Chapter 109: Possessiveness
The man’s gaze was sinister and cold, like a hawk’s, piercing through the crowd to land on him.
Xu Jiaming stared blankly for a moment, then smiled at him.
But the smile held a hint of provocation.
Then, he turned and left.
Xie Huaizheng’s eyes narrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
He had just seen Su Zhaozhao speaking with him. That man, it seemed, knew Su Zhaozhao.
But the moment Su Zhaozhao saw him, she immediately ran toward him.
He couldn’t tell what Su Zhaozhao’s relationship was with that man.
But that man’s provocative gaze just now had been like he was looking at a romantic rival.
’He likes Su Zhaozhao.’
By now, Su Zhaozhao had run right up to him.
Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at him, her face alight with a smile.
"You’re finally back! I was getting a little worried waiting for you all by myself."
The main reason was Xu Jiaming’s sudden appearance, which had made her uneasy. On the one hand, she didn’t want to deal with Xu Jiaming; on the other, she was afraid Xie Huaizheng would see them and get the wrong idea.
’Thank goodness Xie Huaizheng showed up when he did.’
Xie Huaizheng looked down at Su Zhaozhao. Her hair was a bit messy from her run, so he reached out and tucked a stray strand from her cheek behind her ear.
"What’s the rush?" A faint smile touched Xie Huaizheng’s lips.
"Of course I was in a hurry to see you," Su Zhaozhao told him.
"Why did you suddenly go over there? What were you buying?" Su Zhaozhao asked, a little confused. ’If I’d known, I would have just gone with Huai Zheng. Then I wouldn’t have had to run into Xu Jiaming.’
Just then, Xie Huaizheng produced a bouquet of flowers from behind his back.
It was a colorful mix of various flowers, arranged beautifully.
Su Zhaozhao’s eyes lit up at the sight.
"You went just to buy me flowers?"
Xie Huaizheng pressed the flowers into Su Zhaozhao’s hands. "I just saw someone selling them, so I bought them."
In truth, Su Zhaozhao was someone who appreciated a sense of occasion. Back home, her family used to have a weekly flower delivery subscription.
Even now, living in a guest house here, Su Zhaozhao would pick wildflowers from the roadside to put in a vase.
And now, on their very first date, Xie Huaizheng had brought her flowers.
Su Zhaozhao was so moved she couldn’t help but stand on her tiptoes to hug Xie Huaizheng. "Thank you. I love them."
In a place like West State, with its climate, getting fresh flowers like these delivered must be difficult. There were red roses, small daisies, Chinese roses, jasmine...
Xie Huaizheng was taken by surprise by Su Zhaozhao’s forceful hug, feeling the softness of her body and smelling the faint scent of jasmine on her.
A smile tugged at his lips, and he wrapped his arms around Su Zhaozhao’s waist.
"I’m glad you like it. Then my efforts weren’t in vain."
Xie Huaizheng’s hand gently stroked her head.
’Her hair is so fluffy, fine and soft. It feels so nice.’
He had been gone for a while because he had picked out and arranged all the flowers for the bouquet himself.
He didn’t actually know how to arrange flowers; he’d just watched his mother tend to her plants and blossoms at home. Over time, he had developed an aesthetic sense.
He hadn’t let Su Zhaozhao come along because he wanted it to be a surprise.
When he saw her eyes light up at the sight of the bouquet, Xie Huaizheng knew his surprise had been a success.
’But that man from just now...’
Sensing something, Xie Huaizheng’s gaze swept toward a spot not far away, his eyes instantly turning sharp and severe.
His long years of training had made him incredibly perceptive; he could sense ill intent from anyone in a crowd.
Right now, from a corner about twenty meters away, someone was watching them.
But when he looked over, there was no one there.
’Was it that man from before?’
Xie Huaizheng’s good mood was ruined. The way that man stared at Su Zhaozhao was like a predator eyeing its prey.
It made Xie Huaizheng deeply uncomfortable.
He took Su Zhaozhao by the hand and led her away.
Once he could no longer feel that bothersome gaze, Xie Huaizheng looked at Su Zhaozhao. "That man from just now—you know him?"
’Of course, he was going to ask about it.’
Su Zhaozhao was tempted to lie, but she was afraid one lie would just lead to more.
She was also afraid that Xie Huaizheng wouldn’t believe her, which would just make things more difficult for her later.
So, Su Zhaozhao answered honestly, "I know him. I met him last time I was visiting. I’m pretty good friends with his sister, but she isn’t here today."
Given Su Zhaozhao’s outgoing personality, Xie Huaizheng wasn’t surprised that she could befriend strangers.
What bothered Xie Huaizheng, however, was the dangerous look in that man’s eyes when he looked at Su Zhaozhao.
It wasn’t the look of an ordinary friend, but of a hunter watching his prey.
The man had clearly seen Su Zhaozhao hugging him and acting affectionately, yet he still hadn’t given up.
Xie Huaizheng decided he needed to investigate the man’s background.
"Stay away from him in the future. He’s bad news," Xie Huaizheng warned, gently pinching Su Zhaozhao’s cheek.
"Don’t worry, I’m not close with him at all. We only exchanged a couple of sentences," Su Zhaozhao said, hugging Xie Huaizheng’s arm.
’It would be best if Xie Huaizheng didn’t press the issue.’
Hearing Su Zhaozhao’s words, which drew a clear line between them, made Xie Huaizheng feel a little better.
Not far away, hiding in the shadows, Xu Jiaming stared at the spot where Su Zhaozhao had long since disappeared from view.
His thin lips were pressed into a tight line.
A dark light swirled in his light brown eyes.
He had seen it. He’d seen Su Zhaozhao embracing Xie Huaizheng.
And he’d seen the flowers Xie Huaizheng had given her.
The colorful flowers, blooming vibrantly in her hands, made her seem like a figure in a beautiful oil painting.
Xu Jiaming suddenly felt his hands itch with the urge to paint the scene he had just witnessed.
’Too bad she doesn’t belong to me.’
’Su Zhaozhao ran to that man, even hugged him willingly, yet with me, she was so cold and distant.’
In that instant, Xu Jiaming felt his heart shatter.
’Why doesn’t she like me?’
’I’m kind, gentle, rich, and generous.’
As he thought this, Xu Jiaming twisted the jasmine hair tie on his wrist.
He felt a dull ache in his heart.
Su Zhaozhao carried the flowers as she continued walking with Xie Huaizheng. She said to him, "Why don’t we go check out a scenic area? I think I’m getting a little tired of the downtown area."
The main reason was that she was worried Xu Jiaming was still around.
"Okay." Xie Huaizheng had been thinking the same thing.
The two of them boarded a bus heading to a scenic area in the suburbs.
There was a historical and cultural park there.
It contained some quaint, antique-style buildings, and a few tourists were strolling around and taking pictures.
It was a pleasant enough place to wander through when you had nothing else to do.
Just then, a photographer walked up to Su Zhaozhao and Xie Huaizheng. "How about a photo of you two together?"