"Thank you." Zhou Yun looked up and met Song Heng's gaze, a hint of confusion in her eyes. Was he just concerned about her?
Zhou Yun stepped back to create some distance between them. The man in front of her regained his composure and said, "You're welcome."
Perhaps I misread it just now. Given Song Heng's status, he wouldn't care about such trivial matters, let alone people he's not familiar with.
Seeing that Zhou Yun was a little flustered, Shi Wan stepped forward and took Zhou Yun's arm. "Eric, this is Zhou Yun, my good friend."
“Amelia, long time no see. You can also call me Song Heng.” Song Heng extended his hand to Zhou Yun.
"Long time no see, Eric." Zhou Yun's tone returned to calm.
"Hmm? You two know each other?" Shi Wan's eyes darted between the two.
"I've met him a few times at business banquets in D country, but I never expected that Mr. Song would know President Lu."
"Hmm, what a coincidence." Song Heng's composed expression puzzled Shi Wan, especially since Song Heng had just been shielding her from the sun and offering to help her.
Just moments ago, Song Heng had been showing concern for Zhou Yun, but now he was acting all distant and unapproachable.
"Sister Xiaoyun, you're not feeling well, don't stay out in the sun all the time. If it weren't for Song Heng, you would have really fallen."
"Okay, I'm not that delicate." Zhou Yun wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.
Song Heng pursed his lips and turned slightly to chat with Lu Jingyan, his position blocking the sunlight from shining on Zhou Yun's face.
Ji Chu leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yun from the moment he arrived.
He had a cigarette butt lightly clenched between his teeth, and the bluish-white smoke surrounding him obscured the subtle expression on his face.
He had met Song Heng a few times, but only at a few family banquets at the Lu family.
The Ji family and the Morgan family have no business dealings, but the Morgan family holds a dominant position in E continent.
His style of doing things is quite different from Lu Jingyan's; both of them are the type to be assertive and ruthless in the business world.
However, Song Heng was deeply influenced by Western gentlemanly education. Although he was humble and polite to everyone around him, regardless of gender, his interactions with women were limited to polite greetings.
How did Zhou Yun meet Song Heng? And... the other party's subtle movements were once again imprinted in Ji Chu's eyes.
Ji Chu's eyes darkened slightly. He stubbed out the cigarette he hadn't finished smoking and strolled out of the living room.
"Eric!" Ji Chu greeted Song Heng.
Zhou Yun stiffened slightly upon hearing Ji Chu's voice, and felt the warmth from Shi Wan's hand. She forced a smile.
Song Heng raised an eyebrow in response to Ji Chu, and stepped forward slightly, standing right between Ji Chu and Zhou Yun.
"Ji, it's been a long time. I heard you're getting married soon. Congratulations!"
Ji Chu's eyes flickered slightly, and he said in a low voice, "Thank you."
“Your aunt is urging you to go in first,” Song Heng said, his gaze falling on Zhou Yun’s face.
When Lu's mother saw the group standing in the blazing sun in the living room, she frowned and said, "You lot, come in here quickly. Aren't you hot standing in the sun?"
"Auntie, you're here!" Shi Wan quickly ended the awkward conversation and pulled Zhou Yun towards the living room.
Zhou Yun felt extremely uncomfortable under Ji Chu's gaze. Ever since she saw the wedding rings on his and Zhou Jin's hands at the bridal shop that day, she didn't even want to be in the same space as him anymore.
A chill ran through her body, making her feel like she was suffocating; even under the bright sun, she felt icy cold all over.
"You three, come in quickly!" Mother Lu shouted at the three people standing in the courtyard.
...
When everyone was seated at the table, an awkward atmosphere once again enveloped the young people.
"Xiao Chu, I heard you're getting married. Is it that girl from the Zhou family? Why didn't you come today?" Father Lu looked at Ji Chu and happened to see Zhou Yun there as well, so he asked casually.
Lu's mother pinched Lu's father's thigh hard under the dining table and glared at him fiercely.
Mr. Lu knew that the Zhou family had brought their biological daughter back from abroad, but he was unaware of the grudges between Zhou Yun and the Zhou family.
Mr. Lu, looking at his wife with an innocent expression, had no idea what had happened.
Ji Chuyun said calmly, "Uncle, Xiaojin is not feeling well. She had surgery recently and it's not convenient for her to go out right now. I'll bring her to visit you in person once she's recovered."
In fact, knowing that Ji Chu was coming to the Lu family's old residence today, Zhou Jin had been pestering Ji Chu to bring her along.
She had only been back in Beijing for a short time and didn't know many people in the industry, so Ji Chu would bring Zhou Jin with him when attending banquets.
However, he excludes a few people in his circle. Perhaps it's because of Ji Meng and Zhou Yun's relationship. Ji Meng has always resented Zhou Jin for being the culprit who ruined her relationship with Zhou Yun.
The last time he brought Zhou Jin back to the Ji family home, Ji Meng showed no mercy to Zhou Jin in front of the elders, accusing her of interfering in his relationship with Zhou Yun.
This incident made Zhou Jin cry for several days after returning home, and her health, which was almost recovered, was again affected by Ji Meng's fluctuating condition.
Several times Zhou Jin was unhappy and quarreled with him because of this, and even complained to Ji Chu that Zhou Yun made Ji Meng and Shi Wan ostracize her.
"Ahem... cough cough, Uncle, I heard that Auntie has been cooking for you a lot lately. You're so lucky." Ji Meng broke the awkward atmosphere at the table at the right time.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Lu immediately perked up and said with a smug look, "Your aunt has been married to me for decades and has never set foot in the kitchen. Look, now that Wanwan is here, I'm benefiting from this and can enjoy your aunt's cooking from time to time."
"Hmph..." Lu Jingyan snorted coldly from the side.
Seeing her son's disdainful look, Lu's mother said impatiently, "What? Lu Jingyan, do you have a problem with your mother's cooking?"
"No! I wouldn't dare." Lu Jingyan raised an eyebrow, looking calm, and continued peeling shrimp for Shi Wan without stopping.
“Xiao Yun,” Lu’s mother said with a smile as she looked at Zhou Yun.
It seems she remembered what Lu's mother had said earlier about introducing her to a boyfriend. Could it be Song Heng?
Thinking this to himself, he looked awkwardly at Lu's mother and smiled sheepishly, "Auntie... what's wrong?"
“Xiaoyun, look, Xiaomeng and Wanwan both have boyfriends now. Although they’re not exactly great, at least they have someone to keep them company.”
Lu Jingyan: ...Not good?
Zhao Zhilin: My World of Wounds Achieved Alone
Lu Jingyan: Add me to the mix.
"Yes... Oh! No, no, President Lu and President Zhao are among the best in the entire capital. So many people would kill to marry them. Auntie, you're too modest."
Zhou Yun looked at Ji Meng and Shi Wan awkwardly.
"Hey! Those are just rumors. Otherwise, how could they be so old and still have girlfriends? I think it's just that Wanwan and Xiaomeng feel sorry for them because they're so old and still chasing after them."
Lu's mother sighed softly.
“But… Xiaoyun! Don’t keep changing the subject,” Mother Lu said seriously.
Yes, yes.
"Song Heng! Are you still single too?"
Lu's mother then turned her attention to Song Heng.
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