If the older Luo Chen had to describe An Jinchu in a single word, that word would be “brilliant.”

And in two words? “Brilliantly clever.”

Yeah. Literally.

An Jinchu was a woman you couldn’t judge by ordinary standards. She was a lot like him—far too smart.

Yeah. That was it.

Most of the time, getting along with a clever girl was exhausting. But An Jinchu was different. She knew how to put on an act, how to make boys happy, and how to make the most of her charm.

Back in college, An Jinchu had admirers too numerous to count, but not one of them managed to pluck that rose.

Luo Chen had once invited An Jinchu out for drinks. Yep, that’s right… drinks. The girl could really hold her liquor.

When Luo Chen had finally managed to get An Jinchu drunk and was about to ask her something…

The two of them had been at a barbecue stall on the snack street beside the university.

It was late at night. The stars and moon hung overhead, and moonlight spilled across her face, giving her an almost sacred air. But her eyes were hazy, and she was leaning halfway against Luo Chen’s shoulder.

“Hey, Jinchu, what kind of guy do you like?”

“Who told you to ask? Your roommate? A classmate? Are you planning to chase me?”

…Looks like she wasn’t drunk yet.

“No. I’m just bored, and a little curious.”

“If your friend wants to know, tell them… I like you!”

Luo Chen froze for a moment, then sighed. “Could you act like a normal person? I don’t want to get stabbed to death.”

“I don’t care, I don’t care! I just like you…” An Jinchu slipped into a little girl’s coy, clingy tone. The sheer mismatch was jarring.

Luo Chen just assumed she was joking… Too much to drink, and even your jokes stopped making sense.

That’s why it pays to know your own limits.

But let’s get back to the present. Come to think of it, Luo Chen had never actually seen An Jinchu as a girl.

Because he remembered… An Jinchu hadn’t been there on the night Luo Chen left, back then.

But this time, she was here… Was it because the timing was different? Luo Chen didn’t dwell on it. He lifted his head, his gaze settling on the girl in front of him.

It was the height of summer. An Jinchu wore a black slip dress, its neckline revealing her delicate collarbones and softly rounded, rosy shoulders.

Luo Chen’s gaze moved lower. The hem of her black dress stopped twenty centimeters above her knees. Sheer black stockings hugged her long, slender legs all the way to her ankles, and she wore a pair of black canvas shoes.

An Jinchu watched him quietly with her bright, dark eyes. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail, and she didn’t blink once.

…Had she dressed like this as a girl, too?

The An Jinchu in Luo Chen’s memories practically lived in short skirts and black stockings. Every now and then, when she was in the mood, she’d wear Lolita or JK fashion. She could pull off any style perfectly. In fact… Luo Chen could hardly remember seeing her wear the same outfit twice.

After all those memories, Luo Chen looked at An Jinchu’s hand, still held out in midair, and naturally reached out to shake it.

Soft and warm.

“Hello, Luo Chen. Luo Xi’s older brother.”

An Jinchu let go of his hand but remained by the door. Then she continued, “Luo Xi has told me about you… What we need to do now is get a parentage test for her. After that, I’ll take her away from this home.”

An Jinchu’s voice was calm and even, but there was no room to argue with her.

“Sure, okay. Go ahead. Goodbye.” Luo Chen nodded briskly.

An Jinchu paused, tilted her head, and gave him a sidelong look with her bright eyes.

“You’re not going to say anything to your sister?” she asked, sounding more like she was trying to talk him into it.

“What is there to say? Your family’s rich… Xiao Xi will have a better life with you, and I can use our parents’ inheritance to get by for a while longer. It’s a win-win.” Luo Chen didn’t even blink.

An Jinchu looked puzzled. “How do you know my family’s rich?”

“Uh… let me think… Take the stockings you’re wearing, for example. They probably cost as much as all the clothes I’ve got on, don’t they?”

Luo Chen had learned that back in college, while shooting the breeze with An Jinchu. Wait… hold on… Did saying it like this now make him sound kind of creepy?!

Sure enough, An Jinchu’s expression changed.

Her calm look turned into one of disdain, though there was a hint of amusement behind it.

“Oh, so you’re one of those perverts who stared at my legs the first time you saw me?”

“No. I was looking at your stockings.” Luo Chen kept a straight face. For some reason, An Jinchu didn’t seem to have even the slightest… intimidating effect on him.

Maybe it was because they’d known each other so well in college.

“You looked, so just admit it. Tell me, do you think my legs look good?”

“They’re okay. Not as good as our little sister’s.” Luo Chen’s expression remained unchanged… You could say he was shamelessly unbothered.

An Jinchu widened her eyes. “I didn’t know you were that kind of person. A perverted siscon, too!”

“Oh.” Luo Chen nodded, too lazy to argue.

“But my legs are longer than hers. And… they feel different to the touch, too. Want to try?”

“I have absolutely no interest in girls’ legs unless they belong to my sister. Sorry.”

…Honestly. You used to joke around with me like this, and it wasn’t as if I’d never taken advantage of you before. You’re still too green now.

“We’ve gotten off topic. Let’s get back to the point, please, young lady.” Luo Chen’s expression hadn’t changed once. It was as if An Jinchu’s beauty had no effect on him at all.

He didn’t blush. His heart didn’t skip a beat.

No, his heart was still beating… If it weren’t, he’d be dead.