Drinking coffee… drinking coffee… She was going to have coffee with Fan Zizhuo, whom she hadn’t seen in twenty years?
Li Yaru’s mind was in a mess, her heart beating rapidly. “Sorry, I… have an afternoon tea date with friends. They’re probably urging me.”
Fan Zizhuo nodded, smiled, and said gentlemanly that they could meet again next time if there was a chance.
Li Yaru felt defeated at her thoughtless refusal. It was just a cup of coffee, nothing more. They were all friends, and if a friend invited her for coffee, she would usually go happily.
Fan Zizhuo had truly treated her well in the past. Even in the hardest times of her life, he never abandoned her.
He borrowed money for her, helped her connect with people, and even got beaten up for her—almost having his ribs broken by gangsters.
She had sincerely liked this man once. In her memory, he would always be that refined, handsome youth.
The memories of the past wound around her heart, making Li Yaru feel both sad and guilty. She had brought a lot of trouble to Fan Zizhuo, but had never repaid his kindness.
“Next Monday I’m free. Are you? We could sit at the coffee shop near your company at noon, it won’t take much time. Which company are you working at now?”
When people reach middle age, their children grow up, their parents grow old, and life becomes stable and orderly.
Old friendships from their youthful days become precious. Even running into an old friend on the street can bring joy for the entire day.
In recalling the past, it feels as if one can become young again.
Middle-aged people, in fact, love to feel sentimental. When going to KTV, they must order Glorious Years.
Anyway, Zhuang Qiting hadn’t sent anyone to monitor her lately. She had complete freedom. Having coffee with an old friend and reminiscing about old times was one of life’s pleasures.
Fan Zizhuo smiled. “I’m now a partner at Qi Rui Law Firm, not sure if you’ve heard of it. Our company has a project on Hong Kong Island, so they sent me here.”
Qi Rui Law Firm was very famous in the mainland, offering accounting, auditing, tax, management consulting, and other financial services, with branches in many major cities in China.
Li Yaru’s eyes sparkled as she praised, “That’s a big company! Looks like you’re doing really well!”
“Not at all.” Fan Zizhuo smiled. “Nowhere near as well as you. The teachers all say you’re the pride of our school.”
She had married into the most powerful Old Money Family on Hong Kong Island, become the wife of the Shenghui Group’s chairman, and owned four museums, seven resorts, more than twenty restaurants, and countless other businesses, with investments all over the world.
Wherever she went, she was the center of attention—of course she was a source of pride. Zhuang Qiting had even donated a swimming pool and Science and Technology Building to her alma mater; her photo always hung first in the Outstanding Alumni Board.
Li Yaru felt melancholy at this business-like small talk. So even once pure and beautiful lovers could be eroded by time, turning into polite acquaintances on the social scene. Time truly spares no one.
But she showed no ripples, smiling as she asked, “By the way, there’s a ball tonight. Are you coming?”
Fan Zizhuo was straightforward. “Tonight’s ball is by invitation only. Our company is a new member, so we’re not qualified yet.”
Li Yaru sighed. “It’s like that at every chamber of commerce—always making little cliques.”
After a few more words of casual conversation, the two said their goodbyes.
Li Yaru turned and walked toward the lounge bar. Fan Zizhuo looked back at her, then lowered his gaze with restraint and pressed the elevator button.
.
During afternoon tea, Li Yaru was rather distracted, spoke little, and just kept eating. She returned to the dressing room at 4:30 to change into her evening gown. Not long after, Zhuang Qiting also returned.
“Did you have a pleasant afternoon?” Zhuang Qiting took off his jacket and handed it to his assistant, walking over to where Li Yaru sat on the sofa.
Li Yaru kept her eyes closed as the makeup artist adjusted her look for the ball, adding sparkling gold shimmer so her eyes gleamed brightly.
“It was just eating and drinking together, chatting.”
On the coffee table, Keemun black tea was brewing, its aroma rich. Zhuang Qiting picked up the cup Li Yaru had used and took a sip.
White steam blurred half his face, making his already unreadable expression even more inscrutable. He smiled. “Meeting friends is just eating and drinking, chatting. There’s really not much to it.”
The makeup artist softly said she was done. Li Yaru opened her eyes and saw Zhuang Qiting relaxed, sunk into a cigar chair.
His shirt and vest outlined his strong, toned muscles. Just looking at him, one could feel the heat and power—even more so if you touched or leaned against him. His burgundy silk tie was neatly tied.
He was staring at her intently, his gaze burning and deep.
This was a man completely different from Fan Zizhuo. Different from all men.
Li Yaru looked away, her heart pounding as if stung. The feeling was like leisurely hiking in the woods and suddenly looking up to meet the calm gaze of a black python coiled in the trees.
“What’s with that look?” she turned her face aside and asked calmly.
Her encounter with Fan Zizhuo was something she had to hide from Zhuang Qiting. It wasn’t that she meant to keep secrets—it really wasn’t a big deal, just something to mention and then forget.
But Zhuang Qiting was different from ordinary men. Judging by his past behavior, if he found out, she couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be trouble. Better to avoid unnecessary complications.
That bastard definitely disliked Fan Zizhuo, but he never said so.
She didn’t want to bring trouble to Fan Zizhuo.
“My wife is so beautiful. Can’t I look at you a few more times?” Zhuang Qiting smiled.
Li Yaru poked his long legs wrapped in suit pants with her toe—poke, poke, poke, poke, poke.
Everyone in the suite was used to this sort of flirting and kept working methodically. The assistant hung the freshly pressed suit in the bedroom.
Zhuang Qiting moved his legs an inch forward so she could poke more easily and said gently, “I happen to be free next Monday. How about I take you to Macau for Portuguese food?”
Li Yaru froze. Out of nowhere, why bring this up? Next Monday… next Monday at noon she was meeting Fan Zizhuo for coffee. At that thought, her heart jumped.
Too suspicious.
It had only been two hours since she ran into Fan Zizhuo, and now Zhuang Qiting suddenly mentioned next Monday. Was he still monitoring her? But where were his people hiding? In her bag? Her shoes?
“Do you have friends over there?”
“It’s not for business. We’ve both been busy with Mid-Autumn lately and haven’t had a proper meal together.”
Li Yaru calmed down. She was overthinking. Zhuang Qiting had promised her, and she could trust that. All these years, he had done everything he promised her, no matter how big or difficult.
She glared at him and stepped on his knee with her high heel. “Noon won’t work, I already have plans. Let’s go in the evening.”
Zhuang Qiting grasped her ankle and rested it on his leg, smiling as he looked at her. “Who are you meeting? Never mind, whoever it is, just cancel.”
It sounded gentle, but was actually a very domineering order.
Li Yaru refused his authoritarianism. “Why should I? I’m meeting an old friend I haven’t seen in ages. Who told you not to mention it earlier? No authoritarianism allowed here.”
“Which old friend? Do I know them?” Zhuang Qiting asked unhurriedly.
“We agreed you wouldn’t meddle in my social life. Are you a cop or something?” Li Yaru retorted, equally unhurried.
Zhuang Qiting fixed her with that unreadable gaze for a few seconds, then lightly patted the top of her foot and said nothing more.
Li Yaru put her foot down and said unhappily, “You really don’t care if I’m uncomfortable. I’ve never seen a man more perverse than you—you’re even stricter than my dad. So annoying.”
Zhuang Qiting leaned in, pinched her slightly puffed cheek, and his voice settled over her like a dark mist. “I don’t meddle in your social life as long as you behave.”
Li Yaru slapped his annoying hand away, grinning without smiling. “Old geezer, how about I be your grandson? Why did you marry me? You should’ve just claimed me as your grandson—I’ll bow to you right now!”
Behave, behave, behave—he wanted her to behave every single day! What did behaving mean, anyway? Lying in bed and letting him fuck her while calling him daddy?
Li Yaru was fuming. Just seeing him annoyed her. She’d been in a good mood, and now he’d ruined it. She reached out to pinch the flesh on his waist, but his waist was taut and lean, all muscle—she couldn’t even get a grip and her nails hurt.
Zhuang Qiting was amused by her. His wife was always mischievous and hard to manage—oh well.
He rubbed her fingers and said dotingly, “Let Ah Rou meet whomever she wants. I won’t interfere, okay?”
If his wife didn’t behave and wanted to do bad things, he couldn’t bear to be angry anyway. At most, she’d get a spanking. As for any fool who got in the way—well, the knife would fall.
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