Chapter 27

“Do you want some tea? I’ll pour you a cup.”

Her gentle voice sounded.

Cheng Yanan looked at the clock on the wall. It was almost 9 o’clock.

Although he wanted to stay longer and talk, it wasn’t right, and it was late. She said she had been busy lately, and today she got off work early. He didn’t want to disturb her rest.

He held back his feelings and said, “No more tea, it’s late. I’ll go now. If there’s any problem with the camera, you can call me.”

“Okay. I’ll see you out.”

Zhou Zhou quickly went to the door to change shoes.

But Cheng Yanan grabbed her arm again. Even through two layers of clothes, she could feel his warm, dry hand.

“No need to see me out, it’s windy outside.”

She wanted to explain that it’s polite to see guests out, but seeing him squat down to change shoes, she couldn’t say anything.

Her eyes glanced at her small shoes next to his leather shoes. He must have seen them just now when he changed. Her heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, started to say “I…” but he interrupted, “Thank you for the dinner. It was very good. I have work tomorrow, so I’ll go now.”

“It’s not—”

“Really, no need to see me out. I’ll go first.”

Afraid she might follow him, Cheng Yanan quickly opened the door and walked to the elevator. Suddenly, a cold wind blew on him.

Damn.

He forgot his jacket.

He froze on the spot.

When he came in, Zhou Zhou had taken his jacket and hung it on the coat rack in the living room.

After hesitating for three seconds between going back for the jacket or going down, he walked into the elevator without looking back.

Forget it, the wind won’t kill me.

Leave the jacket here, I’ll come get it next time.

Otherwise, what excuse would I have to see her again?

Luckily, he was fast. When Zhou Zhou came back to the living room and ran outside to look for his black jacket, the elevator’s number had already changed to “1.”

Zhou Zhou took out her phone and quickly sent him a message saying he forgot his jacket.

He didn’t reply, so she called him. He said he already drove away and would come back for it when he had time.

She stared blankly at the jacket, feeling strange.

Was something urgent?

He left by car just a few minutes after coming down?

Like he was afraid she would catch him?

It was confusing. Holding his jacket, she could still smell his scent on it.

She looked down at the soft black wool fabric. It was soft to the touch and not cheap.

She sighed quietly, went to the bedroom, got a hanger, and hung the jacket neatly.

Alright, I’ll send it to him by delivery this weekend.

The next day was Friday, the busy week was about to end.

For people who work, Monday is painful, but Friday is joyful.

Even though she had to go with her boss for research on Saturday afternoon, Zhou Zhou was happy. At least she could sleep in on Saturday morning.

She was in a good mood and usually didn’t let overtime ruin her whole weekend.

Because she had a plan with Chi Yao that night, she hurried during the day and didn’t want to use her time after work.

At noon, she sent Cheng Yanan a message asking where he would be on Sunday. She wanted to send his jacket by delivery.

He said he went to Nanjing for a project and wouldn’t be around these days. He had plenty of clothes and didn’t need it urgently.

She sighed many times. Did it matter if he needed it or not?

The main thing was, a big man’s jacket at her house felt strange.

Although it was time to get off work, Mayor Xu was still in a meeting. She didn’t want to keep Chi Yao waiting, so she told Director Wu she had something and left.

The Friday subway was crowded. She finally found the barbecue restaurant where she met Chi Yao, who had already ordered and was grilling meat.

“Hey, Director Zhou, hurry up. I ordered all your favorite foods.”

Chi Yao, without makeup and in a light gray sports outfit, smiled and greeted her.

“Chi Bo, are you really in the northwest blowing sand? Your skin looks better than mine.”

Zhou Zhou joked and quickly put down her things and sat across from her.

Chi Yao saw the bag in her hand and asked, “What did you bring me?”

“Not for you, it’s the camera. I’ll install it later at my parents’ place.”

“Oh~ Director Cheng specially made the camera for you,” Chi Yao teased, stretching out the words.

Zhou Zhou’s heart skipped a beat, but her face showed nothing. “We’re just pure classmates and friends, okay? You’re a doctor, so how come you only think about love stuff?”

“Tch!” Chi Yao grabbed some meat, wrapped it in lettuce, and ate it in big bites. “If Cheng didn’t like you, I’d be delayed getting my doctorate next year.”

“You’re crazy! You’re making such a big bet.” Zhou Zhou knew how hard it was to graduate with a doctorate.

Although Chi Yao was a direct doctoral student, delay was still possible.

“Sis, you’re just a workhorse who only knows work. Think about it. He’s a company vice president, super busy. If he didn’t like you, would he have time to help you install a camera and be your free worker? Also, didn’t he introduce your uncle to buy a car recently? Think about it, would you want to help an ordinary friend move stuff after work?”

Chi Yao said this like she was frustrated at her friend.

Then she asked again, not giving up, “Is Director Cheng handsome?”

“Not handsome, but very tall.”

Chi Yao smiled widely. “How tall? Is he at least 1.8 meters? They say a man’s height is related to some other proportions.”

“……”

Well, since we’re talking about driving, might as well just say it.

Zhou Zhou didn’t want to talk about this and asked, “Why did you come back suddenly? How long will you stay?”

“The project finished. I could rest a few days, so I came back. Four or five days, I think.”

“That’s great! You can rest for so many days!”

Chi Yao was also happy. They often worked in closed conditions, so a few days off was rare.

“Yeah, I haven’t bought clothes for a year, always wearing work clothes. You have to take me shopping later!”

Zhou Zhou remembered what Chen Jing said about Wei Chengyuan’s very clean personal life and smiled secretly. “Does your brother know you’re back?”

I don’t know. Why should I tell him?” Chi Yao replied proudly.

But her expression looked like she was planning a surprise.

Zhou Zhou found it funny. “A few days ago, I had dinner with friends. They said there’s a rumor in H City’s business world — the new Wei company’s boss doesn’t care about anyone’s face and his private life is surprisingly clean.”

“Hmph, what does that have to do with me?”

“If you think it doesn’t matter, I’m just telling you a joke.”

“Hehe, then I’ll just listen.” Although she said she didn’t care, Chi Yao looked like she was about to laugh.

“What exactly is going on between you two now? You’ve liked him for so many years, and he hasn’t found a woman either, but you’re not together. I really don’t get it.”

Zhou Zhou sighed.

She had been busy with school and work and hadn’t met the right person, so she didn’t have anyone she liked.

Chi Yao moved in with the Wei family when she was twelve. She fell in love with her official older brother, Wei Chengyuan, when she was eighteen — almost nine years ago now.

Now Chi Yao was almost twenty-eight, and Wei Chengyuan was thirty-one. But they were not together and both still single. She really didn’t understand.