The old master of the Lu family was also a legendary figure. Born in the tumultuous 20th century, his family had been merchants with some money when he was young. Later, the family fell on hard times, moving from north to south, until only he survived. He eventually made his way from Shanghai to Beiping.…

It felt like a century had passed, or maybe just a few seconds, when Lu Jiaheng finally released her. Chu Zhi was completely soft, her eyes open with tears gathering in them, the corners reddened. He pulled her into his embrace, his lips near her ear, his breath hot: “Chu Chu, breathe.” The young girl…

Chu Zhi had told them earlier she wouldn’t be eating at home tonight. Ms. Deng wasn’t coming home either, so Father Chu was alone and terribly bored. He asked if Chu Zhi wanted him to drive her but got a negative response. Before she left, Lu Jiaheng sent Chu Zhi a text asking when she…

The study in Chu Zhi’s house wasn’t large, and rarely did anyone enter it. Both Father Chu and Ms. Deng were the type to leave work at work, and since Chu Zhi had a desk in her own room, the study was basically half decorative. However, because it had a large balcony with good lighting,…

The hotpot restaurant was chosen by Octopus, finally settling on the one next to the school. When she heard this, Chu Zhi paused briefly, feeling somewhat uneasy about that restaurant with its history, but didn’t say anything. That evening, Father Chu and Ms. Deng returned from Hainan, just in time to pick up Chu Zhi…

The night before the last final exam, Chu Zhi and her roommates had a late-night heart-to-heart chat in their dorm room. It was meant to celebrate both the end of the semester and their half-year of friendship. Gu Han had dated in high school, but her boyfriend went to a university in the south, and…

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the night sky was dotted with stars, and moonlight filtered through the light gray curtains. The room was quiet, with the movie sounds seemingly muted, leaving only the man’s slow, deep breathing. The night was enchanting. Lu Jiaheng lowered his gaze, his hair falling forward, his eyes darker than the night…

As soon as the car engine stopped, the warmth from the heater lingered, enveloping them in cozy comfort. Lu Jiaheng had one hand on the passenger seat backrest and the other gripping her wrist, his head lowered slightly as his cool lips pressed against her forehead. Things seemed to be taking an unexpected turn. The…

Their coats were still in the private room. Lu Jiaheng held her at the entrance for a while, until Cheng Yi and Lin Yujing walked over. Cheng Yi asked with natural curiosity: “Big bro, what are you doing standing here?” When people approached, Chu Zhi felt embarrassed. She wiggled her legs, trying to slide down.…

Lin Yujing had always prided herself on being a good judge of character. The moment she first saw Chu Zhi, she felt this girl wasn’t suitable for Lu Jiaheng. She was too innocent, too soft, like cotton candy – clearly someone who had never faced any hardships, carefully protected and cherished by her parents since…