Chapter 16 You Still Have Me

Let's add each other on WeChat first.

Song Zhiwei followed him out of the hall.

The night breeze swept over her, making her a little more awake.

She also took out her phone, hesitated for a moment, but finally scanned the code.

The friend request was accepted quickly.

The two got into the car one after the other.

Song Zhiwei tried hard to suppress the embarrassment in her heart and whispered.

"Brother Tingzhou, could you send me the bill?"

Sheng Tingzhou turned his head and gave her a faint, indifferent glance.

Do you think I would care about such a small amount of money?

Upon hearing this, Song Zhiwei immediately shook her head.

“That’s not what I meant. I meant that I should have treated you today, so how could I let you pay? That would be too much of a shame.”

Sheng Tingzhou leaned back in the driver's seat, his expression calm and his tone even.

"Since you're so particular, then remember this: you owe me two meals."

"ah?"

Song Zhiwei didn't react in time and blurted out.

He raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly mocking.

"What, you don't want to admit it?"

"no……"

Song Zhiwei hurriedly tried to explain, but then stopped herself from speaking.

She didn't really want to see him again.

The past is like a thin veil.

It seems light and airy, yet it lingers in my heart, impossible to shake off.

Sheng Tingzhou really helped her a lot today.

If I were to refuse outright at this moment, it would make me appear dishonest.

The car drove all the way to the Cloud Top Villa.

Upon arriving at the manor entrance, Song Zhiwei gently took off her coat.

He presented it with both hands.

"Brother Tingzhou, thank you for today. Here's your clothes back."

Sheng Tingzhou's gaze swept over her, noticing that she was only wearing a thin white shirt underneath.

The cold wind howled outside, and snowflakes kept falling on the car window.

He didn't reach out to take it; instead, he slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

"You're taking it off and giving it back to me? I haven't worn it for very long."

Song Zhiwei paused slightly as she reached out her hand, a hint of embarrassment appearing on her face.

He then took it back.

"Then... I'll return it to you after I've washed it?"

Sheng Tingzhou nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on her.

"Given your sensitivity to cold, you should wear these when you get off the bus. Otherwise, you might catch a cold and cause trouble for others."

Song Zhiwei opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

She simply murmured an "Mmm".

He put his coat back over his shoulders.

There is still some distance between the main entrance and the lobby.

The wind outside was biting cold.

Snowflakes fluttered down like cotton, swirling and falling under the streetlights.

The stone path underfoot was covered with a thin layer of snow, which crunched underfoot.

There's really no need to push yourself in this kind of weather.

After closing the car door, she instinctively wrapped her coat tighter around herself.

Carrying her bag, head down, she slowly walked towards the lobby.

As soon as I stepped onto the carpet at the entrance of the lobby, a wave of warmth washed over me.

She was brushing the snow off her shoes when she suddenly heard a deep male voice coming from ahead.

Looking up, I saw Zhou Yuze sitting on the sofa in the living room.

He had returned at some point and was now looking at her.

His gaze was calm, yet held a hint of scrutiny.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before finally settling on the coat draped over her shoulders.

The clothes were clearly men's style, completely unlike her usual style.

How come she has other men's clothes on her?

The moment this thought popped into Zhou Yuce's head, it felt like something was blocking his mind.

I'm so bored and restless.

He frowned.

"Whose clothes are these?"

Song Zhiwei felt a pang of anxiety and subconsciously didn't want to mention Sheng Tingzhou's name.

She avoided his gaze and lowered her head to straighten her collar.

Try to speak in a natural tone.

"From a friend."

Zhou Yuce slowly stood up.

The leather shoes made clear footsteps on the wooden floor.

He walked towards her step by step, his gaze never leaving her.

He slowly raised his hand and touched her hair.

The movements were so gentle, as if afraid of disturbing something.

“Zhiwei, the way you lie is exactly the same as before.”

Song Zhiwei's body stiffened abruptly.

It felt like being struck by an electric current, shooting straight from my spine to my fingertips.

In that instant, she could even hear her own heartbeat suddenly quickening.

Almost instinctively, she quickly took a step back.

"I...I'm a little tired, I'll go back first."

Zhou Yuze did not move aside.

He stood there, gazing intently at her.

The voice lowered a few decibels.

"Are you still blaming me for abandoning you back then?"

Song Zhiwei pursed her lips tightly.

Her voice was very soft, as soft as a whisper in the wind.

"No."

Actually, she had already figured it out.

Qiao Yiqing is his girlfriend.

She is the person he places in the most important position.

She was just a girl who had been taken into the Zhou family as a child and lived under their roof.

She should never have expected more.

We shouldn't hold a grudge about it.

Zhou Yuze's eyes dimmed slightly as he watched her dodge the scene.

In the end, he just sighed softly.

“Zhiwei, Yiqing is different from you. You have always been sensible and worry-free. But she has a quick temper, easily panics when something happens, and is always forgetful. She often needs someone to accompany and coax her.”

He paused, then softened his voice.

"She suddenly contacted me tonight because she was organizing a birthday party for Milkshake, and something went wrong during the preparations. She was so anxious she almost cried. I didn't mean to stand you up. Don't take it to heart."

Song Zhiwei raised her head, her gaze quietly falling on his face.

Her memory was suddenly pulled back to when she was thirteen years old.

It was also a bitterly cold winter.

That day, she had just received her report card showing that she ranked first in the entire school in the monthly exam, and she was in a rare moment of joy.

She stood at the classroom door before school ended.

She wondered whether she should tell Zhou Yuze the good news when she got home.

But before she could even leave the school gate, she was stopped by several girls around Zhou Xiaolu.

She said her homeroom teacher needed to speak with her.

She believed them and followed them into the restroom at the end of the teaching building.

But as soon as I stepped inside, a bucket of ice water was suddenly poured over my head.

Her down jacket was instantly soaked from the tips of her hair to her neck.

Before she could even react, a piercing laugh rang in her ears.

"Song Zhiwei, a country girl like you dares to get first place? Does she really think she's part of the Zhou family?"

The group took photos and then held up their phones, laughing triumphantly.

Then they scattered in all directions.

She was left alone, standing forlornly in the water-stained toilet.

She didn't cry or shout.

With her head down, she walked out of the school step by step.

The wind whipped up snowflakes that pelted my body, and my fingers were already frozen red and almost numb.

It was already dark when I got home.

She intended to quietly go upstairs to change her clothes.

But Zhou Yuze spotted it immediately.

He stood up and rushed to her in a few steps.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Song Zhiwei!"

His voice was strained, and his brows were furrowed deeply.

"How did you get into this state?"

Before she could answer, he immediately pulled her to the radiator.

"Who did it? Which bastard did it?"

Song Zhiwei wanted to shake her head and say, "It's nothing."

But his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Tears welled up uncontrollably.

Zhou Yuze helped her take off her coat.

Seeing her trembling all over, he quickly pulled her into his arms.

His voice was low and hoarse, filled with heartache and reproach.

"Song Zhiwei, you really don't have to shoulder everything by yourself. You're not alone, you know?"