STT – Chapter 1

by Little Panda

WARNING: MTL

You and Lian Xuan are old acquaintances?

If, many years later, you were to meet again the person you had a secret crush on, what kind of expression would you wear, and how should you act?

Would you smile and exchange pleasantries with her, or would you pretend to be a stranger who has never met her before?

The person you loved in the deepest part of your heart many years ago has, over the years, become a sharp needle in the deepest part of your heart. When you least expect it, it will always stab you fiercely. How much preparation must you do to be able to face her with composure when you meet again?

Lu Zizheng’s¹ experience told her the answer.

No matter how many preparations were made, all defenses would still collapse in an instant upon seeing her again.

She remembered that she had just smiled and extended her hand to Lian Xuan², saying, “Hello, Director Lian. I look forward to working with you.” The smile, polite and courteous, should have been impeccable.

Lian Xuan, however, did not extend her hand for a handshake. Instead, she opened her arms and gave her a light hug, smiling in a friendly and natural way as she said, “Zizheng, we’ve been old classmates for many years. Although we haven’t seen each other in a long time, there’s no need to be so distant and formal, right?”

Lu Zizheng viciously dug the nail of her thumb into the pad of her index finger, only then managing to control the urge to push Lian Xuan away and flee in disarray³. She took a deep breath, feigned composure, and responded to Lian Xuan’s words with a noncommittal smile.

Just like many years ago, even now, she still couldn’t see through Lian Xuan.

She could never see through Lian Xuan’s smile, how much of it was sincere, and how much was false.

Being temporarily transferred to Fengshang⁴ to be Lian Xuan’s personal translator, she had long anticipated that her immediate superior would be Lian Xuan. What she hadn’t anticipated was that she had, in the end, overestimated herself. The moment she saw Lian Xuan, she was still shocked to find that her heart was thrown into great disarray⁵.

Neatly tied-up jet-black hair, exquisite makeup, a polite and sweet smile—yet it was still difficult to hide the faint distance in her eyes. The Lian Xuan of eight years later was still beautiful, poised, and eye-catching. But Lu Zizheng, her heart beating like a drum⁶, saw through the woman of today to the Lian Xuan who wore a white school uniform with her hair in a ponytail, waving and saying goodbye to her.

She was no longer the silly high school child who would press her lips together, accustomed to silence and endurance. And Lian Xuan was no longer that beautiful girl who would smile and treat others with gentleness. She gave a bitter smile. Perhaps, what has passed is the years; what cannot be passed is the sentiment.

Sitting in the temporary office Lian Xuan had arranged for her, Lu Zizheng was on edge all afternoon, her temples throbbing violently, her thoughts dancing about.

After finally making it to the end of the workday, Lu Zizheng rubbed her temples, tidied up her desk, and walked out of the office with her bag, as if relieved of a heavy burden.

During the evening rush hour, the elevator was filled to overflowing. She had barely managed to squeeze in, holding her breath and sucking in her stomach, standing ramrod straight. However, the physical discomfort was clearly no match for her mental anguish at that moment. Standing by the elevator door, she was lost in thought, wondering if she wasn’t as free and easy as she had originally imagined. Should she resign early and return to her company to wait for the next employer?

Just as the elevator reached the first floor, she, still dazed and standing right at the entrance, was shoved out by the crowd that swarmed out from behind before she could react. She stumbled and nearly fell.

A fair and slender hand suddenly reached out from the side to support her arm, asking in a warm voice, “Are you alright?”

Lu Zizheng looked up and saw Lian Xuan’s beautiful face looking at her, smiling radiantly, her eyes full of concern.

Lu Zizheng quickly straightened up with force, pulling away from Lian Xuan’s hand. “I’m fine. Thank you, Director Lian,” she said.

The two walked outside side-by-side, maintaining a distance that was neither too far nor too close. Lian Xuan glanced at Lu Zizheng and said with a smile, “Why are you always so distant and formal? I’ll let it slide during work hours, but after work, you can at least call me by my name, right?”

Lu Zizheng glanced at her, gave a faint smile, said nothing, and continued walking toward the exit.

Why can she act as if nothing ever happened, yet I’ve been unable to forget it for all these years, to the point that it has become a nightmare?

Lu Zizheng, in the end, your spiritual cultivation is just too shallow⁷.

At the entrance, just as Lu Zizheng was about to say goodbye to Lian Xuan, Lian Xuan spoke first, extending an invitation. “Zizheng, why don’t we have dinner together tonight? First, to welcome you and wash away the dust⁸ on your arrival at the company, and second, to celebrate our long-awaited reunion. I wonder if Zizheng you would grace me with your presence?” She still spoke as she had many years ago—polite, proper, thorough, and meticulous. Years ago, she had adored her thoughtfulness and care; now, years later, she only felt it was full of hypocrisy and empty pleasantries.

Just as she was about to refuse, her phone suddenly rang. She took it out; the screen displayed the name “Huaixi.” She gave Lian Xuan an apologetic smile and answered the call. Jiang Huaixi’s⁹ usual cool and detached voice came from the other end of the phone: “I’m downstairs at your company. I’ll pick you up to go see Auntie¹⁰; she misses you.”

Lu Zizheng had no reason to refuse, so she replied with a “Okay” and hung up. Then, she smiled at Lian Xuan and said, “Director Lian, I’m sorry, my friend came specifically to pick me up from work. I have something on tonight, you see…”

Lian Xuan, looking perfectly understanding, smiled and said, “A boyfriend? Hehe, it’s alright, we can reschedule for another day.”

Lu Zizheng didn’t deny it, simply smiling as she said goodbye and turned to leave.

Every extra word spoken to Lian Xuan left her feeling agitated and confused. Yet, she had to summon one hundred and twenty thousand spirits of energy¹¹, and put on the same appearance of light clouds and gentle breeze¹² to respond with a smile. She just wanted to leave quickly and take off that forced smile.

She soon spotted Jiang Huaixi’s familiar black Porsche, reached out, opened the door, and got in. Like a deflated rubber ball¹³, she collapsed limply into the passenger seat.

Jiang Huaixi frowned slightly as she glanced at her and said, “Even if you have complete confidence in my driving skills, don’t prevent me from obeying the law and being a good citizen. Seatbelt.”

Lu Zizheng rested her head on the back of the seat, her eyes closed, showing no reaction at all.

Jiang Huaixi let out a soft hmph. While complaining, “In my car, you seem to have become more and more unscrupulous and lawless¹⁴,” she leaned over, her hands moving gently to help Lu Zizheng fasten her seatbelt.

Her hair brushed freely against Lu Zizheng’s face, carrying Jiang Huaixi’s usual faint fragrance. Lu Zizheng’s eyes fluttered open slightly. Looking at the fluffy head currently bowed before her, for a moment, she wanted to reach out and embrace it, but after several attempts at self-control, she finally closed her eyes again.

After fastening the seatbelt, Jiang Huaixi started the car and drove smoothly onto the road.

During the drive, Jiang Huaixi suddenly asked casually, “You and Lian Xuan are old acquaintances?” Her eyes didn’t even turn to Lu Zizheng, as if she were asking something as trivial as, “Do you think the cake from so-and-so’s shop is good?”

Lu Zizheng turned her face to the window, blew a breath against the glass, and said with a self-deprecating laugh, “Does being rejected after a one-sided love count?”

The car suddenly accelerated sharply, but only for an instant, before returning to its usual steady pace. Jiang Huaixi spoke in her usual calm, sarcastic tone: “I thought that with your high standards, the person in this world you’d find worthy hadn’t even been born yet. But, this is good too. At least it allows you to calmly examine yourself and understand that your qualifications are, for the time being, not yet a match for your taste. You should cultivate yourself some more.”

Lu Zizheng shot a cold glare at Jiang Huaixi. “Do you know how to speak like a human?”

Jiang Huaixi laughed. “Am I not speaking it? Then how can you understand me.”

Lu Zizheng decided not to bother with her for the time being.

While driving, Jiang Huaixi suddenly pulled over to the side of the road for a moment. Lu Zizheng was baffled. Just as she was about to ask nervously what was wrong, Jiang Huaixi started the car and got back on the road. As she drove, she said, “My contact lens seems to have slipped. But when I stopped, it felt fine.”

Lu Zizheng was skeptical. “When did you become nearsighted?!”

Jiang Huaixi snorted coldly. “When have you ever cared about my affairs.” She casually opened the car window, her brows slightly furrowed and her lips pursed, looking as if it were a serious matter.

Lu Zizheng sighed, not wanting to argue with her.

Sometimes, looking at Jiang Huaixi’s beautiful and familiar side profile, she would always fall into a daze.

Is this how the encounters in life are, so wonderfully strange? The person you once loved to death and back to life¹⁵ one day becomes a stranger on a different road, while the person you once detested so much you gnashed your teeth¹⁶ one day becomes an indispensable part of your life.

Clearly, Lian Xuan was the former, and Jiang Huaixi was the latter.

The author has something to say:

Everyone, please don’t ship the wrong CP¹⁷~

I understand the pain of shipping the wrong CP T^T

LP: New release! I hope you enjoy reading this one too! And… if anyone knows what tags to use in novelupdates, please put the appropriate tags. I don’t really know what tags to use, thank you!

Re-translated on November 05, 2025

Footnotes

Hanzi: 陆子筝 | Pinyin Lù Zizhēng
Hanzi: 连萱 | Pinyin Lián Xuān
Hanzi: 落荒而逃 | Pinyin: luòhuāng’értáo | Explanation: A Chinese idiom (Chengyu) meaning to flee in a panic or in a disorderly state, like a defeated army running into the wilderness.
Hanzi: 风尚 | Pinyin Fēngshàng
Hanzi: 方寸大乱 | Pinyin: fāngcùndàluàn | Explanation: A Chinese idiom (Chengyu) literally meaning “the square inch (referring to the heart/mind) is in great chaos.” It describes a state of being utterly flustered or panicked.
Hanzi: 心跳如鼓 | Pinyin: xīntiàorúgǔ | Explanation: A Chinese idiom (Chengyu) that literally means “heartbeat like a drum,” used to describe a rapidly or heavily beating heart due to nervousness, excitement, or fear.
Hanzi: 道行太浅 | Pinyin: dàohéng tài qiǎn | Explanation: “Daohang” refers to one’s level of spiritual or moral cultivation, stemming from Daoist and Buddhist concepts. To say it is “too shallow” means one’s self-control, wisdom, or emotional maturity is lacking.
Hanzi: 接风洗尘 | Pinyin: jiēfēngxǐchén | Explanation: A traditional Chinese custom and idiom. “Jiefeng” (接风) means to welcome a guest from afar, and “xichen” (洗尘) means to wash off the dust of their journey. It refers to holding a welcoming meal for someone.
Hanzi: 江怀溪 | Pinyin Jiāng Huáixī
Hanzi: 阿姨 | Pinyin: āyí | Explanation: Aunt. A general term of address for a woman of one’s parents’ generation or an older woman, not necessarily a relative. It can also refer to one’s mother’s sister.
Hanzi: 打起十二万精神 | Pinyin: dǎqǐ shí’èr wàn jīngshén | Explanation: A Chinese expression meaning to summon all of one’s energy and focus. The number “twelve” is often used in this way to signify “utmost” or “complete”.
Hanzi: 云淡风轻 | Pinyin: yúndànfēngqīng | Explanation: A Chinese idiom (Chengyu) literally meaning “the clouds are thin and the wind is light.” It describes a calm and nonchalant demeanor, as if unconcerned by anything.
Hanzi: 泄了气的皮球 | Pinyin: xièleqì de píqiú | Explanation: A common metaphor meaning to be completely drained of energy, dejected, or demoralized.
Hanzi: 肆无忌惮无法无天 | Pinyin: sìwújìdàn wúfǎwútiān | Explanation: A combination of two idioms. “Siwujidan” means to act recklessly without any scruples, and “wufawutian” means to defy law and heaven, or to be completely lawless. Together, they describe someone acting with utter abandon and disregard for rules or consequences.
Hanzi: 爱的死去活来 | Pinyin: àidesǐqùhuólái | Explanation: A Chinese idiom (Chengyu) literally meaning “to love to the point of dying and coming back to life.” It describes an intense, all-consuming, and often tumultuous love.
Hanzi: 咬牙切齿 | Pinyin: yǎoyáqièchǐ | Explanation: A Chinese idiom (Chengyu) meaning to grind one’s teeth in hatred or anger.
Hanzi: cp | Pinyin: cp | Explanation: An abbreviation of the English word “couple.” In fandom culture, it refers to a pairing of characters in a relationship, whether canonical or fan-created. “To ship a CP” (站cp, zhàn cp) means to support or root for a particular pairing.

WARNING: MTL

Footnotes

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