“He is called Li An.”

Page (1/3)
Wanda on Chenyang Road, first-floor dessert shop.
Looking at the smiling face in front of her, Sun Yuman wore an expression that clearly said she wanted to hit someone.
“Did you just agree to him just like that?”
Chen Xuan held her milk tea and nodded, then took a sip. It still wasn’t as good as the strawberry fruit tea she had last time.
“Big sister.”
Sun Yuman lowered her head, supporting her forehead with her hand. “Do you know what day the 24th is?”
Chen Xuan replied bluntly, “I didn’t know at the time.”
Sun Yuman sighed in resignation. “At least don’t agree outright. Find an uncertain excuse to decline first. Just say you might have something else going on; after all, it’s not like you have to go out the very next day.”
Chen Xuan asked, “What’s the point?”
Sun Yuman said, “See how he acts. If he really wants to take you out, he’ll keep pushing about it. But if you agree so easily, what if he was just saying it casually? Who knows if he’s asked others out at the same time?”
Chen Xuan said firmly, “He’s not that kind of person.”
“Tch.”
Sun Yuman snorted, “You can’t see these things.”
Chen Xuan didn’t respond. Such matters are hard to explain, and since she chose to trust Li An, she wouldn’t believe something like that could happen.
“It’s just a date, don’t make it so complicated, okay?”
If it were anyone else, Sun Yuman wouldn’t even bother asking.
“It’s not complicated at all.” Sun Yuman pouted. “He’s probably secretly pleased with himself these days, so easily getting you to agree.”
“Let me tell you, even if his attitude is sincere and serious, even if you both have a mild mutual acceptance like you say, still...”
Sun Yuman changed her tone, “But agreeing so casually, you know, it kind of lowers your value.”
“Sometimes men can be really shameless.”
“The harder something is to get, the more they cherish it.”
Chen Xuan thought for a moment and said, “I don’t get it. But have you ever considered that maybe I’m that kind of person too?”
“For example, this time, I agreed so quickly because I want to see how he behaves next, to get more freshness from love.”
“If he asks me out so soon, maybe he’ll confess before long, and we’ll be together. Then he’ll be very proactive and good to me at first, but after a while, I’ll realize he can’t give me any more novelty, and then I’ll break up.”
Sun Yuman was stunned. “What are you saying...”
Chen Xuan said, “I’m just suggesting a possibility. Like you said, men can be like that sometimes. I think some things can’t be tied to gender or love.”
“What’s always out of reach keeps stirring unrest. You could say a child deprived of a favorite toy isn’t just about men and women.”
“Tsk tsk tsk.”

Page (2/3)
Sun Yuman smacked her lips, starting to look at Chen Xuan in a new light. “Didn’t expect that, Comrade Xiaomi.”
Chen Xuan smiled, “Just discussing facts.”
Sun Yuman chuckled, “Discussing facts, my foot. You’re just lovestruck. By the way, when are you going to introduce him to me? Let me—”
Chen Xuan shrugged, “I asked him just now. He said he doesn’t want to disturb your two-person world.”
“Hmph, he’s smart at least.”
Sun Yuman mentally tagged Li An as considerate.
Then she summarized, “Anyway, remember these points for the day after tomorrow.”
Chen Xuan put down her milk tea and made a gesture inviting her to continue.
“First, if he gets you an iced drink, say you can’t have it. Even if you can, say you can’t.”
“Second, if he suggests watching a movie after dinner, okay, no problem. When watching the movie, it’s fine if his hand isn’t too still, but just holding your hand lightly or something like that.”
“Based on the second point, third, if it’s already late after the movie and he suggests going for coffee or milk tea, or anything that drags the time past midnight, you have to clearly refuse. If he insists, call me immediately.”
“Wait, does he know you live alone out of town?”
Chen Xuan replied, “...Come on, we’ve been colleagues for four months.”
Sun Yuman: “True.”
“Fourth, normally after the date ends, he’ll want to see you home, but only to the entrance of your residential community. Absolutely don’t let him know your exact address.”
“Fifth, if—”
“Xiao Yu.”
Chen Xuan interrupted Sun Yuman, “There’s actually something I haven’t told you.”
Sun Yuman felt a bad premonition rise. “Hmm?”
After a moment.
“He lives right next door...”
Sun Yuman’s eyes went wide instantly.
A loud “Holy crap!” drew the attention of nearby people.
Then Sun Yuman lowered her voice and asked rapidly, “What’s going on? Don’t tell me you two have already...”
“You’re overthinking. Just next door.”
Seeing Chen Xuan so calm, Sun Yuman relaxed, but her curiosity almost outweighed her concern for her friend’s situation. “What’s really going on? Is there anything else I don’t know? Spill it.”
At this point, Chen Xuan felt she could tell her about Li An’s other job. Before, she worried that with Sun Yuman’s personality, she might overreact if she knew about Li An’s role at Blue Whale.
But with their current relationship, she had no reservations.

Page (3/3)
“Xiao Yu, you actually met him a long time ago.”
Sun Yuman: “?”
“When? Where? Were we together then?”
Chen Xuan: “Remember once you asked me if I wanted to go to a Western restaurant with you?”
Sun Yuman smirked, “Yeah, I remember. That night your clueless crush had work, so you guys didn’t have the office gathering. Haha, I realized from that day I wasn’t your favorite anymore.”
“Xiao Yu, you’re different...”
Sun Yuman spat, “I’m sorry, Sister Mi, don’t take it seriously. I had a slip of the tongue. We’re all your favorites. Now answer my question!”
Chen Xuan: “I did. Time and place, all told. We weren’t together then.”
Sun Yuman’s expression froze.
She recalled that night briefly, her memory stopping at the handsome profile of a man sitting at the piano, a slight smile on his lips.
After a brief shock, her pupils constricted wildly.
Her mouth instinctively dropped open, and her hands flailed uncontrollably in front of her chest. “Y-yes, yes, yes—”
“Is it him?!”
Again, several nearby tables turned to look.
Sun Yuman covered her mouth. She absolutely couldn’t accept this plot twist.
She just couldn’t imagine that the diligent, self-disciplined, work-focused, unromantic male colleague Chen Xuan talked about could be the same person who played sensual jazz piano that night.
These were clearly two different people!
This is like a novel!
She couldn’t accept such a contrast!
Are there any men like this left?
Watching Sun Yuman’s series of expressions, Chen Xuan felt a sweet joy—this must be the pleasure of sharing emotional secrets.
She was experiencing it for the first time.
Sun Yuman silently digested it for a moment, then asked calmly, “Is it really him?”
Chen Xuan pursed her lips and nodded.
“His name is Li An.”