Chapter 55

Chen Xi could not figure out why he always managed to maintain such a composed and effortless demeanor in front of her.

Clearly, the atmosphere between them was agonizingly awkward, yet he could effortlessly break the ice, casually toss out an irrelevant topic, and easily gloss over that unspoken boundary that lay between them.

Chen Xi was incapable of doing what he did.

Therefore, for the remainder of the drive, no matter what Zhou Yanzhou asked, she turned her face away to avoid looking at him, refusing to utter a single syllable in response.

At first, Zhou Yanzhou was slightly annoyed, but by the end, it only left him feeling amused.

At that moment, he thought to himself, why is this girl still throwing childlike tantrums?

He had actually thought she had truly grown up, but judging by the present, it was all an act.

It was a blindingly sunny afternoon. Beijing, having just stepped into the threshold of summer, rarely had such clear skies. Sunlight spilled over the body of the car, piercing through the glass into the interior, roasting the leather seats until they were comfortably warm.

Baking in the harsh sunlight, Chen Xi wilted slightly. Her fair cheeks bore a clear, translucent flush, resembling a freshly ripened honey peach.

The sunlight was too dazzling. Subconsciously, Chen Xi straightened her back, pulled down the sun visor, and turned her head slightly to stare blankly and silently at the scenery steadily receding outside the window.

In vast Beijing, she had spent two or three years in this city yet still struggled with directions, only able to recognize a few tourist spots and landmark buildings that everyone visited.

As the car drove past Gu Lou East Street, Chen Xi suddenly recalled the first time she came to Beijing, when he had also walked her down this very street.

Yet back then, her heart was entirely tethered to him; what did she care about the roads they walked or the places they visited, as long as he was there?

It was not as if she had never walked down this street in the past few years, but every time, Chen Xi had been alone. Now, stepping into his car once more, Chen Xi abruptly realized that he had changed his car again.

The Cullinan that Xie Nanzhou had gasped at last time had been replaced by the current Porsche. Recalling the Mercedes he used to drive in Xiping, Chen Xi could not help but wonder just how many luxury cars filled his garage.

As her thoughts drifted to this point, Chen Xi suddenly recalled what Li Qing had once said in the dormitory: this world is simply built so that the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer. Aside from novels and television dramas, where on earth would you find someone from the bottom ranks leaping overnight to become masters of society? Chen Xi had found herself in deep agreement.

So, was Zhou Yanzhou even richer now?

The Sail Hotel had been immensely popular right from its opening. Countless out-of-towners made special trips to Xiping just to spend a single night at the Xizhou Hotel, accompanied by endless streams of internet influencers and celebrities secretly dropping hints for advertisements.

Overnight, the Xizhou Hotel became a premier tourist hotspot in Xiping, driving up the local GDP to the extent that television stations scrambled to report on it, and even the local government willingly and gladly helped expand its renown.

By now, the Xizhou Hotel had already opened multiple chain locations across several cities. Every time a new one opened, the hotel manager would call Chen Xi to inform her that a suite had been specifically reserved for her, welcoming her to stay whenever she pleased.

It was not as though Chen Xi had never rejected the offer, but every attempt at refusal proved futile.

When she tried to ask for the reason, the manager would only reply with an inscrutable air: "Orders from above."

The moment she heard that, Chen Xi knew whose idea it was.

Back then, she was remarkably stubborn. After several failed attempts to contact Zhou Yanzhou, she stopped going to the Xizhou Hotel altogether, treating it like a forbidden zone that, once touched, would shatter her to pieces.

Her thoughts returning to the present, Chen Xi turned her head and gazed silently at the man driving, desperately wanting to demand, "Didn't we agree back then never to see each other again? What is the meaning of all this now?"

Yet the words died on her lips, impossible to voice.

She pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and stubbornly fixed her gaze straight ahead.

Her posture suggested she intended to make a complete and utter break with Zhou Yanzhou once and for all.

Noticing her subtle movements, Zhou Yanzhou paused briefly before resting one hand on the steering wheel while his other hand slid open the armrest compartment to retrieve a lighter and a cigarette pack.

Using the pack, he lowered his head, bit down on a cigarette, and flicked the lighter open right before Chen Xi's eyes.

As smoke began to drift across the front of the cabin, Zhou Yanzhou proactively rolled down the window.

He took two puffs to suppress the sullen weight in his chest, and only after a long moment did he speak up: "Do you think I'm a really boring person?"

Chen Xi was stunned, clearly not expecting Zhou Yanzhou to ask such a question.

While she was still weighing her words, Zhou Yanzhou suddenly chuckled, smoothly and calmly changing the subject: "When did you start dating?"

Was this him preparing to get down to business? Or was he trying to fish for information about what she had been up to these past few years?

Chen Xi muttered inwardly to herself, but aloud she replied, "About half a year ago. He pursued me."

The latter half of the sentence was clearly unnecessary, yet Chen Xi stubbornly tacked it on.

Hearing this, Zhou Yanzhou raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise.

Recalling the gossip Jiang Chi had spilled, coupled with the documents left discarded in his office, he could not help but frown: "You like him?"

Chen Xi abruptly looked up, a trace of disbelief painting her features: "If I didn't like him, why would I be with him?"

Zhou Yanzhou was amused by Chen Xi's sudden burst of emotion. He took another drag of his cigarette, tapped away the ash, glanced sideways for two seconds at Chen Xi's earnest expression, and spoke with an indescribable calmness: "Don't get excited, I was just asking."

Chen Xi was bewildered by his reaction. After a long moment of processing, she finally caught onto his intentions, her expression instantly chilling as she said blankly, "Whether I'm seeing someone or not, what business is it of yours?"

"Who do you think you are to me? Are we even close?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Chen Xi regretted them.

***

She could not fathom why she always exposed her truest thoughts in front of Zhou Yanzhou, completely incapable of keeping her temper in check.

Perhaps realizing she had slipped up, Chen Xi finally quieted down, stubbornly refusing to answer any more of Zhou Yanzhou's questions.

Zhou Yanzhou did not grow angry. His patience seemed boundless as he rattled off quite a few jokes along the way in an attempt to cheer Chen Xi up.

Yet Chen Xi was still simmering with anger and refused to take in a single word.

The car drove near Nanluoguxiang, turned into a narrow alley, and came to a stop before the gates of a traditional courtyard house.

The area was teeming with tourists. Numerous visitors from out of town were holding cameras and checking in around the <i>hutong</i>. The parking spot happened to be right beside a celebrity's former residence, with crowds lined up to visit.

Sitting inside the car and watching the tourists, Chen Xi realized for the first time how fascinating it must be to view them from Zhou Yanzhou's perspective.

When she first came to Beijing, had he also looked at her with this same spectator's detachment?

Chen Xi did not dare to dwell on it, terrified that the truth would prove too ugly.

Two imposing stone lions stood guard at the entrance of the courtyard house. The vermilion-painted wooden gates were tightly shut, making it impossible to tell if anyone was inside.

After picking up his phone to make a call, Zhou Yanzhou quietly waited inside the car.

Not knowing what his game was, Chen Xi stubbornly stayed put in the car as well.

After an indeterminate wait, a narrow gap suddenly cracked open in the center of the tightly sealed red doors, and a middle-aged man dressed in a grey long gown emerged.

Spotting the Porsche parked outside, the man walked over respectfully, bent down to knock on the window, and invited Zhou Yanzhou inside.

Zhou Yanzhou unlocked the car doors, pushed his door open, and greeted the man with reverent politeness as "Uncle Zhong." Then, he glanced back at Chen Xi, who remained stubbornly frozen in the passenger seat, and called out evenly, "What are you staring at for? Get out of the car."

In a state of mental turmoil, Chen Xi unbuckled her seatbelt and followed Zhou Yanzhou through those mysterious gates.

The moment she stepped inside, a faint fragrance of lotus blossoms drifted over her. While Chen Xi was still wondering where the scent came from, she rounded the moon gate and found a lotus pond nestled in the center of the courtyard.

It was the peak of the blooming season, and the pond was practically covered in lotus flowers. Red, white, and pink blossoms nestled among the green leaves, exuding an unprovoked elegance and tranquility.

Captivated by the lotus pond, Chen Xi lingered on the sight for several seconds. Noticing this, Zhou Yanzhou turned back to instruct Uncle Zhong: "Cut a few lotus stems and put them in a vase."

Uncle Zhong readily agreed.

Coming back to her senses upon hearing this, Chen Xi lifted her gaze to cast a surprised glance at Zhou Yanzhou.

He seemed to frequent this place, moving through it with absolute familiarity.

He walked ahead, bypassed the lotus pond, and led the way directly into the eastern wing room. Following him inside, Chen Xi discovered a completely different world within.

The interior was furnished in an antique style, dominated primarily by rosewood furniture. Even the folding screen positioned in the center featured a running horse painting by Xu Beihong, while the vase stationed near the entryway appeared, upon closer inspection, to date back to the Ming or Qing dynasty.

While Chen Xi marveled at the immense wealth of the courtyard's owner, Zhou Yanzhou had already pulled out a chair and seated himself, patiently perusing the menu.

Noticing Chen Xi standing dazedly by the entrance, Zhou Yanzhou closed the menu, lifted his eyes, and chuckled lightly: "Mesmerized?"

The scene was intimately familiar. For two brief seconds, Chen Xi drifted off in a trance, almost believing she had traveled back in time.

It took her a good while to snap out of it. Feigning composure, she walked over to the round table, bypassed him by a couple of paces, and pulled out the chair directly opposite Zhou Yanzhou, seating herself with an expressionless face.

Zhou Yanzhou slid the menu across the table toward Chen Xi, signaling her to order.

Chen Xi glanced at the outrageously exorbitant prices listed on the menu and frowned, refusing to move.

After waiting for a long moment without seeing her order, Zhou Yanzhou furrowed his brow and asked, "Not satisfied with the dishes here?"

Forging an ugly smile, Chen Xi deliberately remarked, "I wouldn't dare. A poor student like me doesn't deserve to eat here."

At last, Zhou Yanzhou understood—she was deliberately trying to rankle him.

With an ambiguous smile, he retrieved the menu, casually selected a few signature dishes, and instructed the waiter to send over a pot of tea.

While waiting for the food, Chen Xi felt exceptionally ill at ease sitting in her chair.

She desperately wanted to find an excuse to slip away, but lifting her gaze to meet Zhou Yanzhou's detached eyes, her courage suddenly evaporated.

An invisible wall seemed to separate the two of them; even sitting face to face, neither could discern what the other was thinking.

Zhou Yanzhou attempted to strike up a conversation to break the silence, but Chen Xi refused to bite every single time.

In the end, nothing remained in the eastern wing room except the faint sounds of shifting chairs and tables.

Midway through the meal, a man dressed in a Zhongshan suit suddenly walked in.

Zhou Yanzhou, who had been lounging lazily just a moment before, immediately stood up upon seeing the man. With a respectful expression, he extended his hand for a handshake, greeting him in a gentle tone: "Uncle Gu."

The man addressed as Uncle Gu had a square face, a crew cut, and a striking red badge pinned to his chest, radiating an air of severe sternness.

Subconsciously, Chen Xi stood up as well, staring blankly as Zhou Yanzhou exchanged greetings with the man.

The man patted Zhou Yanzhou on the shoulder, the severity on his face softening slightly to reveal a touch of amiability: "You brat, how do you have the time to drop by my place?"

"How is your old man's health lately?"

At the mention of his family, Zhou Yanzhou shed his previous casual demeanor, his expression turning much more serious: "He's recovering. His spirits have been quite good lately, he even has the energy to go traveling."

The man let out a hearty laugh, checked his wristwatch, and said, "I have a meeting to attend. You go ahead and eat, we'll chat another time."

"Don't you forget about the main task, brat."

With that, the man turned and left, never once glancing in Chen Xi's direction throughout the entire interaction, treating her as if she were sheer air.

Chen Xi felt a degree of embarrassment, though upon second thought, she figured it was no big deal.

The moment the man departed, Zhou Yanzhou cast a sideways glance at Chen Xi and coolly introduced: "That was Tang Yuan's stepfather. He currently holds a high-ranking official post. This courtyard house was left to her by her mother."

Chen Xi looked blankly confused, failing to understand why Zhou Yanzhou was suddenly giving her this lecture.

Besides, she wasn't even close to Tang Yuan. What did Tang Yuan's family background have to do with her?

Reading Chen Xi's petty thoughts with a single glance, Zhou Yanzhou took advantage of the waiter serving the final dish to pick up his chopsticks, place a piece of pork rib into a bowl, and say with tranquil calm: "My cousin has been spoiled and domineering since childhood. Everyone in the family yields to her, and her mother spoils her to the point of giving her whatever she demands."

At this, Zhou Yanzhou paused, letting his gaze fall upon the face of the girl opposite him as he added nonchalantly: "Whenever she sets her sights on something, there has never been a single instance where she didn't snatch it away."

A sudden realization struck Chen Xi: was Zhou Yanzhou warning her that Tang Yuan liked Xie Nanzhou? And that she was determined to get him?

Wait.

Tang Yuan was Zhou Yanzhou's actual cousin? Why had she never heard him mention having a cousin before?

As she pondered this, a piece of sweet and sour pork rib suddenly landed in her bowl.

Chen Xi snapped her head up, only to meet Zhou Yanzhou's gaze laced with playful mockery. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy watching her panic and fluster.

Whether in the past or now, he always had.

Tapping the edge of the table, Zhou Yanzhou offered a reminder: "Eat your food first. Stop overthinking."

Having lost all appetite, Chen Xi could hardly swallow a single bite.

The meal tasted like dust to her. Just when she thought the ordeal was over, halfway through, Xie Nanzhou suddenly called.

Chen Xi hadn't set her phone to silent. The ringtone blared from the tabletop, cutting their conversation short. Since Zhou Yanzhou sat close to Chen Xi, a brief glance at the phone screen was enough to reveal who was calling.

Xie Nanzhou.

Her legitimate, rightful current boyfriend.

Far more useful than a past tense figure like him who possessed neither a title nor a future.

Abruptly losing his appetite, Zhou Yanzhou set down his chopsticks, crossed his legs, and stared at Chen Xi with keen interest, eager to see how she would handle this.

The ringtone chimed on and on until the final few seconds, when Chen Xi finally cracked and answered. Over the phone, Xie Nanzhou's anxious voice pierced through the speaker, echoing in the empty room: "Xixi, where are you? I've been looking for you everywhere, you aren't at school!"

Caught off guard, Chen Xi locked eyes with Zhou Yanzhou. He watched her in absolute silence; though he said nothing at all, she could feel that he was waiting to watch her make a fool of herself, waiting to see how she would reply.

"Xixi, I really was wrong. Won't you forgive me this once? I promise I won't ever back you into a corner like that again."

Through the phone, Xie Nanzhou continued his non-stop explanations, while the man across the table unhurriedly picked up his lighter, lit a cigarette, and took intermittent drags.

The table full of culinary delicacies seemed to mock Chen Xi, laying bare her internal guilt.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Xi stood up, walked over to the window, and stared out through the glass at the lotus pond in the courtyard, suddenly regretting that she had answered the call.

Receiving no response from Chen Xi for a long stretch, Xie Nanzhou unconsciously raised his voice: "Xixi, why aren't you saying anything? Where are you?"

Closing her eyes, Chen Xi instinctively lied: "Near China World Trade Center. I just finished an interview."

Relentless, Xie Nanzhou pressed on: "Send me your address, I'll come pick you up."

Instinctively, Chen Xi refused: "No need, I'm with my roommate."

"I have some things to take care of, I'm hanging up."

Without waiting for Xie Nanzhou's reply, Chen Xi frantically disconnected the call.

Turning around, she was met with Zhou Yanzhou's teasing gaze. Lifting his chin slightly, he deliberately called her bluff: "With your roommate?"

"Am I someone who can't be seen in public, or do you have a guilty conscience?"