Chapter 66

Wei Lai’s words had just fallen, and her gaze was still on Lu Yu, waiting for him to continue. But before Lu Yu could say anything, she was turned around by the person beside her.

In the next instant, she was pulled into Zhou Sujin’s arms.

There were still many people sitting across from them, and she reflexively wanted to push him away, but she didn’t. His VIP pass brushed against her brown shirt.

Zhou Sujin’s chin lightly touched her hair as he whispered, “Thank you, wife.”

Wei Lai couldn’t find her voice. Each word seemed to seep into her bloodstream, pulsating with her heartbeat.

Zhou Sujin released her, opened the contract to the last page, picked up the pen on the table, and signed his name.

Feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable, Wei Lai couldn’t bring herself to look at the people opposite her. Her ears turned red, her whole body heated up, and a layer of sweat formed on her back.

Lu Yu eased her embarrassment and discomfort, smiling as he said, “No big deal. We attended your engagement banquet, didn’t we?”

Wei Lai could only smile silently, realizing that everyone around her was calm except for her.

She glanced at Zhou Sujin, who appeared as calm and cold as usual. If he hadn’t just hugged her and called her his wife, she would have found it difficult to perceive his joy upon receiving the gift.

The boss of Lemon Group spoke up again, “How many square meters?”

Lu Yu replied, “Fifteen hundred square meters. Why are you so nosy?”

“Just calculating how much Zhou Sujin can earn in rent in a year. I need pocket money when I go home tonight.” Then he gestured towards the people next to him. “They won’t say it, but they’re just as curious as I am. I’m the most honest.”

Lu Yu laughed, looking at Wei Lai. “Let me tell you, their envy is heavy.”

Amidst the self-deprecating laughter, Wei Lai’s tension dissipated completely. Like Zhou Sujin, they always managed to discreetly help others out of a tight spot.

Wei Lai didn’t stay in the VIP lounge for long. After Zhou Sujin signed the contract, she found an excuse to leave.

Zhou Sujin escorted her to her car in the parking lot and asked, “Can you stay at home for a few days?”

Wei Lai was slowly becoming attached to this home. “About two or three weeks, to deal with the matters of the branch. I might have to go to the neighboring city for a day or two in between.”

After accompanying him for so long, this had never happened before.

She also told him that she had stayed at the villa last night.

Zhou Sujin said, “When I called you last night, I had a hunch that you might be at our home in Beijing.”

Wei Lai smiled and said, “But you thought it was impossible, so you guessed Jiang’an Yunchen?”

Zhou Sujin nodded and opened the car door for her. “I’ll be home very late tonight.”

“It’s okay. I also have to work overtime today.” Wei Lai wanted to hug him before getting into the car, but considering that they were still at the venue, she suppressed the urge and got into the car directly.

The embrace owed at noon was repaid doubly in the evening.

Zhou Sujin arrived home close to eleven thirty in the evening.

Wei Lai was already in bed, sitting at the head of the bed and handling messages in the workgroup.

Chen Qi was efficient. Just a few days ago, she mentioned cooperating with a public relations company, and tonight he had already screened a PR company with experience in their industry.

Tang Yi posted a new advertising slogan in the group: “Wei Lai Enters Thousands of Homes.”

Then she explained, “enter” and “jin” sound the same, to compete with Mr. Zhao’s slogan.

Wei Lai replied, “…”

Tang Yi posted a long row of smirking emojis.

[Tang Yi: These two slogans have conjured up a melodramatic love story in my mind. Mr. Zhao and Mr. Zhou both fell in love with you at first sight. The business battle between them a few years ago was all because of you. The person you love is Mr. Zhou, and then Mr. Zhao silently became the major shareholder of Baiduo, just to have his name appear with yours.]

As for Zhang Yanxin, he didn’t deserve to have his name mentioned.

Tang Yi predicted, [Tang Yi: When Wei Lai becomes well-known if Mr. Zhao doesn’t stop causing trouble for Mr. Zhou, my version of gossip will spread online sooner or later.]

Wei Lai replied, [Wei Lai: If your prediction comes true, these few messages of yours can be used to counter that false news.]

Tang Yi was speechless. [Tang Yi: As expected of the leader. I’ll screenshot them immediately.]

Wei Lai wished everyone in the group goodnight and asked them to rest early.

Just as she turned off the light and lay down, intending to take a short nap, Zhou Sujin pushed open the bedroom door.

Wei Lai raised her hand, and the bedside lamp lit up.

She lay on his side of the bed, her long hair spread out on his pillow, the quilt pressed against her body. She wore a black crop top, revealing her smooth white abdomen, with one long leg slightly bent and the other buried under the quilt, partially hidden.

Upon entering, Zhou Sujin saw this vivid scene. He removed his tie, walked to the side of the bed where she lay, leaned down, and kissed her lightly on the corner of her mouth.

Wei Lai smelled a faint scent of alcohol and kissed him back, holding his lips.

Zhou Sujin stepped back, and the two separated. “I had a couple of drinks tonight. I’m going to take a shower.”

Wei Lai grabbed his hand, not letting him go.

Zhou Sujin leaned down again and embraced her until she had spent enough time in his arms, then he laid down and allowed her to go to the bathroom.

“I looked at your watch cabinet tonight. Have you not added any new watches this year?”

“No. I haven’t had time to go to the auction.” Zhou Sujin unbuttoned his shirt. “Investing in projects in Jiangcheng involves industries I haven’t dealt with before, so it takes more effort.”

Wei Lai thought of the watch she had ordered for him, which had a waiting list of at least three years for his VIP status. It had only been a year and three months now.

During this time, she had asked the store manager, who said it was still early.

At one point, she worried that when the watch arrived three years later, they might not be together anymore.

Turning over, she carefully took her starry watch from the bedside table.

She turned off the floor lamp, and the brilliant starry sky reappeared on the dial.

As the starlight dimmed, she turned the light back on.

She repeatedly turned the light on and off.

When Zhou Sujin came out of the bathroom, she had just turned off the light. He stood still for a few seconds before seeing the room clearly.

Wei Lai put the watch back. “Can you see it?” Her hand rested on the switch.

“I can see it.” Zhou Sujin held her hand.

Her sleeping position was similar to before. He kissed the edge of the strap, his lips touching her abs.

Along the line of her abs, he kissed down onto the soft and smooth fabric.

The fabric matched the color of the black crop top she wore on her upper body.

Kissing through the fabric, he felt an unfamiliar sensation spread throughout his body.

It was like the flowers in the backyard she saw in the bathtub tonight, gently caressed by the summer breeze at night, from stamens to petals.

As summer approached, the weather changed suddenly. Although the night was still clear and the stars were shining, a sudden storm might come in the middle of the night, shaking the flower branches.

After the rain stopped, crystal-clear water droplets slid off the petals, seeping into the heart of the flower.

The fabric was like a flower after the rain.

And this rain was given by Zhou Sujin.

After the rain stopped, Wei Lai lay on Zhou Sujin’s shoulder, sitting in his arms, not daring to move.

Zhou Sujin asked her, “Do you need to get up early tomorrow?”

Wei Lai didn’t have the energy to speak and just replied with a soft “Mm” in her throat.

The next morning, her waist and legs were sore.

Wei Lai got out of bed and took out a long skirt from the wardrobe. When changing clothes, she found a shallow kiss mark on her neck. She put the skirt back on and found a shirt that could cover it.

Zhou Sujin had a scratch on his body from last night when she trembled. She wondered if it still hurt today.

He had already gone to the company, worried about waking her up with a message, so he left a note.

【I’ll be home around six tonight. Let’s have dinner together.】

Wei Lai initially suspected it was a note left by Zhou Sujin, but the handwriting was completely different, neat, and pleasing to the eye.

【Honey, how come your handwriting has changed?】

Zhou Sujin looked at the address in the message. Last night, she had been calling him Zhou Sujin.

He rarely lied, but today he had to: 【Practicing calligraphy.】

Wei Lai guessed it was related to Zhao Lianshen. She could see a large screen every time she looked up, and recently, another advertising slogan appeared, which said “Quietly Calm Heart” next to her name.

Everyone thought that Zhao Lianshen’s outdoor screen advertisement across from Kunchen Group would only be displayed for one or two months at most, as outdoor advertising in prime locations was very expensive.

As a result, from May to the end of October, the advertisement was still running.

The slogan “Wei Lai Enters Thousands of Homes” had to stay for ninety seconds each time before switching to another advertisement for Wei Lai.

【Mr. Zhao, how long did you advertise for?】 Wei Lai asked him directly.

Zhao Lianshen: 【Temporarily for one year.】

Wei Lai: “…”

【The cost-effectiveness of outdoor advertising screens is not high.】

Zhao Lianshen: 【I don’t care about cost-effectiveness.】

He was in a meeting, and he replied after it ended: 【I’m planning to buy the advertising company. In the future, that location will be the exclusive advertising space for Wei Lai·, which will enhance the brand’s visibility.】

Wei Lai fell silent and shut down her computer before leaving the company.

On the last day of October in the afternoon, she finally had time to visit the Jiang’an Yunchen store.

In the leisure coffee corner of the Jiang’an Yunchen store, Lu Yu encountered Yuan Hengrui, who was drinking coffee.

Yuan Hengrui often passed by here and would come in for a cup of coffee every time he passed, spending twenty to thirty minutes in the store.

“Mr. Lu, what a coincidence. Let me treat you to a free coffee,” Yuan Hengrui said as Lu Yu came in to buy cigarettes. Since smoking wasn’t allowed inside, he handed Lu Yu a whole pack and pulled out a chair across from him.

Yuan Hengrui and Lu Yu were not strangers; they had worked together on projects before, but they weren’t close enough to share everything. He wondered why Lu Yu was always in Jiangcheng.

“It seems Mr. Lu has a special affection for Jiangcheng.”

Lu Yu smiled. “Indeed. Just like you.”

Yuan Hengrui sipped his coffee. “I don’t want to go anywhere else because of someone. As long as she’s here, I feel like I have everything. Is it the same for you, Mr. Lu?”

He chuckled. “Seems like I’m being nosy.”

“You’re not nosy; you’re just worried about me because I often come to Wei Lai Supermarket. You’re afraid I might also like Wei Lai,” Lu Yu hit the nail on the head.

Yuan Hengrui laughed. “I’m not worried. If you also like Wei Lai, then you’re worse off than me.” At least, he knew that Lu Yu liked Wei Lai.

“It’s not because of Wei Lai. I’ve been in Jiangcheng before I met Wei Lai,” Lu Yu explained.

Yuan Hengrui decided to pry a little further. “Then why don’t you pursue her?”

“She’s married. And we’re alumni.”

Yuan Hengrui tapped his coffee cup, unsure of how to comfort him.

They both quietly finished their coffee afterward.

Kurinan parked in the parking lot outside the leisure coffee corner, and Yuan Hengrui waved at the person who got out of the car.

Wei Lai smiled as she came in. “Not busy? I’m treating you guys to snacks today.”

Both of them replied simultaneously, “Not busy.”

Only when she was with them could Wei Lai afford to eat snacks.

She bought a family pack of snacks and divided it into two bags for each person.

As they snacked and joked together, Lu Yu felt relaxed in a way he hadn’t in a long time. A few days ago, his mother called and said it had been almost two years since Zhou Sujin got married and asked him what he was thinking.

If he didn’t come home, his mother would come to Jiangcheng to introduce him to someone. He could already imagine what his future marriage would be like, simple and respectful.

Wei Lai’s phone rang, her father was calling her.

Every year around this time, her father would ask her how she wanted to celebrate her birthday and when she was free to have dinner with him.

“Still on the 8th at noon.”

“Okay, I’ll book a table in advance,” her father replied.

Just like every year, she would have dinner at her grandparents’ house two days before her birthday and at her grandfather’s house on the night of the 7th.

The difference this year was that Zhou Sujin would accompany her.

In the latter half of the year, Zhou Sujin was in Jiangcheng, so she no longer had to wonder if he would fly over for her birthday. Even if he was busy with work, he could come home at night and celebrate her birthday with her.

Every morning she woke up, she could see him, and sometimes, when he finished work early, he would pick her up from work.

The distance and longing she used to feel no longer existed because they saw each other every day.

As they drove back from her grandparents’ house after dinner, they passed by their old home.

Wei Lai pointed to the neighborhood. “I used to live there when I was little. My dad sold the house after he divorced my mom.”

Zhou Sujin squeezed her hand.

Wei Lai turned back from the car window and smiled. “I’m okay.”

Zhou Sujin talked about tomorrow’s birthday arrangements for her. “Mr. He called me and wants to have dinner tomorrow night, to see if we’re available.”

“Okay,” Wei Lai replied.

Since her mother and He Wancheng got together, they had never formally had a meal together.

Uncle Yan parked Kurinan in the underground parking lot and went down first without turning off the engine.

Zhou Sujin opened the panoramic roof. “Let’s stay in the car for a while before going home.”

Wei Lai relaxed against the back of her chair, watching the shooting stars and thinking about her birthday two years ago when her contract with Zhou Sujin ended. Time had passed so quickly.

He was still the same, quiet and reserved, never showing his happiness.

But he was spending more and more time with her.

The group chat with her girlfriends suddenly became lively. Qiao Sitian @ her: [Baby, happy birthday in advance! Tomorrow belongs to you and Mr. Zhou for your own little world. I won’t disturb you.]

She sent a big red envelope of 199 yuan to her.

Wei Lai accepted it, and Yin Le also sent her a message: [On your birthday this year, how will Mr. Zhou celebrate with you?]

Wei Lai replied: [Having lunch with my dad and celebrating with my mom in the evening. He’ll be with me.]

Yin Le: […There’s not even a hint of romance.]

Qiao Sitian: [You can’t let Baby fly to Australia again just to pick you up, can you, Mr. Zhou?]

Yun Le burst into laughter: [Flying to London works too, you can still make it in time for her birthday.]

Wei Lai turned to the person beside her and locked eyes with Zhou Sujin.

Zhou Sujin asked, “What are you talking about?”

Wei Lai smiled. “Nothing.”

She locked her phone screen and continued to gaze at the stars.

She had already received the birthday gift Zhou Sujin gave her this year, a customized watch cabinet with only three watches inside. He said that in twenty years, they should be able to fill all the cabinets.

On the morning of the 8th, Wei Lai was awakened by her alarm.

Her phone was ringing incessantly on the bedside table. Normally, Zhou Sujin would have turned it off for her long ago, but after twenty seconds of it ringing, Wei Lai opened her eyes and realized Zhou Sujin wasn’t in the room. She reached out to grab her phone from the bedside table.

But her phone wasn’t there, and her fingertips touched something else.

There was a large bouquet of red roses on the bedside table, and a delicate light brown envelope was placed on top of her phone.

Wei Lai sat up in bed with a start, pulled the envelope towards her, and opened it.

As she read the contents, her heart raced, and her breath caught in her throat.

Before even reading the contents, she was struck by the neat blue-black fountain pen handwriting, which was powerful and smooth, as if it had been printed.

Wei Lai:

Happy Birthday.

I’ve been thinking for over half a year, but I still can’t figure out how to start this love letter.

I knew you before we met at that dinner party, downstairs from the Riverside Restaurant, when you were in the car next to mine, wearing a brown dress.

Our understanding of each other didn’t come naturally; it was something I actively wanted. I didn’t care about what others said to you or whether you were in a bad mood; naturally, I wouldn’t have an understanding with them.

You’ve said more than once that besides me, there’s no one else who indulges and accommodates you like I do. But aren’t I also the one who’s been accommodated by you?

You may always feel that my feelings for you aren’t deep enough, and you want to test under what circumstances I would lose control, when my emotions fluctuate. Due to my personality, I can control and digest everything on my own.

If there comes a day when I lose control of my emotions, you won’t have a chance to see it. The only thing that could make me lose control is when we both grow old, many years from now, and you’re no longer in this world. I wouldn’t know where to find you. If I leave before you, you won’t see it; if you leave before me, you won’t see it even more.

There’s no need to test anymore. You are unique to me, always have been.

Happy birthday. We’ll always be together, and I will love you forever.

-Zhou Sujin