Fifty-Three

 Today, Su Hao wore a dress paired with white sneakers for convenience at work. She had just stepped on her shoelace and it came loose. In the light, Zhou Yang’s slender fingers deftly tied the laces. Su Hao was stunned for two seconds and reflexively stepped back, but Zhou Yang grabbed her ankle and pulled her back.

His hand was warm and slightly rough on her exposed skin.

"You have such delicate feet," his teasing voice reached her ears.

At the same time, a tender voice called out.

"Zhou Yang! Su Hao!"

Not too far away, Su Hao looked up and saw Li Xiu, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Amidst the noisy background, the girl was wearing a bright pink T-shirt and showing off her long legs, but her face was somewhat pale.

Her bold confidence seemed almost like a fragile paper fortress that could collapse at any moment.

For some reason, Su Hao remembered the initial discussions among people.

Ah.

You’re not his type.

Su Hao forcefully pulled her foot back.

The sudden movement caught Zhou Yang off guard, and he fell backward, a look of astonishment on his handsome face.

Su Hao glanced at him briefly, then turned and walked away.

"Su Hao!" Zhou Yang called out.

Hearing his voice behind her, Su Hao quickened her pace and swiftly climbed the stairs.

Li Xiu covered her mouth, watching in disbelief as the man she had pursued for almost a year quickly got up despite his fall. He gave her a cold, warning look before chasing after Su Hao’s slender figure into the stairwell. She couldn’t believe it.

"Zhou Yang..."

"Zhou Yang!!"

She looked at the stairwell, then at the spot where Su Hao had pulled her foot back, causing Zhou Yang to fall. He usually had good reflexes, so it was surprising that he fell.

He had never been this humble before.

That really wasn't him.

It wasn’t him.

How could he be like this for a woman? She glanced at the car beside her, feeling a sting of humiliation.

Climbing the stairs, Su Hao’s ankle still felt warm. She frowned and walked quickly. Hearing footsteps closing in behind her, she reached the third floor. Before she could get her key out, a large hand grabbed her, and Zhou Yang turned her around, leaning close with one hand against the door, looking down at her. "Why are you running?"

He trapped her against the door.

His scent, a cool fir aroma, filled her senses. Su Hao tried to calm herself and said, "Let go."

Before she could finish, Zhou Yang tutted and knelt again, grabbing her shoelace. "It wasn't tied properly. I prayed you wouldn’t fall while running, but then again, if you did, it wouldn’t be so bad."

Su Hao wanted to step back.

But she couldn’t, pressed against the door. She glanced down.

He was indeed tying her shoelace. In that position, the back of his shirt collar revealed a bit of his skin.

Su Hao averted her eyes, trying to move away.

He pulled her foot back.

The dim light in the stairwell made Su Hao furrow her brows, feeling uncertain about the situation. Running wasn’t an option, and she didn’t dare knock on the door, afraid Cheng Ling would see and be startled.

She thought about kneeling to tie her own laces, but the space was too small, and she would inevitably bump into him. She closed her eyes and said, "Zhou Yang, I saw Li Xiu."

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, "Hmm?"

"Isn't she your type?"

He finished tying her shoelace and paused, his gaze falling on her slender calf. Her skin was pale, her calf slender enough to be encircled with one hand, and her dress, a white one, swayed slightly. He wanted to kiss it, maybe even bite it gently.

"You and she are actually a better match."

"Oh?" Zhou Yang reacted, maintaining his posture with a hand on his knee, looking up at her, a smile playing on his lips. "You and I are a better match."

"A rogue like me needs to be tamed by someone like you."

With that, he stood up, leaning his forehead against hers. "Will you tame me?"

Click—

The door behind them opened.

Su Hao shoved Zhou Yang away hard.

She turned quickly.

The door was fully open, and light spilled out from inside. Cheng Ling exclaimed, "What are you two doing standing there?"

Su Hao slipped inside, dropped her shopping bags, and went straight to the dining table to pour water. Cheng Ling stood in stunned silence for a few seconds, then looked at Zhou Yang. He straightened his shirt and smiled, "Good evening, Aunt Cheng."

"Good evening," Cheng Ling replied awkwardly, hesitating for a moment, "Have you had dinner?"

Struggling to find a topic, she defaulted to food.

Zhou Yang’s gaze swept over the room.

The figure at the dining table didn’t turn around.

He lowered his head, smiling slightly, "Not yet. I was passing by and thought I'd drop in to see you."

Even though they had seen more of Zhou Yang recently, Cheng Ling still found it hard to believe when he said he came to see her.

But since he was already at the door, Cheng Ling thought for a moment and said, "Why don’t you come in? I’ll make you a bowl of noodles."

"Sure." Zhou Yang smiled, following her inside. His height brought a sense of pressure as he looked at Su Hao.

Su Hao set down her cup and went to the master bedroom.

Cheng Ling invited Zhou Yang to sit and then peeked into the master bedroom, "Su Hao, do you want a late-night snack?"

Standing by the wardrobe, Su Hao shook her head, "No."

"Alright."

Hesitating, Cheng Ling added, "Zhou Yang is here. Can you come out for a moment?"

She didn’t push further, mainly because Zhou Yang was indeed very handsome. Even if he didn’t speak, his smiling eyes conveyed a sense of charm. His good looks and well-built physique made every move seem graceful. Cheng Ling worried that Su Hao might fall for Zhou Yang again, like in the past.

Chasing him madly.

Heartbroken.

Su Hao closed the wardrobe door and replied, "Got it."

Then she stood still for a moment before walking out. Zhou Yang was lounging on the armrest, flipping through a magazine, his long legs crossed. Due to his position, his collar was more open, revealing a hint of his collarbone. He looked up at her and smiled. Su Hao went to the dining table, poured a glass of water, and placed it on the coffee table.

From the kitchen came the sound of cooking.

"Su Hao, bring some scallions," Cheng Ling called.

"Coming." Su Hao went to the balcony, grabbed two scallions, and took them to the kitchen, handing them to Cheng Ling before leaning against the door to watch her.

Zhou Yang set down the magazine and approached Su Hao, hands in his pockets, joining her in watching the kitchen. His voice was low, "Did you go shopping tonight?"

Su Hao pursed her lips and glanced at him.

"Bought clothes? What kind?"

Su Hao still ignored him.

Zhou Yang laughed and leaned closer, "Honey..."

This word made Su Hao's expression change. She glared at Zhou Yang; he had called her that in a lingering, teasing tone. Su Hao turned her face away, not saying a word.

At that moment.

Cheng Ling’s voice came from the kitchen.

"Su Hao, I haven’t seen Tang Rui in the past few days."

Zhou Yang's expression darkened.

Cheng Ling continued, "Su Hao, I’ve been thinking, maybe we should give Tang Rui a chance. Hear him out, see what he thinks. The card he gave us has money coming in every month. I checked the transactions; he’s been depositing his entire salary into it since the beginning."

Zhou Yang’s face turned even darker.

He reached to push the kitchen door.

Seeing this, Su Hao’s heart skipped a beat. He’s at it again. She immediately stepped forward, grabbing his arm and pulling it down. Her eyes warned him.

Zhou Yang looked down at her, then pulled his arm back forcefully. Su Hao stumbled forward, and he caught her around the waist, leaning close to her ear, whispering darkly, "Tell Aunt Cheng that I’m chasing you. Salary? I’ll give you mine every month. Manage it for me, will you?"

She had seen Feijie’s financial records.

She couldn’t handle that amount of money.

Su Hao turned her head, worried that Cheng Ling would hear, and whispered, "Get lost."

Zhou Yang held her tightly.

Hearing this, he gritted his teeth.

"Are you leaving?"

"Or do you really want noodles?"

No woman had ever dared to speak to him like this before. Zhou Yang felt a rush of frustration, suddenly a bit aggrieved. He said bitterly, "I really haven't eaten."

"Then eat and get out," Su Hao struggled.

Zhou Yang was furious.

But he didn’t dare to explode. He laughed angrily, though it was a cold laugh.

After he let her go.

The kitchen door just happened to open.

Cheng Ling's subsequent words were barely audible amidst their struggle. She saw the two standing outside the kitchen door and was momentarily stunned, "Why are you standing there?"

As she spoke, she placed the noodles on the dining table, "Zhou Yang, come eat."

"Thank you, Aunt Cheng," Zhou Yang smiled, though there was still a hint of fierceness in his eyes.

"These noodles will get mushy easily, you should eat quickly." Cheng Ling also poured him a glass of water. Zhou Yang sat down. Su Hao turned and went into the master bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Zhou Yang held the chopsticks, staring at that closed door.

Grinding his teeth, he finally lowered his head and started eating the noodles.

After entering the room, Su Hao didn’t turn on the light. She sat on the edge of the bed, kicking her feet. The window was half-open, letting in the sounds of the bustling street below—drinking, finger-guessing games, and chatting. The noise and the lively atmosphere of the night market were palpable. She sat in the darkness, lost in thought.

Her mind wandered through many people and events.

A few seconds later, she leaned back, collapsing onto the bed, closed her eyes, and sighed softly.

Shopping was exhausting.

Her feet were a bit sore, and soon, Su Hao fell asleep.

In a daze, she heard that person leave.

Her mother saw him off.

Su Hao turned over and continued sleeping.

As soon as the door closed, Zhou Yang's smile faded significantly. He went downstairs, took a cigarette, held it between his fingers, and walked towards his parked car.

"Zhou Yang." A coquettish female voice called out.

Zhou Yang raised his eyes to look.

A bright red sports car was parked there. Li Xiu leaned against the hood, arms crossed—not in a defiant way, but in a helpless manner.

The girl wore exquisite makeup, with a "Z" tattooed on her collarbone, something she had done half a year ago when she was pursuing him.

"Zhou Yang," she called again.

In Zhou Yang’s mind, images of Su Hao’s delicate ankle, the hem of her white skirt, and her grabbing his shirt collar while speaking angrily flashed. Oh, and when she sat on the hotel sofa, he leaned over to kiss her lips, and she seemed to shiver slightly, her shoulders shrinking. Her collarbone had no tattoos.

But it could hold water.

When she called out "Xiao Qi," how could it sound so gentle?

What if she called him "husband"?

Zhou Yang's throat moved, he closed his eyes, pulled open the car door, got into the driver’s seat, glanced at the third-floor window, and started the car with a cigarette in his mouth.

He completely forgot about the red sports car and the girl by the hood.

The car arrived at Lanwan.

Zhou Yang got out, slammed the car door, leaned against the hood, finished a cigarette, and then walked towards the iron gate. His phone rang just then, and he glanced at it.

Shen He: Zhou Yang, no matter how far you and Su Hao go, I will always wait for her. You better not give me any chance.

Bang—

Zhou Yang kicked the iron gate hard.

A few seconds later, he sneered, typing.

Zhou Yang: Then just keep waiting.

After sending the message, he strode up the steps, his face as dark as water. Su Qian sat on the sofa, looking at a tablet, "You're back?"

Zhou Yang didn’t respond, he walked over to the fridge, took out a bottle of water, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. His face looked terrible. Su Qian glanced at him a few times, hesitated, and decided not to provoke him. Plus, a message came on the tablet. She picked it up to read. Zhou Yang walked to the cabinet to get some documents.

Casually, he noticed.

Su Qian was chatting with Cheng Ling on WeChat.

Su Qian: Cheng Ling, please pass this business card to Su Hao. This guy is pretty good.

Bang.

The bottled water was placed on the table. Su Qian turned her head, Zhou Yang was leaning on the back of the sofa, his voice low, "Mom, can you stop messing with me?"

There was a hint of grievance in his voice.

Su Qian glanced at the tablet in her hand.

Blinking, she realized.

Su Qian: "Are you crying?"

Almost crying.

Only then will it be sincere.

..................................................................................................................

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