Chengshan Scenic Area, golf course.
Upon receiving a message from the twins, Zhou Sui'an frowned, his expression darkening at once.
President Wang, who was standing nearby, noticed that something was wrong. He lowered his club and asked curiously, “CEO Zhou, what’s the matter? Did something happen?”
A thought stirred in Zhou Sui'an’s mind. He asked, “President Wang, have you seen Jiang Zongyan recently? Do you know where he went?”
“Oh, you mean Mr. Jiang.”
President Wang smiled. “I tried to invite him to play golf with you three days ago. He said he was on a business trip in the United States. As it happens, his flight back to Tang City landed at ten-thirty this morning.”
Ten-thirty?
Wasn’t that right about now?
Zhou Sui'an’s heart gave a jolt.
A powerful sense of foreboding surged through him.
He immediately sent a message to the twins.
[Get to the airport at once. Keep an eye on every exit for flights arriving from the United States!]
Tang City International Airport.
Domestic Arrivals.
Zhou Suisui stood among the crowd, rising onto her toes every so often to peer inside.
Before long, a familiar figure appeared at the exit.
Jiang Zongyan was dressed in a black trench coat and wearing sunglasses.
He had a tall, striking figure, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
Nearly six foot two, he stood head and shoulders above everyone else.
People streamed back and forth around him, but the instant he appeared, he became the center of attention.
The moment Zhou Suisui saw him, Jiang Zongyan’s gaze turned toward her as well.
Across the crowd, their eyes met.
Zhou Suisui’s heart skipped a beat.
“Brother Yan, over here!”
She broke into a bright smile and waved at him.
The coldness in Jiang Zongyan’s expression softened. He stopped in front of her and removed his sunglasses.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“I just got here.”
The girl smiled at him, her soft voice filled with the joy of reunion.
They hadn’t seen each other for three days…
Jiang Zongyan lowered his eyes, his clear, cool gaze settling on her sweet face. His Adam’s apple moved unconsciously.
The next second, he opened his arms toward her. His low voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
“Can I have a hug?”
Huh? A hug?
Zhou Suisui froze.
Her first instinct wasn’t to refuse. Instead, she turned to look behind her.
Her expression grew tense. She was afraid the twins might suddenly appear.
Before she could react, Jiang Zongyan stepped forward and gently caught her by the wrist, drawing her into his arms.
It was a brief, restrained embrace, carrying the crisp scent of cedar from his body. He released her almost as soon as they touched.
The movement was so quick that Zhou Suisui hadn’t even processed it.
“…”
Lin Zhou, who was following behind them, silently turned his head away and pretended to admire the scenery.
Zhou Suisui was still dazed when a warm palm came over and clasped her hand.
Jiang Zongyan took her hand naturally and led her toward the parking lot.
“Are you hungry? I’ll take you to get something to eat.”
“…”
The warmth in his palm seemed to sear her skin, and Zhou Suisui’s heart began to race despite herself.
She had been so worried about being discovered by the twins that she forgot to pull her hand away.
Once they were in the car, Jiang Zongyan handed her an exquisitely wrapped gift box.
“What is this…?”
“Open it and see.”
Zhou Suisui hesitated for a moment before opening the box.
Inside was a delicate little figurine: a girl in a pink princess dress, with large eyes, a small, pert nose, and rosy lips… There were even two tiny dimples on her cheeks.
“I-Is this me?”
Zhou Suisui was delighted.
“Do you like it?”
“I love it.”
She stroked the little girl’s hair, then touched her ears, unable to put it down.
Small figurines like this could be found anywhere, but she had never seen one so lifelike.
Watching the joy on her face, Jiang Zongyan’s lips curled upward.
It was just a little trinket, yet it had made her this happy?
She really was an easily satisfied little kitten.
The black Bentley traveled smoothly along the ring road back toward the city.
Zhou Suisui played with the porcelain doll in her hands, her fingertips growing warm.
She secretly glanced at Jiang Zongyan beside her.
He was looking down as he dealt with work emails, the lines of his profile cold and sharply defined.
Sunlight streamed through the car window and fell across his lashes, casting faint shadows over his fair eyelids.
She tightened her grip on the figurine, her heart pounding like a rabbit had been tucked inside her chest.
Lin Zhou sat in the passenger seat. Through the rearview mirror, he secretly glanced at the two of them, barely suppressing a smile.
Who would have thought that the shrewd CEO who was so cunning in business would be this hopeless when it came to pursuing a girl?
First he had given Miss Zhou a diamond, and now he had given her a porcelain doll he had made himself—yet he still refused to confess his feelings.
Did he really think that because Zhou Suisui hadn’t rejected his gifts, she had accepted his heart as well?
Seriously?
What kind of old-fashioned CEO was he?
Did he think this was still the 1980s, when holding hands meant you had to take responsibility for the other person?
From Miss Zhou’s innocent expression, it was obvious that she didn’t consider him her boyfriend at all.
Just then, a short ringtone sounded inside the car.
Zhou Suisui paused and took her phone from her handbag.
Her brother had sent her a message, asking where she was.
Her heart lurched.
Oh no. Had her brother found out that she had secretly come out to meet Jiang Zongyan?
She no longer wanted to keep deceiving him. Pressing her lips together lightly, she tapped out a few words in reply.
[Brother, I came out to eat.]
Exactly. She had come out to eat.
As for whom she was eating with, her brother hadn’t asked, had he?
Zhou Sui'an: [All right. I’ll be back at the company in two hours.]
Zhou Suisui’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t her brother supposed to be playing golf with President Wang? How was he getting back so soon?
Oh no!
If her brother returned to the office and didn’t see her there, he would definitely start wondering.
Jiang Zongyan took in her changing expression—the way she looked troubled one moment and pouted the next.
“Was that a message from your brother?”
Zhou Suisui turned to look at him.
Meeting Jiang Zongyan’s dark, penetrating gaze, which seemed capable of seeing straight through her, she nodded honestly.
“Mm.”
Jiang Zongyan’s eyes grew meaningful. “Your brother is awfully worried about you.”
For some reason, Zhou Suisui felt there was more behind his words. She pursed her lips.
“He’s just concerned about me.”
“…”
Jiang Zongyan raised a hand and rubbed his throbbing temple.
It was a good thing for siblings to be close, but… why did he suddenly have a bad feeling about this?
“The restaurant we’re going to is right next to your family’s company. We’ll have plenty of time to get there after lunch.”
At that, the tension in Zhou Suisui’s body instantly eased. She gave him a sweet smile.
“Okay.”
“…”
Jiang Zongyan’s gaze darkened.
With her back turned toward the car window, the sunlight outlined her adorable bun with a soft, fuzzy golden halo. She looked gentle and completely harmless.
—
The car soon stopped in front of the restaurant.
Jiang Zongyan led Zhou Suisui inside by the hand, and a waiter immediately approached to greet them respectfully.
The private dining room was decorated with exquisite elegance. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a small courtyard filled with gardenias. Whenever the breeze blew, the flowers’ fragrance drifted in through the open windows.
This wasn’t Zhou Suisui’s first time here.
She had come several times with her brother before.
It was a members-only establishment.
A membership required a one-time deposit of seven figures.
Even in the heart of Tang City, where prices soared and every inch of land was worth a fortune, this place was undeniably considered high-end.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Zongyan to bring her here.
She was treating him today.
She wasn’t a member, but luckily, she could give them her brother’s phone number and charge it to his card.
