Chapter 10: A Slip of the Tongue, A Storm in the Study

If there was a list of the most socially devastating things one could do, Ming Zhao figured that calling your older brother “hubby” would definitely deserve a spot.

Ming Zhao’s fingers curled in embarrassment as she desperately wished she could bury herself. It was too late to retract the message, so she quickly sent an explanation, claiming she’d sent it to the wrong person.

When Zhou Tingyun didn’t reply for a long time, she comforted herself, thinking it might be okay. But then, a knock sounded at her door.

“…”

This time, Ming Zhao chickened out. She obediently climbed out of bed and opened the door.

“Come to the study,” a cold voice sounded from above her head.

Ming Zhao hung her head low and obediently followed him, though inwardly, she cursed him as an old-fashioned stiff.

“Close the door. Come here.”

Ming Zhao pursed her lips, dragging her feet as she closed the door and slowly shuffled over. She stood before Zhou Tingyun, her eyes fixed on her fluffy slippers while nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

“Are you still in contact with Gu He?” Zhou Tingyun’s voice was cold and stern.

…?

Ming Zhao’s mind went blank for a moment. Gu… who? The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it.

The young lady had long since forgotten this person, and now she was utterly confused. “What are you talking about…?”

To Zhou Tingyun, her reaction seemed as if she were trying to hide her guilt.

“Ming Zhao.” His tone carried an unmistakable warning.

The pampered young lady, who couldn’t be scolded even a little, immediately widened her eyes, her voice rising with an aggrieved tone. “I just said I sent it to the wrong person! Why are you acting like this?”

It was just a slip of the tongue, saying ‘husband’ by accident! Not like she meant it!

Zhou Tingyun’s expression remained calm as he ignored her temper, his voice low and insistent.

“Who were you originally going to send it to?”

The intense, probing gaze made Ming Zhao finally sense something was off. She nervously clutched the hem of her skirt, her earlier bravado fading away.

“Lin Zhiwei… I was chatting with her,” she stammered.

Zhou Tingyun studied her for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. His lips parted slightly. “Give me your phone.”

Her best friend’s chat history was certainly not something she could show him.

She immediately refused. “No.”

The man’s gaze darkened further.

He couldn’t understand where things had gone wrong. He had pampered his sister, giving her everything—heavenly stars, not the moon, and raised her with care and luxury. Yet, she had so easily been swept away by a penniless boy.

Zhou Tingyun calmly suppressed his emotions, not wanting the dispute over this matter to lead to further negative consequences.

“Ming Zhao,” he spoke with more patience, “If you want to date, that’s fine. But the person you’re dating—at the very least, let your brother vet them first.”

“You and Gu He are not suitable.”

He was poor, with nothing to his name, not even qualified to be taken into their family.

…Huh?

Hearing this, Ming Zhao was in disbelief.

At this moment, she finally understood what Zhou Tingyun was thinking.

What was he even saying? He actually thought she was secretly talking to Gu He and even calling him ‘husband’?

She felt a bit insulted and became anxious. “I’m not—”

But when she met his gaze, her words died in her throat.

“What are you not?” he asked.

Ming Zhao bit her lip, her delicate brows furrowed in frustration. She didn’t know how to explain herself.

Did she have to tell him that she didn’t actually like Gu He, but just only thought that Zhou Tingyun was about to leave her to join the Zhou family, leaving her all alone? So, she started dating a handsome guy just to change her mood?

That old-fashioned man would never accept that.

And the key point was—

She was still mad!

Why did he think he had the right to question her?

“It’s none of your business.”

With that, Ming Zhao turned and walked away with determination. But before she could take another step, her wrist was grabbed once again.

His hand was much larger than hers, with long fingers that easily encircled her wrist. He gripped it tightly, and she couldn’t shake him off.

Feeling rebellious, Ming Zhao furrowed her brows and angrily tried to pry his fingers off her wrist.

“Y-You, you—let go of me!”

Her nails accidentally scratched out a red mark, but the force was harmless. Zhou Tingyun coldly watched the girl struggle in vain.

Her long, curled lashes fluttered, like a little bird desperately trying to escape his grasp, as though she might fly away with a piece of his heart.

An unnamed restlessness surged within him, a craving for nicotine to calm his nerves. He never smoked in front of her, but now, with subtle force, he pulled her closer.

He raised a hand and cupped her chin, holding it firmly in place.

The grip wasn’t tight, but it was enough to keep her still, unable to move or break free.

“Ming Zhao.” His eyes were dark and unreadable, deeper than the night itself, yet his tone remained calm.

“What do you want? Whatever it is, you can have it.”

Her head felt like a swirling, scalding pot of porridge—dizzy and incapable of coherent thought.

“Brother —Brother.”

She instinctively called out to him, trying to find comfort in the most familiar title.

The air hung still for a moment.

The man was silent for a few seconds, before releasing his hold.

His fingertips gently brushed over the skin where his touch had left faint imprints, then pulled back to a safe distance.

The pressure vanished, and the stillness in the room gradually shifted. Ming Zhao’s heartbeat, which had been racing, returned to a normal pace, and only then did she realize that a thin layer of sweat had formed at the back of her neck.

She hadn’t stood for long when the wind blew, and she couldn’t help but shiver.

Zhou Tingyun furrowed his brow. “Cold?”

The broad back of his hand gently touched her cheek to check her temperature. Ming Zhao quietly glanced at him. His expression was calm, just like usual.

He still looked like the person she trusted the most.

Ming Zhao shook her head, saying she wasn’t cold, pushing everything that had just happened out of her mind as if it were a mere illusion.

She had a short memory, and her heart was just as easy to forget. Quickly, she returned to her usual closeness, pressing her cheek against his hand, and tentatively asked, “Is that really what you said? I can do whatever I want?”

Like a little kitten that only remembers the good things.

Zhou Tingyun lowered his gaze to look at her, gesturing for her to continue.

She immediately poked at his jacket pocket, tilting her head and blinking her eyes, clearly hinting.

Zhou Tingyun took out his phone, opened the WeChat app, and handed it to her.

The nickname had already been changed back.

A bright smile flooded her face, making her eyes sparkle even more. She hummed with satisfaction and sweetly linked her arm with his.

“I don’t even have his WeChat; it’s really just an internet meme,” she said, swinging his arm. “If you don’t believe me, you can ask Lin Zhiwei.”

His gaze lingered on her face, confirming that there were no signs of dishonesty before he finally softened his expression.

He reached up and ruffled her hair.

“Alright, go to sleep,” he said.

Wait… just like that?

Ming Zhao glared at him. “So, you just misunderstood me and now it’s all over? I haven’t forgiven you yet.”

It was definitely his mistake. Zhou Tingyun asked, “What do you want?”

“I was almost asleep, and you still called me over,” Ming Zhao demanded logically. “Now, you have to take responsibility and send me back.”

She could even make a big deal out of the few steps it took.

Zhou Tingyun played along with her childishness. “Alright, let’s go.”

However, they barely walked a few steps before she collapsed onto the couch, feigning exhaustion and acting spoiled.

“Ugh, I’m so tired, I can’t walk anymore.”

Zhou Tingyun found it somewhat amusing. “…So?”

“Carry me.”

“Ming Zhao, how old are you?”

Ming Zhao hummed as she took out her phone and played a video. The female voice in the video was melodious and filled with emotion.

“In your parents’ eyes, you’ll always be their little child…”

She wasn’t sure how long she had saved this video, but she had purposely waited until today to use it.

Zhou Tingyun responded calmly, “Seems like this has nothing to do with me.”

Ming Zhao became more serious. “As the saying goes, ‘An older brother is like a father.’“

Seeing that he remained unmoved, she sighed dramatically and tried the same trick again.

“Men are really fickle. When we were young, you let me ride horses, but now you won’t even carry me. It really hurts my heart. Do you have another sister outside?”

“…”

Once again, she got her way, grinning as she climbed onto Zhou Tingyun’s back, wrapping her arms around his neck. She didn’t forget to remind him—” Slippers, slippers!”

Zhou Tingyun held her plush slippers in one hand while supporting her as he walked her out.

Then, they ran into Aunt Lin in the hallway.

Seeing that the two had reconciled, Aunt Lin couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. “Zhao Zhao, why are you always making things difficult for your brother?”

Ming Zhao swung her legs proudly, a smile on her face. “Goodnight, Aunt Lin.”

“Alright, alright. Goodnight, Zhao Zhao. You two should rest early.”

Aunt Lin responded cheerfully, giving Zhou Tingyun an approving glance. That’s how it should be—family harmony is important.

Zhou Tingyun: “…”

After settling her on the bed, Zhou Tingyun bent down to place her slippers neatly and reminded her, “Don’t stay up too late on your phone.”

Ming Zhao stretched her voice in a playful tone, “Got it, older brother. Goodnight.”

Once the door closed, Ming Zhao pulled out her phone and saw a bunch of messages from Lin Zhiwei asking why she had suddenly disappeared.

She quickly sent a screenshot in reply.

[I was about to send this to you! The cat collapsed and can’t get up.jpg]

Lin Zhiwei: [Lol, what happened next? How did your brother react?]

Ming Zhao: [What else could he do? He actually thought I was sending it to Gu He and lectured me/crying. Honestly, if he hadn’t brought it up, I wouldn’t have even remembered that guy!]

Lin Zhiwei: [You really don’t feel anything anymore? He’s now one of the rising stars in the tech world. Heard he’s coming tomorrow too.]

Ming Zhao’s mood remained completely unaffected.

Back then, she had been drawn to his looks, and he had needed her money. While it had been a mutually beneficial arrangement, at least, she had taken it somewhat seriously.

Who would have thought that, in his eyes, it had all become an insult and charity?

How could someone take the money to support a childhood friend’s education, then have the audacity to blame her for it?

Just thinking about it made Ming Zhao angrily pound the pillow.