Lin Chu hadn’t finished speaking when Jiang Nai’s voice came from behind her. “Chuchu, what are you doing over here?”
Jiang Nai walked over from the far end of the hallway, smiling at her. “I was wondering why you’d disappeared the moment I looked away. You came out for some air and didn’t even ask me to come with you.”
Cold sweat broke out in Lin Chu’s palms. She couldn’t get a word out.
Jiang Nai came to stand beside Zhou Chengze and naturally slipped her arm through his. Wrinkling her nose, she said, “Why are you smoking again? Didn’t you promise me you’d quit?”
Zhou Chengze looked down at her, his tone even. “Did the smoke bother you?”
Jiang Nai nodded, a hint of coyness in her voice. “Mm. I could smell it.”
Zhou Chengze said nothing. He reached over and crushed the cigarette out against the nearby trash can, quick and decisive. “That was the last one.”
Only then did Jiang Nai smile, her eyes curving. “That’s more like it.”
With that, she linked arms with Zhou Chengze. Only then did she seem to remember Lin Chu was still there. Under Lin Chu’s gaze, she turned to Zhou Chengze with an affectionate pout. “It’s all your fault for making Chuchu see us like this. Isn’t that right, Chuchu?”
The conversation had suddenly shifted to her. A hint of awkwardness crossed Lin Chu’s face, and she forced a smile as she shook her head. “No…”
“Really?” Jiang Nai clearly didn’t believe her. She glanced at Zhou Chengze to gauge his reaction. When he remained impassive and showed no intention of joining in, her smile faded a little. She looked back at Lin Chu and asked, “By the way, Chuchu, what were you going to say just now?”
Zhou Chengze was watching her too, a more searching look in his eyes.
The hallway lights cast a dim yellow glow across Lin Chu’s face. Her lashes fluttered lightly, but in the end, she shook her head. “Nothing.”
Jiang Nai sighed helplessly. “I think you should work fewer night shifts. Your memory’s getting so bad.”
Lin Chu said nothing. The tightness in her chest only grew, especially when she saw how close the two of them were. She had no idea what she was supposed to do.
Jiang Nai didn’t think much of it. Then, remembering something, she said, “Oh, Chuchu, I think Chengze’s company is having its employees get physicals in a few days, and they’re doing them at your hospital. Could you book appointments for Chengze and the doctor in charge of the physicals ahead of time, so Chengze won’t have to wait?”
Lin Chu hesitated, instinctively trying to get out of it. “I don’t really know them that well…”
“Then get to know them,” Jiang Nai said, unconcerned. “You can’t refuse to help with such a small favor, can you?”
Lin Chu looked at her open, candid eyes. The words on the tip of her tongue died away, and all she could do was nod. “All right.”
Jiang Nai smiled, satisfied. “Then I’ll send you Chengze’s WeChat contact. You can talk to him.”
Lin Chu hurriedly shook her head. “No need. I can just talk to you!”
“I’m always flying back and forth, so I don’t always see messages right away.” As she spoke, Jiang Nai had already taken out her phone. “Just talk to Chengze directly. It’ll be easier.”
The more at ease Jiang Nai seemed, the worse Lin Chu felt.
Jiang Nai quickly sent the contact card. Looking up, she waved her phone at Lin Chu. “Sent. Remember to add him.”
Lin Chu could only nod. Her expression was less than pleasant as she stood there watching them leave.
As Zhou Chengze turned around, he couldn’t help glancing back at Lin Chu. She stood rooted to the spot, looking utterly vexed.
He immediately looked away again. He couldn’t figure out what he’d done to make Lin Chu dislike him so much.
If he were honest with himself, he had nothing to reproach himself for where Jiang Nai was concerned. He’d done everything he should, and never once done anything he shouldn’t.
As Jiang Nai’s best friend, Lin Chu might not have been someone he was especially close to, but he’d never slighted her either.
Yet every time Lin Chu saw him, she acted as if she were trying to avoid him, as though he were some kind of monster.
Tonight was even worse. She hadn’t looked at him once.
Zhou Chengze frowned and let the matter drop.
By the time the gathering broke up, it was almost eleven.
Jiang Nai had had quite a bit to drink. She leaned against Zhou Chengze, barely able to keep her eyes open, so he simply scooped her up in his arms and looked at Lin Chu. “I’ll drive you both home.”
Lin Chu instinctively tried to refuse. “No need. I’ll get a taxi…”
“It’s hard to get one at this hour,” Zhou Chengze cut in, his tone even. “Come on.”
Without waiting for Lin Chu to answer, he carried Jiang Nai toward the parking lot.
Lin Chu stood there, watching him walk away. He really hadn’t changed much in ten years. He was as decisive as ever, always having the final say. She bit her lip lightly, but in the end, she followed.
In the car, Jiang Nai sat in the passenger seat. She’d barely fastened her seat belt before she fell asleep, breathing evenly.
Lin Chu sat in the back, watching the neon lights flash past outside the window without saying a word.
The car was quiet. Zhou Chengze drove with his eyes on the road, glancing at the rearview mirror now and then.
Lin Chu kept looking out the window. The streetlights made her profile alternately light and shadowed, and her long lashes cast a small shadow across her face.
He remembered how she’d looked in the hallway that night, seeming to want to say something but holding back.
At a red light, Zhou Chengze stopped the car and adjusted the air-conditioning vent so the cool air wouldn’t blow straight at Jiang Nai. His gaze happened to sweep across the rearview mirror, and he caught Lin Chu’s eyes.
As if burned, she quickly looked away.
Zhou Chengze frowned slightly and suddenly said, “Lin Chu.”
She froze for a moment, then looked up instinctively. “Hm?”
Zhou Chengze watched her in the rearview mirror. His tone was casual, but his question was direct. “Do you hate me?”
Lin Chu stared at him, stunned. She hadn’t expected Zhou Chengze to ask that, and for a moment she didn’t know how to answer.
Seeing her fall silent, Zhou Chengze furrowed his brow even more. “Ever since we saw each other tonight, you haven’t even looked me in the eye. Did I do something to upset you?”
Lin Chu parted her lips, wanting to say something, but no words came. She could only lower her head and quietly deny it. “No.”
Hearing her soft denial, Zhou Chengze suddenly thought of Jiang Nai ten years ago. Back when he couldn’t see her, Jiang Nai had always spoken in that same gentle, quiet way.
But after he and Jiang Nai met again in Jingbei, she’d become much more lively. It was a good thing she’d changed, or he wouldn’t have known how to interact with her.
After all, he didn’t like people who were so closed off.
At the thought, his gaze settled once more on the “closed-off” person sitting right in front of him. His brows shifted slightly. “Then why are you avoiding me?”
Lin Chu’s fingers clenched unconsciously, her nails digging into her palm. She took a deep breath and lifted her head, trying to keep her voice steady. “I’m just not used to getting too close to people I don’t know.”
Don’t know.
At those words, Zhou Chengze let out a quiet laugh. “I’m Jiang Nai’s boyfriend. That doesn’t make me a stranger, does it?”
Lin Chu said nothing. The light turned green, and the car behind them honked.
Zhou Chengze looked away and pressed the accelerator. Silence settled over the car again.
After a while, Zhou Chengze spoke again, his tone a little cooler than before. “Lin Chu, if I’ve done anything wrong, if I’ve made you uncomfortable, you can tell me directly.”
Lin Chu looked up at his eyes in the rearview mirror. They were deep, as if he could see right through people.
She parted her lips, wanting to say something, but Jiang Nai shifted slightly in the passenger seat and mumbled, “Chengze…”
Zhou Chengze turned to glance at her, his voice dropping. “Mm? Are you feeling unwell?”
“A little…” Jiang Nai rolled over and went back to sleep.
Watching them, Lin Chu swallowed the words that had been on the tip of her tongue. She no longer felt like saying anything.
Zhou Chengze glanced at her in the rearview mirror but didn’t press her.
They soon arrived downstairs at the apartment building.
Zhou Chengze parked, then got out with Jiang Nai, who was half asleep in his arms. Lin Chu followed beside him.
In the elevator, Jiang Nai leaned against Zhou Chengze and murmured drowsily, “Chuchu, are we there yet…?”
“Almost,” Lin Chu said softly.
When the elevator doors opened, Zhou Chengze carried Jiang Nai to the apartment door, and Lin Chu took out her key to unlock it.
Zhou Chengze laid Jiang Nai on the bed, took off her shoes, and tucked her in. He took care of every little detail, attentive and thoughtful.
Lin Chu stood in the bedroom doorway, watching him. She couldn’t quite make sense of what she was feeling.
Zhou Chengze straightened and looked at her. “She drank too much tonight. She might have a headache tomorrow. Make her some honey water.”
Lin Chu nodded. Zhou Chengze glanced at her, said nothing more, and walked past her toward the door.
At the entrance, he suddenly stopped and turned back to her. “Lin Chu.”
Lin Chu looked up and waited for him to continue.
Zhou Chengze’s gaze rested on her face. His tone was calm. “No matter what you think of me, I’m serious about Jiang Nai. You can be sure of that.”
(End)