Night Rose

Zhou Zhengshuang closed his eyes with satisfaction, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close to him, and his steady, powerful heartbeat pounded against her ear.

"Sleep a little longer, baby."

He would never use such an affectionate term when he was serious; he would only occasionally call her "baby" or "sister" when he was feeling emotional.

Ling Keke also calls her baby, but the two are used in completely different contexts.

"Wake up, Coco is going home soon, we can't let her see you at my house. Why don't you stay at the hotel for a few days?" Su Jin whispered.

These words instantly dispelled Zhou Zheng's deepest sleepiness. He leaned against the headboard, rubbing his tired eyes, and asked, "Why not?"

"Listen to me, she is my best friend. But because of work, I rarely see her. This is the first time I've met up with her this year. She is still busy with work and stayed up all night last night."

"If you were here, I would have to give you half my attention and wouldn't be able to spend my whole heart with her, do you understand? And I don't want Coco to think that I'm someone who forgets his friends for the sake of a pretty girl." Su Jin gripped his hand tightly.

Zhou Zheng only heard the sentence, "If he's here, Su Jin will give him half of her heart."

He took Su Jin's hand and kissed it on the lips. "Okay, I'll do as you say."

He didn't mind being separated from Su Jin temporarily, as long as Su Jin's heart was with him. It was just a matter of temporarily giving her to his best friend.

Su Jin placed a kiss on his cheek, her eyes filled with joy, "Good boy."

"Don't try to fool me like a child, I won't fall for that." Zhou Zheng's eyes were deep and unsettling.

Su Jin looked down and snorted, "Are you a child? Are children this disobedient?"

Zhou Zheng followed her gaze downwards and saw that he had been quite energetic that morning; no wonder Su Jin was so accurate in her assessment.

"Okay, I'll go stay at a hotel. But you have to come find me. If you don't come even once, then I'll have to come here to find you."

Su Jin nodded repeatedly, "Coco will only be available for three days; she doesn't stay long."

Zhou Zheng was finally satisfied. He got out of bed and dressed. He only had three pieces of clothing, and he dressed slowly and deliberately, trying to test Su Jin's patience.

Su Jin picked up the doll and threw it at his back, "If you dawdle any longer, Coco will be home soon."

Said Cao Cao, Cao Cao.

Su Jin's phone, which was on the bedside table, rang. The name that lit up gave her goosebumps.

Just what I feared most came true – it was Ling Keke's phone call.

Su Jin, wearing pajamas, stepped across the bed in a few strides. Zhou Zheng, afraid she would fall, quickly turned around and supported her waist.

She covered Zhou Zheng's mouth and gestured to him with her eyes that he was not allowed to speak!

"cocoa."

"Su Su baby, I've finally finished working overtime. Get ready to open the door for me, I'm almost downstairs." Ling Keke's voice sounded weakly.

Su Jin glared at Zhou Zheng reproachfully. It was all his fault for dawdling. Now look what happened, Ling Keke is almost here!

"Okay, how many more minutes until we arrive?"

"Hmm, three or four minutes, I guess. Your voice sounds a little hoarse. Should I buy you some cold medicine?"

The "culprit" had a provocative smile in his eyes, but Su Jin covered his mouth tightly.

"I... I think I've caught a bit of a cold. Could you buy me some cold medicine?"

"Okay, see you later."

After hanging up the phone, Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for her quick thinking in having Coco buy the medicine for her, which would also allow her to send Zhou Zheng away.

"You're wearing a mask. She's seen your picture before, so she might recognize you." She took out a new mask and turned around to put it on Zhou Zheng.

Zhou Zheng's eyes were filled with resentment. "Am I that shameful?"

"Didn't I tell you the reason? You...you stop messing around." Su Jin frowned.

Zhou Zheng resignedly put on a mask, and Su Jin then put a hat on him.

He recalled seeing celebrities in the past evading paparazzi by going to great lengths to avoid revealing their relationships. He never imagined he would receive such treatment now, all to prevent his best friend, Su Jin, from recognizing him.

The door was wide open, and Su Jin stood at the door waiting for Zhou Zheng to change his shoes.

After he changed and stood up straight, Su Jin noticed that his mask wasn't on properly, so she tugged at his arm and said, "Lower it a little, let me straighten your mask."

The mask was so tight that it left a red mark on Zhou Zheng's chin.

He obediently lowered his head. "Isn't she coming back soon? Aren't you afraid?"

Su Jin felt a pang of guilt. She felt she had wronged Zhou Zheng, but Ling Keke was also her most important friend. After returning to China, she might only see Ling Keke a few times a year, while she could see Zhou Zheng frequently.

She could tell which was more important and which was less important.

But she also felt a little sorry for Zhou Zheng, so she took the initiative to cup Zhou Zheng's face, removed half of the mask strap, and kissed him.

Their lips met, accompanied by an electric sensation, as beautiful as a first kiss.

Su Jin took the initiative to kiss him, and Zhou Zheng was unwilling to let her go easily. He chased after her and kissed her back, but Su Jin stopped him.

"Stop kissing, it's getting in the way."

Zhou Zheng could only rest his head on her shoulder and sigh softly. Neither of them heard the elevator arrive.

The elevator doors slowly opened, and Ling Keke, carrying her laptop bag, looked dejectedly at the entrance. Seeing the two people embracing at the door, she thought she was hallucinating from staying up all night.

Her first thought was, "Why is this man so tall? He looks kind of familiar!"

Su Jin seemed to have a premonition. She vaguely heard the sound of the elevator, opened her eyes, and suddenly met Ling Keke's gaze!

!!!

She suddenly pushed Zhou Zheng away forcefully. Zhou Zheng was caught off guard and stumbled back several steps.

"Coco, you...you listen to me..."

Ling Keke snapped out of her daze, stepped out of the elevator, and faced Zhou Zheng directly. "Hello, I'm Su Jin's best friend. And you are?"

Zhou Zheng's mask was practically nonexistent, hanging on his face; his appearance was too distinctive.

Ling Keke glanced at Zhou Zheng, then at Su Jin, her eyes brimming with barely concealed gossip.

A race car driver! The handsome younger brother in Su Jin's team!

"Zhou Zheng?" she asked first.

Su Jin covered her face, her mind racing, but it remained completely blank.

How did the two of them bump into each other like that?

"Hello." Zhou Zheng's reply was a tacit agreement.

Ling Keke's fatigue from the night was swept away. She circled around him a few times, her admiration impossible to hide.

"Wow, you're so handsome, little brother! You're even more handsome than Tu... cough! what he said!"

Zhou Zheng didn't respond, and Su Jin didn't dare to either. She nudged Zhou Zheng and said, trying to cover up her misunderstanding, "Boss Tu sent him to New York to discuss something with me."

"Go back to the hotel first, we can talk later."

If Zhou Zheng doesn't leave soon, she'll suffocate in this awkward atmosphere!