The young lady hired me to help her and the young master have an online romance.

Through communication, Jiang Wan received a task from Pei Heyun.

Please write an essay about friendship.

The other party offered a reward of five thousand.

Jiang Wan said she was giving a 12% discount to acquaintances, but she was actually overjoyed when she accepted the payment and added a "Thank you, boss" emoji.

Back in her dorm that night, Jiang Wan quickly washed up and then turned on her computer to brainstorm ideas.

Seeing that she was working so hard despite being sick, Zhou Feiyan shook her head helplessly.

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

But she herself couldn't swallow this bowl of chicken soup.

She just wanted to get a diploma, go home, take the civil service exam, and live a carefree life as a salted fish.

*

On Wednesday, the sky over Haicheng was an unbelievably blue.

Jiang Wan had no classes in the morning and stayed in her dormitory to continue writing her essays when her phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked down and saw it was Shen Che.

Jiang Wan answered the phone, "Brother Che?"

"Wanwan, tomorrow is your birthday. How do you want to celebrate?"

Jiang Wan hesitated for a moment, "I have classes during the day tomorrow and a part-time job in the evening, so I don't plan to celebrate my birthday."

"How can I not celebrate such an important day as my birthday?"

I'll keep you company tomorrow night.

"But I have a part-time job at night..."

"Don't you even have time to eat a meal?"

Shen Che's tone remained gentle, but there was a hint of assertiveness hidden within it.

"You celebrated my birthday with me a few days ago, so it's my turn this time."

"Don't refuse anymore, if you keep refusing, it means you don't consider Che-ge a friend."

At this point, his tone lowered, and Jiang Wan quickly explained.

"No, Brother Che, you're so busy with work, I just didn't want to cause you any trouble."

Shen Che's voice became lighter, "I know, don't overthink it. I'll book the hotel, I'll send you the address later."

"I have a schedule tomorrow afternoon, let's meet at the restaurant."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Feiyan peeked out from the opposite bed. "Who was that? Shen Che?"

Jiang Wan nodded.

Zhou Feiyan's eyes widened instantly. "Shen Che is celebrating your birthday tomorrow?"

"Yeah, let's grab a bite to eat."

"Have a meal?" Zhou Feiyan's voice suddenly rose an octave. "Jiang Wan, you call this having a meal?"

"That's Shen Che! Do you know how many people want to have a meal with him?"

Jiang Wan was amused by her exaggerated tone, "I know, I know, I'm honored, is that alright?"

Zhou Feiyan grinned.

"Remember to take some pictures of Shen Che tomorrow and bring them back for me to admire. I promise I won't post them online!"

Jiang Wan didn't agree immediately. "I'll ask him when I see him tomorrow."

Shen Che is, after all, a celebrity, and one with a lot of fans.

You have to get his permission before you can take photos of his private life.

Zhou Feiyan nodded.

Jiang Wan turned her attention back to the documents on her computer.

I had only typed a few words when my hand suddenly stopped.

Tomorrow is her birthday, but I can't tell Shang Shixu about it.

Gu Manning's birthday is in May.

Jiang Wan tightened her mental grip.

I warned myself to be careful with my words and actions tomorrow, and not to let anything slip.

*

Across the ocean, Boston.

In the corridors of Harvard Business School, sunlight filters through oak leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on the floor.

Shang Shixu leaned against the wall, holding a package that had just been airlifted from Italy.

He opened the outer delivery box, revealing the gift box inside.

This was custom-made by a famous Italian perfumer last week.

Shang Shixu opened the gift box, and inside lay a 100ml bottle of perfume.

The cherry-pink liquid shimmered softly in the sunlight through the frosted glass.

He uncapped the bottle and gently pressed the nozzle into the air.

Fine mist dissipated from the bottle opening and spread into the air.

Fresh, delicate, and sweet without being cloying.

It's the scent of spring.

It was that "little toad" that gave him that feeling.

"It smells so good!"

Pei Heyun's voice came from the side, with a long trailing tone.

He twitched his nostrils twice, and when his gaze fell on the perfume in Shang Shixu's hand, his eyes widened instantly.

"Brother Xu, why are you wearing such a sweet perfume?"

He leaned closer, looking incredulous. "Don't you never use perfume?"

"You used that limited edition bottle that Wenjun gave you to spray in the toilet."

Shang Shixu expressionlessly put the perfume back into its box. "Who said I was going to wear it?"

Pei Heyun's eyes darted around, and a meaningful smile slowly spread across his face.

"Oh, I get it."

"You're giving this away as a gift, right? To Gu Manning?"

Shang Shixu neither admitted nor denied it, and turned to leave.

Pei Heyun followed, sticking to him like a piece of chewing gum, chattering incessantly.

"Admit it, Xu-ge, you've fallen for her."

"I've liked you ever since you asked me to take your picture. I told you back then that you looked like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, but you wouldn't admit it—"

"Nonsense." Shang Shixu stopped and interrupted him. "Who told you that giving someone a gift means you like them?"

"I just treat her like a pet to pass the time, and I just gave her a gift as a casual reward."

"That's all?" Pei Heyun blinked, his face saying, "I'll admit defeat if I believe even a single word you say."

"If I'm not mistaken, that's a custom-made perfume, isn't it?"

"For you, young master, to show such thoughtfulness, isn't that enough to show affection?"

Shang Shixu, who is usually sharp-tongued, was rendered speechless by this rebuke.

Clearly, the reasons he used to convince himself couldn't convince Pei Heyun.

Seeing Shang Shixu remain silent, Pei Heyun also wisely kept quiet.

The two walked out of the teaching building side by side.

It's springtime in Haicheng, and it's springtime in Boston too.

But spring in Boston is much colder than in Sea City.

A breeze swept across the Charles River, carrying moisture and coolness.

Pei Heyun shrank his neck and put his hands in his hoodie pockets. "After dinner, I need to go back and put on a jacket."

As he spoke, he quickened his pace toward the cafeteria.

The timing of the business did not keep up immediately.

He stood on the steps at the entrance of the teaching building, took out his phone, and dialed a number.

"Boss." The voice on the other end of the phone was his branch office assistant.

"I came to Harvard because I have some things that need to be airlifted back to China."

"Okay, boss, I'll be there in half an hour."

After hanging up the phone, Shang Shixu put his phone back in his pocket and looked up at the gray-blue sky over Boston.

The wind was strong, blowing the hair on his forehead.

He narrowed his eyes, and the image of the "little toad" receiving the perfume suddenly flashed into his mind.

Will she laugh?

Will you send a voice message saying "Brother, I love you"?

Will he still post an exaggerated message saying, "This perfume smells so good, brother has such good taste?"

She has such a sweet tongue; she always says things to coax people.

Shang Shixu's lips unconsciously curled up.

Pei Heyun noticed that he hadn't followed, and when he turned around, he saw Shang Shixu's charming smile.

Caught red-handed, Shang Shixu instantly switched expressions, walking past Pei Heyun with a cold face.

Pei Heyun smiled and shook his head, then complained—

That's quite the repressed flirt.

*

Thursday, March 19th.

The temperature in Haicheng was just right that day.

The sun is not scorching, and the breeze is not cold.

The magnolia trees downstairs in the dormitory are in full bloom, their white petals swaying gently in the wind like a flock of birds perched on the branches.

Jiang Wan was woken up by her phone vibrating.