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Xu Zhiqiao felt as though she were nailed to her seat.
When it came to addressing people, she was used to using repetitive forms like “Mother,” “Uncle,” “Big Brother,” and the like. She didn’t find it strange or clingy.
Xu Shu had never corrected her either.
In fact, when chatting with colleagues and friends, she would proudly say that her daughter was thoughtful—still calling her “Mother” every day, even at this age.
Xu Zhiqiao didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.
But she didn’t want to argue too much with Zhou Cong, so she obediently corrected herself, “Oh, I understand now, Brother Zhou Cong.”
“……” Zhou Cong’s eyelid visibly twitched. “I said your brother, Ji Huailuo.”
“Does he not like it?” Xu Zhiqiao asked, confused. “Then why doesn’t he say anything?”
With Ji Huailuo’s temper and impatience, if he disliked it, he would have already pointed at her nose and threatened her to stop calling him that.
“……”
“Well, thank you, Brother Zhou Cong,” Xu Zhiqiao said good-naturedly. “When my brother brings it up again, I’ll be prepared.”
She called out “Brother Zhou Cong,” and Zhou Cong’s brow twitched.
“What do you need to prepare?”
Xu Zhiqiao dragged out a soft “Mm,” carefully choosing her words. “I thought it felt close and affectionate. If he dislikes it, I might… feel a little hurt.”
“……” After his eyelid tightened, Zhou Cong’s jaw also stiffened. “18 isn’t that young.”
Let her call him however she wants.
What was he going around in circles for?
Zhou Cong: “Change mine back too.”
Xu Zhiqiao remained silent.
Zhou Cong was obviously familiar with the Ji family. The car cruised down the wide main road, and ahead, the scattered villas marked the direction of the Ji family.
“Are you more familiar now?”
“……” Xu Zhiqiao was stunned again. “What?”
Zhou Cong: “I, your Brother Zhou Cong—”
He stressed the word “brother”.
“More familiar now?”
Xu Zhiqiao: “……”
“Not yet familiar?” Zhou Cong glanced at her expression, clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction. “You’ve known Ji Huailuo since that day, and we’ve known each other since then. You’re more familiar with him than me?”
“……”
She remained silent, having no reply.
In fact, she wasn’t really familiar with Ji Huailuo either.
It was just that both of their parents were involved in the matchmaking, and they lived under the same roof every day.
They were pretty familiar when it came to arguing.
Xu Zhiqiao suppressed a sentence, “Why do you have to be familiar with me?”
“Never raised such a young…” girl.
He wanted to raise her.
Zhou Cong’s words were cut off just in time, but Xu Zhiqiao still understood. She looked at the shameless man across from her and thought that all the flattery she had heard about him was a lie.
“I’ve never met anyone your age,” her earlobes turned bright red, “and I won’t let you raise me!”
“……” Zhou Cong cleared his throat, his sharp, defined features softening a few degrees. “Next week is my birthday. Let Huailuo bring you to my place to hang out, okay?”
Xu Zhiqiao: “No.”
The car stopped in front of the Ji house. The villa was lit up, and the lawn appeared darker under the night sky.
A housekeeper hurried to open the door, clearly recognizing Zhou Cong. “Is Young Master Zhou the one who brought Zhiqiao back? Do you want to drive in?”
“No, Sister Li,” Zhou Cong gave a half-smile, speaking warmly, “Your young lady hasn’t had dinner yet. Please get her something to eat.”
“Ah, we’ve already prepared.”
Without greeting anyone, Xu Zhiqiao got out of the car and walked into the courtyard without looking back.
Sister Li looked around awkwardly. “What’s going on? Zhiqiao usually has such a good temper.”
“……” Zhou Cong raised an eyebrow, a playful tone in his voice. “Good temper? She’s been giving me the cold shoulder all the way here.”
“Can’t be,” Sister Li was suspicious. “Huailuo teases her every day, it seems intentional. Zhiqiao seems fine to me.”
So, was it only directed at him?
Did she only dislike him?
Zhou Cong lifted his eyelids, staring at the figure that had already walked far ahead. He called coldly, “Xu Zhiqiao.”
Xu Zhiqiao: “……”
She ignored him.
She continued walking ahead.
As she was about to pass the brass pumpkin nightlight, that persistent voice deepened even further, “Xu, Zhi, Qiao!”
“……” In the end, still fearing the rumors, Xu Zhiqiao reluctantly stopped and turned around. “Thank you, Zhou Cong, for bringing me home.”
Zhou Cong’s face darkened. “The way you’re addressing me has changed.”
Xu Zhiqiao just wanted to get rid of him quickly. “Thank you, Big Brother!”
Zhou Cong nodded in satisfaction. “For my birthday…”
“I have something that day,” Xu Zhiqiao cut him off, “My seventh uncle’s second daughter’s youngest son’s dog gave birth to puppies, and I need to go to the full-month celebration.”
“……”
The girl almost fled the scene, disappearing from the light in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Cong’s fingertips paused as they tapped the steering wheel.
After a brief moment of stillness, he suddenly chuckled softly.
It was a sarcastic laugh.
He only mentioned next week, but didn’t specify which day.
He’d never encountered an excuse that didn’t even make sense logically.
Sister Li remained silent for a moment, murmuring to herself, “Zhiqiao has respiratory issues, she shouldn’t be around dogs. I should mention it to Sir and Madam.”
“……” Zhou Cong lowered his lashes, glancing over. “Respiratory issues?”
“Yeah,” Sister Li muttered, “Allergic asthma. Though it’s not severe and doesn’t flare up often, Madam doesn’t allow her to be around cats or dogs.”
Zhou Cong didn’t say anything, just politely nodded at her and started the car, leaving.
On the way, Ji Huailuo called, asking if she had been delivered safely.
Zhou Cong responded with a faint “Mm.”
It seemed like Ji Huailuo was in a good mood, his speech a little slurred as he said, “Bro, tomorrow, I’ll come over to your place and pick up that retired dog.”
Zhou Cong raised an eyebrow and glanced at the rearview mirror, replying indifferently, “Can you even keep a dog at your place?”
“Why not?”
Zhou Cong: “Your sister…”
“Oh, you’re talking about her asthma, right?” Ji Huailuo didn’t seem bothered. “But this dog was applied for before she came, and it’s first come, first served.”
Zhou Cong gave a faint, ambiguous smile.
In the background, someone was calling Ji Huailuo, and he responded loudly, “I’m hanging up, hanging up. I didn’t expect you to come anyway. Didn’t you say you were going to accompany your grandpa to meet his old war buddy? You come here and leave right away…”
“Ji Huailuo.” Zhou Cong ignored his drunken ramblings and called out to him.
“Huh? Did you call me?”
“Er De is yours,” Zhou Cong’s lips moved slightly, “But your sister… is mine?”
Er De was the retired military dog.
“…” Ji Huailuo didn’t catch that clearly, “What treasure?”
Zhou Cong continued on his own, “Just letting you know, I’ve given a heads-up.”
“What? What are you talking about?” Ji Huailuo raised his voice, “What heads-up? What treasure? Er De is of course my treasure! I’m turning 22 today, and tomorrow it’ll be rightfully by my side!”
One of the conditions for applying for a retired military dog is that the applicant must be at least 22 years old.
He had calculated the timing perfectly.
With the loud noise of Ji Huailuo in the background, Zhou Cong lowered his voice and said, “Well, next week I’ll be turning 22.”
“I know,” Ji Huailuo surprisingly responded, “I haven’t forgotten, bro. Just tell me what kind of gift you want.”
Zhou Cong looked up, staring at the road lit by the car’s headlights, “Bring Xu Zhiqiao to me.”