Little Kuaile, that female employee at the company, an old grandmother, a girl from No. 1 High School, her younger brother, Li Chenyu, and now this Zheng Hao — these were only the ones he knew about. There were likely many he didn’t know.

Lu Zhe’s lips curved slightly. His Tuan Tuan had a pure and gentle heart.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

After Zheng Hao left, the manager led several assistants out the main entrance. One of them was dressed up to look like Zheng Hao.

“Zheng Hao!”

“Ahhh! Zheng Hao!”

“Zheng Hao, your performance today was amazing!”

“Zheng Hao, keep going, I’ll always support you!”

“Haohao, make sure you rest well when you get home!”

The fans who hadn’t left yet swarmed forward in excitement.

The security guards maintaining order protected Zheng Hao’s stand-in and helped him into the car.

The manager waved to the fans. “Zheng Hao is going home to rest. Thank you all for supporting him tonight. Everyone, head home and rest — it’s late, and going back too late isn’t safe.”

The manager got into the car.

“Haohao, this is a gift for you!”

“Zheng Hao, I’ll always support you!”

“Zheng Hao, you were so handsome tonight!”

“Haohao—!”

The manager said, “Everyone go home now, stop recording. Watch your hands, I’m closing the door.”

He shut the door, blocking out the fans’ noisy voices.

“Old Wu, let’s go.” The manager signaled the driver.

The car started. Fans were still slapping the doors, almost wanting to stick themselves onto the vehicle.

Old Wu checked the rearview mirror and subconsciously shook his head. Fans these days were so young, yet chased idols more wildly than anyone.

As the car moved forward, some fans even ran after it for a while. Only when the car drove farther away were the fans finally left behind.

The stand-in removed his mask and took off his hat before finally letting out a breath. He had been worried the whole time that some fan would suddenly reach in from the side and rip his mask off.

The manager was clearly used to such scenes. Smiling, he said to the two assistants, “You guys worked hard today. Zheng Hao has no schedule tomorrow, so everyone can rest for a day.”

At that moment, Old Wu in the driver’s seat glanced at the rearview mirror. “Brother Qi, there’s a car following us.”

Li Qi turned around and looked out the window. Sure enough, a black car was tailing them — and it was very close.

The manager withdrew his gaze. “Old Wu, shake them off.”

One of the assistants spoke. “Brother Qi, they don’t look like paparazzi.”

Chasing this closely didn’t match how reporters behaved.

The manager frowned. “Most likely sasaeng fans.”

Old Wu began to accelerate, and the car beside them also sped up. Old Wu made a turn, and the car followed, sticking to them like an unshakeable plaster.

On Su Ci’s side.

She had already instructed the driver to keep the speed slow — safety first.

The black car moved steadily through the night.

Su Ci kept her eyes on the time, beginning the countdown.

Three minutes.

Two minutes.

One minute.

Su Ci pressed her lips together. As the time dropped from thirty seconds to the final ten, then five, her gaze drifted past Lu Zhe and landed on Zheng Hao’s hand holding his phone. She saw the life bar on his wrist change — from a red thread to six yellow blocks.

Success.

Two golden cotton candies appeared in her account all at once, and Su Ci couldn’t help the delighted curve of her eyes.

Zheng Hao seemed to sense something. He looked up and saw Su Ci smiling at him. Even in the dim lighting of the car, she looked bright and stunning.

Zheng Hao’s heart suddenly sped up.

He had to admit — even in the entertainment industry, Su Ci’s looks were unmatched.

Lu Zhe shifted his body slightly, blocking Zheng Hao’s line of sight. Lowering his head, his dark gaze rested quietly on Su Ci. His large hand gently landed on her head. “Do you want water?”

Su Ci licked her dry lips. She had been tense ever since the concert started and hadn’t had anything to drink. She really was thirsty. She nodded.

Lu Zhe opened the bottle. Instead of handing it to her like usual, he brought the bottle’s mouth directly to her lips.

Su Ci drank in small sips from his hand.

Their interaction was so naturally intimate that Zheng Hao looked away. He could already tell that Su Ci and this boy’s relationship was far from simple.

The guesses he and his manager had made earlier had all been just wishful thinking.

A faint discomfort pricked Zheng Hao’s heart. At that moment, his phone rang.

It was a call from one of his assistants.

Zheng Hao answered the call.

He immediately heard chaotic noise on the other end. “Hello? Why are you calling me?”

After a long moment, his assistant’s voice finally came through — weak, trembling, mixed with panic and tears. “Hao-ge… we got into a car accident. Brother Qi and the driver are seriously injured. The paramedics are already here… they’re being rushed to emergency care.”

The assistant sounded helpless. “Hao-ge, please come quickly.”

Hearing this, Zheng Hao shot upright, eyes wide with shock. “Which hospital are you at?”

The assistant told him the hospital name.

From Zheng Hao’s words, Su Ci already guessed what had happened.

She didn’t expect that although Zheng Hao had escaped disaster, the car accident still occurred. But earlier, she hadn’t seen any red life bars backstage today.

After hanging up, Zheng Hao looked at Su Ci. “My manager and assistant were in a car accident. Can you take me to the hospital?”

“All right.” Su Ci had no objections.

She had seen the manager’s and assistants’ life bars — both were yellow.

They weren’t in life-threatening danger.

Zheng Hao looked at Su Ci gratefully. “Thank you.”

She had saved him yet again. If he hadn’t gotten into her car, would he also be lying in the hospital right now?

The car arrived at the hospital entrance.

Zheng Hao put on his mask and hat. “We’re here. Thank you.”

He looked deeply at Su Ci again. She had saved him twice today.

Su Ci was truly his benefactor.

Su Ci nodded. “Be careful.”

She had already called her older brother to inform him about the manager’s accident. Since they were employees of her family’s company, of course someone had to be sent to help.

Then the car drove to the Su residence.

“You’re getting out with me.” Su Ci tugged on Lu Zhe’s hand.

Lu Zhe followed her out of the car. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m giving you something good.” Su Ci, mindful of the driver and the gate guards, pulled Lu Zhe by the hand toward the iron gate.

“Tuan Tuan.” Lu Zhe stopped. “Your family is inside, and it’s already late. Go in and rest.”

Every time the girl told him she had something good for him, he knew she wanted to kiss him.

Now, with it being so late, it wasn’t the right time.

He lowered his head and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I’ll watch until you go inside.”

Su Ci licked her lips and shook her head. “Not that.”

She wanted to give him a golden cotton candy.

Her shimmering eyes looked at him. “Come with me, just for a moment.” She held his hand tightly, refusing to let go.

Lu Zhe’s dark gaze dropped to her pale fingers. His heart softened, and he followed her inside.

Su Ci signaled the gate guards to act like they saw nothing.

Once again, the guards pretended to be dead, letting their young miss openly drag a boy by the hand through the gate.

The villa lights were on, the entire interior bright from the outside.

Su Ci knew her parents — even her older brother — were home. She didn’t dare take Lu Zhe to the backyard; after all, she had already been caught there once by her brother.

There was an artificial rock mountain in the front yard, with tall bamboo planted beside it.

Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe toward the rock mountain and slipped behind it.

“Are we basically having a secret affair like this?” Su Ci stood face-to-face with him, mischief sparkling in her eyes.

Lu Zhe let out a quiet sigh. He didn’t even know how he ended up going along with her nonsense.

The boy’s eyes were deep as he asked, “Don’t you find this troublesome?”

Being with him meant sneaking around, hiding. Wouldn’t she feel wronged?

Su Ci shook her head. “I don’t. Do you find it troublesome?”

She glared at him fiercely, looking ready to bite him if he dared say yes.

Lu Zhe reached out and pinched her cheek. “No.”

He was only worried she’d feel wronged.

Su Ci finally smiled. She lifted both arms and hooked them around his shoulders, her pretty red lips leaning toward him.

She blinked, voice soft and teasing. “Kiss me properly. No half-hearted stuff.”

Under the moonlight, the girl looked like a little enchantress.

Lu Zhe’s lips curved, his gaze indulgent. “Mm.”

The space behind the rock mountain wasn’t large, just barely enough for two people.

Su Ci pressed closely against Lu Zhe. As their lips met, she slipped a golden cotton candy into his mouth.

She had received two this time — one for Lu Zhe, one saved for Fugui. After all, Fugui could currently only see causes of death within three days, which was troublesome. She needed to upgrade it.

The golden cotton candy melted between Lu Zhe’s lips. Su Ci’s eyes curved with delight as her small tongue followed in, mischievously hooking against his.

Lu Zhe’s eyes darkened.

He cupped the back of her head with one hand, pulling her tighter against him.

Su Ci’s back was against the rock mountain, the hard stone digging into her. After a while, discomfort grew, and she leaned even closer into Lu Zhe.

“Tuan Tuan.”

Lu Zhe pulled back slightly, his black eyes dark enough to drip ink. His bandaged hand gripped her waist, his voice gritted, “Don’t move.”

Su Ci couldn’t tolerate even the slightest grievance. Her black eyes immediately accused him. “You’re pressing me. My back hurts.”

Lu Zhe froze. “Sorry.”

He took a breath, then switched their positions, placing his own back against the rock mountain.

Only then did Su Ci smile again, turning back into a teasing little enchantress. She rose on her tiptoes and leaned in to kiss him once more.

Lu Zhe’s hand on the back of her head tightened slightly, and his fingertips accidentally hooked the yellow ribbon tied to her ponytail.

The ribbon slipped loose.

Her smooth, silky hair fell down her back. Lu Zhe’s heart began pounding hard in his chest, his fingers turning numb.

This numbness wasn’t like what he felt during an episode — it was different, like a small electric current running from his fingertips through his entire body, bringing an indescribable sense of pleasure.

Lu Zhe tangled with her lips fiercely for a few moments before releasing her.

His voice no longer held even a trace of coolness.

Under the moonlight, the boy’s clean, handsome features were tinged with desire. He held her by the waist. “Go back.”

Su Ci, satisfied from the sweetness between them, nodded obediently. Her soft long hair draped behind her, and at this moment, she looked as sweet and gentle as a little angel.

Lu Zhe bent down and picked up the yellow ribbon from the ground. The thin ribbon hung lightly from his long fingers.

“Do you want me to tie it back for you?” Lu Zhe was a little curious, how such a tiny ribbon could tie up the girl’s hair in the first place.

Su Ci shook her head. She snatched the ribbon back. “Hold out your hand.”

Lu Zhe cooperated immediately.

Su Ci wrapped the ribbon once around his wrist, then tied a pretty bow. Trembling with laughter, she leaned into his arms. “Lu Zhe, you’re my present.”

Lu Zhe’s gaze fell on the bow. He let out a soft laugh. “Mm.”

Under the moonlight, Lu Zhe could hear the uneven rhythm of his own heartbeat.