Chapter 23: I’m a Married Man

“I didn’t even notice when this big shot arrived!”

“Mr. Qiu, this way please!”

As she pushed through the crowd, Zhuang Jianxi’s gaze fell upon a figure not far away, clad in a suit, with broad shoulders, long legs, and a handsome, British-like aura. Her steps faltered, and the composure she had maintained finally cracked a little.

She knew this man would come to block her.

Qiu Yixun ignored the people surrounding him, showering him with flattery, his deep gaze fixed directly on Zhuang Jianxi.

When their eyes met, his sharp brows softened for a moment, and a carefree smile played on his lips.

He strolled towards her, his aura of mature, stable masculinity radiating around him. The young men and women present instinctively stepped back, creating a path for him.

There were many wealthy young men and women at this graduation party, so it was impossible that they hadn’t heard of Qiu Yixun. Some were seeing him for the first time, and they whispered excitedly and in awe.

“Is that really Young Master Qiu? The rumors said he was so ruthless and terrifying, but he looks so young! He’s as handsome as a movie star.”

“With an aura this strong, you dare question his identity?”

“Be careful, he might twist your head off and use it as a ball.”

“Wipe that off, don’t scare me… so scary…”

“I haven’t seen a man this manly in so long, I like him so much…”

Zhuang Qianqian watched the tall man approach, her heart pounding. Her originally pale face flushed involuntarily.

All the resentment and shame she had felt earlier vanished, replaced by a gaze filled with infatuation.

A man of this caliber was the absolute perfect ideal type in her mind, even surpassing Lu Zhiyuan!

Zhuang Qianqian couldn’t help but take a step forward, unconsciously approaching him. “Mr. Qiu…”

Qiu Yixun stopped, his black eyes dark and inscrutable.

He looked at the woman who dared to stand in front of him, his eyes cold, as if looking at an object.

But Zhuang Qianqian was oblivious, raising a bright smile. “Mr. Qiu, don’t you remember me? We met that night… at the Zhuang residence.”

That night…

As soon as these words left her lips, the surrounding classmates looked at her with disbelief.

Zhuang Qianqian knew Qiu Yixun? And it sounded like their relationship was a bit ambiguous?

However, this ambiguity was shattered before it could take root in their minds.

“A clown, I haven’t seen you.”

Qiu Yixun completely ignored her, walking straight towards Zhuang Jianxi.

His words, delivered with a resounding force, dispelled all doubts and crushed Zhuang Qianqian’s hopes and fantasies, leaving her face flushed red again.

Qiu Yixun’s words were more humiliating than the embarrassment of her earlier exposure.

Qiu Yixun stopped in front of Zhuang Jianxi, his towering figure of nearly six feet tall looming over her, making the already slender girl appear even smaller and more fragile.

But Zhuang Jianxi stood tall, her brows aloof, her unique coldness and grace like an arrogant winter plum, her aura no less powerful than his.

Instead, it was Qiu Yixun who lowered himself, asking softly, “Are you finished? I’ll take you back.”

These words once again shocked everyone.

Zhuang Jianxi raised her eyes to meet his for a few seconds, silent for a moment, said nothing, and turned to leave.

“Jianxi…”

Lu Zhiyuan had witnessed Qiu Yixun’s domineering and arrogant demeanor. His voice was slightly urgent as he called out to Zhuang Jianxi.

In terms of background, wealth, ability, and aura, he was no match for Qiu Yixun. All he had was the years of friendship he shared with Zhuang Jianxi, but that was enough.

As soon as Lu Zhiyuan spoke, Qiu Yixun’s black eyes swept over him sharply.

Zhuang Jianxi paused, turning back to Lu Zhiyuan. “Zhiyuan ge, I’ll go back first, you guys have fun.”

“But…” Lu Zhiyuan hesitated, unable to bear seeing Zhuang Jianxi being controlled by someone else, but he didn’t know what he could do to help her escape this predicament.

“But what?” Qiu Yixun’s cold words made those standing beside Lu Zhiyuan involuntarily shrink back.

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t want Lu Zhiyuan to be targeted because of her. She frowned and looked at Qiu Yixun, her tone tinged with impatience, “Are you leaving or not?”

As soon as she spoke, Qiu Yixun immediately retracted his coldness and looked at Zhuang Jianxi with softened eyes, “I’m leaving.”

Zhuang Jianxi ignored him and walked straight towards the hotel entrance.

Qiu Yixun strode after her, walking beside her.

Seeing this, everyone was almost in disbelief. What was going on? Zhuang Jianxi knew Qiu Yixun?! And their tone seemed quite familiar?

And Qiu Da Shao, who was always decisive, ruthless, and didn’t care about anyone, was actually here to pick her up personally. What was the relationship between these two?

Some girls were envious and admired, sighing that Zhuang Jianxi was truly amazing, being able to handle someone like him.

Stepping out of the hotel entrance, the driver respectfully opened the car door.

Zhuang Jianxi got in the car expressionlessly, with Qiu Yixun sitting beside her.

The ride was silent.

She could faintly smell a refreshing orange juice scent. Qiu Yixun’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He turned his head to look at Zhuang Jianxi. Her rosy lips seemed to still have traces of the fruit juice.

They looked so sweet, tempting to taste.

“What did you just drink?” Qiu Yixun asked.

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t like his uninvited appearance tonight, so she deliberately said, “I had some wine.”

“Really? Let me taste it.”

As he spoke, Qiu Yixun was about to lean in.

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t expect him to be so brazen and quickly said, “I didn’t drink!”

“I only had some juice.”

Unexpectedly, Qiu Yixun wasn’t so easily fooled and still leaned closer, squinting, “I don’t believe you. You just said you had wine.”

Zhuang Jianxi felt like she was facing a formidable enemy, her body pressed against the car door, “Can’t you smell if I have any alcohol on me?”

“Then let me smell it.”

“You…”

Qiu Yixun just teased the girl until her almond-shaped eyes widened, full of life, losing that aloofness before he stopped.

He pondered for a moment and emphasized again, “You can’t drink. Curfew is at nine. Remember that from now on. You were late tonight. Don’t let it happen again.”

Zhuang Jianxi snorted coldly and turned her head to look out the window.

Even her father didn’t control her that strictly. This guy was definitely crazy!

After a while, Qiu Yixun seemed to be smiling, his tone quite appreciative, “I didn’t know you had a photographic memory.”

“You could be a criminal sketch artist at the police station.”

Zhuang Jianxi, “You could be the head of the Women’s Federation at the neighborhood committee.”

Talkative and meddlesome.

Qiu Yixun laughed, “No, I’m a married man. I don’t care about other women. I only want to take care of you.”

Zhuang Jianxi, “…”

After a few more frivolous remarks, Qiu Yixun suddenly spoke in a softer tone, “Speaking of which, your memory is so good. Do you remember anything from before you were ten, the people you met?”

As he spoke, Qiu Yixun’s eyes were deep, and the streetlights flashing past the window reflected on his handsome face, half light, half shadow.

Zhuang Jianxi didn’t know why he suddenly asked this, and she said coldly, “I only remember what I need to remember.”

Life is so long, if you have to remember everyone and everything you’ve experienced, how tiring would your brain be? She didn’t have time to remember so many meaningless things.

As soon as she spoke, Qiu Yixun didn’t say anything else, his eyelids lowered, slightly lost in thought.

For Zhuang Jianxi, was it really unnecessary to remember him from her childhood?