As they passed Outer Harbor Road, thousands of drones hover in mid-air, seamlessly shifting into various formations.

  It was a drone performance—just ten minutes long, yet the cost started in the millions.

  A sizable crowd had gathered at the venue to watch, but the spot where Shen Shiyan and his companions happened to pass by offered a great vantage point. He pulled over, leaning back as he observed the shifting 4D models through the windshield with keen interest.

  Following his gaze, Su Yumian looked up and was instantly mesmerized by the dazzling dispy of drones.

  Shen Shiyan asked, "Take a guess—how many do you think there are?"

  "You can actually guess that?" she responded.

  "Of course."

  "No idea."

  "I’d say…" The man paused briefly. "Ninety-nine."

  "Why?"

  "Because proposals always go for something sting forever, right?"

  The next second, Su Yumian noticed the drones aligning in the night sky to spell out the words "Marry me."

  "How did you know it was a proposal?"

  Shen Shiyan gestured toward the observation deck ahead, where a well-dressed man was hiding a bouquet of roses behind his back.

  "Impressive," Su Yumian praised.

  She used to think Shen Shiyan was just another spoiled rich kid with no real skills. But today, she saw a different side of him.

  Professional. Meticulous. Observant.

  Earlier at dinner, when they casually talked about her field of study, he briefly mentioned the stock fluctuations of Ninghai Tech. Though he only spoke of it for a moment, she realized that his skill in financial trading was frighteningly sharp.

  Then again, considering Jiang Yihuai’s circle of friends—every one of them was financially capable enough to keep up with him.

  The world of these privileged elites was far more complex than she had imagined. That’s why, leaving early and on good terms was her best choice.

  "We're almost at my pce. Thanks for driving me back," she said.

  Shen Shiyan’s car could only go as far as the alley entrance, so Su Yumian got out there.

  Knowing their retionship wasn’t close enough for him to walk her upstairs, he didn’t linger. He simply watched her go before driving off.

  Not long after, his phone rang.

  "Where did you guys go? I turned around for a second, and you were gone!"

  Earlier, Cheng Zhou had just finished paying the bill when he unexpectedly ran into his ex-girlfriend—the one he had broken up with nearly a year ago.

  They hadn’t been in contact for ages, yet the moment she saw him, she clung to him like sticky candy. Asking him out for dinner, flirting, teasing—the whole act.

  It took him quite a while to shake her off.

  "Oh, you were gone for so long, and Su Yumian had something urgent come up. So I just took her home," Shen Shiyan replied casually.

  Cheng Zhou frowned. "What about Jiang-ge? Weren't we supposed to bring him along and stage a ‘coincidental’ meeting? Why are you alone?"

  He had wanted to ask for a while but held it in until now.

  Shen Shiyan answered indifferently, "Couldn’t find him. Probably with his little girlfriend."

  Jiang Yihuai always met up with his girl neither too often nor too little, so Cheng Zhou didn’t doubt it.

  "Damn, such a wasted opportunity…"

  After hanging up, Shen Shiyan pulled over by the roadside, found a stranger’s account number, and transferred a sum of money.

  The recipient soon called. "Damn, you don’t mess around, Young Master Shen. Smooth transaction. Let’s work together again sometime!"

  Had Cheng Zhou been present, he would’ve been completely stunned. Because on the other end of the line was none other than his clingy ex-girlfriend!

  Shen Shiyan replied ftly, "Sounds good."

  "But I’m curious—why go through all this trouble? You wanted me to cling to Cheng Zhou? Just to stall him for ten minutes? Was it really necessary?"

  "What do you think killed the cat?" Shen Shiyan asked, his tone unreadable.

  "…Apologies."

  "Take the money and keep your mouth shut."

  —

  Back at home, Su Yumian took a shower and pnned to read two research papers before bed.

  Just as she sat down, she received a WeChat message from Shen Shiyan.

  [You left your gloves in my car.]

  Attached was a photo of the gloves.

  They were indeed hers.

  She remembered now—when she got in the car, it was too warm, so she had taken them off. Shen Shiyan had casually taken them and set them aside. She had completely forgotten to grab them when she left.

  [Can I trouble you for an address? I’ll send someone to pick them up.]

  Shen Shiyan: [My pce doesn’t allow delivery personnel inside.]

  [How about this—we grab coffee sometime, and I’ll return them to you. I’m currently studying for my MBA at B University, and since you did your undergrad there, maybe you could show me around campus?]

  If it were just about returning the gloves or inviting her to a meal, Su Yumian wouldn’t have agreed. She didn’t think she and Shen Shiyan were close enough for that.

  But now that he mentioned needing her help—and since forgetting her gloves was her own fault—it would be rude to refuse.

  If she could help him with something, and it was within her capability, then…

  [Alright.]

  Shen Shiyan: [Next Friday at 11 AM. Does that work for you?]

  She had no objections and sent back an "OK" emoji.

  On the appointed day, Shen Shiyan parked his car in the lot and walked to the café.

  The pce was located on a small road near B University. The owner had a refined taste, and the décor matched the aesthetic of young people today. Even on a Friday, the café was buzzing with students.

  He found a window seat and settled in.

  A few minutes ter, Su Yumian arrived, just in time for the waiter to hand them the menu.

  A vintage record pyer pyed a mellow, soulful English song in the background, adding a touch of css to the atmosphere. Shen Shiyan ordered an iced Americano, while Su Yumian got a tte.

  "Here are your gloves," he said, handing her a neatly wrapped paper bag.

  She took it and nodded. "Thanks."

  Shen Shiyan gnced around, inhaling the rich aroma of coffee. The temperature inside was just right—not too cold, not too warm. "Do you come here often?"

  "Occasionally," she answered.

  Through the floor-to-ceiling window, they could see a river outside. The winter cold had frozen its surface, and the bare willow branches by the shore were covered in a fluffy yer of snow from the night before.

  Whenever she felt down, she liked sitting on the benches by the river. It was oddly comforting.

  Shen Shiyan observed her expression and smirked slightly. "Nice spot. The music’s even better."

  As he spoke, he swirled his coffee zily. "This jazz piece by Miles dates back to the 1990s. Not many people recognize this cssic anymore."

  Su Yumian was intrigued. "You seem to know a lot about everything."

  "A jack of all trades, but master of none," he shrugged, half-joking.

  She recalled that Cheng Zhou had once casually mentioned that Shen Shiyan’s mother was a renowned musician.

  But she didn’t press further.

  After finishing their coffee, Shen Shiyan stood up. "Shall we?"