Thirty-Five

 “No, I haven’t. Why?” Zhou Yang took a step forward, resting his arm on top of Su Hao’s head, his eyes full of audacity.

He carried a faint smell of tobacco mixed with some fragrance. Su Hao leaned against the pillar, saying nothing, just watching him.

Zhou Yang felt uncomfortable under her gaze. The two of them stared at each other, and he lowered his eyes, taking out the cigarette and flicking it into a nearby trash bin.

The hotel lobby was almost empty at this time, with a gentle breeze blowing through. The lighting was not very good, and Su Hao’s expression held no condemnation or other emotions. However, being watched like this for a while created a sense of shame in Zhou Yang, a feeling he had never experienced from a woman before.

Despite this, he slightly lowered his head, bringing his breath close, avoiding her beautiful eyes, and moving closer to her rosy lips.

She showed no resistance.

Zhou Yang moved in to kiss her, his tall frame leaning in closer. The kiss started softly, a test; she didn’t move away. Zhou Yang became increasingly bold, exploring deeper, his narrow eyes locked on hers. Su Hao’s eyelashes fluttered a few times before closing, and as soon as her eyes closed, Zhou Yang pulled her waist into his embrace and kissed her deeply.

For this kiss.

Even if she hid away to the ends of the earth afterward, he would find her.

At the hotel entrance, people came and went, with some stopping to watch the scene, like it was a television drama. The woman’s face was only vaguely visible, but the man's lowered eyebrows and elongated neck were more pronounced.

Breathless, Su Hao hit him several times.

Zhou Yang licked her upper lip, loosening his hold slightly but still keeping his eyes on her.

Su Hao lowered her head to catch her breath and said softly, “Let go.”

Zhou Yang loosened his grip a bit, still staring at her, slightly fearful. Su Hao raised her eyes, and Zhou Yang immediately let go completely. Su Hao regained her freedom, walked toward the lobby in her high heels, her hair slightly messy, heading to the elevator. Some people who had seen the kiss, including the front desk staff, kept staring at her. Her face was flushed from the kiss, her eyes carrying a subtle charm.

She looked stunning.

As the elevator door was about to close, a large hand stopped it from shutting. The door opened, and Zhou Yang walked in, glanced at her, and pressed the button for the 18th floor.

“Do you want to eat something?” he asked quietly, adjusting his shirt cuffs.

Su Hao stood upright, “No, thank you.”

“Mm.”

She showed no resistance. Zhou Yang’s fingers relaxed slightly, and his phone rang. He picked it up and looked at it.

Wen Ze Li: You piece of trash! My nephew has given up on that beauty, you bastard. What did you do? I won’t let you off the hook.

Oh?

Gave up?

So soon?

Zhou Yang glanced at the message and then turned off his phone, looking back at Su Hao.

What was that embrace just now?

A farewell embrace?

A few strands of her hair fell by her ears, and Zhou Yang reached out to brush them away. Su Hao glanced at him lightly, and Zhou Yang pressed his lips together, curling his lips into a wicked smile.

The elevator reached the 18th floor.

Su Hao exited first, and Zhou Yang’s fingers relaxed, letting her hair fall back against her cheek. Su Hao took out her room card and unlocked her door.

As she was about to enter, Zhou Yang held the door and leaned in, “Good night.”

Su Hao looked at him and replied淡淡地, “Get lost.”

Zhou Yang smiled, “Okay.”

“Leave now.”

Bang—

The door closed.

Su Hao put down her small bag, tied up her hair, and walked to the bedroom to get her pajamas. Her phone beeped, and she picked it up, glancing at the new messages.

It was from Li Yi.

Li Yi: Did you know? Tang Rui is coming back.

Su Hao stared at the messages for a moment, then replied.

Su Hao: Mm, I know.

No wonder her mother suddenly agreed to come to Licheng.

“Su Hao, you can go now.” Holding his phone and car keys, Zhou Yang walked over to Su Hao’s side. Su Hao nodded and followed him down the steps.

They walked towards the parked Mercedes, and it was already completely dark. The car sped along the way back to the hotel. The music in the car started softly, and the two of them were silent.

They arrived at the hotel, stopping in the same spot as the previous night.

Su Hao unfastened her seatbelt with a click, and the music in the car stopped abruptly, making the sound very noticeable. Both of them became a bit cautious under this sound. Shen He rested his hand on the steering wheel, continuously looking at Su Hao. Su Hao looked up at him.

The lighting was quite good.

She was not uncertain or hesitant but very determined.

Shen He was taken aback, “Su Hao.”

Su Hao’s hair was a bit messy, but it did not diminish her grace. She leaned forward and said, “I hope you won’t hesitate any longer and just follow the path you need to take.”

“It’s not like that, Su Hao.” Shen He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and said, “My grandfather wants me to choose between forming a marriage alliance or becoming stronger. I can't be distracted by emotions on the path to becoming stronger, so choosing this path means I have to temporarily give up on you. But I know I can’t make you wait for me, so I’m very conflicted.”

Su Hao smiled and moved closer, reaching out her hand.

Shen He hesitated but eventually embraced her. The next second, he tightened his hug and said, “You also need to take care.”

“I will,” Su Hao said, patting his shoulder.

At this moment, she was indeed more mature than him. Shen He’s eyes were red, while Su Hao had made up her mind. She released him, opened the door, and when she stepped out, she felt relieved.

She did not look back but walked around a large stone screen, just in time to see a man standing there, hands in his pockets, chewing on an unlit cigarette, and coldly watching them.

He had seen everything, including their embrace.

Su Hao approached.

Zhou Yang walked over to her, and Su Hao had to stop and step back. The next second, she bumped into a stone pillar. The man, backlit, looked down at her with his narrow eyes and asked, “Do you think there can be pure friendship between men and women? Hmm?”

He was being direct.

Su Hao remained calm, everything was clear.

He had been deceiving her.

Su Hao asked softly, “Zhou Yang, have you ever been rejected by a woman?”

“General Zhou ordered this, hoping that you have a good mood today.” The waiter, dressed in a neat suit, pushed the dining cart into the room. Su Hao stepped aside without refusing, just watching.

The waiter placed the breakfast items on the coffee table, picked up the bouquet of roses, set it aside, and then pushed the cart out again. Su Hao closed the door, walked to the coffee table, sat down, and began to eat with a spoon.

After finishing, Su Hao didn’t even glance at the roses, got up, and left the room.

Zhou Yang: Have you eaten? Was it good?

Su Hao: It was okay.

Zhou Yang: I’m heading out now to handle some matters. Don’t eat at the company tonight.

Su Hao didn’t respond. She crossed the traffic lights and headed to Feijie, but the place was quite crowded early in the morning, and everyone was staring at her wherever she went.

Su Hao felt somewhat confused and entered the small meeting room.

Before the door was fully closed, she heard them talking outside.

“She looks so gentle.”

“Not the type General Zhou likes, though.”

“But she’s quite pleasing to the eye. Did she put on some light makeup? Her skin is really nice.”

“She managed to calm General Zhou down. What kind of goddess is this?”

“In short, if she were one of us, she’d be a free pass to safety.”

“How do you know General Zhou likes her type?”

“It’s not the type General Zhou likes, but so what? Standards can be changed.”

After the door closed, the cashier also arrived, looking at Su Hao with bright eyes. “Sis, do you know General Zhou?”

Su Hao opened the ledger. “Not really.”

“Shall we start?”

“Sure.” The cashier, seeing Su Hao’s calm demeanor, suddenly thought that maybe General Zhou was pursuing her, but it seemed unlikely.

Where there are people, there’s gossip. Yesterday, General Zhou’s outburst was quite severe. The marketing department manager, who was young and had been promoted by Zhou Yang to manage this side, admired Zhou Yang to some extent. Thus, everything related to Zhou Yang sparked curiosity, leading to discussions all night long.

Su Hao became the center of gossip today.

At lunch in the company, she was also watched by many, but she remained calm. Even when she heard that General Zhou’s anger in the meeting room yesterday seemed to have subsided because of her, she didn’t show much emotion, as it wasn’t something she needed to dwell on. Besides, how much of gossip can be taken seriously?

Clearly, it cannot be taken seriously.

The company had switched to a new supplier this month, and the prices were much cheaper than the previous one. In terms of expenditure, there were fewer people here compared to Haishi.

It was evident that Zhou Yang had his own way of managing the company.

Around four o'clock, Su Hao left the company. It was still golden outside. She glanced at the surrounding high-rise buildings and turned towards the hotel. She wasn’t interested in shopping alone. After returning to the hotel, Su Hao took a shower, changed into pajamas, sat on the sofa, and played with her phone, reviewing the cashier’s notes.

At about six-thirty, the sky darkened.

At this moment, the cart was pushed in.

Su Hao looked at the large lobster and all the food and frowned slightly.

The waiter placed the dinner on the table and left with the cart. Su Hao stood at the door for a while, then returned to the sofa, staring at the pile of food in front of her.

Soon, the door creaked open.

Su Hao looked up. Zhou Yang walked in, holding a bouquet of roses and wearing a jacket, with a flirtatious smile, “Why are you staring at me? Let’s have dinner.”

Su Hao remained sitting on the sofa without moving.

Zhou Yang placed the roses in her lap, glanced at her, and smiled, “Do you like them?”

“Not really.” Su Hao didn’t take them and pushed them aside. Zhou Yang raised his eyebrows, smiled, and placed the roses next to the ones from the morning.

“What do you like? Lilies? Or baby’s breath?” He stood up straight, rolled up his shirt sleeves, walked into the kitchen, washed his hands, and came out, drying them.

Su Hao looked at him. “When will you return the room card?”

Zhou Yang glanced at her.

“Not returning it.” He said with a shameless tone.

He smiled and walked over, removed his watch, picked up the lobster with his slender fingers, cracked it open, and brought the meat to her lips.

Su Hao looked down.

Zhou Yang knelt and held the lobster meat, both of them in a standoff for a few seconds. Zhou Yang suddenly smiled, “How about I feed you?”

Su Hao glanced at him, opened her mouth, and the meat was placed in her mouth. The man’s finger pressed lightly on her lips. Su Hao bit him.

Zhou Yang raised his eyebrows and chuckled softly.

Then he continued to pick out the lobster meat, his collar slightly open, exuding a casual and flirtatious air. Both of them knew that Zhou Yang was testing Su Hao step by step in his pursuit.

And Su Hao neither dodged nor avoided. Although she was unsure of her thoughts, Zhou Yang was very satisfied with even the slightest interaction with her. The kiss from last night was so wonderful that Zhou Yang couldn’t imagine it.

Su Hao pretended not to notice how this man had everything under control, including the room card and when she would get off work. He surely knew all this.

She had her own plans.

“There’s still some left, eat it all.” Zhou Yang leaned against the sofa, feeding Su Hao with his fingertips. Su Hao turned her head away. “I’m full, I don’t want to eat anymore.”

“Full?” Zhou Yang looked down, scanning her stomach.

“Go away.”

Zhou Yang chuckled softly, “Not going away.”

“Are you done with your accounts?” Zhou Yang stood up, washed his hands, and then called the front desk to send someone to collect the empty plates.

Su Hao responded with a “Hmm” and continued to play with her phone.

“Alright, we’ll head back to Licheng in the next few days. Do you want to go out and see anything?” Zhou Yang came to the edge of the sofa, looking at her.

“No.” Su Hao glanced at him briefly, then went back to her phone, her demeanor relaxed and particularly feminine.

Zhou Yang watched her for a while, leaned down, and kissed her lips again. Su Hao froze for a moment, gripping her phone tightly. At first, she was tense, but then she relaxed. Zhou Yang’s kiss became more intense until a faint sound at the door made Su Hao push him away, stand up, and say, “You should leave with the empty plates.”

Meaning, if the empty plates are gone, so should you.

With that, she turned into the bedroom and closed the door. Zhou Yang leaned against the sofa’s armrest, his thumb resting on his lip corner, rubbing for a while before smiling and going to open the door.

The waiter came in to clear up, and Zhou Yang grabbed his coat, lowered his head, and edited a message.

Zhou Yang: Go to bed early tonight.

Su Hao: Leave quickly.

Zhou Yang: Tsk, alright, I’m leaving now.

He wasn’t in a hurry; as long as she didn’t avoid him, everything was negotiable. Zhou Yang left with the waiter, closing the door behind them. Su Hao, in the bedroom, read a book with a flushed face.

He was quite good at kissing.

She sneered inwardly.

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

Previous                                                                                           Next