Chapter 159 Inferiority Complex

"Evening Sound".

Qiu Zishu suddenly interrupted her, his tone turning colder and his gaze becoming somewhat distant.

"Thank you for always caring about me. But I'm not a child anymore, nor am I the clueless newbie I once was. I have my own judgment and I know what my choices mean."

She paused, her gaze calm.

"Mr. Lin may have wronged you in the past and done things that hurt you, but that's in the past. You can't assume he's still a bad person just because he made mistakes in the past. People change, can't they?"

Qiao Wanyin was stunned.

Her fingers trembled slightly, and her lips parted slightly.

But he couldn't utter another word.

She never imagined that Qiu Zishu, who was always rational and calm, would...

I was actually moved by Lin Zhiming's seemingly sincere but actually hypocritical words.

Qiao Wanyin knows Lin Zhimei too well.

His approach to Zishu was not a coincidence at all, but rather a premeditated plan!

He's definitely after Zishu, and his motives aren't pure!

No, she absolutely couldn't just stand by and watch that man get close to Zishu.

We can't let him gradually gain Zishu's trust and ultimately hurt her!

She can't stand idly by!

"Zi Shu".

Qiao Wanyin took a deep breath, trying to make her tone sound calmer.

"I need to ask you for a favor. Promise me you'll be careful around him, okay? Even just a little extra caution would be appreciated. I don't want you to get hurt."

Qiu Zishu looked at her anxious face, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded gently in a very soft voice.

"Okay, I promise you."

She agreed outwardly, but a hint of dissatisfaction quietly crept into her heart.

She felt that Qiao Wanyin's reaction was a bit excessive.

But Qiu Zishu trusted his intuition.

She felt that Lin Zhiming was not as bad as Qiao Wanyin described.

After the meal, Qiu Zishu walked slowly back to her office alone.

On the way, she unconsciously thought of Lin Zhiming again.

His every move exudes good manners and a wealth of experience accumulated over a long period of time.

How could someone like that be a conman?

How could he be a person with ulterior motives?

...

The weekend is here in the blink of an eye.

The sun was shining brightly that day, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers.

Qiu Zishu stood in front of the wardrobe, holding the gold-embossed invitation in her hand.

She was still hesitant.

On one hand, there's the rational advice: Don't go, don't take the risk.

That place wasn't familiar to her, and those people weren't part of her world.

What if something goes wrong if we rush in?

On the other hand, there was an ever-growing curiosity and anticipation in my heart.

She wanted to see that man again.

Is he really a hypocrite, as Wan Yin said?

Or perhaps he has already reformed, but has been bound by the past for too long?

In the end, reason prevailed.

Qiu Zishu changed into a light blue dress.

Then she put on some light makeup in front of the mirror.

She looks both gentle and elegant.

She looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath.

Then he left without telling anyone.

The social gathering was held at the most upscale hotel in the city center.

Qiu Zishu's heart was racing as she walked into the hall.

She instinctively gripped her handbag tighter, trying to appear calm.

Above them was a sparkling crystal chandelier.

The light shone on the marble floor, casting her slightly awkward figure.

The surrounding area was filled with well-dressed guests.

They gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing quietly.

The air was filled with various fragrances, creating a luxurious and enchanting atmosphere.

The display stand was overflowing with a dazzling array of items, each priced at an astonishing price.

Everything here was completely different from the military life she was familiar with.

Just as Qiu Zishu stood somewhat reservedly in the corner.

"Miss Qiu, you've arrived."

A gentle and familiar voice sounded beside me.

Lin Zhiming appeared beside her without her noticing.

He was wearing a dark gray bespoke suit, his eyes gentle yet focused.

It was as if she was the only person he was paying attention to at that moment.

"I always believed you would come."

He spoke softly, his tone gentle, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

Qiu Zishu smiled slightly, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

"I just...want to see just how different Hong Kong really is."

Her voice was soft, tinged with hesitation and curiosity.

"Then let me show you around."

Lin Zhiming smiled and extended his hand, palm up, the gesture natural yet polite.

"How about we start with an authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum meal?"

His tone was light and cheerful, with a hint of playful anticipation.

For the next two hours, Qiu Zishu seemed to have stepped into another world.

She followed in Lin Zhiming's footsteps, walking through the corridors of the teahouse.

Lin Zhiming took her to try all sorts of exquisite delicacies.

He then opened the product catalog and began to talk about the everyday life of the port city.

She listened intently, completely absorbed.

Finally, he even dragged Qiu Zishu into a corner and danced half a dance.

An old-fashioned Cantonese love song was playing in a corner of the teahouse.

The melody is melodious, carrying a touch of nostalgic melancholy.

Lin Zhiming took her hand and guided her into the dance.

Surprisingly, the two were in perfect sync.

His hand firmly supported her waist, and his breath occasionally brushed against her ear.

This made Qiu Zishu's heart tighten, and a sweet feeling welled up inside her.

Are you tired?

Lin Zhiming asked softly.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on her face, his eyes focused and tender.

"There's a tea room upstairs, would you like to sit down for a while and have a drink?"

Qiu Zishu nodded shyly.

The tea room on the second floor is decorated very elegantly.

The carved wooden door closed gently, shutting out the noise downstairs.

The room was softly lit, and several landscape paintings hung on the walls.

There was also a guzheng (Chinese zither) in the corner.

Lin Zhiming walked around behind her and gently pulled out a chair.

"What kind of tea does Miss Qiu usually like to drink?"

He stood slightly in front of her, his tone gentle.

Qiu Zishu sat down somewhat awkwardly.

She looked down at the mahogany table, her voice slightly hesitant.

"I... I don't really drink tea, and I don't know much about it."

Qiu Zishu spoke in a low, gentle tone, with a hint of shyness.

"It doesn't matter."

Lin Zhiming smiled, then turned and walked towards the tea table.

"Let me tell you."

His well-defined fingers began to brew tea.

"Drinking tea is all about calming your mind."

Lin Zhiming spoke slowly, his voice low.

"Just like in life, you have to endure the scorching days before you can taste the sweetness."

He raised his eyes and looked at her gently.

Qiu Zishu was somewhat lost in thought.

She watched him warm the cup, add tea leaves, and pour in water.

Each step was executed smoothly and effortlessly.

The tea leaves slowly unfurl in the hot water.

The aroma of tea rose and filled the air.

She suddenly felt the quiet of this moment.

It was even more captivating than the hustle and bustle outside.

"This is Da Hong Pao, a top-grade Wuyi Mountain rock tea."

Lin Zhiming gently pushed the white porcelain cup in front of her.

"Give it a try, don't waste such good tea."

Qiu Zishu held the cup in both hands, feeling the warmth emanating from the porcelain through her fingertips.

She took a small sip carefully.

The scalding hot tea glides over the tip of the tongue and then slowly dissolves in the mouth.

Immediately afterwards, a sweet sensation rose quietly from deep in my throat, making me feel completely refreshed.

"How about it?"

Lin Zhiming leaned back in his chair, gazing at her with gentle eyes.