Chapter 22 - SHM (II) (1/2)
”No need. I just wanted to personally ask you, since Gu Zhen seems nervous about it.”
Mr Gu laughed awkwardly. It turns out his son was not lying after all!
”No need to ask permission. Its an honor to have you as my son's friend. Please do tell me if he cause you any trouble.”
”Thank you, Mr. Gu”
Mr. Gu looked at Gu Zhen who was hiding behind Xiong Zhi.
”You brat! Take care of your friend!”
”I'll go now Miss Xiong Zhi. Please feel free at home.” He then turned to Xiong Zhi.
Xiong Zhi took out her phone and handed it to Mr. Gu.
”So I can tell you where we are, for you to not worry at Gu Zhen's safety.”
Mr Gu understand and gave Xiong Zhi his number.
After his father left, Gu Zhen quickly grabbed Xiong Zhi and led her to his room.
Linfeng furrowed his brows and followed them. His gaze was locked on the hand of Gu Zhen who were holding Xiong Zhi.
Gu Zhen suddenly stopped before he enter his room. He looked back at Linfeng.
”You're not needed anymore. Xiong Zhi and I have something to discuss.”
Linfeng was still expressionless. But Xiong Zhi who was aware of his every moves noticed the danger glint in his eyes.
Gu Zhen was about to shoo Linfeng again when Xiong Zhi suddenly grabbed Linfeng's hand and turned to Gu Zhen with cold voice.
”I needed him here. What people think when a man and a lady enters a room alone?”
Gu Zhen understand. He let go Xiong Zhi's hand and scratched his head.
”Sorry, just got a little excited. But wouldn't he know?”
Gu Zhen did not want to intentionally offend Linfeng. He was just afraid that this guy would tell his father the things he would seen once he entered the room. Only Xiong Zhi and his father knew of his addiction towards technology.
One addition would be dangerous.
”It's OK. He won't tell.” Xiong Zhi said still holding Linfeng's hand.
Linfeng just stared at their intertwined hands. If it was other girls he already twisted their hands even they were from a prominent family. Touching him without his consent. But in this touch, he did not dislike it. In fact, it sent warm and comfortable feeling in his body, making his heart falter a little. So he did not also let go.
Gu Zhen toss around his room. Until he found CD's and USBs did he finally stopped. He walked towards Xiong Zhi and said.
”You keep it. My father will check my belongings before we go out. But he will not check yours.” Xiong Zhi stared at it.
She was actually contemplating. If she accept it, did she have to let go her hand who was holding Linfeng's? She did not want to! But in order to put those CD's in her back she must use her two hands.
Feeling frustrated, Xiong Zhi glared at Gu Zhen.
'It is my first time holding Linfeng's hand in both lifetimes! Why you have to ruin it?!'
But Gu Zhen did not hear any of it . He impatiently gestured at Xiong Zhi to accept the CD's.
Linfeng who was standing at the side pulled out his gaze from their holding hands and reached out to the CD's , his other hand was still holding Xiong Zhi's hand and casually put the CD's in her bag with one hand. The move was swift yet gentle.
Xiong Zhi's heart beat so fast as she thought this,
'He also not let go of my hands...does it mean...he did not dislike it?'
Hope filled her heart.
”Let's go.” Gu Zhen enthusiastically said.
Xiong Zhi's thought came back to the present. But she not intend to let go of his hand.
They walked and as Gu Zhen said, someone really checked his belongings. Then, the three of them ride the same car. It was Xiong Zhi's.
Coming closer towards the car Xiong Zhi meet another dilemma.
She always sat at the back seat while Linfeng at the passenger seat. They would still be in separate ways.
She had no choice.
Xiong Zhi bit her lips while reluctantly letting go Linfeng's big and warm hand.
Linfeng felt coldness in his hand the moment Xiong Zhi let go of it. The coldness crept into his body towards his heart.
Right, he was just an aide.
He did not have any right to sit beside her. Much to hold her hand. She was a Xiong. He was a Zhou.
(A/N : romeo and Juliet? Is that you? )
***[RR] :A/N go away!***
A glint flashed in Linfeng's eyes. He was born as Zhou, serving the Xiong. But he would not die still serving the Xiong. He would rise higher, aim higher by his own.
The three people entered the car.
______________
In the capital, in an new-built building, three figures hovered towards the building.
Xiong Zhi turned to Linfeng.
”You don't need to accompany me here. I will call once were done with our project. Thanks for coming with me.”
”Pleasure was mine, young miss-”
”We're alone.”
Linfeng pursed his lips.
”Zhi'er.”
Zhi'er...
Both came from the same mouth,,why the feeling was different?
Xiong Zhi clearly remembered when Linfeng called her Zhi'er in the past it was full of warmth, but now it was indifferent and forced.
This make Xiong Zhi's heart hurt. Her eyes downcast she said,
”It's OK. If you don't want to call me Zhi'er anymore, then don't. Please call me as you seem fit.”
Linfeng watched her. He could not see her face clearly but he could not help to think that this girl in front of her was... hurt?
Linfeng did not answer. Because he did not know what he should say.
It's true he was a bit forced to call her by her name. But it did not meant he hated it. It was just, if he called her by her name he might forgot that he was an aide, a reminder that he must strive hard.
With no response from Linfeng, Xiong Zhi went alone in the building with excited Gu Zhen following behind.
They went to the ninth floor. The office occupy the whole ninth floor. An office who had two private rooms, a big room with desk and dividers, a CR, and a small kitchen.
”Is this your starting office? Not bad.” Gu Zhen appreciated the surroundings. He liked the office. In every desk there was enough space for the employees to breathe. He entered one of the private rooms and said.
”I will use one of these room. You already promised.”
And like that he locked one of the rooms and put all his 'treasures' there and begun to work on his computer.
Xiong Zhi just stared at the locked door where Gu Zhen went. She then went downstairs. She was bumped into the guard.
”Ms...” The guard was hired by Xiong Zhi alone to guard the office.
”Hello, Mr. Cang, one of my classmate was staying inside the office. Once he noticed I'm gone tell him I have some matters to attend. He can go home. Also, he can drop by here anytime.”
”Yes, Ms.”
And Xiong Zhi went away.
_______________________________
It was still early by hour the moment Xiong Zhi entered the xx coffee shop. True to her words, she did not bother changing. She just sat at the corner of the coffee shop looking at the entrance. She knew that she was early but she can't help to stare at the entrance. In the past, one of her habits was observing people. She did not judge them but she can quite grasp their attitude.
She saw a happy couple enter, followed by a lone man in his forties, then a mother with a child in school uniform. Then an old man, followed by group of people.