Wen Xuxue was awakened by a phone call.
After drinking with Jiang Jing, she had stumbled home in a daze and slept straight from day into night.
Wen Xuxue answered the phone, her voice still tinged with lingering drunkenness, and called out, “Mom.”
“You silly child, you came back to the country and didn’t even tell your parents. Where are you now? It’s your dad’s birthday today, and so many relatives are here. You should bring Xiao Sui home for dinner.”
Wen Xuxue fell silent for a moment before replying, “Alright.”
After hanging up, she sent Zhao Sui a message: 【My mom wants you to come home for dinner.】
He replied instantly: 【I know. My parents are there too. Don’t mention what happened this morning in front of them.】
Wen Xuxue didn’t reply. After freshening up, she went downstairs and got into Zhao Sui’s car.
He spoke first, as if making a promise: “Don’t worry, no matter how many women I’ve slept with, the position of Mrs. Zhao will always be yours alone.”
Wen Xuxue scoffed, “Is the position of Mrs. Zhao really that prestigious?”
Zhao Sui was quite confident in his family background and said, “Isn’t it?”
“I’m the only child in my family. My parents’ money will eventually be mine, and my money will naturally be yours too.”
He added.
Wen Xuxue remained unmoved by his hypocritical words.
She even suspected that once he inherited his father’s wealth, the first thing he would do was kick her to the curb.
The rest of the ride passed in silence.
Though they were a couple, when alone, they were as cold as ice, more distant than strangers.
Once the car stopped, however, their expressions changed completely.
Beaming with smiles and radiating joy, anyone who saw them would say they were a match made in heaven.
Wen Xuxue linked arms with Zhao Sui as they walked inside, their steps synchronized and unhurried, making their way down the corridor to the bustling living room.
“Oh, you’re back,” a well-maintained woman greeted them with a smile.
Wen Xuxue called out, “Mom.”
Zhao Sui followed with, “Auntie.”
Their demeanor was harmonious and perfectly in sync, without a single flaw to be found.
“Good, good, good.”
Su Lishu looked at the two of them, and the weight in her heart eased considerably. She repeated “good” three times in a row.
Seeing her mother’s happy expression, Wen Xuxue felt both joy and a pang of sadness. She then asked, “Mom, where’s Dad?”
Su Lishu glanced around and said, “Who knows where he’s gone to entertain the guests.”
“Missing your dad?” Su Lishu smiled again, her expression gentle. “Of course, you’ve been abroad for so long and haven’t seen him in ages. You must miss him. Why don’t you give him a call?”
“Ah…” Wen Xuxue smiled awkwardly. “That wouldn’t be good…”
Wen Xuxue’s father, Wen Yu, came from a rural background and had achieved everything he had today through sheer hard work.
He was a classic first-generation entrepreneur.
His personality was strong-willed and strict.
Because of this, Wen Yu had long been dissatisfied with Wen Xuxue’s “timid and cowardly” nature and often scolded her.
Over time, Wen Xuxue became utterly terrified of her father.
Even making a phone call felt like facing a ferocious beast.
Su Lishu said, “What’s wrong with that? He’s your father. Hurry up and call him, so he and Xiao Sui’s dad can come over together.”
Wen Xuxue gave a bitter smile and reluctantly pulled her phone out of her pocket.
As she took out her phone, something else came with it and fell to the ground with a soft “ding—”.
The sound was so faint that Wen Xuxue clearly didn’t hear it, yet somehow, she instinctively glanced toward the floor.
There, a silver ring was slowly rolling toward the doorway.
It was her and Zhao Sui’s “wedding ring.”
The purpose of their arranged meeting was marriage.
And Zhao Sui was quite adept—the gift he gave her during their first meeting was a ring.
He wore it year-round, while Wen Xuxue rarely did, but given the special occasion today, she had kept it in her pocket.
Unexpectedly, while pulling out her phone, she had accidentally dropped the ring as well.
Wen Xuxue instinctively moved to pick it up, but Zhao Sui was quicker.
He chased after the rolling silver ring for a few steps, then bent down to retrieve it. He wiped the dust off with his sleeve before walking back, lowering his gaze as he said, “You dropped your ring.”
Zhao Sui stopped in front of her, looking at her, and said, “Give me your hand. I’ll put it on for you.”
Wen Xuxue was reluctant.
But her mother was watching right beside them.
She forced a smile and extended her left hand.
Zhao Sui gently held her palm, and just as he was about to slide the ring onto her finger, a heavy, luxurious door suddenly swung open.
For no apparent reason, Wen Xuxue lifted her head and looked over.
A strikingly impactful face abruptly crashed into her vision.
Pale skin, high brow bones—though he had gentle peach blossom eyes, they were frozen over, devoid of any emotion.
It was Zhou Shijing.
Wen Xuxue’s breath hitched.
He was far too conspicuous.
So much so that she stood rooted in place, staring at him without blinking.
Zhou Shijing walked at the forefront, his presence commanding, with a crowd of people trailing behind him, all wearing ingratiating smiles and bowing obsequiously.
Wen Xuxue’s slightly bewildered gaze swept over the faces of these middle-aged men.
Among them were her father, her uncle, Zhao Sui’s uncle, and Zhao Sui’s father—each one, if singled out, possessed wealth beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Yet they were all willingly fawning and currying favor before this man, who was only thirty years old.
Wen Xuxue felt a complex mix of emotions and suddenly lowered her gaze.
There was still some distance between her and them.
She had spotted him at a glance, but he might not have noticed her.
However—
At the very moment she looked down, a deep, penetrating gaze suddenly traversed countless faces, landing precisely and briefly upon her.
The scene of Zhao Sui putting the ring on her had been fully captured in the man’s eyes.
Zhou Shijing’s face showed no expression whatsoever.
The people beside him were still chattering incessantly—he seemed to be listening, yet also seemed to hear nothing at all.
Just as he was about to pass the corner and walk away from her, the man’s footsteps suddenly halted.
Zhou Shijing turned his head, the warm light outlining the cold, hard, and perfect contours of his profile.
Abruptly, he called out, “Xiao Xue.”
Despite the distance, despite her lowered head, his voice reached Wen Xuxue’s ears with perfect clarity.
Cool, deep, pleasant.
And familiar, intimidating.
It easily brought to mind some blood-pumping memories from the past.
Wen Xuxue’s body instantly stiffened, and she slowly raised her head to meet a pair of pitch-black eyes.
Her heart raced, leaving her at a loss.
At Zhou Shijing’s call, the entire room fell into a dead silence.
All eyes turned toward her.
Wen Xuxue suddenly became the center of attention.
Her back rigid, she hurried over, stopping before the man.
Zhou Shijing was very tall, and Wen Xuxue appeared especially delicate and fragile standing before him. Her voice was soft and sweet as she asked, “W-what is it, Older Brother?”
Zhou Shijing’s gaze lingered on her face, his eyes calm and cool, devoid of any ripple of emotion. His thin lips moved slightly as he stated, “You’re in a relationship.”
It wasn’t a question, but a simple, matter-of-fact statement.
It sounded perfectly calm, with not a trace of emotion detectable.
Yet Wen Xuxue suddenly felt the urge to kneel.
Her legs went weak with fright.
She gave a soft “mm” in acknowledgment, then casually pointed behind her, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible tremor. “Zhao Sui, my boyfriend.”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shijing’s scrutinizing gaze shifted to the man standing behind her.
He was mature and steady, exuding the detached, superior air of someone who had long held a position of power, looking down on everything with indifference.
Zhao Sui was still young—how could he withstand such sharp, icy scrutiny? After just one glance, he nervously averted his eyes.
Zhou Shijing’s expression remained completely blank as he calmly withdrew his gaze.
“Who would have thought that after all this time, President Zhou still remembers Xiao Xue. This child has always been timid since she was little—she used to cry at the mere sight of you. But look at her now, grown into such a graceful young lady, and even with a boyfriend.”
A light, teasing laugh suddenly rang out.
Wen Yu still wore a smile on his face as he continued, “When these two get married someday, we’ll definitely invite you to sit at the head table.”
Zhou Shijing’s expression remained unchanged, but his cool gaze lingered almost imperceptibly on the young girl before him.
Wen Xuxue’s face stiffened; aside from lowering her head to make herself less noticeable, she dared not say a word.
Wen Yu noticed nothing. He raised his hand to guide the way, his face full of gentle warmth as he said, “President Zhou, this way, please. Let me show you to the seat of honor.”
Zhou Shijing gave a slight nod and strode forward, his steps steady and assured.
“President Zhou, your presence here today truly brings honor to our humble home. I thought you might be too busy to attend…”
The person beside him continued with flattery.
As they walked farther away, the voices grew softer and softer.
Wen Xuxue stared blankly at Zhou Shijing’s retreating figure.
Suddenly, she felt as if the world were spinning.
She remembered that when she was little, her father and the others used to call him “Shijing,” but now it had become “President Zhou.”
Wen Xuxue felt a complex mix of emotions as her gaze remained fixed on the man.
Even among a group of seasoned, shrewd businessmen who had navigated the corporate world for years, he still stood out effortlessly, his presence commanding and distinguished.
Suddenly, she felt a wave of fear again.
Fear about the past she shared with him.
Wen Xuxue had always been timid.
She was afraid of her father, her uncle, her other relatives.
Yet these men lowered themselves completely in front of Zhou Shijing, bending over backward to flatter him.
And yet—
This very man, rumored to be cold-hearted and unfeeling, a powerful figure in reality, had actually accepted her invitation.
He had kissed her, lost control, and fallen into her because of her frown.
Wen Xuxue couldn’t help but wonder.
If these people saw Zhou Shijing in his current lofty, untouchable state, would they ever know that he, too, had moments of brokenness and loss of control?
No.
No one would ever know.
Only she knew.
Only she had seen it.
Even if it was in the past.
Wen Xuxue had been lost in thought for too long.
Beside her, Zhao Sui frowned and asked, “What are you looking at?”