Volume 1, Chapter 25: Finally, You've Contacted Me

As the door slowly creaked open, Zhou Shutong drifted toward me like a cloud.

She wore no makeup, yet her natural, oval face was as fresh and delicate as a chrysanthemum. In an age where cosmetics act like a mask, completely transforming one's appearance, her unadorned beauty was a refreshing sight that instantly caught my eye.

She was dressed in a light-colored nightgown that clung to her frame, accentuating her alluring, S-shaped curves. Her wine-red, slightly wavy hair flowed loosely, adding a touch of lazy, effortless charm to her every movement.

Having known her for quite some time, I still felt my heart skip a beat. I smiled and asked, "Did you just wake up?"

Zhou Shutong nodded, her thick eyelashes fluttering. "Yes! With all the mid-year sales going on lately, I’ve been livestreaming until one or two in the morning."

"Isn't that schedule a bit too demanding?"

"It is! I’m just an exhausted 'old lady' who has to work through the weekends, too."

I frowned, taking the cola she handed me. Out of genuine concern, I said, "That’s not good. It’s not worth sacrificing your health for the sake of work."

Zhou Shutong beamed, her tone soft and sweet. "It’s okay, I’m still young! I can handle it!"

I shook my head and countered with a smile, "Then tell me, how long has it been since you last saw the morning sun?"

Zhou Shutong was taken aback. She paused, a wry smile touching her lips as she heaved a wistful sigh. "Don't even ask. Ever since I started livestreaming, I’ve barely seen the morning at all."

"Working is a way to make a living, not to throw your life away. There's no need to sacrifice your health for a job."

She seemed touched by my words, nodding thoughtfully. "Alright, fine. Once the mid-year sales rush is over, I’ll stop streaming so late."

"When do the sales end?"

"In three days!"

"Then let’s adjust your streaming hours starting today." I glanced at my watch and added with a smile, "It's only afternoon, and there's still time before you go live. It’s not too late to reschedule."

Zhou Shutong’s mouth fell open in shock. "If I change it now, Yang Shao will definitely object. He’s the one who set these hours to match the e-commerce rhythm."

"He has no right to agree or disagree. Four hours is the absolute limit for a stream. Having you go for six is purely to help him clear out his inventory."

Zhou Shutong’s lips curled upward. "Okay! I understand. I think I finally picked the right partner."

We worked together to draft a new streaming schedule and sent it to Yang Shao, expecting him to throw a tantrum. To my surprise, he didn't dare make a peep and agreed immediately.

After receiving his reply, Zhou Shutong laughed while applying her makeup. "I never expected him to agree so readily. It seems you really scared him off when you stood up to him today."

I was startled and blurted out, "How did you know?"

She smirked. "There are no secrets in this office. I have a group chat with a few of the other girls, and we were talking about it. They said you were the first person to ever put Yang Shao in his place. Everyone is praising how brave you are!"

I shook my head and sighed, "They’re clearly captivated by my interesting soul and have chosen to ignore my handsome exterior."

Zhou Shutong pouted, turned around once she finished her makeup, and sought my opinion. "How is it? Is this look too much?"

With her makeup done, her already flawless features looked even more bewitching.

"Do you know the difference between a beautiful woman wearing makeup and an unattractive one doing the same?"

She shook her head blankly. "I don't know. Tell me."

"When a beauty wears makeup, it’s like adding flowers to a brocade. When an unattractive woman does it, it’s like plastic surgery. Clearly, you belong to the former."

Zhou Shutong burst into a giggle, her smile as radiant as peach blossoms in the rain. She reminded me of Lin Feifei.

In my mind, the only person who could rival her beauty was that playful flight attendant. Both possessed stunning figures and exquisite faces, yet they were two entirely different types.

Zhou Shutong was the kind of "lightly mature" woman no man could resist—a perfect balance of sophisticated feminine charm and innocent, ethereal grace.

Lin Feifei, on the other hand, was a "pure yet seductive" girl, as refreshing as water and uniquely beautiful. Her first impression was one of utter purity, yet her devilish figure and angelic face blended so seamlessly that she was sweet, innocent, and undeniably sexy all at once.

Thinking of Lin Feifei, I realized I hadn't spoken to her all day. I don't know when it started, but if I went a day without contact, I felt as if something were missing. Yet, when I thought about messaging her, I never knew what to say.

It was a strange feeling. We hadn't known each other long, yet I found myself wondering what she was doing.

As the days passed, just as I was about to ask what she’d been up to, she reached out to me first. Seeing her WeChat call flashing on my screen, I was thrilled.

"Hey! Yu Bin, are you free tomorrow evening?"

I was stunned. "Isn't your friend's wedding on Saturday?"

"The wedding is Saturday, but I’m taking you to buy an outfit on Friday. That jerk is going to be there on Saturday, and we can’t lose our momentum."

I laughed dryly. "Is that really necessary? He’s just a jerk! Calling him a 'pencil' would be an insult to the pencil itself. Is he worth me dressing up for?"

Lin Feifei scoffed, "Absolutely! You can lose your head, but not your hairstyle! You can bleed, but you never bow before a jerk!"

Her dramatic flair cracked me up. "Alright, fine. I don't have a stream tomorrow, so my schedule is yours."

"It’s a deal! Let’s meet at the entrance of SOLANA at 5:00 PM tomorrow, okay?"

"Sounds good."

I wanted to chat a bit more, but she didn't pick up on my intention and hung up right after.

After the call, a strange emotion welled up in my heart. I didn't know when it happened, but this beautiful flight attendant had clearly claimed a spot in my life.

I usually loathe shopping—whenever Kuang Li used to drag me along, it was pure torture. But knowing I would see Lin Feifei on Friday, I felt an unusual sense of anticipation.

Since I had no stream, I headed out happily. Before leaving, I changed my outfit several times, used so much hair wax that a fly could have gotten stuck in it, and even discreetly packed breath spray, just in case.

I arrived at SOLANA early, walked into a cafe, ordered two lattes, and went straight to a corner table by the window on the second floor.

The setting sun cast a golden glow over the surrounding buildings. Not long after, Lin Feifei emerged from the haze.

The sunset trailed behind her, her hair dancing in the amber light, looking casual yet enchanting. As she stepped onto the second floor, I waved at her. Seeing me, she swayed her slender waist and walked my way.