Going home was just a matter of stepping on the gas.
Zhou Shijing didn’t return to that luxurious villa but went instead to the upscale residential complex where he most often stayed.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, he gazed at the glittering neon lights below, when suddenly the image of the young woman flashed in his mind—wearing a white dress, heavy makeup, standing in the dimly lit corridor, looking up at him with a startled expression.
So obedient.
His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he suddenly wanted to go find her.
And so he actually went.
A little over ten minutes later, a black Bentley stopped at the base of an apartment building.
Zhou Shijing stepped out of the driver’s seat, his polished leather shoes landing on the stone pavement.
He stood still, tall and imposing, then slightly tilted his head to look up at the top floor.
That was Wen Xuxue’s living room, and at that moment, the lights were still on.
Zhou Shijing lowered his gaze again and sent her a message: 【Older Brother is at your building.】
Wen Xuxue had just arrived home when she received this message.
Her face immediately fell, and she replied gloomily: 【What are you doing here?】
Zhou Shijing replied coolly: 【What do you think?】
Wen Xuxue forced a smile: 【I don’t know.】
Zhou Shijing began to command: 【Come down and pick Older Brother up.】
Wen Xuxue: 【No. My best friend is sleeping over at my place tonight, you can’t come.】
When Zhou Shijing saw the words “best friend,” a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes. After a moment of silence, he called Jiang Jing’s supervisor.
So the next second, Jiang Jing received a call from her supervisor, telling her to return to work immediately for overtime.
Jiang Jing laughed bitterly: “Boss, I’m off work…”
“Sigh.” The man’s voice on the other end of the line was clearly helpless and began to gaslight her: “I know, but this task is something only you in the entire company can handle. Just bear with it and come work overtime for a bit. I’ll pay you overtime.”
Jiang Jing had no choice: “Alright.”
Wen Xuxue heard everything clearly beside her, looking regretful: “Why so sudden…”
Jiang Jing picked up her car keys with a resigned expression and said: “It seems fate isn’t on our side today. I’ll come keep you company tomorrow.”
Wen Xuxue felt downhearted and accompanied Jiang Jing all the way to the entrance of the complex, saying: “Go home and rest early after you finish overtime, okay?”
Jiang Jing got into her car, started the engine, and said: “Got it, you go to bed early too. Love you.”
Wen Xuxue reluctantly bid Jiang Jing farewell, watching her car drive away before turning back to head home.
But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps when she suddenly felt a resistance from behind—
Leaving her unable to move.
Puzzled, Wen Xuxue turned around to see her long tail drooping on the ground.
On the snow-white fur, a polished leather shoe was stepping on it.
She looked up and met a pair of deep eyes.
Sharp features, defined contours, exceptionally handsome.
It was undoubtedly Zhou Shijing.
Wen Xuxue’s lips pouted, and she immediately started to fuss: “Why are you stepping on my tail? It’s so dirty.”
Zhou Shijing glanced down as if he had just noticed, slowly moving his foot away, and said: “Didn’t notice.”
Wen Xuxue immediately pulled her tail over, patting the dust off with her hand, and said: “You made it dirty, I don’t care, you have to compensate me.”
“Alright.” Zhou Shijing agreed readily. “How much does Xiao Xue want Older Brother to compensate?”
Wen Xuxue blurted out: “One hundred thousand.”
The word “alright” was already on Zhou Shijing’s lips when he suddenly remembered Jiang Jing’s phone call.
Whatever he gave her, she would always split half with her best friend.
…What a fool.
His deep gaze flickered a few times, and he decided to bargain: “Ten thousand.”
Wen Xuxue didn’t hesitate: “Deal.”
Zhou Shijing: “…”
He bargained too low.
“Let’s go.” He walked forward a few steps, gently pushing her back, “Take your older brother home, and I’ll transfer the money once we’re back.”
Wen Xuxue was reluctant.
But for the sake of the money, she still took his hand.
The apartment building was surrounded by a spacious park. It was only around eight or nine in the evening, and many couples or families had come down for a walk after dinner.
Wen Xuxue watched their paired figures, then lowered her gaze to look at her own and Zhou Shijing’s intertwined hands, feeling a momentary daze.
Just then, a call came from behind: “Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue.”
Wen Xuxue froze and turned around.
She saw an older woman walking toward her, carrying a grocery basket as if she had just returned from the supermarket.
This woman was very warm and could chat with anyone. She was one of the few people Wen Xuxue had gotten to know in the neighborhood.
She had been looking at Wen Xuxue, but her gaze was inevitably drawn to the man beside her.
He was too tall and had a powerful presence. The woman glanced at him before turning back with a smile and saying, “Xiao Xue, is this your boyfriend?”
Wen Xuxue widened her eyes and hurriedly said, “No, no, he’s my older brother.”
Zhou Shijing remained expressionless. The woman looked down in shock at their clasped hands.
Noticing this, Wen Xuxue quickly shook off his hand and awkwardly explained, “My older brother and I have always been very close since childhood…”
“Oh, oh.” The woman seemed unable to understand but still nodded in agreement.
She took a bag of apples from her grocery basket and handed it to Wen Xuxue, saying, “I bought too much at the supermarket just now. Here, have some.”
Wen Xuxue didn’t refuse and accepted it, saying, “Thank you, Auntie.”
The woman smiled first, then gave them a suspicious look before leaving.
Only after she had disappeared from sight did Wen Xuxue turn to glare at him: “Who told you to hold my hand? See, it caused this kind of misunderstanding.”
Zhou Shijing completely ignored her accusation and said calmly, “Haven’t you brought your boyfriend home yet?”
Wen Xuxue suddenly felt that her outfit was quite troublesome. She took off the tail behind her and threw it into Zhou Shijing’s arms, then removed the hair extensions as well, holding them herself. She had intended to simply say “no,” but in the prolonged silence, another response came to mind.
She calmly retorted, “Whether I’ve brought my boyfriend home or not, doesn’t Older Brother already know?”
Zhou Shijing held her long tail in one hand, unusually stumped by her question.
His gaze deepened, flickering with an unusual glint, as he probed, “What?”
Wen Xuxue snorted, “Don’t understand?”
“Couldn’t you feel how tight it was that night?”
Zhou Shijing’s expression shifted to understanding. His gaze deepened as he looked at her, and he reached out to pinch her cheek, as if scolding yet indulging her: “Xiao Xue has learned to say such things to her older brother.”
Wen Xuxue persisted, “Couldn’t you feel it?”
Zhou Shijing said, “I could.”
“So,” a hint of a smile, like melting ice, appeared on the man’s face, “Xiao Xue is telling her older brother…”
He paused for a moment before continuing clearly, “Apart from me, you’ve never had another man, right?”
Wen Xuxue did not answer, instead asking, “What about you?”
Zhou Shijing knew what she was anxious about.
It was nothing more than the incident of seeing him and Sheng Huan come out of the private room together earlier.
Thus, he became composed, deliberately not explaining, and said, “Is Xiao Xue so curious about Older Brother’s private life?”