Her sudden initiative caught Zhou Yang completely off guard. Who would have thought it was about Shen He instead?

Zhou Yang bent slightly toward her and explained patiently, “Even if I hadn’t called him back to the country, Shen He would still have to face the same choice sooner or later—whether to give it up… or not.”

He still had no idea where he’d gone wrong.

Su Hao shot him a glance, pushed him away, and continued strolling through the shops. This was a shopping complex, with stores lined up side by side, full of gift options.

After being pushed aside, Zhou Yang stood there for a moment, watching the slender figure not far away. Even without seeing her face, he could feel the dense chill radiating from her—call it a cold war if you were being polite, or putting on airs if you weren’t. And it was all because of Shen He. His thin lips pressed tightly together.

She didn’t look back even once.

She could keep shopping perfectly fine on her own, completely ignoring him.

It was as if his presence—or absence—didn’t matter at all.

Zhou Yang gripped the railing and thought coldly: Is Shen He really that important?

In the past, he would have already turned around and left when faced with a woman like this.

A few seconds later, Zhou Yang tugged at his shirt collar and strode forward. From behind, he grabbed Su Hao’s wrist and turned her to face him.

She glanced at him and struggled slightly.

Lowering his voice, Zhou Yang threatened, “Keep this up and I’ll kiss you right here until your legs go weak.”

Su Hao flicked him another light glance. She stopped struggling—but still didn’t respond. That was just her personality: once she felt even slightly displeased, she shut people out. After walking a bit further, she entered a cosmetics store to buy lipstick for Liao Yun. As she reached for testers, Zhou Yang had no choice but to let go.

Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

She still ignored him.

The atmosphere was strange. Zhou Yang had never been so openly snubbed by a woman, especially in front of others. The sales associates were watching—it was obvious the woman was ignoring such a handsome man, while he clung to her like he was afraid she’d run off. Anyone could tell she was someone who was pampered.

They exchanged silent glances, thoughts swirling.

Zhou Yang’s narrow eyes swept toward them coolly. The two associates froze, immediately looked away, and hurried to help Su Hao.

“This shade suits fair skin very well. If you want something brightening, this one’s great. And this one here is a real ‘man-killer’ shade.”

Su Hao held two lipsticks and looked at the swatches on her wrist. Her skin was fair; both shades looked good—one soft orange, one classic red. The associate smiled and said, “With skin like yours, almost any color works.”

“I’m not buying these for myself. I’m just looking,” Su Hao said, glancing at the mirror beside her. When she tried to move, she noticed the man’s arm around her waist and lightly patted it.

Zhou Yang snorted softly and looked down at his phone, ignoring her.

Su Hao ignored him as well, took the two lipsticks to the counter, and paid. Zhou Yang then said to the associate, “Wrap up every shade she touched.”

The associate froze.

Another quickly replied, “Yes, sir.”

She moved fast—packing nearly thirty lipsticks. She was sharp enough to include not only the ones Su Hao touched, but also any she even glanced at.

Su Hao took the bag and looked at Zhou Yang when she heard this. He didn’t look back at her, just swiped his card. While he was signing, she tried to leave—but the moment she turned, her waist was pulled back.

She stumbled into his arms.

Zhou Yang put down the pen, looked at her with amusement. “Running again? You’re pretty good at that.”

He took the bags from her, pulled her close, and led her out.

Su Hao still didn’t respond.

Zhou Yang glanced at her a few times, irritation creeping into his voice. “How long are you planning to stay mad?”

“You’re really good at the cold war,” he added.

She could feel his impatience, but she kept her lips tightly shut, pretending she hadn’t heard him. She scanned the shops on either side, looking for something to buy for her mother.

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes and said nothing more.

Su Hao entered a bird’s nest shop and browsed. Clothes and accessories didn’t seem suitable for Cheng Ling—bird’s nest would be better, something she could keep at home and prepare when her mother visited.

After purchasing, she came out. Zhou Yang leaned against the railing, bags in hand, one hand in his pocket, watching her.

She ignored him and headed toward the elevator. He followed. As soon as she stepped inside, Zhou Yang reached out, shut the doors, and pushed her against the wall. He pinned her there, lifted her chin, and said, “You’ve been mad for over an hour. That’s enough.”

Pressed against the wall, Su Hao looked at his faintly impatient expression and smiled. “If you’re so impatient, why don’t you just leave?”

Zhou Yang replied, “You think I haven’t thought about it?”

“Then act on it,” she said gently. Her dimples faintly appeared, her smile soft—but her words were sharp as knives.

Zhou Yang stared at her. After a few seconds, he raised an eyebrow, leaned in, and kissed her ear. “I won’t leave. If I did, wouldn’t that be exactly what you want?”

It wasn’t easy—finally, she wasn’t avoiding him.

Since they still had moments like this, he could endure the rest.

“You smell so good,” he murmured, kissing her cheek and neck.

Ding.

The elevator arrived at the first floor.

The people waiting outside froze at the sight: a tall man pinning a woman against the wall, his head tilted as if kissing her—thick with intimacy.

“The elevator’s here,” Su Hao reminded him. Even though she tried to stay calm, her ears burned red.

Zhou Yang lifted his head, glanced at the crowd, then wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his chest. Half her face was buried against him as he led her out.

His collar was slightly undone, his expression charmingly reckless.

Tall, imposing, he parted the crowd effortlessly. Some people blushed when they looked at him, muttering complaints.

“What do they think this is?”

“Seriously, how shameless.”

“What does the woman look like?”

“Can’t see—he’s blocking her.”

Outside, Zhou Yang opened the car door and settled Su Hao into the passenger seat, loaded the bags into the back, and drove off in the black Bentley.

Luxury cars were everywhere in this commercial district of Beijing, and rich young men like Zhou Yang weren’t rare—but someone this striking was unforgettable. People stood watching until the Bentley disappeared.

At the hotel, Su Hao got out to take the bags—except the one Zhou Yang bought. He stepped out, grabbed it, and stuffed it into her arms.

“I bought that for you. Why do you only buy things for other people?” he asked, looking down at her.

Su Hao froze. “I don’t want it.”

She pulled the bag back and tossed it at him.

“I already have plenty. You bought so many—I can’t even use them all.”

She turned and walked into the hotel.

Zhou Yang clenched his teeth. After a few seconds, he tossed the entire gift bag into the trash can.

Clang.

Su Hao had just stepped inside when she turned back.

Zhou Yang stood by the trash can, lighting a cigarette, looking lazy and indifferent. His hands were empty, only the ribbon of the gift bag hanging over the edge.

Su Hao closed her eyes briefly. “Pick it up.”

Zhou Yang bit the cigarette sideways, ignoring her.

She walked over and reached for the lid. Zhou Yang looked down at her and grabbed her wrist.

She looked at him silently for a few seconds.

That was all it took.

“…Why don’t you want the lipsticks?” he asked, defeated.

“Over thirty lipsticks. How long would it take me to use them?”

“One color a day.”

“That’s wasteful.”

“Women are meant to waste things.”

“I don’t like it.”

She struggled to grab them back. They had to be expensive. Zhou Yang tightened his grip, then finally sighed, put the cigarette back in his mouth, and bent down himself.

It felt humiliating.

He’d just thrown them away—and now he was picking them up.

Passersby and even the security guards stared curiously as the two of them rummaged through the trash. Just then, Assistant Lu arrived.

Zhou Yang barked, “Come here!”

Assistant Lu adjusted his glasses and walked over—only to have a gift bag shoved into his hands.

“Take it. It’s yours.”

Zhou Yang grabbed Su Hao’s wrist and dragged her into the lobby.

As she walked, Su Hao turned back and said to Assistant Lu, “If you can’t use them, return them. The receipt’s inside.”

“…Oh.” Assistant Lu looked down.

Lipsticks.

So many lipsticks.

How was he supposed to use them?

Maybe… sell them cheap on social media?

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