Thirty-One

The slender figure disappeared at the entrance. Zhou Yang straightened up, extinguished his cigarette, and followed her. The lobby was well air-conditioned, and a cool breeze greeted him. The woman in front had a faintly visible white back, the rest hidden under her hair, swaying as she walked.

Earlier, Assistant Lu had sent a WeChat message to Su Hao, informing her that the room key was left at the front desk. Su Hao went directly to the front desk to pick up the key and then headed toward the elevator. Coincidentally, the elevator arrived just as she did, and the door opened. Su Hao stepped in, pressed the button for the eighth floor, and when she looked up, Zhou Yang had also entered. Whether it was due to the change in environment or the luxurious atmosphere of Kyoto, Zhou Yang looked even more charming in his simple shirt and trousers compared to Li Cheng.

He was the epitome of a carefree playboy.

Good-looking, wealthy, and playful, he fit perfectly into the lavish cityscape. Su Hao took two steps back and looked down at her phone.

Another woman entered the elevator. Her eyes lit up upon seeing Zhou Yang. She wore a red camisole dress, with design details that made her legs look long and fair. Her makeup was meticulous, and her wavy hair contrasted with Su Hao's barefaced purity, despite both wearing camisole dresses.

She stood next to Zhou Yang, making them seem like a perfect match, as if they belonged to the same world, while Su Hao appeared out of place.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then took out her phone and opened her WeChat QR code, holding it out to Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang lifted his eyes to look at her, and the woman gave a sweet smile. Zhou Yang smiled too but made no move. He turned his head and met Su Hao's gaze.

Su Hao was watching the scene unfold.

Caught off guard, she shrugged and looked away.

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes: "..."

The woman noticed their exchange and then looked at Su Hao seriously for the first time. Su Hao wasn't looking at Zhou Yang, but the man with his hands in his pockets was gazing intently at the woman in the black camisole. Even without speaking, the atmosphere between them was off.

Realizing this, the woman quietly put her phone away. Fortunately, the elevator soon reached her floor, and she exited.

The elevator doors closed again.

From the eighth to the eighteenth floor, it took only a moment. The eighteenth floor had only three suites, and tonight, only Su Hao and Zhou Yang were staying there.

The floor was smooth, and the doors had English labels. Su Hao took out her key card and walked to her room.

Just as she was about to swipe the card, Zhou Yang grabbed her wrist, exactly where Shen He had held it earlier. Su Hao was startled and turned to look at him.

He had one hand gripping her wrist and the other braced against the wall, his collar slightly open. He smiled, "You're at the wrong door, it's the one next door."

Su Hao glanced back.

The door read 1801, and she looked down at her card.

1802

"Sorry." Su Hao withdrew her hand and turned to the door of 1802. Zhou Yang, still leaning against the wall, watched lazily with folded arms.

As she swiped her card, he stepped forward again, grabbed her wrist, and spun her around to face him.

Pinning her against the door.

The card fell to the ground, and Su Hao's hands were pinned to the door. The man leaned in, whispering in her ear, "Have you been drinking?"

He held her wrist exactly where Shen He had. The strong scent of alcohol filled her nostrils, and she frowned, struggling. Her wrist twisted, turning red against her pale skin.

"You've been drinking." Su Hao wondered if he was drunk.

The fresh scent of her perfume hit him, seeping into his bones. Zhou Yang chuckled softly, "Yes, I drank a lot, but I'm not drunk."

He swayed slightly.

His other hand, seemingly unintentionally, pinned Su Hao's other hand. She was completely trapped against the door, like a flower ready to be plucked.

The desire in Zhou Yang's eyes flared like fire, though he remained composed, pretending to be drunk, "I'm really not drunk."

"Let go of me, you're drunk." Su Hao struggled.

"Don't move, I'm a little dizzy." Zhou Yang lifted his head, pressing his forehead against hers, pretending to be drunk. His thumb rubbed her wrist, trying to erase Shen He's mark.

Su Hao kicked at him, "If you're dizzy, go rest!"

"Really dizzy, and you're still kicking me." Zhou Yang frowned at her.

"What's your problem grabbing people?" Su Hao's eyes remained calm. She had seen her father act foolishly when drunk, so she assumed Zhou Yang was just drunk.

"I'm fine, don't kick me." Zhou Yang dodged her kicks, his eyes falling on her red lips. His eyes darkened, he wanted to kiss her.

He really wanted to.

But he didn't dare.

This man was a chameleon, Su Hao noticed his shifting expression, unsure what a drunk person might be thinking, "Zhou Yang, if you don't let go, I won't be polite."

Zhou Yang's lips curled into a casual, teasing smile, "How will you be impolite?"

"Do you want a one-night stand with me?"

Su Hao frowned, and the next second, she kicked hard at his lower body. Zhou Yang's eyes sharpened as he quickly dodged, pulling her wrist towards him and gripping her chin tightly, lifting her face, "Where are you aiming?"

This slap, Zhou Yang didn't avoid, taking it squarely. He was momentarily stunned, then laughed. Su Hao had already slipped from his grasp, saying, "Go sober up, I'll ask the front desk to send up some hangover medicine."

She picked up her card from the floor and entered her room, leaving Zhou Yang outside.

Drunk men are really something.

Back in her room, Su Hao immediately called the front desk and sent a WeChat message to Assistant Lu, asking him to check on Zhou Yang.

Assistant Lu had booked a suite on the seventeenth floor, despite there being available rooms on the eighteenth. For some reason, he hadn't booked one there.

Seeing the message, Assistant Lu was stunned.

Mr. Zhou never gets drunk.

He's got an amazing tolerance.

Since he received the message, Assistant Lu quickly put on his glasses, slipped on his slippers, and went upstairs. When the elevator door opened, he immediately saw Zhou Yang standing at the door. Zhou Yang's fingers were extinguishing a cigarette in a beautifully designed invisible ashtray, one hand casually in his pocket, eyes lowered in thought.

Assistant Lu approached cautiously, "Mr. Zhou?"

There was a slight smell of alcohol.

Zhou Yang lifted his eyes and glanced at him, "Why are you here?"

"Are you drunk?"

"Do you think I'm drunk?" Zhou Yang rubbed the corner of his mouth and asked in return.

"No." Assistant Lu breathed a sigh of relief, then noticed a red mark on the corner of Zhou Yang's mouth, as if he had been slapped. "Mr. Zhou, your mouth...corner..."

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily shifted to Su Hao's door.

Zhou Yang coldly asked, "What are you looking at?"

Assistant Lu quickly looked back at Zhou Yang, seeing the hidden jealousy in his eyes.

Am I not even allowed to look?

Should I wear a blindfold when I see Miss Su in the future?

"No, I just wanted to ask if Su Hao has returned."

Zhou Yang laughed, leaning against the wall, "What's this act? Didn't she call you up?"

Revealing it takes the fun out of it, Mr. Zhou.

Sigh.

He was about to say something when the elevator doors opened, and the front desk delivered the hangover medicine. Zhou Yang took it, then signaled them to leave. Seeing Zhou Yang in this state, Assistant Lu knew he wasn't drunk at all. He turned and went downstairs with the front desk. Zhou Yang swiped his card and entered his room. The corridor returned to silence.

Su Hao took her pajamas and went to take a shower. Under the hot water, she noticed a red mark around her wrist and rubbed it hard.

Her skin, like her mother's, bruised easily. After rubbing it for a while, she saw it redden more and decided to leave it alone. Her thoughts drifted to another matter.

She had originally planned to confirm something with Shen He tonight, but she sensed something was off from the moment they got in the car. Shen He seemed to have reservations, and Su Hao didn't bring it up. If he had many concerns, it wouldn't be good for them to be together. Su Hao lowered her head, letting the hot water rinse her back.

Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, clinging to her skin.

She wasn't in a hurry.

But she couldn't keep stringing Shen He along either.

After her shower, Su Hao sat on the windowsill, drying her hair. The eighteenth floor offered a high view, and the city was bustling at night.

Lights were everywhere.

Su Hao opened the window a bit, letting the breeze in.

She dried her hair and went to sleep. Shen He hadn't sent a message, so Su Hao sent him a goodnight text.

It wasn't until after one in the morning that her phone on the table beeped. It was Shen He replying with a goodnight, but Su Hao was already fast asleep.

She slept soundly until morning. Upon waking, she saw Shen He's message and, running a hand through her hair, replied with the other.

Su Hao: Morning.

Shen He: Morning, Hao Hao. Do you need me to take you to the office?

Su Hao: No need, the office is nearby. I'll walk over.

Shen He: Okay.

This morning, Shen He replied quickly. They exchanged several messages. Su Hao got up to wash, changed into an A-line skirt and a simple top, tied her hair up, grabbed her work bag, and left. Zhou Yang's door was still closed. Su Hao glanced at it and went downstairs.

Assistant Lu had sent the location of Feijie. It was just a traffic light away. Su Hao had breakfast in the downstairs restaurant and then went to Feijie.

Su Hao didn't need to ask.

They sat down and began reconciling accounts. They worked well together. Su Hao found that Feijie was indeed as they had discussed, established later by Zhou Yang, with fewer complications. The cashier didn't even ask about personnel changes at Feijie's headquarters, just focused on the work.

No wonder their performance was so good. In just a few years, they had surpassed Dongshi and Haishi, which had been around much longer. There were many beautiful women as she entered, all internet celebrities groomed by Feijie. Su Hao, who rarely watched short videos or used Weibo, recognized a few, indicating their fame.

"Hao Hao, I'm downstairs at your office. Let's have lunch."

Su Hao smiled, "Sure."

She entered the elevator, which descended to the first floor. She saw Shen He's car parked at the entrance. He was leaning against the door, waiting.

Su Hao quickened her pace.

Seeing her approach, Shen He stood up straight, smiling at her. Su Hao walked out. Just then, a Bentley pulled up, and Zhou Yang stepped out. Seeing them, he paused, then unbuttoned his jacket and walked over, his gaze casually sweeping over them.

"Where are you going?" he asked with a smile.

Shen He opened the car door, "To eat."

He paused for a second, then suddenly smiled, "Brother Zhou Yang, join us for lunch? Su Hao and I are inviting you."

Zhou Yang asked leisurely, "You and Su Hao are inviting me?"

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