Zhou Wanning took the bag from Lu Jinzhou’s hand.
She went into a restroom stall to change.
Unexpectedly, the dress fit her perfectly.
Logically speaking, Le Yu’s figure was completely different from hers.
When she walked out of the restroom, she didn’t expect Lu Jinzhou to still be waiting outside.
Their gazes met, and Zhou Wanning quickly looked away, but she still managed to say thank you to him.
This man’s presence was so overwhelming that her heart kept pounding uncontrollably.
The two walked back one after the other. Mother Zhou frowned as she looked at the clothes Zhou Wanning had changed into.
It was a sleeveless beige denim dress. The fitted top was stylish and well-shaped, with a waist-cinching design that perfectly accentuated Zhou Wanning’s figure, making her look graceful, elegant, and poised.
Zhou Leyu said, “Sister, this dress really suits you.”
Luo Shuhang could tell at a glance that the dress wasn’t cheap.
Zhou Wanning looked at Zhou Leyu. “I’ll wash it clean and return it to you when we get back.”
Zhou Leyu waved her hand dismissively. “No need, you can keep it.”
Zhou Wanning knew Zhou Leyu disliked the fact that she had worn it.
Since childhood, Zhou Leyu had never worn any of Zhou Wanning’s hand-me-downs, whereas Zhou Wanning had often received clothes from relatives when she was young.
Only during holidays or on her birthday would Father Zhou take her out to buy new clothes.
Luo Shuhang looked at the expensive dress and whispered into Zhou Wanning’s ear, “Wanning, this dress is very expensive, and it really complements you.”
Zhou Wanning felt an indescribable emotion in her heart.
Father and Mother Zhou were very satisfied with Lu Jinzhou, and the atmosphere at the dinner table was warm and cheerful.
Only Zhou Wanning seemed distracted.
After dinner, Mother Zhou invited Lu Jinzhou and Luo Shuhang to their home for a while longer.
As the group was leaving, Zhou Wanning realized she had forgotten her phone in the restaurant. “I left my phone behind. I’ll go back and get it.”
Mother Zhou glanced at her but was pulled into the car by Father Zhou.
Zhou Wanning returned to the private room, where the waitstaff were cleaning up. Her phone was still in its original spot. She picked it up and was about to leave when she turned around and bumped into a firm chest.
The momentum made her take a small step back, but a man’s broad hand pressed against the small of her back, steadying her.
The rich scent of smoky oud wood filled her nostrils.
Zhou Wanning was flustered. She pushed away Lu Jinzhou’s arm and stammered, “Th-thank you.”
Lu Jinzhou watched as she lowered her gaze, bit her lower lip, and her thick eyelashes trembled.
The two stood there frozen for a moment. Zhou Wanning didn’t understand why her legs felt as heavy as lead, unable to move.
Finally, Lu Jinzhou spoke. “Let’s go. Everyone is still waiting… for us.”
Zhou Wanning watched the man’s tall figure walk away and breathed a sigh of relief.
She and Lu Jinzhou left separately. She got directly into Luo Shuhang’s car.
Father and Mother Zhou rode in Lu Jinzhou’s car.
Luo Shuhang followed behind Lu Jinzhou’s car, his tone filled with jealousy. “It’s just a Bentley. Wanning, I’ll switch to this kind of car someday too.”
She didn’t know much about cars, but she was aware of Bentley’s price range. Still, she felt Luo Shuhang’s car was more than sufficient for an ordinary family.
“Mm, I believe you,” Zhou Wanning said, offering emotional support.
Luo Shuhang looked confident.
When they arrived at the Zhou residence, he took out the gifts he had bought for Father and Mother Zhou.
Zhou Wanning helped him carry them.
Lu Jinzhou noticed her small hands were marked with white lines from the strain, and he frowned.
He went over to take the things from Zhou Wanning’s hands. “I’ll help you.”
Zhou Wanning froze, unsure of what to do. Just as she was about to refuse, Lu Jinzhou had already reached out and taken them from her.
His dry, warm hand brushed past her fingertips, making her heart tighten.
Father Zhou said politely, “You didn’t need to bring anything just to visit.”
Luo Shuhang replied, “It’s only right to show respect to you and Auntie.”
Mother Zhou had originally thought Luo Shuhang was decent enough, being a small business owner, but compared to Lu Jinzhou, he was completely out of his league.
She now felt Luo Shuhang was far too ordinary—though, of course, he was good enough for Zhou Wanning.
She didn’t care at all about what Luo Shuhang had brought; long before this, Lu Jinzhou had already sent over far more lavish gifts.
Father Zhou went to boil water for tea, and the living room was quite crowded.
Lu Jinzhou sat in the middle of the sofa, with Zhou Leyu and Mother Zhou on either side of him.
Luo Shuhang and Zhou Wanning sat on chairs opposite them.
Zhou Wanning kept observing Luo Shuhang, worried he might overthink things, but she was overthinking it herself.
Luo Shuhang chatted easily with Lu Jinzhou, hinting at opportunities for collaboration in their conversation.
Lu Jinzhou didn’t directly agree, but he didn’t refuse either.
Zhou Wanning didn’t know if she was being overly sensitive, but she kept feeling Lu Jinzhou’s gaze occasionally falling on her face.
She tried to ignore that gaze, but every now and then, she would inadvertently look up and meet his eyes.
Eventually, she simply stopped looking up altogether. After saying a few words, she went to the kitchen, pretending to be busy.
After all, she couldn’t join in their conversation anyway.
Zhou Yusen’s son, Zhou Chenhao, was getting sleepy, so Li Xin took the child into Zhou Wanning’s room.
This room had originally belonged to Zhou Yusen. It wasn’t until he moved out for work that Zhou Wanning finally got her own room.
When they were younger, she could still share a room with Zhou Leyu, but as they grew up, Zhou Leyu insisted on having her own room, forcing Zhou Wanning to sleep on the sofa bed in the living room.
Zhou Wanning followed them into the room.
After soothing the child to sleep, Li Xin didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she struck up a conversation with Zhou Wanning.
She kept her voice low, afraid of being overheard outside. “Do you think that President Lu is serious about Le Yu?”
Zhou Wanning replied, “Since he came to meet Mom and Dad, he must be serious, right?”
Li Xin pursed her lips. “I doubt it. How could a man like that stay devoted to one woman?” Besides, Zhou Leyu wasn’t particularly outstanding in looks—only her education was somewhat decent.
She couldn’t quite understand how Lu Jinzhou could like her. If it were Zhou Wanning he liked, she’d find that more believable.
Zhou Wanning didn’t respond further. These things weren’t something you could judge from the surface.
After they went back out, Zhou Leyu announced she wouldn’t be staying at home that night, and everyone understood what that meant.
Luo Shuhang was also a little tempted to take Zhou Wanning back to his place. They had only kissed and hadn’t done anything else, as Zhou Wanning was always too shy.
He glanced at Zhou Wanning, wondering how he could convince her to leave with him.
The whole family went downstairs to see off the two future sons-in-law.
But it was clear they were much more enthusiastic toward Lu Jinzhou.
Luo Shuhang wasn’t entirely unaffected by this, but as long as he could collaborate with Lu Jinzhou, the Zhou family’s attitude no longer mattered.
Zhou Leyu wasn’t staying at home, and she didn’t allow anyone else to use her room either.
Li Xin didn’t want to stay either, so she woke the child and left with Zhou Yusen.
After Zhou Wanning finished her shower and had just changed into her pajamas, Zhou Leyu called.
“Second Sister, there’s a document on my desk. Could you please deliver it to Yunding Yihao for me?”
“Huh? Right now?”
“Yes, it’s urgent. I’ll send you the address. Thanks a lot!”
Zhou Leyu hung up the phone without waiting for her to speak.
It also meant Zhou Wanning had no right to refuse.
She picked up the documents, informed Mother Zhou, and headed out to Yunding Yihao.
Following the specific address Zhou Leyu had sent, she found the location and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Leyu saying she had arrived.
The main door was pushed open from inside. Lu Jinzhou stood there in a bathrobe, his hair no longer slicked back but falling softly, making him appear less intimidating.
Zhou Wanning froze for a moment. “Le, Le Yu asked me to deliver the documents.”
Lu Jinzhou’s bathrobe was loosely tied, revealing his firm, light wheat-colored chest.
His voice was low as he stepped aside slightly. “Come in.”
Go in?
In her dazed moment, Lu Jinzhou had already turned and walked inside.