Thirty-Two

 “Yeah, shall we go?”

Zhou Yang looked at Su Hao, who had already bent down and gotten into the passenger seat. She poked her head out, glanced at Shen He, then at Zhou Yang, and said, “Together?”

Zhou Yang smiled, holding the car keys. He then reached out, pressed the car’s unlock button, and with a beep, the car opened. He said to Shen He, “You drive, I’ll follow behind.”

With that, he turned and walked towards the Bentley behind them. After sitting inside, he leaned back in the seat, lit a cigarette, and took a drag, watching the Mercedes ahead.

Both cars were black, sleek and smooth. However, the Mercedes had only one woman inside, which Zhou Yang stared at with a dark expression.

Shen He got into the driver’s seat, fastened his seatbelt, glanced at Su Hao, and smiled, “Is work busy today?”

Su Hao had already fastened her seatbelt, holding her phone, and shook her head, “Not really. It’s not that busy here. Are you working today?”

“Yes, just came out of the office.” Shen He looked at her a few more times. Today, she wore a white top with an A-line skirt—simple and elegant. Perhaps because of work, she had applied some lipstick, but the color was light, which made her features even more delicate.

“Shall we have Cantonese food tonight?” Shen He asked as he started the car. Su Hao nodded, “Sure, I haven’t had it in a long time.”

“Ah, thinking about it makes me miss your cooking.” Shen He seemed to be reminiscing. Su Hao smiled, leaning back in her seat, and didn’t respond. Shen He chuckled and turned the car onto a different road.

The Bentley followed slowly behind. The window was rolled down, and the man’s elbow rested on the window frame, cigarette between his lips, as the two cars moved, one behind the other.

They soon arrived at the commercial area where they had dined the day before. Since it was still early, both cars entered the building together. This time, it was Su Hao who swiped the card.

As the barrier retracted, Su Hao returned the card to Shen He and glanced at the side mirror. Zhou Yang had just handed out his card, his well-defined fingers looking quite attractive. A woman driving by on the other side also glanced at Zhou Yang a few more times.

Shen He parked the car, watching Zhou Yang’s car come in. However, his gaze shifted back to Su Hao, who was looking at her phone. When their eyes met, Su Hao smiled, “Hmm?”

Shen He’s Adam's apple moved, and his hand gripping the steering wheel tightened slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. The atmosphere in the car suddenly became indescribably awkward.

It wasn’t exactly good, but it wasn’t bad either.

Until the Bentley’s door closed and Zhou Yang walked over, kicking Shen He’s car door, both of them snapped back to reality. Shen He smiled at Su Hao, “We’re here.”

“Mm.” Su Hao unfastened her seatbelt, opened the door, and stepped out. The sunlight was quite strong, hitting her face. Su Hao raised a hand to shield herself and looked around.

Behind her was a setting sun casting a golden glow on her face and body, with her hair blowing in the breeze, making her look exceptionally beautiful. Both men happened to be looking in her direction.

—It seemed like an eternity in a single glance.

Shen He’s hand, which was about to close the door, momentarily froze.

Zhou Yang, with the cigarette in his mouth and his hand in his pocket, felt his heart racing. If he had a pen, he would have sketched this scene immediately.

“Come on, why are you two dazing off?” Su Hao, feeling a bit sunburned on her arm, saw their lack of reaction and tapped the car roof. Shen He came to his senses and sincerely said, “Hao Hao, you look beautiful.”

Zhou Yang, however, felt his throat tighten, unable to say a word. It felt like the mint on his tongue was burning him, and he was extremely frustrated. Shen He had beaten him to it. Could he praise Su Hao?

What kind of friend is this? What kind of friend!

There wasn’t even the most basic competition.

His phone in his pocket beeped, and Zhou Yang picked it up to check.

Li Yi: Liu Yan has been thinking about your situation. You seem like a third party, Zhou Yang. Are you really involved in something a third party would do?

Zhou Yang: Shut up.

Li Yi:

“The ribs at this place are good, and they also have rice rolls. Su Hao, the rice rolls in Li City are quite famous too. I haven’t tried them yet.” Shen He walked beside Su Hao, full of smiles, chatting with her. Su Hao thought for a moment and said, “I haven’t tried them either.”

“Really? Then let’s go try them next time.” Shen He immediately responded.

Su Hao glanced at him, noticing his bright eyes, and agreed, “Sure.”

Zhou Yang extinguished the cigarette in the door’s ashtray and followed behind them. Hearing this, he clicked his tongue, then turned into the restroom. The restroom was luxuriously designed. He walked to the sink, activated the sensor, and water flowed out. Zhou Yang bent down and washed his face.

After washing, he looked up and rested his hands on the sink.

His narrow eyes were dark and gloomy. He licked his lips, and a few seconds later, he looked down and washed his face again. When he looked up, he smiled and leaned against the sink, lighting another cigarette.

To be honest, he had never been so embarrassed in his life.

Su Hao was someone he couldn’t touch or possess. He had to watch her ready to jump into Shen He’s arms at any moment. The feeling was akin to being subjected to Lingchi.

That’s right.

Lingchi.

And what exactly was so good about her?

He really didn’t understand himself.

Su Hao picked up a pen and checked the items one by one. There was also a QR code, and Shen He scanned the code to enter the app and place the order. Then he said, “Where is Brother Zhou Yang? Why isn’t he here yet?”

Both of them had just seen Zhou Yang head to the restroom. The tall man had adjusted his shirt as he walked in and seemed to be smoking a cigarette.

After Su Hao had selected a few items, she glanced in the direction of the restroom and said, “Maybe he went out for a smoke.”

“Okay. Brother Zhou Yang has been single for more than two years. Why doesn’t he have a girlfriend?” Shen He continued ordering dishes on the app.

“Brother Zhou Yang is also something. Li Xiu has been pursuing him for a long time. Why does he keep holding back?”

Su Hao: “The term ‘holding back’ is quite accurate.”

After placing the order.

Shen He looked up and said with a smile, “Yes, I also think that term fits well. Brother Zhou Yang seems to be fickle. I heard from my brother-in-law that he has never really liked any of those girlfriends.”

“Oh, really.” Su Hao nodded.

She thought to herself that this man probably didn’t have any genuine feelings—he just didn’t have them.

“Yeah, I’ll give Brother Zhou Yang a call.” Shen He said as he exited the app and found Zhou Yang’s number to dial. Just as the call connected, the tall man appeared, holding a bottle of red wine. He had removed his jacket, which was draped over his arm. Zhou Yang placed the wine on the table and smirked, “This wine is for you. I have something else to do, so I won’t be joining you for dinner tonight.”

“Huh?” Shen He was taken aback.

Su Hao looked up. Zhou Yang’s position blocked the overhead light. His narrow eyes had a hint of a smile, still with that indifferent attitude. Su Hao noticed that his shirt collar was open, with faint water droplets, suggesting that he had a date tonight. Su Hao tugged at Shen He and whispered, “He has a date, doesn’t he?”

Shen He immediately realized, “Ah, I see.”

When Zhou Yang heard Su Hao, his eyes narrowed, then he chuckled and added, “Yes, I have a date.”

He tapped the table with his fingertips.

Tap. Tap.

His knuckles, however, had visible veins.

“Brother Zhou Yang, then you should go on your date.” Shen He had no choice but to let him go. Su Hao nodded as well. Zhou Yang gave Su Hao a deep look before turning to leave.

At the door, he happened to receive a WeChat message from Shen He.

Shen He: Brother Zhou Yang, I originally invited you to dinner tonight to thank you for introducing me to Su Hao. You let me meet such a wonderful woman, although…

The message trailed off and wasn’t completed.

That night, Shen He repeatedly hesitated to speak, but Su Hao pretended not to notice. The two of them opened the bottle of red wine that Zhou Yang had given them, sipping it slowly while chatting. The meal lasted nearly three hours. Su Hao didn’t drink much and quickly became a bit tipsy, so she waved her hand to signal that she didn’t want to drink anymore.

Shen He had a slightly higher tolerance for alcohol. He wasn’t drunk but felt a bit dizzy. He smiled and signaled to pay the bill, only to find out from the waiter that Su Hao had already settled it.

During this time, Su Hao had gone to the restroom once.

Su Hao smiled, picked up her small bag, and stood up. With Shen He’s assistance, she descended the stairs.

The two of them walked towards the exit. Shen He called for a designated driver to bring the car around. They got into the back seat, with Su Hao leaning against the window. Although she was still somewhat rational, it felt like her feet were walking on cotton.

The car drove off.

Shen He provided Su Hao’s hotel address.

The car fell into silence. Neither of them spoke. Su Hao was struggling with the effects of alcohol, while Shen He was contemplating something. The car soon arrived at Su Hao’s hotel.

Shen He covered his mouth to stifle a burp and pushed open the door, then went around to help Su Hao. Once she was steady on her feet, she waved her hand, “I’m fine, I can stand.”

“I’ll take you upstairs.”

But Su Hao turned around to face him, looking at Shen He, and asked, “Do you have something to tell me?”

Shen He was taken aback, then smiled and shook his head after a few seconds, “No.”

“Then I’ll go up.” Su Hao waved and walked towards the lobby. Shen He hesitated but followed her, helping her up the stairs and into her room.

As soon as Su Hao touched the bed, she felt even dizzier.

Shen He sat by the bed for a while, adjusted the blankets for her, then got up to leave, closing the door behind him.

Late at night.

In the hotel's seventh-floor lounge, the sound of music floated through the air. A female singer sat on a high stool on stage, holding a guitar, playing and singing, her gaze falling on a man at the bar wearing a white shirt and long pants, with a charming demeanor. He wore an expensive watch, and his shirt collar was open, revealing his collarbone. He sipped from his wine glass, occasionally laughing as he lowered his head. His nonchalant attitude was very tempting.

Many women were gathered around him.

Among them was the woman from the eighth floor last night, wearing high heels and a super short skirt, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him. Her type was similar to Li Xiu’s, the kind Zhou Yang liked.

“Do you have a girlfriend, handsome?”

“Was it from last night?” The woman seemed somewhat frustrated but was still attracted to his demeanor.

Zhou Yang smiled slightly and rolled up his sleeves, “What do you think?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh?”

Zhou Yang chuckled softly, “Hmm, you’re quite right.”

But to this day, she was still in his mind.

“Handsome, can we exchange room cards?” The woman, with an arrogant expression and confident demeanor, presented her room card to Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang lazily looked at the card and at her, but his mind was still on that thin strap. Zhou Yang curved his lips, put down his wine glass, picked up his coat, and turned to leave.

The woman stared blankly for a moment, feeling disappointed.

Leaving the lounge, Zhou Yang took the elevator to the eighteenth floor. In the elevator, he encountered the front desk staff, who immediately greeted him as Mr. Zhou.

Zhou Yang responded with an “Mm,” straightened his shirt collar, dissipated the smell of alcohol, and asked, “Has the guest in room 1802 returned?”

“She has returned. It seems she got drunk. A gentleman brought her upstairs.”

Zhou Yang’s eyes widened: “What?”

The front desk staff, startled by the sharpness in his gaze, repeated the information. She also mentioned that the gentleman had already left. Zhou Yang responded with a low sound from his throat, his hands in his pockets, staring at the elevator display.

Soon, the elevator reached the eighteenth floor.

Zhou Yang stepped out, holding a key card for room 1802. He swiped the card to open the door, turned on the lights as he entered, and illuminated the entire room.

Zhou Yang arrived at the master bedroom.

He stood by the bed, looking at Su Hao, who was sleeping soundly. After a few seconds, he bent down and touched Su Hao’s lips with his fingertips, rubbing them gently. Then he chuckled softly, “Shen He is about to give up on you, Su Hao. What will you do?”

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