Volume One, Chapter Seven: May I Borrow Your Esteemed Hand for a Moment?

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Zhou Huaixu moved with the grace of a gentleman, placing his hand gently on her waist. His eyes dropped down and caught sight of Shen Zhao’s pale face.

He asked calmly, “Not feeling well?”

Shen Zhao’s muscles were still weak as she steadied herself against a chair and sat down. “Maybe low blood sugar.”

She hadn’t slept well last night, and today she had been rushing through the schedule with Zhou Huaixu, barely resting or eating. A dull ache lingered in her lower abdomen.

Zhou Huaixu suspected it was due to the relentless itinerary.

Combined with the muggy, humid weather, it was easy to fall ill if one wasn’t careful.

He asked, “Can you still walk?”

Shen Zhao replied, “I can.”

But the consequence of pushing herself was immediate: no sooner had she stood up and taken a few steps than dizziness overcame her.

She gripped the wall, trembling as she looked back at Zhou Huaixu. “Mr. Zhou, may I borrow your hand for a moment...?”

Two words were written clearly in the man’s eyes: speechless.

Shen Zhao: ...

In the end, Zhou Huaixu helped her into the car and drove her to the nearest hospital.

The doctor, holding the test results, pushed up his glasses. “Heatstroke and low blood sugar. Young lady, you must rest well. Don’t underestimate the weather. Severe heatstroke can be fatal.”

Shen Zhao nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Huaixu stood tall and impeccably dressed in his suit beside her, his expression indifferent as he looked down at his phone.

The doctor glared at him disapprovingly. “Handsome guy, what good is a pretty face? Your girlfriend is practically fainting, and you’re just playing on your phone?”

Shen Zhao panicked upon hearing this, afraid Zhou Huaixu would think she was trying to use him for advantage.

“Doctor, he’s not my boyfriend, he’s my boss. He kindly brought me here. He’s a good person,” she hurriedly explained.

Zhou Huaixu glanced at her coldly.

Shen Zhao lowered her head, saw the time on her phone, and quickly stood. “Mr. Zhou, we should head to the airport now. Boarding is soon.”

Zhou Huaixu put his phone away without responding and strode toward the hospital exit.

Shen Zhao hurried after him, opening a ride-hailing app but hadn’t ordered a car before Zhou Huaixu’s low, cold voice cut through:

“Get in.”

He approached a Mercedes and took the driver’s seat. Shen Zhao quickly slid into the passenger seat.

His long legs took large strides; she had to jog to keep up. Already weak, she broke out in a cold sweat.

She leaned against the seat, drained.

As Zhou Huaixu checked the rearview mirror, his eyes caught the rise and fall of her chest.

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“You’re not feeling well—why didn’t you say so?”

He recalled that she had behaved well all day, showing no signs of illness.

Shen Zhao said, “Work is important.”

Zhou Huaixu replied, “If something serious happens, it’s a work injury. The company has to compensate. If you lose your life, that’s a small matter. The company’s reputation will suffer.”

She rolled her eyes inwardly and cursed the wicked capitalist silently.

Outwardly, she still spoke respectfully, “Don’t worry, Mr. Zhou. I won’t cause trouble for the company.”

The day she actually died suddenly from overwork, she’d make sure to collapse at her desk and wait to be collected!

Zhou Huaixu said no more.

The car stopped at a five-star hotel.

Shen Zhao frowned, “Mr. Zhou, if we don’t head to the airport soon, the flight will be delayed.”

He glanced at her coolly. “If you faint on the plane, no one can save you. You’ll just have to say goodbye to the world.”

“...”

Shen Zhao wanted to retort but dared not. Just as she reached to open the door, a warm flow spread through her lower abdomen.

She froze.

Before Zhou Huaixu could get out, she grabbed a damp tissue and crouched in the narrow space before the passenger seat, swiftly wiping the seat cushion.

Zhou Huaixu noticed a red stain.

Shen Zhao didn’t realize his gaze.

Exhausted and weak, she still worried about dirtying his expensive car and leaving marks.

This was a Mercedes, an especially costly one. If she had to pay for damages, it would only worsen her already heavy debts.

“Put this on.”

A cold, luxurious suit jacket was tossed before her. Shen Zhao looked up in surprise as Zhou Huaixu stepped out and approached.

“The car has professional cleaners. Don’t waste your effort.”

Her face warmed. She took the jacket and draped it over herself, whispering, “Thank you, Mr. Zhou.”

The night was hot and restless; Zhou Huaixu casually unbuttoned the collar of his shirt and said softly, “No need to thank me. If you wipe like that, the smell won’t go away, and no one else can clean it better.”

“...”

Zhou Huaixu was nearly six foot three; Shen Zhao was about five foot five. Wearing his jacket, it just covered the stained area.

As she reached the hotel entrance, she stopped and changed direction.

Zhou Huaixu glanced at her. “Where are you going?”

She answered honestly, “To the nearby convenience store to buy something.”

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Zhou Huaixu understood she meant sanitary products and surveyed her figure.

Shen Zhao was already slim; draped in his jacket, she looked even more delicate. Her face was very pale, lipstick long gone, lips a faint pink with an unhealthy dullness.

She looked even more pitiful than that night.

Yet, perhaps because the lighting was better today, Zhou Huaixu saw a hint of allure in her pathetic state.

“Go back to your room and rest. Get your room card from the front desk—give my name.”

He said this before getting back into the car.

The Mercedes left in a trail.

Shen Zhao stood there stunned for a long moment, then followed his instructions, got the room card, and entered.

Looking at herself in the mirror, wrapped in the suit jacket, she marveled at how Zhou Huaixu had even bought her sanitary products.

That night, he had pinned her against the floor-to-ceiling window, coldly staring, forcing her to say shameful things.

For a long while, she had been convinced he was a hypocritical psychopath hiding behind a facade of gentility.

Yet now, this “psychopath” personally bought her feminine necessities.

Shen Zhao felt a chill.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

She was surprised; she hadn’t expected Zhou Huaixu to act so quickly.

She hurried to open it.

The grateful smile on her face vanished the moment she met Zhou Lin’s cold, deep gaze.

Zhou Lin said, “What’s wrong? Disappointed to see me?”

Shen Zhao didn’t want to speak; she just wanted to shut the door firmly.

But she had no dog to release, nor strength to oppose Zhou Lin.

He pressed his palm against the doorframe and effortlessly pushed it open. Long legs stepped inside, and he closed the door behind him.

Shen Zhao backed away. “Zhou Lin, leave.”

As he entered, his eyes caught sight of a man’s clothing on the bed.

His face turned icy and terrifying. “Where is that man?”

Shen Zhao asked, “What did you say?”

Zhou Lin grabbed her chin roughly, causing her pain. She tried to kick him, only to be pinned against a cabinet.

“Zhao Zhao, tell me honestly—who is that man and where is he? Then I’ll let you go. Otherwise, you know what happens when you cross me.”