-006- I Can't Make Decisions for President Zhou.
The night was deep, the moon hanging high.
Zhou Dang, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the door of a black Grand G. His legs, wrapped in dark trousers, were long and straight, exuding a strong presence. His dark brown, cool-toned black hair was simply styled, with an excellent crown height that made his facial contours even more pronounced, handsome and heroic. The lights in the villa's courtyard interwove light and shadow, carving Zhou Dang's face into bright and dark areas, making it hard to read his expression.
Mother Xuan deliberately went to the courtyard to greet him, speaking politely: "A Dang is here. Why not come inside and sit?"
Zhou Dang straightened up and nodded politely. "The He family's birthday banquet is about to start, time is a bit tight." He smiled, but his eyes were indifferent and distant. His steady voice carried the oppressive feeling of a superior.
Before Mother Xuan could ask his purpose, Zhou Dang's gaze passed over Zhou Lin and Xuan Yao, landing on Xuan Yang, who was walking at the back. "Miss Xuan, Chen Xingyue had to go abroad on a sudden business trip and asked me to accompany you to tonight's banquet."
Xuan Yang was surprised by his gentlemanly politeness and nodded woodenly. "I appreciate the trouble."
Zhou Dang said no more, simply walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
Xuan Yang said goodbye to her mother, "Mom, I'll ride with President Zhou."
As she passed Xuan Yao, the latter called out to her. Xuan Yao clutched her light beige clutch bag tightly, smiling with dignified composure. "How about we go together? It'll be nice to have company." She even turned to ask Zhou Lin's opinion.
Zhou Lin, always easygoing and agreeable, smiled and had no objection. "What do you think, A Dang?" He looked at Zhou Dang by the passenger door.
Zhou Dang raised an eyebrow and refused without a second thought. "Not convenient."
Xuan Yao was stunned, as if she couldn't believe Zhou Dang would be so blunt. After all, Zhou Lin was his cousin; wouldn't he give that much face?
Zhou Dang spoke again, his gaze heavy on Xuan Yang. "We're going to be late, Miss Xuan."
Xuan Yang was about to say something, but Xuan Yao grabbed her arm. "Sister..." Xuan Yao lowered her posture, as if pleading.
Xuan Yang found it novel. This was the first time since Xuan Yao returned to the Xuan family that she had called her "sister." But she felt no pity. Smiling, she pulled Xuan Yao's hand away, looking helpless. "Sorry, little sister. I can't make decisions for President Zhou."
Xuan Yao: "..."
Xuan Yang turned and walked without looking back toward the limited-edition black Grand G. Under Zhou Dang's half-smiling gaze, she sat in the passenger seat.
Zhou Dang held the door, subtly looking her up and down, his gaze lingering briefly on her delicate shoulder and neck lines before retracting imperceptibly. Closing the door, he walked back to the driver's side and greeted Mother Xuan and the others: "I'll see Xuan Yang home safely later."
Mother Xuan stopped him. "Wait a moment." She clearly remembered that her second sister Chen Yinrong, who had married into the Zhou family's third branch, had told her that Zhou Dang and He Chen had never gotten along since childhood. Therefore, at He Chen's birthday banquets, Zhou Dang would send someone with a gift just for show; he never attended personally. That was why she had advised Xuan Yao to choose Zhou Lin as her date. Yet this year, Zhou Dang was acting out of character—not only attending He Chen's birthday banquet but also attending as Xuan Yang's date. She really didn't know what he was up to. And Xingyue, why was he so disobedient? She'd have to talk to his father about keeping him in line.
Zhou Dang lowered the car window and looked at Mother Xuan. His deep gaze was somehow eerie, forcing her to look at Xuan Yang. "Yangyang, you and the Chen family are already engaged. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to attend the He family's birthday banquet alone with A Dang tonight. Why not go with your sister instead?"
Xuan Yang's gaze passed over Zhou Dang, meeting her mother's eyes across the distance. Her scarlet lips parted.
Before she could speak, the tall figure of Zhou Dang beside her moved, cutting off Xuan Yang's line of sight, blocking her behind him. Zhou Dang rested his arm on the window frame and gave a slight curl of his lips to Mother Xuan. "Are you afraid I might do something improper to Xuan Yang when we're alone?"
Mother Xuan was taken aback; that hadn't been her intention. But Zhou Dang didn't give her a chance to explain. "By the way, have Xuan Yang and Chen Xingyue held an engagement ceremony?"
The question came abruptly, leaving everyone confused. Mother Xuan was dazed.
Zhou Dang raised his eyebrows, his tone laced with sarcasm. "The Xuan and Chen families are both prestigious in the capital. For their children to marry without even an engagement ceremony—doesn't sound very good if word gets out." Zhou Dang's words weren't exactly gentle.
Mother Xuan's expression shifted, and she finally said, "Of course there is one. It's still being prepared."
Smiling deeper, Zhou Dang said understandingly, "Oh, I see. In that case, since Miss Xuan and I are both unmarried, what's there to be nervous about if we attend a banquet together? Do you not trust my character, or do you not trust your own daughter?"
A few sarcastic remarks from Zhou Dang left Mother Xuan speechless. Eventually, she had to shut her mouth and silently allow Xuan Yang to leave with Zhou Dang.
Beside her, Xuan Yao secretly tightened her grip on her light beige clutch, feeling uneasy. This was the first time she had seen Zhou Dang unguardedly defend someone unrelated to him. Could he have taken a liking to Xuan Yang? No, that shouldn't be. They had made many enemies during high school, known to everyone. Zhou Dang should be very annoyed with Xuan Yang.
-
The black Grand G smoothly drove out of the Xuan Family Villa. Behind it followed Zhou Lin's Bentley. Xuan Yang glanced in the rearview mirror, still processing the scene where Zhou Dang had defended her. It was hard to digest.
The man in the driver's seat stepped on the accelerator, accelerating smoothly, soon leaving the black Bentley far behind. Only then did he slow down. The slight pushback brought Xuan Yang back to her senses. She turned her gaze to Zhou Dang's handsome profile. "Thank you for earlier." No matter what, Zhou Dang had spoken up for her.
The man looked straight ahead, his bony hands on the steering wheel, his pale wrist contrasting sharply with the seven- or eight-figure black watch. "Just a casual 'thank you' is enough?"
Xuan Yang: "..." She shouldn't have spoken.
Zhou Dang glanced at her, a faint smile on his cold handsome face, quite self-righteous. "Won't you treat me to a meal?"
Xuan Yang was taken aback, thinking he would use this to make things difficult for her. "Sure, whenever President Zhou has time," she agreed. A meal was nothing she couldn't afford.
Zhou Dang smiled and didn't continue. Instead, Xuan Yang asked about Chen Xingyue. "Wasn't Chen Xingyue in Jingbei last night? How is he gone today?"
Zhou Dang said indifferently, "He went on vacation to a private island early this morning." After a pause, he added, "It's one of my private islands."
Xuan Yang gave him a deep look, seriously suspecting he was showing off his wealth. But she didn't have time for that now. "Is he planning to keep hiding?"
Zhou Dang looked straight ahead, waiting for the green light before lightly stepping on the accelerator. "For now, yes."
Xuan Yang fell silent, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat, frowning in thought. She worried that Chen Xingyue's avoidance wouldn't solve anything. If left too long, the Xuan and Chen families might find him uncontrollable and turn their focus on her. This matter was indeed quite tricky.
The car fell into silence. Zhou Dang noticed in the rearview mirror that the black Bentley had caught up at some point. He subtly stepped on the accelerator again.
The two cars had been racing since leaving the Xuan villa, and they only stopped at the Banshan Villa in the southern part of the city. Zhou Dang drove well—fast but steady. Xuan Yang barely felt the several times he accelerated. Especially on the winding mountain roads, she didn't feel dizzy or uncomfortable at all.
In contrast, Xuan Yao looked pale when she got out of the car, sweating heavily, even the color of her lips were faint. Clearly, she was carsick.
Today was He Chen's 28th birthday. The guests were all wealthy and noble, most of them young faces from their circle. Xie Xinglan had been arranged by her family to be He Chen's dance partner and was accompanying him in the front yard to greet guests. When she saw Xuan Yang walking in arm in arm with Zhou Dang, she was shocked and instinctively tightened her grip on He Chen's arm.
He Chen, standing beside her, frowned slightly. His gaze swept over her fair, slender hand and couldn't help but linger briefly on the perfect curve outlined by her tight dress. He became uncomfortable.
Before He Chen could clear his throat and speak, Xie Xinglan released one hand and raised it to wave. She smiled brightly and called out to Xuan Yang, who was approaching. "Yangyang! Over here!"
Xuan Yang had already noticed her, especially since the well-dressed man beside her was the host of tonight's banquet. He Chen in a suit and bow tie was as stunning as Zhou Dang, impossible to ignore.
Xuan Yang raised her hand in response, planning to go over. But she remembered something in time and turned to the arm she was holding. "I want to go say hi to Lanlan. Is that okay with you?"