“Not busy. Pretty free,” Su Qian replied lazily. In truth, every time she did this, she was testing Zhou Yang. And every time, Zhou Yang reacted with the same careless indifference—but the more he acted that way, the more it gave things away.

 

Zhou Yang put the cup back on the nightstand, picked up his watch, and glanced at the time. There was a faint hint of sending her off. “Mom, you can go home now.”

 

“So you’re kicking me out already?”

 

Zhou Yang lifted his eyes and looked at her. “Otherwise? Leave you here to keep probing me?”

 

He gave a short laugh, pulled back the covers, got out of bed, and unbuttoned his pajama top as he walked unhurriedly into the bathroom. Su Qian let out an “oh my,” stood up, took the cup, and muttered a curse under her breath.

 

“This damn son of mine.”

 

Whatever she was thinking, Zhou Yang could see through it easily. Seeing that he still had the energy to take a shower, she stopped worrying and went downstairs.

 

That day, it rained all night—and even into the morning. The sky was gray and overcast. After Su Hao got up, she stood by the window and looked outside.

 

A fine drizzle drifted down. After an entire night of rain, the treetops, the ground, and the carport roofs were still dripping. She watched for a while.

 

Then she went to wash up, brush her teeth, and make breakfast.

 

After that, she grabbed an umbrella and went out. When she reached the first floor, a cool breeze rushed toward her—autumn seemed to be approaching.

 

The underground pedestrian passage was still unusable. That area was low-lying; it had looked better before she left work yesterday, but now it was flooded again. With no other choice, Su Hao called a car. She wasn’t familiar with the roads yet—some people rode bikes along an alternate route, but she didn’t know where it was.

 

When she arrived at the company, Su Hao got out of the car, placed her umbrella in the stand by the entrance, and tidied her hair. It was a bit messy. She hadn’t closed the car window properly, and she walked straight to the elevator.

 

She’d arrived early; there weren’t many people in the office yet.

 

The elevator came up from the second basement level. With a ding, the doors opened.

 

Su Hao looked up.

 

Inside the elevator stood Zhou Yang, wearing a white shirt and slacks, his jacket draped over his arm, one hand loosely in his pocket. His narrow eyes were half-lidded as he looked at her.

 

The atmosphere instantly turned stiff.

 

There were two other people in the elevator: President Zeng and Assistant Lu.

 

Assistant Lu greeted her. “Good morning, Su Hao.”

 

Su Hao had originally planned to take the next elevator.

 

That greeting disrupted her thoughts. She smiled faintly. “Good morning, President Zhou, Assistant Lu, President Zeng.”

 

After greeting them, silence fell again. Su Hao stepped back two paces, about to speak—when President Zeng called out, waving his hand. “Come in quickly. Once more people come, it’ll be hard to squeeze in.”

 

The words at the tip of Su Hao’s tongue were swallowed back. She had no choice but to step inside.

 

The three of them stood in a rough triangle, with Zhou Yang surrounded in the center.

 

Su Hao moved toward President Zeng’s side, but he instinctively shifted away. She froze for a moment and had no choice but to move toward Assistant Lu instead.

 

Assistant Lu pushed up his glasses and silently stepped back two paces.

 

Su Hao paused. She couldn’t possibly squeeze in with them. In the end, she and Zhou Yang stood facing each other with a wide gap between them—like a long river—while the two grown men crowded together behind her.

 

The elevator was quiet.

 

Strangely enough, no one else came in.

 

Just like that, they went all the way up to the sixteenth floor. When the doors opened, Su Hao hesitated, intending to let Zhou Yang go first.

 

He didn’t move.

 

President Zeng and Assistant Lu wanted to leave, but if the boss didn’t go, how could they?

 

The four of them stood frozen for a moment. Zhou Yang snorted softly and raised his brows, asking casually, “Not getting out?”

 

Su Hao looked up at him.

 

His eyes were deep and unreadable. He leaned lazily against the elevator wall. Su Hao pressed her lips together, withdrew her gaze, and strode out.

 

The moment she left, the two men behind her let out a quiet sigh of relief.

 

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes and followed her out with long strides.

 

That woman’s face was full of cold-war determination—exactly the kind he hated. Just one look and you could tell that if they ever fought, Su Hao would be a master of silent treatment, completely ignoring you, holding her ground to the extreme.

 

Zhou Yang felt like he’d gone mad.

 

He snorted a few times. As he passed the pantry, his gaze swept over and landed on Su Hao, who was standing on tiptoe trying to reach a packet of brown sugar.

 

After watching for a few seconds, he handed his jacket to Assistant Lu, rolled up his sleeves, and walked in. Using his height advantage, he took down the brown sugar.

 

Su Hao’s hand grasped at empty air. Her pale, slender hand froze midair for a moment as she looked up.

 

The man stood behind her, holding the brown sugar above her head, looking down at her from above. He asked quietly, “Your period?”

 

Su Hao flushed—for the first time.

 

She pressed her lips together. “The sugar!”

 

“Want it?” Zhou Yang shook the packet in his hand, openly enjoying her flushed face. Her blush wasn’t all at once—it spread lightly from her neck up to the tips of her ears, pale pink, making one want to lean in and kiss her.

 

Su Hao pressed her lips together.

 

She was usually very careful about her cycle.

 

But these past two days—probably because she had just taken over Chen Yu’s position—she’d forgotten. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she felt discomfort in her lower abdomen and only then remembered.

 

The company benefits at Feijie were good. Not only was there brown sugar and heating packs, but sanitary pads were kept on hand too.

 

“Give it to me,” Su Hao said, reaching out.

 

Zhou Yang stepped back slightly, making her miss again. His gaze never left her face. “The 28th? Pretty regular, huh?”

 

Su Hao’s face turned even redder.

 

What was he asking?!

 

She could give him the cold shoulder in other matters, but she really wasn’t used to talking about this.

 

“It’s not regular, and it’s not the 28th. None of your business.” With that, she gave up on the sugar, grabbed a small pack from the counter, and turned to leave.

 

She’d barely taken two steps when the man followed from behind. The next second, brown sugar and a heating pack were shoved into her arms.

 

Zhou Yang chuckled softly. “It is the 28th.”

 

“Pretty regular, I’d say.”

 

Then he left.

 

Su Hao stood there for a moment, holding the heating pack and brown sugar, stunned.

 

Two minutes later, she returned to the pantry to tear open the sugar packet and make brown sugar water. Her abdomen cramped in waves of pain, and she heated up the pack as well.

 

Lu Mimi happened to come in at that moment. Standing beside Su Hao while pouring coffee, she glanced at her and asked, “President Zhou was just in the pantry?”

 

Su Hao glanced at her and hummed in acknowledgment.

 

The pain left her with little energy to talk. Lu Mimi asked again, “What was he here for?”

 

“I don’t know.” Su Hao lifted the cup of brown sugar water, clutching the heating pack, and walked toward the finance office.

 

As soon as she sat down, she pressed the heating pack against her abdomen. When she looked up, she noticed another heating pack on her desk.

 

She froze.

 

Her phone buzzed.

 

She picked it up.

 

It was Assistant Lu.

 

Assistant Lu: President Zhou asked me to give this to you. This one’s warmer. The ones in the pantry have mostly been damaged from use.

 

Su Hao: Please thank President Zhou for me.

 

After sending the message, Su Hao set her phone down and switched to the new heating pack. It really was much warmer. She pressed it against her stomach, turned on her computer, and started working.

 

Before long, Zhang Xian arrived. She immediately came over to check Su Hao’s ledger and vouchers, and to review the check headers.

 

These were all prepared by Su Hao yesterday, with her seal. The check was due to be handed over today.

 

Lu Mimi also came over. The two of them checked everything together. Before they realized it, they were done—no issues at all. They exchanged a look and said nothing.

 

There was a morning meeting.

 

A finance department meeting, held in the large conference room.

 

Su Hao’s stomach still hurt badly, and her face was pale. She gripped her pen, forcing herself to focus. When President Zeng called her name, she was momentarily dazed. After a few seconds, she looked up and forced a smile. “President Zeng.”

 

“What’s wrong? Not feeling well?” Seeing her complexion, President Zeng paused. “It’s nothing—I just wanted to praise you. You did very well yesterday.”

 

All tasks completed the same day.

 

The accounting details in the system were exceptionally clear. President Zeng could understand everything at a glance—no need to wait until after ten the next morning like before.

 

The cashiers before Chen Yu were used to sorting everything out the next day. Only Su Hao finished it all before clocking out.

 

It was a step ahead of everyone else.

 

Lu Mimi’s expression darkened.

 

The better Su Hao performed, the more it highlighted their own negligence.

 

It made her feel threatened. Even Zhang Xian straightened up slightly, glancing at Su Hao, who looked dazed from the pain.

 

“All right. Seeing how uncomfortable you are, let’s adjourn,” President Zeng said, concerned but unwilling to ask more in public.

 

He gathered his materials and left with his assistant.

 

Zhang Xian packed up and softly asked Su Hao, “How are you? Are you okay?”

 

Su Hao nodded. “I’m fine.”

 

“Take care of yourself.” Zhang Xian left. Lu Mimi had already walked off in her heels.

 

Su Hao let out a breath and slumped back in her chair.

 

She rarely hurt this much, but it wasn’t unheard of. Working through it was genuinely uncomfortable. She rested for a bit, then cleaned up and left the conference room.

 

Outside, she remembered she still needed to apply for a business trip location.

 

So she turned into President Zeng’s office.

 

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yang was inside. He was lowering his head to light a cigarette. Hearing the sound, he looked up at her.

 

Seeing her pale face, his eyes narrowed. He put the cigarette down.

 

His long, narrow gaze stayed fixed on her.

 

Su Hao greeted him, then went straight to President Zeng’s desk. “President Zeng, I’d like to apply for a business trip to Kyoto.”

 

President Zeng quickly told her to sit.

 

She smiled. “No need. I’m fine.”

 

President Zeng was practically breaking out in sweat. This is ‘fine’?

 

And you don’t notice the look on this man’s face?

 

He coughed and immediately said, “Approved. Kyoto is indeed simpler than Dong City. As a newcomer, you wouldn’t be able to handle Dong City anyway. All right, go rest.”

 

“How about taking half a day off?”

 

“No need. I’ll be fine soon.” Embarrassed to explain the real reason, Su Hao nodded and turned to leave.

 

She had just touched the doorknob when a large hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her back. In the next instant, she was lifted off the ground.

 

She struggled instinctively.

 

Zhou Yang carried her into the adjoining lounge and tossed her onto the soft bed. He bent forward, bracing one knee, his shirt collar carelessly open. “Rest here for a while. Do you want painkillers?”

 

Su Hao reflexively sat up. Zhou Yang reached out and pressed her shoulder down. Suddenly, he leaned in, forehead touching hers. “If you don’t rest, if you don’t take medicine, then I’ll let the whole company see you and me alone in this room…”

 

Su Hao froze.

 

She moved back slightly, her voice colder. “I really am fine. I know my own body.”

 

“Is that so?” Zhou Yang smiled and followed her retreat, step by step, their breaths mingling. Their eyes locked in the confined space, his scent everywhere, impossible to escape.

 

His smile turned dangerous. Su Hao was forced nearly flat onto the bed.

 

She was wearing a buttoned-up shirt that day.

 

But from the movement, there were subtle signs of disarray. Zhou Yang’s gaze flicked downward, then away. “Painkillers?”

 

Su Hao shook her head.

 

She’d taken them before—it only made the next episode worse.

 

“Then you can only rest.”

 

He straightened, looking down at her vulnerable posture, suddenly feeling a rush of control that swept away yesterday’s irritation.

 

He turned off the light and left the room with a smile.

 

Just then, his phone buzzed. He scrolled through it, then suddenly looked up and asked President Zeng, “Where did she apply to go on business?”

 

President Zeng didn’t dare look toward the lounge. “Kyoto.”

 

Zhou Yang’s expression darkened.

 

He glanced at Shen He’s Moments post, tagged with the location: [Kyoto…]