When you guess came from his mouth, it was deliberate mischief—intentionally vague, deliberately teasing, carrying a roguish edge.
But when Su Hao said it, Zhou Yang felt nothing but malice. Only then did he truly understand the hundred different emotions people must have felt whenever he’d used that line before.

 

He froze for a moment, then softened his tone, almost pleading.
“Haohao, can you pull me out? It won’t take you any effort at all. Please?”

 

Su Hao pressed her lips together and answered with a question instead.
“What are you doing?”

 

“Hm?” Zhou Yang paused. “Just finished showering. Should I come down to find you?”

 

“No. It’s a bit late.”
Her voice was gentle. In the darkness, every word slipped straight into Zhou Yang’s heart, scratching at it. He laughed softly.
“Mm. Can you see the moon?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Is it round?”

 

Su Hao leaned out the window to look. It was round—and bright. Resting against the frame, she replied, “Round.”

 

Zhou Yang laughed. “So honest.”

 

Su Hao: “……”

 

“I’m going to sleep.” She’d been worn out all day; just standing there made her sleepy. Her voice softened further.

 

Zhou Yang hummed in response.

 

“Good night.”

 

“Good night.”

 

The call ended.

 

Su Hao hung up.

 

Zhou Yang did the same—then immediately realized she still hadn’t agreed to pull him out of her WeChat blacklist. He bit down on the cigarette between his lips and cursed.

 

Beauty really was misleading.

 

How could she set a trap so gently?

 

Too devious.

 

But a few seconds later, his WeChat chimed.

 

He bent down to pick up his phone.

 

Su Hao: Are you asleep?

 

She’d messaged him from the Z account.

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

This woman wasn’t asleep at all—and she was still flirting.

 

Said she was going to sleep, but didn’t.

 

A heartless woman.

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

Damn it.

 

His fingers flew over the keypad, typing furiously:

 

Didn’t you say you were sleeping? Still flirting with men?

 

A few seconds later, his thoughts flipped. He deleted it and started over.

 

---

 

Su Hao lay on her bed. She wanted to sleep, but her mind wouldn’t let her. She was making a difficult decision—one that felt like it would consume all the courage she had left in this lifetime, all for Zhou Yang.

 

Once the decision was made, she knew she had to understand when to advance and when to retreat. Thinking that way, she suddenly didn’t feel as afraid anymore.

 

Her thoughts were tangled.

 

Suddenly, she opened Zhang Xinhua’s WeChat.

 

Sometimes, there were emotions you could only tell a stranger—someone who didn’t know you well, who could offer an objective response.

 

Just like when Zhang Xinhua had told her about falling for a woman who’d returned to Jiang City, confiding his feelings. If he had someone else to talk to, why would he come to her?

 

Z: Still up?

 

Su Hao: Not yet. Company team-building today.

 

Z: Where’d you go?

 

Su Hao: Dong City.

 

Z: Nice.

 

Su Hao: How’s it going with that girl from Jiang City?

 

Z: Hm? Oh—okay. There’s been some progress. I just don’t know what she’s thinking. I’ve never been this cautious with a woman before.

 

Su Hao: How cautious?

 

Z: If she cries even once, my heart hurts. I’m scared. I’m a coward.

 

Su Hao: You really love her.

 

Z: Of course.

 

Z: I just hope her heart isn’t so hard. But it’s okay—I can wait.

 

Su Hao: She’ll soften.

 

Su Hao: I’m also making a decision.

 

Z: What kind?

 

Su Hao: Whether to accept someone I once liked—but never really understood.

 

Z: What’s wrong with him?

 

Su Hao: He treats emotions too casually.

 

Z: You’re so good. Even a playboy would turn back for you. You’re still young—follow your heart. Be brave. Everything will work out.

 

Su Hao: Thank you.

 

Z: You’re welcome.

 

Su Hao: Good night.

 

Z: Good night.

 

Right—still young. Not seventy or eighty yet.

 

Thinking of Qiqi’s energy, Su Hao put her phone down. She finally had clarity. Sleep came quickly.

 

---

 

Before her alarm went off the next morning, there was a knock on her door.

 

Groggy, Su Hao got up to open it.

 

Qiqi and the others stood outside, fully dressed.

 

She snapped awake. “What’s going on?”

 

“Haohao, hurry and change—we’re going back to Li City.” Qiqi looked tense.

 

Su Hao was awake now, but her mind lagged behind. She followed instructions on instinct—changed clothes, washed up, brushed her teeth. Her thoughts buzzed.

 

Did something happen to Meitong?

 

What happened?

 

She threw things into her bag in a rush. Her swimsuit was still wet—she tossed it. Bag in hand, she stepped out.

 

“I’m ready.”

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Qiqi linked arms with her. The others looked serious. Su Hao didn’t dare ask more as they hurried downstairs.

 

The morning air was chilly.

 

She pulled her coat tighter.

 

Xiao Qi grabbed hotel breakfast. They piled into the car. The driver started the engine, and the business van rolled out of the resort.

 

They ate breakfast quietly.

 

Su Hao got a rice ball and milk. Still confused, she asked Qiqi, “What exactly happened?”

 

Qiqi stuffed food into her mouth and gestured—choking.

 

Su Hao patted her back lightly.

 

Just then, Su Hao’s phone rang.

 

She checked—it was Zhou Yang.

 

She was about to answer when Yan Chong snatched the phone, pressed accept, and put it to his ear, speaking arrogantly:

 

“Good morning, Mr. Zhou. Your wife is in our hands—are you still planning to acquire Meitong?”

 

Zhou Yang narrowed his eyes. “Yan Chong?”

 

“That’s me.”

 

“You left?”

 

“Sure did. Already on the highway.”

 

Zhou Yang clenched his jaw. “Let her answer.”

 

“She won’t.”

 

“She told you to—” Yan Chong paused, then smirked. “—tell you to get lost.”

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

Damn it.

 

“Yan Chong, just you wait.”

 

“I’ve got your wife. So tell me—are you the one lowering your head, or am I?”

 

Zhou Yang: “……My wife’s on your side too?”

 

Yan Chong looked at Su Hao.

 

It took her a second to react. Then she leaned toward the phone and said, “I’m on Meitong’s side.”

 

Zhou Yang: “……”

 

He nearly spat blood.

 

“Bye.”

 

Zhou Yang ground his teeth. “By—”

 

The call ended.

 

The van erupted in laughter.

 

“Hahahahaha, that felt amazing!”

 

“Down with the evil capitalists!”

 

“So satisfying!”

 

“Did he grind his teeth just now? He did! Bet they’re loose now!”

 

“Su Hao, you’re our lucky charm!”

 

Qiqi hugged her, laughing so hard her eyes curved.

 

Listening to them, Su Hao finally understood everything—and laughed along.

 

They were adorable.

 

She rubbed her phone thoughtfully, opened her blacklist, and pulled Zhou Yang out.

 

But she didn’t message him right away.

 

---

 

The black business van cruised back to Li City and stopped at the company complex. After saying goodbye, Su Hao went home.

 

The planned two-day team-building trip had turned into a day and a half. Cheng Ling was surprised—but happy.

 

“Su Qian’s birthday is next week. We haven’t bought a gift yet. Since you’re back, let’s go shopping?”

 

“Okay.”

 

Mother and daughter linked arms and headed out.

 

Buying a gift for Su Qian wasn’t easy, but they put thought into it. After much deliberation, Cheng Ling chose an expensive nightgown.

 

Then they ate nearby.

 

As they sat down—

 

Su Hao caught a glimpse downstairs of someone passing by.

 

Zhang Xinhua.

 

Black top, jeans, baseball cap in hand, skateboard under his feet—full of youth. He didn’t look like the calm, steady man from WeChat at all.

 

A friend handed him something.

 

Su Hao looked closer.

 

A small banner.

 

[I’m single. Please take me.]

 

Su Hao: “……”

 

And someone was filming.

 

A short video?

 

That didn’t seem like him—but maybe it was.

 

She looked away and focused on eating with Cheng Ling, lowering the blinds so her mother wouldn’t see and start asking questions.

 

She scooped steamed egg for her mother.

 

Cheng Ling smiled and gave her ribs.

 

---

 

After lunch, Su Hao bought winter clothes for her mother. They took a taxi home.

 

Cheng Ling napped.

 

Su Hao went downstairs to buy groceries, cleaned the house, prepped vegetables.

 

Around six, Cheng Ling woke up to the sound of cooking.

 

Su Hao was already at the stove.

 

There were two dishes and a soup.

 

“Su Hao,” Cheng Ling yawned.

 

“Mom, you’re awake?”

 

They ate together. Afterward, Cheng Ling insisted on washing the dishes. Su Hao went back to her room.

 

Then she saw it—

 

A familiar Hummer parked downstairs.

 

From the third floor, she could see clearly.

 

A man’s long fingers reached out, cigarette between them. A second later, his arm rested casually.

 

Her phone buzzed.

 

She turned back, picked it up, then returned to the window—

 

Only to see the entire street filled with sports cars, balloons tied on, roses everywhere.

 

The lead car bore huge words:

 

[Su Hao, will you be my girlfriend?]

 

Her heart skipped.

 

Her phone lit up.

 

Zhou Yang: We really are connected, huh?

 

Zhou Yang: I’m downstairs. Come down.

 

Beep beep.

 

A car horn blared arrogantly.

 

Su Hao closed her eyes, nerves flooding her.

 

The noise was too bold.

 

Instinctively, she opened her chat list and tapped Z.

 

Su Hao: I’m a bit nervous.

 

While waiting, she absentmindedly clicked into Z’s profile.

 

A string of numbers caught her eye.

 

Familiar.

 

Where had she seen it?

 

Her mind filled with it—

 

Then she opened her call history.

 

The unnamed number was right there.

 

Exactly the same.

 

She took screenshots. Compared them again.

 

Then stared at the chat window.

 

Z: What’s wrong?

 

Pretending.

 

Su Hao pressed her lips together and typed:

 

Su Hao: He’s here. Downstairs. There are a lot of roses.

 

Z: That fast? Be brave. Go down. He’s put in so much effort—it’s worth the trip.

 

Su Hao: “……”

 

Su Hao: Is it?

 

She tightened her grip on her phone, opened the door, and went downstairs.

 

Her footsteps echoed.

 

At the entrance—

 

Red everywhere.

 

She saw Zhou Yang in the Hummer, cigarette in his mouth, one hand on the wheel, the other holding his phone—typing.

 

Her phone was buzzing.

 

She rushed over, reached in, grabbed his phone, and yanked it away.

 

She narrowed her eyes at him.

 

Zhou Yang froze.

 

Then his gaze fell on the glowing chat screen.

 

Still flashing—almost mocking him.

 

He stiffly looked up at Su Hao.

 

She was soft and beautiful.

 

But her eyes burned with anger.

 

Click.

 

The door opened.

 

Zhou Yang dropped to one knee on reflex, cigarette still between his lips.