C25 Don't Get too Close to Him

Xiong Miao whipped her head around, only to find herself shrouded in a tall, dark silhouette. Looking up, she was met with Zhan Yeling's strikingly handsome face, his features set in frost, a cold aura swirling around him.

Upon laying eyes on Zhan Yeling, Ling Xiaoxiao's previously arrogant demeanor vanished, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes. She swiftly masked her complex emotions, adopting a fragile and innocent facade. "Yeling, it's just that I care about you so much..."

"What you care about is the status of the Zhan family, isn't it?" Zhan Yeling's deep eyes gave her a fleeting glance before he dismissed her, turning his attention to Xiong Miao. He reached for her hand, helped her to her feet, and began leading her towards the banquet hall's exit.

Xiong Miao, bewildered, followed him without protest.

Outside the hotel, a gentle breeze stirred. The autumn wind, crisp and cool, made Xiong Miao's already chilly body feel even colder. She wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to retain some warmth. "Director Zhan, may I go home now?" She believed she had fulfilled the task she had promised him.

"Do we love each other, hmm?" The man arched an eyebrow, his voice so rich and alluring it seemed to resonate through the air. His expression, a mix of amusement and mystery, was captivating.

Under the intensity of his gaze, warmth flooded Xiong Miao's cheeks, turning them a fiery red. The cold she felt was replaced by the heat from his piercing stare. "I was just spouting nonsense, Director Zhan. Please, don't take it to heart."

She was mortified that he had overheard her boastful claims to Ling Xiaoxiao. Whether Zhan Yeling had fully grasped her hasty explanation was unclear, but she detected the faintest chuckle near her ear, so soft yet unmistakably caught by her.

What did it mean? Was he mocking her? Did he not believe she had made those remarks out of vanity?

Xiong Miao's ears burned as if they were boiled shrimp. "Director Zhan, I hope you and Ling Xiaoxiao will marry soon and enjoy a lifetime of happiness together." With those words, she ducked her head and, as if fleeing, darted into the nearby computer repair shop.

In the wake of her statement, Zhan Yeling's handsome features turned abruptly cold, his visage darkening as if it could bleed ink.

"Director Zhan." The sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up next to Zhan Yeling, and Gu Yi stepped out, calling to him.

Sensing the icy aura emanating from Director Zhan, Gu Yi paused, not daring to utter another word for fear of collateral damage.

Who could have upset Director Zhan this time?

Zhan Yeling's frosty gaze softened as he settled into the car.

The black Rolls-Royce sped away into the neon-lit night.

Xiong Miao, holding her newly repaired computer, realized that Zhan Yeling had vanished.

He must have been picked up.

Perhaps it was for the best, sparing her any further awkwardness.

She waited at the curb for a taxi when she heard someone call her name from behind.

"Xiong Miao."

She turned in response and saw a man in a silver-gray suit, his posture erect, approaching her.

"Teacher Zhan, isn't the banquet still going on? How come you left so early?" Xiong Miao greeted Zhan Zifeng with a slight smile.

Zhan Zifeng's face, always as soothing as a gentle spring breeze, seemed to dispel any hint of a bad mood.

"I intended to see Zhan Yeling off, but I'm afraid I was too late," Zhan Zifeng said, stopping a step away from Xiong Miao.

"How come you're with my younger brother?"

"I..." Xiong Miao struggled to find an explanation. She couldn't very well admit that today was merely a business deal.

"Whatever the reason, stay away from Zhan Yeling. He's ruthless and bloodthirsty, and you could get hurt," Zhan Zifeng cautioned her.

Three people had warned her to keep her distance from Zhan Yeling today.

Yet Zhan Zifeng was the only one who seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being.

His words brought a measure of solace to Xiong Miao's heavy heart.