Watching Xu Chen expertly drive, I felt a sense of unreality wash over me. Was this the same shy, hesitant Xu Chen from half a year ago, always worried about dangers front and back? I was absolutely right when I’d called her grown up just now.

Xu Chen silently drove into the school grounds. Perhaps the gate guard was already familiar with her license plate, as they didn't stop or question her at all. She remained silent, but a barely concealed smile played on the corner of her lips, which I noticed with my peripheral vision. Once the car was on the wide main road, Xu Chen kept one hand on the steering wheel and used the other to make a call.

“Su Xue, it’s Chenchen. Where are you? Hehe, I’m calling you because I have good news. The person you’ve been wanting to see has returned. Let’s meet you both at the dorm.”

When Xu Chen hung up, I asked, “Are Su Xue and Little Xue doing alright?”

Xu Chen smiled faintly. “Everyone is well. Su Xue took Little Xue to the amusement park. They’ll be back soon, and Brother Zhao will get to see them shortly.”

Xu Chen parked the car under the shade of a tree in front of the girls’ dormitory building. She unbuckled her seatbelt and hurried out to open my door. I quickly got out. “I can manage myself, I’m not missing any limbs.”

“Chenchen, where did you go so early this morning?” a male student suddenly ran out from behind a tree, greeting Xu Chen happily.

“It’s you, Xie Yujia. Didn't our Star Studio just purchase an office building? The renovation work has begun there, so I went to check on it.”

Since Xu Chen had encountered an acquaintance, I could only stand aside and wait for them to finish talking. I don't know if it was my posture or just that I looked too dashing, but that male student seemed quite interested in me. Seeing me emerge from Xu Chen’s car, he scrutinized me carefully for a couple of moments.

“This… isn’t this the once-famous Zhao Qian from the Finance Department? How has he resurfaced after being missing for half a year? What are your ulterior motives for sticking close to Chenchen?” Xie Yujia quickly recalled the campus heartthrob whose nickname was the ‘Killer of Golden Flower Butts’ from years ago.

I vaguely remembered answering a call for Xu Chen more than half a year ago, and it seemed to have been this handsome fellow. To think he’s still pursuing Xu Chen relentlessly; could it be that Chen Chao was referring to him when he mentioned Xu Chen going on dates with other people? He seemed to be an employee of Star Studio as well.

Before I could answer Xie Yujia, Xu Chen snapped, “Xie Yujia, how can you speak to Brother Zhao like that!”

Seeing Xu Chen angry, Xie Yujia hastily explained, “Chenchen, I’m only concerned for your safety. Have you forgotten those photos posted on the campus network forum half a year ago? He’s a total hooligan. How could I not worry about you being with him? Don’t be angry. I brought you breakfast; take it back to the dorm. Also, I’ve finished all the tasks you assigned me. Just tell me if you need anything else done, and I guarantee I’ll complete it flawlessly.”

Xu Chen maintained a stern face toward Xie Yujia. “Your only task is to go where you belong. Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t understand the situation. Brother Zhao is a good man; he is absolutely not a hooligan.”

With that, Xu Chen ignored Xie Yujia’s reaction and turned back to me. “Let’s go, Brother Zhao, we should head to the dorm to wait for Su Xue.”

“Ah!” Xie Yujia exclaimed in shock. “That hooligan still wants to go into your dorm? Chenchen, you’re being far too careless! Don’t listen to his sweet talk; be careful he doesn’t try any funny business with you!”

Xu Chen’s face flushed crimson. She suddenly grabbed my hand and dashed quickly into the apartment building, while Xie Yujia chased after them, waving a cup of soy milk and a fried dough stick. “Wait, Chenchen, the youtiao!”

The dorm attendant at the door smiled and nodded kindly at me, but the Xie Yujia who caught up was stopped. “Hold it right there! This is the girls’ dorm; don’t you know that? Get out! Go on!”

Xie Yujia protested indignantly. “Why can he go in and I can’t? I’m telling you, I’m the Assistant Manager of Star Studio! Can you show me some respect? I just need to go in and discuss some work matters with President Xu.”

The attendant laughed. “Even if you were the National Assistant, it wouldn't work! Face is irrelevant here. This is a place for sleeping and resting. If you need to discuss work, please do it outside.”

Seeing the two disappear up the stairs ahead, Xie Yujia yelled anxiously, “But he went in, why didn’t you stop him!”

The attendant shot Xie Yujia a sharp look. “Because he’s different from you. If you linger here any longer, I’ll definitely take down your student ID number, and you can wait for a school-wide announcement tomorrow morning.”

“No!” At this point, Xie Yujia dared not ask why he was different. If she were officially reprimanded for trespassing in the girls’ dorm, she would have no face left. “I’m leaving, alright! I’m going! Zhao Qian! You just wait for me!”

As we walked up the stairs, I asked Xu Chen, “Do you know this attendant, Auntie?”

Xu Chen shook her head. “No, we don’t know her personally, but we know she’s one of ours. Qianqing told us. If anything happens, we can rely on her.”

Heh. I chuckled and didn't press the matter further. They must have been placed there by the family to protect the few of them. Whether they were sent by the Brotherhood, the Red Dragon, or Peach, I saw no need to inquire in detail.

When the dorm room door opened, my eyes lit up. “Wow, this place has totally changed! How is this a university dorm? It’s practically a luxury apartment! LCD TV, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a microwave—wow! Even the beds have been replaced. Let me test how comfortable they are.”

Xu Chen casually closed the door and explained to me, “It’s all Su Xue’s doing. Qianqian and I haven’t had time. She said she wanted to help us tidy up the room, and the tidying turned into this. Brother Zhao, you don’t blame us, do you?”

I treated the place like home, pulling a drink out of the fridge and handing a bottle to Xu Chen. “I actually really like it this way. It’s more comfortable to live in. If our income rises, our standard of living should follow suit, right? Otherwise, what are we working so hard for?”

In fact, the relationship between Xu Chen and me was strictly proper. Nothing even remotely ambiguous had ever happened between us. Although Xu Chen often moved me, I had never harbored any flirtatious thoughts toward her.

As Xu Chen booted up the laptop on the desk, she said, “Brother Zhao, I need to brief you on the development of Star Studio and the income and expenditure records over the past six months. Because our business is becoming increasingly external-facing, keeping the company on campus no longer suits our operational needs. I discussed it with Qianqian, and we decided to invest in buying an office building not far from Longteng University all at once. Since you were away on business, Qianqian said there was no need to notify you, so…”

I found myself sinking into someone’s soft chair; the faint, pleasant scent instantly refreshed my spirits. “It’s fine. I told you that Star Studio is yours to manage independently. There’s no need to report these things to me; you can make your own decisions. However, I would like to hear your thoughts on future development and any current intractable difficulties.”

Xu Chen sat down seriously at the computer. “There aren’t really any difficulties. The older sisters take very good care of me. We did encounter a few difficult clients before, but Qianqian settled them with just a couple of phone calls. I know all of this is because you’re backing me up, Brother Zhao.”

I laughed. “I haven’t been home for half a year, and I haven’t made a single call or written a single letter home. I wouldn't dare claim credit for helping you.”

Xu Chen lowered her head and whispered, “I see Sister Jingjing and Sister Xiaoya often, and I know their current situations. As for Qianqian, I understand even better. If it weren’t for you, Sister Jingjing might have ended up belonging to someone else, and Sister Xiaoya might not even have her life. And who knows what would have become of Qingqing. But because you appeared, all our fates changed. Qianqian once said you are our sun, and I wholeheartedly agree with that. Brother Zhao, thank you.”

Being praised by Xu Chen made me feel lightheaded, and for a moment, I forgot how to offer a polite retort. Xu Chen continued, “Qianqian is so formidable now. Even our Principal has to greet her respectfully. Not to mention other students. Su Xue told me that the People’s Shopping Group has broken into the top ten of our nation’s strong enterprises, and Qianqian has become a famous successful woman in our Great Dragon Country—the kind who is both young and beautiful.”

Xu Chen glanced at me stealthily, perhaps afraid I would misunderstand, and quickly added, “But she’s also the kind who already has a lifelong committed boyfriend.”

I said to Xu Chen, “Chenchen, I hear Star Studio has also been developing very well and very fast. I believe you can achieve what Qianqian has done soon enough.”

Xu Chen replied, “I’m still far behind Qingqing, Brother Zhao. Let me tell you about the company’s situation over the past six months…”