Chapter 32

Clearly, it was just an ordinary text message, yet Chen Xi somehow tasted a hint of grievance in it.

Impossible—he was Zhou Yanzhou, after all. How could he feel wronged?

Chen Xi stared at the message for a long while, a complex emotion welling up inside her that even she couldn’t quite name.

It felt like drowning in a deep, tranquil lake—suffocating, stifling, yet unable to break free.

He Xu had been watching Chen Xi’s every move. Seeing her dazedly fixated on her phone with no reaction, he couldn’t help but think of the man they met at the airport.

From the very first glance, He Xu knew this man was no ordinary person.

His noble, aloof bearing and those disdainful peach blossom eyes—anyone could tell he was born into a distinguished family.

Raised in silk and satin, pampered from childhood, naturally bred with pride and arrogance.

A man like that was not someone Chen Xi could easily handle.

Yet men like him had an allure for women far stronger than cigarettes or junk food.

He Xu wasn’t sure what kind of relationship Chen Xi had with such a man, but seeing her unconsciously smile and blush, he sadly realized one undeniable truth: to Chen Xi, he was just an ordinary classmate.

Unaware of He Xu’s thoughts, Chen Xi wanted to return quickly to meet Zhou Yanzhou.

Turning off her phone, she gave He Xu an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I have something to take care of. I might have to leave first.”

“See you tomorrow, and good luck,” He Xu said.

Knowing he couldn’t stop her, He Xu stood at the crossroads watching Chen Xi hail a taxi and leave swiftly.

Only after the Beijing-licensed taxi disappeared into the traffic did He Xu sling his bag over his shoulder and head to the hotel he had booked days earlier.

Along the way, He Xu thought a lot—perhaps unknowingly, the outcome between him and Chen Xi was already sealed at that moment.

From beginning to end, it had been a one-sided wish on his part.

Chen Xi told the taxi driver the location of Bayue Mansion. The driver, a true Beijinger, glanced over in surprise when she casually uttered the address.

Seeing she was just a plainly dressed, innocent-looking young girl, the driver paused and said meaningfully, “That’s a nice place. Many wealthy people live there.”

Chen Xi turned her head slightly and habitually asked, “Is that so?”

The driver smiled, starting some small talk. “You’re from the south? Here in Beijing?”

Eager to meet Zhou Yanzhou, Chen Xi had sent several messages on the way but received no reply.

Unsure whether he was angry or simply hadn’t seen them.

After struggling for a while, she put down her phone and looked up at the driver. “What did you just say?”

The driver, unfazed, repeated with a smile, “I asked where you’re from.”

Chen Xi tilted her head, watching the scenery pass by, and answered honestly, “Xiping.”

The driver clearly didn’t know where Xiping was and scratched the back of his head without pressing further.

Not one for awkward small talk with strangers, Chen Xi remained silent as the driver ceased questioning.

The journey felt unusually long, as if they had been driving forever without reaching the destination.

Twice Chen Xi urged the driver, who replied impatiently, “Traffic’s jammed, don’t rush.”

Leaning against the car window, Chen Xi watched the busy traffic police ahead and pinned her hopes on them to clear the congestion quickly.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yanzhou’s private phone kept vibrating. He picked it up, glanced at the sender, and pretended not to see.

Where had she been all this time?

He had been sitting on a cold bench for two hours, while she was out having fun with a male classmate.

Who was actually the guardian here?

Zhou Yanzhou didn’t even understand what he was fussing about—just felt a heavy weight in his chest and an inexplicable irritability.

At one point, Chen Huai came in to report on work. Zhou Yanzhou sat cross-legged on the sofa, smoking a cigarette, his gaze fixed on the nearby TV, barely listening.

Chen Huai sensed Zhou Yanzhou’s bad mood and recalled that two hours earlier, after Zhou Yanzhou’s social engagement, he rushed back to the hotel hoping to take Chen Xi to meet a professor from R University—but was left empty-handed.

Though it wasn’t Zhou Yanzhou’s business, at the dinner table he heard the professor was in charge of the upcoming competition. Usually, Zhou Yanzhou avoided using connections, but this time he took the initiative to arrange a meal with the professor.

The professor was flattered and readily agreed.

Chen Huai witnessed the whole thing and, besides shock, was filled with worry.

He knew perfectly well who Zhou Yanzhou was trying to impress.

But this dinner was somewhat... improper, and if rumors spread, it wouldn’t do Chen Xi’s reputation any good.

Chen Huai hesitated to say more. After reporting, he cautiously asked Zhou Yanzhou, “Still inviting Professor Xu for dinner tonight?”

Zhou Yanzhou was in no mood to eat. He waved his hand dismissively, “Eat? I’m annoyed enough already.”

As Chen Huai prepared to make a call, Zhou Yanzhou stopped him. “Where is she?”

Naturally, “she” referred to Chen Xi.

Chen Huai recalled Chen Xi’s call five minutes ago, during which she anxiously explained the traffic jam and that she might be delayed arriving at the hotel.

After explaining, Chen Xi cautiously asked if Zhou Yanzhou was angry.

Chen Huai guarded his words, only saying the boss had hurried back to the hotel after the engagement but hadn’t seen her.

Chen Xi took a deep breath on the phone, as if making a serious decision. “I understand. Thank you, Secretary Chen.”

Chen Xi returned to the apartment at eight in the evening.

Chang’an Avenue was brightly lit, bustling with traffic—the city lively and prosperous.

But Chen Xi was stopped outside by the property management for lacking identification.

Dusty and weary from the journey, she was blocked again, drawing curious glances from passing residents.

A plainly dressed girl with a backpack appearing at a billion-yuan estate was somewhat strange.

Feeling the probing eyes of strangers, Chen Xi timidly stepped aside.

Yet her lack of confidence betrayed itself in every gesture.

Having followed Zhou Yanzhou in and out these past days, always being treated politely, she now realized that alone, she was nothing.

She called Chen Huai twice but couldn’t get through. Feeling dejected, she crouched on the ground, clutching her bag, hesitating whether to text Zhou Yanzhou.

But recalling the dozen or so messages she had sent earlier likely buried in his phone’s junk folder, Chen Xi lost heart.

It was rush hour, and many passersby glanced at her—not meaning anything, but Chen Xi read layers of meaning into their looks.

Unable to bear the gazes, she finally summoned courage to call Zhou Yanzhou.

The phone rang—ring, ring, ring—each tone dragging her spirits lower.

As the call neared its end unanswered, Chen Xi’s anxious heart suddenly calmed.

A cold wave seemed to pour over her back, making her shiver.

Her fingers numb, she was about to hang up when the man’s indifferent voice came through: “What is it?”

His tone was cold, tinged with lingering anger.

Chen Xi’s pounding heart finally settled. Clutching the phone tightly with closed eyes, she said, “I’m at Bayue Mansion, but the property won’t let me in.”

Silence on the other end for two seconds, then the call ended abruptly.

Chen Xi stared at the ended call, feeling as if her heart had been pricked.

She took a deep breath, stood up, glanced back at the characters “Bayue Mansion,” and prepared to leave.

But before she could take a few steps, Zhou Yanzhou hurried down and called out, “Where are you going?”

Hearing his voice, Chen Xi’s steps faltered.

With her back to him, she suddenly felt timid and dared not look back.

Seeing this, Zhou Yanzhou frowned and caught up to her in a few strides.

Standing before her with hands on hips, he looked down at the disheartened girl and couldn’t help but scold, “Are you stupid? Didn’t you tell the property which floor you live on?”

Chen Xi said nothing the entire time.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhou Yanzhou had changed out of his morning suit into a gray, pearl-satin pajama set, slippers on his feet—he hadn’t even changed his shoes.

Had he come straight downstairs after hanging up?

Seeing Chen Xi keep her head down in silence, Zhou Yanzhou, with no outlet for his anger, gave up.

Assuming she hadn’t eaten and had been mistreated, he stopped venting and said, “Let’s go upstairs.”

This time Chen Xi followed him in. When the property saw Zhou Yanzhou, their attitude shifted dramatically, calling him “Mr. Zhou” with more familiarity than to their own fathers.

Zhou Yanzhou, still holding back his anger, glanced at them coldly and pulled Chen Xi close, saying sharply, “Recognize her properly, don’t let her get turned away again.”

Only then did the property notice Chen Xi and quickly apologized, saying they hadn’t realized she knew Zhou Yanzhou and meant no disrespect.

Chen Xi suddenly felt irritated.

She didn’t want to deal with the property’s sudden change in attitude.

Tugging on Zhou Yanzhou’s sleeve, she whispered, “I’m really hungry. Can we go upstairs first?”

Zhou Yanzhou looked at the weary girl, said nothing more to the property, and led her upstairs.

In the elevator, he put his hands in his pockets, studying Chen Xi’s exhausted state with a half-smile.

“I haven’t even said a word, and you’re already feeling bad?”

Chen Xi knew Zhou Yanzhou was still upset. She pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

The elevator rose quickly, reaching the fifty-second floor in under two minutes.

The doors opened, and Zhou Yanzhou strode out first, not waiting for Chen Xi, heading right.

Chen Xi knew the way and followed at a slow pace.

By the time she entered the room, Zhou Yanzhou had already taken a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and was gulping it down on the sofa.

As he tilted his head back, his Adam’s apple moved enticingly.

Chen Xi stood in the foyer, witnessing this quietly, changing into slippers, closing the door, then hesitantly walking into the living room.

Zhou Yanzhou finished drinking and glanced at the girl standing not far off.

Unable to bear it, he lowered his eyelids and nodded toward a packaged box on the coffee table.

“Eat something first. We’ll go out to eat later.”

Chen Xi blinked, a flash of surprise crossing her face.

Seeing her stand there dumbfounded, Zhou Yanzhou asked impatiently, “What, do you want me to feed it to you?”