Chapter 23

Chen Xi stared at Zhou Yanzhou in utter shock.

What did he mean by "carry it home if you want it"? Was this robot his property?

Chen Xi took a breath, hands on her hips, and asked with a bewildered expression, "Are you serious?"

Zhou Yanzhou took out his phone with a nonchalant air. As he scrolled through his contacts, he said, "I'm quite close with the airport manager. If I want a single robot, do you really think he wouldn't give it to me?"

Seeing he was actually about to make a call, Chen Xi immediately snatched the phone away. With a flushed face, she refused, "I don't want it! I was just looking; I never said I wanted it."

"It's such a huge thing. Even if you gave it to me, I wouldn't have anywhere to put it. Can you stop being so ridiculous?"

Zhou Yanzhou was only teasing her. Seeing her so flustered and incoherent, he couldn't help but lift his chin, speaking nonsense with a straight face: "I just thought you liked it."

"A thousand gold pieces can't buy your happiness, you know?"

Chen Xi: "..."

Even though she knew he was joking, Chen Xi couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat at his effortless sweet talk. Even if he were just saying it, it was enough to make her pulse race. In all her years, no one had ever told her that her happiness was worth more than a thousand gold pieces.

Passersby looked at them standing in front of the robot with strange expressions. Not wanting to be gawked at like a panda, Chen Xi hurriedly reached out to tug at Zhou Yanzhou's sleeve, whispering, "Have some mercy, let's just go."

Amused by her expression, Zhou Yanzhou chuckled and asked lazily, "You really don't want it?"

"This opportunity won't come around again."

Chen Xi felt humiliated. Frowning, she hissed, "No, no, just leave already, I beg you."

Only then did Zhou Yanzhou relent. He cast a regretful glance at the robot and sighed, "My apologies, I can't take you home today. Nothing to be done, seeing as our little one here isn't willing."

Chen Xi: "..."

Who is "our little one"? How annoying.

By the time they exited the terminal and climbed into the dark business sedan, Chen Xi was still sulking. Chen Huai had gone ahead to handle her luggage and arrange the transport, so it was just the two of them.

Midway, Zhou Yanzhou reached over to weigh Chen Xi’s backpack. Noticing its heft, he frowned and asked, "Are you carrying rocks in here?"

Chen Xi clutched her bag, glared at the man who seemed to hide mischief in every strand of his hair, and retorted through gritted teeth, "You're the one carrying rocks."

"It’s all workbooks and study guides, understand?"

Zhou Yanzhou gave a thoughtful "oh," then added with annoying smugness, "Can you even finish all those books?"

Chen Xi: "You are so annoying."

Zhou Yanzhou clicked his tongue, reached out to pinch Chen Xi’s puffed-up cheek, and said seriously, "You’ve got quite a temper for a high schooler."

Chen Xi was completely speechless, forced to grit her teeth and look away, pretending she hadn't heard him.

They had walked through the general terminal, and their every move had been spotted by He Xu, who was just returning from the restroom. He stood there, watching them leave as they bickered, a wounded expression on his face.

How could he not see where the person he liked was casting her gaze? But he clung to a shred of wishful thinking, believing that a man like Zhou Yanzhou was someone Chen Xi couldn't handle, and that sooner or later, she would realize what kind of person was truly right for her.

Before getting into the car, Chen Xi had wanted to text He Xu to explain she might not be able to go to the hotel with them. But halfway through editing the message, Zhou Yanzhou, who was beside her, snatched the phone away. "Why are you playing on your phone while walking?" he said righteously. "Confiscated."

Chen Xi, now without her phone, could do nothing but glare at the man’s back.

Once outside the airport hall, they realized it had started to drizzle. Zhou Yanzhou hated rainy days; seeing the rain, he frowned and muttered a curse under his breath.

Chen Xi: "..."

She hated rainy days, too.

The sedan pulled out of the airport road and headed toward the city center. The outskirts were rather desolate, with few signs of life. Chen Xi stared at the green poplar trees, suddenly feeling that this place was no different from Xiping.

Zhou Yanzhou fell asleep the moment he got into the car, as if he hadn't slept in eight lifetimes.

Chen Huai, however, noticed Chen Xi pressing her face against the window, looking around curiously, and began to quietly introduce the districts they were passing.

Chen Xi was actually quite intimidated by Chen Huai. Firstly, he spoke very little, and whenever he appeared, it was almost always to convey Zhou Yanzhou's intentions; he never showed any personal interest in her. Secondly, there was that time at the school gate when Chen Huai had rifled through Zhou Yanzhou's wallet right in front of her, making her feel that he didn't like her.

Chen Huai had a gentle voice and a youthful appearance. Wearing black-framed glasses and a suit, he had the vibe of a neighbor's big brother.

Listening to Chen Huai's smooth narration, Chen Xi leaned in, her dark, glossy, almond-shaped eyes fixed on him with intense focus, looking for all the world like a devoted fan.

Zhou Yanzhou woke up halfway through and caught this scene. He raised an eyebrow, used his index finger to lift Chen Xi’s chin, and asked from his superior height, "What joke did Chen Huai tell to make you so happy?"

Hearing this, Chen Huai immediately shut up, turned his head, and pretended to know nothing at all.

Chen Xi, feeling cut off, glared at the mischievous Zhou Yanzhou and gritted out, "None of your business."

A dangerous glint brewed in Zhou Yanzhou's indifferent peach-blossom eyes. He slowed his speech deliberately: "Not... my... business?"

Chen Xi: "..."

She let out a breath and asked blankly, "What is your problem? Did I provoke you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanzhou pinched her chin again, his thumb rubbing against her delicate skin, and admitted expressionlessly, "Yes, you did."

Chen Xi: "..."

Unable to contain her frustration, she muttered under her breath, "Stingy."

Zhou Yanzhou’s brow knit together. "What did you say?"

Chen Xi shook her head quickly. "Nothing."

Zhou Yanzhou decided it wasn't worth arguing with a young girl. He let go, rolled down the window, and prepared to light a cigarette.

With the lighter already in his hand, he looked back and saw Chen Xi staring straight at him. Realizing she was there, he tossed the lighter back into his pocket. He gave a short, annoyed laugh and muttered, "Almost forgot about you."

Chen Xi: "..."

As the car entered the Third Ring Road, the prosperity of the capital began to peek through.

Chen Xi looked at the towering modern skyscrapers and urban infrastructure, suddenly feeling the allure of the big city.

Zhou Yanzhou had long since grown bored of it, but watching Chen Xi’s face filled with wonder and expectation, he suddenly found it rather interesting.

She looked at the world outside, filled with temptation, and he looked at the captivated Chen Xi, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

Chen Xi wasn't very good at asking questions. Whenever she saw a building that interested her, she would silently hold up her phone, take a picture, and use a search engine to identify it. Sometimes the results didn't match the image, and Chen Xi would frown, whispering to herself, wondering what it could be.

Zhou Yanzhou watched her the whole time—seeing her frown, purse her lips in a smile, and snap photos, only to search for a bunch of useless trivia afterward.

He found this version of Chen Xi quite interesting, more so than any other girl he had met in the last twenty years.

There was a vibrant, living quality about her that set her apart.

He felt a strong sense of vitality in her, like a sunflower growing toward the sun—forever bright and lively.

Zhou Yanzhou's life was like a stagnant pool of water, filled with the same fixed routines every day; eventually, it had all become boring and meaningless.

Now that such a fresh girl had appeared, Zhou Yanzhou felt a flicker of something.

It wasn't quite love, but he found her refreshing.

He wanted to see if this girl would remain this vibrant forever.

Chen Xi couldn't tell what Zhou Yanzhou was thinking. After taking photos for a while, she lowered her head to admire them.

Selecting a few interesting ones, she posted them to her social media space.

When she posted, she deliberately filtered her audience to exclude her teachers, then hit send.

After posting, Chen Xi put her phone away and turned her head to look at the scenery flashing past the window.

She loved this city, loved it so much that she hoped she would have the chance to live here in the future.

Back then, the word "Beijing" was the hope of many; everyone wanted a chance to go to the capital and see it, but few ever truly made it there.

Jiang Chi knew Zhou Yanzhou was returning to Beijing today and had started arranging a welcome dinner early in the morning.

With everything ready, Jiang Chi called Zhou Yanzhou to ask when he would arrive.

At that moment, Zhou Yanzhou was wondering when Chen Xi would finally settle down. He counted the time, his gaze falling on the excited girl, and he smiled with helpless resignation.

The call connected, and Jiang Chi’s voice came through the waves: "Are you here yet? Hurry up, everyone is here, just waiting for you."

"We're having mutton hotpot today. I had the meat shipped in from Inner Mongolia this morning; it's fresh."

"Anyway, see you at the usual place."

Jiang Chi hung up the phone after finishing his sentence, not caring whether Zhou Yanzhou had heard him.

The car was very quiet, and even though Zhou Yanzhou hadn't put it on speaker, Chen Xi had heard the entire conversation.

Realizing Zhou Yanzhou had plans, Chen Xi’s mind cleared instantly. She bit her lip and suggested quietly, "Why don't you drop me off at a nearby bus station, and I can go to the hotel myself?"

Zhou Yanzhou hung up the phone, turned his head to glance at Chen Xi, who was preparing to leave, and asked with an unchanging expression, "Don't want to eat with me?"

Chen Xi said "ah" in a difficult tone and muttered, "They're all your friends, I don't know any of them."

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard the man say meaningfully, "Your uncle entrusted me to take care of you for a few days."

Chen Xi looked up in surprise, meeting the man's calm eyes. She asked in disbelief, "My uncle asked you to take care of me? That's impossible..."

Before she could finish, something was placed in her lap.

Chen Xi looked down; it was Zhou Yanzhou's phone.

He didn't offer any explanation, just said nonchalantly, "If you don't believe me, call your uncle and ask him yourself to see if I'm lying."

Chen Xi: "..."

She hadn't meant to question him; she just thought it was unlikely.

When she left, her uncle hadn't mentioned anything about Zhou Yanzhou taking care of her.

Besides, was Zhou Yanzhou the type of person who knew how to take care of anyone?

Why did it feel so unreliable?

All the little thoughts on Chen Xi's face were seen clearly by Zhou Yanzhou. Seeing her look of uncertainty, he was almost exasperated into laughter.

He let out a scoff through his nose and asked with a sarcastic tone, "What, afraid I won't be able to serve a big Buddha like you?"