Returning - Chapter 82
Chapter 82: Kiss
Zhao Yu woke up in Shang Lu's villa, alone in the large, empty bed.
Shang Lu had brought her back to his villa, but he hadn't touched her again. He hadn't even shared the bed with her. He had merely provided her a place to shower and sleep.
It seemed that with the end of that sex which had made him lose control, his rationality had returned, re-establishing the distance that should have always existed between them.
There was no one in the living room. Only a simple breakfast sat on the dining table. It looked like he had already gone to work.
Zhao Yu didn't dwell on everything that had happened the night before, nor did she investigate the reason for his loss of control. She simply washed up calmly and called a car to leave.
Maintaining a proper distance from Shang Lu was a matter of benefit without harm for her. After all, at present, he wasn't strong enough and couldn't help her. As for whether he could be useful in the future, that was a matter for another time.
She had assumed that Xue Zi'ang, having suffered yesterday's blow, definitely wouldn't come to the office. But just as she settled into her workstation, she saw Xue Zi'ang walk in.
He was in a suit and tie, but his state was clearly not good. When their eyes met, he still froze for a moment.
Zhao Yu withdrew her gaze and organized her desk, ready to treat him with the attitude of a stranger. Unexpectedly, he suddenly walked up to her, smiled, and said, "Morning."
Zhao Yu could only offer a standard professional smile. "Morning, President Xue."
Xue Zi'ang said nothing more and went straight into his office.
During lunchtime, just as Zhao Yu was discussing where to eat with Wang Qi and Xia Nan, two delivery workers suddenly showed up, bringing an abundant lunch for all the secretaries and assistants. Naturally, this included Xue Zi'ang's portion as well. He was the one who had ordered.
Meeting Zhao Yu's puzzled gaze, Xue Zi'ang just smiled innocently. "They're all colleagues. Treating everyone to a meal every now and then isn't too much, is it?"
Of course it wasn't. Everyone else accepted openly. If Zhao Yu refused, it would make her seem petty.
It was just that his reaction deviated considerably from what she had anticipated. He refused to react to either soft or hard approaches, completely defying the expected script. For a moment, she didn't even know how to deal with it best.
Xue Zhan disliked lingering food smells outside his office, so everyone ate takeout in the break room at the other end of the floor. When Zhao Yu entered with the group, Xue Zi'ang followed too, but only sat with a few male assistants, not at Zhao Yu's table. She couldn't say anything about it.
Halfway through the meal, someone delivered flowers, specifically requesting Zhao Yu to accept them. Needless to say, it was Xue Zi'ang's doing again.
Yet, under Zhao Yu's once again puzzled gaze, he still wore a calm smile. "Just trying to pursue you again. Whether you accept is your choice. Suit yourself."
Such a nonchalant attitude was worlds apart from the Xue Zi'ang of before. Zhao Yu could now truly confirm that she didn't understand him.
And Xue Zi'ang's reaction also seemed to be beyond Xue Zhan's expectations.
"So he can actually have such a persistent side. Not bad, he's made progress," he said when Zhao Yu entered Xue Zhan's office to deliver documents.
In that moment, she actually felt that in Xue Zhan's eyes, she was nothing more than a tool to help his nephew grow.
"You'll accompany me to the Friday dinner banquet." When personally coming out to give the reviewed report to Zhao Yu, Xue Zhan deliberately lingered a bit longer in front of her desk, issuing a command that the entire office could hear. Xue Zi'ang, with his door wide open, definitely heard it too.
Everyone understood without being told and continued working silently. Zhao Yu nodded. "Okay."
"Also..." As he turned to leave, Xue Zhan suddenly glanced at the bouquet Zhao Yu had placed in the office's communal vase. "That, throw it away."
Zhao Yu obediently complied, tossing the bouquet into the trash. Xue Zi'ang stood at the doorway, quietly watching her. He smiled but still said nothing.
The next day, the flower delivery arrived as usual. They were all top-quality roses, even more than the day before, and already paid for, so they couldn't be returned.
This time, Zhao Yu had a reason not to be polite. The second she signed for them, the next second she threw them in the trash, right in front of all her colleagues.
Seeing the flowers in the trash, Xue Zi'ang still just smiled calmly, without even furrowing his brow, let alone changing his expression.
This man had suddenly reached a whole new level of self-control.
Near the end of the workday, Zhao Yu received a message from Shi Yu: Making a big dinner tonight, come over to my place to eat?
She was almost certain this was Ji Sui's idea, so she agreed readily. When she arrived at Shi Yu's home, as expected, Ji Sui opened the door.
The awkward atmosphere from last time still lingered. Ji Sui was somewhat uncomfortable, and she wore an equally flustered expression as she smiled and greeted him. "You're here too."
"Mm." Ji Sui welcomed her in, helped take the gift bag from her hands, and handed her slippers.
Zhao Yu continued to display a look of embarrassed helplessness while forcing calm, chatting with him cheerfully. "I remember these desserts are all Xiao Xiao's favorites. I didn't remember wrong, did I?"
"You didn't remember wrong." He hadn't even glanced into the bag; his gaze had been fixed on her face the entire time.
When Zhao Yu straightened up after changing her shoes, she "accidentally" met his eyes for a moment, then quickly averted her gaze. He guiltily shifted his eyes away as well, and after ushering her to sit, he went to the kitchen to help.
Throughout the entire meal, the only person who was genuinely carefree and happy was Qu Sixiao. Shi Yu must have heard something from Ji Sui; her intention to set up Zhao Yu and Ji Sui was barely concealed. Ji Sui probably hadn't expected her to be so blatant and could only shoot her frequent warning glances.
Quietly observing their silent exchange, Zhao Yu continued playing the sweet and naïve girl while watching TV with Qu Sixiao, finally feeling completely relieved inside.
Clearly, all her previous worries had been unnecessary. Shang Lu's appearance hadn't raised any suspicions in Ji Sui at all. Instead, it had given him a sense of urgency, accelerating his steps to get closer to her.
This one, she thought, is the real sweet and naïve fool.
When it was time to leave, naturally Ji Sui and Zhao Yu went out together. But she had driven her car, so she didn't need him to see her off at all.
Seeing him looking like he wanted to speak but was holding back, Zhao Yu spoke first. "You... do you have something to say to me?"
Just then, the elevator stopped at the ninth floor, and a large family crowded in, bringing two wildly barking dogs. Ji Sui instinctively grabbed Zhao Yu's arm and pulled her into the corner, turning sideways to shield her from the people and dogs.
Looking up at his sharp, defined features, Zhao Yu pursed her lips in a faint smile and grabbed his arm from behind.
It wasn't a particularly intimate gesture, but it made his body stiffen. When he turned back to look at her, she seemed startled and quickly let go, lowering her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
After hesitating for two seconds, Ji Sui finally reached out his hand, carefully taking hold of hers. Seeing that she didn't struggle, he slowly tightened his grip, his broad palm enveloping her fingers.
He led her by the hand out of the elevator like that, walking her to her car. He was still trying to figure out how to ask to drive her home when she suddenly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.
Ji Sui froze again, staring at her blankly.
Zhao Yu's face was full of shyness. She still didn't dare look at him and just quickly pulled her hand from his grasp. Without a word, she ran into her car and hurriedly started the engine.
It wasn't until the car had gone far that Ji Sui snapped out of his daze. He unconsciously reached up to touch the cheek she had kissed, and a smile suddenly spread across his lips.
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