My Nightclub Landlady

"Come on, I"ll get you something to eat."

She went to the front desk and asked for a spicy burger and a gla.s.s of milk.

When she turned around with the tray in her hands, she saw Zhou Liang standing behind her with a broad smile on his face, wearing a yellow polo shirt, beige slacks, coffee-colored 24-hour casual shoes, a sporty Swiss wrist.w.a.tch, and a brush cut. He appeared very energetic with the sunlight shining on his face. Zhu Fei was taken aback for a moment. Since when was Zhou Liang so good-looking?

"How are you?" Zhou Liang came over to take the tray. "Thanks."

Zhu Fei pursed her lips and did not speak.

The two sat face to face in a booth, but Zhou Liang did not start eating. His eyes looked at Zhu Fei unflinchingly. A persistent smile hung on the corners of his mouth. "Have you eaten?"

"I"m not hungry. I am watching my weight."

Zhu Fei leaned against the cushion of her seat, keeping her arms away from the table to distance herself from Zhou Liang as much as possible. He leaned forward, looking at Zhu Fei with eyes full of affection.

Seeing the bulging shopping bag beside Zhu Fei, Zhou Liang got a little curious, "You buy so many things for yourself? Can you even lift that?"

"Long enough. My car is right outside the door," said Zhu Fei. "Why are you here? Business?"

"Yes, a big, big business deal." Zhou Liang laughed, "If I signed you up, I would be over-completing the task."

Despite his joking tone, Zhu Fei still felt some inexplicable rejection toward him. She said, "Don"t make fun of me. I do not have the energy to think about that stuff."

"I know it"s hard for you to accept this arrangement. It was hard for me to accept it at first too, but after seeing you at your house, my heart was set in its own right. Maybe it was your eyes? You should know that I have never taken an interest in women in the past. Over the last few years, many foreign exchange students wanted to get close to me, but I refused. I was never one to overflow with emotion. I feel that only true love is worthy of note. Anything else is a blasphemy against love," Zhou Liang said seriously.

When she heard this remark, she could not help but shudder. That was her own view of love. She had been waiting for the person who was worthy of turning her whole life upside down. She did not care if he had money or status - as long she could not stop thinking about him, it was enough.

But she did not want to talk about love with Zhou Liang. She felt they were not familiar enough with each other yet. If she indulged him on the topic it would only encourage Zhou Liang to pursue her. "You should eat before your burger gets cold."

"Oh."

Zhou Liang thought Zhu Fei would resonate with what he said. He did not expect such a cold reaction. A trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but quickly disappeared. He had to be patient with her. Take things slow. He did not believe Zhu Fei could ignore his efforts to pursue her forever.

After Zhou Liang finished eating, Zhu Fei said, "I have to go back to my flat. If you have something to do, go on ahead."

With this, she got up to pick up her shopping bag. Zhou Liang hurried to help her, "Let me help you, let me help you. It"s too heavy. Be careful, don"t strain yourself."

"No need, no need."

Zhu Fei turned around to avoid him, but a few men"s socks accidentally fell out in the process. Zhou Liang looked at them doubtfully, "Who are these for?"

"My father."

Zhu Fei knew that Zhou Liang was very close to Li Jianbin and she didn"t want him to see that she returned to Tianhe to reunite with her real father, Zhu Fangguo. If Zhou Liang knew, then Li Jianbin would soon know it too. But he has already come to Tianhe, and she couldn"t hide it forever. She still had to go back and forth from the hospital to accompany her father for a while longer. Zhou Liang was too clingy; sooner or later he would know.

"Your father? Have you... Have you resumed your relationship?" Zhou Liang asked unexpectedly.

Li Jianbin had mentioned to him several times that Zhu Fei"s father was a waste of s.p.a.ce, just waiting for death. He thought that with Zhu Fei"s vision and spirit, she would never get involved with a lowly person like that - it would only drag down her status and bring her nothing but trouble.

But what Zhou Liang saw now was obviously not as simple as Li Jianbin had said.

"He is my real father. Why can"t I resume our relationship? Blood is thicker than water."

Since Zhou Liang was already there, there was no point trying to hide it. "My roots are in Tianhe. I was raised on this land, and I have little to do with Li Jianbin."

When she said this, Zhu Fei hoped that Zhou Liang would realize he had no chance and leave her alone. Even if she were to marry him, the business cooperation between him and Li Jianbin would not become as intimate as he hoped. People"s minds are difficult to read - you never know when a supposed ally might stab you in the back.

He just wanted to use her to form a superficial alliance, a strategic partnership, and that"s all.

Zhou Liang was stunned for a moment. Eventually, he cracked a forced smile and said, "What are you talking about? Uncle Li loves you very much. He always regarded you as his daughter. After all these years, you should understand him."

Zhu Fei remembered the night when he was drunk and her mother was not home. She felt sick to her stomach. From that moment on, she vowed that she would never play into Li Jianbin"s manipulations again. That brutish man conducted his business too immorally. Sooner or later he would be punished.

"What are you standing there for? Come on, you can help me put this stuff in the trunk."

"Yes, yes."

Zhou Liang picked up her stuff and tried to keep up. By the time they walked the few dozen meters to Zhu Fei"s Audi Q5, he was already drenched with sweat. "Oh, I am exhausted!"

"You"re so weak. You need to get more exercise." Zhu Fei turned her eyes from him and sat in the driver"s seat.

After getting in the car, Zhou Liang wiped off his sweat with a paper towel, and said, "I"m too busy these days; there are too many engagements. I used to go to the gym. I was pretty buff, haha."

Zhu Fei paid no attention to him and drove in silence.

When they arrived at the rental house, Zhou Liang could not believe his eyes. "My G.o.d, is this where you live?" he said, looking around at the unkempt surroundings.

Zhu Fei did not find his reaction surprising at all. "Yes, what"s the matter?"

Zhou Liang was still incredulous, "How can you live in such a place? Did Li Jianbin cut off your funds because you ran away from home?"

"No, he"s not that mean. I just think it"s approachable, and it"s convenient and accessible. To me, it"s much better to live here than at that house," Zhu Fei said, parking in a narrow s.p.a.ce. Zhou Liang jumped out and looked at the dilapidated front door, the concrete floor full of potholes and the worn-down façade. "My G.o.d. How can you feel safe in this environment? In such a place, good and bad people are all mixed up. What if bad guys show up..."