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墨書 Inktalez
Jia Man, dressed in pure white formal attire, walked gracefully beside Zhou Xuanyu, prompting Junxi to unexpectedly think of someone.
"Good morning," Jia Man smiled warmly at them.
"Good morning," Junxi nodded, quickly retracting his hand that had been raised towards Zhou Ziyan.
A man and a woman were playfully chatting in the corridor during work hours, which was certainly inappropriate, especially since they were both newcomers.
Indeed, Zhou Xuanyu's expression was not pleasant. He glanced at them with a neutral face before finally fixing his gaze on the grinning Zhou Ziyan, advising, "It's your first day at work; be mindful."
Zhou Ziyan looked at Zhou Xuanyu, and it seemed that something unspoken lingered in the exchange between the two men. After a moment, Zhou Ziyan let out a long yawn and cheekily replied, "Understood, Mr. Zhou."
Junxi had grown accustomed to Zhou Ziyan's way of speaking, yet at that moment, she sensed something unusual in the air.
Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Zhou Xuanyu walked away without casting another glance at Junxi.
His face bore signs of fatigue, and Junxi couldn't help but wonder if something had indeed happened last night. Could it be that she had really taken things too far?
"Where did you go last night?" Zhou Ziyan asked suddenly, catching her off guard.
Junxi paused for a moment before looking at him warily. "What do you mean?"
Zhou Ziyan avoided her gaze. "Nothing much. Jun Xuan called me yesterday and said no one answered the landline at home."
"Oh, I had a bit to drink last night and went to bed early; I probably didn't hear it."
"Mm." Zhou Ziyan seemed to accept this answer. He took two steps forward, then suddenly turned his head back, looking serious as he said, "Don't drink anymore."
"You have no right to tell me what to do!"
"Of course I do! I want to look out for you. You may have a good tolerance for alcohol, but your behavior when you're drunk is terrible. You blackout and forget everything. What if something bad happens?"
Junxi laughed, "What kind of trouble could I possibly get into?"
"Don't underestimate men! Those guys may seem harmless, but who knows what they're really thinking? They might just be waiting for the right moment to take advantage of you!"
Junxi shot him a glare.
"Who are you talking about? You?"
"I..." Zhou Ziyan's face turned slightly red as he waved her off. "If I wanted to take advantage of you, you'd already be mine."
Junxi followed him, her face beaming with a smile, but inside she couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy.
To take advantage of someone requires one-sided desire; if both parties are in love, then it can't be called taking advantage at all.
Unfortunately, her feelings for Zhou Xuanyu were nothing more than unrequited love...
Zhou Ziyan sat properly for the entire morning. Besides his love for racing cars, he was also extremely fond of computer games.
However, since his colleagues in the office were all working, he didn't want to disrupt their focus by playing games. He didn't want to act too arrogantly just because he was a Zhou; after all, there was more than one person with that surname. He had seen how busy Zhou Xuanyu was and kept his head down, pretending to read documents while actually not absorbing anything. By the time morning passed, his eyes felt sore and strained.
When lunchtime finally came around, Zhou Ziyan could no longer hold back his voice.
"Shall we go eat outside?" he suggested to Junxi while stretching his arms.
"Zhou Gongzi, your leg is still injured. Can you please take it easy?" Junxi pulled Zhou Ziyan's arm. "Let's go to the restaurant; the food there is quite good."
"No matter how good the restaurant's food is, it's still just cafeteria-level. Look at you, you've lost weight recently! I'll take you somewhere to replenish!" Zhou Ziyan countered, gripping her hand back.
"Forget it, if you're not going, I'll go by myself!" Junxi released her grip.
Zhou Ziyan pouted, clearly wanting to say something more, but then he noticed the door to the President's Office opening. Zhou Xuanyu and Jia Man were walking out, and they looked like they were heading out for a meal.
He hurriedly followed them.
"I'm going, I'm going!"
Unfortunately, Junxi's attention was no longer on Zhou Ziyan. She was watching the pair ahead of her; these two had been inseparable lately. Although they claimed it was for work, a man and a woman alone together inevitably sparked speculation.
Xiaolin and the others had silently begun to view Jia Man as a character akin to the Infant Water Spirit—the rumored girlfriend of the president.
Although Junxi never participated in their gossip sessions, hearing everyone talk like that still made her feel uncomfortable.
When they reached the restaurant entrance, Zhou Xuanyu turned and entered the exclusive dining area for leaders.
Jia Man followed him in. Although she was a newcomer, her treatment was aligned with company leadership standards.
Many colleagues were envious of Jia Man, and Junxi was one of them. It wasn't that she envied Jia Man's privileges; she simply longed for the ability to be by Zhou Xuanyu's side at any moment, as if she were his indispensable right-hand person.
The restaurant was crowded. With Zhou Ziyan's leg still not fully healed, Junxi worried he might slip and urged him to sit aside and wait. At first, he refused, but upon seeing the long line, he quickly backed down. This person had always hated waiting in line since childhood. He disliked it so much that he had principles against cutting in line; thus, whenever there was a need to queue up for something, he would find someone else to do it for him—usually her, the poor soul he chose each time.
Junxi stood at the end of the line, moving along with the long queue. She didn't particularly like waiting; it felt like a waste of time.
It was all Zhou Ziyan's fault. If he hadn't been dawdling and coming up with all sorts of excuses, they wouldn't have arrived so late.
Finally, it was her turn, but just then, a commotion erupted in the restaurant. From the sound of it, someone important must have arrived.
Junxi turned around and, sure enough, Zhou Xuanyu and Jia Man were making their way over from a small dining area.
"Mr. Zhou, back here again for a meal?" The staff at the serving window greeted Zhou Xuanyu enthusiastically, handing over two plates.
From this exchange, it seemed this wasn't the first time the CEO had come here to "experience the hardships of the common people."
"What do you want to eat?" Jia Man whispered to Zhou Xuanyu, glancing at the few remaining dishes. "The yam and pork ribs look good, but unfortunately, there aren't many left."
Junxi scoffed inwardly; Zhou Xuanyu wouldn't eat yam. He was allergic to it, which was quite astonishing.
"What would you like to eat, Manager Jia?"
The staff had completely overlooked Junxi, treating her as if she were invisible while handing over the plates.
"First come, first served; let the people in front go first," Zhou Xuanyu said to Jia Man.
Jia Man seemed to snap out of her daze and quickly stepped back, gesturing to Junxi with a "please" motion.
Junxi showed no signs of being flattered; after all, she had arrived first.
She slammed the two plates in her hands forward and said loudly, "Two servings of yam and pork ribs."
There were only enough ribs in the pot for two people.
The staff member responsible for serving looked at Junxi, showing no attempt to hide their disdain for this "clueless" Chen Yaojin.
"Mr. Zhou..." The staff member glanced awkwardly at Zhou Xuanyu.
"What? Didn't you hear?" Zhou Xuanyu replied coolly.
"And you?"
"I never eat yam."
"Oh, I see! Alright, alright." The staff member suddenly understood and generously filled both of Junxi's containers with the ribs from the plate.
"So you don't eat it!" Jia Man muttered, still speaking softly. "Looks like I don't know you well enough."
Those words... were indeed ambiguous, not something a work partner should say at all.
Junxi instinctively glanced at Zhou Xuanyu's reaction, and to her surprise, he smiled slightly at Jia Man.
That gentle smile carried emotions she couldn't quite comprehend.
Her heart suddenly ached dully.
"Wen Junxi, is the food freshly cooked? Why are you so slow?" Zhou Ziyan called out impatiently from a distance.
"Here they come!"
Junxi turned around in a hurry, perhaps to escape their gazes more quickly, feeling a bit flustered. As she lifted her foot, she stepped onto the slippery ground.
"Ouch!"
"Ah!"
With her exclamation, a scream echoed in her ears.
Junxi felt a sharp pain in her backside, and her elbow seemed to have twisted awkwardly.
The soup she was holding splashed everywhere, and by sheer misfortune, it landed right on Jia Man.
So, the scream just now had come from Jia Man.
It was no wonder; she was wearing such a pristine white outfit, and getting soup on it was quite the embarrassment.
"Are you okay?"
Zhou Xuanyu quickly reached out to help Junxi, but the limping Zhou Ziyan had already rushed in front of them, squatting down before he could reach her.
"You idiot!" Zhou Ziyan scolded as she helped Junxi up.
Zhou Xuanyu withdrew his hand and shifted his gaze to Jia Man, as if his earlier question was directed at her instead.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Junxi looked at the mottled stains on Jia Man's skirt and immediately offered a sincere apology. Although she didn't particularly like Jia Man, this incident was truly her fault.
Jia Man glanced at Junxi.
"I can vouch for her; she definitely didn't do it on purpose. She's just really clumsy," Zhou Ziyan chimed in, supporting Junxi.
To everyone's surprise, Jia Man actually laughed at Zhou Ziyan's comment. In such a situation, being able to laugh made her quite the character.
"Forget it, it's fine."
Her magnanimity left Junxi feeling a bit at a loss. She had even braced herself for a potential outburst from Jia Man.
It seemed she had underestimated the situation.
"I'm really sorry; I think you should go change," Junxi said as she grabbed a tissue box from the table and pulled out a few tissues to help wipe Jia Man's skirt.
"Alright, alright!" Zhou Ziyan pulled her back into her embrace, rubbing her elbow and asking, "Don't you feel any pain?"
"I'm fine." Junxi struggled a bit and shook her hand to prove that she really wasn't hurt.
"Yeah, you have to break something for it to count as an injury," Zhou Ziyan replied with a hint of annoyance, though her eyes were filled with concern.
Junxi smiled and raised her gaze to find Zhou Xuanyu watching her intently. The moment their eyes met, Zhou Xuanyu turned his face away.
"Let's go. I'll take you back to change," he said to Jia Man.
"Let's finish eating first. Didn't you say you wanted to come here to eat?"
"I'm not eating anymore. Let's go eat outside."
Zhou Xuanyu's tone suggested that someone had disturbed his mood.
Who could it be? It must be her, the clumsy one.
Zhou Xuanyu took Jia Man out with him.
Junxi watched their figures, one in front and the other behind, and suddenly lost all appetite.
A restaurant staff member rushed out with a broom. Seeing her still standing there, he irritably waved the broom at her feet and said, "Get out of the way!"
Junxi was startled and took a few steps back, nearly slipping again.
"Hey! What's wrong with you guys?" Zhou Ziyan was furious.
"What's wrong? We're working! You two made such a mess of the restaurant; do you think we don't need to clean it up?"
The restaurant staff clearly didn't realize that the person standing in front of them was the heir of a prominent company and spoke quite rudely.
Zhou Ziyan was taken aback for a moment.
The restaurant staff continued grumbling, "They don't even look at who those two were earlier and dare to act like this. It's making us all feel so embarrassed..."
Zhou Ziyan pulled Junxi behind him, raised a hand, and spoke in a voice loud enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear, "Call your manager!"
"Hey, who do you think you are? Our manager is too busy waiting for your summons! This is just ridiculous!" A staff member shot him a disdainful glance.
"Zhou Ziyan, just let it go!"
Junxi reached out to pull him back. The incident with the Infant Water Spirit had just passed, and she didn't want to cause another scene in the restaurant; she just wanted to keep the peace.
"What do you mean let it go? My temper doesn't allow for that!" Zhou Ziyan shrugged off Junxi's hand.
"If you have a temper, then don’t work at Hengfu Group. What’s a kid like you shouting about here? Do you think you're some kind of prince?"
Zhou Ziyan smiled.
"I didn’t come here thinking I was a prince; I just came to eat. And look at you acting all high and mighty." He glanced at the other restaurant staff who had gathered to watch the commotion. "What are you all staring at? Hurry up and get your manager!"
"Sorry, our manager is on leave today. If you want to see him, come back tomorrow at this time." Laughter erupted from the surrounding staff, leaving it unclear whether the manager was genuinely on leave or not.
"Then bring the manager's manager over!"
"The manager's manager? That’s even more complicated. Our manager reports directly to Manager Galen. Manager Gao isn’t someone you can just meet whenever you want!" The staff member holding a broom wore an even more pronounced smirk.
Zhou Ziyan reached for his phone, and Junxi quickly realized what he intended to do. She hurriedly stopped him, "What are you doing? Don’t make a scene!"
"Wen Junxi, be quiet. I have to stand up for you today. Why should we have to watch our faces while eating? What do these people think this place is? A joke?"
"If you're going to make a fuss, do it quickly; we still have to clean up here!" The restaurant staff urged impatiently.
Zhou Ziyan was on the verge of exploding. He quickly pressed a number on his phone.
Although it was lunchtime, the person on the other end picked up quickly.
"Manager Gao, please bring the list from the catering department and come to the restaurant on the 15th floor immediately."
Zhou Ziyan said only one sentence before hanging up. His fierce demeanor made those watching realize the gravity of the situation, and no one dared to make any sarcastic remarks anymore.
Everyone was waiting to see if Manager Gao would arrive.
In less than three minutes, Galen rushed in wearing high heels.
The restaurant fell completely silent, so quiet that it felt unsettling.
"What happened, Zhou Ziyan?"
Galen glanced at the mess on the floor and then at Zhou Ziyan.
"Manager Gao, I apologize for interrupting your break. I'm just curious about what standards are used to hire staff in this restaurant. Do these contemptuous attitudes come from before they joined us, or have they been picked up here at Hengfu Group?"
Zhou Ziyan's gaze swept across the room like a machine gun.
Those who had been so lively just moments ago now realized that Zhou Ziyan was not someone they could provoke. They immediately shrank back, heads down like wilted eggplants.
Seeing that he couldn't get any answers from Zhou Ziyan, Galen turned to Junxi.
"Junxi, what happened here?"
"Nothing's wrong..."
"Nothing's wrong, my foot! Wen Junxi, did you not see how they all wanted to ride on your head just now? Who will appreciate you for covering for them? Haven't the past five years taught you that mercy towards enemies is cruelty towards yourself?"
Junxi remained silent.
Zhou Ziyan was absolutely right.
She had long seen through it; this was a society where the weak were preyed upon by the strong, and those who bullied the meek feared the powerful. However, precisely because she understood this, she was even less willing to become someone who made herself nauseous.
From the moment Zhou Ziyan had used the title of the Hengfu Group's heir to summon Galen, her position relative to these "strong" individuals had already shifted. The one who could trample others had become her.
Yet, while they could rely on their power, she did not want to wield authority through intimidation.
"Let's just drop this matter. I hope that in the future, the restaurant staff can treat all company colleagues equally; new employees deserve respect too," Junxi said, glancing at Galen. "Manager Gao, could you please take care of this? I'm really sorry."
Galen was a smart person. Just by listening to Zhou Ziyan and Junxi, she had already pieced together the entire situation. She smiled at Junxi and put her arm around her shoulder. "If you've been wronged, I apologize on behalf of the company. This matter won't be brushed aside. Hengfu Group will not tolerate any negligence when it comes to accountability. Otherwise, how can I go home and face Mr. Zhou? Will I still have my position as manager or not?"
"Manager Gao, we know we were wrong!"
The staff member with the broom was quick to adapt; she wore a pitiful expression as she first admitted her mistake to Galen and then turned her efforts toward Junxi. "I'm sorry, Miss Wen. Today's incident was entirely our fault. Please show some mercy and forgive us; we beg you!"
As she spoke, she reached out toward Junxi, trying to grab her hand.
Zhou Ziyan quickly pulled Junxi away, not giving her a chance to soften her heart.
"Wen Junxi, let's go. Manager Gao, I'll leave it to you here!"
Galen responded and Zhou Ziyan dragged Junxi out.
"Hey! They..."
"They're not your concern."
"Working out here isn't easy."
"Can you not be so kind!" Zhou Ziyan glared at her.
Junxi's eyes were like those of a Water Spirit, captivating and enchanting.
Zhou Ziyan huffed, feeling a bit deflated. "Don't worry, Manager Gao won't do anything to them. At most, they'll get a warning. Hengfu Group doesn't just fire people on a whim."
Only then did Junxi relax and let out a sigh of relief.
"Let's go eat outside."
Junxi could only nod.
Seeing her so obedient now, Zhou Ziyan felt a surge of irritation. "Look at you; if you had listened to me earlier, we could have avoided all this trouble."
"Who knew so much would happen!"
"From now on, you have to listen to me for everything, big or small," Zhou Ziyan concluded firmly.
"Who are you? The head of the household?"
"That's right, say it again."
"Get lost..."
The apartment where Jia Man lived was not far from Hengfu Group.
Zhou Xuanyu escorted her to the door.
"I have something to take care of this afternoon, so you can head back to the company by yourself," he instructed.
As Jia Man was pushing the door open, she paused and turned to look at Zhou Xuanyu.
"Okay. Be careful on your way."
Zhou Xuanyu remained silent and did not nod, merely shifting his gaze away. Once Jia Man got out and closed the car door, he started the engine and drove off.
The car headed straight for the hospital.
Zhou Xuanyu came to see Jason. However, Jason was not in the office; the nurse informed him that he had taken a patient downstairs for an examination. Zhou Xuanyu then went down to the first floor and indeed encountered Jason and his brother, Zhou Xuan Yong, in the hallway.
Zhou Xuan Yong's case had already been transferred to this hospital, and Jason was personally overseeing it.
"Ken, what brings you here?" Jason spotted Zhou Xuanyu from a distance and waved at him.
Zhou Xuanyu walked over, raised an eyebrow at Jason, and called out to him, "Big Brother."
"What brings you here?" Zhou Xuan Yong asked as well.
"I knew you were coming for a check-up today, and I was worried."
"You brought Jason with you; what else is there to worry about?" Zhou Xuan Yong seemed to be in a good mood.
"The check-up just finished, but the results won't be available until tomorrow. So you might have come for nothing," Jason said with a smile.
"That's fine. I was looking for my brother anyway."
"Alright, then I won't disturb you two any longer." Jason patted Zhou Xuanyu on the shoulder, understandingly handing over the wheelchair's push handles to him. He took a couple of steps before turning back. "I'll call you when the results come out tomorrow; there's no need for you to come back here."
"Okay."
With that, Jason left, and the corridor felt empty.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Zhou Xuan Yong looked up at Zhou Xuanyu.
"Actually, it's nothing much. I just wanted to chat with you."
"Oh?" Zhou Xuan Yong seemed skeptical.
His younger brother rarely spoke to him in such a warm manner. Today was different.
Zhou Xuanyu pushed Zhou Xuan Yong's wheelchair toward the hospital garden, where they could bask in the sun. His mood was extremely gloomy, and he needed some sunlight to lift his spirits.
The garden was quite crowded, mostly with people pushing wheelchairs for a stroll. This was probably the most vibrant place in the hospital, a spot that could lift one's spirits.
Zhou Xuanyu wanted to chat with Zhou Xuan Yong, but after walking halfway, he remained silent.
"Zhou Ziyan went to the company today, right?" Zhou Xuan Yong initiated the conversation.
"Yeah."
"How did it go? He didn't cause any trouble, did he?"
"No."
"That's good. That kid has gotten used to being reckless on the racetrack; he might not adapt well to the company at first. I'm just worried he'll bring that impulsive nature into work. You need to keep an eye on him," Zhou Xuan Yong said, his concern for his son evident.
"I understand." Zhou Xuanyu stopped by a row of stone benches and sat down next to Zhou Xuan Yong. "Brother, why did you suddenly let Zhou Ziyan join the company..."
Zhou Xuanyu recalled receiving his brother's call that morning; he had been in a daze and thought he had misheard.
"Don't overthink it. In this world, you're the only one I can trust to take care of Hengfu Group," Zhou Xuan Yong pressed down on Zhou Xuanyu's hand as if to reassure him. He continued, "As for Zhou Ziyan, I wanted him to learn at the company, but he had to be willing too. That kid is stubborn; once he sets his mind on something, nothing can change it. This time, he came to me asking to join."
"Proactively?"
"Yes. It's rare for him to seek my help, so I was naturally pleased and agreed without hesitation." A self-deprecating smile appeared on Zhou Xuan Yong's face. "Look at how much of a failure I am as a father. He only remembers me when he needs something. And here I am, waiting for him to throw me a scrap of need just to feel alive."
"Brother, Zhou Ziyan is still young. Once he goes through more experiences, he'll be able to forgive you."
"I'm sorry, Mom. He won't forgive me," Zhou Xuan Yong sighed.
Zhou Xuanyu remained silent.
When it comes to matters of the heart, there are always too many complexities that cannot be shared with outsiders; everyone is the same.
"I heard from Gai Lin that the kid Zhou Ziyan introduced to the company is from the Wen Family?" Zhou Xuan Yong suddenly shifted the topic to Junxi.
"Yes," Zhou Xuanyu nodded.
Zhou Xuan Yong forced a bitter smile. "It seems that Zhou Ziyan did it for that kid. These two children are truly entangled in a way that's hard to untangle. They’ve been fighting and playing since they were young; who would have thought they would become so inseparable as adults? However, I will not agree to him having any ties with the Wen Family."
"Why not?"
"Wen Wei ruined his reputation back then..."
"But Junxi is innocent," Zhou Xuanyu interrupted Zhou Xuan Yong. Although he still didn't know if what Junxi said was true—that her parents were also innocent—he was certain that the kind girl had no idea about any of it.
Zhou Xuan Yong fell silent.
The atmosphere froze for a moment; indeed, the Wen Family was not a good topic to discuss.
"Big Brother, you haven't taken good care of Junxi," Zhou Xuanyu suddenly said.
The words didn’t sound like an accusation, but they felt heavier than one.
Zhou Xuan Yong's expression darkened.
"Brother, when I left back then, I clearly asked you to take good care of her, and you promised."
"Xuan Yu, listen to me..." Zhou Xuan Yong became anxious and started coughing.
"Never mind." Zhou Xuanyu patted Zhou Xuan Yong's back, knowing that his brother shouldn't be too agitated at this moment. "Brother, I don't mean to blame you. It's just that hearing Zhou Ziyan talk about how Junxi has been struggling these years makes me feel uneasy. But no matter how uneasy I feel, what can be done? She has endured it all; as long as she is doing well now, that's enough."
Zhou Xuan Yong pressed his lips tightly together, still somewhat flustered.
Zhou Xuanyu knew he shouldn't have suddenly brought this up, but so much had happened today that he couldn't help himself in a moment of frustration.
But who could he blame? If there was blame to be placed, it could only be on himself. Since he couldn't accompany her, he could only watch others create special memories with her while he remained an outsider.
"But brother, no matter what, Junxi is a good girl. I hope you can accept her."
Whether as a future daughter-in-law or a sister-in-law, he had to accept her and must accept her.
After having lunch with Zhou Ziyan and going back and forth, there was no time left for a nap.
Junxi spent the entire afternoon in a daze, her mind elsewhere.
Jia Man returned alone after changing clothes; Zhou Xuanyu was nowhere to be found. Junxi felt a bit happy that they weren't together but also felt a little lost not being able to see Zhou Xuanyu.
This was definitely the feeling of being in love.
Unfortunately, it was a one-sided love.
Zhou Ziyan had become an instant hero in the eyes of the women in the office after he stood up to the unlikable staff at the restaurant. In just half a day, he had completely integrated himself into their group.
He was definitely a charmer, especially among women.
They were all discussing how to throw a welcome event for him. There were many suggestions for activities; some proposed karaoke and dinner as basic options, while others suggested going bungee jumping or engaging in extreme sports. In the end, they reached a compromise and decided to go camping and have a barbecue at the end of the month.
“Junxi, you’ll join us, right?”
Xiaolin approached and nudged Junxi, who seemed lost in thought.
“She has to go,” Zhou Ziyan chimed in without hesitation, making the decision for Junxi.
“Who gave you the right to decide for her?” Xiaolin teased Zhou Ziyan. “Zhou Gongzi, are you trying to woo our Junxi?”
The group erupted in laughter, and the atmosphere became lively.
Zhou Ziyan glanced at Junxi and replied nonchalantly, “Yes, I am pursuing her.”
“You’re crazy!” Junxi exclaimed, grabbing a pen and throwing it at Zhou Ziyan.
Zhou Ziyan caught it effortlessly and chuckled, “See? With that fierceness, who else could handle it but me?”
Junxi pretended to charge at him, and he quickly begged for mercy.
“Let’s invite Mr. Zhou along,” someone suggested.
“Why should we invite Mr. Zhou?” another person countered.
“Isn’t Mr. Zhou Zhou Ziyan’s uncle? Wouldn’t it be great to invite him?”
“Exactly, Mr. Zhou is usually quite nice to us. Let’s invite him!”
“…”
The office suddenly erupted into a heated discussion, everyone arguing passionately as if Zhou Xuanyu would definitely have time to attend if they invited him.
However, the male lead, Zhou Ziyan, fell silent. He neither suggested inviting him nor forbade it.
Jun Xi naturally hoped that Zhou Xuanyu would join them; it would be more interesting if he did. After all, just watching him made everything feel enjoyable.
While everyone was enthusiastically debating, Zhou Xuanyu returned.
As he stepped out of the elevator, the group that had been so eager to invite Mr. Zhou fell silent in an instant, none daring to speak.
Zhou Xuanyu walked closer, his head bent down as he focused on his phone screen, oblivious to the gazes fixed on him.
“Mr. Zhou!”
It was Xiaolin who suddenly mustered her courage and called out.
Zhou Xuanyu looked up and turned his attention toward her.
“What’s up?”
"We're all planning to go camping and have a barbecue at the end of this month, and we would love for Zhou Ziyan to join the Hengfu Group gathering. I wonder if you have time to come along?"
Junxi, like everyone else, looked at Zhou Xuanyu with anticipation.
Zhou Xuanyu thought for a moment and nodded.
"Sure."
"Really? Mr. Zhou, you agreed?" Xiaolin exclaimed excitedly.
Zhou Xuanyu smiled slightly. "Did you all just say that out of politeness, not really expecting me to agree?"
Everyone laughed.
"No, no, we genuinely hope you can come with us," Xiaolin quickly explained, nudging Junxi as she spoke. "Right, Junxi?"
Junxi was momentarily taken aback.
Zhou Xuanyu looked over at her, his gaze indifferent, revealing no emotion.
"Come on, say yes!" Xiaolin urged.
"Yes."
She met Zhou Xuanyu's eyes as she answered.
Life passed by quietly for Junxi, who remained busy every day, and her relationship with Zhou Xuanyu was neither warm nor cold. Most of the time, when they encountered each other, they would simply nod as a form of greeting without exchanging any words.
Junxi increasingly doubted what she had done to Zhou Xuanyu that day when she got drunk. Otherwise, why would he suddenly stop paying attention to her?
As for Zhou Ziyan, he gradually began to get the hang of his work. He once again changed Junxi's perception of him; it turned out that he was not only talented in racing but excelled at everything he did.
The moment everyone looked forward to the most each day was during lunch breaks when they discussed plans for camping and barbecuing.
Since Junxi never showed much enthusiasm during these discussions, she was elected as the group leader for this event. She couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
Xiaolin explained that it was always like this in school; those who had no interest in a subject often ended up being chosen as class representatives. It was believed that assigning them important responsibilities would ignite their competitive spirit…
Amidst the laughter and chatter, the end of the month quickly arrived.
On the day of the gathering, Junxi, as the group leader, was the first to arrive at the office. She planned to print out the list of participants for check-in later. However, after standing in front of the printer for a long time, she realized that no paper was coming out.
It turned out that the printer was out of paper.
Junxi searched around the office but couldn't find any A4 paper. Usually, her male colleagues would work together to bring some up from downstairs, but now it seemed a bit difficult for her to do it alone… Just as she was rummaging through old papers to use instead, she suddenly spotted a stack of unused A4 paper on top of the filing cabinet.
She ran over and reached up for a while but couldn't grab it.
"I'll get it." Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind her.
Junxi turned around and saw Zhou Xuanyu had come up without her noticing. He was dressed in sporty attire, and his blue-black running shoes made him look just like any other young student today.
As he spoke, he walked over to Junxi's side, and she remained in her reaching position, momentarily forgetting to step aside.
Zhou Xuanyu stood directly behind Junxi, their bodies so close that it felt like they could touch at any moment. With a deep breath, Junxi could smell the familiar scent that lingered on Zhou Xuanyu.
That night when she got drunk, she forgot everything except for this scent, which had woven itself through her dreams.
Junxi turned her head to look at his handsome face.
"Here." Zhou Xuanyu handed her a stack of papers.
"Thank you." Junxi smiled at him. Her eyes curved beautifully, like a blooming flower.
Zhou Xuanyu was momentarily stunned; with just one smile from her, the tall walls he had painstakingly built around himself crumbled in an instant.
"You two are up so early!"
Jia Man's voice came from nearby.
Junxi paused, surprised; she didn't remember inviting Jia Man.
Zhou Xuanyu seemed to see through her thoughts and said, "I asked her to come along."
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