Sixty-Two

 Not only did she not mention it, but she also told Cheng Ling to evaluate him properly. Su Qian on the other end of the line said, “Oh,” pretending not to know, and then asked, “Son, what do you want Mom to say? That you’re tall and handsome? Charming and attractive? Or serious in your feelings?”

The last four words seemed to mock Zhou Yang. Zhou Yang endured it, then, frustrated, laughed angrily, “How am I not serious?”

“I didn’t say you’re not serious. Zhou Yang, you actually care about these things?” Su Qian finished her quiet laugh and asked seriously.

She asked seriously.

Zhou Yang couldn’t find words to respond.

He tapped the table a couple of times and then said, “Why can’t I care about these things?”

“That’s quite unusual.” Su Qian replied.

Zhou Yang sneered and said, “Hang up.”

“Goodnight.”

After Su Qian said goodnight, Zhou Yang turned off his phone, threw it on the desk, opened the cigarette box on the desk, took out a cigarette, lit it, leaned against the desk, and smoked, his thoughts drifting to Su Hao.

He didn’t know what time he fell asleep, but Zhou Yang had a habit of exercising early. Around 5 AM, he went out for a morning run. After coming back, he went to the gym on the basement floor, worked out, and got all sweaty. He took a shower, dried his hair, and went upstairs. Checking his phone, it was almost 7 AM.

After having breakfast, it was past 8 AM, so Su Hao should have woken up by then.

Zhou Yang typed:

“Awake?”

He sent the three words.

At this moment, new messages appeared in the chat group.

Li Yi: The bar opened by Liu Yan last night.

Xu Dian: Hmm, got it.

Jiang Yu: Zhou Yang? Bring Su Hao and make a formal introduction.

Zhou Yang: Okay.

Zhou Yang: I just sent her a message.

Jiang Yu: Oh? You initiated it?

Xu Dian: You actually take the initiative to send messages to women?

Li Yi: Tsk, what’s so unusual about it? You’ve even knelt before; maybe you’ve cried too.

Xu Dian: Hahaha.

Jiang Yu: Remember when Zhou Yang was with Shi Lin? Every time Shi Lin tried to contact him and he didn’t reply, she would message me. Damn.

Xu Dian: I’ve been harassed too.

Li Yi: Li Xiu was the same, always asking me if Zhou Yang was around.

Zhou Yang: Don’t you all take the initiative to message your wives?

Everyone fell silent.

A few seconds later.

Li Yi: I really don’t.

Zhou Yang: Well, that’s just you.

Li Yi:

Zhou Yang, fastening his tie, checked his phone again. Su Hao hadn’t replied for half an hour. He frowned and called her. It took a while for her to answer.

Zhou Yang: “Why did you take so long to answer the call? What about WeChat?”

“I’m late, rushing, didn’t have time to check.” Su Hao was panting on the other end. Zhou Yang’s heart settled back to its original place. He walked down the stairs with his tie hanging loose. “Alright, go to work.”

He had actually waited for her message, looking at his phone for half an hour.

Damn.

Su Hao was indeed late, nearly ten minutes late this time. The main issue was that the water pipe in the bathroom broke in the morning. She and Cheng Ling spent a long time trying to fix it, but couldn’t. They ended up using a towel to block it, but water still kept gushing out. Su Hao couldn’t find anyone to fix it immediately and called Zhang Xinhua.

On the other end, he persistently refused to answer.

After she sent a message urging him to call back quickly, he finally answered, immediately saying, “Sister-in-law, what’s up?”

Su Hao explained the situation, and Zhang Xinhua promptly said, “I’ll send someone to handle it. Don’t worry, is someone at home now?”

“Yes, my mom is here.”

“Great, don’t worry.” Zhang Xinhua said before hanging up the phone, avoiding her as if she were a venomous snake.

Su Hao didn’t even have breakfast and went straight to the company. As soon as she walked in, several people stared at her. They were also starving, so Su Hao immediately apologized.

They didn’t blame Su Hao for being late, mainly because they were hungry.

So, a few of them, like hungry wolves, rushed to eat. Qiqi even made a cup of milk for Su Hao. Su Hao took it and thanked her. As Qiqi sat down, she looked at Su Hao’s exposed skin due to the rushed collar and, after a second, leaned in to whisper in Su Hao’s ear, “Did you go to bed with him?”

Su Hao was taken aback. She reflexively covered her neck and replied, “No, just kissing.”

“Was he so domineering? Did his kisses leave marks?” Qiqi asked with a giggle, in a low voice.

Su Hao blushed a little and said, “My skin is like that.”

“So sexual.” Qiqi said.

Su Hao pushed Qiqi away, and Qiqi laughed. She was already married, mingling with Yan Chong every day, and wasn’t picky about what she said.

She used to want children and joined a pregnancy preparation group where people spoke more boldly. However, she no longer wanted children, so she left that group.

Used to big scenes.

Seeing Su Hao’s blushing, Qiqi found it amusing and kept teasing her. Su Hao, extremely embarrassed, hid in the storage room, used concealer to cover the marks on her neck, and felt relieved.

After coming out, Qiqi didn’t have time to joke with Su Hao anymore. Su Hao sighed in relief and started dealing with yesterday’s orders. It was then that she finally saw the message.

Zhou Yang had sent a WeChat message.

Zhou Yang: “Why were you late this morning?”

Su Hao: “The water pipe at home broke.”

Zhou Yang: “Hmm?”

Zhou Yang: “Did you call Zhang Xinhua?”

Su Hao: “I did.”

Zhou Yang: “Good.”

Zhou Yang: “I’ve said before, that place isn’t suitable for living.”

Su Hao: “I know, stop nagging.”

Zhou Yang: “I’m nagging?”

Su Hao: “Who’s nagging?”

Zhou Yang: “Can’t believe it.”

At this moment, Lu Qi called out to him, “Mr. Zhou, over here.”

He put his phone in his pocket, rolled up his sleeves, walked over, and adjusted his tie. An engineer next to him immediately made way, handing Zhou Yang a modified model gun, saying, “This is the one Mr. Nie mentioned last time. Take a look.”

Zhou Yang took it.

The engineer, also in uniform, said, “The model is heavier than a real gun, here’s a comparison picture, but the accuracy is accurate.”

Zhou Yang leaned against the table, lazily comparing it. His brow was sharp, and his expression serious. Smoking wasn’t allowed at the base, so he licked his lips and asked Lu Qi, “What about the materials?”

“They’ll arrive in a week.”

Zhou Yang compared it one more time and said, “Next week, let Nie Kuo come over and make a real one for him to see.”

“Okay.”

Zhou Yang compared it once more and accidentally kicked a white pipe with his long legs. He glanced down and suddenly remembered the water pipe.

Su Hao’s water pipe broke?

The water pipe broke, huh.

He put down the model, took out his phone, walked aside, and called Zhang Xinhua.

Soon.

Zhang Xinhua answered, “Brother, good morning.”

“Good. The water pipe at Su Hao’s place broke. Have you sent someone?”

“Already sent, almost fixed.” Zhang Xinhua’s cheerful tone had a hint of boasting. Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Don’t fix it.”

“Huh?”

Zhang Xinhua was stunned for a few seconds.

Zhou Yang said nothing. He walked outside, lit a cigarette. The sky was clear but a bit cold. Zhang Xinhua understood after about two seconds and immediately responded, “Alright, it’s broken again.”

Zhou Yang made a sound of acknowledgment.

Then he hung up the phone, turned around, and went into the office. He grabbed his car keys, put on his coat, and said to Lu Qi, who had just come in, “I’m heading back. The meeting this afternoon is canceled.”

“But the meeting has been prepared for over a week,” Lu Qi looked puzzled.

“We’ll hold it tomorrow morning. Your materials haven’t arrived yet, what are you reporting to me about?” Zhou Yang gave him a casual glance. Lu Qi broke out in a cold sweat on his back and nodded, “I’ll hurry it up.”

Zhou Yang snorted coldly and walked out.

Lu Qi hesitated for a few seconds and said behind him, “Mr. Zhou, are you going to fix the water pipe?”

The response was the sound of the car door closing.

Bang—

Lu Qi pitied him, saying, “Even the dignified president has to stoop to fixing water pipes, how tragic.”

After Su Hao sent a message to Zhang Xinhua, someone came to fix the pipe after an hour or two. Cheng Ling opened the door to let them in. The repairmen worked quickly and almost fixed it, but Cheng Ling had to call the supermarket downstairs to send some water up. Just as they were about to have a drink, one of the repairmen did something to the pipe, and the water gushed out even more.

The repairman looked at Cheng Ling and said, “Oh, Auntie, sorry, it broke again.”

Cheng Ling asked, “Wasn’t it fixed just now?”

“Yes, we need to fix it again.”

At this moment, footsteps were heard coming from the stairs. Cheng Ling turned around and saw Zhou Yang. She was taken aback. Zhou Yang, with a smile at the corner of his lips, walked in and said, “Aunt Cheng, what’s the matter? I was passing by and saw the door open.”

His long, narrow eyes swept towards the bathroom.

Cheng Ling came over and poured him a glass of water, saying, “They are fixing the water pipe. It was just repaired, but it broke again.”

“Really?” Zhou Yang took the water and lazily walked over with the cup. The people inside remained silent, waiting for him to speak. Zhou Yang took a sip of water, smiling in his eyes, and turned back to Cheng Ling, saying, “Let me give it a try. I can handle this.”

“You can?” Cheng Ling was somewhat incredulous. “Let’s just leave it to the professionals, Zhou Yang.”

“It’s fine, I’ll do it.” Zhou Yang said, placing the water cup on the table, taking off his coat, casually draping it over the sofa, and loosening his shirt’s tie and watch. Cheng Ling stood by, watching him with a mixture of nervousness and doubt, wondering if he could actually handle it.

This man, so suave, going to fix the water pipe in that cramped bathroom? Cheng Ling was worried and sent a message to Su Hao.

Cheng Ling: Zhou Yang just passed by here and is now going to help us fix the water pipe.

Su Hao received the message and was stunned. She looked at her chat history with Zhang Xinhua, who had told her half an hour ago that it was almost fixed.

How did it end up being Zhou Yang who was doing it?

Su Hao glanced at the time; it was almost time to get off work and the matter was nearly resolved. She got up and asked Qiqi for a two-hour leave, then left.

When she got home, she happened to pass by the other repairmen leaving. As Su Hao brushed past them, she heard them muttering something.

Su Hao frowned.

She walked inside.

As soon as Cheng Ling saw her, she grabbed her and pointed to the bathroom.

Su Hao immediately noticed the coat, tie, and watch on the sofa. She put down her things and said to Cheng Ling, “Mom, go make dinner, and make an extra portion.”

“Alright.” Cheng Ling took another look at the bathroom before heading to the kitchen.

Su Hao walked towards the bathroom and leaned against the door.

Zhou Yang was half-squatting on the floor, with tools beside him, wrapping up the pipe. His collar was open, and the light from outside fell on his brow. He looked less dashing and more focused, with sweat rolling down his face to his chin and dripping onto the floor. Su Hao walked in and used a tissue to wipe his cheek.

Zhou Yang paused, turned around, and seeing her, smiled and held her hand, which was wet. It was a bit cold. He looked at her.

She looked back at him, her eyes full of tenderness and admiration.

Zhou Yang raised an eyebrow, pulling her hand down. “Why are you back?”

Su Hao smiled slightly, bent over to wipe his sweat with one hand, and said softly, “Came back to watch your performance.”

Su Hao whispered, “The pipe that was fixed got broken again? Zhou Yang, you’re quite something.”

Her voice was gentle as water.

Cool as water.

Zhou Yang’s body stiffened.

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

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