As dusk settled, Cheng Hao finished his "boyfriend-for-a-day" duty and walked back to campus with Ye Xinran.

"Guess I’ll head to my dorm now. Bye!"

Standing under her dorm building, Xinran waved goodbye, a spring-bright smile dancing on her lips.

"Bye, senior sister," Cheng Hao nodded slightly.

"I told you to call me by my name! Why ‘senior sister’ again?" Her delicate brows furrowed as she clenched her fists and stamped her foot in protest.

"But our one-night—no, our *arrangement* only lasts one day, right?" Cheng Hao asked, puzzled.

"Time’s not up yet." Xinran glanced at her watch, then met his eyes, her voice softening: "It’s 11:52 PM. Eight minutes till tomorrow. Which means… you’re still my boyfriend."

"...Fine, you win. Goodbye, Xinran."

"And then?" She tilted her head, blinking those lively eyes at him without looking away.

"And then what?"

"Well… when couples part, don’t they usually… a goodbye kiss or something?" A tempting blush spread across Xinran’s stunning face. Her fingers fidgeted with her skirt hem as she stared at her toes, utterly shy. "I… I want one too."

"*Pop!*" Cheng Hao flicked her forehead lightly. *What on earth fills that little head of hers all day?*

"Hmph! Like I care if you don’t kiss me!" Xinran huffed, spinning toward the dorm entrance—but after two steps, she whirled back. "Good night, dummy."

"Good night."

......

After parting with Xinran, Cheng Hao headed to his dorm.

Just then, his phone rang. *Dad.*

"Xiao Hao, I’m in Shanghai. Let’s meet and talk."

Cheng Hao paused. "When did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"Business. And to see you."

"...Understood. I’m coming."

He hung up, booked a ride-hailing car, and leaned back. The driver navigated smoothly. Cheng Hao closed his eyes, pondering his father’s true purpose.

*No need to guess. It’s about the arranged marriage.*

Honestly, he didn’t resent the idea. If not for his promise to Ye Zihan, he might have accepted it.

He knew his family’s status set him worlds apart from ordinary people. Unlike a romance-chasing girl like Li Shiying, he was the Cheng family’s only heir. Without strategic alliances, holding his position would be near impossible.

Still… he longed to be with someone he truly liked. Not about resistance—just human nature.

*Sigh.* He wished he could confirm things with Zihan sooner. Only then might his parents stop pressuring him.

Soon, he arrived at an upscale Shanghai restaurant. Inside, an elegant middle-aged man with striking features sat waiting.

"Dad."

"Hm." Cheng’s father didn’t light up like most parents. He merely glanced up. "Sit."

"Dad… you didn’t call me here to force the engagement again, did you?" Cheng Hao cut straight to the point. No need for games between men.

"No. I’m stepping back. Handle it yourself." His father’s unexpected reply stunned Cheng Hao.

"You’re… not involved anymore?" Cheng Hao’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes."

His father’s change of heart wasn’t about respect or newfound wisdom. Two days prior, Li Kangda had called him.

At first, hearing Cheng Hao and Li Shiying had become a couple—even without parental pressure—filled him with relief. *Fate works in mysterious ways.* A natural match was ideal. No more forcing his son.

But Li Kangda’s next words shattered that hope:

*Cheng Hao opened a flower shop. Named "Zihan’s Bloom."*

The truth crashed over him. Li Kangda had misunderstood. "Zihan" wasn’t Shiying—it was *Ye Zihan*. His son’s secret love.

Cheng’s father grew frantic. Yet he couldn’t correct Li Kangda outright. *How could he say, "Your daughter’s just a fantasy—my son’s already taken"?* The Cheng and Li families were vital business partners. One misstep could destroy everything. So he gave a vague reply: *"Let the young ones figure it out. We elders shouldn’t interfere."* A temporary fix.

"Dad… are you joking?" Cheng Hao still couldn’t believe it. His parents had pushed this marriage relentlessly. Such a sudden retreat reeked of hidden motives.

"I said I won’t interfere. Not that you’re free to break the engagement." His father sipped tea calmly. "I know about Ye Zihan. Try making it work with her. If it fails? Fulfill your duty to the Li family. Understood?"

"How did you—?"

"Your flower shop’s name isn’t exactly subtle." His father’s gaze sharpened. "The Li family is crucial to us. We *cannot* afford to offend them. I’ll give you three years. We won’t interfere. But you know what’s at stake."

Cheng Hao nodded slowly. "I understand."

His father sighed inwardly. *Ye Zihan and my son… Is this a blessing or a disaster?*

"Enough about that," his father said firmly. "I called you for something far more urgent."

"What is it?" Cheng Hao’s brow furrowed. A chill crept down his spine.

"Your sister returns next month."