Chapter 36

After realizing what these messy sounds were about, Su Ruoyun's face flushed as red as a ripe apple in September.

Following the sound, her gaze swept toward the sign on the wall. It was an acrylic sign with a light design. A glance was enough to clearly distinguish the three characters on it.

——【Hot Spring Area】

Su Ruoyun's delicate brows furrowed tightly, her small face tense. Thoughts surged in her mind, and she didn't dare to think about it in detail.

Doing that in the hot spring?

She hurriedly followed Huo Jingcheng's footsteps to leave, feeling disgusted in her heart—doing such things in a public place. Then, she thought, had Huo Jingcheng been eavesdropping here for so long?

Thinking of this, she lifted her eyelashes unobtrusively and swept a glance over him as if nothing had happened.

Huo Jingcheng walked in front with steady steps, casually casting a glance to the side, his gaze slanting toward her, just in time to catch the subtle change in her expression.

Perhaps sensing what she was thinking, Huo Jingcheng gave a light "tsk," his voice lazy and filled with seductive magnetism, "I don't have the hobby of eavesdropping. The movement over there only started after you arrived."

Su Ruoyun let out a soft "Oh," the crisp ending drifting into the air. Her expression was hard to discern, and it was unclear whether she believed his words or not.

"What is Boss Yun doing here?"

"A friend's birthday, celebrating for her," Su Ruoyun replied, and then asked back, "And what about you, Mr. Huo?"

Huo Jingcheng said concisely, "Having a meal with a business partner."

Su Ruoyun nodded lightly, as if responding, and then said no more. For a time, the surrounding air gradually quieted down, and silence spread quietly.

Huo Jingcheng's gaze swept toward her sideways, the corners of his mouth lifting with a hint of teasing, and he spoke slowly, "Why, aren't you curious about who the business partner I'm eating with is?"

Su Ruoyun responded very willingly, raising her eyes to look at the person beside her, and asked, "Who is it?"

Only to hear the man say, "President Su of Hengfeng."

Huo Jingcheng didn't directly state Su Mingyan's name, but lightly used his position to refer to him.

Her brother?

As soon as the words fell, before Su Ruoyun could speak, a pleasant mobile phone ringtone suddenly rang in the quiet courtyard. In the ink-black night, the phone screen was blindingly bright.

She lowered her eyes and caught a glimpse of the note on the screen. As if she had done something bad and been discovered, she turned around with a guilty conscience, her fingertips sliding lightly across the screen to answer the call, and she whispered, "Hello, brother."

"Where are you?"

Su Ruoyun's fingers were unconsciously picking at her phone case, her tone surprisingly steady, "I'm at Lanxi."

"I'm asking where you are in Lanxi? I arrived at the private room, and Erhan said you went out to get some air."

Su Mingyan came to Lanxi for dinner tonight and only found out from his WeChat Moments that Li Li's birthday party was also set here.

He thought he would see his sister while he was at it.

Su Ruoyun didn't reveal where she was, only saying she would be back soon. After a few brief words, she hung up the phone.

She held the phone, turned to look at Huo Jingcheng, and said politely, "Then, Mr. Huo, I'll be going first."

During the conversation, the two had strolled to the end of the bluestone road. The surrounding wall lamps cast warm light, illuminating the man's face.

Su Ruoyun's gaze swept over him like a dragonfly touching water, and only then did she notice that Huo Jingcheng's face had a strange flush, clearly a reaction to the alcohol.

He was born fair, and both cheeks were suddenly dyed with a layer of red, making him look like a tender apple, the sweet, crisp, and juicy kind.

Considering that Huo Jingcheng was her big client, she kindly said, "Mr. Huo, if you feel uncomfortable after drinking, drinking some honey water will be much better."

After saying this, Su Ruoyun politely said "Goodbye" and then walked forward without looking back.

Su Ruoyun walked gracefully to the door of the private room. From a distance, she saw Su Mingyan standing in front of the door, leaning against the white wall behind him, his right toe tapping the ground lightly, his hands crossed over his chest casually. His nonchalant posture revealed an innate nobility.

As she got closer, she noticed that Su Mingyan was wearing only a thin shirt. Looking closer, his black suit jacket was draped over Peng Ran's arm.

"Brother, aren't you cold?"

The weather forecast showed that there would be a level-six gale in Sijiucheng today, and the wind would be even more obvious after the temperature dropped at night.

Su Mingyan raised his hand to rub his swollen temples, his brows slightly furrowed, his voice carrying a hint of a sigh, "I drank some alcohol, it's a bit heady, just cooling down."

Su Ruoyun turned to look at Peng Ran, "Why didn't you ask the waiter to bring a cup of honey water?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she looked at the waiter waiting on the side of the aisle, her lips slightly parted, just about to call someone over.

Su Mingyan waved his hand to stop her, then explained, "I drank too much just now, I can't drink anymore."

Seeing that he was really uncomfortable, Su Ruoyun asked, "How could you drink so much alcohol? Who is the blind one who kept pouring you drinks?"

Except for the first few months after joining Hengfeng, when he often had to drink and socialize to get familiar with the business and integrate into work as soon as possible, after that period, Su Mingyan usually wouldn't drink too much.

"Just drank a bit too much with everyone tonight," Su Mingyan said simply, brushing it off.

In fact, he didn't know what was wrong with Huo Jingcheng tonight; he insisted on toasting him repeatedly at the dinner party. There were also several leaders and bosses accompanying them, so naturally, he couldn't refuse his face, so he had to drink along with him cup after cup.

"If you drink this much a few more times, Mom will lock you up again."

"……"

After Su Ruoyun said goodbye to Li Li, she walked out side-by-side with Su Mingyan.

"Take my own car, or are you taking a car back yourself?"

"I'll take a car back myself."

He drank alcohol tonight, so he called a designated driver from the club to drive.

Before long, a shiny Maybach drove to the driveway at the entrance, its headlights flashing in the night.

Su Mingyan bent down slightly and sat into the back seat with a calm posture.

Su Ruoyun stood on the steps, her figure elongated in the warm yellow light, and urged, "Don't forget to ask the auntie to cook you a hangover soup."

Su Mingyan in the car only felt waves of dizziness. He rubbed the bridge of his nose uncomfortably, his voice hoarse and impatient, and replied with only two words: "Nagging."

"……" Su Ruoyun.

Keenly capturing the subtle change in Su Ruoyun's expression, he made up for it, "Alright, I know, get in the car quickly, it's cold outside."

As soon as the words fell, a Cullinan arrived quietly like a dark beast of the night. The light from the headlights illuminated the lawn at the entrance, and it finally stopped steadily beside the Maybach.

The rear window of the Cullinan slowly lowered, and the twilight-colored street lamp light reached into the car, outlining the man's facial contours. Huo Jingcheng's face was thus clearly revealed.

"President Su."