Xie Ya wanted to walk her home?
Zhou Zhuofei slowly turned her head to find Xie Ya’s expression unreadable, not a trace of friendliness in sight.
She quickly grasped his intention. "Are you trying to walk me back, or are you just hoping to catch a glimpse of Cen Huan?"
At the mention of Cen Huan, Xie Ya’s demeanor visibly softened, a hint of tenderness flickering in his otherwise indifferent gaze.
Before he could fully emerge from his wistful reverie, Zhou Zhuofei added, "Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you—Cen Huan moved."
"Moved? When? Where to?"
"About half a month ago? I don’t know where exactly—we haven’t seen each other since."
Zhou Zhuofei had carefully crafted this response.
Technically, she wasn’t lying. Cen Huan had moved, and she genuinely didn’t know the new address. But the latter part of her statement was deliberately ambiguous.
Not meeting now didn’t mean they’d never meet again, but her phrasing gave the impression that their connection had faded—exactly the effect she wanted to create for Xie Ya.
First, it distanced her from Cen Huan, ensuring Xie Ya wouldn’t bother her again. Second, it indirectly helped Cen Huan.
After all, when the male and female leads were about to embark on their main storyline, side characters like her ought to step aside.
As they spoke, Zhou Zhuofei exited the airport terminal and locked eyes with Xiao Wang, who was waiting at the entrance. She gave him a quick once-over before nodding approvingly.
Mm, this handsome guy is much easier on the eyes.
"Well, I’ll be going now. Let’s catch up another time."
Leaving Xie Ya lost in thought, Zhou Zhuofei briskly walked toward Xiao Wang.
"Alright, let’s go."
Xiao Wang smiled in agreement but couldn’t resist glancing back at Xie Ya.
"Is that the second son of the Xie family?"
Zhou Zhuofei didn’t turn around. "Yeah, you’ve probably seen him before, right?"
"Just looks familiar, but we’ve never spoken. You two know each other?"
Xiao Wang had watched Zhou Zhuofei and Xie Ya conversing as they exited, and her demeanor made it clear this wasn’t their first encounter.
"We’ve met a few times before," Zhou Zhuofei admitted, suddenly recalling something.
"Remember that time two months ago at Xintiandi? When I mentioned seeing a customer harassing a staff member?"
"Of course." That day had been eventful—arguably the beginning of their own story.
"He was the staff member."
Since Ling Yu was Xiao Wang’s direct superior, and Cen Huan would eventually become his boss’s wife, it was better for Xiao Wang to know as little as possible about Cen Huan and Xie Ya’s entanglement to avoid future complications.
So Zhou Zhuofei opted for a less consequential explanation of her connection to Xie Ya.
Xiao Wang looked surprised at first, but after considering some rumors, his expression cleared.
"So that’s how it was."
"Though he’s since been disciplined by his family. Notice his hair’s black now? Last time I saw him, it was bright red."
Zhou Zhuofei caught Xiao Wang smiling and wondered—her tone had carried a hint of schadenfreude, but what was he amused about?
"What’s so funny?"
"Nothing, just remembering that day."
"That day…" Zhou Zhuofei thought back and pieced it together—after bumping into Xie Ya near the restroom, she’d gotten lost and eventually run into Xiao Wang.
"...I caught you smoking. I was pretty shocked—didn’t expect you to be a smoker."
He replied, "Honestly, I panicked a little too. But seeing it was you calmed me down."
"Heh, because you knew I wouldn’t snitch?"
"That was part of it."
"Only part?" Zhou Zhuofei pressed. "What else?"
Xiao Wang glanced at her sideways. "Maybe because seeing you made me happy."
"Such smooth talk." Zhou Zhuofei couldn’t suppress a grin. True or not, it was undeniably flattering.
"Don’t know why, but every time I’m in a bad mood and run into you, it somehow gets better."
"Simple—the power of love."
Zhou Zhuofei immediately cringed at her own cheesiness, but she had noticed her recent uplifted spirits. Even Zhan Zilang commented she’d been less sarcastic lately.
As if I was ever sarcastic! That’s just tough love!
Still, the change was undeniable, and everyone around her had picked up on it.
"Now’s different, of course. I meant back when we barely knew each other."
"Back then? We’d just exchange a few words at the office, right?"
Xiao Wang chuckled. How could he explain Zhou Zhuofei’s significance in his life?
At first, he’d merely felt proud witnessing her growth. Then it became a desire to protect her fiery passion for life. Eventually, she became an irreplaceable pillar of his emotional strength.
He’d never found the right moment to tell her.
Abruptly, he asked, "Notice I haven’t been smoking much lately?"
Zhou Zhuofei thought for a moment. "True, though you never smoked heavily to begin with."
"Haven’t touched a cigarette since we got together."
Misinterpreting him, she continued, "That’s great! I’ve been meaning to suggest cutting back—why not quit entirely?"
"Okay."
His instant agreement made her blink. "That easy? Why not quit earlier then?"
"No reason to before." Xiao Wang laced his fingers through hers. "I don’t drink. Smoking was my only quick stress relief, but now I’ve found something better..."
Zhou Zhuofei anticipated his next words. "Being with me, right?"
"Not just that."
"Then what?"
"Thinking about you makes me happy too." Pulling her closer, he murmured against her ear, "Especially when I imagine..."
His voice dropped to a whisper, while Zhou Zhuofei’s face burned crimson.
Is this... appropriate for daylight?!
We’re surrounded by people!
Flustered, she scolded, "What kind of thoughts fill your head all day?!"
"Not all day..."
Before he could finish, she covered her ears. "La-la-la, not listening!"
Once heard, those words would be impossible to forget.
Throughout their walk, Zhou Zhuofei kept stealing glances at Xiao Wang, cursing her perfect recall. Before she’d even processed the meaning of his words, her brain had already seared them into memory.
The car was quiet, and Zhou Zhuofei, whose mind was unusually active, had already been conjuring up vivid images in her head...
Zhou Zhuofei, snap out of it! It's still broad daylight!
She slapped her cheeks hard, the sharp sound of skin hitting skin echoing in the car.
The sudden slap startled Xiao Wang. "What are you doing?"
"You have the nerve to ask me that?" Zhou Zhuofei retorted indignantly. "It's all your fault! Don’t you think you’ve said way too much?"
They had only been dating for a little over two weeks—shouldn’t they keep some things private?
"Did I? You were the one who asked," Xiao Wang replied, noticing how Zhou Zhuofei’s face had turned as red as a ripe tomato. He quickly backtracked, "Fine, I’ll stop."
Zhou Zhuofei protested half-heartedly, "No, you can’t just secretly think about me like that. You have to tell me."
Xiao Wang humored her with a patient smile, agreeing to whatever she said. As far as he was concerned, he’d happily indulge her every whim.
Before long, they arrived at the entrance of her apartment complex. Xiao Wang asked, "So, dinner tonight?"
Zhou Zhuofei checked the time—it was barely past three in the afternoon. Dinner was still hours away. "If we’re having dinner together later, where are you going now?"
Xiao Wang hesitated. Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to stay with Zhou Zhuofei, but if she didn’t invite him in, suggesting it himself might seem too forward.
Though they had known each other for years, their romantic relationship was still fresh—just over two weeks old. He wanted to experience every step of the process with her, skipping nothing.
As he pondered, he caught sight of Zhou Zhuofei’s fingers nervously fidgeting with the decorative lace on her skirt.
What was she so nervous about?
His gaze drifted upward, noticing the faint blush creeping up her earlobes.
Then he remembered some of the things she’d said before, and the answer dawned on him.
Maybe he shouldn’t overthink it. Maybe he should just go for it.
"So…" he began, and Zhou Zhuofei immediately stilled. "How about I come to your place?"
"Sure." Her reply sounded decisive, but her voice wavered.
After everything Xiao Wang had just said, how could she not have certain thoughts?
Pure love no longer fit the current "version" of their relationship—desire was an unavoidable topic for modern couples, even if no one liked to admit it.
It was as if love became impure the moment it intertwined with physical intimacy.
But wanting to kiss and hold someone because you liked them wasn’t something to be ashamed of.
"Let’s go, then."
Xiao Wang parked the car, and they walked into the building together. The moment Zhou Zhuofei stepped inside, changed her shoes, and turned to look for her slippers, Xiao Wang pulled her into his arms.
"You—"
The rest of her words were swallowed by his kiss.
The entryway had a waist-high shoe cabinet, and she leaned back against it. Xiao Wang, worried the edge might dig into her, cushioned her with his arm.
Zhou Zhuofei was wearing a collared shirt dress, but she had left the top two buttons undone, complaining earlier that the collar was too stuffy. Now, that oversight worked to his advantage.
After kissing her breathless, Xiao Wang trailed lower, nudging aside the collar to lavish attention on her collarbone. His tongue traced the delicate curve, occasionally grazing the skin with his teeth, teasing and nipping gently. The hollow of her collarbone grew damp from his heated breaths and lingering touches.
By the time Zhou Zhuofei caught her breath, his ministrations had already sent shivers down her spine.
"Where did you even learn all this…?"
Something wasn’t right. This couldn’t be natural.
"Maybe it’s just instinct," Xiao Wang murmured, pulling her close again to claim her lips.
He acted like an eager puppy, practically wagging his tail for her affection.
"Liar… No one just 'knows' this stuff. You must’ve read or watched something…"
Not that it was anything to be embarrassed about. She’d read her fair share of risqué material in the past and even played a few adult games. But reading about it and doing it were two entirely different things.
"Last time really was my first time doing this. Was I that bad?"
Zhou Zhuofei, still lightheaded from lack of oxygen, blurted out, "How would I know? It’s my first time too—I have nothing to compare it to."
"Then should we try again?"
"Now?" She glanced toward the living room. Even with the curtains drawn, the room was still bright.
In the middle of the day…
A mix of absurdity and thrill surged through her, making her pulse race.
She wrapped her arms around Xiao Wang’s waist, her voice dripping with a sweetness she didn’t recognize.
"Okay."
They spent the entire afternoon tangled up in her bedroom. Originally, they had planned to go out for dinner, but Zhou Zhuofei was too exhausted to move, so they ended up eating at home.
The cooking duties fell to Xiao Wang this time.
Zhou Zhuofei lounged on the sofa in her sleep dress, lazily watching Xiao Wang bustle around as he changed the bedsheets.
He moved with effortless energy, while her legs still felt weak—a stark reminder of the difference in their stamina.
Maybe working out wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
"I really should start exercising," she muttered to herself. "What kind of impression does it give if I get tired halfway through?"
Xiao Wang, passing by just in time to hear her, chuckled and leaned down. "If you’re not tired, it just means I didn’t try hard enough."
Zhou Zhuofei flushed, too embarrassed to even kick him. "Go away! Get back to work!"
Xiao Wang stole a quick kiss before grinning and walking off.
