The next morning, Ning Chu once again arrived at Wen Yang’s rented apartment.

Today was Wen Yang’s first day at his new job, and he was feeling a bit nervous.

But Ning Chu’s arrival eased his anxiety, making him feel inexplicably more confident.

He stood at the door, his coat covered in lint from static electricity, while Ning Chu used a lint roller to clean it off for him. As she worked, she couldn’t stop asking questions: “Is the hotel far from here?”

“Not too far. It’s just three stops by bus, about ten minutes or so.”

“A high-end hotel... …