He said he had never disliked her?
Their eyes met across the distance. After a few seconds, Zhou Dang casually curled the corner of his mouth and raised his glass in a friendly gesture.
Xuan Yang finally snapped out of it, suppressing her shock. She nodded in acknowledgment, thanking him for his outspokenness just now.
This was the second time tonight.
Zhou Dang had defended her like this.
His demeanor was also much more composed, a far cry from the unruly, offbeat silver-haired teenager he used to be.
"Yangyang, did you feel it? Just for a moment there, Zhou Dang was kind of handsome."
The voice of Xie Xinglan beside her brought Xuan Yang back to reality. She didn't deny it, simply staring unblinkingly at the man not far away.
In her mind, she was calculating how to respond if he came over directly. If others saw them together, it would inevitably spark more gossip. So subconsciously, Xuan Yang hoped Zhou Dang would keep his distance for now.
Perhaps her wish was too strong, because Zhou Dang really didn't come over. After raising his glass in acknowledgment and receiving her response, the curve of his lips deepened slightly. Without another word, he turned and went to socialize elsewhere.
Such composure, propriety, and thoughtfulness largely won Xuan Yang's favor. Her impression of him had improved significantly.
Xie Xinglan linked arms with her again and sighed softly. "I never expected my third cousin not only has good looks but also such strong principles."
"No wonder he's now one of the most sought-after men in our circle. Seems like he does have his merits."
Xuan Yang nodded in agreement.
Still, she was very curious about how Zhou Dang had changed so much. If it were his old self, he wouldn't have bothered with such trivial matters. Standing by indifferently and watching from above had always been his style.
Xuan Yang was curious. "When did he start becoming... so kind?"
Xie Xinglan shook her head. "I don't know. I don't see him much on a daily basis. Why would I pay attention to someone I'm not close to?" After a thoughtful pause, she added, "But there is one thing I know. Zhou Dang started focusing on his career after my cousin and his wife died in a car accident."
"According to my dad, Zhou Dang had just graduated from college that year. He was loafing around, eating, drinking, and having fun with guys like Chen Xingyue—the typical idle, squandering prodigal son."
"My cousin tried to persuade him to change his ways and visited his apartment a few times. Then, that winter, my cousin and his wife died in a tragic car accident. The Zhou family faced the need to choose a new leader, and there was fierce infighting."
"In the end, no one expected that the person who entered Zhou Group and became its CEO was Zhou Dang." Speaking of this, Xie Xinglan was both emotional and wistful. "My cousin always treated Zhou Dang like a little brother. Maybe his death ignited Zhou Dang's fighting spirit. Anyway, after that, Zhou Dang seemed to change."
As for exactly how, Xie Xinglan wasn't sure. Because she truly didn't have much contact with Zhou Dang. Most of what she knew came from the elders in her family. But she was clear that Zhou Dang's transformation from a good-for-nothing Third Young Master Zhou to the next leader of the Zhou family, President Zhou, must have been earth-shattering.
Xuan Yang understood, and a thought formed in her mind—
Since Zhou Dang didn't dislike her, and now he was so composed and thoughtful in dealing with people and matters, could she consider adding him to her list of potential marriage candidates?
If only looked at as a marriage partner, the current Zhou Dang was indeed a suitable choice.
Author's note:
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President Zhou: I will use every means to catch your attention. [sunglasses]
Yangyang: Man, you've successfully caught my attention. [dog head]