Chapter 19: Unhappy

Song Zhi had come primarily to discuss the script and the endorsement deal with Z Company.

Xiang Ge had disappeared right after her audition yesterday, ignoring calls all afternoon and evening. By morning, her phone was turned off entirely.

Boss Song sat in his large office chair, grinding his teeth, and called Gong Mo before coming over with her.

Unexpectedly, he found something else to consider.

Song Zhi lounged on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, looking completely at ease as if he were at home. He glanced around: “Your place is nice, and the location is good too.”

“My mom gave it to me.”

Xiang Ge sat sideways at the dining table, holding a sandwich made of whole wheat bread. The gooey yolk from the soft-boiled egg had already solidified, and the bacon was cold and greasy.

A glass of milk sat beside her plate. At first tasteless, it grew sweeter the further she drank, nearly overwhelming her senses. When she reached the bottom, there was still a thin layer of undissolved sugar syrup left.

Xiang Ge frowned, feeling slightly nauseated. She tilted the glass, watching the translucent, creamy syrup slide up along the bottom.

She sighed deeply.

She could almost picture the scene clearly.

Late at night, he came as soon as he received the call—taking care of her, even preparing breakfast for her.

Xiang Ge was starting to think that Zhou Hangyan might actually like her a little.

But what had she done yesterday…

She held the glass tightly, avoiding imagining herself last night—messy hair, puffy eyes, exhausted and relentlessly throwing tantrums.

She sighed again, feeling a bit melancholic. “Boss, how do you chase someone?”

Song Zhi raised an eyebrow, glancing at her from head to toe.

She leaned lazily against the edge of the dining table, her black hair soft, her eyes narrow and slanted, deepening at the corners. When she looked up, her gaze was piercing.

He wasn’t sure: “Do you really need to chase anyone?”

Xiang Ge blinked slowly. “The person I have my eye on might be some kind of master—a monk so advanced he could leave behind relics after passing away.”

Song Zhi didn’t bother debating where relics really came from. Instead, he recalled the look in the man’s eyes this morning. That definitely didn’t seem like someone who was a “master.”

He sneered. “Is that so? Then your taste really isn’t great.”

Suddenly, Xiang Ge straightened up, carefully observing him. “President Song, does our company have any rules against dating?”

Song Zhi smirked. “If you’re not famous, no rules apply. No one knows who you are anyway.”

“…”

The endorsement deal with Z Company was finalized today. After signing, Xiang Ge was immediately ushered into the makeup room. The makeup artist was a young man who scrutinized her sharply from head to toe, his expression softening slightly.

It was rare for Song Zhi to personally accompany her. The young master stayed for only ten minutes, exchanged a few words with Fu Rongsen, and then left. Before departing, he pointed at Xiang Ge’s nose through the mirror with a warning look: “Don’t cause any trouble.”

At that moment, Xiang Ge was seated in the chair, having bright red lipstick applied to her lips. She rolled her eyes twice to indicate she understood.

Z Company’s autumn-winter collection theme was Fervor . As usual, there were no advertisements—just stark red and black. It truly lived up to its name.

Xiang Ge glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Thankfully, the bold lip color balanced everything out; otherwise, the red might not have worked.

Under the intense lights of the camera, she stood all day. By 4 PM, after finally removing her makeup and changing back into her clothes, she collapsed onto the nanny van with a groan.

Gong Mo handed her a bottle of water. “Going home?”

Xiang Ge perked up, leaning her head against the car window and waving her hand lazily. “No, to the Second Hospital.”

During a break in filming, she had called Zhou Hangyan.

This time, he hadn’t hung up on her, but he hadn’t answered either.

Afraid of disturbing him at work, she didn’t dare call again and sent two text messages instead.

Still, no reply came.

Her location wasn’t far from the Second People’s Hospital, so it didn’t take long to get there. The nanny van stopped at the entrance, and while sitting inside, Xiang Ge quickly applied some makeup. By the time she finished, it was just past 5 PM.

Cheng Mu had never seen a woman put on makeup in person. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he peeked curiously into the back, asking her, “Sister Xiang Ge, are you going on a date with that doctor I delivered breakfast to last time?”

“I’m going to pray,” Xiang Ge replied, selecting a lip gloss and applying the final layer. She looked up at him and winked. “Is it too light?”

Cheng Mu studied her carefully, then blushed.

Even though he had just watched her meticulously apply makeup to her face and eyelids, now, aside from her lipstick, he couldn’t tell where else she had applied anything.

All he noticed were those mesmerizing eyes that seemed to speak.

True to his nickname “Little Wooden Head,” Cheng Mu shook his head dumbly.

Xiang Ge chuckled, patting him gently on the head. She found the boy utterly adorable.

It was almost 5:30 when Xiang Ge got out of the car and walked to the hospital entrance to wait.

After about ten minutes, a group of people emerged, including Liang Shengxi’s familiar voice. Xiang Ge looked up and, as expected, immediately spotted Zhou Hangyan walking on the far side.

His eyes were downcast, uninvolved in the conversation around him.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Zhou Hangyan suddenly lifted his head, locking eyes with her.

Xiang Ge blinked.

In late April, the southern winds were strong. The woman wore a camel-colored coat made of very thin fabric, which billowed backward in the wind, revealing wide-leg pants and a stretch of pale calf and ankle. Her black hair flowed softly, curling naturally with the wind.

Zhou Hangyan frowned.

Just recovered from a fever and already wearing so little.

So reckless.

But why should he care?

He relaxed his brows, nonchalantly shifting his gaze. Just as he prepared to walk forward, Liang Shengxi suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”

Sure enough, the next moment, the man paused, turned around abruptly, and walked toward someone, waving enthusiastically with a radiant smile. “Sister Xiang Ge!”

Zhou Hangyan: “….”

Xiang Ge curved her lips upward.

She liked people who were observant.

Liang Shengxi had spotted Xiang Ge standing at the entrance as soon as he stepped out.

The woman’s entire outfit screamed luxury. Her demeanor was elegant, her features delicate, and her long lashes cast dark shadows. Even the fierce spring winds seemed gentle around her, transforming into a backdrop for her ethereal beauty. Her flowing garments and the graceful arcs of her wind-tousled hair were enchanting.

It was impossible not to notice her.

Liang Shengxi found himself extremely satisfied with this sister-in-law-to-be.

He recalled Zhou Hangyan’s prolonged silence and brooding presence since early morning. Without saying anything, he subtly averted his gaze, pretending to talk to someone nearby while keeping an eye on Zhou Hangyan’s reaction.

The man froze momentarily, furrowed his brows, clenched his jaw slightly, and then sneered, turning his gaze away indifferently.

Liang Shengxi’s suspicions began to take shape. Raising an eyebrow, he strode directly toward Xiang Ge.

Previously, he had been entrusted by someone to escort this younger sister-in-law home. They chatted the entire way, so he naturally knew her name.

As he took big steps toward her, he lowered his voice and asked, “Did you upset Ah Yan?”

Xiang Ge blinked pitifully. “I didn’t upset him. He got mad on his own.”

She was telling the truth.

Liang Shengxi couldn’t help but laugh. In a spot only the two of them could see, he made a gesture and whispered, “Leave it to Brother.”

Grinning broadly, he turned around and signaled for her to follow him.

Now, everyone could see clearly.

Isn’t this the girl who brought a lunchbox to treat Doctor Zhou to a meal the other day?

Thus, the entire office’s attention shifted to Zhou Hangyan, teasing him with laughter. A slightly chubby doctor nudged Zhou Hangyan’s shoulder: “Looks like Doctor Zhou will be absent again tonight, huh?”

Zhou Hangyan said nothing, staring straight ahead at the woman walking confidently toward them.

Liang Shengxi led her over, pretending to ask casually, “Today’s my birthday. I’m treating everyone to dinner. Sister Xiang Ge, would you like to join us?”

Xiang Ge obligingly adopted a slightly hesitant expression. Before she could respond, Liang Shengxi continued, “It’s my birthday. You have to give me this face, right?”

And just like that, Xiang Ge agreed.

Zhou Hangyan stood by silently, watching their performance. His eyes narrowed slightly.

This woman hadn’t glanced at him once.

Not even once.

After a brief pause, the group continued walking out. Xiang Ge scanned the crowd and, not seeing Lin Ran, casually asked, “I remember there being a beautiful female doctor in orthopedics?”

The same plump doctor who had earlier teased Zhou Hangyan laughed. “Little Sister Lin is on duty today. Poor thing. Looks like the feast is gone.”

Xiang Ge nodded, not responding, lowering her head with a faint smile.

On duty, huh.

That’s good.

Liang Shengxi chose a newly opened Japanese restaurant. It was less than a twenty-minute drive. Since there were many of them, some drove while others didn’t, splitting into two or three groups.

Zhou Hangyan’s car was spacious. Two people originally assigned to ride with him were about to get in when Liang Shengxi intervened, pulling them aside. “Little Liu and Old Song can come with me. You go with our Sister Xiang Ge.”

Those two immediately understood, patting Zhou Hangyan’s shoulder knowingly. “Doctor Zhou, drive safely.”

Zhou Hangyan: “….”

Xiang Ge coughed lightly, struggling to suppress her laughter.

Zhou Hangyan said nothing, glancing at her. “Get in.”

Obediently, Xiang Ge opened the passenger door and sat down, waiting.

Zhou Hangyan didn’t move the car, waiting for a moment before glancing at her indifferently.

Xiang Ge: “….”

I’m waiting for you to help me fasten my seatbelt! Can’t you see that?! Isn’t that what they always do in TV dramas? Why aren’t you moving?!

After a silent three seconds, seeing that he had no intention of helping, she reluctantly pouted and reluctantly pulled the seatbelt across herself, clicking it into place with a “click.”

Zhou Hangyan’s lips curved slightly for an instant.

Traffic during rush hour was a bit heavy, and the black SUV moved slowly. Zhou Hangyan was quiet while driving, his expression calm, his gaze fixed straight ahead. His slender fingers gripped the steering wheel, the bones of his hands clearly visible.

But then again, he always seemed quiet.

Xiang Ge tilted her head, thinking this.

The car stopped at a red light. Suddenly, Zhou Hangyan turned his head.

Xiang Ge made no effort to avert her gaze, meeting his dark eyes directly. Her long lashes fluttered as she stared at him unabashedly.

Perhaps tired of tilting her head, she tugged the seatbelt outward, turning her body fully to face him. Her eyes carried a playful smile as she met his gaze openly.

The man raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Xiang Ge leaned forward, propping herself on the seat, her upper body inching closer. She smiled mischievously, her voice soft. “I’m looking at you because you’re handsome.”

Zhou Hangyan’s emotions trembled momentarily. He said nothing, his gaze dark as he looked at her.

There was a continuous, relentless sense of defeat, laced with a self-loathing helplessness that left him flustered, weary, yet acutely aware.

It was as if her simple words were enough to shatter all the hard walls he had built around his heart.

“Xiang Ge,” he slowly lowered his gaze, his voice low and hoarse. “Enough.”