A beautiful summer night

Shall we go out, Brother Xie?

Xia Wanzhi almost bit her tongue when she said those words.

The only response she received was Xie Qiyan's curt "Heh."

Xia Wanzhi interpreted this sound as a mocking sneer.

The next second, Xie Qiyan's low voice drifted into Xia Wanzhi's ears through the electronic device: "I accept Xia's invitation, little sister."

But as soon as he saw the person, he leaned back in his chair and put on that arrogant attitude again: "Zhou Yu had a fight with Xie Nan because of you at noon. What, do you want him to fight with me again because of you?"

“He doesn’t have the guts to cause trouble for you.” Xia Wanzhi didn’t waste any more words with him, took the contract out of her bag and pushed it towards him to see, “I’m not looking for you because of Zhou Yu.”

Upon seeing the contract clearly, Xie Qiyan's expression returned to normal, and he chuckled lightly: "Yu Fei told me that there's a real troublemaker in the building, and it turns out to be you."

“Yes, it’s me.” Xia Wanzhi nodded and got straight to the point. “I can’t control what you want to do by acquiring Xingyao, but I’ve paid the rent for my studio for thirty years in one lump sum. I’m not moving. No matter how much penalty or compensation you offer, I just don’t want to move.”

Xie Qiyan looked up at her.

To be precise, this morning at the Xie family restaurant was their first official meeting since they grew up.

Everything matched his impression of her.

Until the luncheon began, she kept her head down and followed Zhou Yu silently.

In his memory, Xia Wanzhi would never bow her head.

Years later, none of the people he hated in Beicheng had changed.

Xia Wanzhi, however, transformed from a proud and spoiled little princess into a pitiful girl who bowed her head and compromised in front of others.

"You want me to go easy on you because we've known each other before?" Xie Qiyan asked her.

Xia Wanzhi replied without hesitation, "I doubt we're that close."

Xie Qiyan burst out laughing.

Xia Wanzhi pursed her lips, feigning weakness: "But I really hope you can be lenient."

Now, besides her studio, she has nothing left.

Getting Xie Qiyan to agree is her only chance.

Xie Qiyan lowered his eyes, tapping the table with his knuckles at a moderate pace, and after a long while said, "I've never been one for manners. Since we have no relationship, why should I make an exception for you?"

Xia Wanzhi clenched her fists, her eyes filled with resentment and stubbornness as she stared at him.

The families had a deep bond, and they had known each other since childhood. Xia Wanzhi was the darling of the family since she was a child, and everyone doted on her like a little princess. But she only stumbled with Xie Qiyan.

After the unpleasant parting, Xia Wanzhi returned to her studio and was about to pick up her brush to finish the last half of the painting in the order when she was informed by the client that the order had been cancelled.

The order for which a deposit has been paid is neither drawn nor returned to the other party.

Is she some kind of monster?

Zhu Zi watched her through a glass window, watching her hold her brush suspended in mid-air for ten minutes, watching her become absorbed in a canvas.

She didn't know how strong Xia Wanzhi was to not cry. Bad news kept coming one after another, and she was afraid that one day she would collapse.

Hearing Zhu Zi's sobs, Xia Wanzhi slowly came back to her senses. After untying her paint-stained apron, she pushed open the glass door and came out, chuckling softly, "Why are you crying?"

"Sister, I'm so scared." Zhu Zi wiped away her tears in a panic, choking back sobs. "I don't want to leave you. You said you would take me with you wherever you went."

If the studio can't continue, given Xia Wanzhi's personality, she will definitely arrange another good job for her.

But Zhu Zi only wanted to stay by Xia Wanzhi's side.

Zhu Zi is an orphan, and also a student who was personally sponsored by Xia Wanzhi to complete her university studies.

After starting university, Zhu Zi would come over to help whenever she had free time, until she officially became Xia Wanzhi's assistant after graduating last year.

She is only two years younger than Xia Wanzhi.

But everything about the bamboo was given to it by Xia Wanzhi.

Xia Wanzhi took a deep breath and hugged the bamboo tightly: "What are you doing? Of course I won't leave you."

She just doesn't know what to do now.

It was quite late when Xia Wanzhi returned to the Zhou family home. She was momentarily stunned when she entered the door.

This is the first time Zhou's parents have been sitting in the living room at this hour.

It's like they're waiting for someone.

Or rather, he was waiting for her.

"Uncle, Auntie," Xia Wanzhi greeted them, her voice hoarse from her worsening cold.

Zhou's mother frowned, not even gesturing for her to sit down, and said in a low voice, "Zhizhi, I'm not trying to criticize you, but Zhou Yu is injured at home, and you're only coming back at this hour. You don't act like a fiancée at all."

"Sorry, the studio is a bit busy." Xia Wanzhi stood there accepting Zhou's mother's questioning.

"Women manage the household while men manage external affairs. Zhou Yu is busy and you're busy too. Who will take care of him in the future? Who will manage this family in the future?" Zhou's mother rubbed her forehead in anger. Seeing that Zhou's father remained silent, she reached out and pushed him.

Xia Wanzhi lowered her eyes and listened attentively to the instruction.

Mr. Zhou sighed helplessly: "You child, you weren't this quiet before, why don't you say a word now?"

"What Uncle and Auntie said is true." Xia Wanzhi's head was spinning, and she tried her best to brush it off.

She knew they had a problem with her.

From the moment the Xia family had their accident, from the moment she moved in, they all changed.

Everything has changed.

As she went upstairs, Zhou's mother's voice came from behind, which Xia Wanzhi heard clearly.

"Look at her, look at her now!"

Despite her headache, Xia Wanzhi took the first-aid kit from her room and went to find Zhou Yu. When she opened the door, Zhou Yu's eyes were filled with surprise.

"Gardenia?"

"Have you applied medicine to the corner of his mouth?" Xia Wanzhi pointed to the broken skin on the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Yu snapped out of his daze, smiled, and shook his head: "This little injury is nothing."

"Come in, I'll apply the medicine for you." Xia Wanzhi pushed him inside and gently and slowly opened the first-aid kit.

The whole process was quiet. Zhou Yu stared at her without blinking. Xia Wanzhi knew this, but she just didn't dare to meet his gaze.

She didn't know why.

She didn't know when it started, but the distance between her and Zhou Yu grew further and further apart.

“Zhi Zhi…” Zhou Yu’s voice was slightly hoarse, and his gaze became burning.

Xia Wanzhi's wrist, which was holding the cotton swab, was gripped tightly. A strong masculine scent enveloped her. They were very close, so close that he was about to kiss her slightly pale lips in the next second.

They were engaged.

He has the right and the qualification to kiss her.

Xia Wanzhi tried to convince herself.

But when they were so close, Xia Wanzhi choked on her saliva, turned her head away, covered her chest, and coughed several times.

He coughed so hard that a thin mist of water clung to his eyelashes.

She didn't understand why the thought of doing something intimate with Zhou Yu made her feel so uncomfortable.

Zhou Yu's movements stopped for a moment, he froze for a while, and seemed to laugh at himself, but quickly covered it up, patting Xia Wanzhi on the back and asking with a smile, "Are you alright?"

"I choked." Xia Wanzhi swallowed.

"It's alright, get some rest early tonight." Zhou Yu helped her pack her medicine kit. After a while, he seemed to hesitate and lingered for a long time before finally saying, "I've been busy with work these past few days, so I might not be able to stay by your side all the time."

"Go ahead and do what you need to do, don't worry about me." Xia Wanzhi had no idea what he was thinking before saying the second half of his sentence.

But what he really meant to say wasn't what he's saying now.

She didn't mention the farce that happened in the Xie family's side hall at noon today, and Zhou Yu also seemed to be avoiding the topic.

Those nauseating words still lingered in her mind. Xia Wanzhi closed her eyes, somewhat confused about her relationship with Zhou Yu.