Night Rose

"Xu Jingyi, are you uncomfortable just because I didn't scold you? Don't think I don't know what kind of person you are." Su Jin walked up to her, raised her chin, and looked at her arrogantly. "It's one thing to be useless at work, but in relationships, all you can do is sow discord?"

"You..." Xu Jingyi's expression changed drastically, and she instinctively turned to Lu Mingzhou for help, "Brother Lu..."

"Alright, all this 'brother' stuff is disgusting. If you two were together, just be open about it. But if you're not, why are you calling each other so affectionately? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were his sister." Su Jin raised an eyebrow at her.

"Sister Su, I know you hold a grudge against me, but you don't have to say such hurtful things to Brother Lu. After all, you two were together before." Xu Jingyi put on a wronged look, as if someone had bullied her.

Su Jin rolled her eyes, too lazy to bother with the green tea bitch.

"Being with him is practically a criminal record; it's nothing to brag about, okay?"

"Su Jin, your words are far too harsh." Lu Mingzhou clenched his fists. Su Jin was actually saying such hurtful things to protect this man. What did their five years mean then? Was it all just wishful thinking on his part?

"You're taking sides in women's affairs? With me here, you won't be able to bully Su Jin." Zhou Zheng pulled her into his arms, thoroughly annoyed by their constant talk of "five years."

He's young, he has five years to spend with Su Jin. Even if it were fifty years, let alone five, his love for Su Jin would remain unchanged.

"Which eye of yours saw me taking sides? It was clearly Su Jin who attacked Jingyi first. Jingyi is such a well-behaved girl, and she hasn't been in society for long. How could she possibly win against her? You're the one taking sides!" Lu Mingzhou pushed up his glasses, his sharp eyes fixed on the two holding hands, finding it really an eyesore.

Zhou Zheng shook his head and chuckled to himself as he looked at his hopeless state.

It's ridiculous that I even considered someone like that a potential rival in love. Such a person doesn't deserve to stand before Su Jin at all; his behavior today clearly shows how he usually treats Su Jin and Xu Jingyi.

Lu Mingzhou actually chose to help the seemingly weaker one between his girlfriend and Xu Jingyi, even though the other party was the one who started the trouble, and in the end it was Su Jin who provoked her.

"Blind and deaf? You should go see an ENT specialist soon," Zhou Zheng retorted, then whispered to Su Jin, "Don't bother arguing with a bitch."

Su Jin couldn't help but laugh. The elevator wasn't soundproof, so he whispered to himself that it was no different from announcing it loudly.

"it is good."

The elevator doors opened; we'd arrived at the restaurant.

Xu Jingyi rushed out first, and Lu Mingzhou paused for a moment before following her.

"Let's go." Su Jin pulled Zhou Zheng out, feeling his hand was a bit heavy, and knew that he was being a little temperamental and deliberately pulling her to stop her from walking fast.

"Alright, don't be jealous. What's so great about his jealousy? He's just a jerk," Su Jin coaxed softly.

"Did you know they were coming to compete?" Zhou Zheng asked her as he helped her get some food.

"I guess I know, but I didn't come to the competition for him. I came to beat him, and also for Xu Jingyi." Su Jin picked up a cream horn and put it on her plate. She met Zhou Zheng's probing gaze and chuckled, "What? Don't you believe me? Or do you think I'm still thinking about him, which is why I'm so competitive?"

Zhou Zheng didn't answer, but that wasn't what he really thought. He was just extremely unhappy because Su Jin had met with her ex-boyfriend; his jealousy was practically bursting out of the sky.

Su Jin tiptoed closer to his ear, her ears turning red, and whispered, "I stopped liking him a long time ago. If I still liked him, why would I be with you? I'm not that kind of person."

"Okay." Zhou Zheng turned his head and took the opportunity to plant a kiss on her cheek.

"Could you get me that dessert? I'm going to wash my hands first." Su Jin leaned close to him as they spoke, their relationship intimate.

"Okay, go ahead."

Little did they know, someone was watching them from a short distance away.

The disposable cup in Lu Mingzhou's hand was squeezed into a ball, and the liquid inside flowed down his hand, splashing onto his pants.

"Oh dear! Brother Lu, what happened to you? Your pants are wet. Do you want to go to the bathroom to dry them?" Xu Jingyi asked, holding a plate and looking at the drink in his hand with concern.

Lu Mingzhou watched Su Jin walk away, then abruptly put down the plate. "Okay, you pick what you like to eat first, and wait for me here."

After saying that, Lu Mingzhou walked towards the restroom.

The handwashing area in the hotel's first-floor restrooms is located between the men's and women's restrooms and is considered a public area.

As Su Jin lowered her head to wash her hands, she felt as if someone was watching her.

She looked up and was startled by what she saw in the mirror.

Su Jin turned around, and Lu Mingzhou stared intently at her from behind. He took a step forward, placed his hands on her waist, and locked her between the sink and his chest.

"Su Jin, I..."

Before Lu Mingzhou could finish speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his lower abdomen and stiffly released his grip on the sink. Su Jin took the opportunity to slip to the side and shook her fists.

Her hand still hurt a little from that punch.

Lu Mingzhou squatted down, supporting his lower abdomen, his brows furrowed.

"Su Jin, didn't you participate in the competition to pursue me? Why are you with him? Is it to spite me? Well, you've achieved your goal."

"How dare you! Who came to this competition just to be with you? I'm here to show you and Xu Jingyi that my talent won't be buried because of your schemes! I will definitely beat you!" Su Jin shook her hand. It seemed that this punch wasn't enough to wake him up. Hitting his stomach was too light. Would hitting his head be more effective?

"We won't let you win. I absolutely cannot lose this match." Lu Mingzhou held his lower abdomen and slowly stood up.

Su Jin knew, of course, that he couldn't afford to lose. The fact that the branch still wanted them meant they must have placed a bet on this competition. As for what the outcome would be, she didn't care.

Whether I can win or not depends on my skill. If you're trying to persuade me not to beat you, then you'd better save your breath.

"Ha, Zhou Zheng is just a new racer who won a few races by luck. Do you really think he can beat those professional drivers? If he loses, will you break up with him?" Lu Mingzhou asked.

Since breaking up with Su Jin, he realized he couldn't get over her departure at all. His parents often asked him when he and Su Jin were getting married, and he didn't know how to answer, so he could only make excuses.

He didn't live at Su Jin's house, but could only stay in the company dormitory. Although the dormitory was not bad, it lacked human warmth. Even though Xu Jingyi became his neighbor and the two often met and ate together, he still couldn't find the feeling he had when he was with Su Jin.

So when Xu Jingyi hinted that she wanted to be with him, Lu Mingzhou pretended not to understand and avoided the topic.

He used to have a complete set of clothes to wear before going to work. Su Jin would iron them for him the day before and hang them in the closet. Now, he has to search for his shirts for ages, and sometimes he wears yesterday's shirt to work.

He missed the days he spent with Su Jin, even though Su Jin caused him to lose his job. He still wanted to get back together with Su Jin. If they broke up, he would definitely still have a chance, right?

Compared to her younger brother, she was the best marriage prospect!

"Su Jin, he's just playing around with you when he's young. He won't marry you. If you break up with him, come back to me."