EIP 32

“What’s going on with you?” his sister-in-law exclaimed, tossing a handkerchief at Zhou Jun. Embarrassed by his exaggerated reaction, which had clearly raised her suspicions, Zhou Jun awkwardly covered his mouth.

“Why did you suddenly ask about that?” she continued. She already knew about the situation between Zhou Jun and Yong Jin. Zhou Yan had been so furious that day he even took a few heart-soothing pills.

At the time, Zhou Yan had refused to say anything. But when she got up in her nightgown to sleep in another room, he clung to her hand and pleaded, “Lan Zhi, don’t go. I’ll tell you.” So Rong Lanzhi knew everything. Now, seeing Zhou Jun like this, she even began to suspect that the injury on his lip was related.

After instructing the servants to clean up the mess, she leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. “Now, tell me, did he do that to your mouth?”

Zhou Jun had no intention of hiding the truth—he needed to bring it up anyway.
“He came by last night. Could you ask your master to assign a few guards to keep watch?”

Rong Lanzhi glanced at him, her eyes teasing. “What’s wrong? Not happy that your lover came all this way just to see you?”

Zhou Jun feigned innocence.
“What nonsense. He’s not my lover; it’s not like that.”

Seeing he didn’t want to engage further, his sister-in-law said, “Just take care of yourself.”

Zhou Jun added, “Don’t let my brother find out. He hasn’t been well lately. I don’t want to worry him.”

She shot him an exasperated look.
“You know he’s unwell, and you still won’t behave?”

Unable to argue, Zhou Jun made up an excuse and slipped away from the hall. He had been confined for a long time. When Miss Yang couldn’t reach him, she decided to visit in person. With a female guest in the house, Rong Lanzhi found it inappropriate to keep too close an eye on Zhou Jun. Taking advantage of Miss Yang’s presence, Zhou Jun finally regained some freedom.

As they walked down the street, a group of students suddenly appeared, marching with banners and waving flags, scattering pamphlets calling for national salvation. Zhou Jun instinctively felt protective of Miss Yang. A sense of crisis surged through him. With so many people causing a commotion, anything could happen. If Miss Yang were injured while with him, the Yang family might do more than just blame him—it could drag the Zhou family into trouble.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before officers in black uniforms stormed the scene. Someone had fired a gun, and chaos broke out—people shouting, running, cursing, fury spreading like wildfire. Zhou Jun felt sweat beading in his palms as he gripped Miss Yang’s hand and pulled her along. But in her high heels, she twisted her ankle.

Seeing the tension rising and the situation escalating, Zhou Jun quickly bent down, lifted Miss Yang into his arms, and bolted toward safety. Fortunately, after practicing with his sister-in-law these past few days, he hadn’t yet regained his peak condition, but carrying a woman while running was still manageable. Miss Yang wrapped her arms around his neck, and he was surrounded by the warmth of her body and the fragrance of her skin.

Once they escaped the crowd, Zhou Jun carried her into a coffee shop run by foreigners. He knew the place had strong connections and would be safe from trouble, making it the perfect spot to catch their breath. He gently set Miss Yang down and crouched to examine her injured right foot. Fortunately, it was only slightly red and swollen.

As he let out a sigh of relief and looked up, he was taken aback. Miss Yang’s cheeks were flushed like ripe apples. She radiated a sweetness that was impossible to hide. This look was unlike anything he’d seen on her before. Though she had always held feelings for him, this time, it felt different. She seemed to be falling in love.

Zhou Jun looked away from her gaze and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He spoke softly, “I’ll go get you some medicine. Stay here and don’t wander off.”

Miss Yang didn’t say anything, but she nodded obediently. As Zhou Jun stepped outside, a sudden chill passed over him. He scanned the cars on the street, but he couldn’t spot the one he thought he had seen earlier.

In the moments just before they entered the café, he had thought he glimpsed a familiar vehicle.

“Maybe it was just my imagination,” he told himself.

After buying the medicine, Zhou Jun returned to the café and tended to Miss Yang’s ankle. He also suggested she call for a ride home. Miss Yang fidgeted with the embroidery on her handbag, reluctant at first, but ultimately did as he asked. For some reason, every expression on Zhou Jun’s face, even the sweat glistening on his brow, seemed mesmerizing to her.

Everything felt new and exciting. Her eyes sparkled, as if stars had fallen into them, lighting up Zhou Jun’s face. While waiting for the car from her family to arrive, Zhou Jun borrowed the café’s phone and called the Yong residence.

A servant answered. The Major General was not at home.

Zhou Jun’s fingers tightened around the phone cord, turning slightly white from pressure. After a moment, he asked,
“Could you confirm when he’ll be back? I’d like to pay him a visit.”

The voice on the other end was polite but noncommittal. Everything had to be arranged through the Major General. They would pass along the message and asked Zhou Jun to leave his number.

Zhou Jun paused. “No need, thank you. That’s fine.”

After hanging up, he felt a twinge of frustration. Unlike Yong Jin, who came and went as he pleased without so much as a word, Zhou Jun had to ask for permission. If the door wasn’t opened for Yong Jin, he would simply climb the wall or force his way in. It always seemed so easy for him, while Zhou Jun was caught in the net of etiquette and restraint.

The person on the other end had called him “Mr. Zhou” respectfully. There had been no impoliteness, yet the very formality of it only reminded him. He was just another guest. Did Yong Jin give that pocket watch to everyone?

That watch had been a gift from Yong Jin’s mother. Giving it to him, didn’t that mean something?

Zhou Jun stood at the café’s front desk. A waiter was polishing a glass, occasionally glancing over with curiosity. The man and the woman who had entered were both attractive; they looked like a perfect pair. But after making a single phone call, the man’s expression had turned melancholic.

The waiter, having seen many movies, couldn’t help imagining things. Who had he called? Was it his true love? Was the woman beside him part of a complicated triangle? A first love? A long-lost romance? He was still deep in thought when he heard the man say with a gentle smile, “Two cups of coffee, please.”

The waiter flushed slightly and lowered her gaze, asking him to wait a moment as she prepared the order. She saw him turn back toward the woman, the hem of his coat lifting slightly as his long legs moved gracefully across the café. The waiter caught herself staring. She couldn’t help wondering when she might meet someone like that herself, someone so composed and so handsome.

With a hint of girlish fantasy, she quietly pulled out a mirror to touch up her lipstick as the water heated. The café door chimed as another customer entered. She hurriedly snapped the mirror shut and straightened up, preparing to greet them with a smile.

But when she looked up, the welcome on her lips vanished. She found herself stunned.

Another man had stepped into the café. Dressed in a sleek black suit, his hair perfectly styled, his features sharp and commanding. His expression was cold, and his eyes unreadable, but it felt as though he had brought the sunlight in with him. The entire café seemed to brighten in his presence.