t choose Dr. Zhou either.

But she had no choice.

She liked You Ruxu too much.

And in the department, the only one who had a good relationship with You Ruxu was Dr. Zhou. She looked at Zhou Tianzui and whispered, “Dr. Zhou, when did you and Teacher You start living together?”

Thinking that Zhou Tianzui wouldn’t answer such a personal question, she just asked casually. Unexpectedly, Zhou Tianzui said, “Three years ago.”

“Oh—” Seeing that Zhou Tianzui didn’t seem angry, she seemed quite approachable. He Wei relaxed and asked again, “Then how did you two meet?”

Zhou Tianzui raised her eyes slightly to look at her, her gaze indifferent. Her pupils were dark, making her eyes seem unusually deep. She smiled: “Want to know?”

He Wei knew very little about Zhou Tianzui, only her bad temper. If she had an emotional radar, she should have retreated immediately at this point. But she didn’t. Her eyes lit up and she said, “I want to know.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded: “You can know, if you answer a few questions for me.”

He Wei immediately sat up straight, like a student waiting for the teacher to ask questions. Zhou Tianzui asked, “What’s the issue with bed number four?”

“Four?” He Wei was taken aback. “Four is Dr. Fu’s patient.”

Zhou Tianzui glanced at her: “You mean we don’t need to know the basic situation of other doctors’ patients? If you’re on duty tonight and she has an emergency, are you going to contact Dr. Fu before starting treatment?”

“I’m not…”

Zhou Tianzui asked again, “What about bed number eight?”

“Eight.” He Wei had only been there for a day, and she hadn’t yet matched the patients with their bed numbers. She had followed the rounds in the morning and had only taken note of three or four difficult cases, but she hadn’t memorized the others yet.

Zhou Tianzui looked at her calmly, her eyes, which had held a faint smile just now, now serious and sharp. He Wei swallowed: “I’ll go check—”

“Take these with you.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Create the files first.”

The other colleagues in the department looked at He Wei, their eyes filled with sympathy. Yesterday, when He Wei reported for duty, Zhou Tianzui hadn’t given any instructions. Everyone thought it was because He Wei was the director’s goddaughter, and Zhou Tianzui was holding back.

But Zhou Tianzui was still Zhou Tianzui, never going easy on newcomers.

He Wei hugged a stack of folders, lowered her head, her voice much weaker than before: “Okay.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at the other colleagues and said, “If any of you haven’t created the files yet, give them to her as well.”

He Wei was on the verge of tears as she received another armful.

Zhou Tianzui looked at her and said, “Finish it before you leave work, and I’ll tell you how Teacher You and I met.”

He Wei looked at the mountain of folders in front of her, swallowed, and wanted to muster the courage to say “no problem,” but she knew it was impossible. She lowered her head: “Okay.”

Zhou Tianzui watched her sit down at a nearby computer, the keyboard clicking rapidly. Zhao Mingqi ran in and shouted, “Dr. Zhou, the patient in bed number three’s water broke.”

Zhou Tianzui immediately got up and headed towards the ward.

He Wei, behind her, asked the doctor next to her, “Is Dr. Zhou always this fierce?”

“Fierce?” The colleague smiled, giving her a “you’re still too young” look. He Wei felt goosebumps. She said, “How can Teacher You tolerate her temper?”

She asked again, “Hey, does Dr. Zhou have a partner?”

The others, hearing this, glanced at her, not wanting to discuss this topic. He Wei found it strange. Zhou Tianzui, such a beautiful woman, if she wasn’t in a relationship, there should be gossip all over the place. Why was everyone so silent? She couldn’t hold back and tugged on the sleeve of the doctor next to her. The doctor whispered, “Dr. Zhou hates it when people discuss her private life. I advise you to ask less.”

Mysterious.

He Wei frowned. She really wanted to ask clearly, but time didn’t allow it. Until the end of her shift, she hadn’t completed the task Zhou Tianzui assigned. Watching her colleagues change and leave, He Wei gritted her teeth and continued typing. Zhou Tianzui walked in from outside, talking to Zhao Mingqi with a serious expression. He Wei glanced at her from the corner of her eye.

Zhou Tianzui wasn’t the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, but she had a unique aura. At this moment, she suddenly understood why You Ruxu would become good friends with her. They were the same kind of people.

The kind that was the hardest to blend in with, the same kind.

Zhou Tianzui went to change her clothes and heard Zhao Mingqi ask, “Dr. Zhou, not working overtime today?”

“No.” Zhou Tianzui grabbed her bag and said, “I have something to do tonight.”

Before Zhao Mingqi could ask what it was, Zhou Tianzui had already left. It took about half an hour to get from the hospital to the TV station. When Zhou Tianzui arrived downstairs, she sent You Ruxu a message.

You Ruxu was in a big meeting.

A joint meeting of the evening and midday news teams.

Shi Qi sat at the front, her voice resounding: “An excellent reporter never blindly chases hot topics. Everyone can chase hot topics, but daring to innovate! Resisting temptation! To discover the shining points of ordinary people, to uncover the other side of human nature, this is what a reporter should do!”

She glanced at the evening news team. The reporters who had said You Ruxu lacked social sensitivity sat below, silent, their faces grim.

“We will actively cooperate with CCTV’s promotion this time, sharing resources, and we have priority reporting rights!”

Not just in Jindu, but few TV stations nationwide had such treatment.

Shi Qi’s voice changed with excitement: “And we have already invited the person involved. We will conduct the first interview to be broadcast publicly online!”

The leader of the evening news team sat beside Shi Qi, her brows furrowed, her expression tense, clearly in a state of suppression.

You Ruxu didn’t look at their standoff, lowering her head to look at her phone.

Zhou Tianzui: [I’m here]

You Ruxu gripped her phone.

Shi Qi continued to speak, her earlier dejected demeanor swept away, her voice passionate. After a few seconds, You Ruxu said to Chen Xiang, “I’m going out for a bit.”

Chen Xiang thought she had other matters and didn’t dare to ask more, nodding: “Okay.”

You Ruxu looked at Shi Qi. Their eyes met. She nodded slightly in greeting, then got up and left through the back door.

Zhou Tianzui waited for ten minutes. You Ruxu came downstairs, wearing white high heels, a low ponytail, and a light-colored professional suit. Her shirt was made of silk, with excellent texture and drape. The buttons at her wrists and collar were fastened tightly and neatly. Wrinkles were never found on her, even if she sat all day, she always maintained the best posture.

Her makeup today was light, as she didn’t need to be on camera. She wore dark blue earrings, the only bright color on her, but this touch of brightness was just right, blending with all the cool tones on her, making her look bright and vibrant.

Zhou Tianzui thought of He Wei’s question.

“How did you and Teacher You meet?”

She and You Ruxu had met in a similar moment. Three years ago, the hospital was invited to participate in a public welfare medical science popularization event, and she was responsible for picking up the reporter.

The reporter was You Ruxu.

It was like this back then too. She sat in the car, You Ruxu stood outside.

At that time, the You Ruxu in her eyes was the same as in everyone else’s, like the distant, unattainable bright moon, high and unreachable.

Zhou Tianzui came back to her senses, seeing You Ruxu open the passenger door and sit in. A faint fragrance spread, an intellectual and elegant scent. She lowered her eyes and said, “Set the navigation.”

You Ruxu looked down at the screen and asked, “Where to?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Qinghe Hotel.”

You Ruxu’s hand paused, but she still set the navigation route. It wasn’t far, a twenty-minute drive, but they encountered rush hour traffic, so the car started and stopped intermittently. Zhou Tianzui held the steering wheel with both hands, occasionally glancing out the window. The traffic was congested. You Ruxu looked at her. The sky was gradually darkening, and the lights from oncoming cars shone into their car. Half of Zhou Tianzui’s face was hidden in the shadows. You Ruxu clutched her bag, turned to look at the traffic outside the window, and suddenly said, “Can we not go?”

Zhou Tianzui turned her head, her gaze falling on her. You Ruxu had a low ponytail, and the car window was open. The ends of her hair were lifted by the breeze. She asked, “What did you say?”

You Ruxu turned her body, facing Zhou Tianzui: “I said, can we not go?”

Zhou Tianzui chuckled softly, reached out and placed her hand on the passenger seat, her fingers touching You Ruxu’s blue earrings. The other end of the earring was flat, not sharp, but because the contact area was too small, pressing with her fingertip would leave a mark. She moved her hand holding the earring inwards, pinching You Ruxu’s earlobe. The delicate skin felt even better than silk.

You Ruxu’s body tensed, her earlobe burning.

Zhou Tianzui rubbed her earlobe and softly asked, “Not go? What’s the reason?”

She asked You Ruxu, “Are you saying my friend doesn’t want me to go on a blind date?” Her slightly questioning tone, coupled with her cool voice, inexplicably sounded self-deprecating. Zhou Tianzui leaned forward, her gaze indifferent, her fingers pinching You Ruxu’s earlobe harder than before, making the skin instantly red. You Ruxu frowned in pain. Zhou Tianzui spoke again, “Or is it that my fuck buddy doesn’t want me to go on a blind date?”

The pain in her earlobe vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp pain spreading from her chest. You Ruxu’s face paled for a moment.

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You Ruxu: Are you a hedgehog?
Zhou Hedgehog: …

Chapter 4: Pick You Up

Hearing Zhou Tianzui’s words, You Ruxu turned to look at her, her knuckles white as she gripped the collar of her shirt. Zhou Tianzui didn’t say anything more, just looked up at You Ruxu: “How long will you be busy?”

“Just a little while.” You Ruxu hung up the clothes, her expression calm. When her gaze fell on the teddy bear, her heart was pricked. At first, it didn’t hurt, but then the pain intensified, like a mirror cracking, the fissures spreading, more painful than the stitch earlier. You Ruxu faced the wardrobe, her body tense, taking deep breaths.

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m going back to my room.”

Her attitude was cool, without even looking at You Ruxu. Reaching the door, she added, “Hurry up. I have surgery tomorrow morning.”

You Ruxu said, “I know.”

The door closed. She leaned her wrist against the wardrobe, lowered her head. After a while, she hung the clothes in the wardrobe. Turning around, she saw the teddy bear. You Ruxu stared at it for a long time, then placed it next to her pillow, in its usual spot, where she could see it at a glance. She smoothed the fur on the teddy bear, her movements gentle. Finally, she got up and left the room.

The next room was pitch black. The lights in both the living room and the bedroom were off. But she was more than familiar with the layout of this room. She could find the bed with her eyes closed. In the darkness, the person on the bed sat up. As soon as You Ruxu approached the edge, she was pulled in, the thin blanket covering her body, clothes scattered on the floor.

New mottled red marks, new intertwined tumbling, just beginning.

The next day, Zhou Tianzui woke up early. Her biological clock was more punctual than an alarm clock. When she woke up, it was still dark. The curtains were tightly drawn, airtight, only the faint morning light dyeing the curtains. You Ruxu leaned against her chest, her rounded shoulder exposed from the blanket, covered by a layer of hair, her fair skin still visible. Zhou Tianzui’s hand rested on You Ruxu’s shoulder, her slightly cool fingertips chilling You Ruxu. Subconsciously, You Ruxu snuggled closer, slightly raising her head, revealing her beautiful face.

Zhou Tianzui’s gaze deepened as she held her.

Actually, Zhou Tianzui rarely initiated intimacy in the morning. Today was an exception. You Ruxu didn’t notice the reason for today’s exception. When she left the room, Zhou Tianzui had already prepared breakfast and placed it on the table, saying, “I’m leaving first. I have rounds today. I’ll call you tonight.”

You Ruxu sat at the table. Yellow rice porridge, tea eggs, and two slices of bread on a plate. She nodded: “Okay.”

After Zhou Tianzui left, the apartment felt empty. It was a standard two-bedroom, one-living room apartment, not very big. The windows and balcony door were open, the wind blowing in and out, a whistling coolness. The coolness made it feel even more empty.

After washing up and eating breakfast, You Ruxu had just finished tidying up when she received a call from her editor: “Teacher You, do you want me to pick you up today?”

The editor’s name was Chen Xiang. They joined the station together. Later, when You Ruxu became an editor, they supported each other for a while. Now that she was a reporter, Chen Xiang became her editor. They had gone to the countryside together this time, and Chen Xiang knew that You Ruxu didn’t often drive, so she would occasionally drive You Ruxu to the station.

You Ruxu glanced at the time and said, “No, I’ll drive.”

Chen Xiang said, “Then see you at the station.”

You Ruxu agreed and hung up the phone. The station today, probably wouldn’t be peaceful. She put down her phone, stood in front of the mirror, and carefully checked her makeup once more, practicing her smile in the mirror. Only after ensuring it was impeccable did she grab her bag and go downstairs.

As she expected, the atmosphere at the station wasn’t very good.

Passing by the evening news team’s office, she heard someone inside laughing and saying, “They actually let this news slip away. Shi Fairy must be furious.”

“No kidding. You guys didn’t see, I just came from there. Shi Fairy is chewing someone out.”

“Just saw her with a stern face, a bit scary, hahaha.” Unbridled laughter, with no hint of fear. The two teams had a long-standing feud. “Fairy” was the nickname they gave to the evening news team leader. Shi Qi had a charming appearance, and it was said that she had fought over a man with the leader of the evening news team before, resulting in a lingering resentment. Every time the two teams had a meeting, it was like a nitpicking session.

The person speaking continued: “But You Ruxu really has no social sensitivity. How could she let such good material slip away, tsk!”

“Her, if it weren’t for her father—”

“Cough cough—”

A cough interrupted the speaker. A man in a suit and tie nudged the person beside him, signaling him to stop talking. The sound of high heels clicking echoed in the corridor. You Ruxu walked past the office with a calm expression, her head slightly raised, her hair neat and meticulous, her top button fastened, her makeup perfect, ready to go on camera at any moment.

After she left.

There were two seconds of silence in the news team’s office. The people who were just joking couldn’t take their eyes off her. The man who spoke first said, “Such a pity.”

Another person looked at him: “Pity about what?”

The man said, “Pity she’s not in our team.”

The people in the office laughed: “In our team, so you can have a better chance, right? Don’t even think about it. Even if you wanted to pursue her, the line would be a mile long!”

You Ruxu reached the door of the midday news team’s office. Before entering, she heard a scolding voice: “What are you doing all day? Slacking off? Xiao Ji, what kind of interview draft is this? Can you even read it yourself?”

The person being scolded shrunk their head, relieved at the sound of footsteps, knowing that the boss’s fire was about to shift targets.

But they felt sorry for You Ruxu.

You Ruxu stood at the door. Seeing her, Shi Qi became even angrier. She hadn’t been watching when the topic was chosen. By the time she wanted to change it, You Ruxu had already gone to the countryside with her editor, and the counterfeit brand goods case had been snatched by the evening news team. She pressed her forehead, feeling dizzy with anger.

Chen Xiang, with a smile, called out, “Boss.”

Immediately offering milk tea: “Boss, have a drink to calm down. Actually, our response this time wasn’t bad! It became a hot topic this afternoon!”

This wasn’t false, but whether it was because of You Ruxu herself or the interview content was hard to say. Shi Qi looked at You Ruxu, remained silent for two minutes, and said, “Come in with me.”

Chen Xiang looked at You Ruxu worriedly.

You Ruxu put down her bag and followed Shi Qi into the office. Chen Xiang immediately went over to Xiao Ji: “So? Did the boss scold Teacher You?”

“Definitely.” Xiao Ji said, “You have no idea how angry the boss is this time. I heard she had another argument with the evening news team.”

“It’s over.” Chen Xiang said, “It’s over, it’s over.”

She distributed the rest of the milk tea to her colleagues, her worried eyes glancing at the office from time to time. There was no sound coming from the office, and she didn’t know what they were talking about. Xiao Ji pulled Chen Xiang’s hand: “What do you think Teacher You is thinking?”

She shook her head: “It’s obvious the counterfeit goods case had more potential.”

Even if one lacked social sensitivity, they should be able to sense the trend, right? Moreover, You Ruxu had been an editor for two years. No matter how you looked at it, she shouldn’t have made such a choice.

Chen Xiang said, “You can’t say that.” She remembered their time in the countryside, chasing the interview, they had put in a lot of effort. She couldn’t help but explain for You Ruxu: “Maybe Teacher You didn’t want to just chase hot topics.”

“What else?” Xiao Ji poked Chen Xiang’s head. “These days, without chasing hot topics, where are the talking points?”

Chen Xiang couldn’t argue. She shook her head: “I still hope Teacher You is okay.”

You Ruxu stood in the office. Shi Qi said, “Sit.”

She even personally poured her a cup of tea: “When you said you wanted to be an editor, I agreed. Later, when you wanted to become a reporter, I had no objections. But Xiao Xu, wasn’t the choice of topic this time a bit of a misstep?”

You Ruxu said, “I’m just doing what a reporter should do.”

“Yes, I know, you don’t want to blindly follow hot topics. This vicious cycle, more and more people’s attention will follow hot topics, lacking proper guidance and in-depth investigation, and no one will pay attention to those nooks and crannies. But this matter, it’s just a small matter, do you understand?”

Last night, the evening news ratings reached a new high. That person had been flaunting it in front of her all morning, making her grind her teeth in anger. Despite this, she still spoke to You Ruxu patiently.

You Ruxu said, “I understand, but I don’t think my choice of topic was wrong.”

“You!” Seeing her unmoved, Shi Qi held her breath. There was a knock on the office door, and the assistant called out, “Boss, it’s time for the meeting.”

She said to You Ruxu, “You go ahead and get busy. We’ll talk later.”

You Ruxu nodded and left the office.

As soon as she went out, Chen Xiang immediately came over: “How was it? Did the boss scold you?”

You Ruxu said, “No.”

After saying that, she looked at the TV, a sixty-inch LCD screen hanging above their office. The evening and midday news were being broadcast in rotation. Now it was replaying the evening news. You Ruxu glanced at it a few times and then looked away.

Chen Xiang said, “Next week we…”

You Ruxu said, “We’ll talk about next week’s matters in the meeting.”

Chen Xiang gave a small “oh” and silently left her side.

All morning, the evening news team was cheerful and lively. During lunch, they even sat next to them, talking about the hot counterfeit goods case and looking at You Ruxu with amusement. You Ruxu wasn’t affected at all and ate her lunch as usual. The atmosphere in the midday news team’s office was oppressive until just before work ended, when a colleague hurried back to the office and said, “Hey, hey, hey, big news!”

Everyone looked at her. You Ruxu also looked up.

The colleague said, “Have you guys seen the ‘Touching China’ program?”

Chen Xiang said, “Isn’t that CCTV’s?”

“Yes!” The colleague was extremely excited: “Guess who’s been nominated?”

There was no need to guess. Everyone immediately looked at You Ruxu, thinking of the elderly person she interviewed this time. Chen Xiang was surprised: “No way?”

“Yes!” The colleague said, “It’s trending now!”

Chen Xiang immediately took out her phone. Half an hour ago, the trending topic wasn’t this. Now, the trending topic was a clip of You Ruxu’s interview. Coincidentally, the selection of the ten most touching figures in China this year had been moved forward, and their news, having just aired and still having some heat, was recommended. The program team had just announced the acceptance of nominations in the afternoon, waiting for the next round of selection.

Jindu TV Station was trending again, and this time, it was their midday news!

Chen Xiang’s face was full of excitement as she looked at You Ruxu, who was also smiling. Someone flashed through the doorway. Shi Qi said, “Meeting, meeting! Everyone who went to the countryside for the interview, come to the meeting!”

The tense atmosphere of the previous moment vanished in an instant. Chen Xiang grabbed her notebook and followed her colleagues. Seeing You Ruxu looking at her phone, she asked, “Teacher You, how did you know the selection would be moved forward?”

You Ruxu explained, “This selection is moved forward every three years to avoid the next holiday.”

Chen Xiang hadn’t actually studied this. She pondered, while beside her, You Ruxu looked at her phone.

On the phone was a message from Zhou Tianzui: [I’m off work. I’ll come pick you up later.]

Knowing that there was a meeting about to start, she had a legitimate reason to refuse, but You Ruxu still replied: [Okay.]

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Zhou Tianzui: Off work, coming to pick you up.

You Ruxu: Okay.

Zhou Tianzui: Let’s go get our marriage license?

You Ruxu: Okay.

Chapter 3: Cheap

When the knock came, Zhou Tianzui looked towards the bathroom, got up to open the door. It was the delivery person. She took the takeout and closed the door. You Ruxu had already come out of the bathroom.

“Come eat dinner.” Zhou Tianzui walked to the dining table, opened the takeout containers. Seeing there was no soup, she went to the kitchen and made a scallion and egg drop soup, which was You Ruxu’s favorite.

The person in the kitchen busied herself, beating eggs and seasoning, her expression serious, as if preparing dinner for a loved one, with no trace of the coldness from earlier.

You Ruxu recalled the night she came to this rented apartment. She followed Zhou Tianzui into the room, clutching the hem of her clothes in her hand. Zhou Tianzui asked her, “A Ran, can you tolerate me? My temper is really bad.”

She had seen all kinds of people since she was young, and had encountered many with bad tempers. At that time, she thought, how bad could Zhou Tianzui’s temper be? Later, she discovered that no one was like her.

It was truly, very bad.

You Ruxu lowered her head and saw a bowl of soup placed in front of her. The green scallions floated on top, the egg drop soup was light, with a few drops of oil. A white spoon was placed beside the bowl, making a crisp clinking sound as the bowl was set down.

Zhou Tianzui sat opposite her.

You Ruxu picked up the spoon, stirred the soup, and asked Zhou Tianzui, “When is the blind date?”

“Tomorrow night at 8 o’clock.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t wait for me to come back for dinner.”

You Ruxu was silent for a moment.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Or, will you go with me?”

You Ruxu looked up: “Me?”

There was surprise and disbelief in her tone. She was actually inviting her to watch her go on a blind date? Even though she knew Zhou Tianzui had personality issues, she hadn’t expected this. How could she—

Zhou Tianzui nodded: “What’s wrong with having a friend accompany me on a blind date?”

Her expression was calm and indifferent, her tone cool, as if they hadn’t been intimate just moments before.

You Ruxu’s fingernails dug into her palm. She lowered her eyes, concealing her turbulent emotions.

Yes, they always presented themselves as friends to the outside world, even if they slept in the same bed every night, even if they did everything lovers should and shouldn’t do, they were—friends.

You Ruxu knew that it was normal for someone Zhou Tianzui’s age to be urged to get married. Her mother had repeatedly stressed it, even arguing with her on the phone last time, saying that if she didn’t go on a blind date, she shouldn’t consider her her mother anymore. Zhou Tianzui had a bad temper with others, but she listened to her mother. Only on this matter, she defied her mother’s wishes. She thought that after the argument last time, her mother would temporarily give up on the idea of her going on blind dates, but unexpectedly, she still had to go.

And she wanted her to go along?

You Ruxu took a deep breath, but it hitched in her chest, causing a sharp pain below her breastbone. The pain made her clutch her chest, half-leaning on the table. Zhou Tianzui frowned, reaching out. You Ruxu said, “It’s nothing.”

There were tears in the corners of her eyes, caused by the sudden sharp pain. She said, “Just a stitch.”

Zhou Tianzui paused, poured a glass of water, and placed it in front of her. She got up and sat beside her, her fingertips moving downwards, pressing on the spot below her breastbone, applying just the right amount of pressure to ease the pain.

You Ruxu slowed her breathing, returning to normal after a couple of minutes. She brushed away the tears from the corners of her eyes, took a sip of warm water, and said, “I have to go to the station tomorrow.”

Zhou Tianzui asked her, “When will you finish?”

Her news segment was usually at noon, the live connection was also at noon, and she rarely worked overtime at the station. She could finish any work at home, so she couldn’t hide it from Zhou Tianzui.

You Ruxu said, “It’s not set yet.”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t speak, but continued to press on the spot below her breastbone. The stitch had passed, so her touch held a different meaning.

You Ruxu said, “We haven’t eaten dinner yet.”

“You eat.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I’m full.”

Her appetite wasn’t very good. A bowl of fried rice could last her two meals. She had just hastily eaten a few bites and drunk half a bowl of soup, so she was indeed full, but You Ruxu hadn’t eaten yet.

She looked down at the scallion soup, the green scallions floating on top, a thin layer of egg white, a fragrant smell. She wasn’t really hungry, but she wanted to drink the egg drop soup Zhou Tianzui made.

During this time away, she had particularly missed the taste of this soup.

You Ruxu lowered her head, used her spoon to push aside the scallions, and took a sip. It was still the familiar taste. The warmth spread from her mouth, satisfying her taste buds and her empty stomach.

The evening news was playing on the TV. You Ruxu glanced up. It was the news about the counterfeit brand goods case in the city. She had been asked to cover it, but she declined.

Not long after the news aired, it became a trending topic. Before You Ruxu finished eating, she saw her leader posting in the group chat: [Such good material, you guys let it slip away. Talent! Talent!]

The TV station also needed ratings.

Compared to other TV stations and other time slots on the same station, the midday and evening news teams at Jindu TV Station often discussed topics together. Good projects were always prioritized for the evening news team, which made the midday news team leader very unhappy. They were usually suppressed, and this time, they finally got the news topic about the counterfeit goods first, but they actually gave it up voluntarily.

The leader was about to explode.

You Ruxu fiddled with her phone. Her editor messaged her: [Teacher You, the boss is so angry. We’re probably going to get scolded tomorrow.]

She typed on the screen: [Mm.]

The editor, looking at You Ruxu’s reply, automatically pictured her indifferent expression, accepting the criticism silently. Very quiet, but no one would bear to scold You Ruxu.

Initially, there were two choices for this topic, presented directly to You Ruxu. Everyone thought she would choose the counterfeit brand goods case, after all, it was a hot topic, public opinion was strong, even a related guess could become a trending topic, and it was easy to generate discussion and social attention, very suitable for their midday news team. Unexpectedly, You Ruxu chose to go to the countryside for an interview.

The evening news team laughed their heads off.

No wonder their boss was so angry.

They all said about You Ruxu: “Fake high-mindedness, what is she pretending to be? Does she really think she’s the bright moon, detached from the world?”

“With such a lack of social sensitivity, how can she be a reporter?”

It wasn’t really directed at You Ruxu personally, it was just the usual banter between the midday and evening news teams. If it wasn’t You Ruxu this time, it would be another reporter being satirized. However, the comment about her fake high-mindedness was somewhat tinged with personal feelings.

The editor wanted to send some comforting words, but looking at You Ruxu’s “mm,” it didn’t seem necessary. He gritted his teeth and sent: [Then, Teacher You, good night.]

You Ruxu typed: [Good night.]

She put down her phone and saw Zhou Tianzui go into the bathroom. Soon, the sound of running water came from inside. She put down her chopsticks, hearing the evening news still playing on the TV. The host was broadcasting another news item. She was somewhat absent-minded, occasionally glancing towards the bathroom.

Zhou Tianzui showered for about half an hour. When she came out, You Ruxu had already cleaned up the kitchen. She was tidying up her clothes, standing in the room that had been converted from a study. There was a tatami mat with several pieces of clothing on it, and a teddy bear, half-human-tall, rather thin, made of cheap material. After being washed several times, the fur had faded, clearly not a valuable item. Placed together with You Ruxu’s belongings, it was an eyesore, out of place.

She had bought this bear from a street vendor, forty yuan each. She bargained it down to thirty-five.

Before buying it, she hadn’t even planned on getting You Ruxu a birthday present. It was because the stall owner had a daughter with her. It was cold, and the little girl was shivering, her hands red, looking at her with longing eyes. Seeing she hadn’t left, the girl asked in a weak voice, “Sister, do you want to buy a teddy bear?”

Seeming to feel that someone her age wasn’t suitable to buy this, the little girl bit her lip after speaking, looking at her timidly.

She said, “How much?”

The girl’s mother immediately said, “Forty.”

With a firm tone. She looked at the mother, who had similar features to the little girl, but with a different expression. She said, “Thirty-five.”

Actually, at that moment, it wasn’t about the five yuan.

She was just hesitating whether to give You Ruxu a gift.

The woman nodded: “Okay.”

She immediately handed her the bear. The little girl smiled at her. She sighed, took the bear, and left. Later, she gave it to You Ruxu.

Thirty-five yuan.

And You Ruxu came back to this rented apartment with her.

Zhou Tianzui paused in the act of drying her hair, sat on the tatami mat, and looked down at the teddy bear. Seeing her focused gaze, You Ruxu couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She looked at the bear, her tone indifferent, “So cheap.”

For a moment, it was unclear whether she was talking about the bear.

Or about You Ruxu.

Or about herself.

Chapter 2: Moonlight

Although You Ruxu wasn’t a clean freak, she was accustomed to taking a shower as soon as she got home. This was her usual routine, let alone after returning from this business trip. She wanted to take a good shower even more, to shed her disguise. Hearing this, Zhou Tianzui backed away slightly, her expression a little colder. Her eyelids half-lifted, she looked at You Ruxu and asked, “Have you eaten dinner?”

“Not yet.” You Ruxu said, “I don’t feel like cooking tonight. Let’s order takeout.”

Usually, she and Zhou Tianzui took turns cooking whenever they were free. Sometimes, when both of them were busy, they would order takeout or eat out. Today, she was a little tired and didn’t want to go out, so she suggested, “How about ordering from that place last time?”

She glanced at Zhou Tianzui from the corner of her eye.

Zhou Tianzui’s expression was unreadable. She lowered her eyes; her long, curled eyelashes cast shadows, and the spark in her eyes was gone, replaced by a faint coldness. You Ruxu closed her laptop and heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Okay.”

She stood up: “You order. I’ll go change.”

You Ruxu watched Zhou Tianzui enter the room. She bit her lip and lowered her head to order takeout. After a few minutes, Zhou Tianzui still hadn’t come out. When she went back to her room to get clothes, she heard Zhou Tianzui on the phone.

She didn’t have the habit of eavesdropping and lowered her head, entering the bathroom.

You Ruxu had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds. Every time she went on a business trip, she couldn’t rest well, and she was afraid of affecting her work. So, on business trips, she would bring a half-human-tall teddy bear, squeeze the air out of it, and put it at the bottom of her suitcase. She had to hug it every night to sleep. The teddy bear was a gift from Zhou Tianzui, a birthday present from their first year of knowing each other. At that time, they weren’t roommates yet. Zhou Tianzui brought her to this apartment and they sat on the sofa. It was raining that day, and You Ruxu didn’t turn on the lights. Her figure sank into the sofa, blending in with the darkening sky.

She looked at Zhou Tianzui’s back.

She heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Will A Ran dislike the gift I gave her?”

Indeed, her other friends gave her jewelry, expensive perfume, or at the very least, customized gifts of various kinds. This ubiquitous teddy bear was the most inconspicuous, but You Ruxu liked it the most. She said, “No.”

Hugging the teddy bear, she said, “I really like this gift. Thank you.”

Zhou Tianzui asked her, “Do you really like it?”

You Ruxu nodded. Before she could speak, Zhou Tianzui stood up. Her figure cast a shadow in the night, the shadow enveloping You Ruxu. Zhou Tianzui approached her, so close that the tip of her nose was filled with Zhou Tianzui’s scent, the smell of disinfectant. You Ruxu heard her ask, “How much do you like it?”

She clutched the teddy bear’s fur tightly, raising her eyes to look at Zhou Tianzui’s eyes. In the darkness, there seemed to be a fire burning there, burning away all reason. She knew what Zhou Tianzui wanted to do. She released the hand holding the teddy bear and grasped the edge of Zhou Tianzui’s clothes, holding on all night.

That was the first time she stayed overnight here. Not long after, she moved in.

Outwardly, she explained that it was for work reasons, that living here was convenient. The apartment had two bedrooms and a living room. Her room was originally a study, converted into a bedroom, but the bookcase was still there. It wasn’t very big, so she usually worked in the living room. And—she almost never slept in her own room.

There was movement outside the door. You Ruxu wiped the water droplets from her body and walked out, wrapped in a bathrobe. It was a thin, spring-summer bathrobe made of pure cotton, covering her from top to bottom. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, and fine strands of hair fell on her neck. Crystal clear water droplets trembled precariously on her fair skin. He Wei looked up and saw You Ruxu. She froze.

You Ruxu was too beautiful, a dignified beauty that didn’t evoke any profane thoughts, like the clear moon hanging in the sky, bright, transparent, and unattainable. Any impure thought would be a sin.

He Wei swallowed.

Zhou Tianzui called out, “He Wei?”

He Wei came back to her senses, her face already flushed red. She said, “Dr. Zhou, these are the documents you requested.” Her beautiful eyes kept glancing at You Ruxu.

She was even more beautiful in person than on TV.

And colder.

And even more unattainable.

Even though they were only a few steps apart, He Wei felt like there were mountains and rivers between them.

Zhou Tianzui looked at He Wei, took the document bag, and asked, “Anything else?”

He Wei paused and quickly said, “Nothing else. Then, Dr. Zhou, I’ll go back first.”

Zhou Tianzui followed behind her. He Wei wanted to look back but held back.

She reached the door and turned back: “Goodbye, Dr. Zhou.”

Zhou Tianzui stood in the doorway, blocking her view. She couldn’t see You Ruxu. He Wei’s eyes darkened slightly. Zhou Tianzui’s voice was cold: “Goodbye.”

He Wei had no choice but to turn and get on the elevator.

The elevator doors closed completely, and before it started to descend, she could still hear He Wei’s voice on the phone: “I saw Teacher You!!! Choosing Dr. Zhou was definitely the right choice!”

Her voice was filled with uncontainable excitement, and even after the elevator descended two floors, she could still hear a little of her voice: “Say hello? I didn’t—ah!”

And deep regret.

The voice faded until it was inaudible.

Zhou Tianzui’s face was tense. Returning home, she casually tossed the document bag onto the shoe cabinet. You Ruxu heard the sound and asked, “From your department?”

“The newcomer.” Zhou Tianzui’s tone wasn’t very good. She remembered that when she went to the director’s office at noon, Fu Shushu was already there. She thought Fu Shushu would choose He Wei, but unexpectedly, as soon as He Wei saw her, she said, “I’ll go with Dr. Zhou.”

This was the first time in years a newcomer had willingly chosen to be with her.

At the time, she couldn’t figure out why. Just now, seeing He Wei using the excuse of delivering documents to come in and look at You Ruxu with those eyes, her real intentions were clear.

She turned to look at You Ruxu. After three years of acquaintance, You Ruxu hadn’t changed much. Working in the editing room for two years had added a touch of composure and depth. Everyone, whether they knew her or not, thought of the clear moon when they saw her, and she even had the nickname You Jiaoyue. But in Zhou Tianzui’s eyes, she never saw You Ruxu as the clear moon.

You Ruxu wasn’t very interested in the topic of the newcomer. She sat on the sofa, lowering her head to prepare her materials. Zhou Tianzui walked over to her, the faint smell of disinfectant, the most familiar scent to You Ruxu. She turned her head and saw Zhou Tianzui sit down as well, hearing her voice: “What do you think of her?”

“The newcomer just now?” You Ruxu said, “Quite polite.”

Zhou Tianzui asked, “And?”

You Ruxu organized her materials and sat beside her. The sofa was upholstered with built-in springs. When the two of them sat down, they sank in a little, their bodies naturally drawing closer. You Ruxu had just showered, and besides the scent of body wash, there was also a faint smell of water vapor, hidden in her hair. Looking at the back of her neck, the strands of hair were very damp.

Zhou Tianzui’s fingers landed on the back of her neck, her fingertips circling the towel, probing inside from the edge.

Her fingertips were warm against her slightly cool scalp. It was obvious that You Ruxu wasn’t very focused. She looked at Zhou Tianzui: “And what else?”

Zhou Tianzui’s eyes held a glint, different from the spark earlier. It was another kind of luster, gloomy. She said, “And, can’t you tell she likes you?”

When she said the word “like,” Zhou Tianzui’s fingers tightened, pulling at some of her hair. Her scalp tightened, and the towel felt tight too. The curve of her fingers was prominent through the towel. Although You Ruxu couldn’t see it, she could feel it.

She said, “I can’t tell.”

The two stared at each other for a few seconds. You Ruxu pulled down Zhou Tianzui’s hand and said, “Don’t pull my hair.”

Zhou Tianzui obediently withdrew her hand from the towel and asked, “When will the takeout arrive?”

You Ruxu said, “In forty minutes.”

The takeout place was far away, more than an hour’s journey.

You Ruxu lowered her gaze, looking at Zhou Tianzui’s cold profile. She pursed her lips: “Your mother came over today.”

“I know.” Zhou Tianzui said, “My mom called me.”

Her tone was casual: “She wants me to go on a blind date.”

Chapter 1: A Ran

“Dr. Zhou, Director Shao asked you to go to his office after dinner.” The person who came was wearing a white coat, rubbing his shoulders. He had a crew cut, and after working half a day, he sat down as if his bones had melted, lacking energy. Others looked at him and asked, “What does Director Shao want with Dr. Zhou?”

“Seems like two new doctors arrived.” Crew Cut said, “Probably wants Dr. Zhou to guide them.”

Everyone looked at Zhou Tianzui. They all knew she had a bad temper, but this personality was just right for guiding newcomers. Picky, rigorous, she wouldn’t let even the slightest mistake slip by. Being a doctor was a profession that required pressure resistance, both mentally and physically. Those who emerged from under her wing, which one wasn’t tough as nails? Over time, this had become a threshold for newcomers entering their department.

Crew Cut said, “Dr. Zhou, go early after you finish eating.”

Zhou Tianzui paused her eating, her phoenix eyes lifting slightly. She was naturally blessed with long, curled eyelashes; a single sweep of mascara was enough, no need for a curler. Her features were deep, her nose high and straight, a perfect example of a manga-style beauty. When she first arrived at the hospital, everyone speculated whether she was mixed-race. Sitting there, she resembled the moon beside the wine shop counter, her delicate wrists like congealed frost and snow – of course, except for the foul temper that became apparent the moment she opened her mouth.

She looked at Zhao Mingqi: “What? Can the newcomers not wait?”

“That’s not it.” Zhao Mingqi whispered, “I heard that one of the two newcomers is Director Song’s goddaughter, surnamed He. If you go later, you can choose her.” He then looked to the other side, “Don’t let Dr. Fu pick her.”

Fu Shushu.

She was competing with Zhou Tianzui for the position of Deputy Director. The Deputy Director position had been vacant for about a month, and the Director had always intended to recommend one of them. During this period, while things seemed calm on the surface, there were undercurrents surging. Both sides were intentionally or unintentionally competing. The news Zhao Mingqi received was obtained through connections. Fearing that Fu Shushu might also get the news, he couldn’t help but urge Zhou Tianzui to quickly go and claim one of the newcomers.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tianzui put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a tissue. Just as she was about to get up, she heard a familiar voice.

“In a small town in Jindu City, there is such an elderly person who, for twenty years, has offered free classes to students every weekend…” The voice was clear, a standard broadcasting voice, with clear and rounded pronunciation, neither hurried nor slow. Even without seeing the person, just listening to the voice could create a favorable impression.

You Ruxu.

A famous reporter from Jindu TV Station. The first time she reported live from the scene, someone posted the video online, and it became a minor trending topic. She was praised as having a “heavenly voice.” Although there was some exaggeration, Zhou Tianzui had watched the video of the live broadcast. In just five short minutes, the barrage of comments filled the entire screen, completely obscuring the host’s face. Hearing only the voice, it was indeed an ultimate enjoyment for the ears.

Furthermore, You Ruxu was also beautiful, a dignified and heroic kind of beauty, different from the currently popular slender figures. She had a well-proportioned frame and a tall figure, naturally smiling eyes, which, combined with her inherently cool temperament, gave her the wonderful air of a bright moon. She was easy to admire, yet also easy to trust.

Zhou Tianzui remembered the joke her colleagues told: “It’s a pity she’s a reporter, she should be an interrogator. Criminals would confess everything upon seeing her.”

She didn’t turn around, hearing Zhao Mingqi sigh, “My goddess is truly beautiful!”

Another doctor said, “Zhao Mingqi, you like You Ruxu so much, wouldn’t you faint from excitement if you saw her in person?”

It was a teasing tone. Zhao Mingqi’s face flushed red and he said, “Am I that useless? Besides, I’ve seen her in person, okay!”

The doctor exclaimed in surprise. Zhao Mingqi said, “Hey—don’t you know? Teacher You is Dr. Zhou’s friend!”

You Ruxu became famous overnight and even boosted the TV station’s ratings. However, within half a month, she applied for a transfer and became a news editor. It was only this year that she returned to the screen as a live reporter. Therefore, people respectfully called her Teacher You.

The doctor really didn’t know. Firstly, he had just been transferred not long ago. Secondly, he didn’t dare to ask about Zhou Tianzui’s matters. So he was very surprised when he heard this: “Really? Dr. Zhou, Teacher You is your friend?”

Zhou Tianzui turned her head and glanced at him, saying, “Yes, she’s my friend.”

Behind her, cries of surprise arose.

Zhou Tianzui lowered her head and left the cafeteria, taking out her phone to glance at the screen. The topmost message was from You Ruxu, sent ten minutes ago: [I’m home.]

She had been on a business trip recently, interviewing in a small town in the countryside, filming for ten days, and had just returned.

Zhou Tianzui’s expression was indifferent as she turned off the screen and entered the director’s office.

You Ruxu didn’t receive a reply from Zhou Tianzui. She fiddled with her phone again. The leaders weren’t very satisfied with their chosen topic this time, feeling that it wouldn’t arouse social attention and discussion, and they had also spent ten days filming. They thought it would have been better to cover the counterfeit brand goods case. You Ruxu watched as several messages flashed across the screen, lowering her eyes slightly. When she wasn’t smiling, she gave off a cold and aloof impression. Such a person seemed difficult to get close to at first glance, but she was born with smiling eyes, which softened her coldness and aloofness, adding a touch of nobility and pride, making it easy for people to have a good impression of her. She also had a nickname at the TV station – You Jiaoyue (You Bright Moon).

[“The stars and moon are bright, the Milky Way hangs in the sky, no human sounds around, only sounds among the trees.”]

It was originally just a joke, but later it spread more and more. However, no one would call her by her nickname to her face; most would address her as Teacher You.

[Teacher You, should we change the topic for next week?]

It was her editor. He had also been scolded by the leaders, so he didn’t dare offend the leaders nor You Ruxu, and came to test the waters first.

You Ruxu looked at her phone and sent: [Let’s discuss it at the department tomorrow.]

The editor breathed a sigh of relief: [Okay.]

You Ruxu put down her phone, her hand touching the buttons of her shirt. Hearing a knock on the door, she turned her head, smoothing the button she hadn’t just unbuttoned. Finally, she walked to the door and heard a woman’s voice outside: “Xiao Tian?”

It was Zhou Tianzui’s mother.

You Ruxu quickly opened the door and saw Yu Qiao standing outside. Yu Qiao was stunned when she saw her: “Xiao Xu, you’re back.”

“Auntie, come in.” You Ruxu smiled faintly, inviting her in. Yu Qiao glanced at her, her expression a little uneasy. She was a bit afraid of You Ruxu. It wasn’t that You Ruxu was fierce to her, but rather her background, which made her feel unworthy. Moreover, her profession, appearing on TV every day, always gave people a sense of distance. You Ruxu was extremely good to her. Of course, she also knew that this kindness was based on the fact that she was her daughter’s good friend.

Actually, she had been very puzzled at the beginning. How could her daughter become friends with You Ruxu? She seemed like the bright moon in the sky, an unattainable figure. To her, she was more like a high branch of high society, everyone wanted to grasp it, yet no one dared to. She once thought that Zhou Tianzui and her could only be acquaintances and couldn’t become close friends.

But they actually lived in the same rented apartment.

“Mom, she recently changed jobs and hasn’t found a suitable place yet, so she’s temporarily staying with me.” Zhou Tianzui explained to her, “Next time you come over, let me know in advance. There’s another person here.”

She certainly knew this etiquette, but she had previously heard Zhou Tianzui say that she was off today, and thinking that You Ruxu was still on a business trip, she came directly without contacting Zhou Tianzui. Now the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

You Ruxu poured her a cup of warm water. Yu Qiao took it with both hands and said, “Thank you.”

“Auntie, is there something you need?” You Ruxu said, “She’s working overtime today and might not be off until after five.”

Yu Qiao said, “I don’t have anything particular.”

You Ruxu sat beside her. Due to her professional habits, her posture was very upright. She wore a white shirt and a black professional skirt, the buttons always fastened to the top one, without any jewelry. Her entire person, like her temperament, was clean and transparent. Coupled with her smiling eyes, she was actually very comfortable to be around. Yu Qiao relaxed a little. She took a sip of warm water, stood up, and said, “Since she’s not here, I’ll go back first.”

“I’ll see you off.” You Ruxu quickly stood up. Yu Qiao was flattered: “No need, no need. You must be tired after your business trip. Have a good rest. Next time, Auntie will come over and make you something delicious.”

You Ruxu said, “Auntie, you’re too kind.”

She escorted Yu Qiao downstairs, watching her ride away on her electric scooter. This was a mid-range residential complex with good landscaping, small rockeries, and fountains. It was right by the main entrance. You Ruxu could see some of the outlines from downstairs. She came back to her senses. Occasionally, someone passed by her, and even after walking past, they couldn’t help but look back, their eyes filled with uncontainable amazement.

You Ruxu returned home. She originally wanted to take a shower, but Yu Qiao’s visit interrupted her. She decided to deal with her work first, making adjustments to the content of the past ten days and sending it to her editor. By the time she finished, the sky was already darkening. She looked down at the time; it was 6:30 pm. She checked her phone again; Zhou Tianzui hadn’t replied.

Zhou Tianzui was like this when she was busy, not replying for half a day. You Ruxu was already used to it. She leaned back on the sofa, fiddling with her phone. Just as she was about to order takeout, she heard the sound of the door opening. She turned her head, and Zhou Tianzui pushed open the door.

Seeing her at home, Zhou Tianzui wasn’t surprised at all, just asking as soon as she opened her mouth: “Why didn’t you turn on the lights?”

Her tone was indifferent, without any discernible emotion.

You Ruxu said, “I forgot.”

Zhou Tianzui changed her shoes and pressed the switch. The crystal chandelier lit up, sparkling with luster, hanging above You Ruxu, making her skin appear even more fair.

Busy all afternoon, she didn’t show any signs of fatigue. Her profession demanded high-intensity work, and maintaining her composure at all times was paramount. Therefore, under the light, she was still as clear and bright as the moon. Even the way she flipped through the reference book appeared elegant and natural.

Zhou Tianzui, after a busy day, sat on the sofa behind her. Their coffee table was an upgraded version that could be used as a temporary desk. You Ruxu usually worked there. There were three piles of documents and a laptop. You Ruxu put the reference book aside and lowered her head to type. Her half-lowered eyelashes, the outline of the tip of her nose reflected on the computer screen, her thin lips – Zhou Tianzui stared at her for a few seconds, her gaze falling on the back of You Ruxu’s neck.

The back of her neck was fair, and her slightly bowed posture made it appear even more slender. The lines and curves were smooth and round, like a swan lowering its beautiful neck. Zhou Tianzui’s teeth itched. She called out, “A Ran.”

You Ruxu’s typing paused, and she turned to look at Zhou Tianzui.

Their eyes met, and she saw the spark in Zhou Tianzui’s eyes. You Ruxu held her breath. A figure leaned over, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Zhou Tianzui extend her hand. Her fingers were slender and long, with distinct knuckles. These were hands often used for surgery, whiter than those of ordinary people. Zhou Tianzui’s hand didn’t land on her, but on the computer beside her, turning off the display.

The atmosphere instantly became ambiguous. You Ruxu’s heartbeat quickened. Zhou Tianzui didn’t retract her hand after turning off the display, but brushed it past her shoulder, pressing lightly on the back of her neck, gently pinching. You Ruxu’s body tensed.

She looked at Zhou Tianzui. Their eyes met. You Ruxu’s voice was slightly softer than usual: “I…” She pursed her lips. “I haven’t showered yet.”