Their shopping trip today could hardly be called pleasant. Ever since Su Hao learned just how ruthless Zhou Yang could be, the atmosphere between them had steadily worsened.

 

Although Su Hao ignored him, she still left herself a bit of leeway. Now that they were in the elevator, the tension eased slightly—at the very least, Zhou Yang had picked up the bag of lipsticks he had thrown away.

 

When they reached the eighteenth floor and stopped at the door, Su Hao took out her room card. Just as her hand pressed against the sensor, Zhou Yang grabbed her wrist and lifted it.

 

Su Hao raised her eyes and met his gaze.

 

Zhou Yang leaned against the wall, his narrow eyes fixed on her.

 

The corridor was quiet, bathed in warm lighting, creating an unexpectedly gentle atmosphere. Neither of them spoke. Zhou Yang simply held onto Su Hao’s wrist.

 

Their skin touched—hers was soft.

 

In a low voice, Zhou Yang asked, “You don’t like roses, you don’t like lilies, and you don’t like lipstick. Then what do you like?”

 

It was the first time he had ever asked a woman such questions. Su Hao could hear the sincerity in his tone, and the resistance in her heart softened a little. She replied, “I told you before—I don’t really have any hobbies.”

 

“You don’t like clothes? Bags?” he asked quietly.

 

“It’s not that I don’t like them,” Su Hao said gently. “I just want what’s enough. That’s all.”

 

Among her circle of close friends, including Liao Yun, everyone came from similar family backgrounds, and they all spent money with restraint. For example, when she shopped, she went straight for what she needed. She didn’t browse unnecessarily, because she didn’t need to—and she didn’t want to increase her expenses.

 

“So even if I bought all of this while chasing you, you wouldn’t want it?” Zhou Yang asked. He understood a little now, which was why, despite feeling embarrassed earlier, he had still picked up the lipsticks.

 

Su Hao looked at him for a few seconds before speaking softly. “Is that really how you buy things?”

 

It was such a waste. If he had bought them for someone else, she wouldn’t have cared. But buying them for her—things she didn’t need—and then throwing them away? That was just burning money.

 

Zhou Yang laughed in exasperation. He pulled her toward him by the hand. Su Hao frowned and instinctively stepped back, but the next second she still fell into his arms.

 

Zhou Yang pressed his forehead against hers. “Give me a kiss.”

 

So he even knew how to ask now?

 

Su Hao sneered inwardly.

 

She turned her gaze away. “What if I say no?”

 

“No?” Zhou Yang chuckled softly. “I can’t hear you.”

 

As he spoke, his lips brushed the corner of her mouth, then slowly moved over to seal her lips. Su Hao punched him lightly, but Zhou Yang forced her lips open.

 

Their kiss deepened.

 

In the quiet space—thump, thump, thump—only the sound of accelerating heartbeats could be heard.

 

---

 

Late at night, after showering, Su Hao lay on the bed and suddenly remembered that she hadn’t replied to Yun Lü’s message that day. She immediately opened WeChat and typed.

 

Su Hao: Yun Lü, thank you.
Yun Lü: Oh, don’t mention it.
Yun Lü: You’re both in Kyoto?
Su Hao: Yes.
Yun Lü: Got it!

 

At that moment, the water in the bathroom shut off. Zhou Yang came out wearing a bathrobe, the belt loosely tied, exposing most of his chest. He sat on the edge of the bed, picked up his phone, leaned forward, and opened a group chat.

 

Zhou Yang: Come out.
Zhou Yang: Are you all trying to sabotage me?

 

A few seconds later, replies finally came in.

 

Xu Dian: So late and still awake—no nightlife?
Li Yi: Definitely none.
Jiang Yu: Who’s dragging you down? What are you talking about?
Xu Dian: Hahaha, probably failing at chasing someone.
Yan Xing: Congratulations, President Zhou. Failed again?

 

Zhou Yang: Tsk.

 

He wiped his hair, tossed the phone onto the nightstand, picked up a glass of water, took a big gulp, and finally lay down to sleep.

 

---

 

Their flight the next day was at 9:30 a.m. Su Hao woke up early, fumbling around to pack, checking repeatedly to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. At eight o’clock, the door beeped open. Zhou Yang leaned against the doorframe.

 

“Done yet?”

 

“All set,” Su Hao said, pushing her suitcase out.

 

She was wearing a hat that day, a light purple knee-length dress with a white T-shirt on top. At the doorway, she glanced back at the room. Zhou Yang folded his arms, his gaze falling on her—and the face beneath the hat. With a flick of his finger, he tipped the brim up.

 

Her beautiful eyes looked over at him.

 

They were moist and gentle. Zhou Yang watched her silently for a few seconds before lowering the hat again and saying softly, “Beautiful.”

 

“Thank you,” Su Hao replied calmly, pulling her suitcase away.

 

Zhou Yang snorted, removed the power card, took her suitcase along with his own, and headed toward the elevator.

 

Assistant Lu was already inside. Seeing them, he hurried over to help.

 

The three of them went downstairs and headed to the airport.

 

It was still hot outside, but the airport was pleasantly cool. After completing all the procedures, they went to the waiting lounge. Assistant Lu sat far away, not daring to get too close. Su Hao and Zhou Yang sat together on a large sofa. Zhou Yang was still working, laptop open.

 

Su Hao scrolled through her phone, reading short romance stories on a forum.

 

A WeChat notification popped up.

 

It was Li Xiu.

 

Li Xiu: Sister Su Hao, are you back from your business trip?
Su Hao: Our flight’s at 9:30.
Li Xiu: Wow, that’s soon.
Su Hao: Yes.
Li Xiu: Is Zhou Yang with you?
Su Hao: He seems to be working.
Li Xiu: Turn on video so I can see him…

 

Su Hao paused. Before she could reply, a video request came through. She declined it, then turned her head and quickly took a photo of Zhou Yang’s side profile and sent it.

 

The photo was taken quickly, but Zhou Yang looked focused and handsome, eyes lowered to his laptop, long legs crossed—serious yet effortlessly charming.

 

After a while, Li Xiu replied.

 

Li Xiu: Sister Su Hao, I know he’s pursuing you. I was just testing you, to see if you’d still talk to me. I didn’t expect you to actually send me his photo.
Li Xiu: That means you don’t really like him, right? So I still have a chance?

 

Su Hao stared at the message for a long time before finally smiling.

 

As expected—these girls were all calculating in their own way. Still, Li Xiu’s straightforwardness was rather cute.

 

Su Hao: Yes, you’ve always had a chance. Keep trying.
Li Xiu: Sister Su Hao, you’re really nice.

 

Su Hao was about to reply when she hesitated.

 

The next second, her phone was snatched away.

 

She looked up to see Zhou Yang skimming through her chat at lightning speed. When he finished reading, his expression darkened. He looked at her.

 

Su Hao held out her hand. “My phone.”

 

“So you don’t really like me?”
“Li Xiu still has a chance?”

 

Zhou Yang raised his hand, turned off the screen, and looked down at her. He hadn’t meant to invade her privacy—he had noticed her taking his photo and thought nothing of it. But this? She was chatting with her rival and even encouraging her.

 

Su Hao stood up to grab the phone, but Zhou Yang suddenly rose as well, his height forcing her back into her seat. He leaned over her, one hand braced on the chair back, eyes narrowed.

 

Su Hao looked at him calmly.

 

She didn’t explain. She didn’t say much.

 

Zhou Yang’s face hardened. After a pause, he said quietly, “Do you know how much my portrait rights are worth?”

 

Su Hao didn’t answer.

 

“I could sue you.”

 

“I’ll delete it,” she said.

 

“Take back what you said earlier,” Zhou Yang said, trapping her beneath him.

 

“No.”

 

They stared each other down. The tension in the lounge shifted. Several business-class passengers nervously feared a fight. Only Assistant Lu was worried Zhou Yang might kiss her instead—because that would be even worse.

 

Thankfully, boarding was announced.

 

Su Hao tried to stand.

 

Zhou Yang didn’t let her go. After a few seconds of silent eye contact, he finally straightened up and tossed the phone back into her arms.

 

She picked it up, silently grabbed her bag.

 

Zhou Yang took his laptop and boarding pass, rolled up one sleeve, glanced at her, handed the laptop to Assistant Lu, then grabbed Su Hao’s hand and walked out of the lounge.

 

She struggled briefly, then gave up. He even interlaced their fingers. Su Hao glanced at their joined hands as they passed security. Zhou Yang tugged at his collar, irritation written all over him.

 

His mind replayed the conversation between Su Hao and Li Xiu again and again.

 

He had never cared about such things before.

 

Now, he did.

 

---

 

On the plane, Su Hao flipped through a magazine. Zhou Yang did the same beside her. They didn’t speak. When she finished reading, she ordered a small cake. As she was about to eat a strawberry, Zhou Yang suddenly reached over, grabbed her hand, and bit it off.

 

She glanced at him, then calmly continued eating.

 

Zhou Yang frowned deeply.

 

Assistant Lu, seated behind them, was still browsing lipstick photos.

 

More than three hours later, the plane landed in Licheng. It was hot, but not as hot as Kyoto.

 

Su Qian called Su Hao.

 

“Haohai, come home for dinner.”

 

Su Hao glanced at Zhou Yang. He was wearing sunglasses and looking at her too, her reflection visible in the dark lenses.

 

“I’m not going back,” Zhou Yang said. “Something came up at the military tech side. I’ll have the driver take you.”

 

“I’ll take a cab myself,” Su Hao replied.

 

Since he wasn’t going back, she wouldn’t waste his time.

 

Zhou Yang snorted softly, irritation lingering between his brows. He grabbed her wrist and led her to the exit, where a business van from the military tech company was waiting. He opened the door and pushed her inside.

 

The movement was domineering.

 

After sitting down, Su Hao shot him a cold look and lowered her head to her phone.

 

Zhou Yang and Assistant Lu got in after her.

 

“To Blue Bay,” Zhou Yang told the driver.

 

They arrived shortly. As Su Hao moved to get out, Zhou Yang beat her to it and pulled her down after him.

 

“Thank you,” she said.

 

Polite. Distant.

 

Zhou Yang snorted.

 

She pushed her suitcase toward the villa without looking back.

 

Zhou Yang stood there watching her retreating figure. Assistant Lu stood beside him, removed his glasses, and said softly, “President Zhou… doesn’t this look a lot like how you used to treat your ex-girlfriends?”

 

Zhou Yang shot him a glance.

 

Assistant Lu coughed, put his glasses back on, checked his watch. “President Zhou, lunch with President Wen is about to start.”

 

Zhou Yang turned and got back into the car.

 

Assistant Lu followed, thinking to himself: Miss Su really is something. President Zhou had treated his exes like this too—once his patience ran out, he simply left. His ex-girlfriends couldn’t push too far, or he’d lose interest altogether.

 

But Miss Su? She had no intention of acting cute. No intention of giving in.

 

President Zhou… was finally getting a taste of his own medicine.

 

Not bad.

 

Someone had to put him in his place.

 

The only question was—how long could he endure it?

 

---

 

“Haohai.” Su Qian took the gift from Su Hao, set it aside, and hugged her tightly.

 

Su Hao hugged back, smiling. “Aunt Su Qian, I missed you so much.”

 

“I missed you too!” Su Qian pulled back and examined her. “You look a little darker.”

 

“Yeah, Kyoto was really hot.”

 

At the mention of Kyoto, Su Qian thought of Shen He and cursed her useless son internally. Such a good girl—and men kept giving her up.

 

Zhou Yang was a jerk.

 

But Shen He should have held on!

 

They’d all regret it.

 

“Auntie, do you like this scarf?” Su Hao asked, opening the box.

 

Su Qian’s eyes lit up. “I love it! Why did you buy something so expensive? That’s practically your monthly salary!”

 

“It wasn’t that much—it was on sale,” Su Hao said quickly.

 

Su Qian glanced at her but didn’t expose the lie. That brand never went on sale.

 

Later, they sat together on the sofa.

 

After a moment, Su Qian asked, “Zhou Yang is pursuing you?”

 

Su Hao nodded while chewing an apple.

 

“Don’t make it easy for him,” Su Qian said.

 

Su Hao: “……”

 

She didn’t dare look up.

 

---

 

At the sky restaurant of Military Tech Corporation, Zhou Yang sat on the sofa, glancing at his phone for the eighth time. He bit into a cookie and casually scrolled through Moments.

 

Lu Qi had posted:

 

Lu Qi: Clearance sale. Anyone want these?
Photos ×9

 

All lipstick photos.

 

Zhou Yang scrolled down.

 

One second earlier, Su Hao had replied:

 

Su Hao: How much?

 

A minute later, Zhou Yang replied:

 

Zhou Yang: You have time to look at lipsticks, but not time to message me?