By the time Xu Ye got to the Conservatory, it was almost dark.

Winter nights came early, though. It was really only just past five.

Once Chen Qingqing came out of her dorm, the plan was to grab dinner and head straight back to the hotel. Now that it had turned cold, neither of them felt like going out and doing anything.

"Boss Zhao didn't come this week?"

"Yes, he did. Zhang Ruowei had Zhao Ming pick her up at noon and take her to his company. And let me tell you, she was super sneaky today. She stuffed her bra. This afternoon she even texted that Zhao Ming was completely dazzled."

Chen Qingqing never used to talk about this kind of thing with Xu Ye. But now it seemed like she was willing to tell him anything, even things that were pretty private.

Xu Ye smiled. "Has your mom talked to you lately?"

"Yeah, but not much."

Xu Ye nodded. "She hasn't been in touch with me lately either. She used to message me to ask how we were doing."

"Maybe she's just busy."

"I don't think so."

"Then what?"

Xu Ye grinned. "Your parents just got remarried. They're probably in their honeymoon phase right now, too busy to bother with us. When you go home for winter break, you might find your parents' relationship has changed completely."

"No way. They got remarried. It's not like they just got married."

"That's where you're wrong. With parents like yours, once they remarry, they might be even more lovey-dovey than when they first got married."

"Don't make stuff up."

"You don't believe me?"

"No."

"Want to bet?"

"Bet what?"

Xu Ye thought about it and grinned. "If I'm right, you wear the Balenciaga."

Chen Qingqing wasn't about to back down. "Sure. And if you're wrong, you kneel on the bed and sing Conquest." (TL Note: 征服, "Conquest," is Na Ying's famous 1998 ballad about being completely conquered by love. "Kneeling on the bed singing Conquest" is a Chinese internet joke for admitting total defeat.)

Xu Ye was so startled he stomped…