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CreativityTranscript
00:00After your girlfriend goes bankrupt, you have no choice but to move into a basement apartment with
00:04her. Used to living in a mansion, you refuse to accept this miserable life, and you take it out
00:07on her every single day, screaming that she's worthless. You even think about selling her off
00:11for cash, but later you find out the truth. Your girlfriend is actually the hidden princess of
00:15Beijing's elite, lost and living in secret. The moment her family finds her, the very first thing
00:18she does is have you, the villain boyfriend, thrown into a remote mountain ditch to feed pigs.
00:22You die there, reeking, in a pigsty. You do not want to feed pigs. You definitely do not want to
00:26die like that. But right now, you have already spent months hurling abuse at the broke female
00:29lead. The villain meter is completely maxed out. You pace frantically around the room.
00:32What do you do? What do you do? Your death sentence is coming this fast. Then the bedroom
00:35door handle suddenly turns. Lena left for work, but now she's back. Evan, I'll get you. She furrows
00:40her brow, clearly a little nervous, like she's asking for your approval. You look up. You freeze
00:43completely. The woman stands nearly six feet tall with thin lips and sharp, upswept eyes. Those long,
00:47narrow eyes carry an edge of cold intensity. She thinks you're still, still angry, so she hurries to
00:51explain. A Musang King durian costs 600 yuan. I want to save up a bit more, so we can move
00:56somewhere
00:56better. God knows she pushes herself to the limit at work every single day. Late at night,
01:00she works a second job as a cashier at the supermarket, and she still won't spend money
01:03on a proper meal. How are you supposed to keep yelling at her? You backpedal fast. Actually,
01:07I don't want durian anymore. I want strawberries. Lena blinks, caught off guard. She remembers you
01:11never liked strawberries. You scramble to cover it up. Just felt like trying something different.
01:15She goes quiet for a long moment before she finally agrees. But what you don't know is that
01:19the moment she closes the door, she leans back against it, her eyes full of suspicion and scrutiny.
01:23A thought explodes through her mind. He suddenly stopped making a scene. Has he finally had enough?
01:27Is he about to leave her for good? By evening, Lena practically sprints home. She bursts through
01:31the door with a bag of fruit and rushes straight to your room. But when she turns the handle and
01:34pushes it open, the room is empty. Her breath catches. She slumps against the doorframe. Her
01:37only anchor, that last small light, has gone out. Just as despair swallows her whole,
01:40your voice cuts through from right behind her. Lena, laundry's done. Go shower.
01:44Lena's whole body goes rigid. She spins around, eyes wide with disbelief.
01:47You didn't leave. You look genuinely puzzled. Leave? Go where? I'm not working today.
01:51She looks like a thousand pounds just lifted off her shoulders. She waves you in to hang up the
01:54laundry. But the moment you turn around, your eyes land on the table. Sitting right there is a massive
01:57durian and a box of bright red strawberries. The label is unmistakable. It's the 600 yuan,
02:02Musang King. She's so broke she's living in a basement, and she still spent this much on fruit
02:05for you? You swallow despite yourself. Didn't we agree you'd only get strawberries? Then we skip rent.
02:09Lena says it like it's nothing. It's fine. I'll just work two extra hours a day. Your stomach drops.
02:13Last night she lost two hours of sleep because of your yelling. And now today she's going to grind
02:17even harder for a durian. You watch her heading for the door. This woman who once stood on top of
02:20the
02:21world, life has bent her low. You grit your teeth, grab the durian off the table, and run back to
02:25the fruit stand. You beg the vendor. My girlfriend just bought this. Can I return it? We genuinely
02:28can't make rent. After a lot of pleading, the vendor finally gives you 580 yuan back. You clutch the
02:33cash and walk past an art supply store, and suddenly an idea flashes through your mind. You went to art
02:37school. You could totally set up on the pedestrian bridge and sell portrait sketches. The sooner you get
02:40out of this place, the better. As for leaving Lena behind, that thought never even crosses your mind.
02:45Abandoning the female lead is also a death sentence. You have to lay low and survive until she meets her
02:49fated lover. Only then can you exit the story safely. At two in the morning, Lena finally drags
02:53herself home, completely exhausted. But the moment she pushes open the door, she freezes. A dim little
02:57nightlamp glows on the table. Beneath the light, something is pinned down a note and a flower. You
03:01said you didn't want it, but you still bought it. I returned it for 580 yuan. I spent some on
03:06a drawing
03:06board. The rest of the money is right here. Don't waste money like that again. You've deliberately
03:09copied the original soul's bossy tone, but that last line sounds less like a threat and more like a
03:13pouty golden retriever with a stepped-on tail. Zero intimidation factor. Do you think it over and
03:17scribble one more line at the bottom of the note? Also, no more coming home so late. Be back by
03:2110.
03:21Lena suddenly feels, thank goodness it's you who stayed. Any other man would have been long gone.
03:25She switches off the lamp and quietly lies down beside you. The next morning, you're focused on
03:28drawing in the room, while Lena bustles around in the kitchen. Rich, savory smells drift through the
03:32entire apartment. Your stomach growls. Who could have imagined the princess who once never lifted a
03:36finger in the kitchen has been pushed by you into becoming a full-blown master chef? You have to admit,
03:40a genius excels at everything she tries. You sneak into the kitchen with your brush still in hand.
03:44Lena, what smells so good? She slides a plate of egg-fried rice in front of you. Try it.
03:47How is it? You scoop up a mouthful. Your eyes light up instantly. This is incredible.
03:51Lena, with skills like this, you could work at a five-star hotel as the head chef. But Lena's
03:55brow pinches, and out of nowhere she asks, didn't you always say my cooking was terrible? Your heart
03:59skips a beat. You scramble to cover. I meant compared to the chef at the old mansion. It was a
04:03little off,
04:03but now you're way past that. Lena is clearly not so easy to fool. Her sharp gaze locks onto you.
04:08You've been acting strange these past two days. The way you talk, she stops mid-sentence like she's
04:12second-guessing herself. Your heart leaps into your throat. You're about to be caught. You drop the spoon
04:16into the plate and plant both hands on your hips. I give you one compliment, and you can't handle it?
04:19Do you need me screaming at you every day to feel normal? Lena stares at your completely harmless
04:23display, like watching a cat that's just had its tail stepped on. That won't be necessary. Her eyes
04:27go dark, and she's the first one to look away. After the meal, Lena dutifully washes the dishes.
04:32When she comes back out, she finds you messing around with your sketchbook. She assumes you're just
04:36killing time. I'm heading to work, she tosses out casually. Got it. See you at ten. New house rule.
04:40No coming home late. You don't even look up. Lena's footsteps pause. She thinks of the words on the note,
04:44and quietly nods. The second she steps out the door, you slip out right behind her. Drawing board
04:48tucked under your arm. You pick a shaded underground walkway and set up your easel next to a watermelon
04:52stand. On a piece of cardboard, you scrawl in bold strokes. Sketch portrait. Ten minutes. Ten yuan.
04:57A young couple walking by stops immediately. The girl looks curious. How much for two people? You
05:01smile so wide your eyes curve into crescents. First customer of the day still just ten. Twenty minutes
05:05later, the couple walks away with their portrait completely satisfied. You stare at your phone. Ten yuan
05:10received. You're so excited you almost launch off the ground. The watermelon vendor beside you
05:13chuckles and leans over. First time setting up a stall, huh? Ha! You've got a sharp eye. I only
05:17brought one stool. Still in school? You hesitate for a moment, then shake your head. No, I just draw
05:21for fun. You can't exactly reveal your real identity. The vendor studies your work with growing amazement.
05:26This looks just like a photograph. You smile casually. Maybe I'm just naturally gifted. By nine
05:30in the morning, the rush of commuters flows through. Your little stall is fast and cheap, and you
05:33quickly book two appointments for the next day. You nod and confirm them, but inside you're quietly
05:37worried they'll stand you up. But right at that moment, Lena happens to walk through the same
05:41underpass and spots you instantly. The next second, a little kid who just got out of school snatches a
05:44drawing right out of your hands. Hey, that's mine! You jump to your feet. The boy grabs the drawing and
05:48bolts. In seconds, he's already far ahead. His mother keeps her head down, scrolling on her phone,
05:52completely ignoring him. But just as the boy reaches the end of the walkway, he slams face first into a
05:56wall of a person. Lena stands like a cold, unmovable statue, blocking his path. Her red lips part
06:01slightly. Her voice drops to ice. You mess with what's mine. The boy lets out a wail. Mommy, there's a
06:05dinosaur. The dinosaur's going to eat me. You catch up just in time to hear that. A dinosaur? You burst
06:09out
06:09laughing. From a little kid's perspective, Lena really is towering enough to pass for one. But
06:13Lena is in no mood for jokes. She reaches her hand straight toward the boy. The kid is scared out
06:17of
06:17his wits and immediately shoves the drawing back. He apologizes through tears. Only then does Lena
06:21hand the drawing back to you and asks, as if it's nothing, what are you doing here? Ha! Setting up
06:25a
06:25stall selling drawings to make money. Before she can respond, you spin around and jog back to your spot
06:29and get back to sketching a portrait of an elderly woman. Lena stands a little distance away,
06:33watching you in silence. You work with your head down, each stroke smooth and fluid, every line
06:37confident and decisive. Not a single wasted mark. When you finish, the old woman hands you
06:41ten yuan and happily tells you the portrait made her look ten years younger. You were already young,
06:45ma'am. After she leaves with a smile, you start packing up and a pair of long legs steps right
06:48in front of you. Without looking up, you say, ten yuan, ten minutes, you stop mid-sentence. You look
06:52up sharply. Lena, why are you still here? If you'd known she worked nearby, you never would have set up
06:56here. Lena looks down at you, her tone completely flat. I went across the street to pick up lunch for
06:59a
07:00co-worker. Her gaze drifts to your drawing board. You can do this? Your mind kicks into gear and you
07:03immediately slip back into villain boyfriend mode. Oh, surprised. I'm pretty impressive. I can make
07:08real money on my own. Lena's expression gives nothing away. It makes your skin crawl. You scramble
07:12to your feet and keep up the act. I made forty yuan today. Fully booked tomorrow. Not like you.
07:16Totally useless. By the end, your voice trails off on its own. Lena doesn't even flinch. She just gives
07:21a quiet, mmm, what do you want? You blink, suddenly remembering you implied you were saving up for
07:25something. You rack your brain and finally land on that classic line, I'd rather cry in a BMW than smile
07:30on the back of your bicycle. Lena goes silent for a long moment. She comes back with just two words,
07:35got it. Then she turns and walks away. You watch her go. Your heart is all over the place. She
07:39must
07:39be furious. But before long, Lena comes back. Without a single word, she sets down a lunchbox
07:43and leaves. You open it and your jaw drops. Three meat dishes, one vegetable. Since when does her
07:47company serve food this good? The watermelon vendor beside you grins and calls you out. She bought that
07:51separately just for you. From what I saw, all she had for herself was a plain veggie box. The vendor
07:56takes a
07:57bite of his steamed bun and asks, that girl treats you so well. Why do you talk to her like
08:00that?
08:01You let out a heavy sigh. I know. I'm a complete jerk. After packing up, you head straight to your
08:05next job at the supermarket. You work as a stock loader until nine at night. Back home, you sit at
08:09the table and start drawing again. When the lock clicks and Lena walks in, your mind goes blank.
08:13Right, you're the one who made the ten o'clock rule. I was at ten already. It slips out before
08:16you
08:16can stop it and you immediately want to slap yourself. That sounded like you're annoyed she came home too
08:20early. But Lena just says flatly, work was slow today. I'll shower first. You put your head back down
08:24and keep drawing. By the time you power through over a dozen sketches, you finally notice Lena is
08:28already sitting on the bed, reading. She doesn't have money for a phone. Her whole paycheck goes
08:31into the shared account, so her only entertainment is borrowing books from the library. The silence
08:35feels a little awkward, so you toss out a question. What are you reading? Lena doesn't look up. Poor
08:39Charlie's almanac. You freeze solid. Did you actually drive this woman to start studying how to get rich?
08:43You awkwardly climb into bed and quietly tally up what's left in the account. Lena mentioned rent is
08:47almost due. Once you pay, you'll be back to zero. But then Lena sets her book down. Her sharp eyes
08:51fix on you.
08:52Your drawing skills are very polished. When did you learn? You dodge with a counter question. I haven't
08:56even asked you yet how does someone fresh out of school build a company worth 30 billion. Her voice
09:00stays perfectly even. I studied finance. You have no comeback for that. Then how come none of your
09:03classmates pulled that off? Lena's eyebrow arches slightly. None of them went bankrupt this completely
09:08either. You're completely out of words. Her bankruptcy really is brutal. Spending restrictions, all bank
09:12accounts frozen, her paycheck forced to go into your account because otherwise it gets seized the moment
09:16it lands. Your heart softens and you stumble through an attempt to comfort her. You've got so much ahead of
09:20you. You'll make your comeback, I'm sure of it. You look at her exhausted face remembering she passed
09:23the fish market at lunch. You ask, is your workplace nearby? Lena shakes her head. Not really. It's a
09:28three kilometer walk home. What if I get you a bicycle? You barely finish the sentence before
09:32Lena's expression completely shuts down. She stares at you and says absolutely nothing. You know exactly
09:36what she's thinking about that line you said. You'd rather cry in a BMW than ride on the back of
09:40a
09:40bicycle. The next second she throws her book down, stands up and kills the light. The whole room goes
09:44black. You ask quietly. You didn't answer me. Tomorrow I'll help you pick one out. In the darkness,
09:47Lena's voice is as cold as ice. Rent is due tomorrow. Then after rent I'll draw more. I'll
09:51definitely get it for you this month. But she just says flatly, don't bother. Sleep. The next day,
09:55you really are too broke to afford even a bicycle. But you still head out with your drawing board on
09:59your back. You grind through the whole morning and rake in just as you're about to pack up.
10:02A stunning girl with pink dyed hair appears out of nowhere. When she smiles, two little fangs
10:06peek out. Can you draw me? You shake your head apologetically. I have something on this
10:09afternoon, maybe tomorrow? The pink haired girl nods, with a smile. Then I'll be your first customer
10:13tomorrow. My name is Bianca Bai. I'm a junior at the Central Academy of Fine Arts next door.
10:17Your jaw nearly hits the ground. You go to the Central Academy? Then why are you coming to me?
10:21Bianca gives you a little wink. Her voice is soft enough to melt. I love your style. She doesn't
10:24just compliment you, she actually helps you pack up your board. Getting praise from a top fine arts
10:28student leaves you genuinely flattered. You two hit it off immediately, talking like old friends who
10:32just found each other. But neither of you notices. Not far away, a woman has her eyes locked on the
10:36two of you. Her red lips are pressed tight. Her brow is knotted. The orange in her hand is being
10:40squeezed so hard that juice runs down her fingers. You watch helplessly as Lena hurls the crushed
10:44orange into the trash. Back home, she is wildly off today. The moment she's in the door, she starts
10:48rummaging through everything, making so much noise you can't focus on drawing at all. You can't take
10:52it anymore. What are you looking for? Lena's eyes are dark as ink. She looks at you and says,
10:56I'm washing everything in the wardrobe. Don't want anything getting mold. But she's barely gone
10:59before she calls out from the bathroom. Evan, you've hit your limit. Now what, Ms. Lu? But Lena just
11:03climbs into bed in silence and pretends to read. Now you're the one who's annoyed. You glance at the
11:07time, it's already 11, all because of her. You tell her to stop reading. Lena's dark eyes are
11:11unreadable. Fine, I won't. You push harder. What is wrong with you today? Did you suddenly
11:14develop a restlessness disorder? But she says nothing. She just stares straight at your lips.
11:18You lean in a little closer. Stop playing dumb. The closeness presses down on her. Her breathing
11:22goes unsteady. And just when you think you've pushed far enough and are about to back off,
11:26Lena suddenly speaks. Keep drawing. I'm going to get some water. The words are barely out before
11:30she throws back the covers and gets up. She's out the door before you can blink. You're genuinely
11:33baffled. Who goes out in the middle of the night for water? You can't make sense of it,
11:37so you don't even try. You just go back to drawing. Money is what matters most anyway. But you've
11:40barely put down a few strokes when a drop of water appears on the paper out of nowhere.
11:44You look up instinctively at the ceiling. A line of glistening droplets clings to it. Oh no. The
11:48upstairs unit is leaking. You scramble to protect your drawings, then rush to the bathroom, grab a
11:51basin, and put it on the table to catch the drips. You put on your shoes and pound up the
11:55stairs,
11:55banging on the door and shouting, Is anyone home? You're flooding us. You knock for what feels like
11:59forever. The neighbors on either side wake up, but from upstairs, not a sound. A neighbor pokes their
12:03head out and tells you, Looks like no one's been home up there for days. You should call building
12:06management. You pull out your phone and dial right away. Hello, I'm in unit B101. The
12:10apartment above mine is leaking, and no one seems to be home up there. Can someone come check? How
12:14much water are we talking? You're panicking. It started as just a few drops, but it's getting
12:17worse. I think a pipe might have burst up there. If this keeps up, the whole place is going to
12:20flood. The building manager's voice stays completely unbothered. Fine, I'll try calling that unit. You
12:24hang up and run back downstairs. Sure enough, when you get back, the leak is worse, spreading across
12:28the floor. You grab another basin from the bathroom to catch more drips. It's been 20 minutes since the
12:32call and nothing has happened. You call again. Were you able to reach the residents upstairs? The
12:36building manager replies, coldly, Can't get through. You've never in your life dealt with anything
12:40that's infuriating. You're doing everything you can to fix this, and yet the problems just keep
12:43piling up, and Lena, who went out for water, still hasn't come back. You think to call her for help,
12:48and then you remember, Lena doesn't have a phone. What era is this? Unbelievable. More than a bicycle,
12:52what Lena really needs is a phone. The upstairs tenant is unreachable. Building management is
12:56useless. You're completely out of options. All you can do is move things away from the leaking spots,
13:00and just then a blinding white flash tears across the window. The whole night turns white for a split
13:04second. The thunder that follows feels like it could split the sky open. Your breathing goes ragged.
13:08A memory surges up. A typhoon. Lightning crashing outside a floor-to-ceiling window. And seven-year-old
13:13you, curled up helplessly in bed crying. Your parents were always busy. They traveled all over
13:17the country for work, leaving you alone in an empty house. The sky was so dark back then,
13:21the thunder so loud, that old fear rips through you in an instant, and you curl up into the corner
13:25of the bed. Meanwhile, Lena has just bought the cheapest cold water bottle she could find.
13:29She sits alone on an outdoor exercise machine, head down taking slow sips. Beijing at this hour is
13:33pitch black, a world of towers and shadows, and she feels so small she can barely breathe.
13:36You know her background. She grew up poor. Her father died young. Her mother and grandfather
13:40worked hard to keep the family going. Evan, the original soul, was a top-scoring science prodigy
13:44in the National College entrance exam. Every teacher who ever taught him called him their
13:47greatest pride. He went on to Peking University, where the best gathered, and he still shone the
13:51brightest. He was the center of everyone's attention. Word was that in his second year,
13:55he co-founded a startup with a classmate staying up all night writing code and running operations,
13:58grinding the company up to a hundred billion yuan valuation. But then, no one knows why the company
14:02suddenly came under attack. He went down hard and walked away buried in debt. That meteoric rise
14:06was killed dead. Lena has wondered if he crossed the wrong person, but all the major players in the
14:10industry had backed him. There was no reason for them to take him down, but you're certain those
14:13sudden attacks were aimed specifically at him. Lena has no idea who the enemy is. Right now he has
14:17nothing. Chasing the truth is out of the question. She takes another sip of cold water, feeling the
14:21chills slide down her throat. Maybe it'll help her think more clearly. After the bankruptcy,
14:25he's rarely had a moment alone like this. Except when asleep, you're always pushing him to work and earn
14:28more, or bossing him around with chores. Lately though, you've been quieter. You found side work
14:32on your own. He's probably noticed how strange your attitude has been. Like you're getting ready
14:36to leave. Lena must be thinking about what she saw at noon again, you and that girl in the pink
14:39outfit,
14:40laughing and chatting so easily, your smile probably more genuine than anything she ever gets from you.
14:44She must grip her water bottle tighter, the plastic warping under her grip, the remaining water
14:47spilling over, soaking her hand. She refuses to admit to herself what she's feeling. You know she's both
14:52hurt and defeated. When thunder finally tears through the sky, the woman snaps her head up and hurries home.
14:56You left the living room light on. When Lena opens the bedroom door, what she sees is you,
15:00curled up in the corner of the bed, face drained white, completely overtaken by fear.
15:04She crosses to the bed quickly. She pats your shoulder. Evan, Evan, what's wrong? What happened?
15:08The apartment is leaking no one upstairs and management won't do anything. Lena spots the
15:12two basins on the table, but she clearly doesn't think the leak is the real problem here. The real
15:16problem is the rain hammering the window, and the thunder rolling in again and again. She tests the
15:20water carefully. You're scared of thunder? You hesitate, checking that she won't suspect anything,
15:23and then nods carefully. Lena holds your gaze for a long moment, then takes your phone and
15:27calls building management again, trying to deal with the leak first. This time the response is
15:31even more dismissive. It's pouring in the middle of the night. How am I supposed to get there?
15:35And even if I did, there's nothing I can do. I can't pick locks. Lena swears under her breath and
15:38hangs up, then dials the emergency line. Plumbing issues fall under building management. We can only
15:43coordinate. Given the hour and the weather, maybe check into a hotel for the night? You watch Lena take a
15:46slow, deep breath, like she's forcing herself to accept the reality of being broke. The dripping's
15:51picking up, but until tomorrow when the locksmith arrives, we won't actually flood. Lena must have
15:54noticed the water on the floor. You already cleaned it up. You figure she's probably surprised. Then
15:58she shoves everything that was close to the floor under the bed, packing it tight so it won't get
16:01wet. The drops hitting the basin are loud. She grabs two sweaters and lays them in the basin. With the
16:05fabric to absorb the impact, the noise drops significantly. The locksmith comes at eight
16:09tomorrow. Let's sleep. It's almost midnight. You barely have a second to exhale before another bolt of
16:13lightning splits the sky outside. You know the thunder is coming. You feel like a prisoner waiting for
16:16the axe to fall. And then, boom, a blast of thunder louder than before tears through the air, and
16:21suddenly, you're pulled into a warm embrace. Her cool, clean scent wraps around you completely.
16:25Don't be scared. I'm here. You used to lie awake through so many storms, wishing your parents would
16:29somehow come home and hold you. But that wish never came true. And now the one giving you that warmth
16:33is
16:33a fictional character. The female lead of a novel. Someone who is never meant to be yours. But this
16:37warmth is so rare you can't bring yourself to pull away. The next morning, the locksmith arrives.
16:41With building management there to witness, they pry open the upstairs door and find that the
16:44problem is not a burst pipe. The upstairs tenant had simply left the tap turned on when they left.
16:48Water overflowed from the sink, flooding their entire floor. You want to track down the building's
16:51architect and ask what they were thinking. Did they really design the layout so that any couple
16:55staying here would have zero privacy? The shower turns on. Lena is in the bathroom. You sit on the
16:59bed with your back to her, clutching your drawing board and muttering to yourself,
17:02Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form. I am not a pervert. I truly am not. Why did you stop drawing?
17:07Lena's voice comes from right above you. You snap your eyes open. A breathtaking face fills your entire
17:11vision. Perfect proportions. A straight and delicate nose. Cool eyes like still water. So beautiful,
17:15your heart skips a full beat. How is this face even allowed to exist? What kind of author writes
17:19someone like this? No wonder the male lead would lose his mind over her. Even a complete stranger
17:22would stop and stare. As for drawing, I hit a wall. Lena glances at the landscape in your hand and
17:26offers a suggestion. Then draw something different. Not everyone wants a landscape. You nod, and Bianca's
17:30face suddenly pops into your head. The one you stood up. Bianca is the type whose face doesn't stir
17:34anything complicated in you. In fact, looking at her actually calms you down. Decision made. You'll draw her.
17:39That way you'll have something to hand over when you see her tomorrow at the stall. Lena comes over
17:43carrying her book, clearly planning to read in bed until she glances over and sees a woman's
17:46facial outline you've just sketched. The face shape, the hair, it looks just like the girl in
17:50the pink outfit from yesterday. Lena's expression goes dark immediately. She told you to stop drawing
17:54landscapes and you immediately switch to drawing another woman. Lena almost laughs from the sheer
17:58frustration of it. But getting angry over a sketch would make her look petty. So she keeps her
18:01expression controlled and walks over, pretending it's nothing. Which celebrity are you drawing?
18:04She's already handed you a way out. If you just play along, Lena is probably telling herself right now
18:08that she's the most understanding, thoughtful girlfriend in the world. Who could have known
18:11you wouldn't even look up before answering? It's a client of mine. We had an appointment
18:14this morning and I stood her up. The story goes completely off her script. Lena's voice
18:17comes out a little strange. How dedicated of you, keeping clients in mind like that. Must
18:21really memorize their faces. You put your head back down and keep drawing. Lena's expression
18:25sinks further. She looks like she's calculating how to politely tear that paper in half without
18:29setting you off. And just at that moment you suddenly blurt out, Oh, I can't remember
18:32exactly what she looks like. Does she have those upturned eyes? Lena's clenched fist
18:36unclenches. The anger drains right out of her. Mmm, she's just someone whose face you can't
18:40even remember. What's there to be jealous of? Lena plays it magnanimous. You might run
18:43into her again sometime. Draw her in person then. You nod and agree. You tuck away the
18:47unfinished sketch and switch to drawing backgrounds with little animals in them. The faceless
18:50portrait gets tossed casually onto the bed. The longer Lena looks at it, the more it annoys
18:54her she probably wants to throw it straight in the trash. But she knows your temper, so she
18:57holds back. The very next morning you're back at your stall. The underpass is nearly empty
19:01today. Even the watermelon vendor is absent. You set up your board and wait, ready
19:04to work. But you wait the entire morning. Looks like missing one day was enough to lose even
19:07the regulars. You start thinking maybe you should try a busier spot tomorrow somewhere
19:10with more foot traffic. Bianca shows up just as you're about to pack up. She's in her
19:14school uniform today, and on her wrist is a watch you don't recognize. But the way a
19:17student is dressed this well says everything about her family's money. Evan, you finally
19:20showed up this afternoon. I thought you'd move to a new spot. Bianca seems genuinely happy
19:24to see you. Something came up at home yesterday, that's why I wasn't here. You explain,
19:28a little embarrassed. Good thing you're here. I was worried I'd miss my chance to get a
19:30portrait. Bianca smiles. Then she notices you packing up and asks if you're about to
19:34close and whether she should just come back tomorrow. You really can't bring yourself to
19:37make her come all the way out again for nothing. You check the time. Actually, I already sketched
19:40your outline yesterday. You pull out the paper and fix it to the board. Bianca blinks, then
19:44glances down at her watch, probably wondering if you recognize the brand and assume that's
19:47why you prepared the sketch in advance. Bianca's smile gets bigger, but the smile doesn't
19:51quite reach her eyes. This time, drawing from life, you finally get a clear look at the
19:55shape of her eyes. Upturned at the outer corners, just as you suspected. People say girls
19:58with eyes like that tend to draw a lot of attention and break a lot of hearts. You're
20:01no expert at reading people, but something about Bianca's eyes feels genuinely clear.
20:05Probably not the type to play games. It would be a waste if she were. The sketch is done
20:08in five minutes. You hand it over and start packing up. Bianca holds the drawing and studies
20:11it carefully. She compliments your technique, but also says there's feeling in it. You drew
20:15my eyes so clearly, like a pool of fresh water. She says it's the first time anyone has
20:18drawn her face this way. She seems genuinely pleased. Then she pulls up her payment app
20:22without hesitation. A notification chimes 10,000 yuan received. Your head snaps up.
20:26Bianca looks completely innocent. Did you add three extra zeros? You ask it,
20:29but even you don't believe it coming out of your mouth. When someone accidentally overpays,
20:33they're off by one zero at most. Three. No mistake, Bianca says with a smile. Your work
20:37is worth every bit of that. 10,000 is practically a bargain. You're flustered. Please don't.
20:41Bianca holds up her personal contact code with a slightly disappointed look. Fine,
20:44then add me on social media. Without thinking, you add her. 10,000 yuan. Who wouldn't want it?
20:48Especially when you're broke as a joke. But you can't accept it. Bianca is clearly just
20:52a kid. She'll regret it later. You add her and immediately transfer back the extra amount.
20:55Bianca smiles and waves her phone at you. I'll let you get off work. I'll bring some
20:58classmates to see you another time. Bye. After Bianca is gone, the more you think about it,
21:02the more something feels off. You're pretty sure you don't actually need to be contacts to process
21:05a refund. You frown, staring in the direction she walked. Something about her is strange.
21:09You're naturally cautious, and your struggling little household can't afford to be the target
21:13of any kind of scam. Meanwhile, Lena runs into Bianca on the street. Normally she'd never give a
21:17stranger a second glance, but Bianca's outfit is impossible to miss. Head to toe pink,
21:20even her hair. Lena spots her from a distance, head down, scrolling on her phone.
21:23Lena glances over and catches a glimpse of the chat screen. The profile picture is yours.
21:27It's the peak of summer, but a chill runs down Lena's spine. She stands frozen in place.
21:31Bianca walks further away, but Lena's fury keeps rising. She's already added you on social media,
21:35and Lena herself hasn't even done that yet. What gives? Lena thinks about how she's been
21:38too broke to even afford a phone while that pink-haired girl has a 4 million yuan Patek Philippe
21:42on her wrist. That night, Lena grinds until the early hours again. She's running on pure willpower.
21:47She is saving up for a phone. Her co-workers are shaken by her intensity.
21:49This girl's going to outgrind us all into unemployment. Lena works like a machine that
21:53never needs rest. At midnight, she still wants to keep going.
21:55Lena, your boyfriend is here. Someone calls from outside. Her co-workers erupt immediately.
21:59Look at you, working this late. Go home. Leave some work for the rest of us.
22:02Lena, you are so lucky. Let me see how good-looking this boyfriend is.
22:05Lena isn't letting any of them come with her. When she runs out,
22:07her female co-workers are laughing and calling her stingy behind her back.
22:10When you see her come out, you exhale.
22:12Lena, you broke your promise. She agreed to be home by 10 every night,
22:15and here it is midnight, and she had no intention of leaving.
22:17If you didn't know she was dead broke, you might actually start wondering where she'd been.
22:20You came all the way here in the middle of the night just to walk her home.
22:23Lena, who's been quietly fuming all afternoon, has no temper left for this.
22:27The sound of rushing water fills the bathroom. She showers herself clean,
22:30then takes her time coming out. You're already lying in bed,
22:32back turned, scrolling on your phone. Lena's expression shifts.
22:35She must be thinking about earlier today. She probably wonders if you really did just show up
22:38and mean nothing by it. Lena climbs onto the bed, probably trying to peek at your phone screen,
22:41but by the time she leans over, the screen has already gone dark. You're asleep.
22:44She didn't get to see anything, probably both disappointed and relieved.
22:47Your breathing is barely audible, so quiet it makes her uneasy. And then,
22:50almost against her own will, she extends one finger in front of your nose.
22:53One second. Two seconds. Three seconds of faint breath finally brushes against her fingertip.
22:57Only then does Lena relax. Good. You're still alive. A flicker of something confused and
23:01unnameable passes through her eyes. As a pure science person, Lena had never understood the
23:05romantics who chased after love and poetry. She used to think finding a boyfriend, getting married,
23:09having kids, building an ordinary life was enough to call a life complete. But bankruptcy changed
23:12everything. And here, in this cramped, worn-out, dirt-cheap room, something new takes root in her
23:17chest. It's like she finally understands what people spend their whole lives chasing. It's what
23:20makes a marriage worth having. And yet it is something far beyond marriage itself. The next
23:24day, you head to the nearest phone store. What's the cheapest model? This one. 341 yuan. Great for
23:28students or older family members. You wince a little. Sure, Lena's phone would mostly just be used to
23:32take calls and message, but the senior citizen edition? That feels harsh. Still, when you think
23:35about it, you really don't have a spare cent. Harsh it is. You buy it. Everything's set up. When Lena
23:39arrives
23:40later carrying a lunchbox, you're deep in a sketch. She does what she always does, sets the box down
23:43without a word, and turns to leave. Hold on, Lena. I got you a phone. You stop her quickly. Lena
23:47freezes. The number and account are registered to my ID, so use it without worrying. If you want to
23:52install other apps, just use my ID number. I'll send it to you. Lena doesn't take it right away.
23:55Weren't you saving up for fall clothes? Why are you buying me a phone? You've already prepared your
23:59cover story. I don't want to keep losing track of you. And I'm done running across the city in the
24:03middle of the night to walk you home. The furrow in Lena's brow smooths out. I see. Thank you.
24:07Go back to work now. Keep earning. Seeing that she doesn't suspect a thing,
24:09you finally relax. Lena leaves, turning the phone over in her hands the whole way,
24:13until a girl steps directly into her path. Lena looks up and sees that unmistakable pink hair.
24:17She thinks of that contact added to your account. Lena's expression goes cold. Bianca stands with
24:21her arms crossed, throwing a cool glance at Lena's phone. You work yourself to death for him,
24:25and this is the phone he gets you? Lena catches it immediately. Isn't this girl supposed to be
24:28chasing Evan? So why is she talking down to her from behind? None of your business.
24:32Lena's voice is ice. Bianca drops the sweet act entirely. Her tone turns cutting.
24:36Even the woman who cleans our bathrooms at home wouldn't touch this model. Look how far you've fallen.
24:39Lena slips the phone into her pocket, eyes narrowing. Who exactly are you? She's clearly
24:43loaded, dressed head to toe in luxury. Bianca smiles. I've done my research. You work two jobs.
24:48You pull in over 10,000 yuan a month. Not a fortune, but enough that you shouldn't be living
24:51in a basement. He's dragging you down. Don't call me that it's revolting. Lena,
24:55I slipped away to find you. My grandfather said that if you manage to rebuild your company,
24:58he'll let you come home. But with him holding you back, that day will never come.
25:01Lena's brow pulls tight. She steps around Bianca not willing to waste another second.
25:05That boyfriend of yours is completely obsessed with money. He's been at that stall for just a few days,
25:08and I'm the only contact he added. You know why. Just hearing, added contact makes Lena's blood
25:13boil. She turns back. That's because you deliberately overpaid him to trick him into
25:16adding you. Don't think she didn't see it. She saw everything clearly. You don't need to add
25:20someone to refund them. You can just use a payment code. Don't be naive. He is absolutely money driven.
25:25If you don't believe me, I'll message him right now and invite him to dinner tonight and we'll see
25:28if he shows up. She's already typing. Lena's fury ignites. My boyfriend is not yours to test.
25:32She reaches out to stop her, but Bianca sends it before she can. While the two of them are still
25:36arguing, a red exclamation mark appears in the chat. This person has enabled friend verification
25:40you are not yet connected. Please send a greeting first to request access. Bianca stares at the
25:44screen, completely confused. You snuck into his phone and blocked me? She genuinely cannot believe
25:48any guy would cut off a catch like her. Who turns down someone rich and beautiful? Bianca stands there
25:52looking absolutely foolish. Lena steps forward and slaps her, leaving a red mark across her cheek.
25:56I don't care what your angle is. Stay away from him. Don't make me say it twice. I'm trying to
26:00help you. Lena walks away, but the more she thinks about it, the stranger it all feels. It's not
26:04that surprising the pink-haired girl knew her name, but to have tracked down details about her
26:07current jobs, this precisely what does she actually want? Lena can't think of this many enemies.
26:11Turning it over in her mind, she makes a call. The person on the other end is clearly in the
26:14middle of something and sounds irritated. Hello, it's Lena. A crash of noise erupts on the other
26:18end, like someone just dropped their phone in shock. Lena, are you okay? Jenny is so worked up
26:21she's almost crying. We've been out of our minds, with worry. Where have you been all these months?
26:25Not a word. How are you? Something warm moves through Lena. Her voice softens. I'm fine.
26:29Jenny sniffles, her voice catching. Kaixin and the others started a new venture. They already
26:32closed their first funding round. Chiu Wen went to work at a big tech company. Are you
26:35thinking about starting over? If you need me, I'll quit tomorrow and join you. Lena is quiet
26:39for a moment. Then she finally asks the question that's been sitting with her. Why do you trust
26:42me this much? Jenny laughs through her tears. Because I want to build something real with
26:45you. You're my idol, Lena. I know you're going to make it onto a world stage someday. Lena
26:49almost finds it absurd. Jenny's faith in her is blind. She has no idea how deep the debt
26:53goes it would take multiple lifetimes to pay it off. But Lena doesn't crush her enthusiasm.
26:57Not planning anything yet? You keep at it. Then she remembers what just happened and asks,
27:00Do you remember if we ever had a run-in with a pink-haired junior student or a daughter
27:04from some major business family last name B.I.? What kind of business empire has a daughter
27:08that edgy? I'm drawing a blank. Let me check with the others. Bianca's words float back
27:11into Lena's mind. My grandfather said that if you rebuild your company, you can come
27:14home. Who is Bianca's grandfather? And what does come home even mean? Lena can't work it
27:18out. She decides it's ridiculous to lose sleep over a stranger. By the way, are you still
27:22with that guy? She means Evan. None of her friends ever liked him. They all thought Lena was
27:26too good for him, but the man never appreciated it. He didn't treat Lena well, and he'd always
27:29claim they were the ones dragging Lena down. But disliking him is one thing. Jenny isn't
27:33bold enough to actually talk badly about him, in case the two of them end up married and
27:36she has to play nice. Lena knows exactly who she means. We're still together. Jenny has
27:40nothing left to say, but she's too smart to show it. He's actually not bad. He really
27:43loves you. Lena whispers the word. Love. It sounds strange to her ears, almost foreign,
27:47but something warm moves through her chest, and yet it doesn't quite feel sweet. Later, scrolling
27:51through forums, the most common advice is to set up near tourist spots where the crowd is made
27:55up of visitors who actually have time to stop. You keep scrolling and find a short video with
27:5850,000 likes. The drawings are honestly not that impressive. How does content like this
28:02even go viral? Curious. You click the profile. 300,000 followers. Every portrait looks like
28:06the person, but without any soul. Yet the comments are flooded with people begging for a portrait.
28:10The creator's bio says they take only 10 commissions a day, and the waitlist stretches out a full
28:14month. You immediately think, you've got this. You could knock out 50 portraits a day and do
28:18it better. Then your phone rings. It's Lena calling. Hello, is this Lena's boyfriend?
28:21Lena was in an accident on her way to work. Come quickly. The woman's voice on the line
28:25is frantic. The background is loud and chaotic. When you arrive, Lena is surrounded by a crowd.
28:29She's leaning against a post, a line of blood running from her brow down to her cheek. Her eyes
28:34are unfocused. Lena, it's Evan, can you hear me? Is he worried about her? Lena wants to open her
28:38eyes and look properly, but her eyelids are too heavy to lift. They stubbornly refuse to close all
28:42the way either. Your voice is urgent, full of genuine concern, nothing like the pure contempt
28:46and irritation from before. Evan, I've been working so hard to earn money, you'll stay, won't you?
28:50In the hospital room, you keep watch over her the entire day until evening, when Lena finally
28:53regains consciousness. She wakes up frowning, annoyed at her own body for failing her.
28:57Lena, how could you let this happen? Do you remember? The original novel recorded that
29:01the female lead was injured, saving a little girl, pushing her out of the way before a heavy
29:04object struck her. When the original soul got the call, he screamed at her for bringing
29:08it on herself and didn't even take her to the hospital. It nearly killed her. And when she
29:11woke, the female lead received no comfort, only an attack. With a girlfriend like you,
29:15I must have the worst luck in 10 lifetimes. You useless broke leech, you can't make money,
29:18and now you're spending mine and costing me blood. Why don't you just die? That speech
29:22haunts the female lead in the darkest hours of her nights. You've read it so many times
29:25in the novel. Now the novel is real, and you're the one who's supposed to deliver those lines.
29:29Say them and you hurt Lena. Don't say them and you break from the original soul's character,
29:32which could make Lena suspicious. But Lena is already lowering her head first. I'm sorry,
29:36I'll recover as fast as I can and try not to fall behind on earning. Something breaks inside
29:40you instantly. Your eyes fill with nothing but heartache. She did nothing wrong. Why is she
29:44apologizing? Lena, you're being irresponsible. If you're injured, you can't earn you. You can't
29:47get hurt. Lena's dark eyes fix on yours like she's trying to see past them all the way into your
29:51chest. Something is different. So different from before. The words are still about earning money,
29:54but your face is full of something you can't hide. Pain. Guilt. Why does he feel that way?
29:58Don't cry, Evan. She's the one comforting you. You're trapped by the plot, forced to do things
30:02that go against every instinct you have. If you told her the truth, she'd think you were a lunatic
30:05escaped from a mental ward. Highly educated people are firm believers in logic and reason.
30:09She would never believe something this bizarre. You pick up the lunchboxes from the table.
30:13I'll go get you some food. The old man in the next bed suddenly turns to Lena.
30:16That young man, is he your boyfriend? Lena nods, and her gaze drifts to the old woman lying in the
30:20other bed. The elderly couple must be in their mid-70s. Their faces are calm and kind, the sort
30:24of people you warm to immediately. The old man chuckles. Lucky girl that boyfriend of yours really
30:28cares. He hasn't taken his eyes off your IV drip all day. The moment it empties he calls the nurse.
30:32Hasn't moved an inch since morning. The old man nods. That's right, I don't think he's even had lunch.
30:37You two came in at 11 this morning. Lena goes quiet. Then a message pops up from Jenny.
30:40Borrow money, pay back slowly. Jenny has been gently offering to help more than once.
30:44Lena is too proud to ask. But if she doesn't swallow that pride now, the one who suffers will
30:48be you. She can already picture it. You drawing through the night, day after day,
30:51scraping together her medical bills. Making you pay that price just to protect her ego is not worth
30:55it. The hospital room door swings open. You come back carrying a food tray. The hospital meal is
30:59decent. Two meat dishes, two vegetable, and a lotus root and pork rib soup. But Lena frowns.
31:03Why is yours just as plain as hers? Your tray has the exact same dishes as hers. She knows your
31:07taste
31:07runs strong. You split apart your chopsticks. Just in case you get greedy and try to steal mine,
31:11I can't very well eat yours either. Lena goes quiet. The old man in the next bed sees right
31:14through it. He's eating the same bland food so you won't feel left out. You look completely caught
31:18off guard and quickly deflect. No, I just felt like something light today. How much is the medical
31:21bill? Lena asks. Over 10,000. You're already mentally running through where to find the money.
31:26Lena, are you the unluckiest person alive? You just got paid and this happens. Does the universe have
31:30it out for you specifically? Lena replies flatly. They say when you're broke, even drinking water
31:33gives you a stomach ache. You have no words, both cursed and accurate. But don't worry.
31:37Lena picks up her phone and transfers money to you. I borrowed some. You stare at your phone.
31:4120,000 yuan received. You're stunned. She actually borrowed money? Something is off. You know she
31:45never borrowed from anyone. Even when she was grinding 10 hours a day, she would just grit
31:47her teeth and push through alone. Someone that proud would never ask for help. But Lena explains.
31:51I have a junior from school, Jenny. You've met her. You remember Jenny. In the novel,
31:54she's described as Lena's former co-founder and close ally. The one who later becomes Lena's
31:58most trusted lieutenant after she reclaims her identity as a hidden princess of Beijing's elite.
32:02Lena has already taken the first step, and she doesn't seem troubled about borrowing more
32:05from Jenny either. Once I'm out, we're moving somewhere better. You're stunned. Isn't Lena
32:08supposed to be fiercely independent, never relying on anyone? And now she's borrowing from Jenny?
32:12You figure rich friends should be milked generously. Lena nods. Jenny is managing over
32:16100,000 right now. Your brain short circuits. Of course, the big shot's best friend is a big
32:20shot too. That's some premium milking right there. But wait, are they really moving out of the
32:23basement the moment she's discharged? The book clearly states they live in that basement apartment
32:27for over a year, not leaving until after the female lead is sold to a nightclub. Is something
32:31about to change? We're moving, Lena says. I'll look at listings online in the next couple of days.
32:35Something with a balcony, a one-bedroom. Your face cycles through a dozen expressions. Sure,
32:39you say, but you don't believe it for a second. Everything in this fictional world is controlled
32:42by the author. Things don't shift this fast. Lena's medication includes a mild sedative,
32:45so she sleeps often. You work right there by her bed. Worried about missing when the drip runs out,
32:49you set alarms and check it every few minutes. Same through the night, until a nurse finally
32:52takes pity on you. You can get in four drip alarm. It notifies you when it's done. You don't have
32:56to keep staring at it. Your broke person instinct kicks in immediately. You're already bracing for the
33:00price. That actually exists? How much? A little pricey. You tense up. You're mentally preparing.
33:04For hundreds of yuan. If it's too much, you'll pass. 14 yuan. You're speechless.
33:08Medical staff have a very creative definition of pricey. With this little gadget in hand,
33:12you finally sleep a little better, though still waking up a few times through the night.
33:15In the morning, Lena opens her eyes and sees the dark circles under yours.
33:18Evan, are you feeling unwell? Lena feels something uncomfortable inside herself.
33:22She thinks back to all the times he called her worthless. You were right to say those things.
33:26He really wasn't good to you. He keeps dragging you down. In that brief moment,
33:29the thought of letting him go crosses her mind, but she can't make the words come.
33:32Hire a caregiver. You don't need to stay. You frown and groan. But a caregiver in Beijing
33:36costs hundreds a day. It would take me so many days just to earn that. Maybe I should just apply
33:40to be a caregiver here. I'm worried you're overexerting yourself and not sleeping properly.
33:44Lena can't stand watching you like this and finally speaks up. I can catch up on sleep during
33:47the day. The main issue is the cost. A caregiver for one week would be 2,000 yuan. Just thinking
33:52about
33:52it feels like the sky is caving in. Lena turns her face away, lips pressed tightly together.
33:56Meanwhile, at the office, a completely swamped Jenny suddenly gets a message from Lena.
34:00She opens it and nearly jumps out of her seat. You're finally back. Welcome, welcome,
34:03welcome back to the arena. I'll start looking for the right side jobs for you right now.
34:07Lena looks over at you, head down, still drawing. She suddenly thinks, maybe letting go of all that
34:11so-called pride isn't so bad. When the company collapsed, she spiraled. She convinced herself
34:14she wasn't cut out for the industry. Billions in debt had kept her paralyzed, afraid to go back.
34:18So what changed her mind? The weight of survival. Her boyfriend staying up through the night
34:21to watch her IV drip, selling portraits by day just to keep them both afloat. It's you saying so
34:26easily that you can knock out dozens of drawings a day, even as your hand aches from drawing too long.
34:29And you never once say a word about it, just shake out your arm and keep going.
34:32Lena has to admit she was wrong. Her avoidance wasn't strength, it was weakness. She needs to
34:36face everything that came before, find the real reason behind the bankruptcy, push through it,
34:40and rise again. Then your phone rings. Thank you, I really can't thank you enough.
34:43You hang up. Lena asks what happened. You grin. I canceled the hotel room and the landlord worked
34:47it out with them and refunded the unused nights as cash, but today marks exactly seven days,
34:51and when the landlord went to check, the room still smelled like cooking oil,
34:53so they made the guests pay for another seven days. That's over a thousand yuan transferred straight to us.
34:57Money falling from the sky. Lena laughs along with you.
35:00Evan, shouldn't you be outside working on your plan? Go rest for a bit.
35:03But it's only the faintest curve of a smile. Sitting and drawing all day is bad for your neck.
35:06Go downstairs and move around a little. You take your drawings and head down to find a
35:09delivery point. There's one not far from the hospital entrance. You walk over and start filling
35:13in the address when a familiar voice suddenly rings out.
35:15Evan, long time no see.
35:16You look up, pink hair. It's that junior from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Bianca.
35:20You haven't seen her since. You moved your stall near the tourist area.
35:22You're puzzled. Long time no see. Are you just wandering around here?
35:25Bianca smiles and winks. My sister is sick. She's admitted in this building.
35:28She points upward. But I'm not going up to see her. She probably doesn't want to see me.
35:32You remember you have things to do. Then go ahead. I've got to get back up to my girlfriend.
35:35Can't really talk. Don't go. I'd love to catch up.
35:37She follows as you walk. Catch up on what? We're barely that close.
35:40Then why did you block me? I tried messaging you and nothing went through.
35:43Internally, you think, obviously, because I thought you were running a scam.
35:46But out loud, you just frown. What do you actually want?
35:48Bianca answers without missing a beat. Be with me. I have more money than your girlfriend.
35:51I can give you a comfortable life for as long as you live.
35:53You wouldn't need to sell portraits on the street to survive.
35:55If you say yes, I'll give you this watch worth 4 million yuan as a token of our commitment.
35:59You glance at the watch. You didn't recognize the brand, no wonder.
36:024 million. That really would cover a lifetime of comfort.
36:04You look up and tell her straight and serious.
36:06First, thank you for your feelings. But I have a girlfriend.
36:08If you still want to pursue this, I'd say that's not a rational choice.
36:11Because there's a word for what that would make you, and it's not a flattering one.
36:14A homewrecker. Bianca's smile freezes solid.
36:16A homewrecker? He actually just said that to her?
36:18She has been adored her whole life.
36:20And now this man she finally chose to chase on her own is calling her a homewrecker?
36:23I'm beautiful and I'm rich and you feel absolutely nothing? You don't dare.
36:27Lina is the hidden princess of Beijing's elite.
36:29Once she reclaims her identity, she will stand among the most powerful names in the business world.
36:32People of every rank and background will bow their heads when they see her.
36:35Bianca's family money doesn't even come close.
36:37And in the future, the two of them, both Bianca and whoever she drags into this,
36:41will end up thrown into a mountain ditch to feed pigs by Lina herself.
36:44Thinking about it now, you look at Bianca with something close to pity.
36:46A girl this spoiled and delicate thrown into a remote mountain ditch?
36:49She probably wouldn't even outlast the baby pigs.
36:51Not interested? You sidestep her and walk on.
36:53Bianca stands there, disbelief written across her face, muttering to herself.
36:56What just happened? Does he already know Lina's real identity?
36:59No, that's impossible. It's been kept completely under wraps.
37:02Even Lina herself doesn't know.
37:03This won't do Lina can't marry a nobody like this.
37:06Even if she returns to the family, she'll have no footing.
37:08This man is the obstacle. She has to find a way to break them apart.
37:11Back in the hospital room, you've just walked in to find a young doctor
37:13very enthusiastically asking Lina about her recovery.
37:16Maybe it's because his smile is a little too wide,
37:18but you can't help feeling the doctor's interest has nothing to do with medicine.
37:21You'll want to keep your diet light for the next few days
37:23to prevent the wound from getting inflamed.
37:25Hmm.
37:25The doctor keeps up his warm stream of instructions,
37:27met with Lina's flat one-word responses, but he doesn't give up.
37:30He produces a pulse meter and says cheerfully,
37:32Let me check your pulse just to make sure everything's normal.
37:34A question mark floats over your head.
37:36Isn't this a little obvious?
37:37You wait until the doctor leaves with his data, all smiles,
37:40before you walk to Lina's bedside, clearly unhappy.
37:42Lina had already noticed you come back, but unlike before you left,
37:45you're now heavy and bottled up, like something is burning just under the surface.
37:48Lina asks,
37:48What happened downstairs? Did something happen?
37:50Nothing much ran into a former client.
37:52We chatted for a bit.
37:53She asks why you're unhappy.
37:54Your face stays stiff.
37:55Lina, I'm not, not unhappy. I'm just angry.
37:57What is he angry about?
37:58Lina watches without giving anything away.
38:00She can see your anger isn't fading, it's rising.
38:02Especially when the doctor comes back once more,
38:04records another reading and leaves.
38:05Inside your head you're fuming.
38:07Here he comes again three times in one morning.
38:08She just had surgery and she's barely recovering,
38:10but he's recording her vitals this often?
38:12Could he be any more obvious?
38:13You're full of things you can't say,
38:15so you channel it into drawing hard and fast.
38:17Your emotions are never hard to read.
38:18Right now you've deliberately shifted your drawing board,
38:20your whole body turned away from her.
38:21Lina starts wondering what she did wrong.
38:23You seem to be angry at her.
38:24The IV alarm goes off again.
38:25You press the call button.
38:26The young doctor walks in immediately.
38:27I'll take care of it.
38:28You slump back into your seat.
38:30Defeated.
38:30Fine.
38:30Come on in, then free help keeping an eye on Lina.
38:32Might as well enjoy the break.
38:33Over the course of the whole day,
38:35the young doctor visits six times.
38:36You spend the entire afternoon not saying a single word to Lina.
38:39Toward evening, Lina is still trying to figure out how to get you back in a good mood,
38:42face creased with worry.
38:43What's wrong, dear?
38:44Why aren't you resting?
38:45Lina glances at the old woman asleep in the next bed and lowers her voice.
38:48I think I upset my boyfriend, but I don't know what I did.
38:50If you did something wrong, apologize.
38:52Couple shouldn't let things fester overnight.
38:54Lina asks a question that's entirely new territory for her.
38:56Can I apologize if I don't even know what I did wrong?
38:58In over 20 years of life, she's been reliable and careful, rarely making mistakes.
39:02So she's rarely had to apologize to anyone.
39:04But an apology needs a reason, right?
39:06You can still apologize even without knowing.
39:07Say you'll do better, that alone may be enough to get him talking,
39:10and then he'll tell you what upset him.
39:11That's the old man's advice.
39:12Lina finds it oddly useful.
39:14She decides to try it when the moment is right.
39:15You come back carrying dinner.
39:16You set the bag down on the table beside her with absolutely no intention of opening it for her.
39:20And the little folding tray table isn't even unfolded.
39:22Does he want her to eat or not?
39:23Lina can't read this at all.
39:24Just as she's about to ask, you slap the call button.
39:26The young doctor comes in, swaps out the drip, notices her food has arrived and casually says,
39:30Let me open the tray table for you.
39:32Only now does Lina realize what's actually going on.
39:34You're still completely ignoring her.
39:35The young doctor sets the food on the tray table and even moves to open the lid and unwrap her
39:39chopsticks.
39:40Lina stops him.
39:41That's fine.
39:41The young doctor smiles.
39:42I'll head out then, just call for Dr. Allen if you need anything.
39:45Now it clicks for Lina every time you got upset today.
39:47It was right around Dr. Allen's visits.
39:48Is that it?
39:49But why would that be it?
39:50Lina doesn't have a name for this feeling.
39:51She only knows that because of it, her boyfriend has ignored her for an entire afternoon.
39:55Hasn't even glanced at her once.
39:56Lina feels deeply uncomfortable.
39:57I'm sorry.
39:58The apology is directed at you.
39:59You keep your brush in hand, not turning around.
40:01Don't apologize, just eat.
40:02Lina says nothing.
40:03She doesn't eat either.
40:04She just stares at your back, heavy and unblinking.
40:06Her gaze is so intense you can feel it without looking pressing against your back.
40:09Fine, let me feed you.
40:10Lina, let's just eat together.
40:11This is dinner for both of us.
40:12I'm not hungry.
40:13Lina immediately echoes you.
40:14Then I'm not hungry either.
40:15So you're holding yourself hostage fine.
40:17You give in.
40:17Facing the quiet force of the hidden princess of Beijing's elite.
40:20You're on your feet in an instant.
40:21You open the food on the tray.
40:22Are you jealous?
40:23Lina asks it out of nowhere.
40:25Your hand actually trembles.
40:26Me?
40:26Jealous of what exactly I've got nothing to be jealous of.
40:29Lina is a fictional character.
40:30Like a character in one of those games you've played, she doesn't actually exist.
40:33Who falls in love with a fictional character?
40:35You are jealous.
40:36Lina says it with certainty.
40:37Why aren't you saying anything?
40:38You're afraid of what might slip out if you open your mouth.
40:41So instead you say, I wasn't jealous.
40:42I just don't want to be cheated on.
40:44Lina feels wildly wrong by that accusation.
40:46I didn't cheat on you.
40:47You glare.
40:47You were flirting with him.
40:48You were definitely thinking about it.
40:50Either way, remember this.
40:51He is not your fated lover.
40:52Stop radiating that energy at the wrong people.
40:54You figured she'd promise to stop looking at other men.
40:56Instead, with the precision of a broken record, she says again, Evan, you really are jealous.
41:00Something snaps.
41:01I said I'm not, are you a robot?
41:02And then Lina leans in and kisses you.
41:04Her cool, clean scent rushes over you as bold and electric as ever.
41:06Your pupils widen.
41:07Your mind goes completely blank.
41:09Several seconds pass before she pulls back.
41:10And right at that moment, the young doctor walks in to take her temperature.
41:13You spin around instantly and drop back in front of your drawing board.
41:16Your food's been sitting there.
41:16You haven't eaten yet?
41:17It must be cold by now.
41:18This time, Lina cuts him off.
41:19It's fine, not cold.
41:20I don't have a fever.
41:21Then let me warm up the food for you.
41:22We have a microwave in the ward.
41:24The young doctor is far too eager.
41:25And now that Lina sees it clearly, she finally understands just how obvious he's been.
41:28She looks up and says, leaving your post during working hours to repeatedly visit a patient
41:32for non-medical reasons falls outside the standards of proper care.
41:35If this continues, I will be reporting it to the hospital.
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