Indeed, it was something to celebrate. He planned to stay in the office from tonight until the project’s completion.
Following Ningque’s example, he would eat and sleep in the lounge room inside, saving time from commuting back to the dorm.
“Zhong Yì sent me a big bouquet, and you brought only three sunflowers?”
“Why so many? Flowers wilt sooner or later anyway.”
Yan Tinglin laughed in frustration and pointed to the furniture all around. “For appearances, let you off tonight.”
Zhou Shiyi put down the flowers, not planning to stay long. “I leave tomorrow. If any problems arise with project progress, contact Du. He’ll help you.”
“Where to?”
“To invite someone.”
Yan Tinglin was placing sunflowers in a glass when he paused. “To invite Shao Jin An?”
“Yeah.”
“I figured Kuncheng would invite him, but didn’t expect you to go yourself.”
“Who Zhong Yì wants to cooperate with, I’ll do everything I can to satisfy her.”
“Including inviting me?”
“Including.”
“Busy then.” Yan Tinglin watched Zhou Shiyi leave the Chip Building and head back to the hotel.
Zhong Yì was still working late in the office. Passing by her floor, he didn’t go up to disturb her.
Back in his room, the hotel had already replaced his home bedding with their own.
The sheets and duvet cover, even the pillows, were their own.
***
After showering, Zhong Yì still hadn’t returned.
He leaned against the headboard and opened Shao Jin An’s Weibo.
The latest post was a test drive video of Kuncheng High-end Car, with no updates since.
His phone finally vibrated—Jì Fánxīng’s message arrived.
[“Shao Jin An landed in Barcelona today and will head south. How long he stays at each place, I’m not sure. If you need, I can ask further or have him wait for you a day or two; a couple of days won’t delay his schedule.”]
Zhou Shiyi: [“No need to ask further. Don’t have him wait.”]
He didn’t want to disrupt someone else’s planned itinerary.
If waiting was necessary, he’d be the one to wait.
He immediately instructed Zhan Liang to book two tickets to Barcelona; this trip was only for himself and his bodyguard.
After replying to Jì Fánxīng, the door opened and Zhong Yì came back.
Zhong Yì put her bag down in the living room, grabbed two loquats from the fruit plate, and walked to the bedroom while eating. Seeing the bedding on the bed, she was surprised: “You brought bedding from home?”
“Yeah. The scent is familiar to you, helps you sleep quickly.”
All home laundry used a cedar and fir-scented fragrance gel, the same scent he wore.
Zhou Shiyi exited the chat and urged her, “Go shower and sleep.”
“I’m going to get my pajamas.”
“I’ve got them for you.” Zhou Shiyi pointed to the bedside.
Only then did Zhong Yì notice the camisole nightdress and underwear set laid out.
Without saying thanks, she leaned over and kissed his lips.
When they were dating, these gestures were always his.
After showering and drying her hair, it was past midnight.
Zhong Yì was still thinking about model architecture, completely unaware of the time passing.
She wished there were forty-eight hours in a day.
“Zhong Yì?”
“Coming.”
Zhong Yì snapped back to reality, holding the hairdryer for four or five minutes.
She put the hairdryer away and turned off the bathroom light.
She climbed into bed on Zhou Shiyi’s side, pulled back the covers, and sat in his arms.
She couldn’t remember the last time she sat in his embrace like this.
The moment her back pressed against his chest, fatigue surged through her.
Zhou Shiyi turned off the light and wrapped her in his arms. “Don’t stay up so late anymore.”
Zhong Yì rested her head in the hollow of his neck and explained, “We live nearby, and I don’t need to get up early tomorrow. I just added an extra hour.”
Zhou Shiyi immediately decided he would continue staying here after the trip. In the morning, she could sleep at least forty more minutes.
Zhong Yì took his hand. “See how many times I can wrap my hair around now.”
Zhou Shiyi picked a lock of her hair, slowly wrapping it from the ends up to the roots with his fingertip.
He wrapped loosely, leaving most of the ends out—just two and a half turns.
“Three turns is still possible.”
Zhong Yì turned her head as Zhou Shiyi unwound her hair and lowered his head to kiss her, immediately responding to her teasing kiss.
***
Tonight he was especially gentle; even the deep kiss was soft.
Zhong Yì leaned against him and kissed him back, tracing his Adam’s apple as before.
Zhou Shiyi’s one hand cared for her chest.
Her shape was already perfect and inwardly gathered.
His long, strong fingers could cover both sides at once.
Zhong Yì’s soft voice was swallowed by him.
In this lingering, thrilling deep kiss, she found the intimacy they once shared.
About to be separated for a week, Zhou Shiyi suddenly felt reluctant.
He lowered his head to kiss her chin. “If you miss me, call me anytime.”
Zhong Yì: “You call me.”
“I definitely will. I mean if you’re free, you can call me.”
Zhong Yì said, “I want chocolate.”
Zhou Shiyi’s kiss moved from her chin back to her lips. “Not going to Belgium this time. If there’s enough time, I’ll buy it for you.”
“No need then.”
Zhong Yì clasped his neck. “I want to see you sooner.”
She kissed him and said, “Finish your work and come back early.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her, coaxing her.
Everything they had.
The two embraced. He looked down at her, Zhong Yì wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up to kiss his lips.
After a long embrace, her arms grew tired, unable to hold on, so he supported her back and put her down.
Zhong Yì rested on the pillow. Zhou Shiyi kissed the inside of her arm.
His lips warm and moist.
He had always liked kissing her this way.
Zhong Yì grabbed his arm, wanting to hold him.
Only when they both reached fulfillment did Zhou Shiyi hold her tightly in his arms.
The next morning, the person beside her had already left for the airport.
Zhong Yì looked at the time—still before seven—and turned over, hugging the blanket to sleep some more.
They both hadn’t slept well last night.
There were scratches from her on his lower abdomen, one deep enough to still be visible.
She had wanted to lean down to kiss the scratch, but before she could, Zhou Shiyi pulled her into his embrace: “Don’t kiss tonight. If you kiss me, will I be able to sleep?”
At 7:30 a.m., Zhou Shiyi messaged her: [“Taking off now. I’ll call you when I land.”]
After more than ten hours of flying, he landed in Barcelona just after 2 p.m. local time.
Zhou Shiyi and his bodyguard each drove a Kuncheng new energy SUV south.
The only inconvenience was that Kuncheng’s Supercharging Network was not yet fully covered here, so charging took time.
During a rest stop, he messaged Du. Midway through typing, he remembered it was late at night in China and switched to email: [“To fully open the overseas market, the Supercharging Network is key.”]
Without pause, the next evening Zhou Shiyi arrived in Ronda.
He texted Shao Jin An: [“I’m in Ronda. Not sure where you are now. —Kuncheng Zhou Shiyi.”]
Shao Jin An was surprised. Jì Fánxīng had told him that during his self-driving trip, Kuncheng’s senior management planned to talk about cooperation and wouldn’t interfere with his itinerary.
He expected someone from Kuncheng’s overseas office to meet him since it was close.
He didn’t expect it would be Zhou Shiyi, who had arrived in Ronda ahead of him.
After confirming the number was truly Zhou Shiyi’s, he added him on WeChat.
[“President Zhou, you’re faster than me. I’m still on my way to Ronda, arriving tomorrow.”]
Zhou Shiyi: [“No rush.”]
The next day at noon, Shao Jin An arrived in Ronda.
They met at a café.
Coincidentally, Shao Jin An also drove a Kuncheng new energy SUV, the same model and color as Zhou Shiyi’s.
Zhou Shiyi sat by the window and saw a man in a black T-shirt and black track pants get out of the car.
No need for introductions; they shook hands and exchanged brief greetings.
Shao Jin An smiled, “Otherwise, I would have arrived earlier. Charging on the way took some time.”
Zhou Shiyi smiled faintly, “I hope by your next visit, Kuncheng’s Supercharging Network here will be fully covered.”
Shao Jin An ordered an iced Americano. He never put on airs and disliked beating around the bush. “President Zhou, is this trip a business trip or specifically to discuss cooperation with me?”
Zhou Shiyi took a sip of his latte. “Specifically to talk cooperation. Your schedule isn’t convenient; I have time.”
Shao Jin An said frankly, “Flying so far specially and arriving a day early to wait for me on my route—honestly, I’m flattered.”
Zhou Shiyi said, “You tested the Kuncheng High-end Car so diligently; you deserve me flying here.”