The loud crash made everyone at the late-night food stall spring to their feet at once. The scene instantly fell into chaos. The wind was strong, and amid the noisy confusion, Su Hao turned her head back, momentarily speechless. The shards scattered across the ground were some distance away from her, yet they were still enough to make her heart pound with fear.

 

Zhou Yang stared at the fragments as well, his heart racing uncontrollably. He instinctively tightened his arm around Su Hao’s waist. Once he was sure she was unharmed, he took out his phone and turned his head slightly as he called the police, his tone cold and sharp.

 

“Dongshen Road, Huahui Residential Complex. Someone threw an object from a high floor.”

 

The operator acknowledged him.

 

Zhou Yang then called the landlord, his voice even colder.

 

“Zhang Xinhua. Get your ass over here.”

 

Zhang Xinhua was Su Hao’s landlord. The two had each other on WeChat. Su Hao slowly came back to her senses and struggled out of Zhou Yang’s embrace. She stood where she was and watched the food stall owner rush out, cursing loudly at the building above. The windows upstairs swayed slightly, but it was impossible to tell who had done it.

 

No one could stay calm in a situation like this.

 

If it hadn’t been Su Hao today, it could have been someone else. The stall owner served so many customers every day—any one of them could have been the unlucky victim.

 

Before the police and the landlord arrived, many people gathered around to watch. Zhou Yang grabbed Su Hao’s wrist.

 

“Don’t go over there.”

 

His voice was cold, laced with restrained anger.

 

Su Hao looked back at him.

 

Her eyes were gentle, like still water. In the noisy environment, they were like a clear spring. Zhou Yang leaned against the car door, and just that single glance from her eased much of the agitation in his chest. He unconsciously licked the corner of his lips and scoffed lightly.

 

“What are you looking at?”

 

Don’t look.

 

Look again and I’ll kiss you.

 

Su Hao shook her head. “I was a little scared.”

 

“Get in the car and sit,” he said, pulling the door open and motioning her inside. The car felt safer than standing outside. Su Hao hesitated. “No need. Do you want some water? I’ll go buy—”

 

Sweat rolled down his forehead. She thought he must have been frightened too. Zhou Yang bent down into the car, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and handed it to her.

 

“Drink this.”

 

“I don’t want it.” Su Hao pushed it away.

 

At that moment, the police arrived, along with Zhang Xinhua’s car. Both vehicles stopped together. Zhang Xinhua got out, spotted Zhou Yang, and hurried over.

 

“Brother Yang, long time no see.”

 

Zhang Xinhua was young, wearing a black T-shirt and ripped jeans. When he turned and saw Su Hao, he smiled ingratiatingly at Zhou Yang.

 

“Brother Yang, is this your girlfriend? She’s really beautiful.”

 

Zhou Yang had been visibly irritated just moments earlier, his presence sharp and imposing. At those words, his eyes narrowed slightly, and some of the displeasure faded.

 

Then—

 

Su Hao spoke softly. “I’m not his girlfriend.”

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

Zhang Xinhua froze. He was sharp enough to read people, and one look at Zhou Yang’s expression told him everything. Zhou Yang’s face darkened further.

 

Zhang Xinhua screamed internally.

 

Fuck.

 

Fortunately, the police stepped in at that moment. One of the officers was a junior colleague of Li Yi’s, so there was some familiarity. After a brief exchange, Zhou Yang pointed toward a sixth-floor window, his voice cold.

 

“Room 602. Zhang Xinhua, pull up the surveillance footage.”

 

“Got it.”

 

All three buildings belonged to Zhang Xinhua—he was a genuine young landlord with money to burn. He’d installed surveillance cameras throughout the area. When the footage was pulled up, it clearly showed the incident originating from Room 602, saving a lot of investigation time. Zhang Xinhua and the police went upstairs to get the culprit.

 

Su Hao, as an eyewitness—and nearly a victim—wasn’t allowed to leave yet.

 

Before long, the tenants from 602 were brought downstairs: a young couple. They’d been arguing. The woman, furious, threw some glass fragments she’d planned to discard at the man. He dodged, and the shards flew out the window, crashing to the ground below.

 

By the time they realized what they’d done, their legs nearly gave out.

 

Especially with a tall, grim-faced man standing nearby—clearly knowledgeable about the law, not in uniform, and with an unreadable background—it was terrifying.

 

Zhang Xinhua stood beside Zhou Yang like a lackey, immediately ordering the couple to get lost and declaring he would no longer rent to them. As for the rest, the police would handle it.

 

By the time everything was settled, it was close to midnight.

 

Su Hao rarely stayed up late. She didn’t understand much about these things, but a couple’s argument that nearly cost someone their life was unforgivable.

 

Even the police misunderstood and assumed she was Zhou Yang’s girlfriend. When the couple spoke to Su Hao, they kept saying—

 

“Tell your boyfriend…”

 

“Your boyfriend…”

 

“Your boyfriend…”

 

Zhou Yang stood at the doorway smoking a cigarette. The mint flavor was strong and cool against his tongue. He lowered his eyes, listening to the repeated words your boyfriend.

 

A faint smile flickered in his eyes.

 

But soon, Su Hao corrected them again and again.

 

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

 

Zhou Yang bit down hard on the cigarette. He glanced at his watch, turned, grabbed his car keys, and looked at Su Hao.

 

“Let’s go back.”

 

She nodded and walked out with him.

 

At the entrance, Zhang Xinhua still had to stay behind to handle things. Trying to curry favor, he added, “Hey, look how well-matched these two are. How could they not be a couple?”

 

He was intensely curious about when Zhou Yang had changed his taste.

 

Gentle, water-like beauties didn’t seem like his type at all.

 

The drive back was smooth. Su Hao went upstairs, unlocked her door, and was completely exhausted. She showered, washed up, didn’t even bother putting sheets on the guest bed, and collapsed onto it, barely able to keep her eyes open.

 

Her phone buzzed.

 

She half-opened her eyes and checked it.

 

Zhou Yang: Asleep?
Su Hao: Mm. Good night.
Su Hao: Also, thank you for tonight.

 

At home, Zhou Yang had just finished showering. He wore black pajamas, tall and lean, towel in one hand as he dried his hair, the other reaching for his phone.

 

He read her thank you.

 

His long fingers typed: How about repaying me with yourself?

 

After a few seconds, he paused—then slowly deleted the message, letter by letter. His expression darkened with each erased character.

 

After becoming “friends,” he didn’t even dare make jokes like this anymore, afraid she’d retreat again.

 

Fuck.

 

He tossed the phone onto the table with a loud clatter.

 

Ten minutes later, the lights finally went out. Zhou Yang lay down, his collar loose from the movement, revealing a sharply defined chest.

 

In his dream, there was that slender, willow-like waist again. That softness pressing into his arms. Darkness pressed down on him. He turned her around and pinned her against the car door. She turned her head away, exposing her pale neck.

 

Staring at that patch of skin, Zhou Yang lowered his head and brushed it lightly with his lips.

 

His fingers clenched, pressing her tighter against him.

 

That single touch was enough to drive him mad.

 

Thunder crashed.

 

Lightning lit up the room. Zhou Yang snapped awake, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. As he stripped off his clothes, revealing his lean physique, he walked into the bathroom.

 

Cold water poured down from the showerhead. He ran a hand through his hair, eyes open, filled with intense desire.

 

A few days later, it was finally time for the business trip.

 

Su Hao didn’t go to the office that morning. She packed at home instead. The company had already booked the flight.

 

She took a taxi to the airport alone. Assistant Lu was waiting outside. When he saw her, he stepped forward to take her luggage, keeping a respectful distance.

 

“President Zhou is already in the lounge.”

 

Su Hao froze. “Zhou Yang is really going to Kyoto too?”

 

“Yes. President Zhou booked his ticket a long time ago.”

 

Assistant Lu helped check in the luggage and led her to the lounge. She gave a small “oh” and didn’t ask further.

 

The lounge door opened. Only Zhou Yang was inside, long legs crossed, lounging lazily as he read a magazine.

 

Hearing the movement, he looked up. His narrow eyes swept over her.

 

Their gazes met. His eyes seemed to darken slightly.

 

“Good morning, President Zhou,” Su Hao greeted.

 

Since that night, they hadn’t seen each other. He hadn’t returned to the office either—Qi Lin had truly stepped in as acting president. People at Feijie were getting used to Qi Lin’s presence.

 

Zhou Yang existed only in the gossip group chats.

 

Su Hao only vaguely knew he’d been to the Zhou Group twice recently.

 

Zhou Yang closed the magazine and leaned back with a half-smile. “President Zhou?”

 

He shifted closer, casual and lazy. “Why don’t you call me Zhou Yang anymore?”

 

Su Hao glanced at him, replying to Liao Yun’s message asking her to buy Kyoto specialties. After sending it, she put down her phone.

 

“In a work setting, isn’t ‘President Zhou’ appropriate?”

 

Her tone was calm.

 

Zhou Yang smiled again, but his gaze lingered on her face, her neck—and her outfit. She was wearing a spaghetti-strap dress today, with a sun-protective jacket over it.

 

He narrowed his eyes. “Why the spaghetti straps today? Dressing up for Shen He? Putting in that much effort?”

 

“It’s hot,” Su Hao replied, picking up a magazine.

 

Zhou Yang clenched his jaw slightly and leaned back. Assistant Lu minimized his presence as much as possible. He noticed the veins bulging on Zhou Yang’s hand and heard Shen He’s name mentioned again, utterly confused.

 

What exactly was the situation between President Zhou and Miss Su?

 

They didn’t seem close, yet President Zhou’s gaze was more aggressive than ever. But whenever he faced her, he softened instantly.