11. Our encounter was too brief, not even enough for the tea to cool.

That's right, Chen Sufen, a sophomore at the Sports Institute, shared an apartment with someone. It wasn’t because her father hadn’t given her enough living expenses; the place had originally been sublet to her by Qiao Yingna. A year ago, when Chen Sufen had just decided she wanted to rent a place nearby, she’d found the ad for this shared apartment online. The moment they met in person, she took an instant liking to this senior from the Medical University, who was in her fourth year. Now, however, she was a little anxious: “Sister Qiao, this is my childhood friend. He might… he might need to stay here for a few days. Once he finds a place, he’ll move out. If it really doesn’t work, he can stay in my room and I’ll sleep in the living room. Lao Nan, this is Sister Qiao… oh, she’s even older than you!”

It was in moments like this that one could really see how straightforward and oblivious Chen Sufen could be beneath her spirited exterior. While this silly girl was still making introductions, Bai Haonan and Qiao Yingna had already exchanged several meaningful glances.

Though the air conditioning was running in the living room, Qiao Yingna still wore a black lace-trimmed short skirt, a generous expanse of pale skin on show at her chest, cool enough to almost be indecent. She lounged on the sofa with her legs crossed, gazing at the newcomers with an ambiguous half-smile. Her long, wavy hair, dark eyeshadow, vermillion lip gloss, even her black-painted nails—every detail radiated an air of mature femininity. The look she exchanged with Bai Haonan carried a knowing playfulness that only an experienced woman could possess. Bai Haonan was certain: if the setting were changed to a nightclub or bar, those eyes would be filled with desire.

There’s really no trick to this; after seeing enough, you naturally understand. In comparison, Chen Sufen was just a big, naïve green onion, fresh and upright.

Yes, Qiao Yingna’s figure was also lushly curvaceous, her short skirt revealing half her ample chest. She wasn’t as tall and gangly as Chen Sufen, but her petite voluptuousness made her all the more appealing. At least, Bai Haonan prided himself on understanding her type. He greeted Qiao Yingna with feigned nonchalance, “Hello, beautiful. If it’s inconvenient, I can stay at a hotel for now and look for a place nearby. I’m probably going to be here for a while.”

He was already inwardly delighted.

Qiao Yingna had a broad forehead and full lips; when she smiled, it had a sultry charm. “A boyfriend is a boyfriend, no need to call him a childhood friend. I’ve heard plenty about this Lao Nan of yours—complaints, supposedly, but they all sounded like bragging. Now you think I’m a nuisance, don’t you? Fine… I’m going to bed. I have to work a night shift at the hospital.” Her voice was soft and slightly coquettish. Bai Haonan had always thought that girls from Rongdu sounded much nicer than the bold, brassy dialect of Jiangzhou, especially tomboys like Chen Sufen.

The casual way she tugged at the hem of her skirt as she stood sent a ripple through Bai Haonan’s heart. Sigh, compared to her, Chen Sufen was just a little chick who hadn’t even grown up.

The still-developing girl couldn’t help but laugh, using her height advantage to slip an arm around Qiao Yingna and mutter something in her ear. The girl in the lace-trimmed skirt glanced back at Bai Haonan, their eyes tangling once more. Bai Haonan was now certain she was an old hand at this, and nodded back with what he hoped was his smoothest smile.

After closing the bedroom door for her, Chen Sufen turned, her expression cold again, as if she really believed this made her look proud and aloof. “All right, Sister Qiao agreed. Now, what’s your plan? Looking for a job? At a gym? Want me to introduce you to a coaching position? I can help.” She sounded as if she were doing him a favor, though she was actually being quite proactive.

With Chen Sufen, Bai Haonan was much more casual. He slouched into the spot Qiao Yingna had just vacated, seemingly catching a faint whiff of her perfume, and replied carelessly, “Do you really think I’d take some job that pays just a few thousand a month? Not much money and exhausting.”

Chen Sufen, whether it was his sniffing or his words, grew angry again: “You see! There you go again, aiming high but doing nothing! Besides playing soccer, what else can you do? You’re always dissatisfied, but do you realize that nowadays it’s already a blessing to find a job that pays a few thousand a month? You think everyone can just…” She stopped herself, probably wary of being overheard through the walls.

Bai Haonan made himself comfortable, speaking languidly. “Everything works out in the end. I’m not stupid. Something just happened, so I should at least take a few days to calm down and rest. I’ll deal with work later. It’s not like I’m broke. Once things quiet down and the police don’t consider me a suspect, I’ll get a new bank card and pay you back.”

This finally made her furious. “So you’re planning to live off a woman now?!”

Bai Haonan curled up on the sofa, turning his back and closing his eyes. “I drove all night yesterday and I’m exhausted. Let me sleep. Go to class if you need to.” The scent of the cushion under his head was clearly high-end perfume, quite familiar to him.

Annoyed, Chen Sufen kicked him in the waist, but then noticed a stain on the back of his T-shirt, even marks that looked like he’d been rolling on the ground. Her heart softened. She hurried to her room, returning with a blue soccer jersey and a white silk Tai Chi jacket. She measured the Tai Chi outfit against him—it might fit, but the shoulders were too narrow for a man his size. She had to unfold the jersey instead. “Change into this for now!”

Bai Haonan answered with a faint snore. Chen Sufen leaned in to make sure he’d really fallen asleep, then quietly sat down beside him, a small, uncontrollable smile spreading across her face. True happiness, glowing from within, gentle and serene, not at all brash or careless.

In the end, she softly laid the Tai Chi jacket over Bai Haonan and just sat there for a long time.

It felt like the last time they’d quietly sat together like this was already ten years ago.

Time really flies.

So the long-limbed girl just sat there, silly and quiet, for quite a while.

It wasn’t until more than an hour later, when Qiao Yingna emerged, that this pair was startled awake. Chen Sufen stood up hastily, while Bai Haonan, yawning and polite, sat upright: “Heading out? Need a ride? I drove here, just arrived in Rongdu, so I should get familiar with the roads.”

His words were smooth, easy to accept or refuse without awkwardness.

Qiao Yingna had changed into a dress—a sleek, gray outfit that looked both proper and stylish. The square neckline still showed off her impressive figure, and she looked more like a career woman than a college student, exuding a worldly air. Her response was just as poised: “Oh? Sufen, do you have plans? If not, why don’t we all have lunch together? A chance to get to know each other.”

Chen Sufen, not as clueless as she sometimes seemed, quickly interjected, “Don’t worry about him! He just got here, hasn’t bought anything yet—I’ll take him out for a bit.”

Qiao Yingna smiled with narrowed eyes, waved playfully at her roommate, and went out, the sound of her heels echoing down the stairs. Only then did Chen Sufen turn, warning sternly, “I already told Sister Qiao you’re unreliable, always chasing girls and playing with feelings. Don’t even think about going after her—she’s a top student at the medical college and already interning at a major hospital!”

Bai Haonan couldn’t be bothered to boast about how many high-achieving women he’d been with over the years. It was all just about satisfying desires, after all; there wasn’t much real emotion involved. In fact, the higher the status, the more open and invested they tended to be, unlike those desperate girls who only cared about money and ruined the mood. Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but recall the woman who’d stolen his phone, and shook his head to get rid of the thought. He grabbed the Tai Chi jacket, stopping it from slipping, and laughed, “You’re probably taller than me now. How’s your Bagua training?”

Indeed, in the southwest, martial arts training was called “practicing Bagua.” Chen Sufen had studied martial arts at sports school from childhood. Though it started as a hobby and she’d never dropped out of regular school, she had stuck with it and even made it her major, getting into the Sports Institute. Of course, her father’s connections in the sports system had helped.

Bai Haonan knew that, unless he fought dirty and recklessly, if they were to spar with skill, this seemingly slender girl could beat him into the ground.

That’s why he never resisted when Chen Sufen got physical—he just hoped this wild girl would get married soon and stop tormenting him!