He said that line a little too quickly and in a low voice. Before anyone could fully react, Zhou Yang had already turned to Cheng Ling.

“Aunt Cheng, long time no see. You’re looking younger and younger.”

He was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a shirt and slacks. The top button of his collar was undone, his sleeves casually rolled up, a black watch on his wrist. There was a faint air of authority about him—yet he smiled as he spoke this compliment.

It caught Cheng Ling off guard for a moment. She didn’t even have the mental space to think about what he had just said to Su Hao. After a brief pause, she replied, “Zhou Yang… it has been a long time. You’ve become much more mature.”

The last time they had met was the summer Su Hao left for college. Back then, he had looked young, but his features were striking and he handled himself with composure. His clothes and habits alone made it obvious he came from a good family—the kind of child who stood out wherever he went. He was just too good-looking, with eyes that always seemed affectionate, paired with a slightly roguish demeanor.

Now, seeing him again—

He was even more eye-catching.

Just his appearance alone drew glances from passersby nearby. Cheng Ling glanced at Su Hao. Thankfully, Su Hao looked calm and composed, not the type to be easily led astray. That put Cheng Ling somewhat at ease.

“Aunt Cheng, you’re too kind. Come on—my mom is waiting for you at home. She’s been really looking forward to seeing you,” Zhou Yang said as he opened the rear door, gesturing for them to get in.

Then he went around to the trunk to load the suitcase.

At that moment, a silver sedan pulled up and stopped beside them. Su Hao looked toward Tang Rui, who looked back at her and smiled slightly.

“Su Hao, Aunt Cheng—since someone’s here to pick you up, I’ll head off first.”

“All right,” Cheng Ling replied.

Su Hao waved goodbye, but Tang Rui didn’t leave right away. He took something from his hand and walked over, handing her a card.

“This is some of the salary I’ve saved over the years. I said I’d give it to you when we divorced. I finally have it now.”

It was a bank card.

Only then did Su Hao remember—during the rushed divorce, she had taken nothing. Tang Rui had mentioned compensation back then, but she had never taken it seriously.

“It’s been so long. Forget it,” she said, shaking her head.

“Take it.”

Tang Rui grabbed her wrist and pressed the card into her palm, then turned and walked toward the silver car. Before getting in, he glanced once in Zhou Yang’s direction.

Zhou Yang had just closed the trunk. Arms crossed, he stared at Tang Rui coldly.

They weren’t far apart.

But the air between them crackled with silent hostility.

“Aunt Cheng, Su Hao—it’s time to go,” Zhou Yang said as he withdrew his gaze, opening the car door with a smile.

Su Hao had no choice but to put the card away and help Cheng Ling into the car. Cheng Ling lowered her voice and said, “I didn’t expect him to remember… or to save it all these years. Just keep it. When Hui Zhu was sick back then, you were constantly running to the hospital…”

Without Su Hao, none of the older generation would know where they’d be now.

Su Hao didn’t respond. She helped her mother settle in.

As she was about to get into the car herself, one half of her body already inside, Zhou Yang suddenly grabbed her wrist. She turned back to look at him.

Zhou Yang was smiling, but his thumb pressed hard against the spot where Tang Rui had just held her, rubbing deliberately.

Su Hao yanked her hand back and pulled the door shut.

Zhou Yang scoffed softly and closed the door for her.

Then he walked around to the driver’s seat and started the engine.

Su Hao looked down—her wrist was already red. He really hadn’t held back.

The Hummer drove away from the high-speed rail station, down the ramp, made a U-turn, and headed toward Blue Bay.

The air conditioning was strong, the car pleasantly cool. Cheng Ling looked out the window while Su Hao leaned over, explaining and pointing things out to her. Cheng Ling listened with fascination.

“A big city really is something,” she said after a moment. “But there are so many buildings—you can barely see the sky.”

“That’s what I thought when I first came here too,” Su Hao replied.

The two of them laughed.

Her voice was gentle and pleasant. Zhou Yang unconsciously reached out to lower the music volume, then adjusted the rearview mirror downward. It reflected half of her shoulder and half of her face—her collarbone clearly visible.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. “Aunt Cheng, when you have time, I’ll take you to the tallest financial tower in Li City. That’s the place closest to the sky.”

“Really? How many floors?”

“Fifty-three,” he said in a low, smiling voice, sounding intimate.

“That’s so high,” Cheng Ling said curiously.

“Yes. There’s even a sky restaurant on the top floor. You can eat there.”

The light turned red. Zhou Yang rested his arm on the window frame, tapping his chin lightly as he glanced into the rearview mirror.

Cheng Ling didn’t look up—but Su Hao did.

Their eyes met.

His gaze deepened, carrying a trace of boldness and unrestrained intent.

Su Hao silently looked away.

“Wouldn’t it be scary, eating that high up?” Cheng Ling asked.

“Not at all. You’ll know once you go. My mom goes there often.”

“Oh, I see.”

The cars ahead started moving. Zhou Yang finally withdrew his gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed as, in his mind, he had already swallowed Su Hao whole.

She had turned her eyes away—but that collarbone was still right there, swaying in front of him.

They arrived at Blue Bay around 4:30 p.m. The sun was still bright, but no longer scorching. Su Qian was waiting at the entrance. When she saw the car arrive, she rushed down as if greeting her own mother, pulling the door open without waiting for Zhou Yang.

“Cheng Ling! Wow!”

Cheng Ling saw Su Qian and immediately smiled, taking her hand as she got out of the car. The two embraced.

“My goodness, I’ve missed you so much!”

“Me too! Look at you—you haven’t changed at all!”

“Really? I’ve got wrinkles already!”

They exchanged compliments and modest denials back and forth.

Su Hao watched from inside the car, smiling as well. She turned and stepped out—but the moment her foot touched the ground, Zhou Yang wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her slightly closer.

Lowering his head, he asked, “What’s going on between you and Tang Rui? You even came here together by high-speed rail?”

Su Hao frowned and shoved him away. “What business is it of yours?”

“Heh… don’t tell me you’re getting back together? Hmm?”

He pinched her chin, trying to make her look up. At that moment, Su Qian and Cheng Ling were calling their names as they walked over. Su Hao immediately stepped back, breaking free of his hold.

Zhou Yang didn’t pull her back. He straightened up and went to retrieve the suitcase.

Su Hao looked at his broad back.

He only dared to be sneaky. The moment her mother appeared, he let go without hesitation.

What kind of intentions he had—

She knew very well.

Su Qian came over and linked arms with Su Hao. The three of them went inside first. A housekeeper was already preparing dinner. Su Qian led them to sit down.

She and Cheng Ling had met once two years ago. Later, Cheng Ling’s health deteriorated badly, and she refused to let Su Qian visit again. Since then, they had only kept in touch by phone and video calls.

Now, seeing that Cheng Ling was about the same age as herself yet already burdened with illness, Su Qian felt deeply pained and kept chatting with her.

“You really need to recuperate properly. I think the best thing is to start exercising. Why don’t you just stay here instead of going back to Huijiang? Keep me company—do yoga with me every day. Small problems will slowly go away. You’ve just worked too hard.”

“Does yoga really help? ”

“Maybe not for everything—but it definitely doesn’t hurt.”

Su Hao sat beside them, peeling oranges and handing them over.

Zhou Yang came inside, passed the suitcase to the housekeeper, adjusted his shirt cuffs, and went behind the sofa to pick up a tablet. Tablet in hand, he bent down and grabbed Su Hao’s wrist.

She froze and turned her head—just in time to see him lower his head and bite the orange slice straight from her fingers.

Su Hao pulled her hand back.

Zhou Yang leaned lightly against the armrest, looking down at her.

At that moment, her phone rang. She picked it up and glanced at the screen.

T: Su Hao, there’s one more thing I forgot to give you earlier. Send me your address, and I’ll bring it over.

“Don’t send it,” Zhou Yang said through clenched teeth in a low voice.

Su Hao calmly typed four characters:

Huahui Residential Complex

Zhou Yang’s expression instantly darkened.

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