Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Alright." His response was firm and resolute.
Junxi playfully nuzzled against his collar.
The surroundings fell silent as they embraced each other. Although they had only been apart for a few days, it felt as if a century had passed.
"Gurgle, gurgle...," her stomach made an untimely noise.
She quickly pressed her hand against it, her face flushing with embarrassment. What a mood killer.
"What's wrong? Haven't you eaten?"
Zhou Xuanyu loosened his grip and looked down at her.
Junxi shook her head.
She had been too preoccupied with Zhou Ziyan earlier to think about eating. Besides, after walking back, even if she had eaten, she would have digested it by now.
"Then let's go. I'll take you to eat something."
"But you already ate, didn't you?"
"You didn't eat, did you?"
Zhou Xuanyu took Junxi's hand and headed toward the car.
Once they got in the car, Zhou Xuanyu personally leaned over to fasten her seatbelt.
The car headed straight for Red Bird.
It was getting late, and the restaurant was nearly empty. As Zhou Xuanyu reached the entrance, the receptionist recognized him immediately.
"Mr. Zhou, are you here to wait for that young lady again..." The receptionist's words trailed off as she noticed Junxi following behind Zhou Xuanyu. She smiled and added, "Oh, you two came together today."
Junxi nodded shyly.
"As long as you two are good, that's all that matters. Otherwise, if you miss your chance to meet in our restaurant, it would be unfortunate for us too," the receptionist said sincerely.
Junxi felt a warmth in her heart. Their little quarrel had caused quite a stir among those around them.
"Mr. Zhou, would you like to place your order?"
"Just like yesterday."
"Alright. Where would you like to sit?"
"Same as yesterday," Zhou Xuanyu replied.
Junxi tugged at Zhou Xuanyu's sleeve. "Why does everything have to be the same as yesterday?"
Zhou Xuanyu led her to the table they had reserved the day before. Once seated, he said seriously, "If everything is the same as yesterday, we can pretend yesterday never happened."
Junxi shot him a glance. "Self-deception."
But didn’t she secretly wish there had been no yesterday? If there hadn’t been a yesterday, she wouldn’t have known that Zhou Ziyan truly cared for her; if there hadn’t been a yesterday, everything would still be as it once was… how wonderful that would be.
Zhou Xuanyu picked up the teapot and was about to pour her some tea when he noticed her frowning.
"What happened?" he asked.
Although he didn't know what was wrong, Zhou Xuanyu could clearly sense Junxi's fluctuating emotions, and the source of this emotional turmoil wasn't him.
"You know about Zhou Ziyan confessing to me, right?" Junxi looked at him.
Zhou Xuanyu's hand froze while pouring tea, the stream of water tilting slightly, nearly spilling onto the table.
Of course he knew, which was why he had sulked and flown back to J City overnight. The back-and-forth had been exhausting to think about now.
"I know," Zhou Xuanyu replied, his expression somewhat awkward.
He pushed the teacup in front of Junxi and took a sip for himself.
Seeing his discomfort, Junxi quickly said, "That’s all in the past now; you can't be jealous like that again."
"Past?" Zhou Xuanyu huffed like a child, sounding sullen.
"Yes," Junxi nodded, no longer hiding her own disappointment in front of him. "I made things clear with Zhou Ziyan."
Zhou Xuanyu's furrowed brow relaxed slightly, as if a ray of sunlight had suddenly pierced through days of overcast skies. Yet he still maintained a composed demeanor, perfectly concealing the joy bubbling within him.
Unaware of the rollercoaster of emotions inside him, Junxi sighed softly. "So I'm really worried about Zhou Ziyan."
"Very few people's feelings are smooth sailing. Zhou Ziyan must understand that," Zhou Xuanyu said, gently pressing down on Junxi's hand and giving it a reassuring pat.
"Will he hate me?"
"Why would he hate you? Liking you was his own decision; who can take responsibility for that? He's not a child anymore; he'll figure it out sooner or later."
Junxi took a sip of the tea Zhou Xuanyu had poured for her. She didn't dare tell him that what worried her more was that she and Zhou Ziyan could never go back to how things were before.
Zhou Xuanyu seemed to see through her thoughts. "As for you and Zhou Ziyan, it's normal that you can't go back to the past. Do you really think there can be pure friendship between men and women?"
"Isn't there?"
Junxi had always believed in the purity of relationships between people. Who said that feelings between men and women had to rely on one party's efforts to maintain?
"There isn't." Zhou Xuanyu ruthlessly shattered her fantasy. "At least for men, absolutely not. If there is, it only means that the woman lacks attractiveness."
Junxi fell silent.
"And you, are very attractive," Zhou Xuanyu added, looking at her.
Junxi smiled. "Are you complimenting me?"
Zhou Xuanyu remained noncommittal.
"I'm reminding you not to give other men a chance to have designs on you. So from now on, aside from me, you're not allowed to get too close to other men."
"In the end, it's still because you're possessive."
Zhou Xuanyu smirked. "Then let me tell you this: no man would be so generous with his woman unless he doesn't care enough."
Junxi reacted slightly; was Zhou Xuanyu indirectly expressing how much he cared for her?
Her heart suddenly felt sweet, as if coated with a layer of sugar.
After Zhou Xuanyu helped her fill her stomach, he didn't immediately take her home after leaving the restaurant.
The car drove north, and by the time Junxi realized they were not heading home, Zhou Xuanyu had already taken them to the banks of the Sumu River in Qingcheng.
The Sumu River was the only major river in Qingcheng, almost running through the entire northern part of the city. By nightfall, the riverbank was brightly lit, and many nearby residents enjoyed coming here for a stroll to admire the river view.
"How did you think to bring me here?" Junxi asked.
Zhou Xuanyu didn’t respond; he simply leaned over to unbuckle Junxi's seatbelt.
The night outside was pleasant, and as he looked into her glistening eyes, he leaned in and kissed her lips lightly.
It wasn’t a big deal. Zhou Xuanyu knew how beautiful the Sumu River was at night; he had seen it just a couple of days ago while on a business trip. Although they had been in a cold war at that time, when he caught sight of the stunning scenery, one thought flashed through his mind: he wanted to bring her here to see it together.
This feeling was something perhaps only lovers in the throes of passion could understand.
Zhou Xuanyu took Junxi's hand and they walked slowly along the riverbank.
The moonlight and the city’s reflections danced on the water’s surface, like nature’s mirror reflecting the myriad wonders of the human world, creating a beauty that felt almost surreal.
"We’ll head back later," Zhou Xuanyu said.
"Why?" Junxi asked, puzzled.
Although the riverside scenery was indeed exceptionally beautiful, standing out in this cold weather seemed like an invitation for a cold.
"I want to spend more time with you."
Zhou Xuanyu's expression was calm, his tone equally so. He gazed into the distance as if speaking to himself. Yet, for Junxi, his words brought an inexplicable joy.
It seemed that his sincere feelings were becoming more apparent.
Is this a good thing?
"You can stay a little longer when you go back," Junxi tightened his grip.
"But Jun Xuan is back," Zhou Xuanyu reminded her.
Junxi suddenly realized that he was considering Jun Xuan's feelings.
"Right, my brother is back."
Zhou Xuanyu stopped, leaning against the railing by the river, pulling her close and rubbing his chin against her forehead in mild annoyance.
This slow-witted girl had just remembered that there was now a little light bulb at home.
"What should we do?" Junxi looked up at Zhou Xuanyu.
What could they do? She couldn't just move in with him, and he certainly couldn't disregard Jun Xuan's feelings, staying overnight at their house as if it were nothing... It was really a headache.
"Forget it, forget it. The winter break isn't long anyway," Junxi comforted herself as if answering him.
Not long?
Zhou Xuanyu took a light breath; the evening breeze brushed past, carrying her fragrance. The air was filled with her sweet scent.
How could it not be long? He couldn't wait even for a moment.
Zhou Xuanyu reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear. His hands naturally cradled the back of Junxi's head as he leaned down to kiss her...
His kiss, fueled by days of accumulated longing, carried a deep desire to possess. Junxi passively parted her lips for him, becoming entangled with him.
All her strength leaned against Zhou Xuanyu; she truly feared that she might push him into the Sumu River.
The night breeze was cool, but their kiss grew increasingly heated.
Zhou Xuanyu's hand traveled down her slender waist, the pressure like a flickering flame that penetrated her clothing and ignited her skin.
Junxi felt herself growing warmer and instinctively pushed Zhou Xuanyu away.
"There are so many people here," Junxi gasped, reminding him.
Zhou Xuanyu released her, taking her hand and leading her toward where their car was parked.
Junxi sensed Zhou Xuanyu's intentions and quickly shook her head. "Don't do this!"
"Do what?"
Zhou Xuanyu replied in a husky voice, yet he casually opened the car door. He pushed her into the backseat and followed her inside.
The backseat of the Cayenne was spacious enough for the two of them.
Junxi leaned back against the seat as Zhou Xuanyu's hand slipped under her skirt.
He leaned in closer, fully indulging in the moment. As her body slowly adjusted to his presence and this new environment, he entered her…
Junxi trembled, waves of unprecedented stimulation and novelty surged through her body. She wrapped her arms around Zhou Xuanyu's neck, pressing herself tightly against him…
The car swayed, and the intimate atmosphere inside could not escape through the closed windows.
After satisfying himself and Junxi, Zhou Xuanyu finally released her.
Compared to his contentment, Junxi was at a loss on how to face him.
The first time was in a tent, the second in a bathroom, later on the floor of her bedroom… and now here in the car. Oh, could they not have one normal encounter?
"Let me take you back."
He seemed to act as if nothing had happened as he got out of the back seat, walked around to the driver's side, and started the car.
Junxi leaned back against the seat, feeling frustrated, muttering, "I’m never riding in your car again."
Zhou Xuanyu glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"If you don't like the car, then we can find another place next time."
"…"
Perhaps it was due to exhaustion, but Junxi slept particularly soundly throughout the night. When she emerged from her bedroom in the morning, Jun Xuan was already awake.
"Sis, where did you go last night?" Jun Xuan asked, sounding like a concerned parent checking up on her.
"Nowhere special," Junxi replied as she turned to head into the bathroom to wash up.
"That's impossible. If you went nowhere, why did you come back so late?"
Jun Xuan followed her, leaning against the bathroom doorframe and watching Junxi. She felt as if his clear eyes were about to expose her secrets.
"I swear, we just took a stroll by Sumu River."
"Sumu River? That's so far!" Jun Xuan exclaimed in disbelief.
Junxi nodded, silently grumbling to herself that if it weren't for this little brat being at home, would Zhou Xuanyu have taken her that far?
What angered Junxi the most was that after everything was said and done, Zhou Xuanyu had the audacity to claim they were creating a good environment for Jun Xuan's growth…
Why couldn't he think about creating a good environment for her as well?
Junxi calmed Jun Xuan down and hurried to the company, arriving just in time for the start of work.
Zhou Ziyan's seat was empty. She glanced over, and her heart sank.
"Organize these documents for me and bring them to my office later," Zhou Xuanyu suddenly appeared in front of Junxi, placing a stack of documents on her desk.
"Yes, Mr. Zhou!" Junxi replied.
Zhou Xuanyu nodded and then turned his attention to Xiaolin, who was responsible for attendance this month.
"Xiaolin Fang, has Zhou Ziyan taken leave?"
Xiaolin was caught off guard by the sudden mention of her name and froze for a moment.
"Uh... this..."
"What? You don't know?" Zhou Xuanyu's gaze turned stern as he looked at Xiaolin.
Xiaolin shook her head. "I haven't received his leave request yet."
She admitted honestly, and Zhou Xuanyu didn't say much more. He nodded and turned to leave.
"Oh, you scared me," Xiaolin said, patting her chest. "Why is the president suddenly checking on things? In the past, Zhou Gongzi would skip work without him caring at all."
Junxi remained silent.
"This is putting me in a tough spot! One is the big boss, and the other is the young master; I can't offend either of them," Xiaolin said with a sense of grievance.
Junxi patted her shoulder. "Don't overthink it; maybe Mr. Zhou is just asking out of curiosity."
"Let's hope so, but Zhou Gongzi has been skipping work a bit too frequently lately." Xiaolin paused and looked at Junxi: "Do you know what's going on with him?"
"How would I know?" Junxi turned her head away, unable to meet Xiaolin's scrutinizing gaze.
"How could you not know? Zhou Gongzi likes you!" Xiaolin leaned in gossipingly: "What happened next? What happened later?"
Junxi pressed down on Xiaolin's head, pushing her back: "Mind your own business; this is our private matter."
Xiaolin pouted: "Alright! But if there's any good news, make sure to tell me first!"
?
The stack of documents given by Zhou Xuanyu actually contained nothing that needed translating or organizing. Among the A4 sheets, only a sticky note in the center had any content.
The note simply read: "Come to my office later."
This man certainly picked up on trends quickly. This way of flirting was pioneered by her!
Even so, as Junxi looked at his elegant handwriting on the sticky note, she couldn't help but smile. She glanced up at Zhou Xuanyu's office; the curtains had been drawn for some time now.
After the morning meeting, Junxi knocked on Zhou Xuanyu's door while holding the stack of blank documents.
"Come in," he responded quickly, as if he had been waiting for her.
Junxi opened the door and stepped inside.
Zhou Xuanyu was leaning back in his office chair. He had been facing outward but turned around upon hearing the knock.
"Lock the door," he said.
"Why lock the door?" Junxi ignored him and walked straight to his desk, placing the stack of blank documents on it: "How should I organize these blank materials? Please advise, Mr. Zhou!"
Zhou Xuanyu, ignoring her rigid demeanor, shook the pen in his hand and asked leisurely, "Were you just worrying about Zhou Ziyan again?"
"I wasn't," Junxi quickly denied.
Zhou Xuanyu stood up and strolled slowly to the door, locking it with a click.
"You're being contradictory." He punished her by pinching her chin and then leaned down to give her a deep kiss without giving her a chance to protest.
By the time he was done, Junxi felt completely dazed.
She clutched his sleeve and shot him an angry glare.
"You wiped off all the lipstick I just applied!" she scolded him while pulling out the handkerchief from his suit pocket, carefully cleaning the lipstick smudge at the corner of his lips.
Zhou Xuanyu watched her, remaining still as she tended to him.
After a moment, once she finished, he took the handkerchief from her and turned it around to clean the smudged lipstick on her lips.
Junxi felt restless; she couldn't shake off the embarrassment of Zhou Xuanyu's gentle and meticulous actions. She attempted to snatch the handkerchief back, but Zhou Xuanyu firmly refused to let go.
"If you keep squirming, I'll find another way to help you clean up."
"What way?"
As soon as Junxi finished speaking, Zhou Xuanyu leaned in again. This kiss was clearly intended just to help her clean off the lipstick.
She felt as if he was going to devour her whole; it wasn't like she had smeared honey on her lips for him to lick so eagerly.
Finally, when the kiss ended, she gasped for air only to realize that all her earlier efforts had been in vain.
"You really are something, adding to my workload so early in the morning, aren't you?"
Zhou Xuanyu ignored her scolding and traced his finger along her lip line.
"What flavor is it?"
"What?"
"Your lipstick."
"..." Junxi was speechless. Did he really think this was just candy to taste?
"It smells so good." He pulled her closer, rubbing his nose against Junxi's, then slowly moving down to nuzzle her lips.
"Stop it, it's work time." Junxi pushed him away and took a few steps back, afraid that if she wasn't careful, he would devour her again. After all, she had just realized that Zhou Xuanyu had drawn the curtains early for this very purpose.
One should never harbor ill intentions, but one must always be cautious of wolves.
Zhou Xuanyu had kissed her as he pleased. He straightened his collar and returned to his desk, continuing the previous conversation.
"As long as you know it's work time, don't think about other men. If you must think, just remember how I kissed you a moment ago."
"Hey!" Junxi exclaimed, her face turning red as she lightly scolded him.
Zhou Xuanyu looked at her seriously.
"I'm serious."
He said it with such sincerity, but to Junxi, he appeared like a child still sulking over jealousy. Indeed, when men fall in love, their maturity often regresses to that of a child.
This Zhou Xuanyu was completely different from the one she had known before.
“Zhou Ziyan hasn’t come. I’m just worried something happened to him,” Junxi said.
Zhou Xuanyu turned his phone in his hand. “I just called Uncle Fu. Zhou Ziyan is fine.”
“Then why hasn’t he come?”
“He got drunk last night and is still asleep now,” Zhou Xuanyu replied irritably.
What’s there to worry about with a lazy pig like him?
Comment 0 Comment Count