Miss Wen and Officer Ji are clearly a perfect match.

“But don’t worry, Officer Ji, I’ll make sure to look for a place in the next couple of days. I won’t trouble you for too long,” Wen Shuang blinked twice.

Ji Shen replied, “There’s no rush. I wouldn’t mind if you stayed longer.”

“That wouldn’t be appropriate,” she said.

Ji Shen spoke earnestly, “If you’re worried about imposing, you can pay rent. Two hundred a month. And maybe cook for me when you have time.”

Wen Shuang smiled.

“I’m serious,” Ji Shen added.

The next day, Ji Shen went to work feeling refreshed after eating Wen Shuang’s homemade wontons. Before leaving, he told her that a cleaning lady would be coming by that day.

When Auntie Wang arrived to clean, she was startled to see Wen Shuang and praised her beauty, saying how lucky Officer Ji was.

Wen Shuang realized Auntie Wang had misunderstood her relationship with Ji Shen and hurried to explain that they weren’t a couple.

“Maybe not now, but you will be soon! I’ve been cleaning Officer Ji’s house for three years, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen a woman here!” Auntie Wang was as excited as someone seeing their favorite couple come to life. “Besides, Miss Wen, you’re so beautiful—definitely Officer Ji’s type!”

Ji Shen had never brought a woman home before. This genuinely surprised Wen Shuang—she’d thought a man so skilled in bed must have practiced with many women over the years.

Auntie Wang continued, “Officer Ji is very disciplined, not like those other young masters. He’s someone destined for great things!”

Auntie Wang had been specially trained to clean for wealthy young men. In her experience, every time she went to those young masters’ homes, there was a new woman in charge; sometimes, the moment she stepped in, there were scattered items everywhere... Sometimes, while she cleaned outside, things got so wild inside she felt embarrassed.

Wen Shuang listened to all this gossip, blinking in astonishment.

“That wild?” she asked.

“Absolutely, Miss Wen! It was like listening to a live springtime opera!” Auntie Wang loved to talk. She went on to say that Ji Shen was extremely busy, rarely took a day off in three years, and was a picky eater—he never touched anything with green onions.

Wen Shuang covered her lips in surprise, “Officer Ji doesn’t eat green onions?”

She had just made tofu with scallions yesterday, and Ji Shen seemed to enjoy it!

“He doesn’t eat them at all. He once told me just the smell makes him nauseous.” Auntie Wang noticed Wen Shuang’s expression. “But if it’s made by someone he likes, that’s different. Anything cooked by the one you like tastes good.”

Wen Shuang sent Ji Shen a message.

“Don’t you like green onions?”

He was busy at work and only replied three hours later.

“To be precise, I don’t really like them.”

Wen Shuang felt guilty; she’d been liberally adding green onions to all her dishes, yet Ji Shen hadn’t complained once.

“I won’t use them in the future! Sorry, Officer Ji—I never asked your preferences before.”

Ji Shen smiled as he read the message.

“It’s fine. I love anything you make.”

The young officers nearby noticed Ji Shen smiling at his phone again and started whispering among themselves.

“Officer Ji’s been grinning at his phone for days—he’s nothing like his usual stern self. I bet he’s in love!”

“Must be with Miss Wen! Look at that silly smile!”

Ji Shen’s face darkened as he overheard, instantly returning to his usual intimidating demeanor. The young officers scattered immediately.

In the blink of an eye, Wen Shuang had been living in Ji Shen’s home for over ten days. The man who tried to break in and assault her had been caught and sentenced to five months in detention. Her phone was much quieter now. Other than Aunt Chun occasionally pestering her for money, things were manageable.

She gradually learned the rhythms of Ji Shen’s life—up before dawn, to bed late at night, always working overtime or on call. More than once, she’d prepared a careful meal only for Ji Shen to be called away by a case, returning in the middle of the night. Sometimes, even when he did make it home for dinner, he’d barely eaten before another call sent him rushing off, even heading out in the dead of night.

Wen Shuang couldn’t help but sigh—serving the people was a tough life.

By comparison, her own days were too comfortable. This was the most relaxed period since Wen Fanhai’s troubles began.

Now, only Chen Manli continued taking her lessons—raising her fee to five thousand per session.

“That’s too much!” Wen Shuang protested.

Chen Manli insisted, saying Wen Shuang’s lessons were worth every cent, and the owners of the training center would regret their lack of vision one day.

Wen Shuang knew Chen Manli was helping her and felt touched. It’s always easy to add flowers to brocade, but rare to send charcoal in the snow.

“Miss Wen, I’m still rooting for you and Officer Ji’s beautiful romance. How are you two getting along lately?” asked Chen Manli.

Wen Shuang hesitated but didn’t mention they were living together—after all, this cohabitation was not what it seemed.

Chen Manli excitedly told her that the young man with the motorcycle treated her so well, she was tempted to marry him.

But Wen Shuang knew there could be no future between Chen Manli and the boy—the difference in their backgrounds meant their families would never allow it.

—

After their unpleasant parting, Qin You had someone ruthlessly sever all of Wen Shuang’s work connections. He knew she couldn’t attend commercial performances or teach classes anymore, and with debt collectors pressing in, she’d be desperate.

He waited confidently for Wen Shuang to call and beg him. But a week passed, and she didn’t send so much as a single message.

Qin You called her, only to discover he’d been blocked.

Furious, he rushed to Wen Shuang’s home, only to be told by a neighbor that she’d moved out a week ago—with her boyfriend’s help.

Qin You was seething. Wen Shuang had found another man behind his back?

“What does he look like?” he demanded.

The neighbor squinted. “Very tall, very handsome, and treats Miss Wen gently. Her home was vandalized recently—someone smashed her door. I guess she moved out to avoid danger.”

Qin You was beside himself with rage but couldn’t track Wen Shuang down. He had no choice but to borrow someone else’s phone to call her.

“Hello, who is this?” came a soft, delicate voice.

Qin You snapped, “Wen Shuang, where have you gone? Who are you clinging to now? I’m telling you, it doesn’t matter who you latch onto—in this city, you won’t survive unless I say so!”

Hearing Qin You’s voice, Wen Shuang was about to hang up.

“Idiot, why aren’t you dead yet?”

“Still putting up a front, are you? Your father will soon be sentenced to more than twenty-five years. As the eldest daughter, you don’t care? If you want a future for your family, you’d better come to me, beg me—only then will you have a chance!” Qin You threatened. “My patience is wearing thin. If you care about your family’s future, come to the Rose Hotel now!”