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The autumn rain drizzled on endlessly; what had been a clear day yesterday was now filled with the soft patter of rain.
A black Maybach pulled up to Huayu Group.
The car door opened, and a pair of delicate lambskin shoes stepped out.
Ming Zhao wore a white cape-style wool coat, her petite chin tucked into a matching scarf.
As she walked through the entrance, the employees of Huayu recognized her and greeted her with warm smiles.
“Miss Ming!”
“Miss Ming is back!”
There were also old employees from Ming Yue Group who had infiltrated the ranks of the enemy; they had essentially watched Ming Zhao grow up, and they approached her, stuffing a bag of snacks into her hands.
Without her in the capital, everyone actually missed her quite a bit.
On one hand, they all liked the proud, beautiful doll; on the other hand, the atmosphere at Huayu had finally returned to normal.
Although the chairman was always polite and gentle, never bringing his personal emotions into work, the lingering low pressure still made people feel increasingly stressed.
Ming Zhao greeted them with bright eyes, hugging and nodding, and finally found an opportunity to ask, “Is brother in his office?”
“Yes,” the employee immediately checked the schedule. “The chairman just postponed the meeting for thirty minutes; you can go up directly.”
Huh?
Ming Zhao was slightly surprised. Wow, the workaholic actually postponed a meeting.
As she was about to enter the elevator, she bumped into Chen Zhou, who was just coming down.
The man was dressed in a light-colored suit, with a hint of debauchery in his eyes.
“Oh, little sister Ming, looking for your brother?”
Chen Zhou looked at the delicate and beautiful girl in front of him and sighed inwardly. No wonder Zhou Tingyun was always frowning.
He would also worry every day if his sister was being taken away by a bad man.
The man let out a deep sigh, speaking earnestly, “You need to listen to your brother more.”
Ming Zhao looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Please… how disobedient was she?
“Don’t pay attention to those bad men outside; your brother is the best for you,” Chen Zhou continued incessantly. “In the future, you absolutely must not argue with your brother over a boyfriend.”
Then, remembering something, he suddenly became serious, “And you absolutely cannot elope, do you hear me?”
Ming Zhao looked at him strangely, suspecting that it was because his wife had eloped with someone else.
After politely saying goodbye to the strange man, she entered the elevator, took out a small mirror, and hummed a song while checking her lipstick.
Then, she used her index finger to wipe off a bit of lipstick that had gone outside the lines of her lips, used a wet wipe to clean the color from her hands, and threw it into the trash can.
The elevator doors slowly opened, and a faint smell of smoke instantly wafted out. Ming Zhao frowned slightly, unhappy.
Why was Chen Zhou smoking here?
Once inside the office, the smell of smoke became even more noticeable.
Ming Zhao felt uncomfortable and repulsed, her pretty brows tightly furrowed.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the sky was gloomy due to the rain, and the indoor lighting was dim because the lights weren’t on.
The sound of her shoes on the floor was absorbed by the carpet. When she suddenly saw the man with his eyes closed, resting, she paused, slightly startled.
The cold, white fingers held a burning, crimson cigar, almost down to the end; the purple clay ashtray was overflowing with ash.
Looking at his tired face, Ming Zhao, who usually prioritized fun and games, suddenly realized how hard he worked—so hard that he didn’t even have time to rest.
Recalling the few times she had seen him like this, she had still clung to him, demanding his company for various things, and a wave of guilt washed over her.
The girl cautiously sat on the sofa, not wanting to disturb him.
When did he start smoking?
Ming Zhao’s gaze fell upon his clearly defined knuckles.
A man’s hands are his second face, and a face plays such an important role.
Something she usually hated, when seen on Zhou Tingyun, seemed alluring and sensual.
Wait, he’s exhausted and asleep, and she’s here being lovestruck!
Although she thought that, her gaze honestly and persistently drifted towards his waist and abdomen.
Ming Zhao fell into thought. He looked so tired, and he was this age.
Perhaps… he wasn’t up to it anymore.
She understood.
That explained it.
That explained why, despite her beauty, he hadn’t reacted at all.
Ming Zhao frowned.
She stood up and lightly walked to Zhou Tingyun’s side.
Um… his nose bridge was high and straight, a Roman nose.
As for stubble, he did shave every morning.
He had a prominent Adam’s apple, broad shoulders, and a large frame.
Her gaze returned to his hands, and a certain phrase suddenly echoed in her mind:
The more delicate the joints, the more… powerful.
That shouldn’t be right, Ming Zhao thought, glancing at him skeptically.
However, looking any lower would be inappropriate, so she gave up.
Zhou Tingyun was unaware that his sister had mentally labeled him as ‘incapable.’ After all, he hadn’t slept well all night.
When he woke up that morning, he was even wondering if there was something seriously wrong with the elite education he had received for twenty-nine years or if he should visit a psychologist again.
Or perhaps he was merely wearing the skin of a human being.
Otherwise, how could he play so dirty?
Unfulfilled desires… Zhou Tingyun could no longer dismiss Chen Zhou’s words with a scoff.
Fortunately, nicotine could soothe his longing while also suppressing his desires.
He believed he could never feel that way about Ming Zhao.
But suddenly, a familiar sweet scent caught his attention.
It was the fragrance of his sister, imprinted in his very genes.
Zhou Tingyun opened his eyes.
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