Chapter 1: Enemies on a Narrow Road

Chapter 1: Enemies on a Narrow Road

"The Meteorological Bureau has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain. The city is expected to experience heavy rainfall starting at 8:00 PM tonight. Citizens are advised to take precautions..."

Yan Zhen glanced out the window. The gray sky was dull and depressing. Raindrops fell continuously, weaving an impenetrable net that heavily enveloped the earth.

"Why are you standing here in a daze? The guests are coming soon, hurry up!" An anxious voice suddenly came from behind.

Yan Zhen turned around and saw a capable woman in a suit and skirt waving at her. The woman had short, neat hair, a headset in her ear, and a staff badge on her chest. She looked like the venue's dispatch coordinator.

Yan Zhen looked around and asked doubtfully, "Are you talking about me?"

The woman was stunned for a moment after seeing Yan Zhen's face. She obviously didn't expect that the volunteer she picked up at random would be so beautiful. Soon she became happy and said, "Yes, it's you. Come with me."

Only then did Yan Zhen realize that something was wrong.

Today marks the second day of the Municipal Investment and Economic Forum, with numerous industry leaders attending the convention center. Roommate Jiang Yi signed up early to volunteer, emerging victorious from a rigorous selection process and securing this opportunity to enhance her resume. Yan Zhen, initially uninterested in the event, had planned to relax at home over the weekend, but Yan Zhao slipped her an invitation, insisting she come and study. Unexpectedly, while wandering around, she ran into Jiang Yi, who was feeling unwell.

Jiang Yi handed the volunteer vest and work ID to Yan Zhen, then went into the bathroom. Yan Zhen was waiting for her outside.

Now it seemed that the woman treated her as a volunteer goofing off in the corner of the venue.

She frowned slightly and said, "Actually..."

"Jiang Yi?" The woman stepped forward, saw the name on the work badge, and interrupted her. "We're really shorthanded right now. We can talk about rest later. Hurry and put on your vest and follow me."

After saying that, the woman turned and left, her high heels making an urgent and crisp sound on the ground. Yan Zhen was confused and took out her phone to send a message to Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi wailed, "That should be the person in charge of coordinating the volunteers. She's remembered my name now, and I'm afraid I'll leave a bad impression on her. Zhenzhen, please help me deal with it. I'll be here to take your place right away. I'll treat you to dinner when I get back, please, please!"

"Aren't you afraid that she'll find out we're not alone?"

"No, she's in charge of overall planning and has a lot of people to look after. She usually only liaises with a few people in charge. I don't know why she saw me today. I'm so unlucky!"

After all, they were roommates, so Yan Zhen had no choice but to agree to help and keep up with the woman in front.

As they walked, the woman asked, "School of Economics and Management, Ningchuan University?"

"Um."

She looked Yan Zhen up and down again and asked, "Didn't your supervisor tell us during the training that we should wear light-colored tops and dark-colored trousers? You're here to volunteer, not to socialize. Who are you showing off to by wearing a skirt?"

Yan Zhen had never been scolded like this before, and she felt a little dissatisfied, but she held back and didn't say anything.

"Forget it. There are always a few disobedient ones every year." The woman retracted her gaze. "Luckily, you have a good image. You will be responsible for receiving Mr. Chen from Xia Capital and his group later. I will take you to your seat. Just pour water when they arrive. I have already mentioned the key points during the previous training. Remember to be smart."

Yan Zhen's eyelids twitched, and she asked, "With Xia Capital? Can we switch?"

"Do you think this is a vegetable market where you can pick and choose?" The woman frowned unhappily, her tone even more serious. "How about we just arrange for you to sit in the guest seats?"

Her tone was sharp, clearly a habit of lecturing others, acting condescendingly and exerting pressure. Any other ordinary college student would have been too afraid to speak, but Yan Zhen hated sarcastic sarcasm.

She stopped, snorted, and reached out to take off her vest and leave, but as her fingertips touched the fabric, she remembered that she was now Jiang Yi. Yan Zhen did whatever she wanted, willful and capricious, and it didn't matter what happened. After all, Yan Zhao would cover her up in the end, but she couldn't hurt Jiang Yi and offend others, especially since this volunteer opportunity was so rare.

She reached into her pocket, touched her phone and hesitated for a long time, then pulled her hand out, resigned herself to her fate and followed the pace of the person in front.

Walking into the backstage, a group of volunteers were busy adjusting the sound system. The woman led her to the center of the first row and gave her instructions: "The seats have names on them. When the guests arrive, volunteers will escort them in. Remember to refill the tea promptly after they sit down. If it gets cold, pour a new cup. Never let guests drink cold tea."

If Yan Zhen had previously held onto a bit of hope that "although it's Mr. Chen from Hexia, there might be many people with the last name Chen in Hexia", then the moment she saw the name tag, the three words "Chen Huaixu" shattered all her fantasies.

What a narrow road for enemies to meet.

It would have been bad enough that she couldn't rest at home on the weekends, but she had to brave the heavy rain to attend a forum and was forced to do hard labor. What was even worse was that the person she was serving was actually her mortal enemy Chen Huaixu.

Asking her to pour tea for Chen Huaixu? What a joke! She had never poured tea for her own brother Yan Zhao.

The woman repeatedly emphasized that the people coming this time were all important people, and asked Yan Zhen not to make any mistakes. After giving her instructions, she entrusted her to the person in charge of the backstage and then left in a hurry.

The person in charge of the backstage was a short, bespectacled man. He looked Yan Zhen over, pushed his glasses, and said with a smile, "Classmate, you're also from Ningchuan University, right? Are you an undergraduate or a graduate student? I'm in my second year of graduate school."

Yan Zhen felt a little depressed and replied casually, "Undergraduate, I'm about to graduate. By the way, can this person be replaced?"

"Change people?" The boy was startled, then shook his head. "This is all arranged. There's nothing I can do about it."

He looked at Yan Zhen's frown and smiled again, "I thought you would be very happy. Mr. Chen from Hexia is very popular, and many volunteer girls come here just for him. It was during this opportunity to pour tea that the volunteers in the backfield secretly resold the goods and sold them at a very high price. Later, Sister Tina - the person in charge just now - found out. She was very angry and went to the outer field to arrest people to do it. You are very lucky."

Yan Zhen forced a smile.

Lucky? She was definitely unlucky today.

Twenty minutes later, the guests began arriving. Before the event even began, people, both familiar and unfamiliar, chatted with each other, a group of people in suits standing together, chatting and laughing.

Yan Zhen was looking down at her phone when the girl next to her patted her gently and said, "The guests are seated. It's our turn to work."

She reluctantly stood up, picked up the kettle and walked to the first row.

People were coming and going on the sidelines and the lights were dim, but Yan Zhen still saw the familiar figure at a glance.

The man, dressed in a well-tailored black suit that neatly outlined his broad shoulders and long legs, was leaning back in a sofa, looking down at the materials he had prepared in advance. A beam of light from the stage swept across from a distance, clearly illuminating his angular profile. His pupils were pitch black, his nose was high, and when he wasn't smiling, he gave off a cold, distant air.

The girls passing by all cast their eyes towards him more or less secretly, but he did not react at all. He was concentrating on looking at the documents, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Yan Zhen's evaluation of Chen Huaixu has always been: all show and no substance.

He and Yan Zhen's older brother, Yan Zhao, had been good friends since high school. They had both studied abroad for their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Upon returning to China, Yan Zhao inherited the family business, while Chen Huaixu chose to start his own venture, Hexia Capital. A few months earlier, the renowned pharmaceutical company Yixing had completed its initial public offering (IPO), and Hexia had capitalized on the opportunity by reducing its holdings and profiting handsomely. Chen Huaixu's net worth had also skyrocketed, even making it onto Ningchuan City's Young Rich List. He had become a rising star in the industry, drawing widespread attention.

But in Yan Zhen's opinion, Chen Huaixu had no merits other than his looks and barely passable work ability. In private, he was a terrible person, hypocritical and malicious. Unfortunately, he was so good at pretending that everyone, except Yan Zhen, praised him endlessly, praising him for his youthful promise, outstanding character, and rare talent.

When she thought of this, she felt a little unhappy.

She walked to the man's side and poured water into the cup with an expressionless face.

She noticed that Chen Huaixu's gaze inadvertently cast its gaze over to her, and then suddenly stopped, shifting from the movement of her hands to her face little by little.

Yan Zhen's knuckles tightened as she gripped the kettle.

There was a lot of noise all around. Seeing that the water was almost finished, a low and cold voice sounded slowly: "Yan Zhao, stop, are you stuck?"

Yan Zhen: “What?”

Chen Huaixu's guess wasn't entirely unreasonable. Miss Yan Zhen, who had always been the one waiting on others, had never touched a finger in the house, yet now she was serving tea and water here in a volunteer uniform. Besides Yan Zhao not giving her pocket money and being forced to make ends meet, she couldn't seem to find any other suitable excuse.

There was a hint of the sun rising from the west in his words, which made Yan Zhen very unhappy: "Can't I take the initiative to volunteer?"

"Yes, sure."

Yan Zhen felt his answer was just a perfunctory one, so she said dissatisfiedly, "So what if my card is suspended? Are you going to help me?"

"It's not impossible." Chen Huaixu replied slowly, "After all, I have always been kind. It's only right for me to provide some help to Miss Yan for a fee."

"You're even asking for money..." Yan Zhen hated his profiteer mentality so much that she said unhappily, "Don't worry, I'd rather die than eat your food."

"Really?" His tone was flat, and he looked away, "The water spilled."

Yan Zhen then realized that she had been so caught up in her fight with Chen Huaixu that she hadn't even noticed the teapot was full and was still pouring more. The spilled tea made a mess on the table. She hurriedly grabbed a tissue to clean it up, but in her flustered movements, she heard a soft rebuke from behind her: "How can you not even pour the tea properly?"

The sound of high heels approached like a death horn. Tina frowned and said, "Don't stay here. Call Xiao Lu over."

Xiao Lu is the person in charge of the backstage, the boy with glasses.

As she spoke, she turned to Chen Huaixu and said with an apologetic smile, "Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry. This volunteer was a bit clumsy and got your information wet. I'll get you a new copy right away."

Yan Zhen didn't want to do it anyway, so after hearing that, she threw the wet tissue into the trash can and turned away.

"Wait a minute." Chen Huaixu spoke from behind.

She paused.

"It's not a big deal. There's no need to be so harsh." He said in a calm tone, "The volunteers are all students. It's their first time seeing this kind of scene, so it's natural that they're a little nervous."

Tina understood that he was speaking for the volunteer, so she immediately understood and said to Yan Zhen, putting pressure on him with her eyes: "I'll give you one more chance. Go get some new information and don't make any more mistakes this time."

Yan Zhen brought over a new document. Tina had already walked away. She threw the document into Chen Huaixu's arms and said with a "snort": "You're so hypocritical. Don't expect me to thank you."

"No need." Chen Huaixu lowered his head and continued to look through the documents, his tone somewhat casual, "It just saves you from causing trouble for others."

For a moment, Yan Zhen really wanted to pour water into the back of his collar.

She knew she couldn't expect too much from this person!

Someone happened to pass by behind her. She couldn't get angry, so she could only smile and threaten with gritted teeth: "Really? Then you'd better be prepared to be in trouble. I won't let you go."

She deliberately emphasized her words, and a faint blush appeared on her fair cheeks. She was obviously angry, but her bright eyes were so lively that she looked like she was being pouty.

He raised his head to look at her, a barely perceptible smile on his lips, and said, "I'm at your service anytime."

When Yan Zhen returned to the volunteer rest area, a group of people were chatting animatedly. Seeing Yan Zhen approaching, they nudged each other's arms and made eye contact, but no one dared to step forward.

Finally, a girl who looked very outgoing came over and asked her calmly, "Hello, are you Yan Zhen?"

She was about to drink some water when she looked up, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of confusion as she asked, "Who are you?"

"We are both from Ningchuan University. You are very famous in school." The girl smiled. "I didn't expect to see you here."

When Yan Zhen first enrolled, she became a school celebrity thanks to a stunning photo she'd taken. Afterward, people would frequently post photos of her on forums, asking who she was. Later, it was revealed that she was the daughter of the Yan Group, and she became even more popular within the school. Even when she went to the cafeteria to eat, she would be secretly observed by those around her. It was no surprise that these other students had heard of her.

She covered her work badge on her chest with her hand without leaving any trace, and nodded gently, "Hello."

Afraid of exposing herself to the fact that she was only temporarily volunteering for Jiang Yi if she chatted too much, Yan Zhen remained silent. The girl assumed she was naturally aloof and after a few pleasantries, she went back to her room, and the lively discussions resumed.

Yan Zhen sat on a chair nearby and sent a message to Jiang Yi asking if she was feeling better.

Jiang Yi didn't reply.

She was just thinking about whether to make a phone call when familiar words came into her ears.

"...Chen Huaixu is much more handsome in person than in his photos. I led him in today, and when he left, he said 'thank you for your hard work'. I was immediately struck by him! I've also received many CEOs before, and many of them ignored us, let alone talked to small volunteers like us."

Put on airs to win people's hearts.

"I have a senior who works at Hexia. She told us that Chen Huaixu has very good character and good manners. Whenever he sees an employee in the company, no matter their rank, he will greet them. Although he can be quite aloof, his politeness is truly impeccable."

Good character? Good manners? Did she hear that right?

"It's so wonderful to work at Hexia. The boss is so handsome, the company has great prospects, and the salary is high. I want to try it out during the autumn recruitment next year. I wonder if this opportunity will still be there."

"It's not that easy. It's getting harder and harder to get into Hexia every year. Moreover, Chen Huaixu has high requirements for work ability. My senior sister said that those who are not aware of it should not go in easily."

"That's normal... After all, he's only been in business for a few years and has achieved this. And I heard he's still single."

"I'm busy with work. Maybe I haven't thought about it at all."

"It must be that the requirements are too high and I haven't found the right one yet."

Yan Zhen couldn't bear to listen any longer and couldn't help but join in the discussion: "Haven't you ever thought about the fact that the reason he's still single is actually——"

The eyes of the people around her turned to her.

“Is he really that unpleasant in person?”

Jiang Yi appeared with a bitter face at the end of the forum.

As soon as she saw Yan Zhen, she immediately rushed over and apologized repeatedly: "I'm so sorry, I didn't know this would happen. I shouldn't have gone out for barbecue with them last night. I'm really sorry to bother you today."

Yan Zhen looked at her pale cheeks and asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Jiang Yi frowned and said, "Much better."

Yan Zhen nodded, took off her vest, hung her work ID around her neck, and said, "Go back and have a good rest."

Jiang Yi hesitated and asked tentatively, "Why don't you come with us? The volunteers will take a bus to the school. You can blend in with the crowd and no one will check you out."

"I can just take a taxi and go home tonight instead of going to school."

As she was speaking, a message alert rang from her phone. Yan Zhen took it out and took a look. It was a WeChat message from Chen Huaixu. It only had a few concise words: Gate 3, take the elevator down, parking lot.

She replied with a question mark.

Soon, there was a reply: It’s raining heavily. If you can get a taxi, I’ll leave first.

Yan Zhen originally wanted to refuse dignifiedly, but after taking a look at the taxi app, she realized that the convention center was remote and it was raining heavily. After waiting for ten minutes, no car accepted the order.

Her fingertips hesitated on the screen for a long time, and she gritted her teeth and typed with humiliation: Wait for me.

Yan Zhen took the elevator down to the parking lot and saw Chen Huaixu's car from a distance. She looked around, made sure no one was around, and then walked around to the passenger seat and sat down.

The man who had just been at the center of the discussion was now sitting in the driver's seat, talking on the phone. He had one hand on the steering wheel, his fingers long and slender, their joints distinct, and the expensive watch on his wrist gleamed with an exquisite luster.

She looked at the watch and felt that it looked familiar, but she couldn't figure out what it was. Chen Huaixu saw Yan Zhen get in the car out of the corner of his eye and quickly ended the call: "Well, that's it for now."

Yan Zhen shifted her attention from his wrist and asked, "How did you know I couldn't get a taxi? What if I drove here myself?"

Chen Huaixu put his phone aside and said casually, "Didn't Yan Zhao block your card? Can you still afford the gas?"

She really wanted to shut up his mouth, so she said unhappily, "I was just kidding. Yan Zhao didn't block my card."

"I know."

He also knew that the reason Yan Zhen wasn't driving today was because she had been in an accident before. Although she wasn't injured, the shock she received was enough to make her afraid to drive on the road in the rain again.

But he didn't say it, instead he asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

"You want to go to dinner with me?" She suspected she had misheard. "Isn't it red rain outside?"

"Miss Yan, you've taken the trouble to pour tea for me today. Of course, I have to reciprocate."

This was a perfectly normal statement, so normal it didn't seem like something Chen Huaixu, who loved to argue with her, would say. Yan Zhen was surprised by his change of attitude, but after a while she couldn't figure it out, so she simply gave up and said with a light humour, "You're a good person."

She took out her cell phone and searched for restaurants one by one, ready to pick an expensive one to give Chen Huaixu a good meal.

"This place seems pretty good. Ying Shu and his friends have been there before and recommended it to me. But you need to make a reservation, and I'm not sure if I can get one now..."

She muttered something, but Chen Huaixu didn't pay any attention. He fastened his seat belt, turned his head to look at her, and asked, "What?"

She repeated, "I mean, this restaurant is going to—"

Before he could finish his words, Chen Huaixu suddenly leaned over.

The light coming through the windshield was blocked by his figure. Yan Zhen's eyes darkened and he was stunned for a moment.

He smelled nice, she didn't know what the scent was, it was light and clear, filling her nose just right, like a net, tightly enveloping her.

The bright white light from the parking lot cast a soft glow over his features. She could even make out his slightly fluttering eyelashes and the faint mole beneath his right eye.

Even though Yan Zhen hated Chen Huaixu very much, she had to admit that he was indeed very handsome.

When the two first met, Yan Zhen was still in high school. At the time, Yan Zhao and Chen Huaixu were studying abroad, and after returning home for the holidays, they made plans to play basketball together. Yan Zhen, not wanting to do her homework, eagerly followed Yan Zhao and spotted Chen Huaixu waiting at the basketball court.

He was wearing a black T-shirt, his figure lean and slender, his head bent over his phone. His arms were bent without exerting much force, yet the faint outline of his muscles was visible. Summer sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves overhead, illuminating the sharp angles of his profile in a semi-dark hue. It then flowed down the back of his neck, slightly obscured by his tangled black hair, and onto his straight back.

Because of the hot weather, the air was scorching hot and the cicadas were chirping loudly. However, he had a cold demeanor and stood there motionless, as if the hustle and bustle around him had nothing to do with him.

Yan Zhao called him and Chen Huaixu turned around to look at him.

It happened that a breeze blew, the leaves swayed, and the light and shadow flowed between his eyebrows, from the tips of his hair to his lips, all reflected in her eyes.

That year Yan Zhen was 17 years old and Chen Huaixu was 22 years old.

Judging from her first impression, Yan Zhen definitely had a crush on him. His face was so deceptive, it even gave her a vague, girlish flutter. It was a shame that in their subsequent interactions, the incompatibility between their personalities became completely exposed, leading to the current state of mutual dislike.

Now 27, Chen Huaixu looks even more mature. The immaturity between his eyebrows has faded, replaced by a sense of strength and unfamiliar control. His whole body exudes a cold light like a blade, sharp and cold. When those eyes look at people without any emotion, they always give people a sense of cold oppression.

At this moment, he just looked at her with his eyes downcast. In the silence, there seemed to be a thread of ambiguity floating.

The distance was so close, so close that if he just lowered his head slightly, he could touch her lips.

Yan Zhen frowned, pursed her lips unconsciously, and held her breath nervously.

She thought the time would be very long, but in fact the awkward and tense confrontation only lasted a few seconds. Chen Huaixu averted his gaze, tilted his head slightly, reached over her, pulled out the seat belt from her side, straightened it, and then buckled it.

A soft "click" shattered the sudden, charming atmosphere, and the lingering ambiguous aura instantly dissipated. With a faint smile, he asked, "What were you expecting?"

Yan Zhen finally came to her senses, realizing that she had just foolishly assumed he was going to kiss her. She felt both ashamed and annoyed. She tilted her head and glared at him fiercely, trying to hide her embarrassment, saying, "Chen Huaixu, you—"

She subconsciously tried to stand up, but she moved too violently and was caught by the seat belt. Her back bounced heavily back against the soft backrest of the chair, breaking the words that were about to circle in her mouth to question him.

Chen Huaixu handed her the suit jacket and said, "Put it on."

The weather in early spring was a bit chilly, and it was even colder after the rain. She was wearing thin clothes, and even her fingertips were cold when she touched them.

She choked for a moment, threw it back in frustration, and said, "Who wants to wear your clothes?"

"You seem very hot?" He pretended to press the control panel. "Then I'll turn on the air conditioner."

Yan Zhen had no doubt that Chen Huaixu was capable of such a thing. She had been spoiled and pampered, and there was no way she would actually freeze in his car for the sake of a bit of so-called dignity. So she could only tug at his coat, gnashing her teeth as she tore him apart in her heart.

After seeing her put on her clothes, Chen Huaixu withdrew his gaze, stepped on the accelerator, and the car slowly drove out of the parking lot.

As the sky darkened, the streetlights came on early. The mottled light was pulled into a blur by the speeding cars, and then blurred by the rain, reflecting on the car windows. Yan Zhen looked out the window, his mind full of the embarrassment just now. His earlobes turned red, and his fingertips couldn't help but tighten around his jacket.

Damn Chen Huaixu.

Just wait for her, she will definitely take revenge.

In the end, they went to the restaurant chosen by Chen Huaixu and the two of them entered a private room.

This was Yan Zhen's first time here. The restaurant might seem unassuming from the outside, but its interior was a world of its own. Tucked away in a courtyard steeped in Chinese landscape gardens, it was a tranquil retreat. Stepping in through the rain, it felt like entering a paradise. The private rooms were elegantly decorated, lush with potted plants, and the gardens and landscapes beyond the windows were refreshingly tranquil, soothing and tranquil.

The waiter, wearing a Chinese robe, quietly served them the dishes.

Yan Zhen tasted a little and found the taste to be very much to her liking. She couldn't help but ask, "Where did you find this restaurant? I've never heard of such a delicious restaurant before."

"It's a private restaurant opened by a friend of a friend. I've been there once or twice."

Chen Huaixu was wearing gloves as he peeled shrimp and placed them in Yan Zhen's bowl. She was startled and looked at him doubtfully, asking, "Are you okay?"

"Don't want to eat it?" He held out his hand again, "Give it back to me."

"Of course I'll eat it!" Yan Zhen didn't understand his inexplicable behavior, but it was always right for a young lady to enjoy being served by others, so she picked up the shrimp and took a bite.

When she raised her eyes, she happened to meet Chen Huaixu's half-smile.

"What's wrong?"

He couldn't have poisoned her, right?

"Nothing." He took off his gloves slowly. "I just suddenly remembered someone said this afternoon that they would rather die than eat my food."

Yan Zhen: “…”

No wonder he sounded so nice when he invited her to dinner. It turned out he was waiting for her here.

She gritted her teeth and said, "You really are..."

"Petite, vindictive, petty." Chen Huaixu finished these words for her, which she had said countless times, and looked at her leisurely, "Anything else?"

All the lines were taken away, Yan Zhen glared at him and said, "It's okay as long as you know yourself."

Since she had eaten the shrimp anyway, she swallowed it and gave the order like a broken jar: "I want to eat more, you continue peeling."

"Ms. Yan, hired labor must be paid."

here we go again.

Yan Zhen was genuinely curious, so she asked, "If you have a girlfriend in the future, will you have to be so clear with her?"

He said calmly: "When I have it, you can ask her."

Just then, the waiter pushed the door open with new dishes. Chen Huaixu turned sideways and took off a new pair of disposable gloves.

"Forget it." She snorted, "It's impossible for someone like you to find a girlfriend."

After dinner, Chen Huaixu drove Yan Zhen home.

The rain was getting heavier on the road, and even the frantic wipers couldn't clear the view. The road was so flooded that a detour was necessary. Yan Zhen directed, and Chen Huaixu drove. After a long struggle, the two finally made it back to the Yan family villa halfway up the mountain.

Nanny Cui was already waiting at the door, with Yan Zhen's beloved dog Chocolate lying beside her. When Chocolate saw Yan Zhen get out of the car, he enthusiastically rushed over, wagging his tail.

Aunt Cui stepped forward and said, "Mr. Chen, it's raining so hard. Thank you for taking Zhenzhen back. Come in and have some hot tea."

"Thank you, but it's a little late and I have to go to work tomorrow morning, so I won't stay."

Just as he finished speaking, there was a loud thunder in the distance and the rain became heavier.

"It's raining heavily outside, and the road down the mountain will definitely be difficult to drive. The news also reported that the road is seriously flooded. Mr. Chen, why don't you stay here tonight?" Aunt Cui's tone was full of concern. "We have a guest room at home, and all the supplies are brand new. Xiao Zhao has a lot of new clothes that she hasn't worn. You two have similar figures, so you can just pick whatever you want to wear."

Yan Zhen was squatting on the ground kneading chocolate. Hearing this, he raised his head and asked, "My brother is not back yet?"

"No. It rained heavily today, and Xiao Zhao said it was inconvenient to drive, so he stayed at Fuguangyuan."

Three years ago, after Yan Zhao's mother, Yan Nutu, handed the Yan family over to Yan Zhao, she and Yan's father had gone to Europe, under the guise of being in charge of the European branch, but in reality, they were traveling the world, returning only a few times a year. Only the two of them, brother and sister, were left in the vast villa, fully cared for by Aunt Cui. Aunt Cui had worked for the Yan family before Yan Zhao was born, and to them, Aunt Cui was like family, hence the affectionate address.

Yan Zhen stroked the Samoyed's snow-white fur, recalling the bumpy ride back home. She said to Chen Huaixu, "You can stay here. It's raining so hard outside, it's too unsafe to go back."

Although she hated Chen Huaixu, she couldn't joke about it since it involved safety.

Seeing that the rain was not going to stop for a while, Chen Huaixu had no choice but to agree.

Aunt Cui led him to the guest room. Yan Zhen leaned against the doorway and watched, occasionally making a few sarcastic remarks: "Aunt Cui, how could he be so squeamish that he even had to change the incense for him?"

"Sleep is very important, especially for Mr. Chen, who works very hard. He should pay more attention to rest."

Aunt Cui spoke earnestly, then turned to look at Chen Huaixu and asked, "Can we just use the one in Zhenzhen's room? Zhenzhen said it helps her sleep."

Chen Huaixu stood aside and said politely, "I can do anything. Thank you for your help."

Yan Zhen said, "If you can't sleep in your bed, don't blame my incense."

"Not bad." Chen Huaixu replied, "I'm not that delicate. I can sleep without incense."

She was choked again, so she glared at him unwillingly and turned away.

Yan Zhen went back to her room, took a shower, and went downstairs in her nightgown to get some water to drink.

Aunt Cui was washing fruit in the kitchen. When she saw Yan Zhen coming, she handed it to her and said, "You eat it first. I'll wash another plate for Mr. Chen later."

Yan Zhen picked up a grape, peeled it, and threw it into her mouth, mumbling, "Why should we be so nice to him? He's not a good person."

Aunt Cui said, "They specially sent you back today, you should at least thank them."

Yan Zhen fell silent. Aunt Cui's movements gradually slowed down, and she said, "Zhen Zhen, Mr. Chen is still a good person. You should stop getting angry with him."

"Aunt Cui, you don't understand. You'll understand once you get to know him more. He's actually very mean. He usually pretends to be good to deceive you."

Aunt Cui shook her head and sighed. How could she not understand? The Yan family's house was halfway up the mountain, and it took more than an hour to get there and back from the city center where Chen Huaixu lived. Sometimes, when Yan Zhao was late for work, he was too lazy to come back and simply lived near the company. But as long as Yan Zhen asked, no matter how late it was, Chen Huaixu would drive her there personally.

If he was simply treating his friend's sister, then this patience would be a bit excessive.

After Aunt Cui washed the fruit and Yan Zhen had almost finished eating, she asked Yan Zhen to bring it to Chen Huaixu when she went upstairs.

Yan Zhen was not very willing to do so, but she still did as she was told and stood at the door of the guest room and knocked.

The door was opened. Chen Huaixu seemed to have just finished taking a shower. His hair was not dry yet, and the ends of his hair hung down to cover his forehead. His usually cold eyes were unexpectedly softer.

"I really don't understand why Aunt Cui likes you so much." Yan Zhen muttered and stuffed something into his arms, "Fruit prepared for you."

She suddenly remembered something and paused when Chen Huaixu took the call. She gave a sly smile and said, "Thank you for taking me back today and spending so much time peeling shrimp for me. To thank you, how about I peel some grapes for you?"

She picked one up, peeled it, and moved closer. Seeing that his eyes were still dark and his expression was still firm, she continued to test his bottom line.

He was tall, so Yan Zhen had to stand on tiptoe to look him in the eye. Unable to find it troublesome, she simply hooked her other hand around his neck, forcing him to bend down so they could meet eyes.

Yan Zhen was very beautiful, especially her eyes, with clear, bright pupils. When she looked at someone intently, her gaze was like ripples on a lake caused by spring rain, making people's hearts itch, but she herself was completely unaware of it.

She slowly moved closer, her body almost touching his. The close-fitting silk nightgown revealed the curves of her graceful figure. The sweet scent of her bath was alluring, seeping into the air of both of them.

She spoke softly, her words gentle: "Does my shower gel smell good?"

He said nothing, just looked at her with his dark eyes.

Yan Zhen was a little troubled.

She had only been impulsive, wanting to disgust Chen Huaixu and see a look of disgust on his usually calm face. But she hadn't expected him to push her away even when she was so close, as if he wanted to see what tricks she could pull off. Now, she was the one who was stuck in the middle of a dilemma.

The two people seemed to be caught in a game, whoever wavered first would lose.

In an almost ambiguous atmosphere, she passed the grapes to his lips, gently tapped his lips with her knuckles, and said, "Open your mouth."

Her breathing was light, her face was slightly flushed, and there was a hint of barely perceptible nervousness in her expression.

Chen Huaixu lowered his eyes and looked at her silently for a long time. His lips moved slightly, as if he was about to bite her hand. Yan Zhen was overjoyed and immediately turned around, stuffed the grape into his mouth and bit it, then released his hand and raised his eyebrows at him proudly.

She won.

If anyone dares to tease her like that in the car, she will definitely take revenge.

However, Chen Huaixu's eyes looked strange. It didn't seem like he was angry out of shame, but rather like some kind of storm was brewing.

At this moment, the sound of Aunt Cui's footsteps coming up the stairs was heard.

Yan Zhen decided to quit while she was ahead and turned around to slip away. Unexpectedly, the next second, her wrist was grabbed, and before she could even utter a sound, she was dragged into the room without warning.

The door slammed shut with a loud noise, and the fruit plate was knocked over and scattered in the corridor, with juice spilling everywhere and making a mess.