Chapter 4
Zhan Sir's house was very large, with a large open space in front that allowed a group of people to "show off their skills." With Zhuang Zhuoyuan around, Iris basically had no chance to do anything; she even had to have her food cooled down by her devoted boyfriend and brought to her mouth.
Although she wasn't usually shy, receiving so many teasing glances inevitably made her a little embarrassed. So, without even finishing her fish ball skewer, she rushed inside to get drinks for everyone. Coincidentally, Ye Shuhui's wife, Lamy, was also in the kitchen. This beautiful woman was a thoughtful and considerate person in social situations. Iris had already taken a liking to her when Mom introduced them, and since Lamy happened to be a fan of Iris's, the two hit it off quickly.
Seeing Iris come in flushed and hearing the laughter outside, Lamy chuckled softly, already knowing what was going on: "Were they teased by those monkeys outside? It's alright, I'll have Ah Yuan 'deal with' them later. They're just playful, they don't mean any harm. I was like that back then. Now it's a different group, and when I run into some of my old teammates, some of the mischievous ones still like to joke around."
Iris covered her cheeks shyly, closed her eyes, and smiled slightly before speaking: "I know they didn't mean any harm, but those looks were just too much to bear. Let Yuan stay there by himself. He's grilling chicken wings, so even if he blushes, he'll have an excuse."
Lamy could only laugh, and she did laugh out loud: "When I was reading your book, I never thought you were such an innocent girl."
She handed Iris a slice of orange. Tasting its sweetness, Iris remembered her excuse for sneaking in and quickly grabbed a few bottles of ice-cold beer and drinks from the refrigerator, then looked for a tray. Only after Lamy handed her a small bowl to fill it did Iris quietly tell her her secret: "Actually, Yuan was my first boyfriend. If you don't count my childhood crush, then he really was my first love."
Lamy, who was engrossed in reading her romance novel, was utterly shocked. It turned out that the person in front of her was actually a "theoretical" love guru! She couldn't help but recall the romantic scenes she had just enjoyed the night before, and a sense of shattering illusion washed over her. Iris, realizing the potential downsides of knowing the author, quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Although some of the plot points in the novel are fictional, they're not impossible. Lamy, think about it another way: if you know me, wouldn't you get to experience what it's like to witness the main couple's romance firsthand? Maybe you'll even gain some unexpected insights."
She winked like Zhuang Zhuoyuan, but Lamy blinked blankly. Then, remembering their unique pattern of falling in love first and then pursuing each other, she became both surprised and delighted: "You mean, you're going to use the methods in the book to pursue A-Yuan? Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, which method are you going to use!"
Once she reveals the answer, Lamy will probably immediately grab the book and start reviewing. Iris truly hadn't expected her seemingly mature and composed sister-in-law to have this side to her. She kept everyone in suspense, changing the subject: "Sister-in-law, Grace and Mom get along really well; she's been glued to his side since just now!"
Lamy followed her gaze and instinctively smiled gently. She nodded and said with a smile, "Our daughter has been hoping her dad would take her out to play for a long time. She's so happy to be able to have a meal together this time!"
Iris keenly sensed the hardships of being a police officer's family member from these words. She wondered whether she should offer some words of comfort, but Lamy had already steered the conversation back on track: "Iris, remember what you told me! If you ever have the chance, you must let me witness it live. I'm so looking forward to it!" A beautiful woman and a handsome man—even if they weren't characters from a novel, they could be seen as the protagonists of a real-life romance.
Iris never expected that her relationship with Zhuang Zhuoyuan would become the kind of love story that housewives would eagerly anticipate. She wondered how her adorable boyfriend would react to this. Would he become one of the people urging her to finish her new book? She was momentarily speechless, both amused and exasperated, but had to admit that there was a second male lead who had always wanted to be the male lead.
The Best Actor nominee had been eagerly anticipating a surprise from his girlfriend, but that evening, the first thing he received was the devastating news that she was leaving Hong Kong the next day. Iris was on a tourist visa and wouldn't be staying in Hong Kong for long. She needed to return to England to settle all her work-related matters before she could finally move to Hong Kong. From the moment he heard the news, Zhuang Zhuoyuan never wanted to be separated from Iris again. He held his girlfriend tightly, the cool sea breeze unable to extinguish the warmth emanating from his body. All his emotions were unspoken.
"Don't be like that. Separation is for a better reunion." Iris patted Zhuang Zhuoyuan's head to comfort him. "When I come back next time, I will stay for a very long time. On the bright side, I am a freelancer, so I can accommodate you whenever you are free. In other words, after I come back, we can be together forever."
“But I still miss you so much when you’re not here.” Zhuang Zhuoyuan cupped Iris’s face and looked at her deeply, then hugged her again, resting his chin on her shoulder, his voice full of grievance: “I finally got to see you again, and I really don’t want you to leave so soon.”
For a moment, Iris felt that her boyfriend was just like her golden retriever. Before, when she went out, the dog would always circle around her legs and refuse to leave. When she took him as far as she could, the golden retriever would sit on the ground and look at her with wet eyes. In some ways, Zhuang Zhuoyuan really resembled her Yuanbao baby.
"Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan, how about we get a dog at home sometime? I have a very well-behaved Golden Retriever. Once we settle down, can I bring it to Hong Kong?"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan would, of course, say "Yes" a hundred times over for his girlfriend's wish. He didn't understand why the topic suddenly shifted to pets, but he did catch a lot of key words in Iris's words: "BB, if I heard you correctly, you said 'our home,' 'settling down,' and 'is it okay?' Does this mean you're already planning to start a new family with me?" Zhuang Zhuoyuan really regretted not having prepared a ring today.
Iris nodded and shook her head, honestly explaining, "I did date you with marriage in mind because I feel you are the right person for me. However, I'm not sure if this is love. Maybe it's the suspension bridge effect, or maybe you feel you love me because of this. So I don't agree to a whirlwind marriage for now. I need some time to confirm."
“Hmm, it seems my BB isn’t love-struck at all,” Zhuang Zhuoyuan leaned closer to Iris and rubbed her nose, sounding rather coquettish. “What should I do? I can’t fool her into going home.”
Iris had no choice. She shrugged apologetically, then playfully wrapped her arms around Zhuang Zhuoyuan's neck: "By the way, BB, you don't need to help me find a place to stay while I'm gone. I'll take care of that when I sign my work contract."
Zhuang Zhuoyuan was genuinely surprised that she had even prepared this. He didn't doubt Iris's abilities, but he was also worried that his young princess, who had been well-protected by her family since childhood, might accidentally fall into some trap. Therefore, he asked a few more questions with concern: "Have you found a job yet? Where is it? Is the other party reliable? You should read the contract carefully. Don't sign it hastily just because you're in a hurry to come back. I'd rather we reunite a little later than have you suffer any grievances or losses."
Iris pretended to show him a sample contract, but seeing that Zhuang Zhuoyuan was genuinely serious, she quickly stopped her antics and gave him a sweet kiss first: "I didn't bring the contract with me, but I'm really going to sign it. You can rest assured about the partner; it's my good friend Elaine's mother. I used their company to handle the film and television adaptations of my previous works, and I'll continue to work with them for a while, so I'm temporarily affiliated with their company as a consultant in the creative department. Although the salary isn't high, the working hours are very flexible. I only need to show up once a week, and I might need to travel for work when they need me."
“If she’s someone I can trust, then I feel much more at ease.” Zhuang Zhuoyuan automatically ignored the word “business trip” at the end. Judging from Iris’s expression, he knew that “when needed” most likely depended on her mood. Since he could be so considerate in this regard, this boss probably didn’t treat Iris badly, and he could confidently let his girlfriend “explore the world.”
Iris also found it somewhat amazing. Even though she and Zhuang Zhuoyuan hadn't known each other for very long, they often understood each other's thoughts naturally without words, and their extra responses always resonated deeply. Like this time, her addition completely reassured Zhuang Zhuoyuan: "I promise, when we sign the contract, I will carefully read every clause and bring a lawyer. I'll only sign after the lawyer says it's okay, okay?"
"Absolutely wonderful!" The moment Zhuang Zhuoyuan showed his signature single eye, Iris immediately felt like the happiest woman in the world. She hugged her boyfriend and lingered with him for a while longer, but when it was finally time to part, she remembered something else important: "Officer, I need to check your ID."
Looking at her outstretched palm, Zhuang Zhuoyuan was both amused and exasperated. He couldn't fathom what kind of mischief his girlfriend had up her sleeve this time. So, while taking out his wallet, he asked, "Madam, what crime have I committed? Or is this just a routine check?"
“It’s a special check to address special needs.” Iris raised an eyebrow and handed over her passport. “Officer Zhuang, I’m offering you my documents. Please quickly jot down any useful information. I want double the surprise this Christmas.”
After seeing Iris's birthdate, Zhuang Zhuoyuan finally understood what this double surprise meant. However, when he looked at the year of birth, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. His little girlfriend really was young.
Iris exclaimed in surprise, "10 years?! Yuan, you're 32 already! Oh my god! No wonder you're so mature, steady, and caring! Especially towards me!"
Zhuang Zhuoyuan just felt that his little girlfriend was too good at talking.
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