Giving by Force

Zuo Tingyue barely lifted his lips and interrupted, "Go upstairs first."

The moment he spoke, everyone fell silent. Who would dare deny the crown prince face? Although they were all standing there, there was still a hierarchy among them. No one dared ignore Mr. Zuo's words.

Once the group went upstairs, Xun Yuan sat back down and continued waiting. With nothing to do, she scrolled through videos of Xu Sui's runway shows abroad.

Yun Tang parted ways with her blind date, and Zuo Tingyue's group came out as well. When Yun Tang saw Special Assistant Lin, her expression turned unnatural for a fleeting instant.

Xun Yuan received a message on her phone.

"Get in."

Two words without any context, delivered as an order. She knew who it was without even looking.

Thinking of how he had helped her out earlier, she told Yun Tang, "Zuo Tingyue is outside. I'm going to see him."

Yun Tang looked down at her phone and replied to Xun Yuan, "Okay."

Something unreadable flickered in Xun Yuan's eyes. She glanced at Yun Tang. Something was a little off with her, but Yun Tang did not notice Xun Yuan's look.

Xun Yuan did not ask. Adults all had their own private space; there was no need for her to pry.

She walked out of the restaurant and saw a car outside with its hazard lights flashing. She went over and got in.

Zuo Tingyue was leaning back in the car, pressing his temples. Once the driver started the car, he asked her mildly, "Have you eaten?"

Xun Yuan shook her head. "No."

She had been drinking coffee the whole time she sat in the restaurant waiting for Yun Tang and had not ordered anything to eat.

"Then let's eat."

Zuo Tingyue tossed out the remark casually.

During the meal, the crown prince did not seem hungry and barely ate anything. Xun Yuan did most of the eating while he watched her.

Xun Yuan was a pleasing sight as she ate. Her table manners were excellent, and she ate in small bites without making a sound.

His gaze made Xun Yuan uncomfortable. Even the food lost its flavor.

"Aren't you hungry?" Xun Yuan asked.

Zuo Tingyue shook his head and smiled faintly, saying languidly, "You eat."

Xun Yuan: ...

I am eating. You're making me self-conscious by watching.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Xun Yuan asked again.

As she spoke, she pointed out a dish to him. "This one is pretty good. Try it."

She just wanted him to stop staring at her while she ate.

"Mm."

Zuo Tingyue was in a good mood that day. Everything about him was relaxed, his ease particularly apparent. At her words, he actually took a bite.

He swallowed the food and offered a mild compliment. "Not bad."

Xun Yuan continued eating, then could not help saying outright, "Stop looking."

At that, Zuo Tingyue raised his brows, a touch of genuine amusement entering his eyes.

"What is it?"

Xun Yuan's brows and eyes shifted slightly, an awkward expression on her pretty little face. "You're interfering with my meal."

In a rare moment, Zuo Tingyue froze. Once he understood what she meant, he broke into laughter, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of his lips.

Xun Yuan's face grew hot from his laughter.

She rather wanted to ask him, Is it that funny? What are you laughing at?

Xun Yuan stopped talking to him and ate her meal on her own.

Once Xun Yuan finished eating, the two of them left and went straight back to the hotel.

It was the hotel Zuo Tingyue had given her a key card for.

Sometimes Xun Yuan found him rather hard to fathom. He clearly owned plenty of properties in Harbor City, including, as far as she knew, the apartment directly above or below hers in Repulse Bay. Yet he insisted on keeping a private suite at a hotel and stayed there often.

After they entered the suite, Zuo Tingyue went to the study, while Xun Yuan headed to the bedroom to shower with practiced ease. She had been here several times and even had a key card, so the place was not unfamiliar at all.

When she came out of the bedroom after her shower, she saw that the sitting room was full of people, a group of corporate elites, some holding laptops, others carrying documents...

She felt she could understand why Zuo Tingyue kept staying at hotels. After all, he handled work day and night, with no telling when he might work overtime. This place was close to the company, making it convenient to have people come over.

"Miss Xun Yuan."

The group was not particularly surprised to see Xun Yuan emerge from inside. After all, they all knew about their boss's relationship with her, and they greeted her one after another.

Xun Yuan smiled, her gaze sweeping over them. Special Assistant Lin and the assistant were both there, along with several familiar faces. She gave a slight nod in greeting.

Zuo Tingyue beckoned her over, the utterly natural gesture reminding Xun Yuan of those days she had spent as his "assistant" in Australia.

With so many people there, all his subordinates, Xun Yuan did not slight him and walked over.

She could not help feeling relieved that she had not carelessly come out wrapped in a bathrobe that day, but had put on silk satin pajamas instead, so she would not be too improperly dressed.

Xun Yuan went over and sat beside him, asking gently, "What is it?"

Zuo Tingyue tossed a stack of documents straight to her, his tone even. "Take a look."

Xun Yuan did as he said and looked through them. They were the contracts she had accompanied him to sign in Australia last time, and she had handled all of them. She did not understand what he meant. There was nothing wrong with them.

"Has something gone wrong?"

Xun Yuan knitted her brows in thought before asking aloud. Apart from that, she could think of no other reason.

She was serious and focused as she read the documents, showing no trepidation when she took them. Her practiced movements made her look like an old hand who dealt with contracts every day.

Zuo Tingyue said nothing. Seated on the sofa in a casual, languid posture, he handed Xun Yuan another document.

Xun Yuan reached out to take it and began reading again. A few minutes were enough for her to understand its contents.

It was a property gift agreement. He had gifted her the proceeds from this project held in his name.

She had personally participated in the project, after all, and knew clearly just how immense its returns and potential were. For him to give them to her without batting an eye was truly rather unexpected, and tempting too.

Although she was not short of money, not being short of money was different from someone forcing it on her. I'm not asking whether you want it. It only depends on whether I want to give it.

Giving by force-this was very Zuo Tingyue, domineering and forceful.

Xun Yuan looked at the man's signature in the lower-left corner of the contract's final page. The strokes of his name, Zuo Tingyue, bore through the paper, their bold strength striking straight at the heart.

"For me?" she asked, as though she already knew the answer.

"Who else?" Zuo Tingyue replied with a smile.

"Sign whenever you like. It takes effect whenever you do," he said mildly.

He looked utterly unconcerned, as though what he was giving away was nothing but air.