Chapter 24: A Physical Confrontation

Chapter 24: A Physical Confrontation

Sheng Xiyang was unsure if he would be a third wheel.

He hesitated for a moment, but when he met Sheng Ai's gaze, he felt a sense of helplessness in the eyes behind Sheng Ai's glasses.

Xiyang thought Sheng Ai might need his help.

So he nodded.

Zhou Xia's expression soured. She covered her face with a fan and softly hummed before turning to scold her maid, "How long does it take to get a dress!"

The maid, initially arrogant, dared not utter a word after being reprimanded by her mistress. She simply lowered her head.

Boss Xu handed the receipt to the maid named Xiaoping and also gave her the new set of formal attire.

Zhou Xia walked to the door in her heels, turned back, leaned against the door frame, and winked at Sheng Ai, "Then—see you at three o'clock at the Brilliant Hotel, Mr. Sheng."

With that, she gracefully left.

Only then did Boss Xu bow and apologize to Sheng Ai, offering to measure Xiyang.

Sheng Ai said, "I've already measured him and written it down in your book."

Boss Xu was taken aback, "This... I'm truly sorry, Mr. Sheng."

"No trouble," Sheng Ai glanced out the shop window at the car speeding away, a fleeting emotion crossing his eyes. He casually asked Boss Xu, "Is Miss Zhou ordering a new dress for some banquet?"

"Ah," Boss Xu clearly feared Zhou Xia, "I'm not sure, but Miss Zhou has been seen frequently with the young master of General Ning's family. It's been in the newspapers several times..."

Xiyang thought that Boss Xu wasn't afraid of Miss Zhou, but rather the young master of General Ning's family.

He looked up at Sheng Ai and saw a hint of silence in his eyes.

In the end, Sheng Ai forgot about the suit he had promised to order with Xiyang. After paying the deposit, he took Xiyang and left.

In the car, Xiyang couldn't help but ask Sheng Ai, "Brother, is that Miss Zhou... not on good terms with you?"

Sheng Ai drove calmly, "There's no good or bad; we're not particularly close. We've only met a few times." He paused slightly, "She seems interested in getting closer to me, and I want to understand her intentions."

Xiyang nodded.

It hadn't been long since he arrived, yet the intrigue never ceased.

Xiyang thought Zhou Xia was truly beautiful, possessing a unique charm that surpassed many modern celebrities. He couldn't help but say, "Miss Zhou... is very beautiful."

"Is that so?" Sheng Ai smiled gently, "Does Xiyang like her?"

"Ah?" Xiyang was startled and quickly shook his head, "No, I just find her striking."

But soon, he turned the tables, "Do you not like her, brother? Everyone likes beautiful people, it's normal."

"Like..." Sheng Ai repeated Xiyang's words. He seemed lost in thought, pondering the meaning of "like." After a while, he answered, "I don't have any particular feelings."

Xiyang thought that Sheng Ai must have had feelings for someone before. Now he was curious whether Sheng Ai disliked Zhou Xia because he already had someone else in mind, had been hurt, or simply never felt anything for anyone.

So he asked again, "Brother, have you ever liked anyone?" He paused, smiling and leaning towards Sheng Ai, "Or perhaps you already have someone in mind?"

Sheng Ai was taken aback and turned to look at Xiyang.

Xiyang's smile was innocent and pure. The sunlight from outside made him look adorable.

"Perhaps," Sheng Ai's eyes softened with a bittersweet smile, "But it was a long time ago."

...

After lunch, Xiyang followed Sheng Ai back to Sheng's Trading Company.

On the way back, Xiyang kept thinking about what Sheng Ai had said.

A long time ago... had he once had someone in mind?

Xiyang had never been so nosy before, but for some reason, he wanted to know everything about Sheng Ai.

What did the person Sheng Ai used to like look like? What was their name? Given Sheng Ai's personality, he probably wasn't very proactive, so maybe it was a lively girl?

Since he had to meet Zhou Xia for tea in the afternoon, Xiyang didn't go home. But after eating, he started feeling drowsy. After sitting in Sheng Ai's office for half an hour, he nearly fell asleep on the sofa.

Sheng Ai gently woke him up and said, "There's a bed in the next room. Go take a nap; I'll wake you up when it's time."

Xiyang nodded groggily.

He got up and went to the next room, noticing as he closed the door that Sheng Ai's secretary entered his office and shut the door behind her.

Xiyang didn't think much of it, knowing they were discussing business.

He didn't sleep for long, just a half-hour nap, and then couldn't fall back asleep.

Xiyang sat up and, without waiting for Sheng Ai, went to the restroom to freshen up. When he came out, the clock showed two forty.

After washing his hands, he was about to leave the restroom when he heard voices outside.

He was about to leave but caught the mention of "Mr. Sheng."

Xiyang paused.

One voice whispered, "Secretary Jiang has been in Mr. Sheng's office for almost an hour now and hasn't come out yet."

The other snorted, "Isn't that Mr. Sheng's type?"

Someone outside said, "But look at that Secretary Jiang, he's always so timid and careful. Who would believe he'd be bold enough to do something improper with Mr. Sheng?"

Another person replied, "It's not the first time. A long time ago, didn't Mr. Sheng particularly favor his young secretary? It almost made the newspapers; it took a lot of money to suppress it. Mr. Sheng has a thing for this sort. The previous young secretary was always around Mr. Sheng day and night. Mr. Sheng treated him exceptionally well, but... hmm, in the end, he suffered for it. That young secretary ran off with the money and nearly made it public knowledge."

Sheng Xiyang frowned.

He didn't know what had happened with the previous young secretary, but he didn't think Secretary Jiang and Sheng Ai had anything going on. After all, he slept next door and could vaguely hear their conversations in his sleep.

The two people outside kept talking nonsense, getting more and more vulgar, even speculating about how Secretary Jiang might please Sheng Ai in bed. Sheng Xiyang couldn't take it anymore and rushed out, grabbing one of them and throwing a punch.

To be honest, Sheng Xiyang had never been in a fight before.

He used to be a good boy and a model student, and with everyone doting on him, he never had to fight.

But at that moment, Sheng Xiyang was truly furious.

Those two weren't pushovers either. They didn't recognize Sheng Xiyang and started fighting back.

Sheng Xiyang was losing, taking several punches. The commotion quickly drew attention, and someone shouted. Soon after, the door to Sheng Ai's office opened.

When Sheng Xiyang was pulled up from the ground, he looked up and saw Sheng Ai.

Sheng Ai had clearly just come out of his office, not even wearing his glasses. Without his glasses, he looked very different from his usual gentle demeanor, his eyes coldly scanning the faces of the two men.

Sheng Xiyang noticed that Sheng Ai's collar was half-open, his buttons haphazardly fastened, and his tie loosely hanging. This gave him an air of nonchalance and coolness.

For a moment, Sheng Xiyang's head buzzed.

He thought, Could it be that Sheng Ai really...