Chapter 16

Zhou Yanzhou’s gaze was sharp, tinged with a hint of scrutiny and a subtle disdain even he had not realized. It seemed to say, “How did you end up with someone like this?”

Chen Xi felt the weight of his eyes; her fingers instinctively curled inward, her dense pride lurking just beneath her eyelids.

Seeing Chen Xi cowering motionless in the corner like a frightened quail, Zhou Yanzhou grew inexplicably restless.

The car veered off the main road, and Zhou Yanzhou instructed the driver to pull over.

Having worked with Zhou Yanzhou for many years, the driver was well acquainted with his temper and sensed he had something to say. He parked in a secluded spot, found an excuse to step out alone, leaving the space for the two.

Chen Xi, unsure of Zhou Yanzhou’s intentions, remained curled in the corner, silent, only stealing a glance at the rearview mirror as the driver exited.

Zhou Yanzhou usually wore a friendly mask, approachable to everyone, misleading people into thinking he was easygoing. But those who got close enough found he had a fierce temper—Chen Xi was experiencing this firsthand.

After some time, Zhou Yanzhou glanced sideways at the girl in the corner and asked lightly, “Is your phone broken?”

Chen Xi blinked in surprise, suddenly confronting his dark brows and eyes. Slowly, she reined in the smile tugging at her lips, shaking her head helplessly. “No.”

Zhou Yanzhou nearly laughed in exasperation, his voice cold and dry: “Well done. A single text left me hanging for a whole week.”

Though Chen Xi couldn’t quite grasp Zhou Yanzhou’s attitude, she sensed it wasn’t a compliment.

Perhaps it was his harsh tone that made her feel wronged. Her nose tingled, and with a stubborn shrug, she snapped, “Take your phone back. I don’t need it.”

Noticing the shift in her tone, Zhou Yanzhou turned his head and saw the girl’s nose flushed red, tears threatening to spill.

His rationality snapped back instantly, as if doused with cold water, quelling the irritation burning in his chest. For the first time, he felt defeated, unable to deal with the person before him.

In the end, Zhou Yanzhou relented. “Fine, no more. How about having dinner with me?”

Chen Xi looked at the mercurial man before her, unsure how to respond.

Outside, the driver smoked, noticing Zhou Yanzhou’s signal. Hastily crushing the cigarette, he waved off the lingering smoke and hurried back to the car.

Zhou Yanzhou gave the restaurant’s name, and the driver promptly set the navigation.

Chen Xi was still tangled in the earlier incident, while Zhou Yanzhou had already organized her homework and speech notes back into her bag.

Glancing over her English speech, Zhou Yanzhou pointed to a phrase and said, “This one’s wrong.”

He had reverted to his usual demeanor—down-to-earth, without an ounce of arrogance.

Chen Xi leaned in, half doubtful, focusing first not on the phrase but on Zhou Yanzhou’s hand.

His fingers were long and well-proportioned, skin pale and translucent. Veins ran clearly across the backs of his hands, and a Bulgari ring adorned his ring finger.

She stared at the ring for several seconds before remembering to look at the phrase he’d pointed out.

She had written, “Fortune rewards the brave.”

Zhou Yanzhou had used, “Fortune favors the brave.”

He explained that “reward” implied a prize for effort, while “favor” suggested an unprovoked partiality.

At the end, Zhou Yanzhou even joked with a smile, “The idea that fate favors the brave is mostly just a toxic platitude—best taken with a grain of salt.”

Chen Xi pressed her lips together, lowering her eyes to memorize his joke.

She wondered if fate would ever truly favor her.

—

Zhou Yanzhou never compromised when it came to food; he chose the city’s most renowned Thai restaurant.

Parking was scarce in the area, so the driver, fearing Zhou Yanzhou might grow impatient, dropped them off at the restaurant’s entrance before driving on.

Chen Xi intended to carry her bag, but Zhou Yanzhou stopped her, “Carrying your bag just to eat?”

At his words, her grip on the strap loosened. After a moment’s hesitation, she only took her phone.

—

Once inside the restaurant, Zhou Yanzhou requested a private room. He disliked being watched while eating and avoided noisy places, willing to pay extra for comfort.

The waiter led them to a secluded room at the back and opened the door courteously.

Chen Xi followed behind Zhou Yanzhou, but before entering, he stepped aside and gestured for her to enter first.

The gesture caught Chen Xi off guard. She paused, then met Zhou Yanzhou’s somewhat imposing gaze, lowered her head, and stepped inside ahead of him.

Zhou Yanzhou followed closely behind. The waiter sensed the tense atmosphere, handed Zhou Yanzhou the menu, and quietly stood nearby waiting for the order.

Zhou Yanzhou browsed the menu without hesitation, ordered several signature dishes, then tossed the menu across to Chen Xi, inviting her to choose what she liked.

Chen Xi looked over the menu for a long time but eventually chose nothing.

Zhou Yanzhou leaned back against the chair, arm resting on the table edge, his expression one of utter disinterest, as if nothing caught his eye.

Today, he wore formal attire—a rarity—though his suit jacket was left in the car. Now he wore only a white shirt without a tie, the top two buttons undone, revealing a seductive Adam’s apple.

There was an indescribable air of ease about him.

Thai cuisine balances the five tastes—sour, spicy, salty, sweet, and bitter—using primarily seafood, fruits, and vegetables.

Zhou Yanzhou ordered Tom Yum Goong soup, pineapple shrimp fried rice, lemon-infused halal sea bass, Chiang Mai noodles, and two desserts.

Dish after dish arrived, but he didn’t touch his chopsticks, sitting across the table and replying to messages instead.

Chen Xi, actually starving, had only taken one bite of her earlier burger before discarding it at the fast-food joint. She couldn’t help licking her lips as she eyed the mouthwatering spread before her.

After finishing a message to Jiang Chi, Zhou Yanzhou glanced up to see Chen Xi sitting tensely, showing no sign of eating. His brow furrowed slightly; he put down his phone and asked kindly, “Not to your taste?”

Chen Xi looked up in confusion, and under his silent gaze, she slowly shook her head, “No.”

Zhou Yanzhou scrutinized her, tone neutral: “Not as good as a burger?”

Chen Xi’s back stiffened. She instinctively grabbed the tablecloth’s edge. The fabric was smooth and slippery, like a slippery fish wriggling from her grasp.

She couldn’t make sense of Zhou Yanzhou’s intentions with this meal—there was no show of force, but he didn’t seem generous enough to let her enjoy the food freely either.

The unspoken test stirred a vague resentment within her. Taking a deep breath, eyes closed, she voiced her dissatisfaction: “I don’t know what you’re holding against me. If you called me here just to toy with me, then congratulations, you’ve succeeded.”

“I’ve been studying all day at the library, finally carving out time to eat, and you call me here just to sit me on a cold bench for half an hour. I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?”

Her nose twitched as she stubbornly added, “If you think investing in me is a waste, then take it back. I don’t need it.”

Zhou Yanzhou listened to her resolute declaration to sever ties, stunned for a moment before nearly laughing in disbelief.

He snorted, then with eyes that seemed tender yet looked down on people, carefully appraised Chen Xi from head to toe, finally resting on her small, oval face.

Seeing her clenched expression flush red, her almond eyes brimming with tears, a profound frustration welled up in his chest. He licked his cheek and said dryly, “I haven’t even said anything yet, and you’re already throwing a fit.”

“What, you can’t even invite you to dinner?”

As he spoke, tears suddenly spilled down Chen Xi’s cheeks, plopping onto the table and soaking into the cloth.

Zhou Yanzhou’s lingering irritation vanished instantly.

He pushed back his chair, stood, and moved beside her, sighing as he gently wiped away her tears with a fingertip.

The warmth and moisture tingled on his skin.

For the first time, Zhou Yanzhou grasped how terrifying it was that girls were said to be made of water.

Chen Xi was so startled by his gesture she forgot to cry, staring wide-eyed at him, barely a fist’s distance away.

Unaware of how abrupt his action was, Zhou Yanzhou relaxed upon seeing her stop crying and offered a way out: “If you keep crying, I’m afraid someone outside will call the cops for me bullying a child.”

Chen Xi was speechless.

—

The meal passed uneventfully.

Zhou Yanzhou dared not provoke Chen Xi further and spent the latter half only serving her food and exchanging a few jokes, avoiding any other topics.

Chen Xi, unable to resist the flavors, buried her head in the bowl and ate heartily.

Only when she was full did she put down her chopsticks, stopping Zhou Yanzhou from adding more food to her bowl.

After settling the bill, Zhou Yanzhou escorted Chen Xi home.

The driver had been waiting outside the restaurant for some time. Chen Xi initially intended to go back on her own but was dismissed by Zhou Yanzhou with a, “I’m going to talk to your brother-in-law about something.”

On the way, Chen Xi recalled the tense moments in the private room and felt awkward. She turned her head to look out the window, keeping silent and lowering her presence.