Their tacit understanding
In the private room, Zhuang Yu'an used a public spoon to skim off a piece of fish belly and put it on the plate opposite.
"Boss Zhuang is very considerate." Yan Qing said with a smile, "Today's dishes all don't have ginger."
Zhuang Yu'an smiled faintly: "It should be."
After a while, Yan Qing put down his chopsticks and said, "Mr. Zhuang seemed to have reservations during the meeting. Is he worried about my sincerity in cooperating with him?"
Zhuang Yu'an also put down his chopsticks and said, "I see Mr. Yan's sincerity. I can't say I have any doubts, I just have a small question."
"Please go ahead."
"I don't think your company absolutely has to partner with us," he said slowly. "For your company, expanding from a pet hospital to pet food, and investing substantial capital in overseas production and sales, right now isn't the best time. There are more reliable options. Furthermore, your family already has a mature pet food production and supply chain, so why seek external partners?"
"Good question." Yan Qing smiled faintly. "Mr. Zhuang may know that I have an older brother and a younger brother. The time my father gave me is not infinite. If I continue to move forward at a constant speed, I am afraid I will not reach my destination."
Zhuang Yu'an listened quietly. She raised an eyebrow and added, "Whether in the workplace or at home, it's always harder for a woman to prove her strength and value. It requires a bit of a sense of adventure."
Zhuang Yu'an nodded: "I understand."
"Maybe you don't understand enough." Yan Qing smiled, looking at him with bright eyes, "You are the one I chose, and this project is also the one I led. If it doesn't succeed, then I will die. So, Mr. Zhuang..."
She said with certainty, "You are my adventure."
After leaving the restaurant, Zhuang Yu'an walked her to the side of the road and watched her get into the car.
I took out my phone and saw a long WeChat message from my sister:
"Brother, the company is now saying that you and Yan Qing have an unusual relationship. Brother Luffy also asked me about it! I think he is 70% to 80% sure that you two are having an affair, so he threw a smokescreen. I remember you told me before: secrecy is the key to success, and disclosure is the key to failure, so I think it's better to let him misunderstand... Hehe, remember to keep your words consistent!"
As he watched, Zhuang Yu'an curled his lips: My sister has really improved.
He called Chen Quan and said, "Boss Yan and I haven't finished discussing anything yet. The 2:30 meeting will be rescheduled to 4:00. If Luffy and Lao Feng ask, tell them the truth."
The warm early winter sun shone on him, and he relaxed completely. He couldn't help but recall that morning, when someone had stood before him, dazed and utterly adorable, with a delicate face, moist eyes, and rosy cheeks. He could barely contain himself at that moment, his only thought being to pull that person into his arms...
There are still two hours from now to the meeting at four o'clock, which is enough time to go home.
Zhuang Yu'an walked in. Peter Pan came running over, barking, and played around his trouser legs.
Because she had been here, the whole house looked different: the windows were clean, the light was bright, and the air seemed to be filled with a sweet fragrance. Even the puppy seemed more cheerful than usual. He couldn't help but curl his lips.
I took off my coat and went to the dining room, then the kitchen.
She ate a good breakfast and finished her hangover tea, which filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction. She had cleared the table before leaving and put the remaining food in the refrigerator. This, in turn, fueled his resolve: if he were lucky enough to share three meals a day and four seasons with her in this life, he would not let her do even a single household chore. She would be pampered and protected by him, allowed to live freely and unrestrainedly, simply flourishing.
Zhuang Yu'an washed his hands and prepared to receive today's reward.
"Woof woof!"
A distant sound startled something. In the dim room, thick eyelashes trembled slightly, like the fluttering wings of a butterfly.
She slowly opened her eyes and gradually saw the outline of the chandelier in the dim light.
At the same time, he felt the spring gradually tighten, and raised his hand to loosen his tie. The closer he got to the door, the more restless the suppressed desire in his heart became.
Suddenly, she heard the door being turned. Very quietly, very cautiously, as if afraid to disturb something, to reveal something. She held her breath, her heart suddenly rising. Uneasy, nervous, and faintly expectant.
He pushed the door open and stepped into the dim room. The room was filled with a charming fragrance. Just breathing the air brought a pleasure that was enough to make the heart tremble, a pleasure full of sin... He was opening Pandora's box.
She looked up and saw the man standing by the bed. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, and his suit was just as he had been when he left.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
This person seems... stupid?
Oh, was it a dream? It was Monday afternoon, if she remembered correctly. He couldn't be here.
Yes, it was a dream.
She snorted and laughed, and opened her red lips slightly: "Why are you standing there? Come here quickly."
...What did she say? The sound of his heartbeat like a drum filled his ears, and Zhuang Yu'an suspected that what he had just heard was just an illusion.
"Now you're scared." Zuo Xiao leaned his head back on the pillow and said lazily, "You were very brave last night."
Seeing that the other party hadn't moved, she ran out of patience and said angrily, "Are you coming or not? If not, get out of here!"
Zhuang Yu'an's heart tightened and his mind went blank because of the sweet voice. His body was pulled by an invisible force and slowly moved to the head of the bed.
After adapting to the darkness in the room, the faces in my vision gradually became clearer.
"Are you feeling unwell?" He spoke with difficulty, his voice hoarse as if it had been rubbed by gravel. He knew he shouldn't be looking at her at this moment, but his gaze couldn't be controlled, covering her like a net, and then tightening inch by inch.
"Well, I feel uncomfortable..." She half-opened her eyes and bit her lip, as if she was really in pain.
Zhuang Yu'an was about to ask again when she suddenly lifted the thin blanket covering her. Her light silk pajamas, outlining her soft curves, were suddenly exposed before his eyes. He was caught off guard and his mind went blank.
Caught off guard, his fingers were grabbed and pulled downwards.
He was led to bend over, and in an instant, two plump lips were right before his eyes, and a fragrant and hot breath filled his nose. His breathing immediately stopped, and his head felt numb.
Reason told him that he should break free, but his heart had turned into a pool of water, his bones had become soft, and the hand she was holding was limp and powerless.
"Where do you feel uncomfortable?" he asked with difficulty.
The gentle voice was tinged with mist: "You'll know if you touch it..." Before he understood the meaning of the words, his hand was grasped and passed through the hem of her silk pajamas, and pressed against her lower abdomen without any obstruction.
The touch from his palm made him dizzy and his body swayed. Then a red light flashed in his head and the alarm sounded.
Zuo Xiao pressed the big hand between his palm and lower abdomen, feeling the protruding finger bones, the slightly throbbing veins on the back of the hand, and the rough and hot palm, and couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh from his lips.
The touch feels so real... Thinking of this, she reached out her other hand, held the man's hand, and slowly moved down.
At that moment, his hand suddenly pulled back, causing her to gasp slightly.
Time froze at that moment. She suddenly realized something, as if she had fallen into an icy cave.
Their eyes met, and Zuo Xiao gritted her teeth, trying not to betray her panic and embarrassment. The other man stared at her in astonishment, then suddenly turned hastily and hurried away, forgetting to close the door behind him.
She stared blankly at the ceiling, and after a moment, she pulled up the quilt to cover her head and face.
Half an hour later, when she changed her clothes and walked into the living room, Zhuang Yu'an was sitting on the sofa, staring at the screen of his mobile phone.
She frowned and was about to speak when he spoke first, "Have you had lunch?"
She was stunned: "No."
"Then I'll make some for you." He said as he stood up. "It will be quick."
"No!" she said hurriedly, "I ate too much this morning and I'm not hungry now. I want to go home!"
Zhuang Yu settled the matter for a moment and said, "Then take some dumplings back with you and cook them when you're hungry." Then he walked quickly towards the kitchen.
In this way, the two of them tacitly pretended nothing had happened. He didn't ask why she was acting so strangely, and she didn't ask why he suddenly came home on a weekday afternoon and entered her room. Zhuang Yu'an even drove her to the subway entrance—he had originally offered to take her home, but she declined.
The dignity of an adult was barely preserved. But...
In the subway, Zuo Xiao lowered his head and stared at his toes in a daze.
This is ridiculous...
But she had to admit: she had desires for Zhuang Yu'an, and this was an unavoidable fact.
So did he see it?
You should have seen it… He just lacked experience in love, not stupid. Those frivolous words and impulsive actions she made while thinking she was in a dream, even if she explained them as being confused, drunk, or dreaming, couldn't erase the suspicion that she wanted to have something with him.
After all, who would do something like that in a dream to a friend of the opposite sex whom they have no interest in?
How embarrassing... She bit her lip in shame.
On Thursday night, Zhuang Yu'an came to Liang Sirui for piano lessons again. Of course, he arrived just in time for the band's rehearsal. By the time rehearsal was over, he'd finished his piano lesson just in time. When Zuo Xiao followed Zhuang Jinghao out of the rehearsal room, she saw him waiting outside the door.
She looked away almost immediately and felt her ears getting hot.
In her quick glance, she hadn't even seen what Zhuang Yu'an was wearing today; she was left with the impression that he was handsome. He wasn't wearing a suit, but a casual outfit in a mix of brown tones. It was sophisticated and stylish, yet relaxed, and even had a rare hint of suave.
Then he found it funny again, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly: Is he spreading his wings in different ways?
"Wow!" Peng Lei exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Which show is this male model from? So cool!"
Zhuang Jinghao snorted proudly and walked forward to hold his brother's hand: "I accompanied my brother to buy it. Tell me if this one is handsome or not."
"Hey, what's the use of me saying it?" Peng Lei said with a half smile, "It only counts if the beauties like it." After saying that, he glanced at Zuo Xiao.
At this time, Jiang Miaomiao came over and greeted him enthusiastically, "Boss Zhuang, have you finished your class?"
Zhuang Yu'an nodded slightly. Jiang Miaomiao glanced around and said with a smile, "I'm hungry. Who wants to go out for a late-night snack? It's my treat."
Zhuang Yu'an turned his gaze towards Zuo Xiao. Zhuang Jinghao reacted quickly, stepped forward, grabbed her hand and shook it: "Are you going?"
Zuo Xiao shook his head: "It's a bit late, let's not go."
"Okay, let's go back!" Zhuang Jinghao smiled and hooked his arm around hers. Just as he was about to pull her away, she quickly said, "I'll take Qin Yufei's car. It's on our way."
No matter how Zhuang Jinghao tried to persuade him, Zuo Xiao still insisted as before. Finally, in front of the Zhuang brothers and sisters, he followed Qin Yufei and Peng Lei away.
The same thing happened on Saturday. The night before, Zhuang Jinghao called to say she was coming to pick her up, and she said Qin Yufei would give her a ride. After rehearsal that evening, the Zhuang siblings watched her walk away with someone else.
Even a fool could tell she was hiding!
But Zhuang Jinghao is not a fool. Not only can he see that she is hiding, he can also guess the approximate reason.
"Brother, did something happen between you and Zuo Xiao?" She looked over from the passenger seat and said suspiciously, "She's obviously avoiding you!"
Zhuang Yu'an kept his mouth shut and had no intention of telling her what happened on Monday. He only said, "I noticed it, but I don't know why."
Zhuang Jinghao frowned and thought for a moment, speculating, "Could it be that you were too controlling last week and caused her to resent you?"
Zhuang Yu'an's eyes glared: "Am I very controlling?"
"A little bit." Zhuang Jinghao wasn't sure. "You stopped her from drinking at the bar! And you stopped her from drinking red wine at the hot springs... Oh, and on Monday morning, she said she didn't need hangover tea, but you forced it on her... Maybe, due to all these things, she thinks you're too controlling, so she's avoiding you."
Zhuang Yu'an thought his sister's analysis made sense, but it didn't explain what happened that Monday afternoon. If she had already been disgusted with him, how could she have said and done such things?
Thinking of the scenes that happened in the dark room that afternoon, thinking of her coquettish and impatient urging, thinking of the smell of her nose, thinking of the touch of her skin under his hands... He felt his throat dry and his heart tightened.
At the same time, he was baffled. He didn't know why Zuo Xiao treated him like that, but he was certain she'd liked him back then. He wasn't sure what kind of like it was, but at least she'd longed for his touch, and even let out a delightful, comforting sigh...
He blinked hard, pulling his consciousness away from the inappropriate thoughts.
"Is it possible..." he said uncertainly, turning the steering wheel, "I'm chasing too closely, and she's a little... shy?"
Zhuang Jinghao was stunned for a moment, then shook her head like a rattle. "Impossible!" she said firmly, "How could Zuo Xiao be shy?"
However, the next moment, she remembered Zuo Xiao looking up at her brother with blushing ears in the hot spring pool, and suddenly she felt a little uncertain.
"That's right. She has always been free and enthusiastic. There's no way she would avoid me just because she's shy." Zhuang Yu'an's tone became increasingly depressed as he spoke. "She probably hates me."
Zhuang Jinghao was shocked. She didn't expect her brother to say such discouraging words. She quickly comforted him, "Brother, don't overthink it! He was fine last weekend, so why would he suddenly hate you? Don't worry, I'll go and find out for you!"
The next day was Sunday. In the afternoon, she took some snacks and drinks to Zuo Xiao's house and stayed overnight.
However, no matter how she tried to inquire in a roundabout way, or when she was forced into a corner and asked directly "Are you avoiding me and my brother?", Zuo Xiao just kept playing Tai Chi, saying that he lived too far away and that picking them up would waste their time, and told her not to think too much about it.
Zhuang Jinghao couldn't get anything out of her, so she just tried to get what she could. She offered to take her home during the next rehearsal, and Zuo Xiao agreed.
Late at night, when she told her brother the good news on WeChat, he was staying up late in the office.
The company originally planned to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in late October or early November, but the listing was delayed due to the initiation of rectification measures regarding risk management issues. This Tuesday, it finally passed the listing hearing and is about to enter the roadshow phase. As the company's founder, chairman, and CEO, Zhuang Yu'an will travel to Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong to present to investment institutions.
With so much preparation to do before departure, he was strapped for time and kept busy late into the night. Leaving work on Thursday night to rush off for "piano lessons" was already a bit of a willful act, but now he was planning to accompany his beloved girl to rehearsal at this crucial moment before departure, which was even more ridiculous. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but curl his lips, laughing at his own absurdity.
But how could he stop himself from being ridiculous? He now dreamed of her every night, and every free minute he had was spent dwelling on her. Even in the middle of a meeting, he would lose focus, his mind filled with her image. The thought that she was deliberately avoiding him made him so anxious that he couldn't even eat...
"I'm leaving Beijing on Thursday for a week-long business trip." He updated his sister on his upcoming schedule and instructed her, "Make sure the rehearsal is scheduled before Thursday."
After a while, I received a reply:
"I will definitely fulfill your mission!"
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