Chapter 23: Not Liking You Is My Freedom

“Pfft!” Zhou Beiming chuckled, clearly amused.

He sat there lazily, tapping his fingers on the ashtray to flick away the glowing ashes of his cigarette. “I’m asking which dinnerware set you like. Zhang Ma sent me some pictures.”

Su Nian wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Zhou Beiming smoked quickly, his throat rolling lightly as he inhaled. “Since you like me being on top, I’ll make sure to satisfy you when I get back.”

There was a wicked glint in his eyes as he smiled.

Su Nian bit her lip, unexpectedly getting annoyed by his teasing.

She avoided his gaze and tossed her phone aside. “Whatever.”

Zhou Beiming glanced at the screen. The red-faced woman had disappeared, leaving only a bright white ceiling.

He had no interest in ceilings. “Little bunny, which hole are you hiding in? Come out.”

Su Nian ignored him, curling up on the sofa with her knees pulled close.

She couldn’t be bothered to pick up the clothes scattered beside her. From now on, he could take care of himself. She wouldn’t fold a single thing for him.

The man’s deep magnetic voice came through the phone again. “If you don’t come out, when I get back, I’ll bury you in a hole.”

Su Nian paid no mind to his threats.

Zhou Beiming sounded more serious now. “Nian Nian, are you mad?”

Su Nian found him annoying and covered her ears.

But she still heard the soft sigh through the phone. “You really are hiding?”

He spoke again, calmly this time, “What gift do you want? I’ll bring you something.”

Su Nian kept pretending to be mute.

Zhou Beiming didn’t get angry. Instead, he offered, “A bag? Jewelry? Clothes?”

Still no response.

But he didn’t hang up.

Su Nian heard the soft clicking of a keyboard on his end and sneaked a peek.

He had a cigarette between his fingers, the smoke blurring the screen. All she could make out was his black shirt and the vague silhouette of him working seriously.

Even though she was upset, Su Nian didn’t dare end the video call.

She stayed on the couch, bored, folding and refolding the clothes.

She seemed to be getting the hang of it—at least they looked neater than before.

Time ticked by. The faint keyboard taps and the rustling of paper came through like white noise, gradually lulling her to sleep.

She grabbed a blanket, curled up on the sofa, and placed the phone by her pillow.

She could see Zhou Beiming working, but he couldn’t see her sleeping.

He’d hang up eventually anyway.

Pouting a little, Su Nian shut her eyes and dozed off.

---

In the office, a knock came from outside.

Zhou Beiming didn’t respond. He got up to open the door.

A secretary stood outside, holding documents. Seeing the boss open the door himself, she was flattered.

Any secretary allowed to accompany Zhou Beiming on business trips had clearly worked with him for many years.

Though beautiful, she didn’t dare harbor any thoughts.

Everyone in the secretary department knew Zhou Beiming well.

Any woman who tried to flirt with him at the office would be thrown out by security without mercy.

Just a few days ago, a starlet named Ye Wanzhen had shown up to apologize for a scandal involving sanitary pads and the boss.

She didn’t even get to see him—security dragged her out from the front desk and literally tossed her out into the plaza, arms and legs flailing.

The secretary stood respectfully and took a step back. “President Zhou, I’m here to deliver the documents. You said they all needed to be handled today.”

“Mm. Give them to me.” Zhou Beiming took the files from her hands.

The secretary noticed there were quite a few and offered, “Shall I help you carry them in?”

“No need. She’s resting—don’t disturb her.”

Zhou Beiming took the documents himself.

The secretary’s curious eyes couldn’t help glancing inside.

Empty.

Who was “resting”?

This was a temporary office with no separate lounge.

Zhou Beiming’s hands were large. What took her both arms to carry, he managed with one hand. The other hand casually tucked into his pocket.

He noticed her still standing at the doorway and said coolly, “Secretary Zhang, are you waiting for me to escort you out?”

Snapping back to her senses, she quickly shook her head.

Zhou Beiming turned and gave further instructions, “Make arrangements. I need to be back in the country tomorrow morning. Also, I’ll send you a few pictures—buy the items shown as soon as possible.”

The secretary quickly agreed.

The office door closed with a soft click, as if he were afraid of disturbing someone inside.

A chill ran down the secretary’s spine.

Their boss had always been a playboy—could it be that he’d grown tired of living women and started… playing with ghosts?

---

Back in the country.

Su Nian had slept on the couch all night, and when she woke up, her phone had died.

Zhou Beiming hadn’t hung up the call?

She hurried to plug it in and charge it, then went to the bathroom to freshen up and put on light makeup.

There would surely be a lot of people at the Su family today. She didn’t like crowds and planned to go late.

She ordered some frozen dumplings, buns, bread, luncheon meat, sausages, and eggs online…

She wanted to try cooking on her own.

For breakfast, she made a sandwich. It wasn’t bad—just dry. Halfway through, she realized she’d forgotten to add sauce.

Then, the doorbell rang.

Su Nian opened the door—and froze.

Gu Yincheng.

How did he know which floor she lived on?

She had no intention of letting him in. Her tone was distant. “Brother Yincheng, what brings you here?”

Gu Yincheng glanced past her into the apartment. “Not going to let me in? Is it inconvenient?”

Aside from the ashtray, there was no sign of Zhou Beiming’s presence in the living room. He had only brought over a few clothes and shoes, which were kept in the closet and bedroom.

Su Nian didn’t think it was inconvenient—she just didn’t want Gu Yincheng getting too close.

Still, she stepped aside. “Please come in.”

Gu Yincheng entered, and Su Nian poured him a glass of water.

He looked at the sandwich on the table. “You made that?”

Su Nian nodded.

He smiled. “Did you forget something?”

Su Nian picked up the sandwich. “Yeah, forgot the ketchup.”

She kept eating.

Suddenly, Gu Yincheng reached toward her, and Su Nian instinctively flinched. “What is it?”

His hand froze mid-air, and he quickly withdrew it, pointing to the corner of his own mouth. “There was a breadcrumb right here.”

Su Nian wiped her own mouth. “So, what did you come here for today?”

She asked again.

Gu Yincheng said playfully, “You blocked me. Couldn’t reach you any other way, so I came in person. Did Zhou Beiming tell you to block me?”

Zhou Beiming wasn’t the type to do that. He usually let her decide things herself.

Su Nian shook her head. “I just think you crossed a line. Everyone has their own life. When you interfere with mine, it makes me uncomfortable.”

Gu Yincheng trusted his instincts. “Nian Nian, if something’s wrong, you can tell me. I’ll help you.”

Su Nian didn’t want him to stay much longer.

She put down the sandwich. “There’s nothing wrong. Zhou Beiming treats me well. That news you sent me—he was actually out buying something for me.

Yincheng, I used to like you, but that’s in the past. I don’t want you to misunderstand—my feelings for you are no longer the same.

And as for what happened two years ago, I’m truly not mad. You didn’t like me—that was your freedom.

Just like how now, I don’t like you—that’s my freedom too.”