For convenience at work today, Su Hao wore a skirt with a pair of white sneakers. Just now, she accidentally stepped on her own shoelace and it came loose.
Slender fingers moved steadily under the light as she bent down to tie it.

 

Su Hao froze for two seconds, then reflexively took a step back. The moment her foot lifted, Zhou Yang grabbed her ankle and pulled her forward.

 

His hand closed over the patch of skin exposed by her skirt. His palm was warm, a little rough.

 

“Your ankle is really thin,” the man said, his voice carrying a teasing edge.

 

The words slipped into her ears.

 

At the same time, a soft, delicate voice rang out—

 

“Zhou Yang! Su Hao!”

 

Not too far away.

 

Su Hao looked up and saw Li Xiu, whom she had not seen for a long time. Against the noisy background, the girl wore a bright pink T-shirt that showed off her long legs. Her face looked slightly pale.

 

That flamboyant confidence still rushed toward her—yet it felt like a paper fortress forced into shape, ready to collapse at any moment.

 

For some reason, Su Hao suddenly recalled the gossip from the very beginning.

 

Ah.

 

You’re not his type.

 

Su Hao yanked her foot back hard.

 

Too hard.

 

The man in front of her was completely unprepared and stumbled backward, falling to the ground. Shock flashed across his handsome face.

 

Su Hao glanced at him lightly and turned to leave.

 

“Su Hao!”

 

Zhou Yang called after her.

 

His voice chased from behind. Su Hao quickened her pace and hurried up the stairs.

 

Li Xiu covered her mouth, staring in disbelief.

 

The man she had chased for nearly a year—even after falling to the ground—scrambled up at once. He shot her a cold, warning look, then ran after the slender figure ahead, taking the stairs two steps at a time.

 

She could hardly believe it.

 

“Zhou Yang…”

 

“Zhou Yang!!”

 

She stared at the stairwell, then at the spot where Su Hao had just pulled her foot away and Zhou Yang had fallen. He had always been good with his body—yet he had still fallen so badly, completely off guard.

 

He had never been this humble.

 

That really wasn’t him.

 

It couldn’t be him.

 

How could he lower himself for a woman like this?

 

Her gaze drifted to the car nearby. The scene struck her in the face like a slap.

 

—

 

On the stairs, Su Hao’s ankle still felt hot. She frowned and walked quickly. Footsteps came from behind and rapidly closed in.

 

Luckily, she reached the third floor. She took out her keys, but before she could get them into the lock, a large hand seized her arm and spun her around.

 

Zhou Yang leaned down, one hand braced against the door beside her, looking down at her.

 

“Why are you running?”

 

He trapped her between his body and the door.

 

The faint scent of fir on him filled her breath. Su Hao calmed herself and said, “Let go…”

 

Before she could finish, Zhou Yang clicked his tongue. Then he squatted down again and tugged at her shoelaces.

 

“They’re not tied properly. You were running while I was praying you wouldn’t fall. But then I thought—if you did fall, that wouldn’t be so bad either.”

 

Su Hao tried to step back.

 

But there was nowhere to go. Her back was pressed against the door. She lowered her eyes.

 

He really was tying her shoelaces.

 

With his head lowered like that, a small patch of skin was exposed at the back of his collar.

 

Su Hao looked away and shifted a few times.

 

He grabbed her foot again and pulled it back.

 

The stairwell lighting was dim. Her brows remained tightly knit. She felt completely at a loss.

 

She couldn’t run. She didn’t dare knock on the door behind her either—what if Cheng Ling opened it and saw this?

 

She wanted to squat down and tie them herself, but the space was too narrow. She would inevitably bump into him. Closing her eyes, she said,

 

“Zhou Yang, I saw Li Xiu.”

 

Zhou Yang raised a brow. “Hmm?”

 

“Isn’t she the type you’ve always liked?”

 

The shoelace happened to be tied at that moment.

 

Zhou Yang’s hand paused. His gaze fell on Su Hao’s calf. Her skin was fair, and her leg was so slim that he could wrap one hand around it. She was wearing a white skirt, the hem swaying slightly.

 

He really wanted to kiss it.

 

Better yet, bite it.

 

“Actually, you and her are more compatible.”

 

“Oh?” Zhou Yang came back to his senses. He stayed in the same posture, one hand resting on his knee, and looked up at her with a smile.

 

“I think I match you better.”

 

“A playboy like me is meant to be tamed by a woman like you.”

 

As he spoke, he stood up, leaned in, and rested his forehead against hers.

 

“Why don’t you come and tame me?”

 

Click.

 

The door behind her made a sound.

 

Su Hao shoved Zhou Yang away hard.

 

She turned around sharply.

 

The door was fully open. Light spilled out from inside. Cheng Ling made a small sound of surprise.

 

“Why are you two standing… here?”

 

Su Hao slipped inside at once, tossed her shopping bags aside, and walked straight to the dining table to pour herself a glass of water.

 

Cheng Ling froze for a few seconds, then looked at Zhou Yang.

 

Zhou Yang adjusted his shirt, smiling faintly.

 

“Aunt Cheng, good evening.”

 

“Good evening…”

 

She answered awkwardly, hesitated for a second, then asked, “Have you eaten?”

 

Unable to think of anything else to say.

 

Zhou Yang’s gaze swept around the apartment.

 

That figure was standing by the dining table, not turning back even once.

 

He lowered his eyes with a faint smile.

 

“Not yet. I was passing by and came up to see you.”

 

Although she had seen Zhou Yang more often lately, Cheng Ling still found it hard to believe whenever he said he had come specifically to see her.

 

But since he was already at the door, she thought for a moment and said,

 

“Why don’t you come in? I can make you a bowl of noodles.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Zhou Yang followed her inside. Being tall, his presence brought an unmistakable sense of pressure as soon as he stepped in. He looked toward Su Hao.

 

Su Hao put down her cup, turned, and went straight into the master bedroom.

 

Cheng Ling invited Zhou Yang to sit down, then went to the bedroom door and peeked in.

 

“Su Hao, do you want a late-night snack?”

 

Standing by the wardrobe, Su Hao shook her head.

 

“No.”

 

“Alright.”

 

After hesitating, Cheng Ling still said,

 

“Zhou Yang is here. If you have time, come out for a bit.”

 

She wasn’t forcing her—she was simply worried. Zhou Yang really was too attractive. Compared to before, even when he said nothing, the smile in his eyes alone seemed full of feeling. Not to mention his figure—every movement radiated charm.

 

Cheng Ling was afraid Su Hao would fall for him again.

 

Chase him again.

 

Lose herself again.

 

Su Hao closed the wardrobe door.

 

“Okay.”

 

She stood there for a moment, then walked out.

 

Zhou Yang was leaning casually against the armrest, flipping through a magazine. His long legs were crossed, and because of the posture, his collar had fallen open a little more, revealing a hint of his collarbones.

 

He lifted his eyes to her and smiled.

 

Su Hao walked to the table, poured a glass of water, and placed it on the coffee table.

 

Sounds came from the kitchen.

 

“Su Hao, bring me some scallions,” Cheng Ling called.

 

“Coming.”

 

Su Hao went to the balcony, picked two stalks of scallions she was growing, and brought them into the kitchen. After handing them to Cheng Ling, she stayed, leaning against the door and watching her.

 

Zhou Yang put down the magazine and walked over, stopping beside Su Hao with his hands in his pockets, watching the kitchen with her.

 

In a low voice, he asked, “You went shopping tonight?”

 

Su Hao pressed her lips together and glanced at him.

 

“Bought clothes? What kind?”

 

She still ignored him.

 

Zhou Yang chuckled and leaned closer.

 

“Wife…”

 

That single word made Su Hao’s face change. She shot him a fierce look.

 

He spoke it with the tip of his tongue, deliberately slow and intimate.

 

Su Hao turned her head away and said nothing.

 

At that moment, Cheng Ling’s voice came from the kitchen.

 

“Su Hao, how come I haven’t seen Tang Rui these past two days?”

 

Zhou Yang’s expression changed instantly.

 

Then Cheng Ling continued,

 

“Su Hao, I’ve been thinking… maybe we can give Tang Rui another chance. Listen to what he really wants, what he’s thinking. That card he gave us—money goes into it every month. I checked the records. From the very beginning, he’s been transferring all his salary to you…”

 

Zhou Yang’s face darkened even further.

 

He reached out to push the kitchen door open.

 

Su Hao’s heart skipped.

 

Here he goes again.

 

She rushed forward without thinking and grabbed his arm, pulling it down hard. Warning flashed in her eyes.

 

Zhou Yang looked down at her.

 

The next second, he tightened his arm. Su Hao was pulled into him, her waist clamped firmly in his hold.

 

He lowered his head and spoke coldly into her ear,

 

“Find some time to tell Aunt Cheng that I’m pursuing you. As for salary? I’ll give you mine every month too. You can manage it for me. How about that?”

 

She had seen the financial records of Feijie.

 

Those numbers—

 

She couldn’t possibly manage them.

 

Su Hao turned her head, afraid Cheng Ling would hear, and whispered,

 

“Get lost.”

 

Zhou Yang held her even tighter.

 

His teeth clenched.

 

“Are you leaving?”

 

“Or do you really want to eat the noodles?”

 

No woman had ever dared talk to him like this. Zhou Yang felt a surge of anger stuck in his chest—and suddenly, a strange trace of grievance.

 

Through gritted teeth, he said,

 

“I really haven’t eaten.”

 

“Then eat and get out,” Su Hao struggled.

 

Zhou Yang was furious.

 

But he didn’t dare explode. At the peak of his anger, he let out a cold laugh.

 

He finally released her.

 

Just then, the kitchen door opened.

 

The rest of Cheng Ling’s words were lost in the scuffle.

 

Seeing both of them standing outside the kitchen, she froze.

 

“Why are you standing here?”

 

She set the bowl of noodles on the table.

 

“Zhou Yang, come eat.”

 

“Thank you, Aunt Cheng.”

 

Zhou Yang smiled politely, though a trace of hostility still hid in his eyes.

 

“These noodles get soggy easily. Eat while they’re hot,” Cheng Ling said, pouring him a glass of water.

 

Zhou Yang sat down.

 

Su Hao turned and went back into the master bedroom, closing the door behind her.

 

Holding his chopsticks, Zhou Yang stared at that door.

 

His jaw clenched.

 

Then he lowered his head and started eating.

 

—

 

Inside the room, Su Hao didn’t turn on the light. She sat on the edge of the bed and swung her feet gently. The window was half open. Noisy sounds from downstairs drifted up—the late-night food stalls, drinking, shouting games, chatting. It was lively, full of everyday warmth.

 

She sat in the darkness, not really thinking about anything.

 

Faces and moments flickered through her mind.

 

After a few seconds, she lay back on the bed and closed her eyes, letting out a soft sigh.

 

Shopping was exhausting.

 

Her small feet were sore.

 

Before long, she fell asleep.

 

In a daze, she heard the man outside leave.

 

Her mother walked him out.

 

Su Hao turned over and went back to sleep.

 

—

 

Once the door closed, the smile on Zhou Yang’s face faded.

 

He went downstairs, took out a cigarette, and walked toward his parked car.

 

“Zhou Yang.”

 

A soft, sweet voice called out.

 

Zhou Yang lifted his eyes.

 

A fiery red sports car was parked there. Li Xiu leaned against the front of it, her arms wrapped around herself—not arrogantly, but helplessly.

 

Her makeup was exquisite. A small “Z” was tattooed on her collarbone.

 

She had gotten it half a year ago, when she was chasing him.

 

“Zhou Yang,” she called again.

 

But in his mind flashed a slender ankle, a white skirt hem.

 

And Su Hao grabbing his shirt collar and hissing at him.

 

In a hotel room, when he leaned in and kissed her, she had trembled slightly, her shoulders drawn in.

 

Her collarbone was unmarked.

 

Yet she could endure him.

 

The way she said “Xiao Qi” was unbelievably gentle.

 

What would it sound like if she called him “husband”?

 

Zhou Yang’s throat bobbed. He closed his eyes, pulled open the car door, and got into the driver’s seat.

 

He glanced toward the third floor, lit the cigarette between his lips, and started the engine.

 

He completely forgot the red sports car behind him—and the girl standing in front of it.

 

—

 

The car arrived at Lan Bay.

 

Zhou Yang got out, slammed the door, leaned against the hood, and finished a cigarette before heading for the iron gate.

 

His phone rang. He opened the message.

 

Shen He:
Zhou Yang, no matter how far you and Su Hao go, I will keep waiting for her. You’d better not give me any chance.

 

Bang.

 

Zhou Yang kicked the gate hard.

 

A few seconds later, he sneered and typed a reply.

 

Zhou Yang:
Then wait.

 

After sending it, he strode up the steps, his face dark.

 

Su Qian was sitting on the sofa, looking at her tablet.

 

“You’re back?”

 

Zhou Yang didn’t answer. He went to the fridge, took out a bottle of water, opened it, and took a drink. His expression was terrible.

 

Su Qian glanced at him a few times, hesitated, and decided not to provoke him. A message popped up on her tablet, and she looked down to read it.

 

Zhou Yang walked to the cabinet to get some documents.

 

Out of the corner of his eye—

 

He saw Su Qian chatting with Cheng Ling.

 

Su Qian:
Cheng Ling, forward this business card to Su Hao. This guy is pretty good.

 

Clack.

 

The bottle of water was set down heavily on the table.

 

Su Qian turned around.

 

Zhou Yang was leaning over the back of the sofa, his voice low.

 

“Mom, can you stop making trouble for me?”

 

There was unmistakable grievance in his tone.

 

Su Qian looked at her tablet.

 

Blinking, she finally reacted.

 

“Did you cry?”

 

Almost.

 

That would be more sincere.