Zhou Yang didn’t say a word. He snatched the tablet from Su Qian’s hands and glanced at it.

 

Great.

 

This time, the person being introduced wasn’t someone with a prominent family background like Shen He. It was Zhang Xinhua—the guy who had gotten rich from a demolition payout. More importantly, Zhang Xinhua was currently Su Hao’s landlord.

 

That meant their chances of meeting would greatly increase.

 

And to make things worse, Zhang Xinhua’s family had already lowered their standards for finding him a girlfriend—to the point that as long as she was a woman, it would do.

 

Zhou Yang had a strong feeling that if the person introduced from the start had been Zhang Xinhua, things might already have worked out.

 

The hand gripping the tablet tightened, veins bulging. He tossed the tablet back to Su Qian, gave her a cool glance, and turned to go upstairs.

 

It was the first time Su Qian had ever been looked at that way by her son.

 

She stood frozen for a few seconds, hugging the tablet to her chest. A chill inexplicably ran down her back.

 

Coming back to her senses, she hurriedly called out,

 

“Auntie, Auntie—quick, I feel so cold. Make me some ginger soup.”

 

Then she slipped on her slippers and headed toward the kitchen.

 

---

 

After going upstairs, Zhou Yang took out his phone, found Zhang Xinhua’s number, and dialed.

 

It connected quickly.

 

“Brother Yang.”

 

Zhou Yang leaned against the desk, twirling a pen in his fingers.

 

“My mom introduced a girl to you?”

 

“Ah… seems so. My mom just sent me her WeChat. I haven’t looked yet. I’m outside right now.”

 

“Do you have a secondary account?”

 

“Yeah, I think so.”

 

“Good.”

 

Zhou Yang licked the corner of his lips.

 

“Huh? What do you mean, Brother Yang?”

 

---

 

Early the next morning, Su Hao was in the bathroom brushing her teeth when busy sounds came from the kitchen.

 

Cheng Ling, holding a spatula, walked to the bathroom door.

 

“Su Hao, should I make a bit more so you can take it to the office?”

 

Su Hao had a mouthful of foam. She glanced at Cheng Ling and nodded.

 

“Yes. Thanks, Mom.”

 

“It’s nothing. Oh, right…”

 

Cheng Ling cleared her throat. Su Hao looked at her again and saw a bright smile on her face.

 

“What is it?”

 

Cheng Ling smiled.

 

“I sent you a contact card. Remember to add him later.”

 

“It was introduced by Su Qian. He seems to be our landlord here, but he’s a pretty decent young man.”

 

The gloom in Cheng Ling’s heart had lifted somewhat, and even her smile looked lighter.

 

Su Hao froze.

 

After spitting out the foam and rinsing her mouth, she wiped her face with a towel and applied skincare, then asked casually,

 

“Zhang Xinhua?”

 

“Seems like it.”

 

Su Hao had only seen this young landlord once—on the night of the high-rise object-throwing incident. Other than that, rent was always paid through WeChat, and they had never really spoken.

 

Zhang Xinhua didn’t post on his Moments either—maybe he blocked his tenants.

 

He had even seen her entanglement with Zhou Yang.

 

Would he really still want to chat with her?

 

Su Hao dried her hands, went back to her bedroom, changed clothes, and came out.

 

Breakfast was already on the table.

 

Cheng Ling looked at her and said, “Remember to add him later.”

 

Su Hao picked up her spoon.

 

“Okay.”

 

Don’t they already have each other on WeChat? Why add again?

 

---

 

Carrying the breakfasts she had prepared for everyone, Su Hao went downstairs.

 

The wind was strong and the air was chilly. Winter was approaching. She tightened her thin jacket as she walked into the residential compound.

 

The security guard on duty suddenly came out holding a bouquet of roses and handed it to her.

 

Su Hao froze.

 

“Uncle Lin?”

 

Uncle Lin smiled.

 

“A flower shop delivered this in the morning. They said it’s for you.”

 

“There’s a card.”

 

He pulled out a card and handed it to her.

 

Su Hao took it and opened it.

 

Good morning, my wife.

 

Zhou Yang.

 

Su Hao put the card back into the bouquet and said to Uncle Lin,

 

“Please take care of it for me.”

 

Then she swiped her card and walked into the compound.

 

Uncle Lin stood there for a few seconds, then went back into the guardroom and made a phone call.

 

“Mr. Zhou, she didn’t take it. She told me to handle it.”

 

On the other end, the man’s voice was low.

 

“Mm.”

 

He had already guessed.

 

---

 

After arriving at the office, Su Hao walked in and immediately saw Qiqi and Yan Chong sitting together on the sofa, Qiqi’s hand still resting on Yan Chong’s.

 

Su Hao smiled, walked over, and placed the breakfasts in front of them.

 

“Soup dumplings today.”

 

Qiqi immediately pulled her hand back.

 

“Ah—thank you, Su Hao!”

 

“Thanks!”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

Su Hao looked at the two of them and smiled before returning to her seat.

 

It seemed that after one night, they had made up.

 

Soon, the rest of the team arrived. Everyone crowded around to grab breakfast, all of them happily eating. In the end, they all sent Su Hao red packets, which she refused.

 

Qiqi came over with her milk and sat beside Su Hao.

 

“Um… about the breakfast money… we should still pay you, right? Can we just add it into the base salary?”

 

Su Hao was about to say there was no need, but paused.

 

Qiqi continued, “Could you help make breakfast every day? It’s fine if you don’t sometimes… we can be flexible?”

 

Su Hao glanced at Qiqi and thought for a moment. Actually, having something to do would make her mother more energetic.

 

“I’ll talk to my mom about it.”

 

“That’s great!” Qiqi said, slurping her milk.

 

Then she tilted her head and stared at Su Hao.

 

Noticing her gaze, Su Hao glanced back at her.

 

Qiqi smiled.

 

“I saw it last night—a really handsome man tying your shoelaces for you. Who was that? And you even said he wasn’t worth mentioning. You’re way too modest.”

 

Su Hao hadn’t paid much attention at the time, but since she had left first and Qiqi was behind her, it made sense that Qiqi had seen it.

 

She paused.

 

“He’s… just so-so.”

 

“Don’t say that. Tell me—what kind of person is he?”

 

Su Hao opened the backend system. The screen reflected her face as she spoke.

 

“He…”

 

“Does a lot of women like him? And he must be pretty flirtatious, right?”

 

Qiqi immediately took over her sentence, crushing the milk carton in her hand.

 

Su Hao nodded.

 

Qiqi whispered, “Do you know how much the watch on his wrist costs?”

 

Su Hao shook her head. She rarely paid attention to that.

 

“Over twenty million,” Qiqi lowered her voice. “He must be insanely rich. Is he some spoiled rich second generation?”

 

“No,” Su Hao said.

 

“What? Then he’s some big shot?” Qiqi widened her eyes. “You don’t even want someone like that? Then what kind of man do you want?”

 

Su Hao rested her chin on her hand and looked at Qiqi.

 

Her brows and eyes were gentle, her gaze soft and warm. Qiqi actually blushed under her look.

 

Su Hao was really beautiful.

 

Su Hao thought for a moment.

 

“I don’t know how to explain it to you.”

 

“That makes sense. Everyone has their own way of thinking, and their own expectations for relationships. I get it.”

 

Qiqi reached out and touched Su Hao’s smooth hair, feeling how nice and soft the naturally black hair was.

 

Su Hao smiled at her and went back to work.

 

Qiqi was a very clear-headed person.

 

For the first time, Su Hao truly felt like she had made a friend.

 

Of course, Yun Lü also counted as a friend—but after all, she stood on Zhou Yang’s side.

 

---

 

During the break around ten o’clock, Su Hao finally checked WeChat.

 

Cheng Ling had sent her a contact card. Su Qian had sent one as well.

 

Neither of them was Zhang Xinhua’s current account.

 

After glancing at them a few times, Su Hao exited—and then noticed there was already a new contact in her list.

 

She opened it.

 

It was the account Cheng Ling had sent her.

 

“Su Hao.”

 

Su Hao paused and tapped Accept.

 

As soon as she accepted, the other side sent a message.

 

Z: Have you had breakfast?

 

Su Hao: I have.

 

Z: It’s getting cold. Remember to dress warmly.

 

Su Hao: Thank you. You too.

 

Z: Can I call you Haohao?

 

Su Hao: Sure.

 

Z: Haohao, you’re very concise when you talk. Is there anything you want to ask me?

 

Su Hao: Not at the moment.

 

Z: Tsk. All right then.

 

---

 

Military Industry Technology Group.

 

Zhou Yang finished editing the message and tapped the nine-grid keyboard.

 

A few seconds later, he put his phone down and finally relaxed.

 

He took the cigarette out of his mouth and cursed softly.

 

“Damn… I split one sentence into two. Tsk.”

 

He stubbed out the cigarette, picked up his cup, and took a sip of cold tea.

 

Lu, his assistant, was standing nearby holding a stack of documents.

 

He had watched Zhou Yang accidentally type the word wife, delete it, then type an invitation to dinner—delete it again because it felt wrong.

 

Then he typed I miss you, and immediately deleted that as well.

 

In the end, the chat history became what it was now.

 

A very simple beginning.

 

There was a hint of pity in Lu’s eyes.

 

“President Zhou… is this really okay?”

 

“Then what?” Zhou Yang looked up at him. “You teach me?”

 

Lu shook his head.

 

“I don’t know how.”

 

Zhou Yang leaned back, tugged at his collar, loosened his fingers, then picked up his phone again and stared intently at the chat window.

 

After thinking for a while, he typed:

 

Z: Are you from Huijiang? There’s a famous stream in Huijiang called Huixi. I heard there’s a very famous story about it. Could you tell me about it?

 

---

 

After getting off work at noon and having lunch at home, Su Hao sat on the sofa and finally saw that message.

 

She thought—Zhang Xinhua has even been to Huijiang?

 

When she remembered the story, something soft stirred in her heart.

 

When she was young, someone had once sung a song called The Water of Huixi.

 

It was said that Huixi was a place left for people who wished for three lifetimes together.

 

If, in the next two lives, the two people still wanted to be together, they had to drink a sip of Huixi water—then they could make a promise for three lifetimes.

 

The Huijiang government had even put up a plaque at Huixi. There were people who provided water there—real Huixi water that could be drunk.

 

But usually, only couples who had been married for seven years were allowed to go.

 

Because of the so-called “seven-year itch,” many couples could not make it through.

 

Because the story felt too real, many people did not dare to drink the water casually. In fact, fewer and fewer people went.

 

Su Hao had once imagined going there after seven years with the right person.

 

It would be the most beautiful proof of love.

 

She briefly sent the story to Z.

 

After a long time—almost two hours—the other side finally replied.

 

Z: It’s a beautiful story. Just like you.

 

Su Hao felt a little closer to this person.

 

---

 

There wasn’t much work in the afternoon.

 

Su Hao updated product listings and replaced some of the images for less popular products.

 

Qiqi and Yan Chong had probably been fighting for a day or two. After making up, they stuck together like glue. They closed the office door and barely came out the entire day.

 

Xiao Qi and the other two gathered around Su Hao again to chat.

 

Xiao Qi said, “We’re planning a winter trip before the holidays. Where do you think is good?”

 

“Walking a high-altitude suspension bridge?” Xiao Hua suggested.

 

“I think that sounds good. What about you, Su Hao?”

 

“I’m not familiar with that stuff. You decide.”

 

“Alright! Then we’ll tell Yan Chong our unanimous decision.”

 

The three of them looked extremely excited, and Su Hao felt a little excited too.

 

Xiao Qi added, “We must go this year. The company next door went today—seems like they went to Disneyland and took tons of photos. I’m so jealous.”

 

“Me too.”

 

“Same.”

 

---

 

After work around six, Su Hao went downstairs together with the three of them.

 

All three were single and homebodies, so they clustered around Su Hao as they walked toward the exit.

 

They ran into the neighboring company’s employees, who had just come back from their outing. A noisy group rushed past them.

 

Su Hao awkwardly dodged.

 

Her back bumped into someone.

 

She froze and looked up.

 

The man’s jawline was sharp and cold, his features clean and defined.

 

He glanced at the people who had bumped into her, his eyes carrying a clear warning.

 

Then he lowered his head.

 

His narrow eyes reflected her face.

 

Zhou Yang said in a low voice,

 

“Off work?”

 

“I came to pick you up.”