Zong Cheng’s breath caught slightly.
Tang Chen quietly lowered his head as well.
After a long moment, Zong Cheng finally withdrew his gaze.
“So… then? Did she recognize you, or did you slip up?”
…
Tang Chen looked up at him, feeling guilty.
“She… she said that the figure looked a little like you first…”
Then he couldn’t hold back—his mouth ran ahead of him.
He blurted out, “That’s Brother Zong!”
And… that was it.
Zong Cheng pursed his lips slightly.
“Alright, I got it.”
The room fell silent again.
After a full ten seconds, Tang Chen finally realized there was more in the air than just awkwardness.
He peeked at his brother once.
By the way…
He had actually arrived very early in the morning and had come to look for Zong Cheng once, but Zong Cheng hadn’t been around—should he say that?
He hesitated for two seconds, then gave up.
Forget it!
Brother Zong’s expression is scary right now!
He didn’t dare say anything!
Zong Cheng wasn’t as terrifying as he imagined, though his mood clearly wasn’t great either.
“Fine, got it. I’ll take you to the airport.”
He casually grabbed his coat and walked toward the door.
Meow?
Take me to the airport?
Tang Chen was shocked.
“I just got here, Brother Zong! At least let the kid eat something first!”
After all, he’d traveled a thousand miles to check on him!
He couldn’t just be packed off already!
“I just ate. Not hungry.”
Zong Cheng expressionless.
“Ah?”
Not hungry, but I am!
Tang Chen muttered, glancing at his phone, puzzled.
“Brother Zong, it’s three o’clock now. You just ate? You eat this late?”
Zong Cheng’s step faltered slightly, then he quickly regained composure.
“Yeah, I got up a bit late today. Enough chatter, get in the car.”
He opened the car door.
“Oh.”
Tang Chen obediently got in and buckled up.
Life is so hard.
Now he had to face his mother’s tears alone.
So tragic.
By the way… what did Brother Zong do this morning?
Tang Chen sneaked glances at him.
After a few looks, his eyes drifted to Zong Cheng’s coat.
Ah, this?
Tang Chen’s pupils widened.
This coat?
He stared at it a few more times, unwilling to believe it.
No doubt!
This coat—the same one Mr. Yin had worn before?
Ah, but is this coat really Zong Cheng’s, or does Mr. Yin have an identical one too?
Coincidence?
After the meal with Zong Cheng, Yin Chen was in an excellent mood. Even when High Lawyer called to report on Dongfang Wan’s disgusting behavior, it couldn’t disturb him.
“I understand. You did very well. Looks like we can continue cooperating next year.”
Yin Chen nodded slightly.
High Lawyer’s smile appeared over the line.
“As long as it’s your request, we will give our all. Then, next year, please continue to guide us, Mr. Yin.”
There are plenty of wealthy clients willing to pay twenty million a year, but finding one like Mr. Yin—who lets them shine and doesn’t micromanage—is rare.
And occasional small perks make them feel very comfortable.
High Lawyer thought this as he received assorted gourmet snacks after working overtime last night.
“Of course. But one more thing—I’ll need you to work a bit more before the New Year.”
Yin Chen’s tone carried a faint chill; High Lawyer immediately stifled his smile.
“Please, Mr. Yin.”
“Some noisy little pests keep jumping around despite my ignoring them. It’s irritating.”
Yin Chen tapped the desk, eyes cold.
“Do you understand what I mean, High Lawyer?”
“Understood.”
High Lawyer nodded firmly.
It’s getting cold.
Time for Dongfang Group to go bankrupt.
Yin Chen seriously thought for a second… then burst out laughing.
“Pfft.”
He glanced at his phone, checking the novels he had just scrolled through—still entertaining even after a hundred reads.
What do these authors even have in their heads?
How do they come up with this stuff?
So interesting.
Yin Chen expressionless, opened the seven or eight novels he’d been following.
Each had its own flavor, but shared one thing—the authors were all on leave.
Reason 1: Going shopping for New Year’s with my mom! Big cleaning tomorrow, small New Year’s Eve day after, update in three days!
Reason 2: Mom called me home for New Year’s, took the ticket, three days four nights, update in five.
Reason 3: Home for New Year, see you after the holiday.
Reading them three or four times, Yin Chen’s expression grew grim.
Especially the last one, the one he’d been anticipating most.
Opening it, he saw the familiar two characters:
“Skipped.”
Concise.
Two words perfectly expressing the author’s helplessness and reluctance—proving just how…
annoying!
He stared at the note, then opened the comments section and started copy-pasting.
“I’m a CEO: Did the king of skips update today? Skipped.”
“Ah-choo!”
Zong Cheng, driving, sneezed violently. Tang Chen quickly withdrew his glances, pretending to be calm.
“Brother Zong, you have a cold? Drink more hot water.”
…
Zong Cheng murmured an “Mm” and continued thinking about other things.
He felt like he’d forgotten something… what was it?
The ninety-eighth attempt to call Zong Cheng—still voicemail. Editor gave up.
“You really are the king of skipping… now you don’t even leave a note?”
If he hadn’t kept sending make-up updates, readers would think the skip king sprouted wings and flew away!
He deftly opened the comments again, logging into his sub-account.
“Daily updates from all wives: Did the skip king update today? Skipped.”
After finally sending Tang Chen off at the airport, Zong Cheng remembered his phone had been off all this time.
Turning it on, he hadn’t yet checked the editor’s calls or messages when his aunt’s number appeared.
Two seconds of silence. Zong Cheng slowly pressed answer.
“Aunt.”
Silence, just soft sobbing on the line.
Zong Cheng said nothing.
After a long moment, a gentle female voice finally spoke.
“I heard from Xiao Chen… you have a partner now?”
?
Zong Cheng’s expression instantly became indescribable.
What had Tang Chen told his aunt?
And still dared to come find him?
Looking for trouble?
“Why aren’t you speaking?”
“…Still not a partner.”
“?”
The gentle voice from before shifted instantly.
“Still not a partner? Didn’t you attend the company’s annual party together? How is it not a partner yet?”
Here we go.
Zong Cheng groaned.
“Really not. I went just to help him.”
“?”
Shocked on the other end. “Helping? Didn’t you think of helping in bed too? Over twenty, don’t you know how this works? He-tui! Just like Xiao Chen, useless!”
…
How did his aunt raise this personality?
Zong Cheng, helpless, a tiny bit envious.
“Me too. I just let him know I like him. Still early, nothing’s settled. Whatever Tang Chen says, don’t believe him.”
“Then… what about that thing he said about wearing your clothes? False too?”
Aunt’s tone full of disappointment.
“…How much trouble did Tang Chen cause?”
He should’ve wrung it out of him before letting him go!
Zong Cheng’s head ached.
“Yes, that did happen…”
“?”
Aunt shocked: “He’s wearing your clothes and you’re still… innocent? What’s going on?”
What’s going on with all of this?
Her little brat, fine. He’s young; lots of data on the computer, normal he hasn’t found anyone.
But Zong Cheng? Over twenty, not even had a partner!
Finally some action, clothes already on someone else, and he just let them know he liked them?
Who did this child inherit from?
Definitely not me, thought Aunt.
Zong Cheng was a bit stunned by her questioning.
He wore his clothes on Yin Chen—why couldn’t it be innocent?
He also wore Yin Chen’s clothes!
What’s the difference?
Seeing his silence, Aunt grew frustrated.
“So, tell me, he just found out about your feelings. How did he respond? Are you together? Kissed?”
Slept together?
The words hovered, but Aunt swallowed them.
Forget it, given how Zong Cheng speaks? Impossible!
Zong Cheng started panicking.
Gradually withdrawing.
His aunt is really skilled.
Every move precise, lethal 🙂
He was done.
Might as well just hang up.
Waiting a bit… still nothing?
Aunt surprised:
“What? You said you confessed, right? Then? No reaction at all?”
What’s wrong with this child?
So bad at pursuing someone?
Zong Cheng exhaled to save himself.
“He said, ‘Let me choose to remember or not,’ I chose not to remember…”
Meow?
What is this child saying? Totally incomprehensible.
Aunt shocked, confused.
“You chose not to remember? So what’s your situation now? Still friends?”
Zong Cheng answered: “We just had lunch together…”
So… friends, perhaps?
She scolded: “Did you confess again at lunch?”
Zong Cheng: “….”
Aunt sighed.
“How can you be so dumb and honest! He lets you choose, you choose? He says you don’t remember, you don’t remember? If you don’t take initiative, how do you have a story? Later if you end up on fire together, he says ‘don’t move,’ you’ll just stay still?”
Zong Cheng flustered.
Blushing.
Pursed lips: “I wouldn’t… really…”
“How wouldn’t?!”
Aunt cut him off: “With your cowardly self! Clothes are already on him and you still haven’t gotten him! Listen to me, take initiative! Don’t come to my place for New Year! Chase! Chase him to his place! Persist! Say you like him every day! Wear less, seize the chance, pin him against the wall and kiss! Got it?”