Episode 1

"I feel like my boyfriend... wants to kill me.

The McDonald's on Sunday was crowded with parents and their children. The shrill voices and laughter of kids echoed from the slides in the play area. In such an environment, plump and rosy Zhu Mei found it hard to take her friend's words seriously.

"Stop talking nonsense! Even if you two fought, don't make him sound so bad," Zhu Mei scolded with a laugh. After a pause, she raised an eyebrow and, with some hesitation, asked, "...You didn't get physical during your argument, did you?"

The girl sitting opposite her, probably in her twenties, had a pretty face, though in this bustling international city, she was hardly an uncommon beauty. What stood out most, however, were her large eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, with amber-colored irises that reminded one of a luxurious cat. Lin Sanzhou shook her head and didn't continue. No wonder Zhu Mei didn't believe her—saying something like that out loud felt absurd, even to her. Perhaps it was because of the lack of sleep these past few days, leaving her a bit anxious... Lin Sanzhou took a sip of cola, and for some unknown reason, half-jokingly said, "If one day the police come asking about who I’ve made enemies with..."

"Cut it out!" Zhu Mei's teasing tone immediately erased any lingering doubts that had crossed her mind. She waved her hand, laughing, "Seriously, you’re just complaining after getting a good deal! Tell me, what flaws does Ren Nan have—"

The rest of her sentence blew past Lin Sanzhou like a gust of wind, never reaching her ears. Her cat-like eyes swept over the window, and the lines of her jaw tightened imperceptibly.

She lowered her head, biting into her burger.

At that moment, the usual clamor of the McDonald's door fell silent for a few seconds. As the light dimmed at the entrance, a tall man walked in at a leisurely pace. Several customers in line unconsciously stepped back, parting to give him space. His tailored iron-gray shirt, with its signature Armani waistline design, exuded an aura of calm sophistication. His dark-colored trousers, perfectly pressed without a single crease, looked as though they had been meticulously ironed at all times. Combined with his rare nine-head proportion and handsome features, Ren Nan looked like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine—no wonder everyone in the restaurant turned their heads to stare.

As he sat down, the faint scent of Davidoff Cool Water filled the air.

"Why are you eating fast food again?" He nodded to Zhu Mei, greeted her warmly, and affectionately ruffled Lin Sanzhou’s hair, his Patek Philippe watch almost disappearing in her black locks. "I was planning to take you to that Japanese restaurant tonight."

"I was passing by and got hungry, so..." Lin Sanzhou forced a smile, avoiding his gaze as she picked up a fry and ate it. Her long hair slid down her shoulder, concealing her expression. To say that Ren Nan had any flaws was almost unimaginable.

After spending a few months with Lin Sanzhou, Ren Nan had swiftly charmed all her friends with his impeccable manners, not to mention her own heart. No, it wasn’t just his manners—his appearance, wealth, and personality were all perfect... He was everything a woman could dream of.

Everyone said her luck was extraordinary.

When they first started dating, Lin Sanzhou couldn't believe her good fortune. Every morning, she woke up with a smile, facing a new world that Ren Nan had brought her into.

...When did it start feeling wrong?

Suddenly, Zhu Mei's enthusiastic voice interrupted her thoughts. "I’ve had Xiao Jiu all day, so I won’t take up your private time! She just said she’s a bit tired, so you two should head home—"

Lin Sanzhou was abruptly pulled back to reality. Ren Nan’s smooth voice, always holding a smile, echoed, "Let us walk you out, it’s too hot lately."

Zhu Mei, with her childlike innocence, immediately laughed, "Oh, I won’t be shy then! It’s so hot today, I’ve been sweating since I walked here..." Her shirt was still damp with sweat on her back.

Since she wasn’t really hungry, Lin Sanzhou stood up as her friend finished and walked out of McDonald's with Ren Nan and Zhu Mei.

The street outside had been baking under the sun all afternoon, and the heat wave enveloped them in an instant. Even though it was already October, the summer heat showed no signs of relenting, continuing to dominate the international city. People walked by, some holding umbrellas, others drenched in sweat, all with miserable expressions—this heat was worse than even the peak summer days!

Zhu Mei hated the heat, and after just a few steps, she was already drenched in sweat, wiping her forehead constantly. Lin Sanzhou could feel the hair on the back of her neck sticking to her skin. The discomfort made her ask, "Where’s your car?"

Ren Nan raised his chin towards a spot not far off, his smooth skin showing no trace of sweat. "Right ahead." After a pause, his voice remained as calm and graceful as ever. "I’ve told you several times, it’s inconvenient without a car. Since you’ve got your driver’s license now, don’t you want to buy one?"

Zhu Mei immediately expressed her envy. "You’re buying Xiao Jiu a car? You really are the perfect rich guy... When my birthday came around, my boyfriend just gave me a bear..."

Lin Sanzhou mumbled a few casual responses, her mind far from the car. Luckily, Zhu Mei was lively and chatted away with Ren Nan, who seemed oblivious to her distraction.

...Her mind suddenly flashed back to three months ago. After Ren Nan’s repeated requests, Lin Sanzhou had sweetly given in, packing her things, canceling her apartment, and moving into his penthouse in the city center. Friends and colleagues who had visited her new place were all envious, pulling her aside to say, "Xiao Jiu, you’ve got to hold onto this good man!" "Does Ren Nan have any brothers? Any single friends? Don’t forget to introduce me to one!"

"You better start talking about marriage with him soon..."

Their excited voices still echoed in her ears. At that time, Lin Sanzhou’s excitement and expectations far exceeded theirs—yet after living together for a while, the intelligence she had almost lost to love began to return.

She started noticing small details in her life.

Now, Lin Sanzhou couldn’t say why—but she was a bit afraid of Ren Nan.

Watching Zhu Mei gradually disappear around the corner of an old residential area, Ren Nan restarted the car, and they merged silently into the flow of traffic. About twenty minutes later, they arrived home.

Ren Nan’s apartment was located in the most expensive area of the city, newly built two years ago, with every inch of it representing a lifestyle that Lin Sanzhou, a regular citizen, had never dared to imagine. Now, she was almost used to her new life—if it weren’t for the ever-darkening clouds in her heart... The penthouse occupied the entire 38th floor. As the private elevator dinged, the doors opened, and the two of them stepped into the living room.

The lights gradually turned on as the elevator moved, casting a soft glow.

"I bought some cola today, would you like one?" Lin Sanzhou put down her bag and walked towards the kitchen, suppressing her heartbeat, and smiling casually at Ren Nan—believing her expression was flawless.

Ren Nan followed, still smiling gently. "Anything you buy is fine."

She didn’t know when it started, but those novel-like sweet words from Ren Nan now seemed strange to Lin Sanzhou. Uncertain how to respond, she hurriedly handed him the cola. As he opened the tab, the drink fizzed and bubbled. Perhaps to please her, Ren Nan drank half of the can in one go.

Lin Sanzhou, hiding behind the refrigerator door, tensed up, her ears straining to catch every sound.

The room was silent for half a minute. Second by second passed, until Ren Nan broke the silence with a smile. "What are you looking for in the fridge?"

Lin Sanzhou’s heart sank. She closed the door, pretending to casually glance at him.

No reaction.

After drinking the freshly opened, carbonated cold cola, Ren Nan showed no sign of burping—not even the slightest hint of a hiccup—just like pouring into a deep, dark pool of water.

"Nothing, just wanted to see if there were any snacks." She forced a smile.

After living together for three months, she had never seen Ren Nan burp.

Not just burping—coughing, sneezing, farting, sweating... all the unrefined things people do at times—Lin Sanzhou had never seen him do any of it.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t even sure if she had ever seen him go to the bathroom.

"You didn’t eat much earlier, how about we go out to eat tonight?" Ren Nan pulled her hands and kissed her neck.

A shiver ran down her back, causing goosebumps to spring up. "No, I’m too lazy to move... Besides, I want to go to bed early, I have to get up early tomorrow."

"Then I’ll cook for you, salmon." Ren Nan smiled.

Lin Sanzhou hurriedly nodded.

Ren Nan’s cooking skills were as perfect as he was, flawless. After enjoying his carefully prepared dinner, the sun outside the living room's glass wall began to set. The sky darkened little by little, finally changing to the night and stars.

"The global heatwave has now lasted for 104 days..." Lin Sanzhou, cleaning up the dishes, pretended to show interest in the news on TV—she really didn’t want any eye contact with Ren Nan. "After heat-related deaths in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and other regions, the number of heatstroke fatalities in our country has reached 67. Experts warn..."

She felt Ren Nan walk over and sit beside her. The couch sank deeply.

An arm naturally wrapped around her shoulders. Lin Sanzhou stiffened.

Though she didn’t turn around, she could clearly feel that Ren Nan wasn’t watching the TV. His gaze was fixed on her back—not the usual affectionate one, but one that was raw and unrelenting—

It was like the gaze of a snake staring at a frog."

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