Five

 “Who do we have here? Oh, it’s Shen He.” A sweet, delicate voice accompanied by the clack of high heels suddenly cut into the music-filled private room, creating a somewhat jarring effect.

Both Su Hao and Shen He looked up simultaneously to see Miss Li, dressed in a short, midriff-baring top and jeans, standing with her hands on her hips, smiling at them.

She was quite tall, casting a shadow over them, but there was still an unmistakable sense of sharpness about her. Rather than looking at them, it seemed like she was scrutinizing Su Hao, taking in her appearance without leaving any trace.

Behind her were two men. Su Hao’s gaze shifted and landed on Zhou Yang, who frowned and, after a few seconds, called out, “Li Xiu, come out.”

“I’m just here to say hello,” Li Xiu replied sweetly, her voice soft enough to melt a man’s heart.

Li Yi chimed in, “What are you doing, ruining their date?”

His tone wasn’t friendly either.

Shen He gave Li Xiu a fierce glance and then called out, “Zhou Yang, Li Yi, are you here to play billiards too?”

“Yes, just here to have some fun.” Zhou Yang walked in, went to the coffee table, and tapped his cigarette over the ashtray. Then, he stood up, bit down on his cigarette, and squinted at Li Xiu.

Li Xiu seemed to realize that Zhou Yang wasn’t joking when he told her to leave.

Her back stiffened.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Until Shen He had a flash of inspiration, “Zhou Yang, why don’t you all stay and play together?”

Zhou Yang raised his eyes and looked at Shen He for a long moment before curling his lips into a smile, “Are you serious?”

He saw right through Shen He’s game.

Shen He laughed heartily, slapping the billiards table, his previous annoyance dissipating, “Yes, stay and play. By the way, this is Su Hao.”

He introduced her to Li Yi, who walked over to get a drink and, while smoking, said, “Hello, Su Hao.”

He looked at Su Hao.

Su Hao nodded at him, “Hello.”

This man had a buzz cut, and because the buttons on his shirt were not done up properly, a scar on his collarbone was faintly visible. He looked tough and stern.

They were all part of Zhou Yang’s circle.

Su Hao withdrew her gaze and stood quietly beside Shen He. Zhou Yang stubbed out his cigarette, rolled up his sleeves, walked over, and picked up a cue stick. Li Xiu excitedly said, “I’ll set up the balls for you.”

She glanced at Zhou Yang, seemingly seeking his approval. Zhou Yang leaned against the billiards table, gave her a look, and then laughed, “Set them up, why are you looking at me?”

Li Xiu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately started setting up the balls, her movements very precise. Her legs were long and straight, like a model’s. After setting them up, she looked at Zhou Yang as if asking for praise.

Zhou Yang sneered but didn’t compliment her.

Shen He leaned in towards Su Hao and said, “See, Zhou Yang is like that, always having women wanting to be around him, each one throwing themselves at him, even the spicy ones turning into clinging vines.”

Su Hao smiled slightly but didn’t respond.

She didn’t know how to respond; this man naturally had a way with women.

“Hao Hao, are you cold?”

Seeing Su Hao’s exposed skin getting goosebumps, Shen He asked. Su Hao shook her head, “No, it’s fine. The game is starting, do your best.”

“Mm, I will!” Shen He’s eyes sparkled as he gripped his cue stick, “You have to cheer me on.”

Su Hao nodded, “Okay.”

Her voice was very gentle, like the sweet chirping of an oriole, impossible to ignore in the private room.

At her gentle "okay."

Bang—a ball was pocketed as Zhou Yang broke. Li Xiu’s eyes sparkled, “Great shot!”

Zhou Yang stood up and walked over. Su Hao stood at the corner of the table, holding her cue stick and stepping back. Zhou Yang’s peripheral vision unintentionally caught her, the soft orange light flickering. The gentle expression on her face had yet to fade, her eyes seemed to glisten as if filled with water. Their gazes briefly met and then parted.

He stood there, rubbed some chalk on his cue stick, then bent down and took another shot.

Bang—

Another ball was pocketed.

Li Xiu clapped her hands in excitement again, “Zhou Yang, you’re amazing.”

Her voice was sweet and full of genuine pride.

Shen He clicked his tongue, resting his cue stick on the table, and said, “Zhou Yang, you better play well and not give me a chance, or you might not get another turn.”

“Right, Hao Hao?” He looked at Su Hao, like a puppy seeking encouragement.

Su Hao smiled and generously praised, “Yes, you played very well just now.”

Zhou Yang walked to the other side, holding his cue stick, took another two shots, pocketing two more balls. Li Xiu watched him with sparkling eyes, full of admiration. Shen He leaned against a screen, talking to Su Hao. Zhou Yang didn’t hold back, but Shen He didn’t mind.

As long as Su Hao thought he played well, that was all that mattered.

This contented demeanor amused Li Yi. Sitting at the coffee table, sipping his drink, he said, “Shen He, you’re just showing off to us, right?”

Shen He took a moment to reply, “Yes, you guessed it!”

“Oh, impressive.” Li Yi smiled back.

He looked at Zhou Yang, who was holding his cue stick, paused for a moment, and then leaned on the table, lighting a cigarette. Li Yi said, “Zhou Yang, you’re just boosting young master Shen’s ego, huh?”

When Shen He invited them to play billiards, that was his plan. Zhou Yang saw through it but still came in. It had to be said, Zhou Yang was very supportive of Shen He, like a matchmaker hoping for a perfect ending. But if that were the case, why not go easy on him? Why play so seriously?

Zhou Yang lifted his head, leaning against the billiards table, and tapped the white ball.

Thud—

The ball was pocketed.

Zhou Yang glanced at Shen He, who had been chatting with Su Hao, and lazily smiled, “Come on, it’s your turn. Try to clear the table in one shot.”

“Huh?” Shen He was momentarily stunned but quickly grabbed his cue stick. Reflexively, he also grabbed Su Hao’s wrist. She was startled but didn’t pull away and followed him to the billiards table. Shen He smiled at Su Hao and said, “Cheer for me like Li Xiu does.”

Instinctively, Su Hao glanced at Li Xiu, who was beside Zhou Yang. Li Xiu raised an eyebrow, her gaze provocative, exuding a bold confidence similar to the flashy car she drove. She constantly acted coquettishly around Zhou Yang, displaying all the typical behavior of a young girl, completely different from Su Hao. Su Hao smiled slightly and whispered to Shen He, “I can’t do that. I can only cheer for you quietly.”

Her hair, fragrant, fell as she spoke. Shen He caught a whiff of it, his hand trembling slightly. He replied softly, “I like it when you cheer for me quietly. It’s wonderful.”

Su Hao was taken aback.

She smiled.

“Mm.”

Her response was full of contentment.

All the men present heard it.

Softly.

Unlike the delicate voice, it was gentle and flowing, like a kitten’s paw that scratched and then retracted.

Encouraged by Su Hao’s nod, Shen He was determined to clear the table. Although his skills weren’t quite up to Zhou Yang’s level, they weren’t far off.

With a bit of effort, he could manage.

Zhou Yang leaned against the cabinet, smoking, while Li Xiu continued to chatter and act coy beside him. He took a glass of wine, sipped it, and in the red liquid, he vaguely saw those eyes shimmering with water.

When they left the Starry Sky Club, it was quite late. Su Hao bent down to get into the car. Once inside, she checked her phone for the time.

The driver’s side door opened, and Shen He got in. He pressed the voice message button on his phone and said, “Zhou Yang, thank you.”

His gratitude was sincere.

Su Hao looked up and gazed out the window.

Throughout the evening, she understood why Shen He was thanking Zhou Yang. Zhou Yang had deliberately eased up, allowing Shen He to shine. It was his first time playing matchmaker, seemingly wanting to make a good impression.

In the past, she never would have imagined that the man she once liked so much would introduce her to a boyfriend with such care and effort.

She glanced at Shen He.

Thinking.

She also needed to thank Zhou Yang for his thoughtfulness.

The car moved along the road, soft music playing quietly inside. The moonlight was beautiful, and with the streetlights casting shadows, occasional beams of light would hit her face, then quickly pass, returning to darkness. Shen He looked at Su Hao’s profile and felt a gentle warmth.

He was reluctant.

“Hao Hao, my flight is tomorrow.”

Su Hao snapped back to reality, looked at him, and smiled, “Mm, let’s stay in touch via WeChat.”

“Okay.”

Their relationship was uncertain. Shen He tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, feeling a bit anxious, but he thought it was okay to start as friends and take it slow.

When the car arrived at Huahui Community, where parking wasn’t allowed, Su Hao got out, bent down, and said goodbye to Shen He. Shen He turned around and reached for the back seat, pulling out a bouquet of roses. Su Hao was surprised for a second, then took it. Resting her chin on the roses like a fairy, she said, “Thank you.”

What a gentle woman she was.

Shen He coughed a few times and said, “Remember to keep in touch on WeChat. I’ll come to Licheng when I’m free.”

“Sure, you still owe me a meal.”

“Right, I still owe you a meal.” Shen He was thrilled; she had left room for him to invite her again. His slight melancholy disappeared.

The car behind honked.

Su Hao stood up straight, watched the black Mercedes drive away, then turned and walked toward the stairs. After going upstairs and entering her apartment, she put the roses in a vase and grabbed her pajamas to take a shower.

After her shower, she poured a glass of milk and sat on the sofa, checking her phone.

Shen He: I’m home.

Su Hao: Okay, good night.

Shen He: Good night.

As she was about to exit, another message appeared in her WeChat list.

She paused.

T: I heard you went to Licheng?

Su Hao: Yes, how’s France?

T: Great, keep it up.

Su Hao: Keep it up.

The black Mercedes’ tail lights disappeared into the night. Only then did Zhou Yang, Li Yi, and Li Xiu come out. Zhou Yang unbuttoned his collar slightly and glanced at the valet, who immediately went to get the car. Li Xiu looked in the direction where the black car had gone, then turned to the leisurely man beside her and said, “Zhou Yang, who is Su Hao? Did you arrange for her to join your company?”

Zhou Yang glanced at her and smiled, “What do you think?”

Once again, Li Xiu didn’t get an answer. She stomped her foot, “I’m just asking, you never answer me.”

She was exactly Zhou Yang’s type: fun, bold, outspoken, sharp, and coquettish. In the past six months, many had pursued Zhou Yang, but she was the only one who got a bit of a response, though not his approval yet. She felt she could still persist.

Zhou Yang saw through her probing and smiled leisurely.

Li Xiu’s face flushed with embarrassment from his smile.

What was she nervous about? Su Hao wasn’t his type at all.

A black Hummer pulled up and parked at the entrance. The three of them descended the steps. Zhou Yang walked around to get in the car, but his phone buzzed.

He glanced at it.

Two messages.

Shen He: “Zhou Yang, thank you.”

Shen He: “Oh my god, Hao Hao smells so good, soft and fragrant!!”

A few seconds later.

Zhou Yang: “Oh?”

Another second later.

Zhou Yang: “Did you hug her?”

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