Zhou Sujin: “You Forgot To Take Your Blazer. I’ll Keep It Here?”
Wei Lai took a few seconds to digest his sudden arrival. Perhaps it wasn’t so sudden to Zhou Sujin, as he was here in Jiang City for a meeting.
She wasn’t shy at all and said, “See you tonight.”
Zhou Sujin responded, “Okay.”
He asked her where she was, offering to come pick her up.
Wei Lai was currently on the road, out handling some work matters, and hadn’t returned to the office yet. She glanced out the car window. “Are you still staying at the same hotel as before? I’ll wait for you there.”
She added, “I’m near the hotel, so it’s convenient for me to come over.”
But Zhou Sujin insisted, “Just wait where you are.”
Wei Lai found a parking spot and sent him her precise location. In less than ten minutes, a black Bentley turned onto the street.
Recognizing the Beijing license plate, she got out of the car.
Almost simultaneously, Zhou Sujin stepped out of the Bentley.
Separated by three weeks in different cities, long-distance “lovers” finally met again. However, because they weren’t really a couple, her acting still hadn’t reached the point where she could run over and ask if he missed her.
Of course, it wasn’t just a matter of acting; his cold and reserved demeanor made her reluctant to do so.
Meeting his gaze, Wei Lai smiled and greeted him, but for some reason, her smile felt forced, as if she were greeting a client with a professional, artificial smile.
Turning to look at Uncle Yan at the side, she smiled genuinely. “Uncle Yan.”
Uncle Yan smiled and nodded in return.
Zhou Sujin approached her and extended his hand. “The car key.”
Wei Lai handed him the key, noticing his long, slender fingers and distinct knuckles, unable to resist stealing another glance.
It was now their private time together. He got into the driver’s seat of the Cullinan, and Wei Lai got into the passenger seat. It was the first time sitting in a car driven by him.
In the past, it was always Uncle Yan who drove, making it inconvenient for her to talk to him. Now that it was convenient, she found herself at a loss for words.
“I’ll treat you tonight,” Wei Lai broke the silence in the car.
Zhou Sujin: “There will be plenty of opportunities for you to treat me. Today, I came to see you.”
“What do you want to eat?” he asked.
No longer fixated on who would treat whom, Wei Lai blurted out, “I wanna eat hotpot.”
Zhou Sujin: “….”
Wei Lai genuinely wanted to have hotpot, but seeing his reaction, she realized belatedly that he and his blind date had gone to eat hotpot. In their social circle, even the details of what he ate on his blind date were vividly discussed.
She chuckled, “Let’s go somewhere else. If we really go for hotpot and bump into someone we know, they’ll definitely say I’m a copycat.”
Zhou Sujin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. It seemed that someone had told her what he ate that night.
“Accompany me to try some local dishes?”
“Sure,” Wei Lai suggested a renowned local restaurant, a decades-old establishment loved by locals for its authentic and affordable cuisine.
The restaurant was located on the same street as her office, about a ten-minute walk away.
During the designer’s recent visit to Jiang City, she had accompanied them to this restaurant for lunch for five consecutive days, trying out all their signature dishes. The designer had even openly stated that they must visit again the next time they were here.
Zhou Sujin inputted the destination into Maps, and a “Wei Lai Supermarket” appeared on the screen.
“How large are your family’s supermarkets?” he asked casually.
“From several hundred to several thousand square meters,” Wei Lai pointed toward the one displayed on the screen, “This one is the largest, and my office is on the second floor.”
The latter part of her sentence was a bit unnecessary, but once spoken, it couldn’t be unsent like a message.
She was adept at swiftly changing the subject, talking about the SUV, “Why didn’t you opt for the Starlight Headliner?”
Zhou Sujin: “What’s the point of that? You can see real stars in the sky for free.”
Wei Lai: “…”
Not romantic at all.
But in the next moment, he glanced at her and asked, “Do you want the Starlight Headliner?”
The way he asked made it difficult for her to respond.
After all, they weren’t in a real relationship.
Wei Lai could only dodge the main question. “The Starlight Headliner looks nice.”
He didn’t respond, and the conversation subsided.
As they neared the restaurant, Wei Lai realized she had overlooked the parking issue. It was peak dining time, and the restaurant was bustling with customers, making parking spaces scarce. The only convenient place nearby to park was at her family’s supermarket, where there was both an underground and outdoor parking lot.
“We’ll have to park in front of my family’s supermarket.”
She explained, “We’re going a bit late, so there’s definitely no parking now. Sorry, I didn’t think it through.”
Zhou Sujin didn’t care where they parked. It was just a few extra minutes of walking, nothing too tiring.
He asked her, “Do you want to walk? If not, I can drop you off at the restaurant first.” He then added, “It’s okay if you don’t want to walk, no need to be polite with me.”
Wei Lai found it hard to believe he had such a considerate side. Still, she declined, “No need, I’ll walk with you.”
It wasn’t about politeness; how could she let him, someone unfamiliar with Jiang City, go park alone and then walk from the supermarket parking lot to the restaurant alone?
Zhou Sujin signaled and turned into the supermarket parking lot, following the flow of traffic.
The lights were on in the office on the second floor of the supermarket, and someone was standing by the window, taking a break and drinking water. Suddenly, that person turned excitedly and shouted to Cheng Minzhi, “President Cheng, come over here! Quick! It looks like Lai Lai has a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend?”
Cheng Minzhi almost dropped her mouse and rushed to the window in one stride.
The window glass was opaque from the outside, making it impossible to see inside. She pressed against the glass to look downstairs, only to see her daughter standing by the car, exchanging a few words with the man accompanying her before the two of them walked toward the parking lot exit.
“Lai Lai’s boyfriend has such a presence!”
“He’s not her boyfriend,” Cheng Minzhi said with certainty.
She knew her daughter well. Wei Lai was super clingy, and she had seen how relaxed and casual her daughter was with Zhang Yanxin. But her daughter seemed visibly tense in front of this man, which was definitely not the state of someone dating.
She watched as her daughter walked into the distance before returning to her laptop.
The two walked along the sidewalk toward the restaurant.
Zhou Sujin handed her the car key. “Henceforth, this car will stay in Jiang City for you to use.”
Only then did he notice what she was wearing tonight. She had on a gray-pink gradient sweater, loose and soft, paired with brown shorts and matching ankle boots.
It was too hot to wear a sweater in Jiang City at this time of year, yet it would be chilly at night with shorts.
What was she even wearing?
He didn’t know whether to ask if she was hot or cold.
“Wei Lai.” Someone called her from a light brown sedan parked by the roadside.
She could tell who it was even if the voice turned to dust.
She just hadn’t expected him to call out to her.
“Your jacket.” Zhang Yanxin’s voice was flat. “You left it in my car before.”
Wei Lai forgot what jacket it was, so she turned around to see.
It was a thin blazer.
On his birthday, she had left the blazer on the back seat of his car. That night, they hadn’t even gotten to eating dinner before they broke up. Who would remember to take the jacket in such a situation?
Afterward, various things came up, and she had forgotten about the blazer.
If he genuinely wanted to return her jacket, there were a hundred ways he could’ve done it. Waiting by the roadside in front of Zhou Sujin to return it to her was deliberate, intending to taunt him by bringing up the jacket and sabotaging her new “relationship.”
Fortunately, she and Zhou Sujin weren’t really dating. Otherwise, this sly move of his would’ve caused a rift between her and her boyfriend, even if they didn’t break up.
The most gratifying and face-slapping response at this moment would be to decline and tell him to throw it away.
But she particularly liked the fabric and style of that blazer. She hadn’t worn it many times since she bought it, and it cost tens of thousands of dollars. She couldn’t bring herself to throw it away just like that.
Zhou Sujin asked quietly, “Do you want it?”
Wei Lai nodded. There was no need to impulsively refuse just for the sake of gratification. She decided to go over and accept it gracefully.
Just as she was about to step forward, Zhou Sujin said to her, “Wait here,” before walking straight toward the car parked a few meters away.
Zhang Yanxin was sitting in the car, and Wei Lai’s blazer was in his hand. His expression changed slightly, looking at Zhou Sujin approaching him with disbelief.
He had been waiting here for Wei Lai for over an hour. During this time, two men had been standing guard at the restaurant entrance, never leaving their posts, their gaze sharp and their attire casual. They were Zhou Sujin’s personal bodyguards.
When Wei Lai hesitated about whether to take the blazer just now, Zhou Sujin turned to her and said something. Zhang Yanxin couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he thought Zhou Sujin would ask one of his bodyguards to come over and take it. He hadn’t expected Zhou Sujin to come over himself.
Zhou Sujin walked to the front of the car in a few steps and took the blazer before straightening it out. When facing Zhang Yanxin, he maintained his usual elegance. “Thank you for the trouble.”
Zhang Yanxin had no choice but to get out of the car, even though there was no longer any need for him to do so.
“It’s no trouble at all.”
In the past, they would at least exchange pleasantries whenever they met in social settings. However, there was no unnecessary conversation between them tonight. After Zhou Sujin took the blazer, he turned and left, nodding slightly toward Wei Lai. “Let’s go.”
He kept hold of the blazer, not letting her take it.
Zhang Yanxin withdrew his gaze and instructed the chauffeur, “Let’s go.”
He couldn’t figure out why he patiently waited here for over an hour after seeing Wei Lai enter the restaurant, waiting for her to come out after having dinner with another man.
As Zhang Yanxin’s car drove away, Wei Lai thanked Zhou Sujin repeatedly. “I can hold it myself.”
Zhou Sujin said nothing, simply handing her the blazer.
Just at this moment, a black Bentley slowly pulled up. The front window rolled down, revealing Uncle Yan in the driver’s seat.
Zhou Sujin glanced at Wei Lai’s legs and said, “Get in.”
Wei Lai expressed her gratitude, “Thank you.”
Good, she didn’t have to walk back to the parking lot, and her legs wouldn’t have to endure the cold anymore.
Sitting in the car, she draped the thin blazer over her legs, unable to fathom that Zhou Sujin would personally retrieve her blazer from Zhang Yanxin’s hands.
Without any specific instructions, Uncle Yan drove straight to the hotel.
Looking out the window, Wei Lai noticed they weren’t heading toward her condo.
Alone in the hotel room with him, she pondered how to interact with him without feeling awkward.
“Do you prefer living in a condo or a villa?” Zhou Sujin asked after a moment of contemplation.
Wei Lai turned to face him, surprised. “Are you planning to buy a house here?”
Zhou Sujin: “En.”
Rarely, he elaborated a bit, “Staying in hotels is inconvenient.”
If he came to Jiang City to see her henceforth and she would only visit him at the hotel, never spending the night, it would eventually raise suspicions. Having his place would eliminate the risk of exposure.
Wei Lai considered for a moment, “A condo then.”
She liked houses with more panoramic views, even though she might not necessarily spend much time at home.
Glancing at the rearview mirror, Uncle Yan exclaimed at the speed of the two’s growing affection.
Just after one meal, and they were already going to live together?
As the boss, Zhou Sujin couldn’t possibly discuss everything with his chauffeur. He hadn’t mentioned the contract with Wei Lai of pretending to be his girlfriend to appease his matter. And, Uncle Yan, being down-to-earth, genuinely believed that the two were really in love.
It wasn’t until they were alone in the hotel elevator that Wei Lai asked, “Uncle Yan doesn’t know? Should I be careful about what I say in front of him henceforth?”
“En,” Zhou Sujin pressed the floor button and added, “If even Uncle Yan doesn’t suspect anything, then there’s a chance we can fool my family.” Especially his aunt, who knew him too well. Faking a relationship could easily be seen through by her.
Wei Lai felt the pressure. Any slip-up in their act could arouse Uncle Yan’s suspicions.
Arriving at the door of the suite, Zhou Sujin swiped his card and entered, turning back to her. “Close the door. I still have work to do. Make yourself at home.”
He headed to the study, leaving her alone in the spacious and quiet living room.
Wei Lai sat on the sofa, reviewing the design sketches sent by the designer and discussing the details. Her phone battery was running low, and she didn’t have a charger in her purse, so she decided to conserve battery power.
Feeling bored being alone, she wanted to go home earlier so she went to find Zhou Sujin.
“President Zhou,” she still addressed him as such when they were alone, “approximately how much longer do you think I’ll need to stay here?”
Zhou Sujin was looking at documents, not bothering to look up. “How long do you think is appropriate for you to stay?”
Wei Lai hadn’t thought deeply about other aspects yet. How would she know how long was appropriate to stay? If she knew, she wouldn’t have come to ask him.
Seeing her silence, Zhou Sujin continued, “We’ve only been back for half an hour. You can decide for yourself how much longer you should stay.”
Wei Lai: “…”
She suddenly understood what he was implying. In a normal long-distance relationship, half an hour definitely wouldn’t be enough to make love after such a long time apart.
Zhou Sujin glanced at her and continued, “Aren’t you aware of the services for the presidential suite? They know exactly when you arrive and when you leave.”
Wei Lai responded with a faint “En,” then added, “Got it. I’ll let you get back to work now.” Just as she closed the door, she pushed it open again, politely asking, “Can I take a look at the bathroom and your bedroom here?”
Zhou Sujin’s instinctive reaction was to refuse. Those were his personal spaces, and he couldn’t just let any woman enter them freely.
However, considering that she was now his “girlfriend,” sooner or later she would need to learn about his life, including his clothing preferences. In fact, by bringing her back to the hotel tonight, he had already subconsciously allowed her to enter his life.
Wei Lai was also not insistent on entering the bedroom. “It’s okay if it’s inconvenient. I’ll just look around elsewhere.”
Zhou Sujin: “It’s not inconvenient.”
“Thank you.” Wei Lai assured him, “Aside from what’s provided by the hotel, I won’t touch any of your personal belongings.” With that, she quietly closed the door to the study and left.
When Zhou Sujin finished all his work, it was already close to midnight. Two hours had passed, and Wei Lai hadn’t disturbed him again.
Not seeing her in the living room, he surmised she hadn’t left yet as her blazer was still hanging on a chair.
“Wei Lai?”
There was no response from the room.
Zhou Sujin made his way to his bedroom and heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. It soon stopped, and Wei Lai emerged from the bathroom, drying her hands with a towel.
“Are you done with work?” Wei Lai pointed to the sofa and the bed. “I arranged it a bit. Since we’re acting, we need to act it to perfection. We can’t overlook any details. That’s the only way to ensure a foolproof performance, capable of withstanding any suspicion.”
Looking around, Zhou Sujin noticed the sofa was in a mess, with cushions scattered everywhere and a crumpled towel lying on the armrest. As he looked at his bed, it was even more chaotic.
On the nightstand, there was a half-empty pack of tissues, and the garbage bin was filled with crumpled tissues stained with lubricant. Among the tissues were also three plastic wrappers.
She had fabricated the scene of intimacy down to the smallest details, making it all look convincingly real.
So her visit to his bedroom was for this purpose.
Zhou Sujin glanced again at the bedding that was too messy to look at directly. It was even more chaotic than the sofa, and he couldn’t be angry, nor could he express it.
Looking at her, he suppressed a laugh and said calmly, “How do you expect me to sleep? En?”
Wei Lai tried to maintain her composure, but her voice was noticeably weaker than usual, “Sorry, President Zhou, I didn’t consider it well.” Fortunately, the bed was big enough, so he could just sleep on the edge and avoid the messy area in the middle.
There would be room service tomorrow morning, and this was enough evidence to convince anyone that they were a real couple.
While fabricating the scene, she felt her face burning and her heart racing, even her ears felt hot. But she reminded herself that they would eventually have to share a bed under the same roof when she accompanies him back home in the future. It was better to start getting used to it now to avoid the awkwardness and the risk of being exposed later. She thought of herself as an actress, honing her acting.
She had fulfilled her task. “I suppose it’s about time for me to leave?”
As she passed by him, Wei Lai’s heart inexplicably raced.
Being an actress was really not easy.
Coming out of the bathroom, Zhou Sujin watched her retreating figure. “Let Uncle Yan take you back.”
Wei Lai didn’t refuse. It was late, and her phone battery was already super low. What if it died halfway and she couldn’t pay for the ride?
On the way back, she received a call from Zhou Sujin.
She kept his words in mind, “If Uncle Yan doesn’t suspect anything, then it’s possible to keep it hidden from my family.” As Uncle Yan was sitting in the front, she couldn’t address him as “President Zhou.” “You’re not asleep yet?”
“No.”
“I’m still on the way home but I’ll be there soon.”
Zhou Sujin replied with a knowing “En.” He called to remind her, “You forgot to take your blazer. I’ll keep it here?”
She had a good memory, but in the heat of the moment, she had forgotten everything, just wanting to escape the scene as quickly as possible.
“Okay, leave it there with you for now. I’ll come to pick it up when I have time tomorrow.”
Zhou Sujin checked his schedule for the next few days. He had meetings all day tomorrow. “I’ll be at the hotel the day after during the morning. If you want to come over, I’ll have Uncle Yan pick you up.”
Jiang City was her stronghold; there was no need for any pickups; she just needed to step on the gas pedal to get there.
“No need, I’ll drive over there myself.”
Zhou Sujin: “In the future, if you want to see me, you don’t have to come over yourself. Just give me a call, and I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
