Chapter 111 "You mean, you know..."

“If the company gets a little bigger in the future,” Zheng Xiaotian said, cutting his steak with a knife, his tone half serious and half joking, “the two of us will be able to relax a lot, and Zhiyao, you won’t have to do everything yourself.”

"You're dreaming," Xia Zhiyao said with a smile. "If that were the case, you'd probably be the first one who couldn't stay still."

“That’s not necessarily true.” Zheng Xiaotian raised an eyebrow, picked up a piece of meat with his fork, and said smugly, “What’s the point of working so hard? Isn’t it so that I can live a carefree life in the future? Once the company goes public, I’ll retire and travel the world.”

“Sure,” Zhou Yue replied casually, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Get the project under control first before talking about traveling the world.”

Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue: "You don't even leave room for maneuver in your dreams." He raised his head and laughed lightly, "But if that day ever comes, you two have to treat me to a decent celebration banquet."

"No problem." Xia Zhiyao raised her water glass and gently clinked it against hers. "Cheers to the future."

"For the future, and for us to live to see that day," Zheng Xiaotian said half-jokingly, raising his glass in a toast.

The three glasses clinked gently together, creating a crisp sound. The atmosphere became relaxed and warm as they chatted about the company's recent situation, the progress of projects, and the latest developments of their partners.

As Zheng Xiaotian spoke, he would occasionally look up at her: "Anyway, the initial structure of the new energy case is almost complete, so you'll have an easier time from now on."

"Relaxed?" Xia Zhiyao smiled and cut her steak with a knife. "Actually, I feel a little empty." She looked up, her tone casual but sincere. "I was thinking about whether there could be something more challenging."

Zheng Xiaotian laughed loudly: "See? This is the consequence of marrying an ENTJ. It ruins everyone."

Xia Zhiyao glanced at him, her smile still lingering: "I just wanted to get things done, I didn't force you to work overtime."

“You don’t need to force me.” Zheng Xiaotian laughed even louder. “The moment you take action, you’ll automatically drag everyone else into hell mode.”

Zhou Yue didn't reply immediately, but simply raised his eyes slightly to look at her. There was no mockery in his eyes, but rather a rare tenderness and admiration.

He had always admired her indomitable spirit since childhood. Whether it was arguing, working on projects, or facing difficulties, she always fought to the very last moment. That determined expression was now filled with love.

Zheng Xiaotian looked at his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and let out a meaningful sneer: "Fine, Zhou Yue, you deserve to be controlled for life."

Xia Zhiyao was amused and couldn't help but lower her head to cut her steak, her smile overflowing from the corners of her lips.

Zhou Yue turned his head to the side, the smile in his eyes deepening, and said in a low voice, "I'm willing."

Two cars drove into the residential area one after the other. Xia Zhiyao sat in the passenger seat, while Zhou Yue held the steering wheel with one hand and rested his other hand on the window. He looked relaxed, and the car was quiet, yet there was a relaxed tacit understanding between them. When they parked downstairs, Zheng Xiaotian's car followed closely behind and slid into the parking space.

As soon as he got out of the car, he breathed a sigh of relief and looked around: "Hey, this neighborhood is not bad. The environment is nice, and it's quite close to the company. You have good taste in this place."

As he spoke, he went around to the trunk, pulled out several bulging bags, and said with a grin, "Alright, I'll do the physical work."

Zhou Yue also got out of the car, took two cardboard boxes from the trunk, and took the things from her hands, saying, "I'll carry the heavy ones."

Zheng Xiaotian glanced at them, a smile flashing in his eyes, and said lazily, "Hey, Xia Zhiyao, if you really move in, will Zhou Yue have to come with you too?"

"Why is he following me?" Xia Zhiyao looked up, her tone indifferent but with a smile.

"Isn't he your little wolfhound? Haha." Zheng Xiaotian laughed as he lifted the bag, the opening swaying in the wind, the sound of the plastic rattling like an accompaniment.

Zhou Yue: "..." He remained calm, turned to look at him, and said indifferently, "I know you're just envious and jealous."

As they were talking, a white sedan stopped a dozen meters away from them. A woman got out of the car, wearing a dark blue trench coat and high heels, and walked over step by step.

Xia Zhiyao's smile froze at that moment, her hand still hovering in mid-air, in the same position as when she was about to grab the bag.

"...My mom is here."

The laughter and chatter stopped abruptly. Zhou Yue followed her gaze and stopped tidying up the shopping bags.

Fang Qing stood not far away, her gaze passing over several parked cars and landing precisely on the three people. She paused for a moment, as if weighing something.

Then, her smile became dignified and appropriate, her eyes gentle and measured. As she walked and smiled, her tone natural and polite: "You see, it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early." There was a hint of lighthearted surprise in her voice. "You bought so many things, can you carry them all? Let me help you carry some."

“Mom…” Xia Zhiyao subconsciously took a step forward, paused slightly, and then smiled again, “No need, these are not heavy, we were just about to go upstairs.”

Her gaze first fell on Xia Zhiyao, then she naturally turned to the two young men on either side of her. "Zhou Yue? Zheng Xiaotian?" She raised her eyebrows slightly, her tone carrying just the right amount of surprise, yet also a hint of familiarity. "What a coincidence."

Zheng Xiaotian reacted the fastest, immediately putting on a smile and speaking in a bright tone: "Oh, Auntie! It's been quite a while since we last met. You look so radiant. Who would know you have such a grown daughter if I didn't tell you?"

"You have such a mouth." Fang Qing laughed, the smile spreading slightly across her lips and smoothing out the fine lines around her eyes, but the smile didn't extend to her eyes. "You're still so good with words."

Her gaze lingered on Zhou Yue, and for a moment it was like sunlight piercing through the thin mist of memory. She was slightly taken aback, and then a smile gradually appeared on her face.

"Oh my, isn't this Yueyue?" Fang Qing chuckled softly, her tone filled with genuine surprise. "You've gotten even more handsome in the years we haven't seen you."

Her smile was gentle and natural, carrying a long-lost familiarity. A hint of relief and emotion flashed in her eyes. The little boy who used to come to her house for meals and help carry things at the kitchen door had now grown into a composed and handsome young man.

Zhou Yue was also taken aback for a moment, then a smile naturally appeared on his face. "Auntie," he said, his voice carrying the warmth of his youth, "It's been a long time. You haven't changed at all."

Fang Qing smiled even more upon hearing this and gently patted his arm: "I was just chatting with your mother a couple of days ago."

"I used to have so many images of you coming to my house for dinner when you were little, but now I hardly recognize you," she sighed half-jokingly, her tone soft, as if she truly missed you.

Xia Zhiyao looked at them; one smiled naturally, the other had a gentle expression, but a slight sense of reverie arose in her heart. At that moment, she suddenly felt as if she had been separated from some old time.

Fang Qing withdrew her gaze, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "I'd also like to go up and see your new house, and give you some advice, okay?" Her tone was calm, like a question, yet it possessed a natural authority that left no room for refusal.

“…Mmm.” Xia Zhiyao responded softly, but couldn’t help glancing at Zhou Yue. Zhou Yue met her gaze, blinked, as if to tell her not to worry.

The group walked upstairs, one in front of the other. Fang Qing walked in the middle, carrying a small bag of fruit. Occasionally, she would look down and ask, "The hallway is quite clean. The property management is pretty good, right?"

"It's great, the cleaning service does it every day." Xia Zhiyao tried to keep her tone light and cheerful. Zhou Yue was on her other side, and he would occasionally step aside to make way for her.

Upon reaching the door, Fang Qing looked at the brand-new security door and exclaimed with a smile, "Wow, it's really nice, I like this color."

She paused, then added meaningfully, "It seems you're planning to settle down here."

The air in the new house smelled of cleaning agents and wood mixed together, along with a bit of dust from being heated by the sun. The curtains weren't hung up yet, and half a window let in glaring light.

Several pieces of new furniture were piled up in the corner of the living room, with fine dust floating in the air, swirling in the sunlight.

The mother and daughter stood at the doorway, their postures remarkably similar, except that Xia Zhiyao's features were more defined, and her eyes held a youthful sharpness.

Fang Qing, on the other hand, has a more gentle temperament, and her brows always carry a hint of melancholy.

Her gaze moved slowly, from the sofa to the balcony, each pause a silent scrutiny, until finally settling on the two young men.

Zheng Xiaotian immediately lowered his head, pretending to be busy organizing the items in the shopping bag, and then deliberately handed them to Zhou Yue one by one, saying, "Take a look and see where you put them."

Xia Zhiyao stepped forward and took the bag of fruit from her mother's hand: "The sofa hasn't been delivered yet, please sit on a chair first."

Fang Qing nodded, pulled up a chair at the dining table and sat down, her posture as upright as ever. She looked around calmly and said, "The house is quite bright and well-laid out." She paused, then added with a smile, "It's just that the smell is a bit strong."

“Yes,” Xia Zhiyao replied readily, trying to keep her tone light, “It would be safer to let it air out for a few more months.”

"Six months," Zhou Yue replied, his tone still gentle and methodical. "Formaldehyde typically takes six months to dissipate, so it's better to be safe than sorry."

Fang Qing nodded, but her gaze lingered on his face for two seconds. Zhou Yue met her gaze with a calm expression.

“This cabinet is well-made,” Fang Qing said, turning to look at the wall. “Are you planning to put books or other things in it?”

"Let's put some in there. Books on the bottom shelf and some decorations on top." Xia Zhiyao breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to touch the cabinet surface. "I thought I had a lot of things to put in, so I built a full wall of cabinets. Now it seems like it won't be full."

Fang Qing casually asked, "So where do you keep all your things now? Are there a lot? Will it be a hassle when you move?"

As Xia Zhiyao unscrewed the bottle of water, she replied, "It's all fine, there's not much to worry about."

Zheng Xiaotian squatted down beside the coffee table, arranging newly bought odds and ends while casually replying, "Yeah, anyway, Zhou Yue's place is close to here."

Fang Qing's gaze shifted very slightly, her eyes seemingly unintentional, yet instantly landing steadily on Zheng Xiaotian. She still smiled, her tone gentle and polite: "What about Zhou Yue?"

She repeated it softly, a half-smile on her face, "You mean, Zhiyao has been staying with Zhou Yue recently?"

Zheng Xiaotian paused, clearly realizing he'd let something slip. The casual smile still lingered on his face, but it had already stiffened slightly: "Ah? Yes, this..."

Fang Qing nodded gently, her smile still warm, as if nothing had happened. Her voice was soft, even tinged with amusement, "It's a good thing for young people to look after each other."

Zhou Yue immediately replied, speaking a fraction faster than usual: "Auntie, it was my suggestion. She originally planned to rent an apartment, but she couldn't find a suitable one. I have a spare room, so I let her stay there for a while. I have a three-bedroom apartment, which is quite spacious." He spoke calmly, but there was a hint of tension in his voice.

Fang Qing looked at him, her expression unchanged: "Oh, is that so?" Her tone remained gentle.

Xia Zhiyao quickly added, "Mom, I'm just staying here temporarily. I'll come back once the smell dissipates." She spoke so fast that her breathing became a little erratic.

Fang Qing's smile remained, but her gaze slowly shifted to her daughter's face. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Xia Zhiyao lowered her eyes, her palms slightly warm: "I was just afraid you would worry."

Xia Zhiyao lowered her eyes. "I was just afraid you'd worry," she said softly, her tone careful and somewhat ingratiating.

"What could I possibly worry about?" Fang Qing smiled faintly, but her eyes never left her. "Could I be more worried than when you were alone in America?" She spoke softly, her tone sounding like a recollection, yet a sharp edge was hidden beneath.

Xia Zhiyao's throat moved slightly, as if she wanted to explain, but for a moment she didn't know where to begin.

Just as the atmosphere was about to freeze again, Zheng Xiaotian quickly smiled and said, "Oh dear, Auntie, please don't say that. It makes me feel embarrassed. It's like I, the boss, have been exploiting my employees."

As he spoke, he moved to the coffee table and fiddled with the bag of fruit. "I can testify that I told Zhiyao to take a break today, but she insisted on rolling it up, and I couldn't persuade her otherwise."

He spoke in a lively tone, even raising his voice at the end to try and lighten the mood, but as soon as he finished speaking, Xia Zhiyao looked up and gave him a silent glare.

Fang Qing held her teacup, her gaze gently shifting between the three people. On one side was her daughter, who looked tense and dared not say much; on the other side was Zhou Yue, who sat upright and spoke cautiously; and on the other side was Zheng Xiaotian, who was desperately trying to cover his embarrassment with laughter and was almost emptying the fruit plate.

Her lips curved slightly, a faint smile, yet concealing a subtle thoughtfulness.

She could tell that the relationship between the three of them was unusual. Zhou Yue's gaze towards Xia Zhiyao was too natural, as if he had long been used to her presence, while Zheng Xiaotian spoke with a familiar and casual tone.

She sighed softly to herself: How come the relationships between them are so unfathomable?