Chapter 69: Afraid I Might Interrupt Your Tender Moments

Zhang Xiluo was momentarily taken aback, entirely unprepared for Su Jianhao’s forthrightness.

“If Miss Zhang is single, perhaps you could consider me. I fell for you at first sight,” Su Jianhao said earnestly, not a hint of jest in his demeanor. “The moment you walked into the bookstore, I noticed you.”

“Heh.” Zhang Xiluo let out an awkward laugh, pulled her hand back, and found an excuse to slip away. “I’ll go over there for something to eat.”

Su Jianhao watched her retreat, smiled confidently, and, clutching his guitar, returned to the stage.

“The next song is dedicated to the goddess I met today. I hope she’ll give me a chance to be her guardian,” he declared loudly, then strummed his guitar and sang “Love Confession Balloon,” a ballad by Uncle Lun.

The crowd egged him on, urging him to reveal who his goddess was. As he sang, he kept glancing in Zhang Xiluo’s direction.

Zhang Xiluo, however, kept her head down, earnestly eating her roasted sweet potato, determined not to respond.

Su Jianhao wasn’t annoyed, nor did he force his presence upon her. Instead, he sang one song after another.

“Do you two know each other?” Hu Minxing approached, carrying a plate of fruit for her. “This young man’s not bad. He does charity work with the money he earns, and he’s lived here nearly half a year.”

“I just learned his name. I’m finished eating, so I’ll head back now,” Zhang Xiluo said, finishing her fruit and wiping her mouth. “Goodbye, Uncle Hu.”

“I’ll walk you back,” Uncle Hu packed some fruit and pastries for her and accompanied her out of the courtyard.

Hu Minxing was quite talkative and chatted the whole walk. He recounted how her parents had come to know him, saying the guesthouse was his hope.

Back when he went bankrupt, his wife left him for someone else, abandoning him with a baby. The child was born with a weak heart and didn’t survive his hardest year.

“We’re here. Enough of that, don’t let it spoil your mood. If you need anything, just come to me. We’re family, no need for formalities.”

“Thank you, Uncle Hu.”

Zhang Xiluo returned home, read for a while, then fell straight asleep.

Such peaceful, tranquil days passed for half a month. Each day, aside from chatting with Jiang Xueting and the others, she spent time crafting handmade items.

Su Jianhao took on the task from Hu Minxing to deliver vegetables and fruit to Zhang Xiluo every day, lingering even after he arrived.

Even if he had to stand at the door, he would still chat with her.

Zhang Xiluo made it clear she wouldn’t date him, wouldn’t choose him. In the end, he opted to be friends, asking for nothing more.

Gradually, the two became familiar and would sit in her courtyard, talking. Su Jianhao had traveled widely, sharing stories of his journeys with Zhang Xiluo.

One day, Zhang Xiluo wanted to visit the city center, and Su Jianhao, driving Uncle Hu’s car, acted as her chauffeur.

“Miss Zhang, would you like to see a movie?”

“Sure.”

She remembered the last time she went to the cinema was with Jiang Xueting, so she readily agreed.

Su Jianhao bought a package for two, and Zhang Xiluo picked an art film. Since becoming pregnant, her tastes had turned odd—she craved junk food, cola, and popcorn, which awakened her cravings.

Worried about the baby, she ate just a little to satisfy herself, then handed the rest to Su Jianhao.

Within minutes, she drifted off to sleep. When she woke, the closing song was playing, and her head rested on Su Jianhao’s shoulder.

“Sorry, I fell asleep.” She quickly sat up, embarrassed. “The movie was just too boring.”

“It was, a bit,” Su Jianhao agreed, nodding. “Come on, where else would you like to go?”

“Let’s just wander. I want to buy a few things.”

They left the cinema, took the escalator downstairs, and passing the third floor, she spotted Zhou Yao.

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked closely—it was Zhou Yao!

Zhou Yao wore a violet dress and a beret, accompanied by another young woman her age.

They carried bags and laughed, chatting happily.

“Miss Zhang, are you alright?” Su Jianhao noticed her sudden change of expression and asked with concern. “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m fine. Let’s go home,” Zhang Xiluo instantly lost all interest. Zhou Yao stuck to her like glue, impossible to shake off.

Su Jianhao didn’t press further and drove her home. “Miss Zhang, are you sure you’re alright?”

“Mm. Please tell Uncle Hu I won’t be coming for dinner tonight.” With that, Zhang Xiluo went inside and closed the door.

Seeing Zhou Yao here—what about Li Mingye?

She hoped he hadn’t come.

She called Jiang Xueting to ask about Li Mingye. Jiang Xueting had heard from Zhao Chengyi that Li Mingye was on a business trip down south, but the exact location was undisclosed.

As it involved business secrets, Zhao Chengyi couldn’t inquire further; after all, their companies competed in some areas.

To be safe, Zhang Xiluo decided not to go out for a while.

The gears of fate sometimes turn in the most peculiar ways.

Even hiding in her own courtyard, Zhang Xiluo could run into Li Mingye and Zhou Yao. This damned, inexplicable bond—it came for her without reason!

That day, she was in the courtyard, having afternoon tea with Su Jianhao.

Su Jianhao brought her piping hot roasted sweet potato, which delighted her.

She planned to give the baby a nickname—Sweet Potato.

Zhang Xiluo ate heartily, some of it smeared on her lips. Su Jianhao took a napkin to wipe her mouth.

She meant to refuse, but feared dropping the sweet potato in her hands.

As luck would have it, Li Mingye and Zhou Yao passed by her house and witnessed the scene.

“Zhang Xiluo!” Li Mingye roared, startling her so much she dropped the sweet potato.

Damn.

She looked up and saw Li Mingye’s grim, dark face. Meeting his furious gaze, she instinctively shrank back.

“When you leave, remember to lock the door for me,” Zhang Xiluo told Su Jianhao, rising to head inside.

She moved a bit too quickly, tripped on the chair leg, and nearly fell.

“Ah!”

Quick as a flash, Su Jianhao caught her, holding her steady. “Careful! What if you fall?”

“Thank you.” Still shaken, Zhang Xiluo gently pushed him away and regained her balance.

Li Mingye and Zhou Yao had already walked up. Li Mingye radiated coldness, his eyes fixed on her icily.

“And who might this be?” Su Jianhao sensed the tension and spoke softly to ease the mood.

“He’s my ex-husband,” Zhang Xiluo steadied herself and, pointing to Zhou Yao, introduced openly, “and that’s his little girlfriend. Aren’t they a perfect match?”

Li Mingye’s brow furrowed even deeper, his gaze as if he could devour her. “Zhang Xiluo, what nonsense are you spouting!”

“Did I get it wrong?” Zhang Xiluo stared at him, a hint of disdain in her brows. She simply couldn’t understand why he always had to parade Zhou Yao before her!

The more she thought, the angrier she became, glaring fiercely at him. “I don’t want to see you two. Leave at once.”

“Afraid we’ll disturb your lovebirds?”