“Take it,” giggled the female ice-cream seller enthusiastically. Six freshly cut strawberries sat atop the frozen dessert.

  Fu Tingyu accepted the cup of ice cream graciously, beaming in satisfaction. Girls loved strawberries.

  Although only the corner of his mouth twitched with mirth, it dazzled the eyes of all who saw it.

  Bathing in Fu Tingyu’s delight, the middle-aged ice-cream seller felt like she had returned to her youth.

  The surrounding women were equally entranced by the minute shift in his expression and their hearts fluttered with unrestrained desire.

  Fu Tingyu paid for the ice cream, leaving the change as a generous tip, and made his way back to where Qin Shu was seated.

  Meanwhile, in the shade of a giant tree……

  Qin Shu poked and prodded President Ba’s meaty little paws. They were pleasantly plump and soft to the touch. She enjoyed playing with them. It was a pastime that helped her relax when she had nothing else better to do.

  President Ba felt his eyelids droop. He was beginning to feel a little sleepy. Qin’s Shu gentle ministrations were so soothing that they threatened to put him to sleep. He couldn’t allow himself the luxury of sleep, however, so he did the next best thing he could – he ogled Qin Shu with wide saucer-like eyes.

  Jun Li watched in amusement as Qin Shu teased President Ba with her sweet caresses. Speaking lightly, he gestured at President Ba, “I think it’s better for you to move into a studio apartment. It’ll give President Ba more space to stretch its legs. There are several studio apartments attached to the dormitory. It would be a waste for you not to consider moving into one of them.”


  Qin Shu stopped tickling President Ba. She had wanted to experience life in a dormitory but getting along with her roommates was proving to be an exercise in futility.

  She could not help but feel somewhat tempted by Jun Li’s suggestion.

  Jun Li’s reassuring gaze bolstered her confidence. Perhaps it would not be such a bad thing to move into a studio apartment, after all.

  “Alright. President Ba probably feels bored being caged up all day.”


  Nodding in approval, Jun Li’s smile took on the appearance of a sunflower in full bloom. “I’ll get someone to tidy up an apartment immediately. You’ll be able to move in at any time.

  Qin Shu returned the smile with one of her own. Thank you, Jun Li. It hasn’t been long since I enrolled in the university and I’ve done nothing but troubled you since.”


  As Fu Tingyu returned with the cup of strawberry ice cream in hand, he chanced upon Qin Shu and Jun Li chatting happily. A surge of jealousy clawed his insides at the sight of her sweet smile being directed at another man.

  If anyone had been around to see his expression, they would have thought that some had poured a vat of vinegar down his throat. He was angry. Livid.

  Jun Li was the first to catch sight of Fu Tingyu. They had met before and Fu Tingyu’s illustrious reputation, as Jiang City’s fourth young master, preceded him.

  The last time he had asked, he only enquired about the relationship between Fu Tingyu and Qin Shu.

  Turning in the direction of Jun Li’s gaze, Qin Shu saw Fu Tingyu making his way over with a cup of strawberry flavour ice cream in his hands. She spied several freshly cut strawberries lining its sides and it made her eyes sparkle with joy.

  When she thought of Jun Li’s sudden appearance, she explained, “Jun Li brought President Ba here to have some fun. President Ba came looking for me when he caught my scent.”


  “What a coincidence.”


  Fu Tingyu kept his eyes trained on Jun Li whilst handing the cup of ice cream to Qin Shu. Adorning his face was the mask of neutrality he habitually wore. “Eat it before it melts.”


  Qin Shu received the cup of strawberry ice cream gratefully.

  Jun Li spoke indifferently, “This is the only park in the area.”


  Qin Shu peered at Fu Tingyu, trying to his grasp his thoughts. Jun Li had spoken truthfully. The park they were situated in was the only one around for miles. Their meeting was purely coincidental.

  She reached out and tugged at his sleeve. “You should sit too. You must be feeling hot after walking for so long.”


  Fu Tingyu studied the hand tugging at his sleeve, his expression a placid facade betraying nothing of his thought. He recalled the tender smile Qin Shu had given the other man and his eyes darkened with barely restrained fury. In a fit of vindictive pride, Fu Tingyu positioned himself in between the two and sat down.

  President Ba crept away instinctively. He jumped into Jun Li’s arms and levelled his dark green eyes on the man who had evoked a sense of feat within it.

  Fu Tingyu sent a pointed look towards President Ba which caused him to shrink back warily. With his voice laced in sarcasm, he asked, “Is the third young master of the Jun family so free that he has time to bring a cat out for a walk?”


  Jun Li answered jovially, the faint lines of a boyish grin carrying his charm, “I’m an idle person. I’ve got plenty of time to spare. Besides, President Ba is a cool cat to hang out with.”


  Jun Li spoke while he combed his well-defined fingers through President Ba’s fur and rubbed its head.

  Qin Shu held up her ice cream and ate the strawberries on it. He turned his head to look at Fu Tingyu and Jun Li, silently eating the ice cream.

  Qin Shu scooped her ice cream into her mouth with small, slow bites. She regarded the two men sitting beside her silently.

  Fu Tingyu observed Jun Li as he played with President Ba for a while before turning his attention to Qin Shu. The ice cream in her hands had already begun to melt and some of it had smeared the corners of her mouth pink. He was not the least bit surprised. It was getting rather hot.

  Drawing out a white silken handkerchief from his pocket, he adjured softly, “Don’t move.”


  Qin Shu stopped eating her ice cream and looked at the man in puzzlement. Seeing him regard her so intently, she asked, “What’s wrong?”


  “The corners of your mouth are stained with ice cream.”


  Fu Tingyu leaned in closer, carefully wiped away the stains with his silken handkerchief. His movements were slow and deliberate – as if he were polishing a precious treasure of his.

  In fact, he did it on purpose for Jun Li to see.

  Qin Shu remained still as Fu Tingyu cleaned the corners of her lips. She tilted her head to one side, giving him more room to work with.

  From where Jun Li sat, it almost looked like they were kissing. Despite knowing that they were not making love beside him, he could not help but frown.

  Jun Li picked up President Ba and made to leave. He acknowledged Fu Tingyu with a nod of his head and said, “I’ll go back first.” He then offered Qin Shu an affable look saying, “When you return to school, send me a message to let me know.”


  Fu Tingyu paused for a moment and sat up straight.

  Qin Shu flashed Jun Li an apologetic look. Seeing President Ba snuggled in his arms and asking him to continue caring for President Ba while she was busy, made her cheeks burn in embarrassment. “I’m sorry for troubling you.”


  It was then that Fu Tingyu interjected, “Third young master Jun has already taken care of President Ba for more than half a day. There’s no need to trouble him further. I’ll have Ye Luo attend to President Ba.”


  Without waiting for Jun Li to reply, he whipped out his phone and dialled Ye Luo’s number. “.……”


  “Ye Luo, come and watch over President Ba.”


  Ye Luo was momentarily stunned when he heard Fu Tingyu’s command. He had not seen Qin Shu bring President Ba along. It had been more than a month since he had last seen President Ba at all.

  Ye Luo’s stupefaction did not last long and he reacted fairly quickly. Putting away his phone, he marched to where he knew the young master was resting in order t fulfil his duties.

  Jun Li did not mind. He released his hold on President Ba and placed him on the bench, then bade farewell to Qin Shu. “Then I’ll be taking my leave first.”


  Qin Shu stopped eating her ice cream and mumbled apologetically, “Okay, thank you for taking care of President Ba for me.”


  “It’s nothing. I was getting rather bored alone. Having a cat keep me company helped relieve some of it.

  A grin settled over his face but did not quite extend to his eyes. He left with a steady gait, neither walking too fast nor too slowly.

  Qin Shu watched as Jun Li’ slender figure stepped out of the tree’s shadow. His suit was loose and made him look skinnier than he really was. Guilt racked her conscience. If it weren’t for the fact that he had taken care of President Ba, She wouldn’t……

  “Bao’er.”


  Fu Tingyu’s voice cut her off from her train of thought. She asked uncertainly, “What’s wrong?”


  Fu Tingyu glowered at Jun Li’s retreating form. With furrowed brows, he probed, “What are you looking at?”