Chapter 55 Relentless pursuit, shamelessness...
On the hotel balcony, the winter night wind, carrying a hint of dry chill, swept slowly from high above, slipped into his open shirt collar, brushed against his skin, and then slid off his shoulder.
His tie was nowhere to be found, and the top button of his shirt was undone, as if he were in a rare state of disarray.
In the darkness of night, the skyscrapers stand silently. Behind every lit window lies an untold story: some are still engrossed in typing, some are arguing across a table of cold food, some are embracing, and some are shedding tears.
But all of this had nothing to do with him.
Zhou Yue leaned against the railing, his figure cut into a long, thin silhouette by the neon lights, lonely and silent. The cigarette between his fingers was half-burned, the embers flickering in the wind, the smoke spreading in circles in the cold night, carrying the slight intoxication and dazedness of being drunk.
The doorbell rang abruptly. He opened the door, and Zheng Xiaotian leaned against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant. He seemed to have been observing him for a long time before slowly speaking:
"Zhou Yue..." The night wind blew his voice a little, and he deliberately dragged out the last syllable, with the teasing that was common among men of their age, "Are you planning to keep that little thing on your mind until you die before you finally tell it?"
Zhou Yue turned slightly, gesturing for him to come in, then returned to the balcony, slowly taking a drag of his cigarette. The smoke obscured the faint, cold smile on his lips, and his voice finally broke through, hoarse and defiant, tinged with the effects of alcohol: "You finished so quickly," he said slowly, his tone rising slightly at the end, "shouldn't you go see a doctor?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaotian's lips curled into a smirk, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyes flashing with a hint of amusement: "I knew it, you're definitely not the gentleman you portray yourself to be."
Zhou Yue then turned around, moonlight slanting down from his shoulder, illuminating half of his face, a cold mockery flashing across his eyes: "Come on, we're all men."
As soon as he said it, he was stunned. It had been a long time since he had spoken so frankly, and even longer since he had revealed such a true side of himself to others.
Zheng Xiaotian laughed out loud, the sound particularly crisp and unrestrained in the winter night wind. He raised his hand and patted Zhou Yue's shoulder, feeling the slight warmth and tension the moment his palm touched him.
But the smile vanished in an instant, and his gaze suddenly sharpened, filled with concern and inquiry as he looked directly into Zhou Yue's eyes. Those eyes, which were usually full of smiles, were now unusually serious.
"And what about you?"
Zhou Yue's chest tightened suddenly. He had always thought that no one would ever ask this question, that he had disguised himself well enough to even fool himself.
But Zheng Xiaotian had clearly seen through it, and he had captured that moment of panic.
"Don't play dumb with me." Zheng Xiaotian's voice was deep, each word seemingly forced from the depths of his chest, carrying an undeniable force. "Don't tell me that you and she have nothing going on."
He paused, his gaze deepening, and said, almost word by word, "If you really have nothing, then what are you anyway, looking like this?"
After saying that, he lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the sparks shone briefly in the night.
He slowly exhaled a perfect smoke ring, the smoke swirling and dissipating in the cold wind, like a silent curse, trapping the two of them in the night.
Amidst the swirling smoke, Zheng Xiaotian's eyes shone exceptionally brightly, like the only star in the night sky that could pierce through the clouds: "I can keep playing like this, keep living a carefree life." He paused, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yue like a nail, "But you can't."
A long silence stretched between them. After a long while, Zhou Yue seemed to finally give in, lowering his head and looking down at the floor tiles. Those tiles, which looked clean and shiny during the day, now appeared blurry and gray in the night and with the effects of alcohol. "You're right," he said in a low, hoarse voice, as if forced out from the depths of his chest. "I don't have it as easy as you." He looked up, his eyes heavy. "But I know that your ease comes at a price."
After a few seconds of silence, Zheng Xiaotian's tone suddenly changed, and the sudden sharpness made Zhou Yue subconsciously raise his head.
He saw the smile on Zheng Xiaotian's face completely disappear, replaced by a serious expression that carried an ultimatum: "Don't change the subject! We're talking about you now."
Zheng Xiaotian said, word by word, "Can you really fool yourself about the person in your heart?"
Zhou Yue remained silent. Zheng Xiaotian stared at his silence, then suddenly leaned closer, almost touching his ear, and whispered, "If she really leaves with someone else, can you handle it?"
Zhou Yue seemed to hear something shattering deep within his chest. It was an illusion he had carefully built up with countless excuses and silences, now ruthlessly exposed by Zheng Xiaotian, revealing the bloody truth.
Zheng Xiaotian straightened up and looked at him quietly, without pressing him further. "If you don't tell me," he said calmly, as if he already knew the answer, "I already know the answer."
Zhou Yue remained silent. The night wind swept past from above, ruffling the hair around his ears. The city lights flickered before his eyes, like an illusion on the verge of extinction.
Zheng Xiaotian looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and said in a tone that still carried a hint of lighthearted teasing, but could not hide the worry and clear-headedness that came from the bottom of his heart: "Brother, some things, once missed... may be missed for a lifetime."
These words were like a pebble, gently falling into the still, stagnant lake in his heart, creating barely perceptible ripples.
Zhou Yue finally spoke in a low voice, hoarse and filled with unconcealed pain: "I'm scared."
After a pause, as if he had finally torn open a wound that had been suppressed for a long time, his eyes gradually became unfocused, and his tone became even lower: "Look at her like that, is she the kind of person who needs me?"
Zheng Xiaotian stared at him, remained silent for a few seconds, a complex look flashing in his eyes. Then he grinned, but with a hint of ruthlessness: "What's the use of being afraid? It's useless anyway."
Zhou Yue sneered, offering no rebuttal. He simply lowered his head and stubbed out his cigarette, tapping lightly on the railing with his fingertips. The sound was so soft it was almost inaudible, yet it was as if he were slowly waking from a long slumber, his aura changed.
Zheng Xiaotian looked at him, his smile gradually fading, his eyes becoming more serious and inquisitive: "What you just said wasn't meant for me." He paused, his tone becoming more serious, "You've kept it to yourself for two years, and only today did you dare to admit it."
Zhou Yue gazed at the dim lights on the horizon, his cigarette long since burned out, only a flickering warmth remaining between his fingers. He seemed rooted to the spot by those words, unable to snap out of his daze for a long time. The night wind blew in gusts, carrying away the smell of smoke, but it couldn't take away the heavy, oppressive feeling in his chest.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice so low it was almost drowned out by the wind: "Then tell me... what should I do?" There was hesitation in his voice, and a kind of tentative helplessness that had never appeared in Zhou Yue before.
Zheng Xiaotian listened, raised an eyebrow at him, and slowly raised the corners of his mouth, his expression a mix of teasing and certainty: "What can you do? If you really think it's her, then it's her. You can pester her relentlessly, be shameless, and chase her back no matter what."
Zhou Yue didn't respond immediately. He tapped his fingers lightly on the railing twice, as if weighing the weight of Zheng Xiaotian's words.
The lights still flickered in the depths of the night, and the traffic in the distance resembled a constantly flowing river, its sound faintly audible, only to be blocked by tall buildings on the other side of the city.
He slowly exhaled, with a cold determination: "Shamelessness... I can do it."
Zheng Xiaotian looked at him and raised an eyebrow: "I'm afraid you won't even dare to try."
Zhou Yue looked up at him, his gaze darkening as if he had finally suppressed all his hesitation and retreat, leaving only a sharp outline: "Whether you try or not, you'll soon find out."
Zheng Xiaotian, a cigarette dangling from his lips, tilted his head to look at him with a half-smile, his tone carrying a hint of mockery, uncertainty, and a suppressed seriousness: "...Hey, are we talking about the same person?"
Zhou Yue finally smiled, as if a layer of ice covering his heart had suddenly melted away. He didn't look up, but simply responded softly, "...probably."
His voice was very soft, as if he was afraid that if he made a sound, he would accidentally reveal that person's name.
Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue, grinned, and patted him on the back: "You kid, you're really something. You've been pretending for so long, but it turns out it was her all along."
Zhou Yue didn't deny it, but simply looked up into the distance. The city lights were still bustling, the neon lights like a dream unrelated to him, but at this moment, he could finally face the name of that dream with equanimity.
Then, Zheng Xiaotian's smile changed, his eyes narrowed, and his tone suddenly became half-serious and half-joking: "However..." He paused, as if he suddenly remembered something, and smiled slyly: "I have a favor to ask of you."
Zhou Yue glanced at him, her eyebrows slightly raised.
Zheng Xiaotian leaned closer and whispered helplessly, "Please, please, please don't tell Xia Zhiyao that I brought you here."
He couldn't help but laugh out loud, his voice suppressed but still revealing helplessness: "If she knew, she would definitely tear me apart. Last time I accompanied you to the roadshow, she thought the female staff's skirts were too short, and I was given the cold shoulder by her all afternoon."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yue's brows twitched slightly, a hint of relaxation finally appearing in his eyes. He pursed his lips, revealing a barely perceptible smile.
Zheng Xiaotian shrugged and smiled more casually: "I know what you're thinking. I really didn't do anything just now. I chatted with someone for a bit, and when it got boring, I sent them home."
He patted his chest and said with a serious self-deprecating smile, "I'm getting old, I really can't play anymore. It's more important to go back and get some sleep, and not wear myself out."
He spoke casually, yet subtly deflated the tension in the room, as if he himself had extricated himself from the emotional vortex.
Zhou Yue remained calm, but his eyes grew deeper. Zheng Xiaotian's words gave him a sudden sense of disorientation—he had always thought that "being clear-headed" was necessary, but now he realized that sometimes "being confused" was another form of protection.
He envied Zheng Xiaotian's ability to easily extricate himself from a situation, to leave whenever he wanted, to go to sleep whenever he wanted, and to let go whenever he felt bored.
Zheng Xiaotian's smile returned to his carefree self: "Good to know, buddy. Let's call it a day. Tomorrow is another day."
He winked and jokingly downed his drink in one gulp: "But if you ever really can't take it anymore, come find me. I don't mind continuing to be your 'old friend,' and I'll take you out to relax anytime." He spoke casually, but not a single word was a joke.
Zhou Yue looked at him and nodded.
Zheng Xiaotian returned to his room, gently closed the door, and leaned against the wall, as if he had just escaped from the eye of the storm and finally found a moment to catch his breath.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, gently bumped his head against the wall, and muttered, "Damn... that was really scary."
After he finished speaking, he suddenly laughed, but there was no joy in the laugh; instead, it carried a sense of exhaustion.
“If he finds out I kissed Xia Zhiyao…” He paused, then shook his head slightly, “he’ll kill me.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he laughed again, a silent laugh, even tinged with self-mockery, as if he had finally spoken a secret that had been weighing on his heart, and now he felt even emptier.
The next morning.
The moment the conference room door was pushed open, Zhou Yue walked in, sunlight streaming in from behind him, making his silhouette appear long and bright.
He changed into a light gray suit, looking refreshed and radiant, as if the emotions of a sleepless night had been completely buried overnight, and even his eyes behind his glasses seemed much gentler.
"Good morning, Mr. Xia." His voice was low and gentle, with a hint of warmth and casualness in his tone.
Xia Zhiyao paused for a moment, her fingers hovering over the notebook. She looked up at him, thinking that yesterday's argument had left them speechless. But he acted as if nothing had happened, and even smiled.
“…Good morning.” She paused, her expression restrained, her tone steady and meticulous.
When Zhou Yue sat down, he considerately helped her organize the documents on the table, and handed her the remote control pen. His eyes were gentle, and his movements were smooth. There was no trace of awkwardness or indifference on his part.
Xia Zhiyao lowered her head slightly, watching his slender fingers brush across the pages. Her eyes flickered for a moment, but she ultimately took it.
Throughout the morning, Zhou Yue not only cooperated fully in the project discussion, but also quietly confirmed details with her from time to time. Even the two partners who usually liked to find fault with her felt that the atmosphere was strangely "harmonious".
She looked at Zhou Yue, who sat quietly across from her, occasionally looking down to take notes and occasionally nodding slightly when he looked up at her, but she felt uneasy at all.
This gentle, almost unfamiliar side of Zhou Yue was what made her most unable to cope.
During her lunch break, she stood in the tea room serving coffee, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a reflection.
"You had a good day." Zhou Yue's voice rang in her ear, his gaze falling on the rising steam in her cup. "What you said is very convincing."
Xia Zhiyao glanced at him sideways, raising an eyebrow slightly. She didn't respond immediately, but took a sip of her coffee and said calmly, "Why are you so...gentle today?"
Zhou Yue smiled, his tone casual, yet it sounded like a bait he casually threw out: "Maybe I slept better last night."
She didn't know if he was telling the truth or if he was implying something. Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she finally said, "Then I hope you can get a good night's sleep every day from now on."
Zhou Yue chuckled softly, a slow smile playing on his lips: "Are you concerned about me, or are you reminding me not to upset you?"
Xia Zhiyao didn't reply immediately, but glanced at him for a moment with a half-smile: "Interpret it however you like."
Zhou Yue narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a low voice, "Alright, then I'll do it my way."
Xia Zhiyao turned to leave, but he deliberately took a step forward, almost whispering a smile in her ear: "I slept even better if you were here."
In that instant, the heat and the words pressed against her skin, like an unintentional touch, yet carrying a deliberate approach.
Xia Zhiyao didn't turn around. Zhou Yue looked at her back and couldn't help but chuckle softly, as if his laughter was triggered by her reaction.
In the afternoon, he was sitting in his office drinking coffee when a training email sent by HR suddenly popped up in his inbox. The subject was: How to deal with workplace sexual harassment, a mandatory course for all employees.
Zhou Yue stared at those words, almost spitting out his coffee. He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then stood up and went to Xia Zhiyao's office door.
In the office, Xia Zhiyao sat by the window. The afternoon sunlight slanted down through the gaps in the blinds, cutting her into interlacing beams of light and shadow.
She wore a blue shirt with a black cardigan over it, the cuffs rolled up naturally to reveal a section of her fair and slender wrist, with distinct knuckles and elegant lines.
Outside the glass door, Zhou Yue stood outside the light and shadow, quietly watching her. At this moment, Xia Zhiyao was rational, calm, and full of control, completely different from the way she had dragged him into the abyss of chaos that night in bed.
He recalled that night, his eyes filled with the intoxication and lust of a woman who had almost swallowed him whole, completely unguarded and unrestrained. But now, she sat there, her shirt buttoned up perfectly, her hair perfectly styled, as if nothing had happened.
He raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Please come in..." Xia Zhiyao looked up and saw that it was Zhou Yue.
"Are you free tomorrow?" His voice echoed in the office, low and restrained.
Her pen stopped, and in that instant, Zhou Yue saw her eyelashes tremble—a rare display of her emotions.
Xia Zhiyao raised her head, her expression unchanged, as if she were facing a client, a boss, or an ordinary colleague.
“There’s a new project,” he added, his voice extremely steady, as if he were really in a working meeting, “and I’d like to invite you to come and take a look at the site.”
This sentence was almost perfect. There was no emotion, no implication, and no reason for her to refuse.
He hid every emotion between the lines, leaving room for dignity and also leaving room for retreat.
Xia Zhiyao did not answer immediately; she simply lowered her eyes.
He knew she understood, and he also knew she wasn't unaware that this invitation, disguised as official business, was actually his way of getting closer to her—it was just too secretive, too afraid to be open about it.
Finally, she nodded: "...Okay."
At that moment, Zhou Yue could hardly believe she would agree. He didn't smile, and didn't even let anyone see his joy, but his gentleness unconsciously emanated from him.
"Tomorrow at 10 a.m., in the parking lot downstairs," he said.
"Okay." Her voice remained as cold and clear as ever.
The moment the door closed, Xia Zhiyao stared at the empty room, her gaze finally softening. She lowered her head, picked up her pen again, but the pen tip remained motionless on the paper for a long time.
Her heartbeat was slow, but restless.
Tomorrow, she doesn't know whether to keep the appointment or test the waters, whether to continue to distance herself or to get closer again.
All she knew was that the moment she nodded, she was probably no longer acting rationally.
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