Chapter 53 Long Face
He knew she had changed, and he understood that he might never be able to enter her world again.
He paused, then finally chose to change the subject, deliberately making his tone more relaxed.
"Qiao Yiqing came to see you at noon?"
Song Zhiwei's fingers curled up unconsciously.
She paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.
"Um."
Zhou Zhiwei noticed her tension, her Adam's apple bobbed, and her tone became more serious.
"My breakup with her has nothing to do with that phone call. Don't overthink it."
Song Zhiwei pursed her lips, her fingernails leaving faint crescent-shaped marks on her palm.
She stared blankly at the corner of the table.
He spoke slowly after a long silence, his voice calm.
“I understand. This is between you and her, and I won’t interfere.”
After returning to China, she became increasingly clear about one thing.
In Zhou Zhiwei's heart, she wasn't that important.
She once thought he was her only support.
But reality repeatedly reminded her that she was just a passerby in his life.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiwei's eyes flickered, her lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing more.
He lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the tablecloth.
The air froze for a few seconds before he finally stood up and gestured for the waiter to serve the food.
After about ten minutes, the steak and dessert were served.
The plate was steaming hot and smelled delicious, but Song Zhiwei couldn't taste it.
Zhou Zhiwei glanced at her, then suddenly reached out and gently moved the medium-rare steak in front of her to her own side.
He picked up his knife and fork and carefully cut the beef into small, even pieces.
After cutting it, he pushed the plate back in front of her.
"Eat it while it's hot."
Song Zhiwei stared at the neatly arranged pieces of meat, slightly taken aback.
He then reached out and took the knife and fork that the man offered.
She looked down, her fingertips trembling slightly.
She carefully forked a piece of beef and put it in her mouth; the meat was tender and the sauce was rich.
But she couldn't taste it.
My tongue felt numb, but a sudden wave of bittersweetness washed over me.
The bitterness spread from her throat to her eyes, almost bringing her to tears.
She once thought that Zhou Zhiwei's care for her was special, a unique kind of tenderness.
He remembered that she didn't like onions, didn't eat lettuce, and wanted a little black pepper added to her soup.
But after meeting Qiao Yiqing, he realized that it was just his habit.
It was his deeply ingrained politeness.
Anyone can have it, and anyone can enjoy it.
She alone should not have been moved by this, much less mistakenly believe it to be love.
After finishing her meal, Zhou Zhiwei paid the bill and stood up to straighten her coat.
He glanced at the deepening night outside the window.
He suddenly stopped as he walked toward the door, turned his head and asked her.
"You usually take the bus to work? Didn't your sister-in-law get you a car?"
Song Zhiwei forced a smile.
"Taking the bus is quite convenient."
She didn't want to explain too much.
After hearing this, Zhou Zhiwei frowned almost imperceptibly.
He wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
After getting on the bus, Song Zhiwei quietly watched the night view rushing past the window.
A thin mist covered the car window, revealing her blurry silhouette.
She didn't wipe it, but simply let her gaze penetrate the glass and fall on the outside world.
In winter, Yancheng is covered in snow, with thick snow covering rooftops, treetops, and roads.
The streets were lined with pure white, as if gently enveloped by the whole world.
The shop lights were warm and soft, one after another.
Pedestrians hurried by, wrapped in thick scarves, their footsteps crunching on the snow.
Occasionally, couples would walk by hand in hand, chatting and laughing.
Such an ordinary scene, yet so real it was heartbreaking.
Song Zhiwei was slightly distracted, her thoughts drifting far away.
She remembered when she was a child, Zhou Zhiwei would hold her hand and go to the park to build a snowman whenever it snowed.
The wind wasn't as cold back then, and the sunlight wasn't as weak.
But now, those memories are like footprints buried in snow, getting shallower and shallower, and there's no way back.
By the time she came to her senses, the car had already come to a steady stop in front of a 4S store.
"get off."
Zhou Zhiwei unbuckled her seatbelt.
He pushed open the door, and a blast of cold air immediately rushed in, disrupting the tranquility inside the car.
Song Zhiwei hesitated for a moment, then got out of the car as well.
She stood beside the car, her head slightly lowered, her fingers unconsciously gripping the bag strap.
She didn't want to come, but she couldn't refuse Zhou Zhiwei's kindness, so she could only silently follow behind him.
As soon as Zhou Zhiwei entered the store, the manager greeted her with a smile.
"Young Master Zhou, you've arrived!"
His face was full of respectful smiles as he quickly walked out from behind the reception desk.
The store is spacious and bright, with a spotlessly clean floor.
Several display vehicles were parked quietly in the center, their bodies gleaming with a metallic sheen.
Zhou Zhiwei nodded slightly and said calmly, "Pick a car that's suitable for a girl to drive."
Despite his understated attire, his innate charisma caused the shop assistants around him to unconsciously slow their pace.
The manager's gaze immediately shifted to Song Zhiwei, and he smiled and gestured for her to proceed.
"Miss, this way please."
His smile grew even warmer, and his eyes revealed a hint of ingratiation.
He knew very well that the people around Zhou Zhiwei could not be neglected in the slightest.
Even though Song Zhiwei was dressed simply, without designer brands or makeup.
He also knew that this girl's identity was by no means ordinary.
Song Zhiwei stood there, somewhat awkwardly: "Uncle, really, it's not necessary. I'm fine taking the bus."
She didn't want to change her original lifestyle just because she joined the Zhou family.
For her, taking the bus is not shameful.
Zhou Zhiwei glanced back at her, her voice not loud.
"Zhiwei, you're a member of the Zhou family now. What will people say when they see you taking the bus every day? Do you want them to think the Zhou family has mistreated you?"
He knew she was stubborn.
But precisely because of this, he was even more unwilling to let her suffer in front of outsiders.
Song Zhiwei opened her mouth, but ultimately did not refute it.
She lowered her eyelashes, her lips moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.
She knew her uncle was right.
From the moment she stepped into the Zhou family's gate, her identity changed.
Whether she likes it or not, she is no longer an ordinary person who can be easily ignored.
The manager recommended several cars to her, and Song Zhiwei thought it over and over.
In the end, I only chose a regular Porsche Macan, which wasn't too expensive.
Zhou Zhiwei wanted her to get a more upscale one, but Song Zhiwei shook her head and refused: "Uncle, I go to work every day, and a car that's too conspicuous is not good."
She turned around, looked at him intently, and her eyes showed a hint of determination.
"I don't want my colleagues to think I've suddenly changed, and I don't want to be the subject of gossip."
She didn't want to disrupt the balance she had worked so hard to maintain because of a car.
She was even more afraid that others would look at her differently.
"Alright, this one will do."
Zhou Zhiwei didn't insist any further.
He sighed softly, but a helpless smile played on his lips.
He knew that Song Zhiwei's personality meant that the more he forced her, the more she would back down.
Rather than making her feel resistant, it's better to let things take their natural course.
He glanced at his watch, nodded to the manager, and indicated that the paperwork could begin.
After the formalities were completed, the manager said politely, "Ms. Song, could you please leave your vehicle pickup address? Once the license plate and documents are ready, we will arrange for someone to deliver the vehicle to your door."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com