After stepping out of the bathroom, Su Zhaotang casually picked a long cotton coat from the clothes rack and put it on. After all, she couldn’t just go downstairs to meet someone wearing only a thin spaghetti-strap nightgown.
She slipped on her snow-white cotton slippers and tiptoed downstairs, heading outside the villa.
Zhou Lingjing watched as the girl approached him. Her thick, dark hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, her small face was fair and flushed, and her figure was slender.
She clutched her coat tightly with both hands and broke into a light jog when she saw Zhou Lingjing.
Su Zhaotang stopped in front of Zhou Lingjing, slightly out of breath from her little run, which was especially noticeable on this winter night.
Zhou Lingjing reached out naturally to smooth her wind-tousled hair. His long, slender fingers brushed against her scalp, making Su Zhaotang shiver nervously.
Zhou Lingjing spoke in a low voice, “Why run so fast? I’m not going anywhere.”
Su Zhaotang looked up at his face and mumbled, “I was afraid you’d have to wait too long.”
Hearing this, Zhou Lingjing chuckled softly. “That depends on who I’m waiting for.”
After saying this, he turned sideways, opened the passenger door, leaned over, and retrieved two exquisitely wrapped boxes from the seat.
“The scented candles you specifically asked for,” Zhou Lingjing handed them to her, his deep eyes fixed on Su Zhaotang.
“Wow, you really bought them!” Su Zhaotang happily took the boxes. Even before opening them, she could smell a faint, sweet orange fragrance, reminiscent of winter.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, shimmering with clear, bright light.
“You went to the trouble of texting me from afar to remind me. How could I forget?” Zhou Lingjing’s voice was gentle, carrying a hint of laughter.
Su Zhaotang felt a little embarrassed hearing this, as she had indeed pestered him about it.
She lowered her head, staring at the boxes in her hands without saying a word, though her reddened ears betrayed her feelings.
Zhou Lingjing raised an eyebrow, then handed her the other box he was holding, signaling for her to open it.
Su Zhaotang handed the scented candles back to him to hold for a moment. She took the jewelry box and, with a look of surprise and curiosity, slowly opened it.
Inside was a necklace adorned with a clear, translucent red gemstone.
It shimmered with a deep red glow, like a passionate flame, exuding a unique charm.
The intricate patterns and exquisite design made the necklace appear even more elegant and noble.
It was clear at a glance that it was expensive.
Su Zhaotang was dazzled by the necklace before her. Her eyes seemed to sparkle with little stars as she looked up at Zhou Lingjing in disbelief. “This… this is for me?!”
Zhou Lingjing’s expression remained calm as he replied casually, “It’s for my wife. So, does Mrs. Zhou like it?”
A smile played at the corner of Zhou Lingjing’s lips as he watched her.
Su Zhaotang nodded eagerly, overwhelmed with excitement. She really loved sparkling gemstones.
“I love it, love it, love it! I love it so much!” In the moment, Su Zhaotang forgot all sense of restraint. She stepped forward, wrapping one arm around Zhou Lingjing’s waist while holding the jewelry box in the other, burying her head against his chest and nuzzling a few times, just like a little cat seeking affection.
Zhou Lingjing was taken aback by her sudden move. He hadn’t expected such a big reaction from the girl.
He raised his hand to stroke the top of Su Zhaotang’s head, then leaned down teasingly, his lips close to her ear as he looked at her and said,
“Our Zhaozhao is quite enthusiastic, isn’t she? Did you miss me so much after just a few days apart?”
After this exchange, Su Zhaotang suddenly realized she had somehow ended up in Zhou Lingjing’s arms.
Because they had been speaking so closely, she felt a tingling, ticklish sensation.
Su Zhaotang tried to pull away from his embrace, but his long, strong arms tightened around her, pulling her back against his chest.
“Who missed you… what are you doing? Let me go!”
Su Zhaotang’s face flushed with shyness as she pushed against him with all her might.
“Don’t move, let me hold you for a while,”
a low, husky voice murmured.
Breathing in Su Zhaotang’s scent—whether it was her natural fragrance or the fresh citrus aroma from washing—Zhou Lingjing felt the fatigue from his overnight flight ease considerably.
Sure enough, she stopped struggling and quietly nestled in his arms.
Timid yet always stirring up trouble, Zhou Lingjing thought to himself.
The night grew deeper, and all was silent except for the occasional chirping of insects in the distance.
In his embrace, Su Zhaotang could smell the faint scent of tobacco on him, but she didn’t mind it. Instead, it seemed to amplify the masculine aura around him.
After a while, Zhou Lingjing gently patted the small of her back and spoke softly,
“Alright, it’s late. Take your things and go inside.”
With that, he slowly released his arm from around her waist.
Su Zhaotang’s face was still flushed. Unable to resist, Zhou Lingjing gently cupped her cheek and gave it a light pinch.
His hand was warm and dry, his fingers brushing lightly over her skin, sending a shiver through her.
Su Zhaotang reacted like a startled cat, her almond-shaped eyes widening. “You hugged me, and now you’re pinching me too?!”
Zhou Lingjing casually lowered his hand.
“Accepting gifts makes one indebted, Zhaozhao.”
Hearing this, Su Zhaotang immediately hugged the box tightly, leaning slightly forward as she smiled at him. “It’s an honor to have my face pinched by you, Mr. Zhou.”
“Heh, sarcastic as ever,” Zhou Lingjing let out a low chuckle.
“Alright, go inside.”
After saying goodnight, Zhou Lingjing watched Su Zhaotang’s light, skipping figure gradually disappear into the distance.
Once she had secretly returned to her room, Su Zhaotang eagerly opened the box to reveal the necklace inside.
“Oh my precious! How does he always know exactly what to give? It’s like he read my mind!”
She carefully took it out and walked to her vanity mirror to try it on. The deep red gemstone sparkled brilliantly, making her complexion appear even fairer.
“It’s so beautiful,” Su Zhaotang murmured as she touched the necklace.
After admiring it, she placed the necklace back in the box. Suddenly, she took out her phone, snapped a photo of it, and sent it to her best friend, Zhao Xi.
Tang Xiaotang: [Photo]
Xi Xi Zi: [!!! Where did you get another high-end custom piece like this?!]
Her words practically radiated shock.
[Wait, this looks so familiar…]
Then, Zhao Xi sent over a foreign news article about a mysterious Chinese man who had spent a fortune at a private auction to buy the final lot—a gemstone necklace.
[Alright, never mind. You’re now a top-tier wealthy socialite, so it makes sense this ended up with you (death smile).]
Tang Xiaotang: [Oh, don’t be like that! I’m sharing it with you first thing!]
Xi Xi Zi: [?! Is this sharing? This is pure bragging.]
She added a “friendship over” meme.
Su Zhaotang then sent back a timid, apologetic emoji.
Xi Xi Zi: [Photo]
[Let me show you my current situation.]
Su Zhaotang opened the door to see a simple but clean room, with wooden floors typical of the countryside.
“Is Miss Zhao going to help alleviate poverty?”
“No, I’m participating in a variety show, experiencing the daily life of farmers in a rural village.”
Su Zhaotang was somewhat surprised to hear this.