Twenty-Six

In the restaurant, the noise was quite loud and chaotic, so Su Hao couldn’t respond to him directly and could only edit her message on her phone.

Su Hao: There’s no gossip. It’s just that people in the company are talking nonsense.

Zhou Yang: Oh, really?

Su Hao didn’t reply further. She put her phone down and continued eating. However, the chatter still continued, and someone even teased Assistant Lu, “What kind of woman do you like?”

“Do you like someone like Su Hao, the cashier?”

Assistant Lu finally realized and was confused. He quickly looked at Zhou Yang, who was sitting with his legs crossed, watching him with a half-smile, as if enjoying the show.

But Assistant Lu was sweating and hastily explained, “I have a girlfriend. Everyone, stop talking nonsense.”

The rumors were baseless, which everyone understood, so they laughed again. “Who is she? Hahaha, Assistant Lu, bring her over for us to see.”

Assistant Lu: “…”

He was uneasy and uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Su Hao, the other protagonist of the gossip, quietly continued eating her meal. Tang Yu nudged her a few times, but she acted as if she didn’t notice. She was there to eat, not to stir up rumors.

Fortunately, Zhou Yang had finished eating. As Su Hao was drinking soup, a man behind her stood up and seemed to brush against her slim waist with his hand.

Su Hao frowned and turned around but saw Zhou Yang putting on his coat and leaving under everyone’s gaze, without even looking at her.

That incidental brush seemed unintentional, not deliberate.

Su Hao decided not to pay it any mind.

The elevator went all the way to the sixteenth floor. Assistant Lu, still sweating, followed Su Hao into the president’s office. Zhou Yang hung up his coat, walked over to the desk, and glanced at the documents that had just been delivered. A few seconds later, he picked up a cigarette, lit it, and leaned on the desk, speaking in a relaxed tone, “Assistant Lu.”

“President Zhou.” Assistant Lu coughed and adjusted his glasses.

Zhou Yang looked up at him and smiled, “Do you like Su Hao?”

“No!” The response came quickly and firmly.

Zhou Yang chuckled, blowing out a smoke ring. His voice was deep and carried a hint of menace, “You better not.”

Assistant Lu wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking he might need to actually find a girlfriend.

“Aren’t these people blind?” Zhou Yang, playing with his cigarette, squinted and said, “Why don’t they spread rumors about me and her?”

Assistant Lu: “…”

You used to like a different type!

He thought for a moment and tried to flatter, “President Zhou, today Miss Su didn’t avoid you. That’s a good thing. You should keep it up.”

Before he could finish, Zhou Yang looked up at him, and Assistant Lu’s words got stuck in his throat. Why did President Zhou’s expression worsen?

As for the business trip to Kyoto, Assistant Lu had already booked the flight for 3 p.m. in business class. Su Hao received the airline's text message and was about to send a WeChat message to Shen He but decided to surprise him instead. Since she didn’t need to work overtime today, Su Hao agreed to visit Su Qian on Saturday.

After work, she went to the supermarket and bought a lot of chicken feet. When she got home, she started marinating lemon-flavored boneless chicken feet. On Saturday morning, Su Hao checked the weather, cleaned up the guest room, which had a bed and a mattress but nothing else.

Su Hao had bought an extra set of bedding earlier, which was now clean and ready to be put on the bed. If her mother came to stay, she would need to buy another air conditioner since the guest room didn’t have one. Su Hao made a list and noted it in her phone's memo. Around ten o’clock, Su Hao went to pack the marinated chicken feet into a large box. After changing her clothes, she received a call from Zhou Yang. Standing by the door, she answered, “Hello.”

“I’m here to pick you up. I’m at the door,” came the man’s deep voice.

Su Hao was taken aback, “You’re picking me up?”

Zhou Yang chuckled, “Yes.”

“Oh, wait a moment. I’m locking the door.” Su Hao realized this, locked the door properly, and then went downstairs. She wore a floral dress with a slightly loose neckline that revealed her fair collarbone. Her hair was left loose. She arrived at the black Porsche and pulled open the driver’s side door.

She hurriedly got in and adjusted her hair, looking at Zhou Yang, “How did you know I was going to your house today?”

Zhou Yang, holding a cigarette, rested his hand on the steering wheel and watched her get into the car. At that moment, he thought this woman belonged to him. His gaze lingered on her collarbone, which could hold water, and he stayed silent for a long time.

“Zhou Yang?” Su Hao fastened her seatbelt and called out again.

The light in Zhou Yang’s eyes flickered. He took the cigarette out of his mouth, smiled, and snapped back to reality, “I guessed.”

With that, he sat up straight, pressed the gas pedal, and drove off. His fingers, well-defined, gripped the steering wheel, with veins slightly protruding. The car had a faint fragrance, and the sun was shining brightly outside. Su Hao leaned back in her seat and glanced at Zhou Yang beside her, sensing that his mood didn’t seem very good.

She looked at him a few more times, studying him with interest.

Zhou Yang rested his chin on his hand, his eyebrows sharp. He knew she was watching him and thought this woman was annoyingly perceptive.

“Don’t say I’m not pursuing you, but you end up liking me,” Zhou Yang said with a low laugh.

Su Hao saw his profile, which was indifferent, and felt a sense of distance, as if returning to the state before he confessed.

Su Hao smiled gently, “I didn’t see anything.”

With that, she also shifted her gaze away.

He gritted his teeth, thinking he had to endure.

The car arrived at the Zhou family’s residence. The two of them entered the villa one after the other. Su Qian, still waiting on the sofa, looked up in surprise when she saw them come in together, like a statue. She saw them talk a few words in the foyer. Zhou Yang noticed Su Hao hadn’t found her slippers, so he opened a nearby shoe cabinet, took out a pair of pink slippers, and handed them to her, speaking casually, “You haven’t been here for a while; we changed the slippers.”

“Oh, okay.” Su Hao took the slippers and changed them.

Zhou Yang had changed first, placed the car keys down, adjusted his collar, and poured himself a drink, leaning against the counter while sipping. Su Hao walked over to Su Qian and waved the box in front of her. Su Qian finally snapped out of it, stood up, and hugged Su Hao tightly, “Hao Hao, I missed you.”

Su Hao smiled slightly, “Auntie, I missed you too.”

“Really? You’ve turned me down several times already.”

Su Hao felt a bit embarrassed and quickly placed the chicken feet on the coffee table. Su Qian ate one out of courtesy, covering her mouth and exclaiming repeatedly, “So delicious!”

Su Hao laughed and turned to Zhou Yang, asking, “Zhou Yang, do you want some?”

Su Qian’s eyes widened at the sight.

Then, Zhou Yang set down his wine glass, walked over, glanced at the chicken feet, and scoffed, “No thanks.”

After saying that, he picked up some documents from the side and turned to go upstairs.

His gaze didn’t linger on Su Hao’s face for more than two seconds. Su Qian saw everything and was stunned. Then, she pulled Su Hao into the kitchen, where the housekeeper was helping with the vegetables. While Su Hao was busy, Su Qian sneaked out of the kitchen, ran upstairs in a few steps, and barged into the study.

Zhou Yang was leaning on the desk while talking on the phone. He looked up at her.

Su Qian narrowed her eyes, walked over, and tapped the desk. Zhou Yang slowly put down his phone, raised his eyebrows, and said, “Mom, what’s up?”

Su Qian stood with her hands on her hips.

A few minutes later, Su Qian asked, “Aren’t you pursuing Su Hao anymore?”

Zhou Yang leaned back on the desk, smirking nonchalantly, “Not pursuing her anymore. I’m not that interested.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

This son of a gun has no patience with women. After Su Hao turned him down a few times, he lost interest and gave up. Su Qian felt conflicted and didn’t know what to say for a moment. After thinking it over, she figured it might be better that Zhou Yang gave up. This way, Su Hao and Zhou Yang could just be friends, and Su Hao could have a good relationship with Shen He.

Yet, she couldn’t shake off a feeling of disappointment. Su Qian looked at Zhou Yang with a mix of frustration and exasperation. She had known all along that Zhou Yang wouldn’t truly like Su Hao.

“Well, be nicer to Su Hao as a friend in the future,” Su Qian said, forcing herself to speak.

Zhou Yang smiled, nodding, “Okay, I will.”

Su Qian glanced at him again, hoping to see something different in his eyes, but he still had that carefree expression. She gave up, turned, and left, feeling angry with herself for still having some expectations. This son should remain alone forever.

The three of them had lunch together. Su Qian continuously served Su Hao more food. In fact, she had hoped that Zhou Yang would succeed in pursuing Su Hao because she liked Su Hao so much.

Ah, as a mother, her feelings were truly complicated.

Su Hao felt helpless. Her bowl already had two chicken legs in it. She blocked Su Qian’s chopsticks and said, “Auntie, I’ve had enough. I’m about to finish.”

“You’re too skinny. You need to eat more,” Su Qian insisted, continuing to serve Su Hao. Su Hao resignedly ate while holding her chopsticks. Zhou Yang, sitting across from her, was drinking soup and looking at his phone. Seeing this scene, he chuckled.

His laughter was low and genuinely pleasant.

Su Hao looked at him, speechless.

Zhou Yang also picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of pork belly in Su Hao’s bowl, saying, “Eat more. You’re too skinny.”

It didn’t feel as good to hold her as it did before.

Su Hao: “…”

After lunch, Zhou Yang went upstairs to handle work. Su Qian took Su Hao to the living room to see her cheongsams. Su Qian had collected many cheongsams, some embroidered and some Su embroidery, each worth a fortune. Su Qian held Su Hao’s hand, looking at her delicate face and thinking about her conversation with Cheng Ling the previous day.

Su Qian reached out and brushed a strand of Su Hao’s hair from her forehead, saying, “Hao Hao, how are things going with Shen He now? Cheng Ling is quite worried about you. She can’t stop thinking about you.”

Su Hao paused.

Naturally, she remembered the probing phone call from her mother last time. She smiled and glanced down at her phone, which had a new WeChat message from Shen He.

“Oh, try this one.” Su Qian suddenly handed Su Hao a powder-pink cheongsam.

The two of them exchanged glances. Zhou Yang stopped in his tracks and stared intently at the figure by the stairs.

Her dress had a slit.

A lot of her thigh was exposed. It looked a bit reserved but added an air of grace.

It was as if she had stepped out of a painting.

The two of them silently looked at each other for a few seconds. Su Hao’s phone rang, and she glanced at it.

It was Shen He.

Perhaps because she had been thinking about Shen He, Su Hao hesitated, then turned to Zhou Yang and asked in a tone as if talking to a friend, “Zhou Yang, could you tell me more about Shen He’s family background?”

Zhou Yang’s fingers tightened on his tie.

His voice was deep and trying to remain calm, “Oh, what are you trying to do? Accept him?”

Damn!!!

F*!!!**

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