Chapter 11

When the movie ended and the lights came up, Su Louzhi practically skipped out of the screening room.

The film had been right up her alley. The first half had her laughing nonstop, and the ending delivered an unexpected emotional gut punch about family—she'd nearly cried. If Ji Kailan hadn't been sitting right next to her, she might have actually let the tears fall. It had been a long time since she'd enjoyed a movie this much.

Ji Kailan walked beside her, watching her bright-eyed, light-footed joy with a smile he couldn't quite suppress. "Zhizhi," he said softly, "it's lunchtime. Want to grab something to eat?"

Su Louzhi nodded and typed into her phone: [Sure! What does Senior Ji feel like? My treat!]

She held the screen up for him, eyes sparkling.

Ji Kailan glanced at it and didn't demur. "There's a Cantonese private kitchen on the third floor—great food, reasonable prices. Want to give it a try?"

Su Louzhi had no objections, of course. She'd never been to this mall, so whatever Ji Kailan said went. She gave a docile nod.

Ji Kailan caught that little "whatever you say" expression and the curve of his mouth deepened.

They took the elevator down to the third floor, and Ji Kailan led her through a few twists and turns before stopping at an unassuming storefront.

Inside, the décor was elegant and the crowd sparse. Ji Kailan naturally guided her to the corner table, pulled out her chair, and only sat down after she was settled, then handed her the menu.

Su Louzhi blinked, then pushed the menu back toward him. She'd said she was treating, so of course he should order.

Ji Kailan looked at the menu returned to him, one eyebrow lifting slightly. He seemed to understand her meaning even before she could type it out, and without further fuss, he opened the menu and ordered four dishes: white-cut chicken, steamed coral trout, stuffed tofu, and braised lion's head goose. When he was done, he handed the menu back to Su Louzhi.

Su Louzhi looked it over—four dishes, a good mix of meat and vegetables, all of it appetizing—but she hesitated, then flipped to the soup section.

Ji Kailan noticed her browsing the soups. "Zhizhi," he said at the right moment, "this place has a signature: their house-brewed fruit wine. Very low alcohol content, won't get you drunk, but it's especially sweet and refreshing. Want to try it?"

Su Louzhi blinked. Fruit wine? She'd never had alcohol in her life. Ji Kailan's suggestion piqued her curiosity—and since he said it wouldn't get her drunk, it should be fine, right?

She put down the menu and nodded at him.

The food came quickly. The white-cut chicken had crisp skin and silky meat, the coral trout was impossibly tender, the stuffed tofu burst with juice in every bite, and the lion's head goose was seasoned to perfection. Su Louzhi ate with great satisfaction.

And of course, there was the pot of fruit wine.

Ji Kailan hadn't lied—it was genuinely sweet, like juice, with none of the harsh bite she'd imagined alcohol would have. She found herself drinking several cups without thinking.

Midway through, she noticed that Ji Kailan's cup seemed to contain tea?

She typed: [Why isn't Senior Ji drinking the fruit wine?]

Ji Kailan smiled slightly. "I'll be driving later. No matter how low the alcohol content, it's still alcohol."

Su Louzhi's eyes widened with realization. Right—don't drink and drive! How could she have forgotten that?

She gave an embarrassed little smile and typed: [My bad. Safety first!]

Ji Kailan watched that "I was wrong" expression and the amusement in his eyes deepened.

By the end of the meal, Su Louzhi's stomach was pleasantly round. She happily went to settle the bill, then followed Ji Kailan down to the underground parking garage.

The car pulled out of the mall, and Su Louzhi leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the street scenes recede outside the window. The warm sunlight fell on her, cozy enough to make her want to close her eyes.

Ji Kailan's apartment really was close to campus. Barely a ten-minute drive from the mall, and the car was already pulling into a complex that looked upscale. When Su Louzhi got out, she couldn't help but look around.

She'd caught a glimpse of the characters at the entrance as they drove in—Minghua Yuan? She remembered Jiang Yi mentioning it once, saying a lot of Capital University professors lived there. It seemed her instructors for Microeconomics & Macroeconomics and Money & Banking were residents too.

Minghua Yuan's underground parking garage was spacious and bright, with a decor that balanced opulent grandeur with quiet elegance. The elevator lobby was the same: mirror-polished marble walls, soft warm lighting, and that exclusive one-elevator-per-home privacy where your keycard only reached your own floor.

Su Louzhi had never lived in a complex like this. After her rebirth, she wasn't strapped for cash, but she'd only ever lived in ordinary apartment buildings. This kind of upscale flat was something she'd never experienced up close, so she found herself taking it all in.

Ji Kailan noticed her gaze and smiled. "Minghua Yuan was built a few years ago," he said casually as he pressed the floor button. "Close to campus, good greenery, solid property management. And most importantly, it's very private. A lot of students and faculty who don't want to live on campus stay here."

Su Louzhi listened intently, her eyes growing brighter. She'd never looked into housing in the capital, but just from the parking garage, she could already tell living here would be comfortable.

By the time the elevator reached the 18th floor, she'd been silently doing the math. Based on Ji Kailan's description of Minghua Yuan's prices... her savings might be enough?

Enough to pay in full, with plenty to spare.

Ji Kailan watched the "I'm seriously tempted" look on Su Louzhi's face and felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. He'd meant to encourage her to visit more often—not steer her toward buying property.

He quickly spoke up. "If Zhizhi likes it here so much, does she want to be my neighbor?"

Su Louzhi nodded, eyes still bright.

Ji Kailan smiled, his tone softening. "No rush on buying a place. Zhizhi gets along well with her roommates, right?"

Su Louzhi nodded again.

"Since you get along with your roommates, don't be in a hurry to move out," Ji Kailan continued as he unlocked the door. "Besides, this place is close to school, but after graduation, Zhizhi might not necessarily work near campus. You can take your time choosing later." He paused, turning to look at her. "If Zhizhi likes it here, you're welcome to come to my place anytime."

Su Louzhi was momentarily taken aback, then typed: [Wouldn't that be too much trouble for Senior Ji?]

Ji Kailan glanced at the words, a slight curve lifting his lips. "No trouble at all."

The door opened, and Su Louzhi stepped inside, letting out a quiet breath.

Bright. Clean. Open. A palette of black, white, and gray, with crisp, clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows framing an excellent view. The space was large and airy, yet didn't feel cold or empty.

Ji Kailan gave her a quick tour, finally stopping at one door. "This is the guest bedroom," he said, pushing it open. "It has its own bathroom. I have a housekeeper come by regularly, so everything is clean."

He walked to the wardrobe and opened it. "There's a bathrobe in here—brand new, washed but never worn. Just for guests. Zhizhi is welcome to use it."

Su Louzhi looked, then nodded.

Ji Kailan stood at the door, confirming she had everything she needed, then gave a slight smile. "Then Zhizhi should rest well. Good afternoon."

Su Louzhi's eyes curved into crescents, and she typed: [Good afternoon, Senior Ji.]

Ji Kailan pulled the door shut, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Su Louzhi walked to the wardrobe and opened it. Inside, folded neatly, was a bathrobe—white, with a soft cotton texture and a faint scent of fresh laundry detergent.

But... it was a men's cut.

Su Louzhi paused for a moment. She figured either Ji Kailan usually hosted male friends, or a men's robe was just roomier and worked for anyone.

She didn't overthink it. She really couldn't sleep in her outdoor clothes anyway.

She picked up the robe and went into the bathroom.

The men's robe was indeed a bit large on her—the shoulders hung loose, the sleeves ran long—but once she cinched the belt tight, it worked well enough.

Su Louzhi checked her reflection in the mirror, decided it was fine, then drew the curtains and lay down on the bed.

The curtains were wonderfully blackout; the moment she pulled them, the room dimmed.

Su Louzhi closed her eyes, and drowsiness rose quickly.

—

In the study.

Ji Kailan sat in front of his computer, the screen displaying a quiet, clear image.

In the guest bedroom, Su Louzhi had already lain down. Her eyes closed, her breathing gradually steadying, she was sunk into the soft bedding with only a calm profile visible.

Ji Kailan watched that face, his gaze quiet.

He waited.

Waited a moment longer.

Only when the person on the screen was completely asleep, her lashes no longer trembling, did he slowly rise.

The computer stayed on. The surveillance feed remained lit.

Ji Kailan walked out of the study, his steps so light they barely made a sound. He stopped at the guest bedroom door, the door handle within reach.

He extended his hand and slowly closed his fingers around it.