Chapter 7

After dinner, Suhang and I didn’t go home. Instead, we went to the hotel I’d booked in advance. From here you could look out over the river, there was a huge glass-walled pool, and the rooftop bar served cocktails from all over the world.

The bar faced the whole curve of the riverside. The night breeze was damp and cool. As he gazed at the city lights, he went unusually quiet, like his whole being had drifted somewhere far away.

I wanted so badly to know what he was thinking. Even though he was right beside me, he still felt out of reach.

I slipped quietly over to the piano in the center of the bar. Tonight, I’d prepared a piece just for him.

“Honey,” I stared at him, hearing the tremor in my own voice, “happy birthday. Thank you…for putting up with me.”

I saw him straighten, his lips suddenly pressed tight, the glass in his hand trembling slightly as he smiled at me, surprised and moved.

“Widmung” was a piece Shuman wrote for his newlywed wife. Under my fingers, those burning, lingering melodies poured out like love words I couldn’t bring myself to say aloud.

Suhang’s eyes were shining, as if a scattering of stars had fallen into those beautiful eyes behind his lenses.

When the last note faded, he applauded and came up to pull me into his arms. “Baby, thank you. This is the best present I’ve ever received.”

Right then, a strong wave of perfume suddenly slipped between us. I turned and saw a woman in a deep-V red dress. “Xiao Hang, what a coincidence!”

“President Cai?” Suhang immediately let go of me. I noticed the tips of his ears suddenly flush red.

“Oh, please,” she swatted his shoulder playfully, “I’ve told you so many times, just call me Sis.” Her gaze slid over me from face to hem like a scanner. “I was lucky enough to witness a very touching scene just now. So it’s your birthday today. Happy birthday! I’ll make it up to you with a proper gift later.”

Suhang gave her a polite smile. “Sis, you don’t have to.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re the one who gave me a gift first. I’m totally obsessed with that Feixiacui you make. It’s addictive!”

“I’m just glad you like it.”

“Like it? I loved it. I finished all three jars you gave me in no time.”

Suhang’s face went red as he smiled. “If you like it, I’ll make you some more.”

“That’d be too much trouble, wouldn’t it?”

“Making it for you is no trouble at all,” Suhang replied quickly, smiling that bright, easy smile.

So the last batch of Feixiacui he made was for President Cai. I’d thought it was for a male client. I hadn’t expected it to be for such a beautiful woman. Sourness rose in my chest.

“That’s wonderful, haha!” President Cai laughed heartily. “I’ve got friends meeting me here tonight, so I won’t intrude on you lovebirds any longer.”

She flicked a glance at me, then sashayed away. Maybe I was imagining things, but there’d been something meaningful in that look.

I knew my sudden jealousy was completely irrational. I even envied couples who could fight. I wanted to throw a proper tantrum with him, to yell and cry and make a scene.

But in front of him, I just couldn’t.

Watching President Cai’s retreating figure, Suhang leaned in and quietly explained that she was a vice president at Sheng Tang. Their companies were working together recently, and he hadn’t expected to run into her here.

He was so open, so unbothered.

I nodded without saying anything, but my gaze slipped past him almost of its own accord, searching for that eye-catching red dress amid the crowd. She was heading to a table in the corner, and one of the men there, in a dark navy suit, had a back that was painfully familiar. My breath hitched-

Bai Zifan?

He was looking up toward us at that exact moment. The instant our eyes met, my heart stumbled in panic.

Was it him? How could it be him?

The scumbag I’d once loved so fiercely, the one who posted my bed photos online-wasn’t he in prison?

It had to be my imagination. That man just looked too much like him.

Even so, I tore my gaze away in a fluster, cold sweat breaking out on my forehead as my heartbeat went wild.

“Baby, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

“I’m fine.” My voice only came back to me when I grabbed his wrist. “Honey, let’s…go back to the room.”

“Okay.”