Chapter 79 Physical and Mental Exhaustion
But as the younger brother, caught in the middle, there were many things he couldn't say.
The waiters brought the dishes to the table one after another, the celadon plates clinking together with a crisp sound.
Song Zhiwei raised her head, reached for her chopsticks, and began to eat slowly and deliberately.
Perhaps because I finally made the decision, I felt relieved, and my appetite was also much better than usual.
She even thought the food was exceptionally delicious today, and the soup was even more flavorful than usual.
Zhou Yuze, however, did not touch his chopsticks.
He watched her eat, her cheeks puffing out slightly.
As he gazed at it, a slight smile crept onto his lips, and a faint hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
After finishing the last bite of rice, Song Zhiwei raised her hand and wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue.
Then she looked up, about to say something, but her eyes met his.
The moment their eyes met, time seemed to stand still for a second.
She paused, her heart skipping a beat.
Zhou Yuze suddenly spoke.
"Zhiwei, have you ever thought about completely severing ties with the Zhou family in the future?"
She was startled, and the chopsticks slipped from her fingers, gently tapping on the table.
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with surprise: "What did you say?"
He didn't answer immediately, but lowered his eyes.
"People outside still think you're a member of the Zhou family. The rumors have never stopped since the reporters took photos of you at the Zhou family banquet. If you really don't want to be dragged back into this, you should make things clear publicly as soon as possible and sever this connection. Then people won't associate you with the Zhou family anymore, and they won't make a fuss about your name anymore."
"Did Uncle Zhou send you to persuade me?"
She blurted it out almost immediately; that was her first thought.
After all, at yesterday's banquet, everyone saw Xie Lingling slap her, causing her head to turn to the side.
At that moment, the flashes of light blinded her, and the whispers and comments came crashing down on her like a tidal wave.
It's not surprising that Zhou Huaiqing wanted to distance himself from her at this time to protect the family's reputation.
Zhou Yuze paused for a moment upon hearing this, his eyes flickering slightly.
He looked up, but neither refuted nor clarified; he simply gazed at her quietly.
Seeing that he didn't deny it, Song Zhiwei immediately understood what was going on.
She tugged at the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Okay, I understand."
I see.
She is ultimately the stain that needs to be removed.
Even though she never actively asked for anything, as long as her surname is "Zhou", she can never escape this shackle.
“If you’re still unsure, you might want to go back to the Zhou family someday… but you don’t really have to go that far.”
He feared that she might make an impulsive decision that could not be reversed.
But he knew that once this concern was expressed, it would become pressure.
"I'm sure."
She didn't have much affection for the Zhou family to begin with.
She was raised under the care of others from a young age, nominally an adopted daughter of the Zhou family, but in reality, she was controlled by them in every way.
Bearing that title, instead of bringing protection, became a burden.
For her, a clean break would actually be a relief.
"Um."
Zhou Yuze nodded, but stopped trying to persuade him and didn't say another word.
After paying the bill, it was already dark.
The streetlights along the street lit up one after another, casting a dim yellow light on the wet sidewalk.
He then drove her home.
The city lights outside the car window flickered.
The car was quiet, with only the slight hum of the air conditioner.
Song Zhiwei leaned back in the passenger seat, gazing calmly at the scenery rushing past the window.
She pushed open the door and just as she turned on the light, a dark shadow suddenly swept across the living room.
Song Zhiwei trembled with fright, her heart clenching.
She instinctively took a half step back, her fingers gripping the door frame tightly.
A thief broke into my house!
However, as her vision gradually adjusted to the light...
After seeing the figure clearly, my tense nerves slowly relaxed.
It turned out to be Sheng Tingzhou, who was sitting quietly on a single sofa in the corner of the living room.
"What are you doing? You're squatting in my house at night without turning on the lights!"
She raised her hand and patted her chest hard, trying to calm her wildly beating heart.
"You scared me to death! Are you trying to scare someone to death?"
Sheng Tingzhou remained in the same position, legs crossed, one hand resting on the sofa armrest, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"If you have nothing to hide, what's the rush?"
Song Zhiwei frowned, a sudden surge of irritation rising in her heart.
She casually tossed her bag onto the coffee table with a dull thud.
Then he took off his heavy down jacket and casually hung it on the coat rack in the entryway.
"What's up?"
She asked directly, without the slightest hint of politeness.
Sheng Tingzhou glanced at her sideways, his gaze carrying a hint of mockery.
"If your uncle can come to see you, why can't I?"
Song Zhiwei sensed the barb in his words.
Her brows furrowed even more, and her face darkened instantly.
Why do you keep bringing this up?
"Do you have to keep reminding me that I used to have a crush on my uncle, constantly bringing up that embarrassing period of my life? You think it's funny, don't you? You enjoy watching me be embarrassed, don't you?"
Perhaps it was after deciding to completely break away from the Zhou family that her mindset subtly changed.
Now, she is like a bird that has broken free from its cage.
Even without wings for the time being, they are willing to fight for a breath of free air for themselves.
People without powerful backers are sometimes more outspoken.
Sheng Tingzhou clearly did not expect her to refute him so bluntly.
His previously nonchalant expression froze almost imperceptibly for a moment.
His eyes flashed, quickly catching the key words in her words.
"You used to like it? Does that mean you don't like it now?"
Song Zhiwei nodded without hesitation.
"Um."
Actually, she had already noticed it while they were eating.
When Zhou Yuze sat across from her, smiling as he talked about his childhood, not a single ripple stirred in her heart.
That feeling that once made her heart race has long since faded with the passing years.
Sheng Tingzhou suddenly smiled, a smile curving his lips.
He crossed his legs, leaned back, and lazily sprawled on the sofa.
So who do you like now?
Song Zhiwei raised her hand and touched her nose, looking slightly impatient, and glared at him.
"Who says I have to like someone? I'm not love-obsessed, and I don't have to think about being in a relationship every day."
She had just emerged from that long and hopeless unrequited love, and was exhausted both physically and mentally.
Why would I fall into another relationship trap so quickly?
Now, all she wants is to live her life quietly.
Sheng Tingzhou sneered, his eyes sweeping across her face with disdain.
"So you like women? Heh, that's quite a unique taste."
He deliberately dragged out his tone, as if trying to provoke her.
"Should I post this on my WeChat Moments for you? The title would be 'Song Zhiwei announces she's coming out,' along with a selfie, so everyone knows?"
Song Zhiwei suddenly looked up, her eyes instantly turning red, and anger surged to the top of her head.
"Sheng Tingzhou! That's enough! I don't need you meddling in my affairs, and I don't need you to plan my life!"
Sheng Tingzhou suddenly moved at that moment.
He got up from the sofa and walked towards her step by step.
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