Is my roommate a caged bird? I'm stealing her away.

Zhou Suisui didn't get home until 8:30 p.m. She froze the moment she opened the door.

The living room lights were all on, as bright as day. A strange, crisp, cool fragrance filled the air, like the metallic scent of cedar mixed with the smell of metal before a storm.

Then she saw the man on the sofa.

He wore a black silk shirt, the top two buttons undone, revealing his well-defined collarbone. The sleeves were casually rolled up to his elbows, showing the smooth and powerful lines of his forearms.

He sat in a relaxed posture, one arm draped over the back of the sofa, the other holding his phone, his fingertips slowly swiping across the screen.

He looked up when he heard the door open.

Zhou Suisui's heart clenched suddenly.

Those eyes were like frozen amber. His gaze was deep and direct, slowly sweeping across her face without lingering.

His facial features were sharp, with a high, straight nose like a blade, and thin, pale lips. Even though he did nothing, just sitting there, the air pressure in the entire space suddenly dropped, becoming thick and tense.

"You're back?" Lin Xiao's voice came from the direction of the kitchen.

Zhou Suisui then came to her senses and found Lin Xiao standing by the island in the open kitchen, holding a glass of water.

She changed her clothes; they were still off-white, but she wore a silk shirt and matching trousers. Her hair was also carefully styled, falling smoothly over her shoulders.

"This is Mr. Chen." Lin Xiao walked over, her voice still very soft, but Zhou Suisui detected an unusual tension in her voice. "Mr. Chen, this is my roommate, Zhou Suisui."

Chen Boxu's gaze finally settled on Zhou Suisui's face.

He didn't get up, but simply nodded slightly, a very faint curve appearing at the corner of his lips, hardly a smile.

"Miss Zhou," he said in a low voice, his words slow and clear, each word carefully chosen, "I apologize for disturbing you."

"N-nothing." Zhou Suisui subconsciously tightened her grip on the backpack strap. "Hello, Mr. Chen."

Her voice was a little dry. She could feel her cheeks burning, not from shyness, but from those eyes.

He looked at her, but it wasn't like he was looking at her; it was more like he was assessing the quality and value of an item.

"Xiaoxiao told me you've been sharing an apartment for six months." Chen Boxu put down his phone, leaning forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. This movement brought him closer to her, increasing the sense of intimacy. "Are you getting used to it?"

Xiaoxiao.

Zhou Suisui's fingertips dug into her palm. Lin Xiao had never mentioned that he had such a nickname.

"I'm used to it. Lin Xiao is easy to get along with." She tried to make her voice sound natural.

"That's good." Chen Boxu's gaze lingered on her face for two seconds, then turned to Lin Xiao. "That bottle of wine in the refrigerator, I had it delivered, did you see it?"

Lin Xiao nodded: "I see. Should we open it?"

"No rush." ​​Chen Boxu leaned back on the sofa, his gaze still fixed on Zhou Suisui. "What does Miss Zhou do for work?"

"New media operations," Zhou Suisui said. "I just graduated not long ago."

"Hmm," he responded, his gaze sliding from her face to her clothes: a plain white shirt and jeans, with a canvas bag slung over her shoulder—the typical look of a girl just starting out in society.

There was no disdain or interest in that gaze, only a calm, emotionless scrutiny. Zhou Suisui, however, felt as if she had been stripped naked, standing there with all her poverty and embarrassment laid bare.

"Would Mr. Chen like some tea?" Lin Xiao asked at the right moment, breaking the somewhat tense atmosphere.

"No need." Chen Boxu finally looked away, picked up his phone again, and said, "You all do as you please, I have something to take care of."

The order to evict the guest was given naturally and without question.

Zhou Suisui felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She whispered, "Then I'll go back to my room first," and quickly walked towards her bedroom. As she closed the door, she faintly heard Chen Boxu's deep voice:

"You need a haircut. Eva will pick you up tomorrow."

Then Lin Xiao softly replied, "Okay."

Zhou Suisui leaned against the door panel and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

A sliver of light from the living room seeped in through the crack in the door. The cool scent of cedar and metal in the air seemed to seep in through the crack as well, lingering there.

She hugged her knees and buried her face in her arms.

My heart was still pounding, and my palms were covered in cold sweat.

That man, Chen Boxu. He appeared for less than ten minutes, yet he was like a ferocious beast that had suddenly invaded his territory, marking the entire space as his domain with his gaze and aura.

Lin Xiao and she were both temporarily allowed to exist as decorations in this territory.

No, that's not right.

Lin Xiao was a pet he kept as a decoration.

She was just an insignificant, superfluous roommate.

Zhou Suisui raised her head and looked out at the deep night.

The burgundy velvet dress should arrive tomorrow.

The business cocktail party next Friday.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, the panic and unease in them had faded, replaced by a cold, clear determination.

She wanted to leave this insignificant area.

She wanted to walk into the light, into the center of his or someone like him's line of sight.

Then, he set a price tag for himself that he was worthy of her.

The next morning, Zhou Suisui was woken up by her phone vibrating.

Sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains that weren't fully drawn. She groggily reached for her phone; the screen showed 7:20 and a notification from the logistics company.

The burgundy velvet dress is expected to arrive this afternoon.

She stared at those words for a few seconds, then fully woke up.

The living room was quiet. The chilling scent of cedar mixed with metal in the air had faded, leaving only a faint lingering fragrance, like a mark left by a beast leaving its den.

Zhou Suisui stepped barefoot onto the floor and pushed open the door.

The sofa was empty, with a blanket neatly folded and placed in a corner. The coffee table was spotless, without even a water glass.

The spot where Chen Boxu sat last night seemed to have never been occupied.

If it weren't for the lingering smell, she would have almost thought it was a dream.

"Sui Sui, are you awake?"

Lin Xiao's voice came from the kitchen. Zhou Suisui turned her head and saw her standing by the island counter, holding a cup of black coffee.

She changed her clothes; instead of the silk loungewear she wore last night, she wore a cream-colored knit set, with a loose V-neck short-sleeved top and a knee-length skirt in the same color.

The fabric looks soft and drapey, with no unnecessary embellishments on the edges, but the cut lines are so smooth that it looks like it has been ironed.

Zhou Suisui's gaze was fixed on the outfit. She didn't recognize the brand, but she could tell it was expensive.

That kind of high price isn't about flaunting the logo; it's hidden in the texture of every inch of fabric and the details of every stitch—silent yet undeniably compelling.

"Hmm." Zhou Suisui went into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of water, and said, "Mr. Chen...is he gone?"

"He left in the early hours of the morning." Lin Xiao sipped her coffee, her tone flat. "He had a morning meeting."

It was early morning. Zhou Suisui's mind was uncontrollably filled with the image of that scene: late at night or early morning, the man got up and left, and Lin Xiao might still be asleep, or she might just silently see him to the door.

Then the apartment returned to silence, as if nothing had happened, except for the lingering scent in the air and some unseen changes.

"Are you going out today?" Zhou Suisui asked casually, leaning against the island counter.

"Okay." Lin Xiao put down her coffee cup. "Eva will pick me up at ten o'clock."

Eva. Zhou Suisui recalled Chen Boxu's words from last night, "Eva will pick you up tomorrow." She must be his assistant, or... the person in charge of managing Lin Xiao.

"Going to get a haircut?" she asked, her gaze falling on Lin Xiao's long, straight black hair. The hair was as fine as silk, gleaming softly in the morning light.

Lin Xiao gently brushed a strand of hair aside. "Hmm. Mr. Chen said it should be cut."

It's time to cut it.

Zhou Suisui gripped the glass in her hand tightly. It was that same tone again, so calm, like someone commenting on the weather. But behind those words lay a man's scrutiny and arrangement of her from head to toe.

Lin Xiao accepted it so naturally, as if it were a matter of course.

"Should I cut it short?" Zhou Suisui tried her best to make her voice sound like she was just curious.

"Trim the layers, maybe cut a little bit." Lin Xiao turned around, with her back to her, and took a transparent box out of the refrigerator.

Inside were cut fruits: honeydew melon, strawberries, and blueberries, all brightly colored and neatly arranged. They clearly weren't bought from the supermarket downstairs.

Zhou Suisui watched her back. The waistline of that milky white knit sweater was perfectly cinched, making her already slender waist appear even more delicate.

Her calves were straight beneath the skirt, with a cool, pale complexion and clearly defined ankles.

A thought suddenly popped into my head, without warning, yet unusually clear.

She needs to know.

We need to know how much Lin Xiao's outfit is worth. We need to know what level the price Mr. Chen casually gave was on.

It is necessary to know what kind of ticket she needs to enter that world.

"This outfit looks great," Zhou Suisui said, her voice carrying just the right amount of envy. "Is it new?"

Lin Xiao paused, turned her head, and looked at her with her light brown eyes. "Mr. Chen had it delivered. He said this color suits me."

It's Mr. Chen again.

Zhou Suisui felt a slight pang in her heart. She forced a smile: "It suits you quite well; it makes your skin look even whiter."

Lin Xiao didn't reply. She just lowered her head, picked up a piece of melon with her fork, and put it in her mouth. She ate quietly, taking small bites and making almost no sound.

Zhou Suisui tapped her fingers lightly twice on the glass. This might be her only chance; once Lin Xiao left, she wouldn't have another chance to see her.

Moreover, she had to confirm the brand; she couldn't just look at it, she needed more specific information.

"You eat first, I'm going to change my clothes." Zhou Suisui put down her water glass and turned to walk towards her room.

Back in her room, she left the door ajar, listening intently to any sounds outside.