Shen He: Not yet. Sooner or later.

 

Seeing that reply, Zhou Yang tossed his phone into the storage slot, fastened his seat belt, started the engine, and drove off. Not long after, WeChat chimed again.

 

He took advantage of a red light to glance at it.

 

Su Hao: Zhou Yang, thank you. You were so thoughtful—I’m deeply grateful.

 

After finishing her milk, Su Hao picked up a book and flipped through it. A few minutes later, her phone rang. She reached for it casually and glanced at the screen.

 

Zhou Yang: You’re welcome.

 

Su Hao looked at the message for a moment, then slowly set her phone down. Her mood was far calmer than before—no longer the turbulent waves she’d felt when she first arrived.

 

Between her and him lay an entire galaxy. She didn’t even know what he liked, what he loved—how had she ever dared to speak of liking him back then?

 

Before going to bed, Su Hao video-called her mother. Her mother had just recovered from illness; her complexion was pale, but she wore a smile.

 

“I’ve been walking around the garden these past two days,” her mother said. “Getting some fresh air. I feel much better.”

 

“Show me your place,” she added.

 

Su Hao turned on the lights, slipped into her slippers, and got out of bed. “Two bedrooms and a living room. The rent isn’t expensive. Once you’re feeling better, you can come visit—there’s room to stay.”

 

“Alright.” Her mother scanned the room. Though the place was old, it was spacious. “It’s nice. Did Su Qian help you find it?”

 

“No.” Su Hao answered, then paused.

 

Her mother froze for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Zhou Yang should be getting married soon, right? Families like his—everything has to be well matched.”

 

Leaning against the sofa arm, Su Hao understood what her mother meant. She’d warned her long ago not to harbor such thoughts.

 

Su Hao lifted her head and smiled. “Mm. I know.”

 

Cheng Ling knew her daughter understood, so she didn’t continue. Instead, she asked, “Do you have enough money? I tucked a card into the black coat in your suitcase.”

 

“Mom!”

 

“That card is for you,” Cheng Ling said gently. “I don’t need that much money. It’s hard for you out there…”

 

Su Hao turned and went to the bedroom to retrieve the coat. Pulling out the card, she looked helplessly at her mother on the screen. Their brows were similar; their personalities too. They stared at each other for a long moment.

 

Su Hao shot her a look.

 

Cheng Ling laughed softly, full of warmth.

 

They chatted a bit longer before hanging up. It was already late. Su Hao returned to bed, set her phone aside, turned off the lights, and fell asleep.

 

……..

 

The next morning, Su Hao got up early, made breakfast, ate, and walked to work.

 

Chen Yu and Zhang Xian were already there, both eating breakfast. The office smelled of fried rice noodles and soup noodles.

 

“Morning, Chen Yu. Morning, Sister Zhang,” Su Hao greeted.

 

“Morning. Did you organize yesterday’s invoices? If so, submit them together with these to President Zeng,” Zhang Xian said, handing her a stack of documents and a ledger.

 

Su Hao went over to take them. Chen Yu suddenly grabbed a stack of reimbursement forms, noodles still in her mouth. “I—I forgot to record these last night. Su Hao, help me enter these first, then submit them together.”

 

“Why are you always like this?” Lu Mimi walked in just then and snapped back, setting down an apple and a milkshake. “Why don’t you finish same-day work on the same day?”

 

“They only handed them in after work,” Chen Yu mumbled through her noodles. “They all insisted on reimbursement today. By the time I finished theirs, it was already past work hours.”

 

“Useless,” Lu Mimi scoffed.

 

“You—”

 

Su Hao quickly stepped in. “I’ll do it. I’ll handle it.”

 

She took the forms back to her desk, sat down, and began organizing and recording the accounts. The delay caused President Zeng’s assistant to call twice to urge them on.

 

Since Su Hao was handling it, the calls ended up pressuring her instead.

 

She felt a little flustered, but steadied herself. Even if she wasn’t fast, she couldn’t afford to make mistakes.

 

By the time Chen Yu finally finished breakfast and dragged her chair over to help, Su Hao was almost done. They checked the numbers together—everything matched.

 

Su Hao gathered all the ledgers and receipts and went to President Zeng’s office.

 

She’d glanced at the time earlier but hadn’t expected the delay to exceed an hour. It was nearly 10:30 now—late submission. Nervous, she knocked.

 

“Come in.”

 

She pushed the door open, placed the materials on the large desk. President Zeng didn’t look at her, his eyes fixed on the report on his screen.

 

“What time is it?” he asked flatly.

 

“Ten-thirty,” Su Hao replied, her heart sinking.

 

“So you know what time it is.” He flipped through the ledger, his gaze settling on the neatly stacked reimbursement forms, the handwriting elegant and clear.

 

“Don’t make me chase you for things like this again,” he said, closing it.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Go.”

 

Su Hao exhaled in relief and turned to leave—only to spot Zhou Yang sitting on the sofa, long legs crossed, sipping coffee. He was flipping through a magazine, handsome features calm, not lifting his head at all.

 

She froze for a moment.

 

Then she hurried out.

 

After pausing briefly outside, she returned to her desk. Her phone buzzed with news notifications; she opened one.

 

A shadow fell over her.

 

Su Hao looked up to see Chen Yu. Chen Yu coughed lightly, pulled over a chair, and said, “Um… did President Zeng scold you just now?”

 

Su Hao put her phone down. “Yes. From now on, let’s finish everything together before getting off work.”

 

Chen Yu visibly relaxed and nodded repeatedly. “Okay, okay.”

 

Her expression brightened as well.

 

Su Hao smiled.

 

……….

 

The day stayed busy. In the afternoon, many people attended a meeting—Zhang Xian included. Zhou Yang seemed furious. He sat in the conference room, silent, the table covered in complaint reports.

 

After the meeting, everyone’s faces were pale. Zhang Xian looked especially so.

 

Soon after, a group walked out—Zhou Yang in front, striding away.

 

Only after he left did Zhang Xian’s expression improve slightly.

 

“What happened?” Lu Mimi asked.

 

Zhang Xian ignored her. Chen Yu tugged Lu Mimi’s sleeve, signaling her to stop asking.

 

Gradually, the office atmosphere eased. Su Hao focused on her work and finished processing reimbursement forms with Chen Yu before the end of the day.

 

They got off work around six.

 

Carrying her small bag, Su Hao stepped out of the elevator. As she reached the lobby, a red Maserati swept in and stopped sharply at the entrance.

 

The door opened. Li Xiu took off her sunglasses and stepped out, long legs first. She spotted Su Hao immediately, raised an eyebrow, and dialed Zhou Yang.

 

A minute later, she hung up and called out, “Getting off work?”

 

Su Hao had been heading toward the crosswalk. She paused. “Yes.”

 

“Zhou Yang isn’t at the company?” Li Xiu asked arrogantly.

 

Su Hao hesitated. “He left this afternoon, I think.”

 

“Oh? Is that so.” Li Xiu looked at Su Hao’s plain, clean face and paused. “Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.”

 

“No, thank you.”

 

Li Xiu’s personality was bold and aggressive—Su Hao wasn’t comfortable with it.

 

“No. I insist.” Li Xiu stared at her. She didn’t know why, but every time she saw Su Hao, her heart raced.

 

Su Hao frowned.

 

“If you won’t let me give you a ride, I’ll just follow you,” Li Xiu said, patting the car door.

 

Su Hao met her gaze. A few seconds later, just as she was about to speak, Li Xiu’s phone rang. She glanced at it—her eyes lit up.

 

She answered sweetly, voice dripping with affection. “Zhou Yang!”

 

“Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

 

“I went to your company.”

 

She didn’t know whether it was intentional or not—but she put it on speaker.

 

From the other end came a low, lazy voice. “How many times have you called me, hmm?”

 

“I couldn’t find you…”

 

“So you bomb my phone. Who taught you that?”

 

Su Hao walked toward the crosswalk, her figure disappearing at the corner. She couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation.

 

She still had vegetables she’d bought yesterday that she hadn’t cooked.

 

…….

 

Back home, she started cooking. A simple soup, one stir-fried dish.

 

She ate alone at the table. Afterward, there were only a bowl and a few plates—quick to wash.

 

Drying her hands, Su Hao went back to the living room, sat on the sofa, and checked her phone.

 

The six-person group chat was active.

 

She clicked in casually.

 

[When Will Love Arrive (6)]

 

Chen Yu: Lu Mimi, look! President Zhou came back to the company for Miss Li. They’re eating together in the cafeteria!

 

Lu Mimi: Shut up. I didn’t see anything.

 

Chen Yu: President Zhou hasn’t rejected Miss Li this time. He must be considering marriage.

 

Lu Mimi: Shut up.

 

Chen Yu: Hahaha, you don’t stand a chance!

 

Su Hao read a few lines, then exited the chat.

 

………..

 

After two more workdays, the weekend arrived.

 

Su Qian kept urging Su Hao to come over for a meal. Su Hao made lemon boneless chicken feet and brought them to the Zhou family’s main house.

 

Su Qian offered to pick her up, but Su Hao declined and took a cab herself.

 

Su Qian cooked personally, wearing a pink apron. Seeing Su Hao arrive, she was delighted.

 

Su Hao set the dish down.

 

Su Qian’s eyes lit up. “Your mother’s cooking.”

 

“Yes. Auntie, you haven’t had this in a long time, right?” Su Hao opened the container, speared a piece with a toothpick, and fed it to her.

 

Su Qian’s eyes narrowed with pleasure. “So good. Your mother always made this perfectly. Back then, she used to bring it to our dorm for me.”

 

“She told me to make more for you here.” Su Hao fed her another bite.

 

Su Qian sighed inwardly as she looked at Su Hao’s beautiful face. After a few seconds, she asked, “Haohao—how is Shen He?”

 

Su Hao paused, set the toothpick down, and smiled. “He’s very good.”

 

Su Qian sighed again, patted Su Hao’s shoulder. “Think carefully. He’s really a good man.”

 

She didn’t mention Shen He’s family background yet—afraid it might overwhelm her.

 

Grabbing Su Hao’s wrist, she said, “Come, watch me show off my cooking.”

 

Su Hao followed along, smiling.

 

Only the two of them ate lunch. Afterward, Su Qian pulled Su Hao along to pick strawberries.

 

The strawberry farm wasn’t far—behind the villa area, in a mountain estate run by a friend of Su Qian’s. It was as large as a golf course. They swiped a card to enter.

 

Su Qian put on a sunhat and placed one on Su Hao as well.

 

They went down a slope like thieves, grabbed baskets, and headed inward.

 

The ground was muddy from watering—thankfully, Su Hao wore black shoes. She squatted with Su Qian, strawberries hidden among green leaves, bright and tempting.

 

Lowering her hat, Su Qian whispered, “We pick, then we leave.”

 

Su Hao froze. “Don’t we tell the owner?”

 

“That’s the point—to make her furious.”

 

Su Hao: “…Alright.”

 

Nervous now, she lowered her hat and picked carefully.

 

After a while, a deep male voice called from above, “Mom?”

 

They both looked up.

 

Zhou Yang stood on the slope in a white shirt and black trousers, eyebrows raised at their sneaky behavior.

 

A few seconds later, he crouched halfway and smiled. “If Aunt Li finds out…”

 

“Shut up.” Su Qian lifted her basket, stood up, and shushed him repeatedly.

 

Su Hao stood as well, laughing at Su Qian’s behavior. In the sunlight, her features softened, dimples appearing.

 

Zhou Yang lifted his gaze and glanced at her.

 

Su Hao met his eyes—then calmly looked away.

 

Su Qian checked Su Hao’s basket. It was quite full, and the sun was strong.

 

“Let’s go. That’s enough. Too hot.” She pulled Su Hao along.

 

But instead of taking the slope with stairs, Su Qian climbed straight up the steep incline.

 

Zhou Yang reached out and pulled Su Qian up. She brushed off her hands, adjusted her hat, and said, “Su Hao, come up too.”

 

Su Hao handed her basket to Su Qian. Going around to the stairs would be awkward. Fortunately, the slope had footholds.

 

She grabbed onto them and climbed.

 

At that moment, a large hand reached out naturally, gripping her wrist and pulling her upward.

 

With that support, she reached the top quickly—but her foot slipped.

 

Zhou Yang tightened his arm around her waist, stepping back several paces.

 

Just those few steps—

 

The woman’s soft, fragrant presence suddenly became overwhelming.