Four

 He didn’t reply again. Su Hao picked up a toothpick and started eating the fruit. She got full after a little bit, closed the lid, and prepared to take a nap. Her phone rang again—it was a WeChat message from Su Xi.

Su Xi: Hao Hao, how does it feel on your first day at work? Did Zhou Yang go to the office?

Su Hao: It feels great. He came to the office and just went down to eat lunch.

Su Xi seemed to react to this and brought up Zhou Yang again.

sigh

Su Xi: That’s good. It’s the weekend in a few days, remember to come home for dinner.

Su Hao: Okay, if I don’t have to work overtime, I’ll come over.

Su Xi: Mm-hmm.

They chatted for a little while longer, then Su Hao put her phone away and started her nap.

There was a lot to do in the afternoon. Su Hao worked alongside Chen Yu, occasionally helping Lu Mi Mi with statistics. Lu Mi Mi was quick and efficient, making Su Hao a bit nervous, afraid of making mistakes. Lu Mi Mi categorized Su Hao with Chen Yu and said, “You, you’re clearly not cut out to be an accountant. You’re only fit to work as a cashier with Chen Yu!”

Su Hao smiled and lowered her head to keep working, ignoring her.

Lu Mi Mi snorted and threw her current tasks to Su Hao.

Usually, the cashier manages the money, and the accountant manages the books, but higher positions are mostly held by accountants. Lu Mi Mi seemed like a girl with some ambition.

During lunch break, Chen Yu pulled Su Hao into a group chat.

The group was named “When Will Love Arrive (6)”

Su Hao: .......

The group was full of Fei Jie employees. Despite their apparent friction, both Lu Mi Mi and Chen Yu were in the group. Lu Mi Mi had just posted seven or eight photos.

Su Hao opened them.

They were photos of Zhou Yang and Miss Li having lunch in the cafeteria on the second floor. Several executives were also present, including General Zeng and Assistant Lu, although they were sitting further away.

Miss Li had ordered a steak but seemed not to be used to it, poking it with her fork with a look of melancholy.

Zhou Yang leaned back in his chair, sipping coffee, looking lazy and indifferent.

However, the handsome man and beautiful woman were quite a sight.

Tang Yao Yao: Is this Miss Li from that Li family?

Guan Qian: Yes, that Li family, all prestigious families.

Chen Yu: How long has she been chasing General Zhou? I can’t remember anymore.

Tang Yao Yao: About six months, right? How can General Zhou, a man with a roving eye, endure a six-month hiatus? Or is he getting pickier?

Lu Mi Mi: Hah, maybe he’s had enough fun?

Chen Yu: Obviously, she’s about to succeed.

Lu Mi Mi: Pah.

The two started bickering again in the group. Seeing this, Su Hao quietly set the group to Do Not Disturb and then left the chat.

It was mid-month, so there wasn’t much work, and they finished at six. Su Hao and Chen Yu went downstairs together. Chen Yu asked Su Hao, “Where do you live?”

Su Hao recalled the name of her apartment complex, “I live at Huahui.”

“Huahui! You managed to rent a place there? Your commute must be really short.” Chen Yu looked envious. Su Hao smiled and said, “Yes, it’s quite close. I got lucky.”

“Sigh, I have to take a forty-five-minute subway ride every day. If you take this path, walk through the underground pedestrian walkway, and then turn a corner, you’ll reach your place. It’s very close. If you know the way, it’ll take just ten minutes.” Chen Yu pointed to a pedestrian path and showed it to Su Hao.

Su Hao felt grateful, “Thank you, I took a taxi this morning.”

“It’s so close, it must have only been the base fare.”

"Okay."

They chatted for a while, and Su Hao watched Chen Yu enter the subway station before heading down the main road as Chen Yu had directed.

Sure enough, she quickly arrived at the Huahui residential complex.

On the way, she stopped at the supermarket next door to buy some groceries for dinner. Just as she reached the entrance to her building, her WeChat rang. She looked down at her phone.

Zhou Yang: He'll be at your place in half an hour.

Who?

Su Hao was stunned for a few seconds before realizing that it was the man Zhou Yang had introduced to her at noon. Only then did she notice that someone had sent her a friend request a few minutes ago.

She hadn't checked her phone, so she hadn’t accepted it.

She clicked to accept the friend request.

The name was: Shen He.

Su Hao let out a breath, glanced at the profile picture, then at Zhou Yang's profile picture, and her mood gradually calmed down.

So many years.

She had to forget what needed to be forgotten.

She hurried upstairs, put the groceries in the fridge, and looked at her clothes. For the sake of politeness, she decided to change. She went into the master bedroom and changed into a little black dress. These clothes were bought by Liao Yun before she left.

After changing, she came out and her phone beeped.

She bent over to pick it up.

Shen He: Su Hao, let's have dinner tonight? I'm almost there.

Su Hao was stunned and then edited a message.

Su Hao: Okay, let me know when you arrive.

Shen He: Okay.

Holding her phone, Su Hao stood there for a while before walking to the balcony to look outside. Unfortunately, the balcony faced inside the complex, and only the kitchen window could see the street outside. She felt calm, but still a bit flustered. Turning around, she picked up her small bag and left her apartment, not wanting to keep him waiting.

She rarely wore high heels, so she opted for low-heeled shoes. As the sun was setting, the evening glow hung in the sky. She checked her phone several times.

Before long, a black Mercedes arrived at the entrance of the complex.

Beep beep.

Su Hao's phone rang in sync. She looked up.

Inside the car, a young man leaned back in his seat, smiling at her. He had a handsome, clean-cut appearance. It was the same face Zhou Yang had sent her earlier. She walked towards the car.

From a distance, her black dress fluttered in the wind, making her skin look very fair. Shen He coughed lightly, quickly got out of the car, and opened the door for her. Su Hao paused and said softly, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Shen He responded cheerfully and turned back to the driver's seat.

He... he liked gentle-speaking, soft women like her.

He struck gold!

There was a faint scent of perfume in the car. Su Hao sat quietly. The driver's door opened, and Shen He got in, smiling as he asked, "Hao Hao, what would you like to eat?"

Su Hao glanced at Shen He, hesitated a moment, and said, "Anything is fine."

"I'm sorry for inviting you out for dinner without having talked to you before. Mainly, I live in Kyoto and came here to help my brother-in-law with some matters. I wanted to meet you before leaving."

"It's okay."

"Did it feel sudden?"

"Not really."

"That's good. On my way here, I was worried you wouldn't come down."

"I wouldn't."

Su Hao's answers were concise, but her voice was incredibly gentle. In the car, aside from the faint scent of perfume, her voice was the most captivating. Shen He gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Zhou Yang's recommendation was always spot on.

She was exactly his type.

The car entered the main road as the evening glow faded. Gray clouds rose in the sky, covering half the horizon. Su Hao clutched her small bag, looking at the traffic and then out the window. She pondered for a moment before saying, "Do you know about my situation?"

She asked nervously.

But her mother’s worries and advice made her unable to retreat.

Even though her previous experience was not her wish, her mother could never get over it.

Su Hao understood her mother’s feelings and respected her thoughts, so she was willing to try.

"I know. It's a different era, Hao Hao. You shouldn't mind those things. I don't." Shen He glanced at her, his handsome face full of sincerity.

Su Hao instantly felt relieved and smiled at him.

Shen He was captivated by that smile, and it took him a moment to look away.

The atmosphere in the car became even more pleasant. Su Hao gazed at the bustling city, resting her hand lightly on the window sill. Following Su Xi's advice, Shen He had chosen a Cantonese restaurant that wasn't very fancy but had great food. He took Su Hao there for dinner. Shen He initially thought Su Hao was just gentle in personality, but he was pleasantly surprised to find that she was also very considerate during the meal. Most importantly, she listened intently, resting her chin on her hand and looking at him with those star-like eyes.

She listened as if she admired him greatly, which made Shen He feel even happier.

Although Shen He tended to jump from topic to topic, Su Hao would ask questions if she didn't understand, and Shen He enthusiastically explained everything to her.

During the meal, while Su Hao went to the restroom, Shen He sent a WeChat message to Zhou Yang.

Shen He: Oh my god, Zhou Yang, Hao Hao is amazing! I really like her!

Zhou Yang: Oh?

Shen He: I'm so grateful!

Zhou Yang: You like her that much after just one meeting? Haven't you seen women before?

Shen He: No way! You don't understand.

Zhou Yang didn’t reply. Su Hao came back just then, and Shen He put down his phone. He glanced at his watch, noting they still had time.

He asked, "Hao Hao, do you play billiards?"

Su Hao sat down, picked up a napkin to wipe her hands, looked at him, and shook her head, "No."

"Shall I teach you?"

"Okay."

Su Hao checked her phone; it was still early.

"Let's go." Shen He made a quick decision and reached for the bill, only to find it gone. He looked at Su Hao, who picked up her small bag and said, "I'll treat this time, you treat next time."

This way, they reciprocated, and he wouldn't lose face.

Shen He was taken aback and then smiled, "Okay."

Su Hao smiled slightly and followed him out of the restaurant. Next door was the Starry Sky Club. Shen He led Su Hao inside, explaining the club's rules to her.

He booked a private room on the second floor. Once inside, Shen He handed Su Hao a cue stick. She quickly put down her small bag to take it. Shen He grabbed a cue for himself and raised an eyebrow playfully, "Guess how long it'll take me to clear the table?"

Su Hao graciously replied, "Definitely very quickly."

Shen He’s eyes lit up, and he gave her several looks, chuckling softly. He raised his cue and started playing while chatting with her.

At that moment, the door to the private room was pushed open by a hand holding a cigarette. Zhou Yang's narrow eyes scanned the room and immediately saw Su Hao holding a cue stick. She stood gracefully, exuding an indescribable charm, watching Shen He play with a gentle gaze. Occasionally, she smiled and nodded, her eyes lighting up slightly whenever Shen He scored, perfectly satisfying a man's vanity.

Shen He’s expression made it clear that he was pleased with himself.

Others stood behind Zhou Yang.

Li Yi’s voice was low, "Is that Su Hao? How can any man resist being looked at like that?"

The cigarette between Zhou Yang's fingers broke off slightly in the wind. He watched the woman in the little black dress standing in the dimly lit room, her presence serene. In her eyes, it seemed like there was only Shen He, willing to turn herself into gentle softness for him.

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