Early winter wasn't bitterly cold, but the nights were pitch-black, with wind howling past like arrogant specters, taunting those teetering on the edge of misery. Wandering alone beneath the city's neon glow, Fang Tianzhuo cut a lonely figure. Ever since his girlfriend, Xu Yanran, left for training in Shanghai last week, he hadn't eaten a proper meal. Today, he'd overslept, trekked to the suburbs to meet a client—only to wait for hours without even catching a glimpse of them—and then gotten stuck in a monster traffic jam on the way back. By the time he finally reentered the city, he'd gone a full day without a single bite to eat.
Having someone to care for you… it made all the difference. Someone to ask if you'd eaten, to fuss over you. Humans were such simple creatures, really—just needing three meals a day and a solid night's sleep. Fang Tianzhuo thought of Xu Yanran, a warm flicker softening his chest.
Their bond was unshakable. Hailing from the same poor country town, they'd been inseparable since childhood—classmates from primary school through university, each looking out for the other. A day apart left both with an unnameable ache. By junior year, with most campus couples already paired off, they'd finally made it official—whether out of habit or love, it hardly mattered. They were the envy of their class: childhood sweethearts, handsome and beautiful, devoted to each other, a team in every sense.
And it was true. Even as a child, Xu Yanran had been the town's beauty—tall, lithe, with delicate features, fair skin, and a quiet elegance that set her apart. Fang Tianzhuo, too, was striking: lean, with sharp, defined features, and admired by teachers and classmates alike for his diligence and versatility. Few dared to pursue either; they were always together, a unit, so naturally paired that no one else seemed to fit.
After graduation, moving in together was a given. Their salaries were meager, but they had steady jobs. Life was frugal, but they cherished each other. They'd laugh, imagining walking their grandchildren someday, secure in the certainty that twenty years of shared history made their love unbreakable.
A cold gust snaked down Fang Tianzhuo's neck, making him shiver. His stomach growled in protest—loud, urgent. He was exhausted, starving. Glancing at his phone, it was past 11 PM. Nearby restaurants were shuttered; even the corner stores had closed. Finding a pack of instant noodles was starting to feel like a Herculean task.
He'd been searching for over half an hour when he reached the bustling bar street. Neon lights flickered seductively, and the sound of live music—now soulful, now roaring—drifted out. Surely there's a convenience store here, he thought.
The bar district was close to his apartment, but he rarely ventured there. Not that he was immune to curiosity—he was young, after all—but with Xu Yanran's love and care, lingering in such an ambiguous, flirtatious place felt wrong. Besides, those spots burned through cash like wildfire.
Despite the chill, the bars thrived. Every indoor table was packed; only the street-side seats stood empty. Beneath soft, suggestive lighting, couples and groups sipped wine or chugged beer. The air inside felt sweltering—coats draped over chairs, men's broad chests and women's curves hinting through thin fabric. Thumping music and singers' raspy or honeyed voices spurred on suggestive glances and swaying hips.
Fang Tianzhuo stared at the scene, then patted his empty pockets with a bitter laugh. Not at the pretty people inside, but at himself. No instant noodles here—just cigars and fancy cigarettes. Coming to a bar street for noodles? What a fool. Without Xu Yanran, he was practically helpless.
"Hey, sweetheart, need a handsome guy to keep you company?"
"Let go of me, you bastards!"
Fang Tianzhuo was about to leave when a woman's scream cut through the noise. A stunning figure darted behind him, pressing close.
Trouble? Harassment? Fang Tianzhuo tensed, his gaze hardening as he took in the trembling, beautiful stranger cowering behind him. A surge of righteousness flooded him, and he stepped forward, shielding her.
"What do you think you're doing?" he barked.
"Oh? You gonna play hero for her, pretty boy?"
The thugs sported garish hair colors—scrawny but mean-looking. They circled him instantly. The leader lashed out with a kick to Fang Tianzhuo's stomach, but he dodged, slamming a fist into the man's jaw. A howl echoed down the street. A burly goon lunged; Fang Tianzhuo drove his heel into the man's face. But as he turned, a sharp pain exploded in his back—splinters of a shattered chair scattered across the ground.
He stumbled, taking the woman down with him. They hit the pavement, tangled together. The leader, spitting curses, grabbed two beer bottles, raising them to bash Fang Tianzhuo's skull in.
"Argh!"
A scream—then the crunch of glass. Beer and blood poured down the thug's head, fragments glinting in the light. In less than a minute, the others were writhing on the ground, clutching their wounds. A tall, imposing figure stepped into view.
Fang Tianzhuo squinted. Familiar… yes.
"Tianzhuo, look at you—you're out of shape! Need to hit the gym, buddy!" The man boomed, laughing.
"Tianwei? It's you!"
Gao Tianwei—Fang Tianzhuo's oldest, closest friend. They'd grown up together in that small town, mud-fighting and getting into scrapes side by side. Gao Tianwei had flunked the college entrance exam, joining the army instead. It had been over four years since they'd last seen each other—since graduation, nearly six months ago.
Gao Tianwei was bulkier now, his muscles straining even through his sweater. Thick eyebrows framed sharp, eagle-like eyes that radiated an intimidating intensity—one that pinned the thugs to the ground, their bodies shaking as they begged for mercy.
"Scram, you losers!" With Gao Tianwei's roar, the toughs scrambled up, tripping over themselves as they fled.
Fang Tianzhuo stood, hauling the woman to her feet.
"Are you okay?" he asked, polite despite the adrenaline.
"I'm fine. Thank you—both of you. I don't know what I'd have done with those men." Her voice was steady, no trace of the earlier fear.
"To thank you, would you two mind joining me for a drink?" She fixed Fang Tianzhuo with a slow, smoldering gaze.
Gao Tianwei's eyes softened as he looked at her, the earlier ferocity melting into something warmer.
"Appreciate it, but we just ran into each other after years apart. We'd rather catch up alone. Thanks for the offer, though." Fang Tianzhuo was wary—this bar district was full of shadows, and something about this beautiful stranger set off quiet alarms. He declined firmly.
"Here's my number. Call if you ever need anything." She didn't press, pulling out a small notebook, scribbling a name and number, then tearing off the page and handing it to him.
"Thank you again. Until we meet." Before he could react, she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his cheek, then vanished into a BMW parked curb-side. The engine roared to life, and she was gone.
Fang Tianzhuo and Gao Tianwei stood frozen. Who was she? Stunning, bold, wealthy… He unfolded the paper. A beautiful name stared back: Chen Yuqi.
"Are you crazy? Why'd you turn her down?" Gao Tianwei grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"C'mon. Let's go to my place for a drink—catch up properly. She's a rich woman, we're not gigolos. Let's not kid ourselves." Fang Tianzhuo chuckled, tugging his friend along.