Once the waiter took the menu and left the private dining room, Zhou Zhuofei didn’t forget the main purpose of this meal. She asked, "Should we talk about it now?"
"Let’s wait a bit. Discussing it before eating might ruin the mood," Xiao Wang replied, deliberately steering the conversation toward lighter topics.
The two chatted for a while until the food arrived, and Zhou Zhuofei promptly shifted all her attention to the delicious dishes.
Sometimes, Zhou Zhuofei felt like she could never stay angry for long because she was so easy to appease—just a good meal was enough to lift her spirits.
Like now, after finishing a bowl of soup, she already felt as if nothing had ever bothered her.
Xiao Wang had been quietly observing her reactions. She ate with such relish, one bite after another, her enjoyment almost contagious.
He couldn’t help but ask, "Is it good?"
Zhou Zhuofei nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling, her mouth still full as she wordlessly demonstrated just how delicious the food was.
Seeing her satisfied expression, Xiao Wang found his own appetite improving as well.
Once they were done eating, Zhou Zhuofei wiped her mouth with a napkin, and Xiao Wang followed suit, setting down his chopsticks.
They exchanged a glance, both aware that it was time to move on to the next topic.
Zhou Zhuofei pulled the check from her pocket, and the moment she saw that crumpled piece of paper, the smile vanished from her face.
"How should I even explain this… Maybe I’ll keep it short. If I start from the very beginning, it’ll take forever."
"It’s alright. Say it however you want," Xiao Wang reassured her. "We have plenty of time."
"Then I’ll start from the first time I met him."
So far, she and Xie Huai had only met three times, and the total number of words they’d exchanged didn’t even reach a hundred.
From Zhou Zhuofei’s perspective, Xie Huai had suddenly decided to throw money at her to make her his mistress.
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Damn it!
"...Well, that’s pretty much it." After finishing her explanation, she turned to Xiao Wang. "Secretary Xiao, what else can I even do?"
"You’ve already done perfectly," Xiao Wang said without hesitation. "You’ve explained everything clearly. He’s the one who shouldn’t keep bothering you."
Zhou Zhuofei exclaimed gratefully, "Thank you! I really thought I didn’t do anything wrong!"
"Of course you didn’t." Xiao Wang had seen this kind of tactic before—using a relentless shower of money to wear down someone’s resistance. It often worked on those who weren’t entirely firm in their stance.
He explained to Zhou Zhuofei, "It’s like boiling a frog in warm water. At first, you don’t feel like anything’s wrong, but by the time you realize it, it’s already too late."
For example, it might start with flowers. At first, you don’t think much of it—they’re not particularly valuable, and you might not even consider it a gift. You gain nothing material, just a bit of admiration from colleagues and a fleeting moment of delight when you receive them.
But over time, as you grow accustomed to this feeling of being "pursued," the other party escalates—inviting you to an upscale restaurant, or to some exclusive event, gradually pulling you into their world.
Once you’ve grown familiar with—or even begun to crave—the glamorous, extravagant lifestyle, how could you ever be content with an ordinary, mundane job again?
And that’s when their goal is achieved.
"You were really decisive," Xiao Wang said, admiration seeping into his tone.
The temptation Zhou Zhuofei faced wasn’t just jewelry or designer bags—it was a blank check, an amount she could fill in herself. In such a short time, she had to resist the lure, analyze the situation, and react swiftly. She had done more than enough; there was no room for criticism.
Besides, even if she hadn’t managed, Xiao Wang would’ve understood. Human nature wasn’t meant to be tested. Those who claimed to despise wealth might simply have never been faced with such an offer.
"Yeah… I think so too."
Under normal circumstances, Zhou Zhuofei might’ve been modest, but this time, she genuinely felt proud of herself.
"I should probably thank my ethics teacher for helping me stick to my principles. Or maybe Xie Huai was just so detestable that I didn’t even want his money," she joked half-heartedly.
At that moment, her disgust for Xie Huai had outweighed any desire for wealth.
His every word had dripped with arrogance, as if he had everything perfectly planned out and she had no choice but to comply.
If he’d had a different attitude, she might’ve hesitated—after all, it was an enormous sum of money. She’d have felt guilty just taking it without doing something drastic.
But Xie Huai’s repulsive demeanor had made it impossible to tolerate.
"Don’t downplay it. The decision was yours, so the credit is yours too."
"Secretary Xiao…"
Zhou Zhuofei hadn’t expected Xiao Wang to praise her so highly. Before this, she’d been agonizing over the situation.
Yet now, his approval came so effortlessly.
"I think this is incredibly unfair to you. You didn’t do anything wrong, and you shouldn’t have to bear this alone."
His firm tone and gentle gaze soothed her again and again. If this kept up, she really might cry.
But breaking down now would ruin the mood. She took a sharp breath, forcibly cutting off the warmth between them.
"I can’t—if this goes on, I’ll start crying."
Xiao Wang didn’t speak, only continued looking at her with eyes as warm as spring sunshine, silently assuring her that it was okay if she did.
Flustered, Zhou Zhuofei turned away, avoiding his gaze, and excused herself to the restroom to leave the room.
Partly, she really did need to compose herself. But she also wanted to settle the bill while she had the chance.
As she walked, Xiao Wang’s words echoed in her mind.
His constant encouragement and validation left her at a loss.
She could face mistakes, setbacks, even failures with composure. But such tender concern felt unfamiliar.
Like Du Yu had once said, ever since her first heartbreak, she’d kept her guard up around men, sealing off her emotions to avoid pain—but in doing so, she’d also closed herself off from genuine connections.
Zhou Zhuofei pressed a hand to her chest, realizing her heartbeat was racing even faster than it had in the underground parking lot earlier.
This… wasn’t good.
She went to the restroom first, staying inside until she’d fully steadied herself, then headed to the counter.
Behind the counter stood a man and a woman. The woman wore a server’s uniform, while the man, dressed casually, sat leisurely on a chair scrolling through his phone. The server didn’t react to his presence, suggesting he was either the owner or someone of importance in the shop.
Zhou Zhuofei approached the server and said, "Hello, I’d like to settle the bill."
"Of course. Which private room were you in?"
Zhou Zhuofei gave the room’s name, and the server turned to check the bill. Meanwhile, the man who had been on his phone suddenly spoke up, "Just the two of you?"
"Yes, two."
The man immediately told the server, "Give them a discount."
Zhou Zhuofei’s guess was right—he was indeed someone important, likely the owner. Though she didn’t know why he offered a discount, saving money was always welcome.
With a bright smile, she thanked him, "You’re so generous, Boss. You’ll surely make a fortune!"
The man chuckled and waved his hand. "Well, I’ll take your kind words as a blessing."
"Of course! With your business sense, you must have plenty of returning customers."
The man burst into laughter, and the atmosphere grew even more cheerful.
Though they were discussing money, Zhou Zhuofei felt none of the usual awkwardness. As a customer, she held enough authority that even if the owner hadn’t offered a discount, she wouldn’t have felt slighted.
Soon, the server returned with the total. Zhou Zhuofei had already done a rough calculation when ordering, so she knew the price reflected a genuine discount.
She couldn’t resist praising the boss again before swiftly paying the bill. When she declined a receipt, the man handed her two cans of soda from behind the counter.
Zhou Zhuofei carried the drinks back to the private room like a triumphant warrior returning with spoils. She placed them in front of Xiao Wang. "Drinks!"
Xiao Wang raised an eyebrow. "Haven’t you had enough soup? Why buy more drinks?"
She wagged a finger playfully. "These weren’t bought—they were a gift from the shop."
"A gift?" Xiao Wang thought for a moment, as if piecing it together. "Did Old Cao chat with you?"
"Old Cao? Who’s that?" Zhou Zhuofei blinked before realizing. "Oh, you mean the boss?"
"Yeah, the owner here is a friend of mine. His surname is Cao."
"Wait, why didn’t you mention that earlier?"
No wonder the boss had asked about their room and number of people before offering a discount. She’d assumed it was just good business, but it turned out to be a friend’s favor.
"I forgot once we started discussing serious matters. But I did call him beforehand to ask which ingredients were freshest today."
"Oh, I see. Well, Boss Cao seems like a fun guy—really humorous."
"He’s a good man. Next time, just mention my name."
"Great! I’ll bring Du Yu here to try the food."
"Shall we head out now?"
"Let me pack the soup first." She pointed at the remaining half-bowl. "We can reheat it for a midnight snack. No sense wasting it."
"I’ll call the server."
Xiao Wang left the room, and soon a server arrived with a takeout container.
He returned a little later, just as Zhou Zhuofei was helping the server pack up.
Recalling his earlier conversation with Old Cao, Xiao Wang sighed, his tone a mix of exasperation and fondness. "Why did you pay the bill?"
He had invited Zhou Zhuofei out for dinner, especially since she’d been feeling down. It was only natural for him to treat her.
Yet she’d gone ahead and settled the bill without a word.
Zhou Zhuofei waved it off. "Oh, it’s no big deal. I’ve never treated you before—give me a chance, won’t you?"
By then, the server had finished packing the soup. She grabbed the bag and motioned for Xiao Wang to leave, eager to drop the subject.
To her, the cost of the meal was nothing compared to their friendship.
Noticing the weight of the soup, Xiao Wang reached out. "Let me carry it."
She handed it over without hesitation. "Heh, thanks, Secretary Xiao."
"No, thank you for treating me."
Since the bill was already settled, dwelling on it would only create distance—something Xiao Wang clearly wanted to avoid. So he let the matter go.
As they walked through the dining hall toward the exit, Boss Cao was still behind the counter. Xiao Wang greeted him, "We’re heading out, Cao-ge."
"Leaving already, Wang? Come back soon, beautiful," Boss Cao added, directing the last part at Zhou Zhuofei.
She noticed his demeanor had grown noticeably warmer, and the way he looked at her was oddly knowing. Though puzzled, she didn’t press the matter.
Only after leaving the restaurant did she ask Xiao Wang, "Do you know why he acted like that?"
Xiao Wang shrugged. "It’s nothing. I usually come here with friends. It’s the first time he’s seen me bring a woman, so he got curious and asked a few questions."
Zhou Zhuofei teased, "Oh? Should I feel honored?"
Just then, they reached the car. Seeing her playful smile, Xiao Wang instinctively replied, "The honor is mine."
Her grin widened.
Whether he meant it or not, hearing those words from him was enough to lift her spirits.
Once inside the car, Xiao Wang said, "I’ll look into Xie Huai’s situation and let you know if I find anything."
Zhou Zhuofei froze. She hadn’t expected him to still choose to help her despite everything. The truth was already clear—her options were limited, and it all hinged on whether Xie Huai was willing to back down.
There were surely ways to make him stop, but did she have the means?
This was exactly why she hadn’t wanted Xiao Wang involved. They were just ordinary people—standing against privilege was nearly impossible. Still, at least she had a Plan B as a last resort.
"Secretary Xiao… you don’t have to go this far."
"But I can’t let you face this alone. You’ve done nothing wrong—you don’t deserve any of this."
His simple, heartfelt words made her eyes sting. Was today determined to make her cry?
She couldn’t speak for a moment, not wanting him to see her vulnerable. Instead, she lowered her head and pretended to rub her nose.
Just as she lost herself in the poor acting, she felt a gentle touch atop her head—two soft pats.
The contact was fleeting, gone before she could react.
Startled, she looked up just in time to see Xiao Wang withdrawing his hand.
"Sorry," he said apologetically. "I didn’t mean to startle you. I just… wanted to comfort you."
At that moment, it was purely his instinctive reaction. The moment he saw Zhou Zhuofei’s discouraged and lost expression, he couldn’t help but step forward to comfort her.
Zhou Zhuofei quickly shook her head. "Not at all. On the contrary, I’m really glad I ran into you today, Xiao Wang. Otherwise, I don’t know what I would’ve done."
Even as she said this, she knew deep down that if Xiao Wang hadn’t been there, she would’ve ended up asking Du Yu out for a meal and conversation, then gone home to binge on food as a way to vent—her usual coping mechanism.
It wasn’t the healthiest way to deal with things, but it worked.
"As long as you don’t mind," Xiao Wang murmured, unconsciously clenching the hand that had just brushed over Zhou Zhuofei’s head. After a pause, he added softly, "It’s getting late. Let me take you home."
"Okay."
As the car started, Zhou Zhuofei fell silent. The lingering sensation of Xiao Wang’s touch on her head remained, and the thoughts she had just suppressed began stirring again.
This feeling was strange. She had never dwelled on someone’s small gesture like this before, turning it over and over in her mind.
Xiao Wang had always been considerate toward her, but in the past, she’d only felt a little awkward, wondering how to repay his kindness.
Now, though, her mind wandered into uncharted territory. Just moments ago, she had even wondered—does he act this way toward everyone else?
She knew she shouldn’t read too much into it. But was there even the slightest chance that he treated her with just a little extra care?
