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墨書 Inktalez
The trip to France, which should have been wonderful, was disrupted by this little girl, leaving him somewhat distracted for the next few days.
Later, when he returned home and prepared to send out invitations, everyone laughed at him, saying that at his age he should be getting married, especially since even Zhou Ziyan, that rascal, had started dating.
His heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively asked whose daughter it was. Perhaps he had never been this eager to gossip about anything before; everyone was taken aback for a moment and then teased him, saying, "What are you asking for? It can't possibly be someone you know."
If it wasn't someone he knew, then it couldn't be Junxi.
If it wasn't Junxi, then the person Junxi loved but couldn't have was Zhou Ziyan?
...Horseshoe crab...
It must be Zhou Ziyan.
Today, he could confirm this answer.
Zhou Xuanyu pressed his aching temples; he had only had one drink, yet the alcohol hadn't even taken effect before he began to feel unwell. He poured himself another glass and downed it.
His stomach started to burn, and layers of illusions appeared before his eyes. He leaned back on the sofa, and after a while, he heard someone approaching.
"Are you okay? Why are you drinking so much?" It was a woman's voice.
Zhou Xuanyu opened his eyes to see a graceful figure swaying in front of him. The person reached out and gently touched his face; the sensation was cool, like a clear spring.
He raised his hand and grasped the wrist of the person, whispering the name that lingered in his heart.
“Junxi…”
The Infant Water Spirit shivered, and then her entire body froze.
“What did you call me?” Her warm and affectionate voice suddenly turned cold.
“Junxi…”
Zhou Xuanyu furrowed his brows, his consciousness hazy, yet that name was strikingly clear on his lips.
The Infant Water Spirit scoffed coldly, a surge of nameless anger rising in her chest, igniting a restlessness throughout her body.
“Miss Ying, I’m sorry to have called you over so late.” Uncle Fu approached, holding a cup of hot water and offering it to her. “It’s just that the Second Master has been acting unusually today, and I was worried something might be wrong…”
“It’s fine.” The Infant Water Spirit interrupted Uncle Fu, bringing the rim of the cup to Zhou Xuanyu’s lips. She gently said, “Xuan Yu, come, have a sip of water.”
Zhou Xuanyu shook his face; the cup wobbled, spilling more than half of its contents all over him.
“Oh no!” Uncle Fu exclaimed, quickly grabbing a tissue to wipe Zhou Xuanyu down.
The Infant Water Spirit felt a surge of anger; she stood still, neither moving aside nor helping.
“Miss Ying, what’s wrong with you?” Uncle Fu glanced between Zhou Xuanyu and the Infant Water Spirit, feeling utterly perplexed. Why were these two acting so strangely today?
"Take him to the room. It's getting chilly, and he needs to change out of those wet clothes to avoid catching a cold," the Infant Water Spirit said, standing up and placing the cup of water on the coffee table, her expression unreadable as she addressed Uncle Fu.
Uncle Fu nodded and helped Zhou Xuanyu to his feet.
The Infant Water Spirit walked over and supported Zhou Xuanyu's left arm. He was tall and heavy, and without consciousness, he felt even heavier. It took both the Infant Water Spirit and Uncle Fu considerable effort to carry him back to the room.
Uncle Fu found some clean and comfortable clothes and laid them at the foot of the bed. The Infant Water Spirit was sitting on the edge of the bed, carefully removing Zhou Xuanyu's damp clothing. Uncle Fu considered offering assistance but heard the Infant Water Spirit say, "Uncle Fu, there's nothing for you to do here. You should go get some rest. I'll call you if I need anything."
"But..."
"I can manage on my own," the Infant Water Spirit smiled at Uncle Fu, a smile that seemed to suggest he should think of something else.
Uncle Fu hesitated for a moment but ultimately turned to leave. He understood that Miss Ying had feelings for their Second Master; otherwise, she wouldn't have rushed over in the middle of the night just because of his phone call.
He also knew that the Infant Water Spirit not only had a close relationship with Zhou Xuanyu but was also favored by Zhou Xuan Yong. When he was still at the Zhou Family Old Residence, the Infant Water Spirit often brought thoughtful little gifts to visit the immobile Zhou Xuan Yong at the Zhou Family Mansion. Zhou Xuan Yong had expressed more than once that the Infant Water Spirit was his ideal choice for a sister-in-law... He didn't want to stand in their way. Although he wasn't clear about his Second Master's feelings, he thought that having a man and a woman alone in a room could hardly put the man at a disadvantage.
As Uncle Fu stepped out, he kindly closed the door behind him. The room fell silent.
This was the first time the Infant Water Spirit had entered Zhou Xuanyu's room. It was as spacious and elegant as she had imagined, with meticulous details reflecting the taste of a successful man.
She glanced around and suddenly noticed a photo on the bedside table, clearly new as it seemed to have been placed there recently.
It was a picture of him with Wen Junxi.
In the photo, Wen Junxi looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. From the birthday crown on her head, it was evident that it was her birthday on the day it was taken. A playful smear of pink cream adorned her cheek, enhancing her beautiful smile. Zhou Xuanyu stood beside Wen Junxi, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulder with a look of fondness on his face, even playfully posing with her in a peace sign.
The Infant Water Spirit had never seen Zhou Xuanyu smile like that, at least not in front of her, not even once.
How could she not feel jealous or doubtful about everything she had heard and seen tonight? She had always thought that Zhou Xuanyu was unwilling to accept her because he couldn't let go of Lin Jingming, but it seemed that everything was far more complicated than she had imagined.
Zhou Xuanyu clearly liked Wen Junxi.
The Infant Water Spirit reached out and knocked over the table.
The sound drew Zhou Xuanyu's attention, causing him to stir on the bed. His handsome features, illuminated by the warm light, exuded a tenderness that was intoxicating.
If only he would not push her away like this when he was awake, how wonderful that would be.
The Infant Water Spirit turned around, slipped off her cotton slippers, and quietly climbed onto Zhou Xuanyu's bed. His bed, like him, was filled with a sense of security; it was spacious enough that she could roll over several times without falling off.
She leaned closer, carefully unbuttoning his shirt, one button after another... Zhou Xuanyu's toned chest and abs gradually revealed themselves before her eyes.
When did the room become so hot? The Infant Water Spirit felt as if she could hardly breathe; she wanted to borrow some air from this man.
She leaned in and timidly kissed Zhou Xuanyu's lips—just a fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water—before immediately pulling away. This was her first kiss with him.
Unable to help herself, the Infant Water Spirit broke into a shy smile, like a young girl, as she nestled against Zhou Xuanyu's chest.
Zhou Xuanyu shifted impatiently.
The Infant Water Spirit waited, confirming he was still asleep before her hands began to roam more boldly over Zhou Xuanyu's body. Suddenly, a wild thought crossed her mind; tonight, she wanted to give herself to him...
With that in mind, the Infant Water Spirit's hand slid downward, brushing against the custom Hermes belt that gently wrapped around Zhou Xuanyu's waist, symbolizing his supreme status and taste.
She wanted to replace that belt with her own arms.
With a soft click, the Infant Water Spirit pressed down on the buckle.
Almost simultaneously, Zhou Xuanyu opened his eyes, as if that buckle was the most sensitive switch on his body.
"Are you crazy?" His voice was hoarse and dry from drinking, but the inner force of his words startled the Infant Water Spirit.
"I..."
"Who let you in?"
Zhou Xuanyu sat up from the bed, pressing his temples as he realized his clothes had been undone by the Infant Water Spirit. His face darkened further.
"Your clothes were wet; I just wanted to help you change," the Infant Water Spirit explained quickly as she crawled closer to him, grabbing his arm.
Zhou Xuanyu shook off her hand.
"Get down."
His tone was cold. After saying that, he got out of bed.
“Xuan Yu!” The Infant Water Spirit wrapped her arms around Zhou Xuanyu from behind, pleading, “Don’t send me away. Can I stay just for tonight? Just one night.”
Unknowingly, her voice quivered with the threat of tears. Before Zhou Xuanyu could respond, she jumped off the bed and dashed in front of him, cupping his face and kissing him.
Zhou Xuanyu turned his face away and pushed her back.
“Do you want me to kick you out?”
“Just one night, can’t you give me just one night?” The Infant Water Spirit persisted.
She had never been this close to Zhou Xuanyu before, and she knew this might be her only chance, perhaps her last. If she couldn’t seize this moment with the man before her today, she might never have another opportunity.
“Xuan Yu…” Her chaotic kisses fell upon Zhou Xuanyu’s face like a sudden downpour.
Irritated, Zhou Xuanyu pushed her hard, sending her sprawling to the ground.
“Uncle Fu!” Zhou Xuanyu shouted.
Before long, Uncle Fu rushed in from outside. Upon seeing the scene before him, he froze in shock.
“Second Master, what happened here?”
“Get her out immediately! And next time, no one is allowed to enter my room without my permission,” Zhou Xuanyu commanded.
With that, Uncle Fu grabbed the clean clothes at the foot of the bed and unsteadily made his way to the bathroom. Though his drunkenness hadn’t fully worn off, his mind was remarkably clear.
Such a thing could never happen to him after drinking. He would not allow any woman to take advantage of him like that.
"Miss Ying," Uncle Fu called out helplessly.
The scene was so awkward that it left everyone at a loss.
"I can walk by myself." The Infant Water Spirit pushed away Uncle Fu's hand as he reached out to help her and got up from the ground on her own.
"Miss Ying, let me have the driver take you home."
"Are you deaf? I said I can walk by myself!" The Infant Water Spirit shouted frantically.
Uncle Fu frowned at her outburst. This woman had always appeared gentle and composed; he never expected such rudeness to lie beneath the surface. He fell silent.
The Infant Water Spirit went downstairs to grab her bag. Her high heels sank into the soft carpet, making her feel as if she were walking on clouds, yet it felt anything but solid. She walked out of the house without looking back, tears streaming down her face.
The last remnants of her self-esteem had been shattered by Zhou Xuanyu. Why could he be so heartless, unwilling to give her even the slightest chance or hope?
What made her any less than that inexperienced Wen Junxi?
The Infant Water Spirit pulled out her phone and dialed a number.
It was late, but the person on the other end picked up promptly.
"How's the investigation on the person I asked you to check?"
Because Zhou Ziyan insisted on being discharged early, Junxi took two days off. His new home was also in Yatian, not adjacent to Zhou Xuanyu's villa but within the same community, making it convenient for them to look out for each other.
Junxi followed Zhou Ziyan's car from the hospital to Yatian. As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Zhou Xuanyu waiting at the entrance. He must have just come from the office, still dressed in formal business attire, looking as if he could leave at any moment.
Zhou Xuanyu had also brought Uncle Fu along. When the car door opened, Uncle Fu stepped forward to support Zhou Ziyan.
Junxi got out and went to the trunk to retrieve his luggage, and Zhou Xuanyu followed him.
"I'll take it," he said, snatching the suitcase from Junxi's hands. She didn't have time to let go, and both the suitcase handle and her hand were grasped by him.
Junxi looked up, and their eyes met for a few seconds in silence.
"Let go," Junxi said softly.
Only then did Zhou Xuanyu realize what he was doing and immediately released his grip. She stepped aside and said, "It seems like we haven't seen each other for many days."
"Two and a half days," he replied without thinking.
Junxi smiled.
Zhou Xuanyu shrugged. "Isn't that right?"
She nodded obediently, and he smiled, the restlessness brought on by the long meeting of the day dissipating completely at the sight of her.
"Junxi, why are you just standing there? Hurry up and come in!" Zhou Ziyan suddenly called out.
Junxi turned back and said, "Coming," as she leaned into the trunk to grab the smallest piece of luggage, then jogged inside.
Zhou Xuanyu followed her slowly. Today, her hair was down, cascading beautifully over her back. As she ran, it looked as if it were floating like silk. A lingering fragrance trailed behind her.
This house was bought by Zhou Xuan Yong for Zhou Ziyan, but the subsequent decoration and arrangement were handled by Zhou Xuanyu. Unlike his own place, Zhou Ziyan's overall design here had a more playful nature.
It was clear to anyone that this was a boy's space, while Zhou Xuanyu's place had a more mature vibe.
As soon as Junxi entered, her attention was drawn to a cabinet in the living room filled with photos. She couldn't be bothered to set down what she was holding and rushed over to examine them.
Most of these photos were of Zhou Ziyan. One could easily deduce how many mischiefs he had gotten into throughout his life just by looking at these pictures.
Of course, if one looked closely, they would find her image appearing quite often as well. After all, it wasn't like Zhou Ziyan had the intelligence to pull off so many pranks on his own; she must have been the mastermind behind them all.
"Where did Uncle find so many photos?" Zhou Xuanyu mumbled shyly while looking through them.
"Don't you remember? His camera."
Junxi gestured with her hands, drawing a square shape in front of her.
In her memory, Zhou Xuanyu used to love taking pictures. Wherever he went, he always had a DSLR hanging around his neck. Whenever he saw something beautiful or someone appealing, he would casually snap a couple of shots.
Zhou Ziyan had always been the kind of child who stood out for his striking looks. Walking down the street, many beautiful girls would come up to hug him or pinch his cheeks. With such a quality model around, Zhou Xuanyu naturally made good use of him.
So, in Zhou Xuanyu's lens, apart from the scenery, the person who appeared most often was Zhou Ziyan.
At first, he enjoyed taking pictures of her, but compared to the lively Zhou Ziyan, she was simply too shy in front of the camera. Every time she posed, it was always with a peace sign, which Zhou Xuanyu found quite annoying. After repeated attempts to teach her otherwise failed, he gradually gave up on trying to make her do those awkward poses.
However, he later found great joy in taking selfies with her. Whether they were traveling to different places or attending important events, he always made sure to pull her in for a picture.
He wondered if he still kept those photos.
Uncle Fu prepared a feast, claiming it was to celebrate Zhou Ziyan's discharge from the hospital and her move into a new home.
"Uncle Fu, you're so good to me; I can't bear to see you leave," Zhou Ziyan said playfully, in a good mood.
"Don't worry, young master. Second Master has asked me to stay here temporarily to take care of you," Uncle Fu replied cheerfully.
"Really, Uncle?"
"Really," Zhou Xuanyu nodded.
Zhou Ziyan needed someone to look after her due to her limited mobility, and since he hardly had any proper meals at home for most of the month, having Uncle Fu stay with him would only waste resources.
"That's great! Thank you, Uncle," Zhou Ziyan said as she picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it into Zhou Xuanyu's bowl.
Junxi coldly scoffed at his fawning demeanor.
"What? Are you jealous? Come on, my beloved consort, eat more. I won't neglect you. Don't worry," Zhou Ziyan joked as he pushed the entire plate of braised pork in front of Junxi.
"Who is your beloved consort! And if you become emperor, you'll surely be a tyrant who brings disaster to the country."
"Isn't that because you, this beautiful disaster, make me focus only on you and neglect the state?"
"Get lost, get lost!"
"…"
Their noisy meal was surprisingly harmonious. However, Zhou Xuanyu rarely interjected, and it was clear she wasn't in a good mood, though she didn't know why.
After finishing the meal, Zhou Xuanyu helped Zhou Ziyan upstairs to rest.
While Junxi waited for him downstairs, she continued to study the photos. When Zhou Xuanyu came back down, she saw Junxi leaning over, lost in thought with a silly smile on her face.
These photos must have stirred up many wonderful memories of Zhou Ziyan for her.
Zhou Xuanyu suddenly regretted placing these photos here.
Originally, the cabinet held the Racing Model he had given to Zhou Ziyan. But after what happened to Zhou Ziyan, he feared that seeing it would evoke painful memories upon his return.
So he simply removed everything and replaced it with the photos.
Who would have thought that Zhou Ziyan would be the one feeling happy, while the one who was heartbroken turned out to be him?
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