The boxes came in all shapes and sizes. They didn’t look store-bought—instead, they seemed like the sort of containers people used at home. The quality looked excellent.
“Hmm…”
The contents weren’t hard to guess.
Not wanting to dampen her brother’s enthusiasm, Zhou Suisui pretended to find them difficult to figure out.
“Could this be food? Who gave it to you?”
She smiled sweetly, but the hand resting at her side had already curled into a fist.
Don’t tell her Su Wan had made these for him herself.
Because then she was really going to throw a fit!
The next second, Zhou Sui'an said proudly, “I never would’ve guessed my little sister was so good at winning people over. You’ve only been at the company for three days, and everyone in Administration and Finance has been fighting to send things back for you.”
“For me?”
Zhou Suisui pointed at herself in surprise.
Zhou Sui'an placed everything on the coffee table in front of her and took the items out one by one.
“These are Sister Zhang’s homemade braised chicken feet and duck necks. She said you liked them. She brought some yesterday, and you ate every last bite. So today, she made extra—but you didn’t go to the company.”
“This is dried mango from Li Qingqing’s hometown. Her grandmother dried it herself. All-natural and healthy.”
“And all these snacks came from Little Liu’s family. They run an imported snack shop, so she brought you one of every snack she thought was delicious… Everyone knows you’re a little foodie, so naturally, they all brought you food.”
When Zhou Sui'an had gone on his business trip, he had been worried that his sister might be bullied at the company. He never would have imagined that she was more popular than he—the actual president.
For a moment, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Was he, as president, really that stingy?
The company offered generous annual bonuses, team-building activities, paid vacation, and benefits in every area. Across the entire city of Tang, only the Jiang Group could compare with Zhou Corporation’s benefits. Every other company was completely outclassed.
That was why so many outstanding candidates fought tooth and nail to land a job at Zhou Corporation.
His little sister was far more capable than he had ever imagined.
Zhou Suisui unclenched her fist, lifted her chin, and said smugly, “Of course. Looks like some things still require me, the little sister, to step in.”
Her brother was a man, after all—and a young, unmarried one at that.
Although the company’s benefits were comprehensive, there were certain matters…such as employment arrangements for female employees during their breastfeeding period and the hygiene of the nursing room—that he simply didn’t understand. The people under him were also experts at reading the wind and shifting with it.
Wherever the president’s attention went, that was where they directed their efforts.
Over time, these thankless tasks were gradually neglected. And even when someone did handle them, it was often nothing more than a superficial gesture.
After making a round of the company, she had immediately ordered the logistics department to rectify the problems.
Everyone was grateful that she had done something practical for the company—something that genuinely made life easier for everyone.
“Sister Wu, please take these downstairs and put them away. Tomorrow, could you also tell the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes? I’ll bring them to the company and share them with everyone.”
“Of course, miss.”
Cui Wu came over and carried the things away.
Zhou Sui'an sighed emotionally. “Little sister, it looks like I really do need you to come help me at the company. I have to admit, I only have so much energy.”
After a pause, he continued, “But…if you really want to become a director, I’ll support you too.”
“We can talk about becoming a director later.”
She still loved art.
But dreams couldn’t put food on the table.
The only reason she could pursue her dreams so easily was because someone was carrying the burden for her behind the scenes.
“Tomorrow, I’ll still go to the company with you. There are some things I can help you handle.”
“All right, all right. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. My little sister really is amazing—she even knows how to care about her brother…”
Zhou Sui'an’s eyes reddened with emotion.
Just then, his phone rang, shattering the atmosphere in which he had been about to complain to his sister.
Zhou Sui'an glanced at the caller ID, and his brows drew together almost imperceptibly. He silenced the call and slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Suisui, I’m going upstairs to get something.”
Zhou Suisui nodded. “Go ahead.”
Zhou Sui'an had only just reached the turn in the staircase when his phone began ringing again, refusing to give up.
He leaned against the wall and stared expressionlessly at the screen, never answering.
Only after the phone went completely dark and stopped vibrating did a WeChat message pop up.
Zhou Sui'an extended a finger and opened it.
It was from Su Wan—a carefully edited selfie.
In the photo, the woman wore a pale pink velvet qipao that accentuated her graceful figure. She smiled at the camera with gentle charm.
Su Wan called him again.
This time, Zhou Sui'an answered.
“Sui'an, Assistant Wen specially delivered this qipao to me this morning on your instructions. Do I look good in it?”
Zhou Sui'an’s eyes remained fixed on the photo, but the tension in his expression gradually eased.
His long, well-defined fingers gently stroked the phone screen, as though he were caressing a priceless treasure. His eyes were filled with tenderness.
“Beautiful.”
On the other end, Su Wan didn’t feel happy when she heard those two words. Instead, a faint sense of disgust rose in her chest.
That tone again!
Even though she couldn’t see his expression, she could imagine it perfectly.
That look in his eyes wasn’t directed at her at all. It was as if he were looking through her at someone else.
There was seriously something wrong with this man.
She had told him eight hundred times that she didn’t like these old-fashioned qipaos in the slightest. She liked limited-edition handbags and the latest jewelry designs.
But Zhou Sui'an acted as though he couldn’t understand human speech. He continued sending her qipaos in every possible style, as he always had.
Each one more expensive than the last, each one more exquisitely made.
Su Wan took a deep breath and forced down her anger, then continued coaxing him in a coquettish voice.
“Sui'an, I’m so bored here all by myself. I miss you.”
In this relationship, Zhou Sui'an had always been the one in the weaker position—the pathetic man who kept showering her with attention.
He had always been the one to take the initiative and please her. Never before had she needed to put in so much effort to please him as she had over the past few days.
Su Wan was deeply frustrated.
Was this the “expensive” gift she had asked him for some time ago?
A lousy qipao!
Su Wan was thoroughly annoyed. If he didn’t comfort her soon, she really was going to stop speaking to him.
But she waited for more than ten seconds before Zhou Sui'an finally spoke, his tone giving nothing away.
“Su Wan, I haven’t had time lately. Let’s give each other some space and calm down.”
“What?”
Su Wan was completely stunned.
Zhou Sui'an lifted his eyes toward the old tree outside the window. His tense shoulders suddenly sagged, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him in an instant.
Just then, Zhou Suisui’s clear voice floated up from downstairs.
“Brother, are you done? Come down and eat!”
Zhou Sui'an seemed to snap awake.
He quickly said into the phone, “I have something to do. That’s all for now.”
Without the slightest hesitation, he hung up and turned around, hurrying downstairs. Even his footsteps seemed noticeably lighter.
