Chereads / She’s back / Chapter 8 - Say another word

Chapter 8 - Say another word

When Yu Ze finished his work and went back, three pairs of eyes were on him as he walked through the door, two of which were particularly enthusiastic.

"Azé's back." Yu's mother, sitting on the sofa, spoke first. "I was just talking to Qianqian and the others about things from your childhood."

Chen Jia quickly sat up straight, smiling as she called out, "Cousin."

The woman sitting next to Chen Jia was Liu Qian, an elegant and striking beauty with sharp, intelligent eyes. She wore a white dress and nude-colored stiletto boots, exuding a noble and refined aura.

"So, it's been just half a year, and you already can't recognize me?" she said with a teasing tone.

Chen Jia, who overheard this, rolled her eyes quickly. She thought to herself, If you keep having surgeries, not even your parents might recognize you, let alone my cousin.

Liu Qian seemed to sense something but kept her pleasant smile. She didn't think plastic surgery was something to be ashamed of. She had used her own earnings to improve herself, and it hadn't hurt anyone.

Yu Ze changed his shoes and walked over. "When did you return to the country?"

"Yesterday," Liu Qian replied.

The Yu and Liu families had been long-time friends, not very frequent in their exchanges but certainly not distant.

Unlike Yu Ze's steady, methodical life, Liu Qian's was filled with challenges and new experiences. She was a leading jewelry designer in China with a certain influence internationally.

Her return wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. Liu Qian planned to reorganize her time, shifting her focus from work to personal life.

"Jia Jia, come upstairs with me and find something," Yu's mother beckoned.

Chen Jia responded with a sigh, reluctantly dragging her slippers behind her.

Only Yu Ze and Liu Qian remained in the living room, and the quiet atmosphere didn't create even the slightest hint of romantic tension between the single man and woman.

Yu Ze took off his suit, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and poured tea.

Liu Qian stepped forward, "Let me do it." She suddenly said, "I'm planning to start my own brand."

Yu Ze glanced at her. There were many types of smart women, and Liu Qian's intelligence was something he admired, but nothing more. He preferred the intelligence of Zhou Zhi, which was entirely different and more appealing to him.

"Are you free on the 6th of next month?" Liu Qian said cheerfully, "I need to finalize some company matters and would like you, as the big boss, to help me with the process."

Yu Ze raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid I won't be able to."

Liu Qian's smile faltered slightly. She ran her fingers through her hair to hide her emotions. "Why? Do you have other plans?"

Yu Ze emitted a low "Hmm" through his nose.

Women were naturally sensitive, and Liu Qian vaguely sensed a change in this man, though she couldn't pinpoint it. The feeling was real, though.

"Auntie said you turned down the marriage proposal with the Du family."

Yu Ze crossed one leg over the other, lifted his cup, and took a sip of tea. He spoke indifferently, "That woman wanted to marry the Yu family, not me."

"Yu Ze, I think more women would want to marry you," Liu Qian teased. "Do you remember when we played house as kids? I was your bride, and you put that soda can ring on my finger. Thinking back, it was really cute."

Yu Ze remained expressionless. "Did we?"

After a brief silence, Liu Qian forced a smile, covering up her discomfort. "I don't remember too clearly."

Liu Qian didn't stay for dinner. When she left, her face didn't look too good. Yu's mother was somewhat disappointed, stealing a glance at her son. She had no idea what was going through his mind.

In her eyes, Liu Qian was tall, beautiful, and looked like a model straight out of a magazine. Her grace, manners, and family background all seemed to match well with their family. She was a perfect match for them in every way, including her professional success.

Yu Ze went upstairs after leaving the table, and Yu's mother immediately asked Chen Jia, "What do you think of Liu Qian?"

"Not much," Chen Jia said, picking at a crab leg. "Auntie, Cousin has no interest in Liu Qian. You should stop thinking about it."

Yu's mother sipped her seaweed soup. "You're still a child, what do you know?"

"Auntie, I'm turning twenty after the New Year," Chen Jia said, struggling to pull the crab meat out with a messy mouthful, "In ancient times, I'd already be a mother."

"Almost twenty?" Yu's mother looked at her with disbelief. "I didn't realize."

Chen Jia wiped her hands with a napkin. "Auntie, I've started acting. I've met lots of big-name stars. Do you want any autographs? I can get them for you."

"Stars?" Yu's mother shook her head. "I don't like stars. Too complicated."

Chen Jia exaggerated a sigh. "I want to be a big star, but Auntie doesn't like me anymore."

Yu's mother laughed at her antics. "Alright, alright, you're different."

A few years ago, the eldest daughter had dated a star from the entertainment industry, and there were all sorts of rumors and even a supposed fiancée. It had caused a lot of trouble for the Yu family's reputation. She couldn't tolerate anyone from that circle entering their household.

Chen Jia thought of something. "Isn't eldest and second cousin about to return to the country?"

"They say next year."

Yu's mother sighed. With the eldest and second children back, the house would be lively again.

After a while downstairs, Chen Jia knocked and entered Yu Ze's study on the second floor. "Cousin, Auntie seems quite fond of Liu Qian."

She had seen Liu Qian give Auntie branded bags, jewelry, and a lot of sweet talk, all without the slightest bit of shame. She was even better at flattery than the lines she had seen in scripts.

Yu Ze had gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose, typing away on his keyboard. "If you have something to say, say it. And when you're done, close the door."

"Aren't you the company boss? Still so busy after work?" Chen Jia glanced at the collectibles on the bookshelf. "Liu Qian's chin could open a beer bottle. Doesn't she worry about hurting her hand?"

"Cousin, what type of face do you like in a girl?" She suddenly became curious and leaned in with eager eyes.

Yu Ze paused for a moment, then subtly continued, "A little baby fat."

The first image that flashed in Chen Jia's mind was Zhou Zhi's face. She wasn't doing well—she had been in the crew for a while and had gotten along well with other actors, including some very beautiful ones. She didn't mind them.

But whenever she saw Zhou Zhi, she couldn't help but pick at flaws, make faces, and get annoyed.

Despite facing various difficulties in filming, Zhou Zhi was always calm and composed, trying again and again until she succeeded, earning praise from the crew.

She didn't have that kind of persistence, so she disliked her.

Her cousin actually liked girls with a bit of chubbiness. Chen Jia touched her face. If she ate more, it would round out, though she was already eating quite a lot.

Before going to bed, Yu's mother still didn't listen to Yu's father's advice and went to her son's room. "Are you still thinking about that Yang Fan?"

Yu Ze stopped wiping his hair and said helplessly, "Mom, I don't even remember what she looks like."

"Really don't remember?" Yu's mother didn't believe him. "Then why haven't you brought anyone home these years? Your father and I are almost sixty."

Yu Ze pondered for a moment. "Maybe by the end of the year."

"Some of your father's friends' children are already walking, and that Uncle Zhou's son is a grandfather now..." Yu's mother stopped in mid-sentence, realizing something and suddenly asked with joy, "Is there someone you like?"

Yu Ze's lips curled slightly.

"Where is she from? Local?" Yu's mother asked eagerly, "What does she do? How old is she? What do her parents do?"

She suddenly realized she had gotten overly excited.

Yu Ze rubbed his forehead. "I'm still pursuing her."

"Not agreed yet?" Yu's mother asked incredulously. "Does she not like you?"

Yu Ze didn't answer, effectively confirming it.

"Son, it seems you really like her..." Yu's mother said with curiosity. "What kind of girl could make you so interested, but she doesn't like you back?"

Zhou Zhi sneezed twice and reached for the air conditioning remote.

"Xiala Road" began filming in the hot summer and wrapped in the cold winter. Everyone in the crew was feeling sentimental. Most of the actors were working together for the first time and when they left, they said the polite words "hope to work together again."

Wang Fu still couldn't relax. Before the movie's release, he had to worry about the box office. Saying he didn't care was just nonsense.

Feng Hao found a chance to ask Zhou Zhi, "When are you going to the 'Behind the Scenes' crew?" He had enjoyed their scenes together in "Xiala Road" and thought their second collaboration would be even more in sync.

Zhou Zhi thought for a moment. "I'm just doing a cameo in that show, not much screen time. I won't go in until mid-production."

Feng Hao's disappointment showed briefly in his eyes, but it quickly faded. "Then, we'll see each other then."

Jian Yu, who had been helping pack, watched Feng Hao's back. "Zhi Jie, is he also in 'Behind the Scenes'? Then you guys will be filming together again."

"He's the lead actor," Zhou Zhi zipped up her bag. "Our scenes don't overlap, we won't appear together."

On December 6th, at the wrap-up banquet, Feng Hao and Chen Shuyuan had full schedules and couldn't make it to the event. Chen Jia, bored, chatted with some actors, occasionally checking the door. But Zhou Zhi didn't show up either.

Not only was Chen Jia upset, but so was Yu Ze.

He drove slowly around Pinglang District, glancing at the street while keeping the phone line open. After more than half an hour, he received word that the person had been found near Era Square on Fengde Road.

"Why didn't you answer the phone?"

Zhou Zhi, wearing a black coat and with her chin tucked into a black knitted scarf, seemed almost swallowed by the darkness. "I didn't bring my phone."

Yu Ze frowned. "Why didn't you go?"

"Some事情," Zhou Zhi said vaguely. She had a commercial to film tonight, but when she arrived, she was told at the last minute that the person was changed. She didn't care about who, but Jian Yu hadn't figured out her mood and had told her it was An Yiru.

To avoid losing her composure, Zhou Zhi asked Jian Yu to go back first. After walking for almost ten minutes, she saw Yu Ze. In that moment, she saw worry in his eyes.

Yu Ze turned around, made a phone call, and when he came back, his expression looked grim.

"I'll take you back."

"No, I've told a friend to pick me up," Zhou Zhi said truthfully. She had a close friend who had just returned from a business trip.

Yu Ze didn't move. His voice was low as he stared at the petite woman in front of him. "You're avoiding me."

Zhou Zhi's expression didn't change. "No."

"I'll take you back now," Yu Ze said seriously, his gaze deep. He teased, "Say one more word, and I'll kiss you."

Zhou Zhi felt a warmth on her lips. She widened her eyes.

"You're looking at me, so I thought you were waiting for me to kiss you." Yu Ze smiled, and his breath seemed to melt into her, more satisfying than sealing any deal.

Not far away, He Yue Ming clenched his teeth, his face dark with jealousy.