Chapter Four: Sima Zhao (Bonus Chapter for 10,000 Starting Coins)

As dusk began to fall, Qi Tianhua was the first to suggest heading back. Luo Wei, who shared the same route, left with him. The others soon followed, bidding their farewells one after another. Naturally, Xia Qing left with Ji Yuan, and the two of them took Ren Yaya along as well, on the grounds that she lived in the same neighborhood as Xia Qing, and it would be convenient for Ji Yuan to give her a ride home.

Yan Xue had found herself a decent excuse, planning to say that since she'd gone out earlier to pick up and drop off Song Chen, she hadn’t been able to help prepare the dishes, so she intended to stay behind and help wash up and tidy the kitchen. However, Xia Qing and the others did not even ask her before leaving; they simply bade her a natural goodbye and left. The house, which had been bustling moments before, was now left with only her and Kang Ge.

The two of them exchanged glances, and Kang Ge broke into a laugh.

"You didn't really stay behind just to help me wash the dishes, did you?" he asked with a grin, looking at Yan Xue. "You seemed like there was something you wanted to say earlier. Now’s as good a time as any. What is it you’d like to talk about?"

Yan Xue was the sort who couldn’t keep things bottled up and disliked harboring things in her heart. Since she’d decided she wanted to talk to Kang Ge, she certainly wasn’t going to back down at the last moment.

"Yes, I do want to talk to you," she admitted, choosing her words carefully to avoid making things awkward. "I’m a bit curious—what kind of person is your sister?"

"Curious about my sister?" Kang Ge evidently hadn’t expected the conversation to begin this way and was slightly taken aback. "Why are you curious about her? Did her fashion sense—covered in logos—shock you into fascination?"

"Oh, no, it’s not that," Yan Xue quickly waved her hands. The last time Kang Ge had borrowed clothes for her from his sister, it had been rather amusing, but not enough to spark her curiosity. "I just wanted to ask—do you think I’m anything like your sister?"

Hearing her out, Kang Ge understood. He smiled, then set aside his earlier teasing and replied earnestly, "I’ve never seen you as a sister figure, and you’re nothing like her. If you’re wondering why I seem to pay you particular attention, I can answer that. It’s because, on my part, I have feelings for you, so I’ve simply acted according to my heart. Have I made you uncomfortable in any way? Or caused you trouble?"

Kang Ge’s forthright response genuinely surprised Yan Xue. She’d had suitors before, but none had ever been so direct. Whenever she’d tried to clarify someone’s intentions, they would always dodge and equivocate, or claim she was overthinking it—that they were merely being gentlemanly, or just caring as friends, and that she shouldn’t misunderstand or read too much into things.

Yan Xue had always found such people most tiresome. In her view, if you like someone, you like them; if you don’t, you don’t. Be straightforward—it saves everyone a lot of guesswork. If it’s one-sided, then best to lay it out early and return to normalcy.

After all, liking someone isn’t a crime, and being unable to accept another’s feelings is perfectly normal—no one is obliged to reciprocate another’s affections. Fate and feelings are mysterious things, and when you add in the realities of life, it’s inevitable that sometimes all you can do is say thank you, turn the page, and move on without awkwardness.

This was the first time Yan Xue had ever met someone who openly admitted their feelings before she’d even made her position clear. Her surprise aside, it changed her impression of Kang Ge for the better.

"I suspected it was possible," Yan Xue said, finding his honesty refreshing. "But I didn’t expect you to admit it so directly."

Kang Ge grinned and spread his hands. "I thought I was being as obvious as Sima Zhao—everyone should have known. But why shouldn’t I admit it? Liking you is nothing to be ashamed of!"

"Of course it isn’t," Yan Xue agreed. "But sometimes, when people aren’t sure if their feelings will be returned, they prefer to hide them, to avoid rejection or awkwardness afterward."

"Liking someone only has two outcomes: rejection or acceptance. It’s fifty-fifty, nothing mysterious. If you’re too afraid of hurting your pride, you probably don’t like the person enough," Kang Ge shrugged. "As for awkwardness, well, that depends on what kind of person you’re dealing with. If the other is awkward or shy, there’s a risk. But if they’re straightforward, there’s no need to worry."

He looked at Yan Xue, his gaze clearly suggesting that she belonged to the straightforward type.

"Come to think of it, we haven’t known each other that long," Yan Xue laughed. "It’s only been a few months since I transferred back, yet sometimes you seem to know me so well!"

Indeed, she was the kind who handled feelings cleanly and appreciated it when the other party was direct and honest. Yet, all the people she’d encountered before had either held back from the start, leaving themselves an escape route, or for reasons unclear, twisted their affection into something ambiguous.

"It’s funny," Kang Ge said, noticing her surprise. "Sometimes I feel like I see my own reflection in you."

Yan Xue had the impression he’d said that before. "You really know how to keep people guessing!"

"Too kind," Kang Ge replied with a laugh. "I don’t mean to be mysterious. I just think some things are best left until the right moment, otherwise it can all seem forced or melodramatic." Then he asked, "So now you know how I feel. What about you? What do you think?"

Since she’d been the one to raise the question, Yan Xue saw no reason to be coy. She considered for a moment, then replied, "I have a good impression of you. Your personality and the way you handle things are both comfortable and easy to get along with. Nothing awkward. But, as you said, we haven’t known each other very long, and there’s still plenty we don’t know about one another. So my suggestion is that we give each other a period of observation. Now that everything’s out in the open, there’s no need for secrets. If, after getting to know each other better, things still feel right, then let’s be together. If, after that, we find that while we get along, it’s only as friends, then we accept it, step back, and move on—no awkwardness, just face each other openly as before."

"That works for me. Let’s consider it agreed!" Kang Ge accepted readily, holding out his hand for a high five. Glancing at the time, he pointed to the television in the living room. "If you’re free, want to watch a movie? Afterwards, I’ll give you a ride home."

"Sure!" Yan Xue agreed at once. The air was getting colder and the days shorter. Though the sun was setting, it wasn’t late. Since they had agreed to get to know each other with the intention of dating, it made sense to spend time together outside of work—otherwise, it would all be just business.

In the end, Yan Xue picked the movie—a comedy that had been in theaters recently. Both of them had been swamped with work and had missed it, so now was the perfect opportunity to catch up. The film was genuinely funny, and Yan Xue, who was easily amused, laughed from start to finish. During the movie, Kang Ge somehow produced a stash of snacks, even a bucket of popcorn, as if he’d planned to watch the film together all along.

Afterwards, Kang Ge drove Yan Xue home. Even after she’d said goodnight and returned to her apartment, the pleasant mood lingered through her nightly routine and as she slipped into bed. The agitation brought on by Song Chen’s unexpected visit earlier that day had long since vanished.

Maybe this time she’d really met the right person? That was Yan Xue’s last half-formed thought as she drifted off to sleep.

In the past, whenever someone pursued her, Yan Xue always felt the other must be crazy, and if she accepted, she must be crazy too. That strange sense of resistance and aversion always surfaced immediately.

But not this time. Though she remained cautious, deciding to get to know him better first, at the very moment she realized his feelings, her heart fluttered—just a little.

That night, Yan Xue slept soundly and dreamlessly, until she was startled awake by her phone ringing. The sky outside was still shrouded in early dawn; even without checking the time, she knew it was the middle of the night.

Anyone calling at such an hour—whether for work or family—could only mean trouble.

She was instantly alert, sat up, and answered the phone.

Kang Ge’s voice came through the receiver: "No more sleeping in; we’ve got a case. Need to head out to the scene. I’ll be at your place in ten minutes."