At the company everything went on as usual.

After a run of investments in several projects the firm had made a small name for itself in the circle, and every few days some founder would put in an inquiry through the official site — though most of them were projects with nothing much worth investing in.

Still, compared with the days when nobody came at all, it was a great deal better.

On the twenty-sixth, the first Friday after classes started again, Xu Ye finally got a call from Wang Manning. He had very nearly forgotten she had her arts exam at the end of February.

He came to the point the moment it connected. "Wang Manning. When are you coming to Shanghai for the exam?"

Wang Manning laughed. "I've already taken it."

"What?" Xu Ye did not follow. "Weren't you having me come get you?"

"My mom wouldn't let me put you to the trouble. She said you have classes. But tomorrow's Saturday — Cousin, do you have time?"

"Where are you now?"

"A hotel near the drama academy's Lianhua Road campus."

"I'm going out that way this afternoon. Send me the hotel and I'll come pick you up."

"Will do."

Once the call ended Wang Manning rolled back and forth across the bed, and Zhang Ying saw her and brought a hand down flat on her backside. "I'm telling you now, two more days in Shanghai at most. We have to be home Sunday night. Your brother's at home."

"Come on, isn't Grandma there?"

"That's still no."

"Fine, fine. Two days it is."

Friday afternoon was one elective. Xu Ye ate in the cafeteria at noon, went back to the dorm to pack a few things and then drove over toward Huangpu District.

The Shanghai Conservatory of Music was only about twenty minutes from the drama academy's Lianhua Road campus, and Chen Qingqing had a class that afternoon, so Xu Ye went the long way around and drove to Wang Manning's hotel first.

He sent a message and Wang Manning came running down.

Xu Ye frowned. "Where's your…