Zhou Yan brought the two women to Xijing Pavilion, a famous private restaurant in Haicheng.
The moment the beautiful woman before him agreed to have dinner, he had already quietly chosen the restaurant.
At twenty-eight, he wasn’t inexperienced in love. His family had been involved in business since his grandparents’ generation, building its foundation over the years.
In other words, his family background had given him abundant resources and connections. A man raised in such an environment was undoubtedly confident and possessed a distinctive masculine charm.
When a man like that met Jiang Yun, the woman he’d fallen for at first sight, how could he feel his heart stir and not act on it?
Xijing Pavilion was a Chinese restaurant whose overall design conveyed an elegant, upscale take on modern Chinese style.
The walls of the private room were etched with emerald bamboo and graceful cranes, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance. The cranes and wild bamboo complemented each other in spirit and charm.
Every corner of the restaurant was steeped in Eastern wisdom and elegance…
Beyond the glass windows, lush green bamboo leaves seemed almost to drip with color. An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting warm, amber light over the table and making the entire private room feel soft and inviting…
Zhou Yan lowered his eyes to the graceful figure beside him, unwilling to miss any of her expressions. “I booked this restaurant on short notice. I hope you like it, Miss Jiang?”
Jiang Yun was captivated by the Chinese-style design, too. “It’s a lovely place, Mr. Zhou. You’ve been very thoughtful.”
“How could the ancients’ taste ever compare? Modern Chinese style really is breathtaking.” Song Zurong couldn’t help praising it, then pretended to scold him. “Zhou Yan, hurry up and order. Don’t let Miss Jiang go hungry.”
“Sure.” He slid the menu over to Jiang Yun. His peach-blossom eyes curved beneath his sharply arched brows. “Order whatever you like. Don’t worry about saving me money.”
Jiang Yun laughed and picked up the menu. “Then I’ll take you up on that.”
With Zhou Yan’s occasional teasing jokes, the mood over dinner grew steadily more cheerful and relaxed.
…
Zhonghai Tianzuan
Jiang Yun thanked Zhou Yan for driving her back. Just as she was about to get out, the man in the driver’s seat called after her.
“Miss Jiang, could I have your contact information?”
Jiang Yun paused. “I thought I gave you my business card last time.”
The corners of Zhou Yan’s mouth lifted slightly, and there was a hint of nonchalance in his tone. “Wouldn’t it be more convenient to add you on WeChat? Then my mom can look at pictures easily when she orders jewelry.”
“The number on my card is the one to use.” Jiang Yun didn’t think much of it. “You should head back soon. Thanks for treating us today.”
“Sure. I’ll add you when I get back. Go on inside—it’s chilly out.” A roguish smile tugged at Zhou Yan’s lips.
After saying goodbye, Jiang Yun turned and walked into the residential complex. A few steps later, she ran straight into a solid chest.
The familiar scent of ebony reached her nose. Only then did Jiang Yun tilt her head up and see the man she’d been thinking about standing before her.
September in Haicheng had begun to take on the feel of autumn. The evening breeze drifted by, carrying a steady, composed fragrance that suited Jiang Jin standing before her.
“Ow, that hurt!” Jiang Yun covered her forehead with a jade-white hand and complained coquettishly.
Jiang Jin’s gaze darkened. “It’s the middle of the night. Don’t you watch where you’re going?”
“Dr. Jiang, what are you doing here?” Jiang Yun looked up at him, her soft voice threaded with surprise and delight.
“What, you’re the only one allowed to live here?” His voice was languid in the darkness, his eyes deep and shadowy.
“Then I guess Dr. Jiang and I really are fated to meet. Somehow, we always seem to cross paths.”
Her lip gloss made her lips look especially vivid and alluring. Their slight upward curve seemed to flaunt Jiang Yun’s confidence and irresistible charm at every moment…
Looking at the woman before him, so affected and coquettish, Jiang Jin spoke slowly. “Did the food taste good?”
His low voice slipped from his lips, rich and seductive in the hazy night.
“What?” Jiang Yun went from confusion to sudden understanding. “Dr. Jiang, were you following me?”
“I’m not that twisted.” He frowned, hands in his pockets.
“Oh…” Jiang Yun nodded thoughtfully. “I ate a little too much tonight. Keep me company while I take a walk and walk it off, will you? You can think of it as seeing me home. Look how late it is—it’s not safe for a girl to be out alone.”
Her slender fingers gently tugged at Jiang Jin’s shirt. She looked at him with a helpless, pitiful air, laughter in her eyes and a trace of tenderness and sweetness. In the night, her charm was irresistible.
“Mm.” Jiang Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He turned and started walking. “Come on.”
“Okay!” Like a child who’d just been given candy, Jiang Yun smiled sweetly and followed behind him.
On the ground, the woman’s shadow was graceful and light, while the man’s was tall and composed. Their shadows, once stretched out one behind the other, had shifted until they were side by side, drawing closer.
Her petite figure moved slowly forward, until she saw her shadow enveloped by the tall, straight figure behind her.
Their shadows stretched beneath the moonlight, as if moving to a rhythm all their own, about to merge into the deep night.
…