Clang.

 

Everyone turned to look at once. President Zeng shot to his feet as if he’d seen a ghost, his face pale with terror. The group froze for a moment.

 

“President Zeng? Are you okay?”

 

Cold sweat broke out across President Zeng’s back. He swallowed hard and glanced at Zhou Yang beside him.

 

Zhou Yang rested his chin on his hand, tapping lightly with the other.
“Sit down. Why so nervous? Su… Su the accountant thinks highly of you. That’s your good fortune.”

 

Holy hell!

 

President Zeng was on the verge of collapse.

 

Only Assistant Lu, who knew the inside story, looked at him with sympathy. He stepped forward, patted President Zeng’s shoulder, and helped straighten his chair.

 

“Sit. If you can sit for a minute, that’s already a win.”

 

President Zeng: “……”

 

You’d be better off leaving me alone!

 

“President Zeng, what’s wrong? Are you really that afraid of your wife?”

 

“Accountant Su just said you’re the homebody type. She didn’t say she wanted to marry you.”

 

“Hahaha, this is the first time I’ve ever seen President Zeng this scared. How rare.”

 

“Yeah, President Zeng, you’re usually ruthless in business. Who knew you’d be such a henpecked husband?”

 

President Zeng sat down uneasily. Being henpecked would’ve been much simpler than this. You people dancing on knife edges would never understand how I feel!

 

He didn’t dare glance at Su Hao at all, afraid of the knife-sharp gaze of the man beside her.

 

Once President Zeng had settled, Lu Mimi still refused to let Su Hao off the hook.

 

“Then let me ask another question. Why did you choose President Zeng?”

 

Su Hao looked at her calmly.
“I’ve already answered one question.”

 

With that, she refused to fall into Lu Mimi’s trap again. Lu Mimi pouted and could only announce that the counting would start from her side. Gradually, the atmosphere at the table loosened.

 

Soon, it reached Zhou Yang’s turn.

 

“Twenty-five,” he answered, his eyes fixed on Su Hao.

 

When Su Hao reached for a biscuit and juice, she happened to meet his gaze. Expressionless, she turned away.

 

Zhou Yang leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers. The flirtatious look from earlier was gone, replaced by something more serious. Occasionally, when he called out a number, a faint smile appeared — but never fully.

 

Round after round went by. Many people were waiting for Zhou Yang to mess up.

 

Unfortunately, he didn’t — until Su Hao’s turn came. When the count reached him, he called out the wrong number.

 

The room instantly exploded.

 

“Holy shit, he finally screwed up!”

 

“Hahaha, yes! Accountant Su, ask a century-level question!”

 

“Ahhh, I want to ask so badly!”

 

Su Hao didn’t know what to ask.

 

At that moment, Tang Yu slipped her a piece of paper. Su Hao unfolded it and read. Then she looked up at Zhou Yang. He was already looking at her.

 

Across the long table, their eyes met.

 

She asked, “Recently… is there someone who makes you want to get married?”

 

The question itself was neutral.

 

But it was a massive bomb — perfect gossip material.

 

Everyone held their breath, watching Zhou Yang.

 

He maintained his posture, fingers tapping the table rhythmically.

 

“No… there isn’t.”

 

The word isn’t broke off slightly.

 

After meeting Su Hao’s eyes, he lost focus for a split second — an unmistakable flicker of guilt. He frowned.

 

Su Hao nodded, set the paper down. It was as if she had already known the answer.

 

The rest of the group let out disappointed groans.

 

No gossip!

 

Many people had seafood with red wine at the dinner. By the time it ended, it turned into people escorting each other home. The company had arranged several designated drivers.

 

Tang Yu had also been drinking and was assigned a driver. She planned to send Su Hao home, and Su Hao agreed.

 

Carrying her small bag, Su Hao walked downstairs with her. Tang Yu hooked her arm around Su Hao’s, chattering about how, if she got promoted, she planned to buy a small-property apartment in Li City.

 

“Careful,” Su Hao said, lightly supporting her.

 

At that moment, President Zeng happened to walk by. Su Hao turned, remembering how frightened he’d been earlier.

 

Feeling apologetic, she said, “President Zeng, I—”

 

Before she could finish, President Zeng immediately smiled.

 

“Good night, Accountant Su.”

 

Then he sped up and practically ran away.

 

Su Hao: “……”

 

Tang Yu burst into laughter.
“Why is President Zeng so scared? Does he really have a tigress at home?”

 

Su Hao was just about to reply.

 

A waiter ran after them.
“Miss, a document was left inside. Is it yours?”

 

Su Hao turned back. “Probably not?”

 

“If it’s not, we’ll throw it away.”

 

Su Hao: “…… Wait. Let me take a look.”

 

She told Tang Yu to go ahead. Tang Yu waved her off.
“It’s fine. I’ll go down first.”

 

After watching Tang Yu enter the elevator, Su Hao turned back toward the private room.

 

The moment she stepped inside and the door closed, her wrist was grabbed.

 

She turned her head and met Zhou Yang’s face.

 

He pressed his lips together, looked at her for a moment, then let out a low laugh.

 

“I’ll take you home.”

 

With that, he turned and headed toward another elevator.

 

Only then did Su Hao realize — the document was a lie.

 

They went straight down to the underground parking garage.

 

Zhou Yang dragged her toward his car. The next second, he shoved her against the car door, bracing one hand above her head. His knee pressed in, eyes dark and unreadable.

 

“You like President Zeng that much?”

 

“I didn’t know our Su Hao was even thinking of being a mistress.”

 

Su Hao struggled until her wrist turned red.

 

Clutching it, she said, “If I were a mistress, then what were you before?”

 

The implication was clear.

 

Veins bulged on Zhou Yang’s forehead. He laughed in anger.

 

“So that’s it. You’re the type of woman who thinks about marriage all day.”

 

“Trying to trap a man with marriage.”

 

Su Hao smiled.
“That’s right. That’s exactly the kind of woman I am.”

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

“Su Hao…” He grabbed both her hands and lowered his head. “When are you going to agree to be with me?”

 

She raised her eyes.
“You guess?”

 

It was his own favorite phrase — something he used to brush off people he didn’t want to deal with.

 

For the first time, those two words felt painfully sharp to him.

 

Her phone rang wildly at that moment, the echo loud in the empty garage.

 

Su Hao lowered her head to answer. Zhou Yang glanced down, inadvertently catching the caller ID — Tang Yu.

 

He raised his brows and leaned in to kiss Su Hao’s cheek.

 

She dodged and picked up the call.

 

“Haoh Hao, are you downstairs yet?”

 

“I’m coming. Wait for me.”

 

Zhou Yang suddenly snatched her phone, about to answer.

 

Su Hao swiftly covered his mouth with her hand, her eyes cold as she stared at him.

 

Zhou Yang froze, narrowing his eyes.

 

He panicked — because of this woman?

 

Taking the chance, Su Hao grabbed her phone back and hung up.

 

She stood on tiptoe again, as if to wrap her arms around him. Zhou Yang didn’t move, but his grip loosened. Her scent filled his senses, her softness making his heart pound.

 

She leaned close to his ear and whispered,
“There’s a kiss I’m saving for next time.”

 

“What?” Zhou Yang raised his brows.

 

Her rosy lips brushed lightly past his ear. Zhou Yang tightened his hold on her waist and pulled her into his arms.

 

“Why not give it to me now?”

 

Su Hao said calmly,
“You don’t want me to avoid you, do you? If not, let go. I’m going home with Tang Yu.”

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

After a few seconds, he released her.

 

Su Hao turned toward the elevator, went back to the first floor, and found Tang Yu.

 

Zhou Yang leaned against the car door, his face dark.

 

A few seconds later, he opened the door — then slammed it shut hard.

 

Being at a disadvantage every single time…
It felt awful.

 

Over the next week, whether because the word avoid had worked, or because Zhou Yang was patiently waiting for that next kiss, Su Hao didn’t see him again.

 

But every day at work, she still received roses sent by him.

 

The entire office buzzed with gossip about who was pursuing Accountant Su. Roses delivered daily meant serious money — whoever it was clearly had a solid financial background.

 

Unable to deal with them, Su Hao distributed the roses to various departments, adding a touch of atmosphere to the company.

 

After finishing her work, on Saturday morning, she tore up her high-speed rail ticket and returned to Huijiang City.

 

---

 

Meanwhile, in Dong City.

 

Zhou Yang’s men kicked open the door of a villa.

 

Zhou Yang walked in. The two men inside barely had time to flee before jumping up in shock.

 

Zhou Yang raised his hand, signaling them to sit.

 

“Don’t go. Sit down. Let’s talk.”

 

“Weren’t you impressive? Stealing that many design drafts.”

 

“Zhou Yang! Do you know who helped your father rise back then? It should’ve been my father’s turn. It was us—”

 

They pointed at him.

 

Zhou Yang lowered his head to light a cigarette, then strolled over slowly. Bending down to face them, he smiled — but his eyes were full of menace.

 

“Oh… now that you mention it, I remember.”

 

“Forcing my father to sell his shares, right?”

 

Their faces went pale.

 

Zhou Yang bit down on the cigarette at an angle. After a few seconds, he sneered.

 

“You won’t escape. We’ll start settling accounts today. The interest alone will put you behind bars for life.”

 

With that, he kicked each of them once — hard, right where it hurt most.

 

Screams erupted.

 

He chuckled.

 

Standing up, he wiped his hands and picked up his phone.

 

A message popped up.

 

Su Qian: Son! I’ve got good news! Su Hao went back to Huijiang City to pick up Cheng Ling. Oh, and Tang Rui is back too! Su Hao’s ex-husband! He’s in Huijiang City as well!

 

Zhou Yang: Say that again.