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Long fingers pressed the alarm, turning it off before it could ring.
Ten minutes were up.
Zhou Tingyun glanced at the lazy bug who was falling asleep at a speed that could rival a Guinness World Record. He briefly contemplated whether he should help her cut down on carbs. Feeling the soft weight of her in his arms, he thought it might be time to introduce some exercise—specifically for her.
He quickly ran through a few plans in his mind to encourage her to be more active, but every scenario ended in failure.
Forget it.
After settling the little rice bug, Zhou Tingyun walked into the conference room.
For a brief second, it felt as though time had momentarily jammed—an almost imperceptible pause before the world resumed its normal rhythm. The professionalism of Huayu Group’s employees was unmatched, each maintaining a blank expression.
It was as if they hadn’t noticed the lipstick mark smeared on the man’s neck.
Zhou Yiyuan, his uncle, and a senior executive exchanged a fleeting glance before discreetly averting their eyes, as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, the lower-level employees pretended to focus on the PowerPoint presentation, but their keyboard-tapping speed had suddenly increased to that of an esports player.
[Good news! There’s actually a second woman in the world who can get close to our chairman!]
[Ah… ah… ah, no way! Wasn’t it only Miss Ming today?]
[You don’t understand. Our novel CEOs always have secret passages!]
[So exciting! It’s my first time seeing this. I feel like the boss is the type who would spank a small peach on the bed… Does anyone understand?]
[? Bold villain! (Slap me!)]
It wasn’t until the meeting ended that the secretary dared to speak up.
“Your neck…”
Seeing her hesitation, Zhou Tingyun casually wiped at the spot. His fingers brushed against a faint-moist sensation — along with a trace of red.
It was probably from Ming Zhao.
Unbothered, he continued delegating tasks without a change in expression.
The secretary, of course, didn’t dare to pry into her boss’s private affairs, but inwardly, she was surprised. So even someone as serious and composed as him would… engage in such activities in the office.
Indeed, you can’t judge a man by his appearance—especially wealthy and powerful men.
Hopefully, Miss Ming didn’t witness that awkward scene. The secretary thought silently.
Meanwhile…
Ming Zhao yawned and stretched, sitting up in bed as she let her mind clear.
It had been a long time since she’d slept so soundly.
These past few days, it was as if she was making up years of lost sleep.
Zhou Tingyun stepped inside and immediately noticed her still-drowsy state.
“Why are you always so sleepy?” He sat on the edge of the bed and bent down to put on her shoes. “Your sleep schedule isn’t very regular.”
Ming Zhao suddenly thought that if she told him about her insomnia, nightmares, and severe hair loss during those days, it would be incredibly effective.
But she remained silent.
He had been so cruel—not even visiting or calling her.
She held a grudge. She definitely wouldn’t let him off easily.
So instead, she tilted her head and—with a soft thud—rested it against his shoulder.
Languidly, she murmured, “Ah… maybe it’s because I sleep better when I’m next to my handsome, wealthy brother.”
“Is that so?” Zhou Tingyun straightened her slightly wrinkled socks. “Weren’t you up all night playing on your phone?”
Ming Zhao immediately raised her head and glared at him.
“Zhou Tingyun, watch out, or I’ll sue you for defamation.”
“Go ahead.” He smoothed out the hem of her coat, entirely unfazed. “I welcome you to contact the group’s legal department.”
“…”
Alright, alright! Let’s do this!
…
After dinner at Songrongji, the two returned to the old house. As they walked through the gate, they ran into the old man standing there.
With a sharp tone, Zhou Lao scoffed, “Oh, so our Zhou family’s chef is no longer good enough for the two of you? You have to go out to eat now, huh?”
Ming Zhao replied honestly, “While home-grown flowers are fragrant, wildflowers by the roadside are still worth picking.”
That one sentence successfully angered both men.
Zhou Lao glared: “You! You! You!”
Zhou Tingyun frowned: “I don’t remember teaching you that.”
Before either of them could react further, Ming Zhao bolted, running faster than a rabbit.
She weaved through the stone paths, slowing her pace only when she found herself drawn—out of habit—to the architectural details of the old house.
The mortise and tenon structure of the brackets was exquisite, while the upturned eaves maximized sunlight exposure and prevented moisture buildup. The ridge tiles protected the eaves, and the cloud-shaped drip tips beneath them efficiently drained rainwater. The entire structure was designed with precision: higher in the north, lower in the south, following an advanced drainage system reminiscent of the dragon-head water spouts in the Forbidden City.
Even if the heavy rains from a few days ago had lasted longer, the house wouldn’t have suffered a single leak.
Lost in her observations, Ming Zhao didn’t realize where she had wandered until she vaguely heard voices arguing nearby.
A girl’s voice, laced with anger, cut through the air.
“Dad, can you please stop doing this?!”
Another voice—calmer, older—replied, “Si Yu, not to mention that this project is at a critical stage, but our collaboration with Xinyuan Real Estate—”
Dad?
Ming Zhao stiffened.
Zhou Siyu… calls Zhou Tingyun’s uncle “Dad”?
Wait a minute.
Ming Zhao felt a jolt of realization.
Zhou Siyu… calls Zhou Tingyun’s uncle Dad?
Her mind spun. She stood frozen, rapidly piecing together scattered thoughts. Had she misunderstood something all this time?
So, Zhou Siyu wasn’t actually Zhou Tingyun’s younger sister… but his cousin?
She had always assumed they were siblings. As for Zhou Tingyun’s parents, she only knew they had passed away in an accident—he never spoke about it, and she never dared to ask.
But now it clicked.
It must have been Zhou Lao who, for whatever reason, presented Zhou Siyu as something more than just a niece—to elevate her status in the eyes of others.
Ming Zhao knew she had personality flaws. From a rational standpoint, it was natural for one’s someone to care for their biological sister.
But she had always struggled with it.
Zhou Tingyun occupied almost her entire life. She felt like a selfish child, one who couldn’t tolerate even the slightest division of love— like she needed to keep him all to herself.
That’s why she had been so reluctant to return home.
Yet… Zhou Tingyun was the one who had come to pick her up.
Maybe… she should try again.
If things still didn’t work out, she would simply accept that she no longer had this brother.
But instead, everything had led to a major misunderstanding.
Ming Zhao felt ridiculous. What kind of solo performance was I even putting on?
Help.
Just then, the conversation nearby continued.
“You have more than enough to live on—why are you still greedy for power?” Zhou Siyu’s voice sounded strained, almost desperate.
“What are you talking about? Isn’t this also for our family’s benefit?” The man’s voice softened.
“Si Yu, you don’t have to do anything. Just invite her to the banquet. If the second son of Xinyuan secures this deal, we—”
The second son of Xinyuan?
Wasn’t he that idiot who had once declared he wanted to make her his ‘little sister’?
She suddenly recalled how, just a few days ago, that very same person had sent her a message inviting her to his singles party.
Though it was labeled a singles party, everyone knew what it really was—a glorified event where he celebrated his breakup while picking his next ‘partner.’
Disgust rose in her throat at the mere thought of it.
She had replied instantly.
Get lost.
—