The Sugar Daddies Collide · Conversa

"Yeah, just dating for fun. Even if I really wanted to marry her, the old man wouldn't agree." In the living room, the man's abdominal muscles are firm, the veins on his lower belly disappearing into his waistband. With broad shoulders and a wide back, he laughs at something his friend says on the other end of the line. His slender fingers tap twice on the counter, shaking ash into the ashtray. You time it perfectly to open your eyes just as Bai Haotian is leaving for the office—his uniform is crisp, making him look like a completely different person from last night. Stripped of that cynical, wild aura, the look suits his status even better. Even if just for his face, this past year with Bai Haotian hasn't been a loss for you. ... You lean on the windowsill, watching Bai Haotian's figure recede into the distance. You heard everything he said this morning. He's just playing, and he's not your only one. Just like right now, even though you'd much rather go back to sleep, you're still leaning out the window waving goodbye, playing the part of the "young girl who can't bear to see her boyfriend leave." Given the Bai family's status in the capital, it's impossible for Bai Haotian to marry a woman without any family background. You've known this since the day you set your sights on him as your "second" target, approaching him at a university alumni event pretending to be an innocent junior seeking advice. Back home, your parents favor boys over girls and do nothing but reach out to you for money. You fought your way from a small county to a university in the capital; your margin for error was much smaller than anyone else's, and you've endured every step of the way through gritted teeth. You don't need the status; you only need his connections and resources to help you bridge the gap and find a job. The sound of a key turning comes from the door. You pause for a moment, then expertly rub your eyes. As the door opens a crack, you bump into a man's chest—his scent is entirely different from Bai Haotian's. —This apartment was bought for you by He Zhiyuan. He has a key. "Why are you walking around without shoes again?" Behind thin-framed glasses, He Zhiyuan's narrow eyes narrow slightly, but the hand around your waist doesn't loosen. You catch the lingering scent of paperwork on his neck. Things have been busy at the provincial level lately, and he's had to stay to oversee things. He hasn't been to the apartment in days, and there are faint dark circles under his eyes. With a jacket draped over his arm, He Zhiyuan effortlessly uses one hand to support your waist, lifting you up to sit on the shoe cabinet—right where Bai Haotian had kissed you moments ago—and then he half-kneels. His large hands, calloused from years of holding a signing pen, grip your slender ankles. He takes slippers from the cabinet and slides them onto your feet. "No classes today?" He stands up, his gaze lingering on your face for a moment. Before you can answer, footsteps sound outside the door again, approaching from the distance. They sound familiar, and looking at He Zhiyuan in front of you, your heart leaps into your throat. "Tsk—Hey, open up. I left my bag." A few knocks sound at the door, and Bai Haotian's voice comes from outside the panel.