In the morning, there had originally been a video conference, but Zhou Yannan had pushed it back.
The person on the bed had cried like that last night. He inevitably felt a trace of guilt.
After all, she was his Madam. When she woke up, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to apologize and admit fault.
But it was already past ten in the morning, and she still hadn’t woken up.
Zhou Yannan sat by the bed, glanced at his wristwatch, then looked at her.
According to the original plan, they were supposed to return to Hancheng today. By this time, everyone should already be waiting.
Let them wait, then.
It was just hard on A Wen, who had to stand on the terrace listening to their sarcastic remarks.
Sheng Biao said, “He always laughs at me for being afraid of my wife, but once he gets married, he doesn’t even have a sense of time anymore.”
Liu Yunting replied, “As the ancients said: ‘The spring night is short and the sun rises too early; from then on the king no longer attends court.’ The ancients did not deceive me.”
Zong Lei chuckled as he put down his teacup. “A monk who suddenly breaks his vows naturally has to enjoy himself properly.”
“…”
A Wen stood there stiffly, wanting to refute them but hating his own poor speech.
Suddenly, Sheng Biao’s eyes lit up. He pulled a chair closer to Liu Yunting and leaned in. “Brother, have you been feeling unwell lately? Why is your hair falling out like someone’s been pulling it?”
“Get lost!” Liu Yunting, afraid of embarrassment, made something up on the spot. “I hooked up with a girl last night. She said I was too strong and cried while pulling it out.”
“Pah!” Sheng Biao spat at him. “Everyone knows your level.”
Zong Lei still smiled. “Which girl? Is it Fourth Brother Yannan’s ex-fiancée, current aunt?”
“Hey, you little brat Zong Lei, you’ve gotten bold lately!”
Liu Yunting, already holding in frustration, exploded at him. “What’s the matter? Your family agreed to your thing with that little model? Bring her to Capital City during New Year and see if she can even enter your house.”
“Liu Yunting, I’m going to f*ck your grandfather!”
Zong Lei, usually gentle, smashed his teacup onto the ground. “At least I’m in a proper relationship! Unlike you, jumping from woman to woman—don’t you fear getting ruined?”
“Enough, enough, both of you calm down.”
Seeing the two about to fight, Sheng Biao quickly stepped in. “We’re all brothers, why say such hurtful things?”
“Wasn’t he the one who started it?” Liu Yunting snapped. “All because of a woman, he doesn’t even dare go home for New Year.”
“None of your business!” Zong Lei kicked away the glass shards under his foot in anger. “Who the hell is your brother? You’re just trash!”
Zong Lei was a typical high-ranking official’s son, and his family background was strict.
He had been dating his girlfriend Yang Jingwen for five or six years, but the Zong family refused to let her in.
Because of this, they had argued countless times.
After all, no girl didn’t want a proper status.
So Zong Lei had been desperately trying to build his career, hoping to gain authority through success.
But he had lived a privileged life since childhood and had never suffered hardship. Being able to maintain the family’s legacy was already impressive enough.
Breaking through further was extremely difficult.
Fortunately, Zhou Yannan had been guiding him, personally teaching him step by step.
But one’s nature was hard to change. He could not even learn half of Zhou Yannan’s ruthlessness.
If he had Zhou Yannan’s methods, things between him and Yang Jingwen wouldn’t be so obstructed.
Now that his weakness had been exposed, he inevitably felt irritated and uneasy.
Under Sheng Biao and the assistants’ mediation, the two finally cooled down temporarily.
But neither of them was convinced.
Zong Lei even flipped over the tea table on the terrace so no one would drink.
…
What happened outside, the people inside the room knew nothing about.
Qiao Shuran slept until noon under the blanket.
She had been weak since childhood. Even when she was in school, her grandmother had specifically told teachers not to let her participate in strenuous activities.
So what happened last night, she simply couldn’t endure.
When she woke up, her whole body hurt everywhere.
The most unbearable pain was in her private area, as if it had been burned by fire—hot and stinging.
“Zhou Yannan…”
Opening her eyes and seeing the man standing by the bed in a suit, serious and proper, she burst into tears again. “You’re not human!”
“Sorry.”
He truly had no experience in this area. “Next time, I’ll be more careful.”
Next time?
He was already imagining a next time!
Qiao Shuran rolled her eyes hard in her heart.
“Help me up.”
She was extremely good at reading situations. Seeing that scolding him had no effect, she boldly pushed further.
Zhou Yannan paused, then still reached out and supported her neck, helping her sit up against the headboard.
She wasn’t wearing clothes. Her figure was slender, and the marks from last night were still clearly visible on her skin.
After just a glance, something in the man began to stir again.
But he firmly believed he had self-control and would never indulge excessively.
Last night’s loss of control had truly been an accident.
Seeing him standing there staring blankly at her, Qiao Shuran raised her chin. “What are you doing? Get my clothes!”
Her eyes and lips were slightly swollen.
Her eyes from crying, her lips from being kissed by him.
He knew he was at fault and didn’t argue with her.
If it had been normal times, no one would dare speak to him like that—it would be courting death.
The maid had placed her clothes at the foot of the bed. He picked them up and handed them to her.
“Turn around! Don’t look!”
Her tone was arrogant again, and Qiao Shuran began to push her luck.
This time, the man did not indulge her.
He bent down, pinched her chin, and said coldly, “I can tolerate you losing your temper occasionally, but I do not accept tests of obedience.”
Even if she was his Madam.
“I didn’t…”
She tried to be stubborn, but her tone softened. “You… you bullied me and still won’t let me fight back!”
“No.”
From childhood to adulthood, he had always been the one bullying others.
“Hurry up and get dressed. I’m in a rush.”
The morning meeting had been pushed to the afternoon. It could not be delayed again.
His patience had limits.
Faced with a hard wall, Qiao Shuran could only give in. She pouted her slightly swollen lips. “You’re watching me—how am I supposed to dress?”
Zhou Yannan ignored her, glanced at his watch, and said, “It’s 12:05. See you in the restaurant downstairs in ten minutes.”
With that, he turned and left the room.
Watching his back disappear, Qiao Shuran slowly got out of bed.
But the moment her feet touched the ground, pain shot through her again.
“Dog man!”
Her voice carried a tearful tone. “So energetic, like he’s never seen a woman in eight lifetimes.”
And he only gave her ten minutes—how was she supposed to get ready?
After painfully getting dressed, she limped into the bathroom.
Feeling uncomfortable, she didn’t even bother with makeup, only quickly washing her face and skincare.
When she came out, a maid was waiting. “Madam, I’ll take you to the restaurant.”
“Okay.”
Qiao Shuran clenched her skirt tightly. Every step felt like she was walking on blades.
But afraid others would notice, she could only grit her teeth and pretend to be fine.
Only she knew how much pain she was in.
Finally reaching the restaurant, Zhou Yannan was nowhere to be seen.
“Where is Mister?” she asked the staff.
Hadn’t he said he would wait here? Where had he gone again?
The maid pulled out a chair for her. “Mister has already finished lunch and went to discuss something with the other gentlemen.”
“I see.”
She glanced at the time. It was only 12:30. He really ate fast.
She hadn’t eaten properly for several meals, and after last night’s exhaustion, she was genuinely starving.
She picked up her chopsticks and began eating hungrily.
Just as she was enjoying her meal, footsteps came from behind.
Zhou Bingchen was wearing a white suit, walking toward her with long strides.