Mingzhu lived on Qingping Street in the western part of Jincheng.
The small house wasn't spacious, but it was more than enough for one person.
After her mother fell ill, she had carefully selected it through an agent, valuing the responsible property management of the neighborhood. She bought it, renovated it, and left it to Mingzhu as an inheritance.
The security guard at the gate, spotting the unfamiliar license plate, didn't let the car in. He grabbed his logbook and stepped out of the guardhouse.
Seeing Mingzhu in the passenger seat, his stern expression melted into a warm smile as he greeted her: "Little Zhu, you're back."
Mingzhu curved her lips, recognizing the voice as one of the guards on duty. Her tone was light: "Good evening, Uncle Wang."
Uncle Wang glanced at the man in the driver's seat.
The streetlight by the gate had broken two days ago. Property management had scheduled repairs for tomorrow. Now, only the dim light from the security booth illuminated the area around the gate barrier.
In the hazy glow, the man's sharp jawline was faintly outlined.
His dark eyes, bathed in the dimness, held a faint, lazy smile, yet somehow conveyed an aura of fierce arrogance.
Uncle Wang clicked his tongue and asked, "Xiao Zhuo, is this the ride-hailing car you called?"
Outside ride-hailing vehicles were usually not allowed in, but Ming Zhuo's situation was special. The property management had given prior instructions that it could be registered and allowed entry.
Ming Zhuo shook her head hastily. "He's... um... my friend."
Uncle Wang pressed the gate opener while casually teasing, "Your friend's quite handsome, isn't he?"
Handsome?
Ming Zhuo couldn't see for herself.
She only recalled Aunt He mentioning her son's looks were average—barely passable.
She wondered if Uncle Wang was just being polite.
As she pondered briefly, the car pulled up below the building. Shang Chi murmured, "We're here."
Mingzhu nodded.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and fumbled for the door handle, pulling it open just a crack before hesitating.
"Mr. Shang, thank you for bringing me back."
Mingzhu slowed her speech, her left hand twitching inside her handbag. She bit her lower lip, unsure how to continue.
Shang Chi, however, keenly sensed her intention, his voice trailing off with a faint smile.
"Want to give me something?"
Ming Zhe felt her face flush slightly. She hummed in acknowledgment and finally withdrew her hand from the bag.
Shang Chi, already anticipating her action, reached out instinctively, his fingertips lightly brushing her wrist as a gentle reminder.
"Go ahead. I'll take it."
Ming Zhe relaxed her fingers.
The laser-cut paper wrapper of the candy crackled as it landed in Shang Chi's palm. A few pieces collided, tumbling down the side of his hand and onto the seat.
Reflecting the streetlights outside, they scattered like tiny rainbows across the car interior.
Mingzhu murmured quickly, "This candy is delicious. I'm treating you, Mr. Shang."
With that, she seemed to finally exhale, rubbing her flushed cheeks with her fingers. Turning her head, she pushed open the door and hurriedly stepped out.
Before Shang Chi could say anything else, she bid her farewell.
"Thank you for tonight, Mr. Shang."
"Goodbye, Mr. Shang."
Shang Chi nodded. "Goodbye."
Ming Zhe's eyes crinkled into a smile, dimples faintly visible on either cheek.
She unfolded her folding cane, tapping it rhythmically on the ground as she walked away.
Her figure disappeared into the shadows of the apartment building.
Shang Chi withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes to the candy in his hand.
Last month when he visited home, he recalled seeing candies with identical packaging at his little niece Manman's place.
He'd taken one to eat and been chased by the little girl in a huff, who insisted it was a reward candy given to her by her teacher.
So it was this Teacher Ming.
Shang Chi's eyebrows lifted slightly. He gladly accepted being treated the same as the chubby little girl—both receiving reward candies.
But that wasn't quite right.
Manman only took a few pieces.
He, however, had grabbed a whole handful.
A deeper smile spread across Shang Chi's lips, tinged with a hint of satisfaction. He tossed the candy into the storage box, then picked up another piece that had fallen onto the seat. Peeling off the wrapper, he popped it into his mouth.
The crisp, sweet lychee flavor spread across his palate.
The night was still, carrying the faint sounds of dishes being washed, soft murmurs, and the wails of a child—all the intimate noises of daily life.
Shang Chi lifted his gaze lazily, fixing his eyes on the small building ahead.
Sound-activated lights flickered through the hallway windows.
After a sharp slam of the door, no other sounds followed. The hallway lights gradually dimmed, plunging everything back into darkness.
Shang Chi's gaze fixed on the equally dark window of the room. After waiting a moment with no sign of light inside, he paused mid-chew on his lychee candy, suddenly realizing.
"I forgot."
He murmured softly, "She doesn't need to turn on the lights."
Those who dwell in darkness long enough seem to lose their need for light.
-
Having lived in this house for over a decade, every corner felt utterly familiar.
Mingzhu took a large wet wipe from the entryway, gave her cane a quick wipe, folded it neatly, and then moved inward with light, fluid steps.
She crossed the living room with purpose, heading straight for the glass doors leading to the balcony.
The crisp autumn breeze carried the scent of late-blooming osmanthus from the neighborhood streets.
It effortlessly drew her thoughts back to the roadside outside the restaurant.
Mingzhu leaned her head against the window, listening for the sound of a car starting and driving away, waiting for the cool wind to dispel the lingering warmth on her face.
She had thought their last blind date would be their final meeting.
But what a coincidence—Manman turned out to be Shang Chi's niece.
Mingzhu couldn't help but recall the little chubby girl casually mentioning that uncle.
Manman was well-taught and rarely spoke of family matters outside the home. Only that one time, when she and Xiaotangyuan huddled together whispering, did she sigh loudly like a little adult, her childish voice still innocent.
"Grandma said if you could marry a robot, my little uncle would be the first to get married."
"Last time they fought, my little uncle didn't come home for ages. Grandma asked Dad, and Dad said he was staying at the office—sleeping on the floor, poor thing."
"Tangyuan, it's so sad your uncle doesn't have a job. But my uncle with a job is sad too. He bought a car before, and Grandma said it was a waste of money. He bought it just to drive the robot around. Since he doesn't have a wife to pick him up, she won't feed him."
"..."
Mingzhu blinked, unable to help but think that Shang Chi seemed to have significant conflicts with his family over the arranged marriage.
With his eldest brother already married with children, and Manman being so old now, it was no wonder Aunt He was anxious.
They'd even pushed him to the point of sleeping on the floor at the company.
But... it also showed Shang Chi's resolute stance.
Mingzhu lowered her head slightly, rubbing her flushed cheeks, and exhaled softly.
Tonight's dinner might be Shang Chi's way of making up for their hurried farewell last time.
Or perhaps because he unexpectedly discovered she was also Manman's guqin teacher. As Manman's uncle, he hoped she would look after the child.
In any case, Shang Chi had long made his stance clear: he had no intention of dating or marrying.
She absolutely mustn't let her imagination run wild.
She absolutely mustn't mistake a fleeting moment of his kindness for something more!
Shang Chi's gentleness stemmed from his own polite upbringing.
Not because of her.
As the evening breeze blew, Mingzhuo gradually sorted through her thoughts. The chaos that had filled her mind since seeing Shang Chi in the music room that afternoon finally settled.
Recalling her own dreadful performance tonight.
"..."
Woo.
Mingzhu bumped her head against the window sill again, gathering her long lashes in a silent sigh, offering herself only this consolation.
Maybe we won't meet again after this.
Embarrassing... well, so be it.
It can't be undone anyway.
-
Shang Chi, the object of Mingzhuo's thoughts, sat with his long legs bent in the cramped front seat of the car. A tiny bit of lychee candy remained in his mouth as he casually answered the call.
It was his childhood friend calling.
Zhong Yun: "Where are you, Young Master Shang? Fenglin Villa or Xiling Manor?"
The former was the Shang family's ancestral estate in the wealthy district.
The latter was one of Shang Chi's private villas.
Shang Chi replied lazily, "Neither. I'm heading to the company tomorrow, so I'm staying nearby."
Zhong Yun snorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Yunshang Mansion? Being the second young master with patents in hand makes all the difference. Spending his own money, he just buys a massive flat in the city center at over 200,000 per square meter."
A male voice chimed in from beside him.
"The location is indeed prime, but 200 square meters is a bit small for one person. Otherwise, I'd buy one too."
Zhong Yun, impotently furious: "Small? Small? If you think it's small, give it to me! I love small spaces!"
Shang Chi's lips curled in a faint smile, his tone casual. "It wasn't expensive. Mainly, it's close to the office. The commute home is practically the same as sleeping at the office—saves time."
Zhong Yun: "Damn it! Do you have to be such a show-off?!"
"Last time you bought a car for over twenty million! When I asked to borrow it, you refused, then went and bought some crappy parts for your R&D department!"
Zhong Yun roared tearfully.
"Sure, you singles have all the freedom to buy whatever you want, but the joy of having a wife warm your bed, kiss you, and manage your paycheck? You money-obsessed fools will never understand that!"
"..."
Silence hung on both ends of the line for a moment.
Shang Chi tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, hesitating before speaking. "Got your card frozen by the wife again? Looking for someone to bail you out?"
Zhong Yun: "...Heh, yep."