Chapter 14: Kiss Me

Su Nian hadn’t spoken yet when a nearby classmate’s eyes nearly bored holes into her. “You know Senior Gu?”

She felt a bit awkward. “We used to be neighbors.”

Later, the Gu family rose to fortune through technology, becoming one of the top three elite families in Yucheng, and moved into a more upscale villa district.

Gu Yincheng had always kept a low profile, so not many people knew about his background.

Just then, Gu Yincheng sat down beside Su Nian in the cafeteria, holding a tray.

On the tray: stir-fried chicken, lettuce with pork, kelp pork rib soup, and a bit of greens.

Standard cafeteria fare.

Using the simple utensils, Gu Yincheng gracefully picked up his chopsticks. “Nian Nian, are you going back to the Su family this weekend?”

“I am,” Su Nian replied tersely.

The Su family would be hosting a celebration banquet for Su Feixiao on Saturday.

To the outside world, Su Feixiao was branded as a prodigy painter.

This time, her award was partly due to her actual talent and partly because Su Haiping had spent some money behind the scenes.

A chicken drumstick landed on Su Nian’s white rice.

Gu Yincheng smiled dotingly. “You loved these as a child.”

Su Nian stared at the drumstick. She only loved it back then because there was nothing else to eat.

The good food always went to her younger siblings.

Now she could afford to buy whatever she wanted, so chicken drumsticks had lost their appeal.

Su Nian didn’t want it, but since her chopsticks had touched it, returning it would be rude. “Thanks.”

But she could still give it to a classmate.

The drumstick landed in her classmate’s bowl. “I got too much food.”

The classmate looked at the drumstick and gave a teasing smile. “Senior Gu, Nian Nian already has someone. It’s inappropriate for her to eat your drumstick.”

Across from them, Zhou Kang was silently fiddling with his phone.

Actually, he was taking pictures.

This morning, he merely gave Su Nian a ride to A University and ended up being punished with a pot of dark, disastrous cooking.

Now this neighbor gave his drumstick to Su Nian—was that not a crime?

He secretly sent the photo to Zhou Beiming and waited to enjoy the drama.

After the meal, there was no response.

When Zhou Kang went to return his tray, his phone dinged. He grinned mischievously.

But after reading the message, his face nearly cracked.

His credit card was frozen.

Another message popped up.

From his dad—calling him a good-for-nothing.

Attached was a chat screenshot.

Zhou Beiming had asked his father, “Is it true that dumplings are better than any dish, and nothing is more fun than a sister-in-law?”

He was innocent!

Three strikes and you’re out. From now on, he had to keep his distance from Su Nian.

After dropping off his tray, he walked listlessly, head down, and suddenly spotted a pair of white sneakers.

Looking up—Su Nian.

Zhou Kang was so startled he stepped back. “Auntie, what do you want?”

Su Nian looked puzzled. Why did he act like he’d seen a ghost?

She wanted to say something to him in private, so she stepped a bit closer.

Zhou Kang kept retreating. “Don’t come any closer.”

He raised his voice. “Stay away from me.”

Su Nian frowned. “I… did something wrong?”

Zhou Kang didn’t dare say it. If Su Nian told Zhou Beiming, he’d think Zhou Kang was tattling and punish him even more.

He pointed to where she stood. “Just stay there. If you’ve got something to say, spit it out.”

Just earlier, he was all cheerful and calling her “sister-in-law,” and now he was treating her like the plague.

Su Nian couldn’t help thinking, You can’t eat a meal and act like you’re not family. He and Zhou Beiming were equally dramatic.

She didn’t approach any further. Glancing around and seeing no one nearby, she whispered, “Other people don’t know about me and Zhou Beiming. Please don’t tell anyone.”

Uh…

Actually, everyone in the Zhou family was very tight-lipped.

After graduating, Zhou Kang stayed on as a teacher at A University. No one knew he was from the prestigious Zhou family in Yucheng.

In the Zhou family, the ones who got the most attention were Zhou Beiming’s rumored girlfriends.

But Su Nian was an exception.

If it were any other woman brought home by Zhou Beiming, she’d be flaunting it all over the internet.

After all, just the name Zhou Beiming spelled absolute power.

Zhou Kang looked at Su Nian thoughtfully.

A very pretty girl, nice figure too. But in Zhou Beiming’s world, there were plenty of gorgeous women.

Yet he brought her home.

This girl had skills.

“Don’t worry, I won’t talk.” He walked around her but paused a few steps away. “If I were you, I’d get as many benefits as I could while it lasts. Brother Beiming won’t marry you.”

Many relatives had tried setting Zhou Beiming up, but his dad said it was all pointless.

Because the old man had arranged a marriage for him when he was just four.

If the other party showed up, what business did anyone else have?

Su Nian only replied softly, “Thank you.”

Her relationship with Zhou Beiming was fake anyway, so she didn’t mind Zhou Kang’s words.

Zhou Kang glanced back at her—she looked so easy to bully.

But after today’s lesson, he knew better. Messing with Su Nian was a death wish.

He walked off in big strides.

Su Nian felt relieved knowing he wouldn’t spread gossip.

After a whole day writing her thesis, her advisor, Professor Chen, asked her to stay late and prepare tomorrow’s lecture PowerPoint.

This was common.

Professor Chen loved playing mahjong and hated working overtime.

So unfinished tasks often got dumped on students.

She finished the PPT a little after seven.

Since her period had started, Zhou Beiming wouldn’t come looking for her.

Su Nian was about to hail a ride home when a message popped up:

—Not off work yet?

From Zhou Beiming.

Su Nian replied:

—Something you need?

He gave her a choice:

—Should I come in, or will you come out?

He’s outside?

Su Nian quickly packed up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and grabbed her thermal food jar.

A white sedan was parked at the gate with its hazard lights blinking.

The security guard stood by the driver’s window, smoking and chatting with the person inside.

Su Nian immediately recognized the car and walked over.

The guard grinned. “Miss, if you hadn’t come out, I was about to shoo your boyfriend away. I don’t care how good his cigarettes are—no one gets to park here for two hours.”

Zhou Beiming had been here for two hours?!

And only now messaged her?

Su Nian thanked him and got in the passenger seat quickly.

Zhou Beiming didn’t even glance at her, just tossed a pack of cigarettes to the guard. “I might trouble you often in the future.”

The guard accepted them. “Not many girls in the computer science department. They’re in high demand. You’d better treat her well.”

Zhou Beiming let out a cool chuckle. “Is that so?”

There was a trace of disdain in his tone.

He rolled up the window.

Inside the car, there was only the faint hum of the engine.

Su Nian felt anxious.

This wasn’t the time he was supposed to be looking for her.

She asked, “Where are we going?”

Zhou Beiming stared ahead through the windshield. “Home.”

Home? They didn’t even live together.

Su Nian didn’t dare ask further.

The car pulled into the garage of a luxury apartment in the city center.

This was Zhou Beiming’s residence.

It was near his workplace, so he usually stayed here.

Su Nian’s place was also nearby, though much less upscale.

Then she remembered—Zhou Beiming had said they’d live together to keep up appearances.

The man got out. Seeing her still dazed in the car, his sharp black eyes narrowed. “Do you need me to carry you out?”

No, please!

Su Nian quickly got out.

She followed behind him into the building.

The lights inside were off. The city’s neon lights streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, enough to reveal the interior.

A spacious, high-rise unit with luxurious but subdued decor—mostly black, white, and gray.

Every time she came, the place felt cold and empty.

Zhou Beiming said nothing, went straight to the sofa, and sat back.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes to rest.

Su Nian stood at the doorway, a bit nervous. She had no idea why she was here.

If they were really going to live together, they should at least plan it out.

She was about to speak when Zhou Beiming’s deep voice ordered, “I didn’t ask you to be a doorman. Come here!”

Su Nian obediently walked over to his side.

Zhou Beiming’s hand, which had been pinching his brow, suddenly grasped her slender waist and pulled her to stand between his legs.

His large, powerful hand pressed lightly, and Su Nian fell forward onto him.

They were so close, their breaths mingled.

Zhou Beiming lowered his gaze. His eyes held only her. His tone was almost commanding—

“Kiss me.”