Chapter 2

The group chat was still blowing up.
[Wait, we have that many famous people in our complex?]
[No big stars, but there are a few influencers and small celebs.]
[Who’d this person piss off? How’d they even find her home?]
[Has to be some crazy fan, they always find a way.]
Shen Youwei stopped reading. Her mind jumped back to that delivery man in the elevator. At the time, she hadn’t thought twice about him. But now, the more she recalled, the more suspicious he seemed.
Could he have been the fake delivery man they were talking about?
A chill ran down her spine. That bag he was holding, what if it had a knife inside?
“Miss Shen? Sorry to bother you, it’s the property management.”
The knock on her door made her jump. She took a breath before walking over to check the camera feed.
After confirming it really was the property staff, she opened the door. “What is it?”
“The police have a few questions for you.” The property staff gestured to the person beside him.
The officer showed his badge. “We reviewed the security footage. The suspect rode the same elevator as you earlier. We’d like to ask about that.”
Shen Youwei froze. So her hunch was right. “It really was him? Did you catch him?”
“Not yet. That’s why we’re asking if you noticed anything that could help.”
“Oh.” Shen Youwei straightened up, suddenly feeling like this was a heavy responsibility. “He was wearing a helmet and a mask, kept his head down the whole time. I couldn’t see his face. He wasn’t that tall though, about up to here.”
She gestured with her hand. “I’m one seventy-two, so he was maybe one seventy-five?”
The officer jotted it down. “Could we get your contact info? Once we catch the suspect, we may need you to identify him.”
“Of course.” She hesitated before asking, “Will he be able to see me?”
“No, only you’ll see him. He won’t see you.”
Relieved, Shen Youwei gave her number. After answering a few more questions, the officers left. She grabbed a bottle of milk from the fridge, sank into the couch, and took a long drink.
What a day. She needed calcium just to steady her nerves.
Even though the management tried to contain the news, it still hit the hot searches in no time and exploded to the top.
Two empty bottles of milk now sat on her coffee table as she curled up on the sofa, scrolling through Weibo.
[Too scary. Everyone, stop posting photos of your windows, people can literally identify the building from them.]
[Someone even pinpointed her floor, what kind of tech is that?!]
[People are getting way too extreme. Don’t like her? Fine. But stabbing? Seriously?]
[That neighborhood has a bunch of small celebs and influencers.]
[Heard Shen Youwei lives there, same building, even!!]
[Who’s leaking her address?! What’s their problem??]
[If I were Shen Youwei, I’d be moving out tonight.]
Shen Youwei shot up from the couch. She dropped her phone and started packing.
Halfway through, someone banged on her door, hard. Her heart jumped into her throat. She nearly ran to the kitchen to grab a knife.
“Youwei, are you home?”
Just as she turned toward the kitchen, a woman’s voice came from outside. Shen Youwei froze, then hurried to open the door. “Godmother? What are you doing here?”
Standing outside in a long brown trench coat was Xie Mingqiu. She gave Shen Youwei a once-over. “You’re okay? I saw the trending news and came to pick you up.”
“Pick me up?” Shen Youwei blinked. “To where?”
“Home, of course. I don’t feel safe with you living here alone.” Xie Mingqiu brushed past her, urging, “Come on, pack up now, you’ll make it in time for dinner.”
Before Shen Youwei could respond, her godmother had already changed into her slippers and stepped inside. She came by often, so even the building security knew her, and Shen Youwei always kept an extra pair of slippers for her.
In the living room, Xie Mingqiu noticed the half-packed suitcases on the floor. She stopped, surprised. “You were already packing? We really are mother and daughter at heart!”
Shen Youwei: “…”
Actually, she’d been planning to move into a hotel.
“Godmother, I already booked a hotel, “
“What hotel? That’s expensive. Why waste money?” Xie Mingqiu waved a hand and began helping her pack. “Our place is huge, way comfier than a hotel. And it’s safer too. That poor girl only survived today because a friend happened to be home with her.”
“Well, yes, but I’d hate to trouble you, “
“Trouble? Don’t be silly. You’ve lived with us before.”
Then Xie Mingqiu paused and gave her a meaningful look. “Besides, Shanyan’s back in the country. You two haven’t seen each other in three years, it’s a good time to catch up.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
Now she really didn’t want to go.
“Don’t just stand there, keep packing!”
“O-okay.” Under her godmother’s relentless efficiency, Shen Youwei’s body moved on autopilot.
But ever since hearing that name, Shanyan, her mind had been elsewhere.
Of course she knew Guan Shanyan was back. Even though she’d blocked him everywhere, she had a secret alt Weibo account she used just to, well, complain about him sometimes.
At least, that was the plan.
In the three years he’d been abroad, Guan Shanyan had made quite a name for himself. He’d gained recognition from top international designers, and his latest collection had just received glowing reviews at a major fashion show.
This time, he’d come back to China to start preparing for his own clothing brand.
“Should be about done, right?” Xie Mingqiu straightened up, glancing at the three large suitcases in the living room. “If there’s anything else you need later, I’ll come help you get it.”
Dragging her luggage, Shen Youwei made one last attempt. “Godmother, maybe I should just stay at a hotel.”
Xie Mingqiu turned her head to look at her. “And who’s waiting for you at the hotel that you’re so eager to go?”
“…”
Shen Youwei’s car was parked in the underground garage. The two of them hauled the three suitcases down and loaded them into the car. As Shen Youwei started the engine, the GPS voice filled the silence. From the passenger seat, Xie Mingqiu gave a small laugh. “You haven’t been home for so long you don’t even remember the way anymore?”
“Uh.” Shen Youwei adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, trying to salvage her dignity. “I just want to check the traffic.”
She and Guan Shanyan had been neighbors since childhood, growing up together in a residential area next to Lize Park. Later, the neighborhood was torn down and rebuilt, what used to be old apartments turned into sleek, high-end condos and luxury villas.
Both the Shen and Guan families bought new homes on the same site, still living in the same community. But since Shen Youwei’s parents had been abroad for years, and she couldn’t be bothered with renovations, her place had stayed empty while she rented somewhere else.
“When are you planning to renovate your place?” Xie Mingqiu asked. “You said before you didn’t have time to handle it alone, but now that Shanyan’s back, he can help you keep an eye on things.”
“He’s probably busy,” Shen Youwei said, slowing the car as the light turned red. “Anyway, my parents will be back by the end of the year. We’ll talk about it then.”
“That’s fine too.” Xie Mingqiu nodded, then suddenly remembered something. “You know they met Shanyan while they were abroad, right?”
“Yeah. They happened to catch one of his fashion shows. Wouldn’t stop bragging about it for two days.”
Xie Mingqiu laughed. “They even sent me the video, honestly, it was impressive. Next time, we’ll go see one of his shows abroad together.”
“Sure,” Shen Youwei smiled faintly.
When they reached the community, Shen Youwei followed her godmother’s directions to the underground parking lot. After turning a few corners, she spotted someone standing ahead.
He wore a black turtleneck that clung to his frame, hands in the pockets of his off-white trousers. Hearing the car approach, he lifted his head slightly, his gaze falling toward her.
Even with distance between them, Shen Youwei felt her heartbeat quicken. Maybe he recognized the car, his posture straightened, and the sharp lines of his shoulders and chest became more defined under the fabric.
She pressed her lips together. Of course he looked that good. Internationally renowned designer and all, his “casual” outfit was obviously anything but.
“That’s Shanyan,” said Xie Mingqiu, spotting him too. “He came down to meet us. Park next to him.”
Once the car stopped, she got out first. “There are suitcases in the trunk, give us a hand.”
Guan Shanyan glanced toward the driver’s seat before heading to the back and opening the trunk. Shen Youwei lingered in the car for a few seconds before getting out and helping move the bags from the backseat.
Pulling two large suitcases out, Guan Shanyan closed the trunk. “You brought this much stuff?”
“Clothes,” she said curtly, not looking at him. “Work purposes.”
“Exactly,” Xie Mingqiu chimed in. “She’s a fashion blogger, of course she has clothes.” Her eyes flicked over to his hair. “Did you wash your hair just now?”
“It was on the way,” he replied evenly, pressing the elevator button while dragging the suitcases along. With three people and three large cases, the spacious elevator suddenly felt crowded. Neither of the younger two spoke as it climbed floor by floor.
Standing between them, Xie Mingqiu frowned. “What’s with you two? It’s only been three years, why do you seem so distant?”
Neither answered. She studied their faces, her brow arching. “You didn’t fight, did you?”
The silence grew heavier.
Shen Youwei curved her lips in a smile. “No.”
She’d just confessed to him, and he’d rejected her, that’s all.