Chapter 29: Scarlet Hue

Not only her ears but her entire face turned bright red.

How do most people confess their feelings? Most are straightforward, saying, "I love you" or "I like you." The "bossy CEO" types might pin someone against a wall and declare, "You are my woman." Or, as in literature, they might be more subtle, like saying, "The night is beautiful tonight."

But Su Xingzhi’s words, "I am yours," were truly unique. It wasn't a demand, but a gift—as if he were offering his entire soul. He was holding his heart out to her, and whether she chose to accept it or not was entirely up to her. It was a line often traded between young boys and girls, yet for some reason, coming from him, it felt profoundly moving.

Cen Mo sat in the car, unconsciously ruminating on the phrase. When she looked up, the man happened to be watching her. Her ears felt as though they were burning, so she reached up to touch them, a look of annoyance on her face. How embarrassing! Just one sentence from him, and she was already this flustered. Yet, there was a lingering joy in her heart. She didn't know how to explain this emotion; her mind was a jumble, and she couldn't think clearly. For the first time in her life, she was caught in such a conflicted state.

"Let’s go, I’ll take you back." Not wishing to dwell on the topic, Su Xingzhi simply brushed her hair before starting the car. She needed time to think; after all, they hadn't known each other for long. Even though he hadn't received a definitive answer, Su Xingzhi was in a good mood. Whenever his peripheral vision caught her sneaking a hand to cover her ears, the corners of his lips would lift involuntarily. Seeing her shy and annoyed like this for the first time was quite endearing.

He knew this girl was a bit slow when it came to romance—perhaps due to lack of experience or simply because her mind was elsewhere. If he didn't spell things out, no matter how intimate their interactions were, she would always interpret them in the most platonic way possible. So, it was better to give her a nudge now so she could prepare herself.

After dropping her off at her building, Su Xingzhi didn't drive away immediately. He stayed parked, leaning back in his seat, sitting quietly.

***

Once inside, Cen Mo suddenly felt regretful. She couldn't even bear to recall her behavior; it was just too humiliating! Not only had she been unable to say a word, but her ears had turned bright red, and her usual composure had completely vanished, leaving her nothing but a bundle of shyness.

It was late, so she had no appetite for dinner. She shuffled to the bathroom to wash up, then ran to the window to look down after a while. Su Xingzhi’s car was still there. After a moment of hesitation, she put on her slippers and headed downstairs. As she reached the car and leaned over to look inside, the door opened.

The tall man stepped out, leaning casually against the vehicle, watching her quietly under the moonlight. He was dressed in a crisp black suit, but his tie was gone, and the top three buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a slender neck and a prominent, handsome Adam's apple. His features were naturally refined—pale skin, deep and sharp brows—making it impossible to look away. His peach-blossom eyes were slightly narrowed, shedding the stern, indifferent mask he wore at work and showing her a rare, languid side he never revealed to others.

"Why haven't you left?" Cen Mo asked, shifting her feet slightly, looking up at him.

"I wanted to stay a while longer." Su Xingzhi wasn't a smoker, so even in this setting, he just stood with one hand in his pocket, speaking softly.

"Oh..." Cen Mo drew out the word. After a moment, her expression turned serious. "I didn't mean to ignore your confession today; it was just so sudden. I didn't know how to react." She spoke her inner thoughts candidly: "When I heard you say that, I was surprised, but also happy. I felt... very shy. I haven't experienced many relationships. My life has always been focused on working, just thinking about how to survive each day."

The woman had likely just washed her face and hadn't even removed her headband, which featured a cute little rabbit toy, creating a charming, contrasting look. Wearing a simple nightdress, her fair shoulders and arms were exposed to the night breeze. She shivered slightly and continued slowly: "So, I don't really know how to identify my own feelings. I do like you, but as for what kind of liking it is... please give me some time to think about it, okay?"

"Okay, I'll wait." Su Xingzhi’s gaze lingered on the cute rabbit headband for a moment, then dropped to her smooth forehead, which still held a few water droplets—a testament to how quickly she had run down. A part of his heart softened uncontrollably. He took off his coat and stepped forward to drape it over her shoulders. "I'm not in a rush, but... I wanted to claim you first."

"Claim me?" Cen Mo, having finally regained her composure, was confused again. "What does that mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like." He tightened the coat around her with one hand and said calmly, "Such a wonderful girl—if I don't claim you first, I won't feel at ease."

"Oh... I see." Cen Mo was touched but didn't want to show it, so she pretended to be calm while fixing her hair.

Suddenly, her slender wrist was caught, and he slipped something onto it. Looking down, she realized it was a beautiful jade bracelet, made of the same rare, deep-ink green jade as the ring on his finger.

"I promised you a bracelet last time. I happened to see this suitable one at an auction a few days ago, so I bought it for you." Su Xingzhi smiled.

"When?" Cen Mo was stunned.

"The time you were drunk."

The man’s casual remark made her cheeks burn. Just how many ridiculous things had she done while intoxicated? She pursed her lips. "I didn't even know you went to an auction. This must be incredibly expensive; I can't take it..."

"Well, you don't have to," Su Xingzhi said calmly. But his next sentence was filled with hidden meaning: "We'll be together sooner or later anyway. By then, I'll naturally find a way to make you wear this jade, a more... ingenious way."

What on earth did he mean? Cen Mo couldn't help but let her mind wander. Her ears, which had just cooled down, began to heat up again. She looked down, feeling his cool fingers brush against her earlobe.

His voice carried a hint of a smile. "I'm joking. I bought this bracelet to match yours as a couple's set. If you find it too heavy to wear every day, just wear it occasionally—for me to see."

This time, Cen Mo just let out an "Oh" and fled back upstairs. Once inside, she looked at the priceless jade bracelet and sighed, realizing that she seemed unable to escape this man's grasp for the rest of her life. If she was this reactive to just a few flirtatious words, what would happen in the future?

When she looked out the window again, the black Range Rover had finally driven away. She sighed in relief and closed the curtains. Now that Sun Qiang was detained and no one was following her, Cen Mo no longer worried about her safety and could finally sleep soundly.

However, things weren't entirely resolved. Sitting on the sofa, Cen Mo frowned again. Could Jiang Lingling’s parents not know that their daughter had been detained? Although they were her uncle and aunt, Cen Mo didn't want to use those titles for them. Compared to their daughter, these two were the truly vicious ones. She guessed that once they found out where she was, they would inevitably come to harass her again. She would just have to take things one step at a time.

Thinking of this, she sighed again. Her emotions had been on a roller coaster all day, and her feelings were still quite complex. But thanks to Su Xingzhi, she had experienced many surprises and moments of warmth. All in all, it was a day worth remembering. Thinking this, and seeing how late it was, she went to bed early. Tomorrow was Saturday, so she could take the time to settle her thoughts at home.

***

After driving out of the residential area, Su Xingzhi didn't head home immediately but went straight to a famous teahouse in the city. Led by a waiter to the second floor, a private room door opened, and Xu Xudong stepped out. "A-Zhi, over here."

Because Su Xingzhi couldn't distinguish faces, Xu Xudong had made it a habit to greet him proactively whenever they met. They entered the teahouse and sat down. The room was decorated in an antique style, and even the vases on the side tables were genuine antiques. Neither of them drank much alcohol, so they often came here to sit and enjoy a cup of clear tea.

A young woman in Hanfu soon entered to prepare the tea. Seeing the two handsome men at the table, she blushed. Su Xingzhi waved her away, his long, slender fingers picking up the kettle to rinse the tea set before draining the water. He placed the tea leaves into the pot and poured boiling water until it was eighty percent full.

The fragrance of tea soon filled the air. As they sat waiting for the tea to steep, Su Xingzhi asked, "Where is Xu Lang?"

"School autumn camp, he'll be gone for three days and three nights," Xu Xudong said. "It's rare for the kid to be away; otherwise, I wouldn't have had the time to come out."

Five minutes passed. Once the tea was ready, Su Xingzhi poured it into the tea sea and then into two small white porcelain cups, sliding one across the table. Glancing at his movements, Xu Xudong keenly noticed a strip of deep blue hair elastic peeking out from the man's rolled-up sleeve.

"Where did you get that?" Xu Xudong asked curiously.

"Cen Mo's," Su Xingzhi said calmly, picking up his cup for a sip, his handsome face devoid of expression.

Yet, for some reason, Xu Xudong felt that the man was exuding an air of triumph. He laughed, "I see. So you forced me to ask around about the meaning of this hair tie thing, and I had to go and ask the young girls in my department. So that's what it was for." He couldn't help but gossip, "So, does this mean little Cen has agreed to be with you?"

"Not yet," Su Xingzhi said, calmly pouring another cup. "She is cautious by nature; she won't agree so quickly."