When you

Ye Mian paused, taking off one side of her headphones. Because they were relatives, she didn’t want Ye Qingqing to pay too much attention to Jiang Chen. More importantly, she didn’t want Ye Qingqing to ask about her relationship with him. Without thinking, she replied, “I’m listening to the radio.”

Ye Qingqing loved the movies Ye Mian recommended, so she was interested in the radio program as well. “The radio? Is it good?” She walked over, squatted in front of Ye Mian, and naturally picked up the dangling earphone, putting it to her ear. “Let me hear it. If it’s nice, I’ll listen to it when I fall asleep tonight.”

Ye Mian’s heart clenched instantly. She didn’t have time to explain or stop her, so she could only watch helplessly. Those two seconds felt like the longest of her life.

But unexpectedly, the quiet call in her ear suddenly switched to music. There was a faint static, but it wasn’t obvious.

“If one day, I am far from you...”
“If I can no longer meet you, would you notice that I have already said goodbye?”
“Dear listeners, today I recommend a sweet song—‘When You’...”

Ye Qingqing blinked, listened for a while, then put the earbud down. “Ah, so it’s just a song. I won’t listen then. I’ll go find Uncle and ask if he has time to take us shopping tomorrow, okay?”

Ye Mian nodded blankly. “Ah, sure, you go.”

As the girl walked away, the song in the headphones became clearer, carried by the evening breeze.

“When your eyes squint in laughter, when you drink cola, when you make a fuss...”
“I want to tell you, but I’m afraid I’ll say it all wrong. I really like you, do you know that?”

Inside his car, Jiang Chen’s long fingers still hovered over the radio’s play button. His phone rested on the dashboard, the melody filling the vehicle. The soft, scattered glow of the setting sun spilled through the window, melting into his gray-ink eyes and the smile lingering at the corners of his narrow gaze.

...

On the open balcony, though there was plenty of oxygen, Ye Mian felt she couldn’t breathe properly. As the sweet lyrics echoed in her mind, even the air seemed to turn tender and thin.

After a while, she finally regained her senses and spoke softly, “Jiang Chen, you really are clever.”

A true master, indeed—his ability to improvise was astonishing. She truly admired him.

Then, on the phone, the man seemed to let out two low chuckles. “She’s gone?”

Ye Mian’s heart pounded, perhaps spurred by the syrupy love song. She felt as if she were having a clandestine affair. After confirming several times, she nodded, “Mm, she’s gone.”

The light shifted with each passing second, the afterglow soon replaced by dusk. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and without thinking, she asked, “Can you sing? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you.”

Jiang Chen took a drag on his cigarette, tilting his head back slightly as he gazed upward. “Do you want to hear?”

“I do.” Ye Mian’s eyes brightened. She had only been asking, never expecting he would agree—after all, this was Jiang Chen singing. How could she refuse?

Jiang Chen stubbed out his cigarette, frowning at the lyrics on the screen, which were so sweet they bordered on embarrassing. The air was silent for a long time. Just when Ye Mian thought he might not agree so easily, a lazy, gravelly voice sounded quietly.

“I want to be good to you, but you never know.”
“Missing you, thinking of you, has become a habit...”

...

She forgot to breathe; the world seemed to pause. Sitting in the dim twilight, Ye Mian felt as if her heart had been completely ensnared by those two lines—there was no place left untouched, wrapped tightly.

Though it was only two short lines, she knew Jiang Chen probably didn’t usually listen to songs like this. So he had learned it just now. Yet, unexpectedly, it sounded wonderful.

As she listened, Ye Mian realized something very clearly—other than that one failed confession, Jiang Chen had never refused any of her requests. He really did treat her well—better than she could have hoped.

Rubbing her burning cheeks, she smiled sincerely. “You could be a celebrity; you’d be the dream of countless girls.”

Though she teased, her praise was genuine.

Jiang Chen didn’t refute her. Instead, his voice was gentle and low. “I’d rather be a top escort—no need to show my face, and there’d be rich women throwing money at me. Earning would be so easy.”

...

Ye Mian clenched her small fists. Jiang Chen—he was definitely doing this on purpose! Always saying the most mortifying things at the most mortifying moments!

“Did you call for something in particular?” Ye Mian swung her feet, sidestepping his words and awkwardly shifting the topic. She couldn’t hide her feelings, so she might as well be blunt—Jiang Chen would see through her anyway.

Jiang Chen looked into the distance again and gently asked, “May I invite you out for tea?”

Ye Mian hadn’t expected this, nor that his invitation for another meeting would come so soon. She hesitated, frowning as she considered.

Jiang Chen’s hotel was quite far away; getting a cab back and forth wouldn’t be easy, especially at night. There might be a ride there but not back. For an adult, staying out late wasn’t a problem, but not coming home at all definitely was—her father would be worried sick.

Thinking it over, she said, “Where you’re staying is a bit far—how about tomorrow?”

“Do you want to go?”

Ye Mian frowned, recalling that Jiang Chen had a car. “Okay.”

“Then come downstairs.”

“...?”

Hearing that, Ye Mian shot up from the rattan chair, leaned out, and looked down. The sun had just set, leaving only a faint glow over the city. The streetlights were on, filtering through the leaves. She saw a black car parked not far away, and beside it stood a man in a black suit, leaning against the hood, tall and straight, a phone in his hand. When he looked up at her, his dark eyes were like alleyways without light—deep and alluring, with a face both wicked and captivating, dazzlingly pale and purely dark.

“Wait for me.” After just one glance, Ye Mian hurriedly hung up and ran back inside.

She paused before the mirror, dabbed on some lip gloss, then wiped some off, leaving only a faint blush. In the living room, she called out, “Dad, I’m heading out for a bit.”

Seeing her about to leave, Ye Qingqing quickly asked, “Mianmian, where are you going?”

Ye Mian paused, remembering her sister was home. “I’m meeting a friend. Do you want to come?”

Ye Qingqing shook her head. “No, I’ll be leaving soon. My brother’s taking me shopping for clothes.”

Ye Mian nodded gently. “Should I drop you off?”

Ye Qingqing shook her head again. “It’s so close—no need. You go ahead.”

Making sure her sister truly didn’t want to be dropped off, Ye Mian hurriedly changed her shoes and left. Her steps became light and quick as she headed downstairs.

When she arrived, Jiang Chen was waiting, opening the car door for her. “Get in.”

Thank you to Xia Mo, Reader 20230612369, Reader 2023**8126, Wind Chimes, Reader 215***472, Win Win Win, Mag Peach, Liao Girl, Honghong, and KittyK for your monthly votes. Thank you all so much—deep bow and a flurry of flowers!

Thanks also to: Reader 202308, bds, Xiao Muchuan, RK-1123, Happy Gardener, Disheartened, for your generous tips. Thank you so much—deep bow and flowers!

Thank you, everyone, for loving this book. I’m so happy to have met you all. Thank you, with all my heart!

(End of this chapter)