Chapter 67 Actually, I have a girlfriend...
During lunchtime, Zhou Yue was buried in a table full of documents and a computer screen, his colored pen moving across the paper, each line of annotation sharper than the last.
His brow was furrowed, as if every word on the screen was challenging him. He subconsciously raised his hand to rub his brow bone, and when his gaze returned to the screen, the shadows in his eyes deepened, as if he had been pulled into the gaps between the documents and couldn't get out.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Zheng Xiaotian, carrying a paper bag, swaggered in as if he were walking into his own living room, not someone else's office.
"Aren't you going to eat lunch in the middle of the day?" he said casually, tossing the bag onto the table.
He bent down to unpack the package, his laughter carrying a hint of deliberate teasing: "Eat some carbs, and some sugary drinks too. Even if you work out and lose weight every day, you can't skip meals, right? Especially if you don't eat enough carbs, you'll be more irritable than anyone else."
The moment the paper bag was torn open, steam carrying the aroma of cheese and roasted meat wafted out. Zheng Xiaotian pushed one of the portions in front of Zhou Yue with one hand, his tone firm and leaving no room for refusal: "Eat."
Zhou Yue silently reached out and took the hamburger that was pushed in front of him. His stomach was empty and tight. They had a fight early in the morning and he hadn't eaten anything.
Zheng Xiaotian tore open his own portion, grinning nonchalantly, "The new Wagyu burger place downstairs, everyone says it's pretty good." With that, he pulled up a chair, crossed his legs, and sat down without any hesitation.
"Director Zhou," he began slowly, his tone laced with a joke, yet his eyes seemed to pierce through to the heart, "what's going on between you two?"
Zhou Yue's hand paused noticeably; the hamburger hung in mid-air, just a little short of his lips.
"The atmosphere these past few days..." Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue, shaking his head with interest, "Normally, arguments in bed are resolved before they even get out of bed, but the way you two are..."
He abruptly changed the subject, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes, but his gaze lowered, carrying a hint of mischievous speculation: "So, did the fight in bed go too far, or... did you not even fight at all before being kicked out?"
Zhou Yue's brows were furrowed tightly, his brow bone forming a sharp arc, as he coldly locked his gaze on Zheng Xiaotian, almost forcing one to look away.
But Zheng Xiaotian didn't dodge. He lazily raised his eyebrows, a half-serious, half-fake smile playing on his lips, his expression provocative, as if to say, "I guessed right, didn't I?"
"I'm not usually one to gossip, but I know everything about men and women's affairs." As he spoke, he crossed his long leg, his posture relaxed, and his words were sharp and cutting: "Logically speaking, you two... haven't done this more than once, have you?"
Zhou Yue stared at Zheng Xiaotian: "How did you know?"
Zheng Xiaotian had only meant it casually, but when he was stared at like that, his heart tightened. He subconsciously raised his hand and waved it in a fake way, looking innocent: "Hey, don't explode... let me explain slowly."
As soon as he finished speaking, he sighed again, pretending to be relaxed but revealing a hint of relentlessness: "But seriously, if you two really haven't slept together, then I'll have to gouge out these eyes that can see through men and women and rebuild them."
He waved the bamboo skewer in the air a couple of times, his tone nonchalant: "These things are just a feeling. I could tell from the way you two were acting."
He leaned back, took a sip of his drink, and smiled knowingly: "Every time the drinking party ends, you guys leave one after the other, and when you meet the next day, wow, you're all so energetic, your faces are practically glowing, it's like they've written 'Last night wasn't a waste of time' on them."
At this point, he shook his head and sighed, his tone laced with sarcasm: "But you all pretend nothing's wrong. If you didn't have something to hide, would you act like this?"
As he spoke, he kept an eye on Zhou Yue's expression. Seeing that the other's face was getting darker and darker, he stopped talking and said, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Eat slowly."
In the brief silence, Zhou Yue lowered his eyes and took vicious bites of the hamburger, as if some emotion was dragging him deeper into the darkness.
Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue, finally stopping his teasing and speaking with a hint of sincerity: "You're the kind of person who can handle anything, so why can't you handle her?"
He paused, raised an eyebrow, and his expression turned serious: "She's not a casual person, and neither are you. So how long are you two trying to push each other away like this?"
"To be honest, Xia Zhiyao is also my brother. The three of us are not outsiders."
He looked up at Zhou Yue, a mixture of confusion and annoyance in his eyes: "I really don't understand how you two have gotten into this mess. Logically speaking, shouldn't you be all lovey-dovey and satisfied when you're like dry wood meeting a raging fire? Why do you both look so unsatisfied?"
After a long while, Zhou Yue finally spoke. His voice was low and hoarse, as if it had been suppressed all night, carrying a hint of resolute determination as if the words were about to shatter: "She only wants to be my sex partner."
Zheng Xiaotian was slurping his cola when he suddenly coughed several times, hurriedly put down the cup, and said with undisguised schadenfreude, "What the hell did you say?!"
“She said, ‘Let’s just sleep together, and neither of us will take responsibility.’” Zhou Yue leaned back in his chair, his eyes vacant, like a stagnant pool. “She thought that was fine.”
Zheng Xiaotian was stunned for two seconds, then burst out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief: "Really? She could say something like that?"
Not satisfied with that, he shook his head again, his eyes filled with an unwavering certainty of "impossible," and his tone was resolute: "I don't believe it! Besides that ex-boyfriend, she only has you."
The words had barely left his mouth when Zhou Yue's expression suddenly changed, his entire aura turning cold and sharp. He sat bolt upright: "What did you say?" His voice trembled with coldness, the words almost uttered with difficulty, "What do you mean—just me?"
Zheng Xiaotian raised the corner of his lips and said casually, "It means exactly what it says. She's not that kind of person. I've known her for so many years, and since she came back from New York, she's been like a widow... I even wonder if something's wrong with her."
He leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly on the bottle, his tone slightly teasing, but his words carried a heavy weight: "You've been to her house, haven't you? Don't you know what kind of life she leads? All she does is work and make money."
Zheng Xiaotian sighed, his expression unusually composed: "For a while, she even avoided me. I thought to myself then, has this woman truly lost all hope?"
Zhou Yue gripped the Coke can, as if using the small sound to suppress the surging emotions in his heart. He lowered his eyes, his lips were tightly pursed, and he didn't say a word.
Zheng Xiaotian glanced at him sideways and sighed inwardly. Usually, this man looked like a calm and restrained elite, either cold and unapproachable or full of pressure. But when it came to Xia Zhiyao, he seemed to have his life force choked, and he couldn't control his aura at all.
"Zhou Yue." Zheng Xiaotian rarely called him by name, his tone no longer smiling, but low and steady: "You have to understand, it's not that she doesn't believe you, it's that she doesn't even want to face herself."
Zheng Xiaotian's gaze slowly lowered, as if he were weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he looked up at Zhou Yue with an undeniable firmness: "But you can ask her."
Zhou Yue's brow twitched slightly, a complex and hesitant look flashing in his eyes: "What if she really doesn't want to say?"
"Then you should know why she doesn't talk about it." Zheng Xiaotian paused, his tone more composed than before: "Not everyone can bring up the past. Especially her, you can see it yourself, she keeps herself locked up tightly, like a shell, keeping all her other emotions neatly hidden, refusing to show them to anyone."
As he spoke, he suddenly smiled, a smile that was hard to tell whether it was teasing or pity: "If she's willing to speak, even if she only tells half of it, then she trusts you."
At this point, he suddenly changed to a lighter tone, as if afraid the atmosphere would remain heavy for too long: "Besides, aren't you the best at beating around the bush and luring the snake out of its hole? She's no match for you at the negotiating table, so don't act like a coward in front of her."
Zhou Yue didn't reply. He lowered his eyes, staring at the table, his gaze as somber as if a storm was brewing within him. After a long while, he finally managed a soft "...Mm," as if forcing it out from his throat.
Zheng Xiaotian looked at him and sighed inwardly. Zhou Yue was the kind of person who, in other people's eyes, was an investment director with an imposing aura, who was very good at handling projects and calculating people's hearts.
But once Xia Zhiyao is involved, it's like he takes off his armor completely, revealing his most vulnerable side. Call it cowardice or stubbornness, but he's unusually utterly helpless in front of her.
Zhou Yue felt a tightness in his chest; his heart was churning with countless emotions: doubt, anger, unease, and a secret longing.
That unease was like poison, seeping into his heart inch by inch along his veins. He had never been so afraid before, afraid that her past held a shadow he could never reach, a shadow that was heavier and deeper than him.
But at the same time, a stubborn streak was rising within him. He wanted to know. Whether she wanted to or not, he wanted to know.
Seeing that he hadn't spoken for a while, Zheng Xiaotian sighed and casually grabbed a tissue to wipe his hands: "Alright, let's stop talking."
He changed to a more relaxed tone, as if deliberately changing the subject: "You have a meeting this afternoon, right? Don't look like a dead person from hunger and scare the investors away."
Zhou Yue didn't respond. He mechanically swallowed the last two bites of the hamburger, but the taste was so bland that he could barely chew it. His mind was in turmoil, as if a thousand words were stuck in his throat, but he couldn't say a single one.
Zheng Xiaotian glanced at him and shook his head inwardly. Who would have thought that this President Zhou would turn completely ruthless and full of deadly intent when it came to Xia Zhiyao?
Throughout the afternoon meeting, Zhou Yue was somewhat absent-minded. He flipped through the documents several times, but Zheng Xiaotian's words kept replaying in his mind.
Even after the meeting ended, he remained seated, as if trying to suppress his growing agitation.
As night fell, he got up, packed his things, and drove to the location his mother had sent him.
On the way, the navigation voice mechanically broadcasted the route, and street scenes flashed by one after another, but his mind was tightly focused.
His ex-boyfriend's image still lingered in his mind, like a thorn pricking at his heart, making him uneasy. He cursed himself inwardly as he drove, knowing he shouldn't be thinking like this, but his mind just wouldn't cooperate.
As soon as she got out of the car, Zhou's mother, Wei Ran, stepped out of her car.
She had clearly dressed up specially for today, wearing a light blue wool shawl over a well-tailored dress, high heels, and carrying a delicate handbag.
Her hair was styled perfectly, and the pearl earrings swayed under the light, giving her an air of composure and elegance.
From a distance, she appeared to be nothing more than a gentle and dignified noblewoman, with her usual smile and impeccable manners. But Zhou Yue could see clearly that her "solemnity" was not casual attire, but rather a deliberate act.
He immediately realized that his mother was definitely not there for a simple meal. Zhou Yue watched from afar, a slight smile playing on his lips, but a thought suddenly popped into his mind: This is a trap, isn't it?
Wei Ran stopped at the door, looked up and saw Zhou Yue, and smiled naturally: "Zhou Yue, we arrived at the same time."
Her tone was gentle, like a mother who usually cares for her son, but the composed demeanor she exuded left no room for retreat. She reached out and straightened his suit jacket, her gaze sweeping over him as if checking, or perhaps confirming.
"You've lost a bit of weight," she sighed softly, but naturally withdrew her hand, picked up her bag, and walked inside. "Eat more later."
The restaurant was bathed in warm yellow light, and the shadows behind the glass screens created a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere. When the waiter stepped forward to lead the way, Wei Ran gestured with his hand and walked straight inside, seemingly familiar with the place. Zhou Yue's gaze turned cold in an instant.
He didn't need to ask any more questions; just from her demeanor, he could tell that she must have arranged some other "program" for today.
When Zhou Yue followed Wei Ran inside, he saw that several people were already sitting by the window.
They were a well-dressed middle-aged couple and a young girl. She wore a simple, light-colored dress and had a clean and neat demeanor. Her long hair was pulled back, revealing her slender neck. She sat upright, her expression calm and composed, neither arrogant nor servile.
At first glance, she appears to be the gentle and obedient type, but upon closer inspection, the calmness in her eyes reveals a hint of aloofness, as if she already knows why she is sitting here.
Wei Ran greeted them with a smile, his tone gentle yet exuding an undeniable air of composure: "I was stuck in traffic for a while, sorry to have kept you all waiting."
The girl's father smiled and waved his hand, his expression polite: "No, it's close to our home, so we strolled over. We just arrived." As he spoke, he subconsciously glanced at Wei Ran, then quickly looked away, his eyes filled with a polite respect.
The girl's mother also laughed and said, "It's just in time that everyone is here. What a coincidence tonight." As she spoke, her gaze naturally fell on Zhou Yue, and the scrutinizing intent was almost undisguised.
The girl sitting to the side was quiet. She raised her head slightly and nodded to Wei Ran and Zhou Yue as a polite greeting, as if she was used to such a scene but did not want to be too enthusiastic.
Zhou Yue sneered inwardly. From his mother to the other party's parents, everyone was polite and smiling on the surface, but in his eyes, the atmosphere at this table was more tense than a meeting.
It was indeed a trap.
During the meal, the elders chatted and laughed, talking about everything from business to their children's studies and future, giving him almost no chance to speak. Zhou Yue occasionally responded with a word, his expression indifferent, seemingly polite and considerate, but as cold as if separated by a layer of fog.
Wei Ran smiled politely and spoke with tact: "Zhou Yue recently returned from abroad and has been very busy with work. It's a rare opportunity for him to take some time today to sit and chat with everyone."
The girl's mother quickly chimed in, smiling warmly, "Oh dear, young people should focus on their careers. My daughter is always busy, and if it weren't for our old classmate's introduction, we would rarely get together for a meal."
The girl's father nodded in agreement: "Yes, young people have their own pace. As parents, we just want them to make more friends."
As he spoke, he gave his daughter a meaningful look, his eyes carrying a hint of suggestion. The girl lowered her eyes slightly, a smile playing on her lips, her expression gentle but not enthusiastic.
Wei Ran saw this and smiled gently, but naturally brought the topic to a close: "Yes, young people should chat more. When we older generation nag, it only restrains them."
As she spoke, she put down her wine glass and, as she stood up, gave Zhou Yue's arm a light tap. The gesture was natural, yet it seemed like a subtle reminder: "Don't be negligent."
The girl's parents immediately understood, and stood up with smiles on their faces: "Then let's go outside for a cup of tea and let the two of them talk alone."
Soon, only two people remained at the table. In the bustling restaurant, the clinking of glasses echoed everywhere, but this small, quiet space seemed exceptionally clear.
Zhou Yue picked up his water glass, took a slow sip, his expression indifferent, but his eyes lingered on the girl opposite him.
Zhou Yue scoffed inwardly, thinking how far his mother and father's influence really extended.
The girl smiled slightly, breaking the silence, her tone light yet tinged with a hint of shrewdness: "Were you also arranged to come here?"
Zhou Yue looked up at her, his expression indifferent, but he did not deny it: "Yes." After a pause, he added, his tone calm and restrained: "Actually, I have a girlfriend."
The girl paused for a moment, then curled her lips into a smile that was neither warm nor cold: "I don't think so."
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