He Didn't Want to Indulge Her, a Sense of Distance

He had clearly already taken the initiative and offered her a way down. There was no need to get to the bottom of things.

Zuo Tingyue cast Xun Yuan a sidelong glance, his expression almost a smile and his tone casual, yet carrying a bone-deep chill.

"Xun Yuan, spelling everything out takes all the fun out of it."

Xun Yuan stood there without speaking. She understood every word, and understood even better what he meant to convey. She did not know what to say.

That was how he was, making no attempt to hide his coldness and lack of affection.

In the end, Xun Yuan said nothing. Her lips curved into a smile that seemed mocking, seemed scornful, yet also seemed to mean nothing at all. She did not linger, turning away and leaving everyone with a view of her retreating back.

What could she say?

Go along with his words and forcefully salvage her dignity, or fly into a humiliated rage and curse him as a heartless piece of trash?

There was no need.

Things had not reached that point yet.

Did Zuo Tingyue not know she had asked that deliberately?

He knew.

He knew Xun Yuan was testing him, probing his attitude, trying to make him lower his head so she could gauge how important she was to him.

Zuo Tingyue disliked it. This woman had no sense of boundaries. Crossing the line was no good, and he did not want to indulge her.

The assistant stood to one side with his head lowered as far as it would go. Was this something he should be hearing? Was this a scene he should be present for? He was still holding the gifts meant for Xun Yuan, and had to steel himself to ask what to do with them.

"Boss, are we still delivering these?"

Zuo Tingyue gave him an indifferent glance and shut the door outright.

"Are we... still delivering them?" someone behind him asked.

The assistant wiped away his sweat. "Yes. Didn't you see the look the boss just gave me? If he didn't say not to, that means we deliver them."

The assistant did not dare knock on Xun Yuan's door again. She was another person who had to be handled with kid gloves. She seemed easygoing, but only so long as no one offended her. She had a stubborn temper. If he went over now, not only would he fail to get through the door, she might smash the gifts too.

He took a middle course and went to Jiang Yulin. Everyone knew the Jiang Family's young master was close to Miss Xun Yuan. They had known each other abroad.

"Young Master Jiang, could you do me a favor and deliver these to Miss Xun Yuan?" the assistant tried to persuade him.

Jiang Yulin narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you go yourself? If I'm not mistaken, Tingyue asked you to deliver these, didn't he?"

The assistant buttered him up. "Young Master Jiang, you're close to Miss Xun Yuan. Having you do it would be more effective than sending me."

Jiang Yulin was sharp and fished for information. "What needs to be effective? Is Tingyue trying to make peace?"

The assistant wore a beaming smile while inwardly cursing. What fucking peace offering?

"Something along those lines. It still depends on whether Miss Xun Yuan is willing to accept them," he said diplomatically.

"Not going." Jiang Yulin refused.

The assistant really wanted to curse, but continued his flattery. "Young Master Jiang, please help me out. As an assistant, I'm not in a position to handle this sort of thing. You're the one who's close to Miss Xun Yuan."

Jiang Yulin liked hearing that. He was close to Xun Yuan, but he was no fool.

His eyes shifted, and he beckoned the assistant over with a smile. "Tell me the whole story, and I'll deliver these to Xun Yuan for you. How about it?"

The assistant was suffering, but had nowhere to air his grievances.

"I really can't talk about the boss's business. Young Master Jiang, aren't you putting me in a difficult position?"

Jiang Yulin waved a hand and issued his final ultimatum. "I've told you the solution. Whether it works is up to you."

In the end, Jiang Yulin was the one who delivered the gifts to Xun Yuan.

Not on the cruise ship, though.

Xun Yuan and Zuo Tingyue did not speak all the way until they arrived in Harbor City. Neither sought the other out or took the initiative. They were not deliberately refusing to speak; they simply had nothing to say.

Jiang Yulin and Lou Jing could only watch from the sidelines, not daring to speak.

They had tried persuading them. It had been useless.

What else could they do?

Xun Yuan went straight home, then went to her maternal grandparents' place.

"What brings you back?" Her grandfather was practicing calligraphy in his study.

Xun Yuan stood beside him and said with a bright smile, "I missed you and Grandma."

"Didn't you miss me, Grandpa?" she asked with a sweet laugh.

Her grandfather gave a snort of amusement. "What would I miss you for? You don't even like coming home."

"Grandpa!" Xun Yuan called, widening her eyes to tell him not to say any more.

"All right, all right. I won't say another word."

Her grandfather put down his brush and went outside with Xun Yuan to find her grandmother.

When her grandmother saw Xun Yuan, she looked her over from every angle and said with a distressed expression, "Have you lost weight, sweetheart?"

Xun Yuan went over, hugged her grandmother's arm, and swayed it gently. "Not at all, Grandma. I haven't lost any weight."

"Look at you. There isn't any flesh on your face or waist. Haven't you been eating properly out there?" Her grandmother trusted her own eyes.

Xun Yuan smiled and coaxed her. "Nothing of the sort, Grandma. Besides, the bony look is in fashion now. Being a little thinner looks good."

"Will you stay here a few days? I'll cook you something delicious," her grandmother asked.

Xun Yuan looked pleasantly surprised and leaned closer. "Then aren't my taste buds in for a treat?"

Her smile was sweet and lively. She knew just how to make the elderly happy.

Xun Yuan stayed with her grandparents in their little courtyard for several days, accepting her grandmother's feeding every day and being roped into playing chess with her grandfather. She practically took root in their rocking chairs as she basked in the sun, watering the flowers when she had nothing else to do. Her life felt worlds apart from before.

The next time Jiang Yulin saw Xun Yuan was a week later, at the club. She had finally returned from the little courtyard and was willing to come out and have fun.

A group of people sat in their usual private room at the club.

"Xunxun, you finally came out. You're so hard to get hold of," Jiang Yulin complained from the sofa.

Xun Yuan had disappeared as soon as she returned. She was nowhere to be seen, did not answer calls, and only occasionally replied to messages. He still had not delivered the gifts he had promised to give her.

"What do you want me for?" Xun Yuan asked casually, her hands continuing to move as she poured herself a drink.

"What else? You and Tingyue." Jiang Yulin stated his purpose outright.

Xun Yuan's fingers paused. She swirled the liquor in her glass, her tone indifferent. "What could there be between us?"

"I'll be direct. I still have the gifts Tingyue gave you. I put them in your office."

Jiang Yulin gave her no chance to refuse.

"Don't tell me you won't accept them. If you don't want them, sell them and donate the money."

Xun Yuan glanced at him, smiled, and nodded. "That is an option."

"You're not really going to donate them, are you?" Jiang Yulin asked in surprise.

Xun Yuan nodded with a faint smile. "Why not?"

Jiang Yulin tried to persuade her. "Why pick a fight with money? Tingyue's loaded. Just take what he gives you. Money is the last thing he lacks."

Xun Yuan fell silent and took a sip. The strong liquor burned her throat until it hurt a little, painful yet satisfying. Alcohol could provide the satisfaction emotions could not. No wonder some people loved drinking.

Seeing how little Xun Yuan cared, Jiang Yulin grew genuinely anxious.

"Let me say something you won't like. There really isn't much chance of things working out between you and him. You might as well think it through. If he gives you something, take it."

"I know you're not short of money, but who complains about having too much?"

Xun Yuan raised her glass toward him. The gilded liquid swayed inside it, and the warm yellow light spilled down, half veiling her striking features.

"You should understand me."

That single sentence made Jiang Yulin understand at once.

She truly did not care about this money. Jiang Yulin had just said money was the last thing Zuo Tingyue lacked. Xun Yuan thought, wasn't the same true of her?

Xun Yuan drank a great deal with Jiang Yulin that day. Somehow, when she left the private room, she ran into Zuo Tingyue.

It was right in the club corridor. The light traced his tall, straight silhouette. They had not seen each other for days, but he had not changed in the slightest.

Xun Yuan had drunk too much. Half drunk and half awake, she felt as though she had split into two people, one sober and the other utterly wasted.

The corridor was only so wide, and she bumped into Zuo Tingyue's chest.

The collision hurt. She let out a soft hiss and said, "That hurts."

Zuo Tingyue reached out to steady her, afraid she would fall.

"Who are you?" Xun Yuan asked. Her vision doubled and swayed, and she could not see clearly.

The man said nothing. Terribly dizzy, Xun Yuan clutched his clothes and said, "Let go. Let go of me."

Zuo Tingyue did not want to bother with a drunk's words. Did she know what she was saying?

Unable to get away, Xun Yuan persisted. "Who are you?"

Zuo Tingyue looked down at her and suddenly chuckled. He wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from sliding down and teased her softly. "Who do you think?"

"Hmm?"

Xun Yuan tilted her head up, struggling to make out his face.

"Stop swaying," she ordered.

Zuo Tingyue scoffed. Who was the one swaying?

"...Zuo Tingyue?" Xun Yuan sounded uncertain, her voice questioning.

"Oh, it's you..."

Xun Yuan seemed to have truly recognized him. Her gaze settled on his face as she studied him intently.

"You bastard," she suddenly cursed.

Zuo Tingyue's eyes darkened, and he gave Xun Yuan an unfriendly look.

"Who are you cursing?"

Xun Yuan stopped answering. She burrowed against his chest, her arms loosely wrapped around him.

"Xun Yuan," Zuo Tingyue called.

The woman in his arms did not respond. Her little head rested against his chest too. She had probably fallen asleep.

Unbelievable.

She had no idea how she had ended up sleeping in her office. She had a full set of office facilities here, including a lounge.

When Xun Yuan woke, her head ached terribly. She had drunk too much yesterday. She took some clothes into the bathroom to shower, remembering that she seemed to have run into Zuo Tingyue last night.

How could Harbor City be so small? She went out once and ran into him, while drunk at that.

After showering, Xun Yuan came out and messaged Jiang Yulin.

[Were you the one who took me back to the lounge last night?]

Jiang Yulin: [Confused Black Guy.jpg]

[I got drunk last night and slept in the private room. I was alone when I woke up. Did I take you back to the lounge in my dreams?]

Xun Yuan: [Get lost.jpg]

If it had not been Jiang Yulin, it was probably Zuo Tingyue. She called the manager and asked whether Zuo Tingyue had come last night.

The manager said, "You drank quite a lot. Mr. Zuo carried you back to your room last night."

Xun Yuan hung up, regretting it so much her guts turned green. Why was it him again?

Once her frustration passed, Xun Yuan did not forget to take care of business and gave the auctioneer the necessary instructions.

Xun Yuan accepted another artifact restoration job, referred by the elderly gentleman from last time. He also wanted to invite her to an exhibition at the school, but she had not yet decided whether to go.

This artifact was small, and Xun Yuan restored it quickly. She did not go out, immersing herself in her studio. Had Yun Tang not called, she would still have been working.

Yun Tang called her to account. "Xun Yuan, have you been so busy you've lost track of time?"

Xun Yuan genuinely could not remember what it was. "What is it?"

"It's my birthday. Get over here."

Yun Tang hung up as soon as she said it.

When Xun Yuan arrived at the private room, a group was drinking tea. It was Yun Tang's birthday today, and all the guests were second-generation young masters from Harbor City, every one a familiar face.

Yun Tang had been waiting for Xun Yuan. She simply liked Xun Yuan. What could she do about it?

"Xunxun, come here."

Xun Yuan had intended to find an empty seat, but Yun Tang spotted her at once and called her over.

With everyone watching, Xun Yuan did not act coy. She sat beside Yun Tang, and Jiang Yulin passed her a steaming cup of tea.

"Yun Tang's been waiting for you. She's been holding the chef back from serving anything, insisting we wait until you arrived."

Yun Tang scolded him with a laugh. "Haven't you had tea and desserts?"

Lou Jing fanned the flames. "We want a meal."

Yun Tang showed no mercy. "The crown prince is still sitting there perfectly composed, and you're already complaining?"

The moment she said that, the room fell so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Who dared joke about Mr. Zuo?

They might all have been born with gold spoons in their mouths, but not all gold spoons were equal, were they? Even putting aside the Harbor City Zuo Family's reputation and his maternal family's standing, was he himself not known for his methods and ability? No one wanted Mr. Zuo as an opponent. He was too ruthless and unfeeling.

Following everyone's gaze, Xun Yuan saw Zuo Tingyue in the corner, dressed in an impeccably pressed shirt and trousers. His shirt was black, matching his deep, indifferent aura. He sat there without joining the crowd's lively chatter, every inch the dignified, composed scion of an established family.

Xun Yuan suddenly remembered the first time she had seen him at the Jiang Family Club. He had been just like this, sitting alone to one side, with no one daring to approach and disturb him. That air of mystery was what most stirred people's curiosity.

The crown prince looking proper was just as tantalizing as when he was being improper.

The atmosphere in the room stiffened for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, the lively chatter resumed.

Yun Tang found a chance to ask Xun Yuan quietly, "Did you and the crown prince have a falling-out?"

"Yes." Xun Yuan did not hide it. Yun Tang had probably already heard the whole story from someone else.

"You don't seem like someone who'd get angry over this. Is there another reason?" Yun Tang asked.

Xun Yuan smiled softly and told her, "I was just using it as a pretext. The problem between us isn't this little thing on the surface. I understand the root of it, and so does he."

Not wanting Yun Tang to worry, Xun Yuan said, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Just enjoy being the birthday girl today."

Yun Tang patted her hand and nodded with a smile. "All right."

The group did not disperse until the early hours. Everyone had been drinking, so some called designated drivers, while others stayed at nearby hotels.

After watching Yun Tang leave, Xun Yuan tried to book a designated driver too. Unfortunately, her phone was running out of battery, and it shut down before a driver accepted her request.

Everyone at the entrance had left. Xun Yuan was wondering whether to go back and borrow someone's phone or find a nearby hotel.

Just as she was about to turn around, bright headlights from behind her to one side dazzled her. A black Bentley appeared before her with its hazard lights flashing.

Xun Yuan's gaze shifted slightly. A license plate with four eights. Zuo Tingyue's car.

The driver lowered the window, and Zuo Tingyue cast her an indifferent glance.

After more than half a month apart, she vaguely felt a hint of unfamiliarity and distance.

"Get in," he said in a low voice.

Xun Yuan did not want to get in. She felt a tiny bit guilty; she had received a call from the auctioneer two days earlier and had just donated the money.

She squeezed her unusable phone and shook her head in refusal. "No need. I'll find a designated driver."

Zuo Tingyue cast a barely perceptible glance at her phone, and Xun Yuan straightened her back.