Behind Zhou Yunting was a massive one-way glass window, beyond which stretched Vienna’s winter night. Snow pellets struck the glass, rustling as they piled up on the windowsill.
People outside could not see the darkness inside the private booth, but Shen Hua could clearly make out the swirling snow, white and blinding.
She was still wearing her performance gown, dark green velvet wrapping her shoulders and neck. Her down jacket had been tossed carelessly onto the corner of the sofa, and she had even forgotten to take it when she left.
Zhou Yunting had already noticed. He had seen her the moment he stepped into the booth.
The longing he had suppressed for half a year collapsed in an instant the moment he caught sight of her, shattered so completely that there was no room left for pretense.
For six months, he had deliberately kept his distance from her—did not seek news of her, refused to spare a single thought for her affairs, letting her manage on her own.
But what reached his ears was that Shen Hua’s European commercial performances had been cut in half. Without the path he had paved for her, she was struggling to get by in the industry.
He had known all along that the European classical music circle had picky tastes. She was too eye-catching—an Asian face paired with extraordinary talent, standing out wherever she went. Orchestras feared she would steal the spotlight and were reluctant to include her.
He had originally agreed to let her take the commercial performance route, telling her she could only rely on the quality of her sound to make her mark. But there were too many talented people on that path; she was moving slowly, even regressing. She had held a few solo recitals back in China, and they were always sold out, but most of the audience came not to hear classical music but for her arrangements blending classical with pop. Relying on that bit of fame to pick up private gigs, she could barely support herself. But Shen Hua was stubborn; she insisted on making a name for herself in Europe.
In the end, he could not hold out.
He came back anyway, to pave the way for her, but he never expected to run into her here, so suddenly.
Just as he was lost in thought, his cheek was suddenly slapped lightly. The force was not heavy, but it carried real anger.
Zhou Yunting frowned, pressed his tongue against the spot on his jaw where he had been hit, and lifted his gaze to meet Shen Hua’s furious eyes.
They had been apart for half a year. Clearly, she was in a weak position now, yet she actually dared to lay a hand on him.
Zhou Yunting’s gaze darkened. “Your friend has a loose tongue and likes to poke at people’s sore spots. I’m usually not this easygoing.”
Shen Hua pretended to be tough and shot back, “I told you, if you want to come at someone, come at me!”
Zhou Yunting looked at her serious face and tense shoulders, then suddenly laughed. “Come at you how?”
“…”
Shen Hua was momentarily speechless, blocked by his rhetorical question.
She caught the dark implication in Zhou Yunting’s words.
Zhou Yunting knew she had no answer. His gaze swept over her, and he patted the sofa beside him. “I told you to leave, but you wouldn’t. Fine, don’t go. Come sit.”
Shen Hua looked at him, not moving.
The two stood still, the surrounding silence growing even deeper.
After a pause, he added, “Do I need to come get you, miss?”
Only then did Shen Hua stir, as if hesitating. After a few seconds, she reluctantly sat down beside him, keeping a proper half-seat distance between them.
Xu Manjin, standing by the door, was fuming. But recalling Shen Hua’s earlier阻拦 and knowing Zhou Yunting’s methods, she clenched her teeth and walked back to the booth, finding a corner to sit in.
Felix looked at Zhou Yunting, then at Shen Hua.
In his memory, Zhou Yunting was never an easy person to deal with. This girl had just caused a scene and even laid hands on him, yet she came out unscathed?
He instantly caught on, stepped forward, and said with a smile, “Mr. Zhou, about the young lady you mentioned last time, from now on, all her commercial performances will be arranged by our company. Is that how it is?”
As soon as he said this, the booth fell silent.
Shen Hua was a bit surprised. Even Xu Manjin forgot to be angry. Only Zhou Yunting’s expression remained unchanged as he responded calmly, “That’s right. I have a few requirements.”
“Mr. Zhou, go ahead!” Felix quickly agreed.
“She practices slowly. Don’t force her to play pieces she hasn’t practiced,” Zhou Yunting stated flatly. “The entire orchestra has to accommodate her. She plays what she knows, and whether the audience likes it or not, you figure it out.”
“Also, when she plays, she must stand at the center of the cello section, as the lead. Everyone else only accompanies. The performance attire and the instrument she uses are for her to choose. Don’t arrange anything. For commercial performances, give her a separate suite at the hotel. She needs her own space.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping toward Xu Manjin, who was stunned in the corner. He lifted his chin. “Take this one along too.”
Felix blinked, followed his gaze to Xu Manjin, and immediately caught on.
He nodded quickly. “Of course. Just have your assistant send me the young lady’s resume and information, and I’ll have someone handle it right away. Don’t worry.”
Zhou Yunting gave a slight nod, his eyes falling on the still-dazed Xu Manjin, and said calmly, “Miss Xu, even if I’m useless, I still handle her affairs. She doesn’t need you to introduce connections for her.”
He paused, then added, “You only cause more trouble.”
“You—” Xu Manjin bristled.
But Zhou Yunting had already stood up. As he passed Shen Hua, he paused briefly. “Follow me.”
Only then did Shen Hua snap out of it.
Zhou Yunting had come today solely to pave the way for her.
Whether his intention was to pull her back to his side or not, for now, she had no choice but to follow.
Zhou Yunting reminded her to grab her down jacket.
Shen Hua acknowledged him, moving unhurriedly, deliberately keeping half a meter of distance between them.
As they left the whiskey bar, Yang Jiang was nowhere to be seen. Around the corner was a convenience store.
Zhou Yunting stood still at the entrance. Just as Shen Hua caught up, she ran straight into his gaze.
Shen Hua thought she understood what he meant, so she turned and went inside.
After all, with someone like Zhou Yunting, if you didn’t go along with him, he would find a way to make you submit anyway.
Without looking at anything else, she went straight for a pack of contraceptives. She paid without asking for a bag and casually stuffed it into her down jacket pocket.
Back when they were together, at some point Zhou Yunting had stopped wanting to use condoms. More than once, he had whispered in her ear, “Give me a child. I’ll take care of it.”
So Shen Hua had developed the habit of buying condoms.
Zhou Yunting wanted to use a child to make his family accept Shen Hua, but she was unwilling.
Deeply influenced by her parents, she was somewhat traditional at heart. Her father had told her that we Chinese people talk about the “Five Relationships”: closeness between father and son, righteousness between ruler and subject, distinction between husband and wife, order between elder and younger, and trust between friends.
So back then, she had refused Zhou Yunting, speaking with conviction.
“Among these, the ‘distinction between husband and wife’ means that spouses must keep their proper place, be devoted, follow the rule of monogamy, and never do anything to ruin someone else’s marriage. As long as your engagement with the Jiang family isn’t broken, what does it look like for me to be with you in the eyes of others? I can’t carry on like this, in such ambiguity. My parents wouldn’t allow it either. ‘Closeness between father and son’ means filial piety. I can’t make my parents worry and fear for me just for my own sake, nor can I let them be gossiped about, with people saying, ‘Their daughter doesn’t know her place, clinging to a rich family.’ Zhou Yunting, I can’t afford to waste time like this, and I can’t afford to gamble.”
Zhou Yunting had been furious at the time, cursing her in Mandarin for being old-fashioned and asking her if she understood the concept of “act first, explain later.”
Coming out of the convenience store, Zhou Yunting saw that Shen Hua’s hands were empty. His brow furrowed, and his tone carried a hint of mockery. “Without me, things are going that badly?”
Shen Hua thought he was sneering at her, so she immediately smiled and replied, “Thanks to you, I’m getting by.”
“Is that so? Can’t even afford to buy things?”
At that, Shen Hua’s expression froze for a moment.
Had she misread him?
Before she could explain, Zhou Yunting had already sensed something was off. His gaze landed on her bulging down jacket pocket.
It was actually quite flat, just a slight bump from the down filling, nothing noticeable. But he stared at it stubbornly and asked in a low voice, “What’s in your pocket?”
“Nothing.” Shen Hua replied stiffly.
Zhou Yunting said, “Take it out.”
Shen Hua refused. Zhou Yunting reached out directly. His warm fingertips, through the down fabric, precisely touched the small, square box.
The moment his fingertips felt the shape, he guessed what it was. When he pulled it out and saw it, it was indeed that thing.
His thumb brushed over the pattern on the packaging, and Zhou Yunting let out a low laugh.
When he looked up at Shen Hua, the light in his eyes was dark and deep.
Direct and merciless, he asked.
“Want to sleep with me?”