The biting cold wind brushed over her eyelids, and Zhou Zhi's confused mind suddenly cleared. The heat that clung to her faded away completely. She stood up and left, her slightly cool hand brushing over her lips, rubbing them fiercely a few times.
She had just taken two steps when the collar of her coat was grabbed by a hand, a warm breath against her neck, followed by a low laugh.
Zhou Zhi's face immediately darkened. She didn't break free and turned to say, "Take your hand off."
Yu Ze raised an eyebrow, leisurely admiring the woman before him. It was the first time he'd seen such a drastic change in her emotions. When she got angry, she resembled a cat — looking fierce but harmless when scratching.
"Promise me you won't get angry first."
His almost gentle tone reached her ears, and Zhou Zhi frowned. "It's too late."
"I see..." His trailing voice carried a cryptic smile as Yu Ze casually said, "You can kiss me back."
Zhou Zhi immediately shot him an eye-roll. This man was shameless to an extraordinary degree and appeared completely composed.
After a moment, Yu Ze threw out, "Your lips are a bit dry."
Zhou Zhi closed her eyes, her anger rising.
"Your friend is here." Yu Ze looked toward a red Honda Fit pulling up.
A woman got out of the car with a neat bob cut, her features sharp. She wore a bright yellow short down jacket and blue jeans that showcased her long legs, giving her a tall and well-proportioned figure.
Zhou Zhi noticed her friend's odd gaze at Yu Ze. "Nanan, do you know him?"
Qiao Nan whispered, "Last year, I was in charge of their company's employee fitness training."
Yu Ze extended his hand to shake Qiao Nan's, his eyes on Zhou Zhi as he stood there watching her leave.
As the car pulled away from Times Square, Qiao Nan asked while observing the road, "Zhou Zhi, tell me honestly, how do you know Yu Ze from Lian Shen?"
Zhou Zhi pursed her lips; they were indeed a bit dry. "The drama I just finished was invested by his company."
Qiao Nan made a teasing sound, "How far have you two gone? Met the parents yet?"
Zhou Zhi glanced out the window. "We haven't developed anything."
When they stopped at a red light, Qiao Nan pointed at her eyes. "Zhi, do you see this?"
"This isn't a decoration," Qiao Nan answered herself, "In the freezing cold, instead of resting at home, he's here with you. He can't be bored, can he?"
Zhou Zhi remained silent.
"He's the ideal lover for all the women in our club, all of them!" Qiao Nan excitedly shifted to a more emotional tone, "You're not a kid anymore, look at me, I already have a two-year-old. You better seize the opportunity or you'll miss out."
She was worried Zhou Zhi couldn't shake off the past and would get tangled up with that scumbag He Yue Ming again. At least a new romance wouldn't lead her to overthink things.
After dropping Zhou Zhi off, Qiao Nan didn't forget to remind her, "You better seize the chance!"
Zhou Zhi opened the door, and her expression changed. She paused at the entrance, sensing another person's presence in the house.
With a soft click, the chandelier in the living room lit up, breaking the darkness. Along with it came a hoarse male voice. "You're back."
Zhou Zhi saw He Yue Ming standing there, looking like she had seen a ghost. "Why are you in my house?"
He Yue Ming sighed. "Zhi, I've told you many times not to leave the spare key in the slot by the door, but you just won't listen."
The living room was filled with the smell of alcohol.
Zhou Zhi's chest heaved sharply, and she said coldly, "Get out."
He Yue Ming stood still. "When did you and Yu Ze meet?"
The second person that night asked about her relationship with Yu Ze. She could calmly explain to Qiao Nan, even joke around, but facing He Yue Ming, all she felt was sarcasm and anger.
"That's my business."
He Yue Ming frowned, looking at the familiar woman. "His family background is complicated. Getting too close to him won't be good for you."
Zhou Zhi gripped her bag tightly, trying to control her emotions. "I'll say it again, get out."
He Yue Ming grabbed Zhou Zhi, who was about to call the police, and growled, "When did you become so unreasonable?"
Staring at her tightly pursed lips, He Yue Ming's breath grew rough. He moved in to kiss her aggressively.
Zhou Zhi raised her hand to slap his face, disgust filling her eyes.
"If he can touch you, why can't I?" He Yue Ming lifted his gaze, his eyes bloodshot, his voice soft but the words crude and filthy. "Zhi, tell me, did you sleep with him?"
To outsiders, He Yue Ming had always been the gentleman, refined and elegant, with many labels of praise attached to him. He was rational, maintaining composure at all times. But tonight, he failed.
After a suffocating silence, Zhou Zhi screamed, "Get out!"
Seeing the hatred in her eyes, He Yue Ming's body jolted, all his impulse and anger immediately replaced by guilt, slowly eroding his heart.
He dejectedly released her, hoarsely saying, "I'm sorry, it's my fault, I lost control." He walked to the door, closed it behind him, and said, "Good night."
Zhou Zhi was shaking with anger, her buried resentment surging again, twisting her heart, blood pouring out. She ran to her room, opened the drawer, and tremblingly took out a white pill bottle, popping a few pills in her mouth.
Why did he have to interfere with my life?
Zhou Zhi covered her face with her hand.
The next morning, movers arrived to carry her furniture. Zhou Zhi wore a mask, instructing them on which items to handle gently and which to throw away.
When she saw Yu Ze following them inside, she froze for a moment. She stepped onto the balcony to call Qiao Nan.
"Moving is physical work. The two of us weak women can't manage it," Qiao Nan said on the other end. "So I found you a helper, free of charge."
Zhou Zhi was speechless. Qiao Nan, you're a self-defense coach. How are you weak? The problem is…
"I found a moving company."
Qiao Nan didn't care. "Yu Ze can be your bodyguard. It's not safe for you as a single woman." She seemed busy on her side, with noisy shouting in the background. "I went straight to Lian Shen after I got your call. You know, it's hard to meet Yu Ze, I had to put in a lot of effort."
Zhou Zhi's lips twitched. "Thanks for your hard work."
Qiao Nan's laughter was cheerful. "You're welcome."
Zhou Zhi turned around and saw Yu Ze leaning against the glass door, scaring her for a moment.
Yu Ze handed her a bag. "Here."
Zhou Zhi didn't take it. "What is it?"
Yu Ze said, "Lip balm." He shrugged. "I wasn't sure which brand you'd like, so I bought one of each."
Zhou Zhi could imagine the store attendants laughing like crazy, finally catching a fat sheep.
The movers kept coming in and out, all eyeing them curiously.
One mover softly said, "Hey, I think that man looks familiar. I've seen him somewhere."
Another one clicked his tongue. "Now that you mention it, I think I've seen that woman before."
"She's wearing a mask, only her eyes show. How could you tell? Are you some kind of eagle-eyed person?" a middle-aged man said. "And that man, judging by his clothes, he's definitely eating from the top. We can't even reach his level."
"Just move the stuff, stop gossiping!"
Zhou Zhi nervously adjusted her mask, hearing the man beside her say, "Don't worry, once you wear that outfit, you'll look like a lady from the market. No one will recognize you."
Zhou Zhi, "... "
"You can leave now."
"I'm free this morning," Yu Ze glanced at his watch and smiled lightly. "Perfect time to check out your new place."
Zhou Zhi regretted calling Qiao Nan.
As they sorted through the small items, Yu Ze pulled her aside. "This one's sharp. Let me do it."
At that moment, something in Zhou Zhi's heart softened.
They spent the entire morning moving, and Zhou Zhi felt much calmer. She brushed off the dust. "Mr. Yu, I think I need a break."
Implying that he could go home.
Yu Ze lazily sat on the couch. "I'm tired."
Zhou Zhi was speechless. "You only moved a few plants. How can you be exhausted?"
Yu Ze lifted an eyelid. "Want to test it out?"
Zhou Zhi turned away and walked off.
At lunch, Yu Ze insisted on staying, using his uncanny ability to act pitiful. Zhou Zhi couldn't understand. She was eating at the same table as him, yet the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious.
Yu Ze stared at the woman across from him and frowned. "Didn't sleep last night?"
Zhou Zhi didn't blush or skip a beat. "Had a lovely dream."
She didn't confront him, and Yu Ze, slowly eating food that wasn't even good, said, "I thought a month later you'd be my girlfriend. We could be close like ordinary couples—holding hands, hugging, kissing, talking about everything. Of course, if you want more, I can fulfill all your needs."
"But we've known each other for three months and twenty-six days, and you still call me Mr. Yu, and…" Yu Ze paused for a moment, his gaze burning. "I haven't even held your hand." Last night's kiss was an unexpected gain.
Zhou Zhi had a headache. She could even hear the sense of grievance in his tone. "Mr. Yu, don't you think you're talking too much?"
Yu Ze countered, "You don't like it?"
He seemed thoughtful. "I'll change."
Zhou Zhi felt she couldn't finish the meal.
While washing the dishes in the kitchen, she peeked at the living room. The man was wandering around like a large dog, inspecting his territory.
After finishing the dishes, Zhou Zhi found him sitting at her desk in her room, as though waiting for her.
Yu Ze gestured to the bed. "The bed's too small."
Zhou Zhi said, "It's 1.8 meters."
Yu Ze curved his fingers, lightly tapping the table. "I like to turn over when I sleep."
So? Zhou Zhi only half-listened. A few days later, she received a custom-made luxury bed.