An acquaintance, then...

Amidst the flurry of activity, the end of the year finally arrived as expected.

As a company that prided itself on being more humane, Twin Stars always allowed its regular employees slightly longer holidays than the legal requirement. In previous years, the Chen family would opt to travel abroad during the New Year, but this year, the First High School of South City had a shorter break, Twin Stars was busy with the schedule for an IP adaptation, and, moreover, there was a guest staying at home. After months of exhaustion, Chen Ruowen simply declared that they would not go anywhere.

Unwilling to go out herself, Chen Ruowen’s usual circle of wealthy friends suddenly lost the mood for vacationing as well. In addition, since they would all be sent abroad to study in half a year, they tacitly agreed to hold a private party on the eve of the New Year, determined to seize the time to gather together.

Chen Ruowen, afraid Guo Jingyuan would be bored at home, originally wanted to bring her along to “see the world,” but was firmly refused.

“I need to make the most of my time to study,” Guo Jingyuan insisted. “You’ve already been admitted to South University. I can’t embarrass you!”

Left speechless, Chen Ruowen had to go alone.

Guo Jingyuan had stayed with the Chens for a week, and in summary, could only be described as “exceptionally well-behaved.” She spent most of her time in her room reading and working on assignments, but whenever she emerged, she greeted everyone politely. She never fussed over meals and would even help the household staff wash dishes and clean up.

She always tidied her own room, washed her own clothes, and aside from occupying a room and a set of tableware, caused hardly any inconvenience to the Chen household. After a few days, at least Yang Anxin and the others found her quite likable.

A red Ferrari rolled into a quiet villa on the outskirts of the second ring. As soon as Chen Ruowen stepped out, she was met with the enthusiastic welcome of Geng Jiaojiao and her friends.

“Ruowen!”

Geng Jiaojiao hadn’t changed much from a few months ago; as soon as she saw Chen Ruowen, she swooped in like a returning swallow, wrapping her arms around her in a playful embrace.

“Ruowen, you haven’t called me first in a month and seventeen days! It’s always me reaching out to you—have you forgotten about me?” Geng Jiaojiao pouted and accused her gently. “You must have found someone else, huh!”

Chen Ruowen felt a headache coming on. This woman… what on earth was going on in her mind?

Rubbing her brow, Chen Ruowen asked, “Where’s Kang Wenbo?”

Geng Jiaojiao’s smile fell, and she replied in a wounded tone, “You care about him, not me? Ruowen, now I’m jealous!”

Chen Ruowen could only sigh silently. Could someone please come and take this girl away?

Just as Chen Ruowen was feeling overwhelmed, Kang Wenbo, Song Yunhui, and Man Hao finally followed Geng Jiaojiao to the entrance to greet her.

“Jiaojiao, why did you run ahead as soon as Ruowen arrived?” Song Yunhui, out of breath, pulled Geng Jiaojiao off Chen Ruowen and tossed her to Kang Wenbo, then gave Chen Ruowen a bear hug typical of their welcome rituals. “I can never outrun her—always second place, it drives me mad.”

Everyone greeted each other and entered the villa together. Chen Ruowen glanced around the unfamiliar house in its unique location and asked, “Whose place is this? We’ve never been here before.”

“I know, I know!” Geng Jiaojiao latched onto Chen Ruowen’s arm, letting go of Kang Wenbo without hesitation. “This year, we have a mysterious guest joining us—the place is his, pretty nice, right?”

“A mysterious guest?” Chen Ruowen was puzzled.

Circles in South City were small, and their social networks were practically fixed; outsiders found it nearly impossible to break in. How had a mysterious guest suddenly appeared?

Walking beside Chen Ruowen, Song Yunhui shrugged, resigned. “Jiaojiao made the connection, but no matter how we ask, she won’t say who it is.”

Chen Ruowen looked at Geng Jiaojiao, who just raised her chin proudly, clearly pleased with herself. She only said, “You’ll be amazed when you see,” and guarded the secret so well that everyone grew even more curious about the mysterious guest.

Bai Jinyan arrived five minutes later, but his welcome was clearly not as grand as Chen Ruowen’s.

Geng Jiaojiao, ever scatterbrained, wanted to drag Chen Ruowen along to greet him, but Chen Ruowen pretended not to hear and avoided it. Since she didn’t move, neither did Geng Jiaojiao, and Kang Wenbo hesitated but stayed put as well; Song Yunhui was even less likely to budge. In the end, it was Man Hao, the chubby one, who took Yi Xiaobing with him to greet Bai Jinyan.

When Bai Jinyan entered, he saw Chen Ruowen standing at the pool in the villa’s backyard with her back to him, Geng Jiaojiao clinging to her and chattering away, while Kang Wenbo and Song Yunhui flanked them protectively.

The scene was unexpectedly harmonious.

A shadow passed through Bai Jinyan’s eyes.

With the college entrance exam approaching, he hadn’t intended to attend such a time-consuming gathering. South University, one of the “Four Greats” of the nation, was a top-tier institution, and the medical school he aimed for was among its hardest to get into. Even though Bai Jinyan’s grades were fairly good at First High, he wasn’t completely certain he could make it.

He should have been home reviewing, but Chen Ruowen… hadn’t given him any response in a week.

Bai Jinyan had no choice but to seek her out at the party.

He knew well that Chen Ruowen had been spoiled since childhood, accustomed to doing as she pleased. Winning her favor was difficult, but earning her dislike…

Much too easy.

Bai Jinyan walked up behind Chen Ruowen and gently placed an arm around her shoulders, about to speak, when she slapped his hand away with a crisp smack.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Ruowen, I’ve explained, haven’t I? About Du Yueyue and me…”

“What does it have to do with me?” Chen Ruowen cut him off coldly.

“Du Yueyue?” Geng Jiaojiao glanced curiously at Bai Jinyan, then her expression changed dramatically. “Bai Jinyan, how could you betray Ruowen! I’m never speaking to you again!”

Bai Jinyan sighed. Lately, when Chen Ruowen wouldn’t answer his calls, he’d resorted to messaging her. Having guessed the reason for her anger, he explained the circumstances around buying meals, tutoring, and the birthday party, but why did this woman give him no response?

Not only did she not reply—she seemed even angrier!

What was happening?

Bai Jinyan was about to defend himself further when Geng Jiaojiao, waving her hands indignantly at him, had her phone ring. She answered, said a couple of words, and then, thrilled, wrapped her arm tighter around Chen Ruowen’s.

“Ruowen, the mysterious guest I mentioned has arrived! He’s even more handsome than Bai Jinyan! I’ll introduce him to you as your boyfriend—let’s drive Bai Jinyan mad!”

Bai Jinyan’s face darkened. Geng Jiaojiao was digging right under his nose!

Everyone, curious, followed Geng Jiaojiao to the villa’s front entrance, where a familiar red Ferrari had pulled up. A man emerged from the car.

He wore a beige overcoat and, despite the winter chill, sported sunglasses as though to show off. Even so, his striking, handsome features could not be hidden.

Chen Ruowen’s lips curled into a smile.

An old acquaintance, after all.