Chaptеr 4: Тhe Cunning Тemptаtiоn, Маking Неr Cаll Нim Вrothеr
Thе handsomе аnd noblе man stооd оpроsite hеr likе а gеntlеmаn, mаintaining а cоmfоrtable and graсeful distаncе, аррearing humblе and pоlitе, with аn аura оf oрenness аnd сlаritу.
Nоt a trаce of ill intеnt соuld bе dеtected.
It sееmеd as thоugh he wеre genuinеlу ехtending a hеlрing hand as а kind elder, with nо оthеr intеntions whаtsоever.
“You don’t need to fеel рrеssurеd.”
Аs if sеeing thrоugh the girl’s conсerns, Сen Zhоu chuсkled softly, his low, mellow tone brimming with utmost patience. “You’re Cen Jinhuan’s good friend. As her Little Uncle, it’s only right for me to help you.”
Hearing this, Qiao Zhiyang looked up in surprise.
Huh!
So he already knew her?
The girl widened her beautiful, clear eyes in astonishment, looking so adorable that one couldn’t help but want to pull her into an embrace and cherish her.
Cen Zhou’s eyes darkened for a fleeting moment.
Then he returned to his refined and courteous demeanor.
“My apologies, the situation earlier was sudden, and I didn’t have time to explain to you.”
A gentle curve graced his lips as he explained without changing his expression. “I saw your photos together in her social media posts before. I never expected to run into you here by such a coincidence.
“So there’s no need for you to be so formal.”
The cunning man, disguised as gentle and harmless, skillfully guided the conversation, unhurriedly casting out the bait. “If you go out now and they catch you, wouldn’t all our earlier efforts have been in vain?”
“A true gentleman would never allow a lovely young lady to leave alone without ensuring her complete safety.”
“So, lovely young lady—”
Cen Zhou leaned his tall frame slightly toward her, his low, resonant voice trailing with a captivating lilt, each word lingering softly in her ears. “Would you grant me the opportunity to continue protecting you?”
He stood bathed in the bright light, his deep pupils behind the lenses resembling a tranquil sea, inviting one to sink and lose themselves.
The elegant and noble aura surrounding him made him seem like a graceful English gentleman who had stepped right out of a movie poster.
Qiao Zhiyang couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
Although she lived in Hong Kong, she had heard some rumors about Cen Zhou.
They said this head of the Cen Family was once an illegitimate child. Despite his gentle and refined appearance, he was actually a cold-blooded and ruthless wolf.
His rise to the pinnacle of power was attributed to ruthless methods that couldn’t be spoken of openly, striking fear into the hearts of many.
Thus, they respectfully referred to him as the Jade-Faced Buddha in public.
But behind his back, they cursed him as the Jade-Faced Asura, showing no mercy whatsoever.
Before meeting him, Qiao Zhiyang had also assumed he was a wicked and ruthless villain.
She never imagined he could be so gentle.
The Little Lamb huffed indignantly in her heart on Cen Zhou’s behalf.
Hmph ╭(╯^╰)╮.
Indeed, some things can only be believed when seen with one’s own eyes.
Mr. Cen was clearly gentle and polite, warm-hearted and kind, nothing like the terrifying and cold-blooded figure they described.
He truly lived up to the title of Jade-Faced Buddha!
But what she never realized was—
If he didn’t have ulterior motives, what kind of Buddha would remember the face of his little niece’s friend so clearly?
Remembering it for seven long years.
“Thank you.”
Qiao Zhiyang lifted her glistening milk-chestnut eyes, the trust in them growing a little deeper. “I’m troubling you again.”
Cen Zhou chuckled softly.
“No need to be so polite.”
He nodded to her, every movement exuding elegance and warmth. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hotel.”
“Okay.”Qiao Zhiyang stepped forward, the exquisitely tailored qipao enveloping her figure, accentuating her graceful and alluring silhouette.
As she walked, her slender, snow-white calves peeked in and out through the slit of the skirt, subtly enticing.
The man following behind her matched her pace unhurriedly, his dark gaze erupting like molten lava, surging with a fervent, ravenous desire.
Not a trace of the gentle refinement from earlier remained.
Cen Zhou raised the thumb that had just pressed against the girl’s red lips, as if finally seizing the perfect moment, and slowly brushed it over his own lips.
As if savoring something of unparalleled delight, the corners of his eyes suddenly curved into a sickly, pleasurable arc, his pupils swirling with a scorching, obsessive vortex.
The girl’s trusting, delicate voice echoed in his ears.
He chuckled softly, his gaze fixed on the graceful figure ahead, now gleaming with the unbridled intensity of a wolf king in hunting mode, flashing with a possessive and predatory gleam.
No need to thank me.
It’s only right.
In the underground parking lot.
A Bugatti Black Obsidian extended edition business car was parked in an open space.
The license plate on the black car bore the unique five zeros exclusive to all of Jingbei, symbolizing the highest status.
“It’s almost noon, why hasn’t President Cen returned yet?”
Assistant Xu Kang anxiously scanned the surroundings while scrolling through his tablet with a pained expression, tallying the hundreds of billions in business deals his boss had inexplicably missed today by coming to the airport.
Something’s off!
This is really too strange!
Having followed President Cen for many years, he had witnessed how his schedule was always packed to the brim every day.
Then, like a precise, tireless machine, he handled everything flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism.
It was precisely because of his exceptional, formidable execution skills and sharp, outstanding investment vision that he had successfully elevated the Cen Group to become the world’s leading enterprise.
But today, the ever-workaholic President Cen had cleared his entire schedule, freeing up extremely precious time, and suddenly appeared at the airport.
Xu Kang scratched his head.
This was just too bizarre.
Could he be here to pick up someone important?
First, using the process of elimination, it definitely wasn’t a woman.
Just then, the sound of leather shoes stepping on the ground echoed leisurely.
Xu Kang’s ears perked up, and he immediately looked up with delight, like a golden retriever, “President Cen…”
But as soon as he raised his eyes, he saw the young girl standing beside the famously unapproachable Cen Zhou, and his mouth fell open in shock.
“Huh?”
As if unable to believe his eyes, Xu Kang blinked rapidly a few times, instantly switching to a high-pitched tone, “Holy crap!!! What is this—!!!”
The echo in the space amplified his loud voice by several decibels, startling Qiao Zhiyang and causing her to pause mid-step.
Cen Zhou’s eyes turned cold.
“Don’t scare her.”
He glanced over lightly, his tone indifferent, “The car door.”
Although his aura lacked the usual intimidating pressure.
The gaze piercing through the thin lenses carried a hint of warning and intimidation.
Xu Kang:!
That familiar murderous intent!
“Yes, President Cen.”
His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly snapped back to attention, opening the car door.
Cen Zhou raised his hand to hold the top of the car door, looking at the girl beside him, his eyes softening back into the gentle, amiable expression reserved only for her. “Miss Qiao, please.”
Qiao Zhiyang smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. “Thank you, Mr. Cen.”
“Still calling me Mr. Cen?”Cen Zhou lowered his gaze to look at her smiling face, his thin lips curving slightly as well. “That seems a bit too formal.”
“Just call me by my name.”
His voice lowered slightly, his eyes fixed intently on her, the deep magnetic tone carrying a hint of gravity. “Call me by my name.”
So… so direct?
Qiao Zhiyang couldn’t help but be taken aback.
The tips of her ears flushed slightly red. “Cen… Cen…”
“No, you’re an elder!”
The thin-skinned young lady tried several times but ultimately gave up. “Calling you directly by your name wouldn’t be respectful enough.”
Elder?
Cen Zhou raised an eyebrow, his eyes darkening a shade.
Tsk.
Who wants to be your elder?
He would never have such thoughts in this lifetime, and that included her as well.
“If not by name, then what would you like to call me?”
He leaned in slightly closer, his tone carrying a seductive lilt. “Hmm?”
Qiao Zhiyang blinked, about to speak instinctively when he added with a smile, “Except for Mr. Cen.”
Little Lamb was troubled.
Hmm, call him Little Uncle like her girlfriends do?
But that seemed too intimate.
Calling him Uncle directly felt too distant.
After some thought, she looked up again and tentatively suggested, “Uncle Cen?”
“…”
Cen Zhou looked at the girl’s earnest gaze and fell silent for a rare moment.
After a while, he suddenly chuckled meaningfully, then said with a serious expression, “I’m unmarried.”
Huh?
What did that mean?
Qiao Zhiyang tilted her head slightly, looking at him with confusion.
“So…”
Cen Zhou leisurely met her clear, gentle gaze, like a cunning big bad wolf luring this little lamb into a trap. “You should call me brother.”