I Didn't Say You Couldn't Borrow It

While the three of them were waiting for the elevator, they ran into a female crew member. She smiled at Tong Zhao and Shi Ruohe and said everyone from the crew had gone to the beach to have fun. She had come back to get a waterproof pouch for her phone.

When she finished speaking, she looked up and stole a glance at Shu Sizhuo. She was secretly amazed by how handsome he was. Could he be a newcomer to the entertainment industry? But his bearing didn't seem like that of a rookie actor.

The four of them entered the elevator, and Tong Zhao asked her with a smile, "What floor are you on?"

"The third floor." When Tong Zhao pressed the button for her, she quickly thanked him.

Tong Zhao pressed the fifth-floor button for Shi Ruohe and the sixth-floor button for himself, then turned to Shu Sizhuo. "What floor are you on?"

Shu Sizhuo said, "It's already been pressed."

Tong Zhao stared at the three buttons.

Already been pressed?

So was it the third, fifth, or sixth floor?

When they reached the third floor, the crew member waved to them and left the elevator.

When they reached the fifth floor, Shi Ruohe turned to Tong Zhao and said, "I'll head back to my room first."

"Okay, bye," Tong Zhao said.

Shi Ruohe hesitated as he walked out, then looked back at Tong Zhao and Shu Sizhuo, still a little worried.

Shu Sizhuo hadn't gotten out, so he was staying on the sixth floor, just like Tong Zhao.

The elevator doors slowly closed, leaving only Tong Zhao and Shu Sizhuo inside.

Tong Zhao turned his head and exchanged a look with Shu Sizhuo, his expression complicated.

Only when they stepped out of the elevator and stood side by side in front of their hotel rooms did Tong Zhao finally give Shu Sizhuo a suspicious look.

This was neither the most luxurious hotel by the sea nor the one with the best view. Given Shu Sizhuo's status and wealth, he had no reason to stay here, much less happen to be staying right next door to Tong Zhao.

Given that Shu Sizhuo had used similar tactics before, Tong Zhao asked hesitantly, "Did you... know I was staying here, so you deliberately..."

"You mean I checked your movements and where you were staying in advance, then booked the same hotel and stayed next door to you, before deliberately running into you at Wanqi Temple?"

Shu Sizhuo's calm manner made Tong Zhao a little uncertain again. "...Was that what you did?"

"I came here because I'm attending a deck dinner tomorrow. I didn't stay on Fine Jade Island because this place is close to Stone Bay Mountain, making it convenient for me to go to Wanqi Temple and give thanks for a fulfilled vow. As for staying at the same hotel as you and right next door, that's quite a coincidence. I was surprised too."

Shu Sizhuo's expression was relaxed, his smile proper. Tong Zhao couldn't tell whether he was lying, but what he said was indeed clear and logically sound. Everything made perfect sense.

"Don't believe me?" Shu Sizhuo leaned against the doorframe and bent down slightly, deliberately asking, "Then tell me, if I did arrange everything on purpose, what would my motive be?"

My motive?

Haven't you always wanted me to be your lover? Didn't you say before that there couldn't be so many coincidences? Last time, you even deliberately had me deliver takeout to your home!

But...

When they had parted on bad terms last time, Shu Sizhuo had also said it didn't have to be him.

Maybe Shu Sizhuo had given up on him as a target after that unpleasant encounter?

But even if he gave up on this one target, there would still be countless others.

Every time Tong Zhao thought of that, he felt irritated. He lowered his head and swiped his key card. "Sorry, maybe I misunderstood."

With that, he pushed open the door and went inside, ignoring Shu Sizhuo as he closed the door behind him.

Outside, the smile vanished from Shu Sizhuo's face. He stared at the white lacquered wooden door, his eyes dark.

As soon as Tong Zhao entered the room, he felt a little regretful. Why was he always unable to control his emotions properly in front of Shu Sizhuo?

Whether Shu Sizhuo had done it on purpose or not this time, whether he was telling the truth or lying, and whatever his motive might be, Tong Zhao had no need to get so emotional.

In any case, he would still have to leave in another ten months...

Tong Zhao squeezed the amulet in his pocket and let out a slow breath.

Never mind. Since he's staying next door, I'll still have to go over there later and quietly slip the amulet into his suitcase.

His phone suddenly chimed. Tong Zhao casually switched on the light and took out his phone.

Shi Ruohe: [Are you okay? If you need to switch rooms with me, we can do it anytime.]

Even Shi Ruohe had noticed that something was off between him and Shu Sizhuo.

Tong Zhao ran a hand through his hair as he walked toward the bathroom, typing with one hand: [I'm fine. There's no need to switch rooms.]

The dark sea was deep and vast, and the waves beat dully against the beach. Shu Sizhuo stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, taking a phone call, light and shadow outlining his tall, straight figure.

"Mia."

"Jor, the safety tests are complete. We can confirm that this thing won't have any side effects on the human body, and the implantation will use the latest minimally invasive technology. Rest assured, we'll have it shipped back to the country as soon as possible."

After the call ended, Shu Sizhuo stood there for so long that someone might have mistaken him for a statue. Only then did he pull the corners of his mouth into a twisted, eerie smile.

Then he lowered his head, covered his wet eyes with his hand, and laughed under his breath, his broad shoulders shaking incessantly.

Tong Zhao...

Tong Zhao...

You can never escape again.

You.

Are mine.

The doorbell suddenly rang. Shu Sizhuo lifted his head from his palm and looked toward the door behind him.

Tong Zhao had just finished showering and thrown a coat over his pajamas. He stood outside Shu Sizhuo's room, pressing the doorbell. He squeezed the amulet in his pocket again, inexplicably nervous.

The door opened, and Shu Sizhuo's expression froze, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Tong Zhao?"

Tong Zhao noticed that Shu Sizhuo had just showered too. His hair was only half dry, and his eyes were unnaturally red, as if he had rubbed them.

He wore a bathrobe with the belt loosely tied, leaving a broad expanse of his firm, cool-white chest exposed.

Tong Zhao was dazzled. He quickly looked away and gave an awkward smile. "Um, can I come in?"

Shu Sizhuo stepped aside to let him in, still somewhat unable to believe that Tong Zhao had come to see him of his own accord.

Tong Zhao walked into the room and immediately spotted the suitcase lying open on the floor. He turned and smiled at Shu Sizhuo, who had just closed the door. "President Shu, um, can I borrow some toothpaste? My hand slipped and I dropped mine in the toilet."

"Borrow toothpaste?"

"Yeah."

Shu Sizhuo studied Tong Zhao's face suspiciously for a few seconds, then turned and went into the bathroom.

Tong Zhao immediately darted over to the suitcase and slipped the amulet into one of its compartments.

He moved as fast as lightning, without even noticing which compartment it was.

When Shu Sizhuo came out, he saw Tong Zhao still standing where he had been.

"Toothpaste." He held it out.

"Thanks."

Tong Zhao took it and started to leave, but Shu Sizhuo grabbed him. "Wait."

Tong Zhao: "?"

Shu Sizhuo asked, "If you dropped your toothpaste in the toilet, why didn't you call the front desk and ask them to bring you some? Why come to me to borrow it instead..."

Without a change in expression, Tong Zhao said, "You're right next door, so it was more convenient to ask you. If you don't want to lend it to me, never mind. Here, take it back."

"I didn't say you couldn't borrow it." Shu Sizhuo pulled him closer, his deep eyes fixed on Tong Zhao's, and repeated, "I didn't say you couldn't borrow it."

Tong Zhao's heart began to pound. "Then, thank you."

He tugged backward, putting some distance between them.

"I'll go back to my room now." Tong Zhao had just turned around when Shu Sizhuo called him back.

Tong Zhao turned back again. Shu Sizhuo's gaze was deep as he suddenly said, "Don't keep wandering around the beach. It's dangerous."

Tong Zhao's heart jolted violently.

Shu Sizhuo gave him another faint smile. "Good night."