Name: My father is Zhao Dehan, and I hope he will become a dragon!

Jingzhou, east of the city, Zhou Xiaoyu's apartment.

The afternoon sun streamed in from the balcony, making the living room warm and cozy. Zhou Xiaoyu sat cross-legged on the sofa, holding up her phone and gesturing at Zhao Xiaoya.

"Stand there, yes, by the window. Turn to the side a little, don't stand so straight, relax."

Zhao Xiaoya stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, feeling extremely uncomfortable: "Xiaoyu, is this okay?"

"Take off your coat, just the turtleneck underneath will do. Push your hair to one side, yes. Tilt your chin up slightly. Smile, but don't smile stiffly."

Zhao Xiaoya did as she was told. Sunlight streamed in from behind, casting a warm glow on her shoulders. Zhou Xiaoyu took over a dozen photos, then looked them over and picked out the three she liked best. One was a profile shot, one was a picture of her smiling with her head down, and the other was a frontal shot with her chin slightly tilted back.

"Alright." Zhou Xiaoyu sent the photo out.

Zhao Xiaoya walked over and leaned close to her to look: "Who did you send it to?"

"he."

Zhao Xiaoya's face immediately tightened: "You sent him my photo?"

"Okay." Zhou Xiaoyu didn't even look up. "Let him take a look first."

Zhao Xiaoya sat on the edge of the sofa, her fingers twisting together. She recalled how she had posed and struck poses during the photoshoot. She had never done anything like that before, flaunting herself in front of a camera. But she didn't stop herself. She simply sat there, watching the chat window on Zhou Xiaoyu's phone screen, waiting for a reply.

My phone rang.

Zhou Xiaoyu glanced at it and smiled.

Zhao Chongming replied with a "?".

Just one question mark.

Zhou Xiaoyu typed with a grin: "My best friend, Zhao Xiaoya. Isn't she pretty?"

There was no reply from them.

Zhao Xiaoya's palms were sweating with nervousness: "What did he say?"

"Don't rush, that's just how he is, he doesn't like typing." Zhou Xiaoyu sent another message: "Original. Mr. Zhao, are you interested?"

After about ten seconds, two words popped up on the screen: "Not bad."

Zhou Xiaoyu handed her phone to Zhao Xiaoya, who immediately blushed. What did "It's alright" mean? Was it good or bad? She couldn't tell. Zhou Xiaoyu, on the other hand, seemed indifferent and continued typing: "Then I'll give you the data."

She turned her head and looked Zhao Xiaoya up and down, her gaze sweeping over her.

What are your measurements?

Zhao Xiaoya almost jumped up from the sofa: "Why are you asking this?"

"He needs to know the data," Zhou Xiaoyu said matter-of-factly. "Should I estimate it for you, or should you tell him yourself?"

Zhao Xiaoya bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and then recited a set of numbers. Her voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz, but Zhou Xiaoyu heard it clearly and typed it out word by word.

After sending the message, she tossed her phone onto the sofa, looked at Zhao Xiaoya's flushed face, and laughed.

"What are you being shy about? It'll happen sooner or later."

Zhao Xiaoya lowered her head, covered her face with her hands, and her ears were bright red. "Xiaoyu, was I too...?"

"Too what? Too cheap?" Zhou Xiaoyu's tone was very flat. "Don't think too much about it. He gives you money, you give him what you want. It's a fair trade. If you don't want to, you can leave now. But since you've made up your mind, don't be coy. He dislikes people being dishonest in front of him the most."

Zhao Xiaoya lowered her hand and took a deep breath.

"I see."

Zhou Xiaoyu picked up her phone and sent one last message: "Mr. Zhao, are you free tonight? Want to come over for a bit?"

The reply came quickly this time: "What time?"

"Seven o'clock, I'll wait for you."

After sending the message, Zhou Xiaoyu stood up and took Zhao Xiaoya's wrist.

"Let's go, let's pack up."

Zhao Xiaoya was dragged into the bedroom and made to stand in front of the wardrobe.

Zhou Xiaoyu opened the closet door, rummaged through it a few times, and pulled out a white knitted dress. The neckline was slightly open, and the hem fell above her knees. "Wear this. Keep it clean, nothing too flashy."

Zhao Xiaoya took it, then glanced at the beige cardigan hanging next to it, and hesitated before pointing to it. "Will that one be okay?"

"That works too. You have fair skin, beige looks good on you." Zhou Xiaoyu took off her cardigan and paired it with dark trousers. "Don't tie your hair up, leave it down. He likes it with his hair down."

Zhao Xiaoya stood in front of the mirror changing her clothes. Zhou Xiaoyu helped her adjust her collar and shoulders, then took out her own cosmetics and touched up her makeup. She applied powder, drew her eyebrows, and added a touch of lipstick. Looking at herself in the mirror, Zhao Xiaoya suddenly felt a little unfamiliar.

"Alright." Zhou Xiaoyu took a step back, looked her over, and said, "She looks better than in the photos."

Zhao Xiaoya didn't speak. She stood in front of the mirror, clutching the hem of her clothes, her heart pounding.

At 6:50, the doorbell rang.

When the doorbell rang, Zhao Xiaoya was sitting on the sofa, her fingers twisted together.

Zhou Xiaoyu went to open the door. As soon as the door opened, Zhao Chongming stood outside, wearing a dark gray casual jacket over a black turtleneck, dark trousers, and old leather shoes. He was dressed casually, but neatly and smartly. He was carrying a bag of fruit, as if he had just bought it downstairs.

"Mr. Zhao, please come in." Zhou Xiaoyu stepped aside.

Zhao Chongming changed into slippers and walked into the living room, his gaze falling on Zhao Xiaoya on the sofa.

Zhao Xiaoya stood up, unsure what to do with her hands, which finally fell to her sides, slightly gripping the seam of her trousers. She was wearing a beige cardigan over a white undershirt, her hair draped over her shoulders, and light makeup on her face. The warm yellow light from the living room illuminated her face, making her skin appear radiantly white.

Zhao Chongming looked at her for two seconds.

Then he smiled.

The smile was faint, but it was different from his usual polite and distant one. The corners of his mouth curved slightly, his gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then swept over her shoulders and waist before returning to her eyes.

"She looks better in person than in photos."

Zhao Xiaoya's face flushed instantly. She opened her mouth, wanting to say thank you, but the words stuck in her throat, and in the end she just lowered her head and nodded.

Zhou Xiaoyu chuckled beside him, walked over and took the fruit from Zhao Chongming's hand, casually placing it on the table. "Mr. Zhao, please sit down. Xiaoya, go pour some tea."

Zhao Xiaoya, as if saved, turned and walked towards the kitchen. She opened the cupboard to look for tea leaves, her hands still trembling. Behind her, she heard Zhou Xiaoyu and Zhao Chongming talking; Zhou Xiaoyu's tone was relaxed, as if they were discussing something very ordinary.

"Mr. Zhao, Xiaoya is my best friend from high school. She just came to Jingzhou and wants to develop her career here. You've seen her in person; she's even prettier than in the photos, isn't she?"

Zhao Chongming sat on the sofa, took the teacup Zhao Xiaoya brought him, and glanced at her. Zhao Xiaoya placed the cup in front of him, stepped back to sit down, and lowered her head, not daring to look at him.

"What year?" Zhao Chongming asked.

Zhao Xiaoya was stunned for a moment before realizing that the question was directed at her: "1990."

"Where are you from?"

"Qingchuan".

"What do you do at home?"

"My parents run a small shop in the county town. I also have an older brother."

Zhao Chongming nodded, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. The tea was the same ordinary green tea Zhou Xiaoyu usually drank; he didn't say anything. After putting down the cup, he leaned back on the sofa, looked at Zhao Xiaoya, and asked casually, "Are you sure you've thought it through?"

Zhao Xiaoya raised her head, met his gaze, and then quickly looked away.

"I've made up my mind."

"How much do you know about me?" Zhao Chongming said. "Xiaoyu may have told you some things, but there are some things you need to understand yourself. I won't give you a formal title, I won't marry you, and I won't introduce you to my family and friends. You'll be with me, take the money, and live your own life. Don't involve me in your family matters. Can you do that?"

Zhao Xiaoya clutched the hem of her clothes and nodded: "Yes."

Zhao Chongming looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he turned and glanced at Zhou Xiaoyu.

Zhou Xiaoyu was leaning back on the sofa playing on her phone when she noticed his gaze. She looked up and said, "Mr. Zhao, Xiaoya is a nice person. Why don't you give her a chance?"