Lin Yue barely registered Zhao Ming’s words—she was like a duck hearing thunder, oblivious and unconcerned. She just shrugged it off and went to bed, not thinking any deeper about what he’d said.
Some people, it seems, are just late bloomers when it comes to matters of the heart.
After college graduation, Lin Yue and Zhao Ming’s “roommate life” officially began. It felt like the start of a new chapter—two best friends, side by side, tackling adulthood in the sprawling city of Jin’an.
But good times never last as long as you hope. Lin Yue, still a rookie in the workplace, hadn’t even made it through her probation period when Zhao Ming’s mother—“the Empress Dowager,” as Lin Yue secretly called her—announced she was coming to Jin’an to pressure Zhao Ming into finding a girlfriend.
“Does your mom know we’re living together?” Lin Yue asked one night, half-watching TV, half-devouring a popsicle.
“Where’s she going to stay?”
“I’ll book her a hotel,” Zhao Ming replied, his tone casual.
Lin Yue just grunted, more interested in the late-night food show flickering on the screen than in the conversation.
Since opening his hotpot restaurant, Zhao Ming was hardly ever home before midnight. He and his two business partners took turns managing the place, tracking customers, analyzing sales, and brainstorming new ideas. Lin Yue noticed that Zhao Ming, already a seasoned entrepreneur, was pouring his heart and soul into the restaurant. When she teased him, “You work harder than your employees,” Zhao Ming just grinned and said, “Of course. I’m saving up for my future wife—a house, a car, the whole package!”
“You already have Little White,” Lin Yue pointed out, referring to the modest car Zhao Ming had bought in his junior year of college.
“I want to buy my wife a car,” Zhao Ming replied, his eyes sparkling as he glanced at Lin Yue before turning back to the TV.
Lin Yue burst out laughing, nearly dropping the remote. “A wife? Maybe find the wife first before you start planning her car! You’re really something—like the world’s most prepared husband, planning years in advance!”
“Better to be prepared than caught off guard,” Zhao Ming said, not missing a beat.
For some reason, Lin Yue felt a strange pang in her chest at those words.
The next day, Zhao Ming’s “better prepared” comment kept echoing in her mind. Did he already have someone in mind? That seemed impossible. She’d grown up with him and had never seen him show interest in any girl.
She thought back to college—how the younger girls would flock to Zhao Ming’s dessert shop, buying treats they didn’t even want just to catch a glimpse of him. But Zhao Ming always seemed oblivious, focused on work or lost in thought.
Lin Yue was still puzzling over it when she got a call from Zhao Ming’s mother.
“Lin Yue, is Zhao Ming hiding a girl in his apartment? I’m already in Jin’an, and he still won’t let me see his place!”
Lin Yue choked on her water, spraying it all over her laptop. “Teacher Zhao, your son is so cold and aloof, he’s lucky no one’s hiding him away! There’s no way he’s hiding anyone else.”
Ms. Zhao was used to Lin Yue’s bluntness and just ignored her sass. “So, tell me, does Zhao Ming like anyone?”
“Nope, not that I’ve noticed. He’s too busy for romance—always working late. Who could keep up with him?”
Ms. Zhao caught the slip. “How do you know when he comes home?”
“Uh…” Lin Yue scrambled for an answer. “His business partners told me!”
After barely surviving the inquisition, Lin Yue decided she couldn’t take it anymore. From the sound of it, Ms. Zhao was planning to stay in Jin’an for a while—partly to look after her son, partly to push him into dating.
When Ms. Zhao asked Lin Yue to help Zhao Ming find a suitable girlfriend—“But not someone as wild as you, please. Too loud, gives me a headache”—Lin Yue almost snapped. What did Ms. Zhao want, a demure lady who covered her mouth when she laughed?
Lin Yue didn’t argue with Ms. Zhao, but she needed to vent. She texted Zhao Ming: “Your mom’s in town, pushing you to find a girlfriend. I’m moving out ASAP. With her standards, you might as well time travel and marry a classic beauty from the old days.”
Zhao Ming called her as soon as he saw the message, but Lin Yue didn’t answer. By the time he rushed home, she was gone—no trace left behind.
Lin Yue had always traveled light. With help from her colleague, Sister Xing, she packed her few belongings and moved into Sister Xing’s apartment.
For several days, Lin Yue ignored all of Zhao Ming’s calls and messages.
Nothing was going right. Lin Yue sighed, feeling like she was under a dark cloud. She’d just been scolded at work for reporting the wrong data, and her chance at early promotion had vanished. She still wasn’t fully independent—her forgetfulness was legendary. She’d lost so many keys that Zhao Ming had installed a fingerprint lock at their old apartment just for her.
Now, living with Sister Xing, Lin Yue felt the absence of someone guiding her. She was used to Zhao Ming being there to catch her when she fell. With him, she could be carefree and playful, never worrying about consequences. Now, for the first time, she felt lost.
Growing up, Lin Yue had always preferred sports and hanging out with the boys. She could play pool and basketball, but never managed to beat Zhao Ming. She loved rollerblading, swimming, and diving, but Zhao Ming was always a step ahead.
Still, Lin Yue never felt jealous. She was proud of Zhao Ming’s talents, always thinking of him as her big brother, her shield. He gave her a sense of security.
She remembered how, back in school, if she lost a fight with a boy, she’d ask Zhao Ming to get even for her. If she lost at pool, she’d have Zhao Ming win back her pride. If she slacked off before a test, she’d beg Zhao Ming for cheat notes.
Lin Yue had always worn her hair short, her looks fresh and her personality bright. Everyone liked being around her—she was easygoing and never put on airs. But Zhao Ming used to say, “You might not tire people out, but you sure wear out the hearts of those who care about you.”
She never understood what he meant—until now.
Now, Lin Yue realized that what really wears you out is not being able to say what’s on your mind, not being able to trust the people around you. The innocence of student days was gone. She’d messed up at work because a colleague had given her the wrong numbers, and she hadn’t double-checked. The colleague got promoted, and Lin Yue took the blame.
Sister Xing, seeing Lin Yue’s frustration, offered some advice: “The workplace is like this. There are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies—only permanent interests.”
Chapter 02
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