Guo Min settled into Zihan's office for a while, going through her emails on her phone. He, on the other hand, closed his files with finality and adjusted his cufflinks before reaching across the desk, his hand sliding over hers.
"…We're going on that night date you suggested," he said matter of factly. Then his lips faintly curved. "But first… we still have an hour until evening. What should we do then?"
Her brow arched, a mischievous smirk tugging at her lips. "Are you sure you want to do anything?"
"Yes," he replied without hesitation, as if sealing a contract.
Before he could react, she was already pulling him out of his chair. The sight made jaws drop, employees froze mid-step, mid-sentence, mid-breath, as Guo Min dragged their usually untouchable CEO out of his own office like a delinquent boyfriend skipping class.
She yanked him into the car with gleaming eyes. "Driver! To the amusement park."
The driver hesitated only a moment before the car pulled away.
Zihan's gaze slid to her, unbothered but visibly intrigued. "An amusement park excites you this much?" His voice was dry, skeptical, but he couldn't hide the faint twitch at his mouth.
Guo Min turned to him, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Zihan, have you ever been there before?"
He raised a brow, cool as ever. "…No."
"Perfect." She leaned back with a satisfied smile, already plotting her next move.
When the car halted, she practically dragged him toward the ticket counter, paid, and without hesitation tugged him toward the rollercoaster.
"This is for kids," he muttered, eyes flicking toward the twisting tracks. "How does this make you so happy?"
His question was swallowed by the blaring siren of the ride starting. The safety bar clicked into place. The machine jerked forward. And Guo Min screamed, half from joy, half from the thrill, her laughter mixing with shrieks of excitement.
Zihan, however, was another matter entirely. His face stayed carefully blank, his lips pressed together in forced composure, but the blood had drained from his face. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the bar. He didn't scream, didn't even move, his mind was trying to maintain his legendary calm, but his body betrayed him with a stiff rigidity.
When they finally staggered off the ride, Guo Min was glowing with adrenaline, cheeks flushed, eyes bright. Zihan, on the other hand, almost lost his footing. She caught him with both hands and pressed him against her shoulder, her laughter bubbling out as she guided him to a nearby bench.
"Are you okay?" she asked, the question sweet but her grin utterly mischievous.
Zihan turned his head toward her, glaring with an expression that would have frozen an entire boardroom. But on him now, pale, shaken and disheveled, it only made her laugh harder.
"Don't," he warned, voice hoarse. "…say a word."
"Ok… ok… I'm sorry." Guo Min tried to compose herself, but the laughter broke free anyway, spilling past her lips. She reached up, fingers brushing his cheek in a fleeting caress. "But I don't regret it. Seeing that part of you...one no one else gets to see…" Her voice softened, teasing but almost tender. "…worth every second."
Zihan clicked his tongue, tilting his face slightly away as if rejecting her words, though the faintest warmth flickered in his chest. Without responding, he rose, straightened his jacket, and gestured toward the car.
They left the amusement park behind, trading flashing lights for the sleek comfort of his black sedan. By the time they arrived at Crystal Jade, the night had settled in, the city glittering under streetlights.
The restaurant's lavish yet intimate atmosphere greeted them—polished marble floors, golden lighting that washed the room in a soft glow, and the faint aroma of spices lingering in the air.
They were ushered to a private table near the window. The leather-bound menus lay open before them, each dish described in elegant script.
Guo Min scanned hers with quick eyes, then leaned slightly over the table, smirking. " Zihan do you always eat in places like this?"
His gaze flicked up from the menu, meeting hers steadily. "…Most of the time."
She arched a brow. "Mm. Figures. Classy and quiet. Just like you."
Zihan set his menu down, folding his hands neatly on the table. "And what about you? What's your usual choice of dining?"
She leaned back, lips curving in amusement. "Depends. Street food, if I want comfort. Noodle stalls if I need to clear my head. Fancy restaurants… only if someone drags me into them, or if my mood demands it."
Zihan's eyes lingered on her for a beat, then he said, almost offhandedly, "We'll be having a banquet in three days."
Her brow shot up. "The Zhus and living lavishly," she muttered with a smirk. "Didn't you people just have one a few days ago?"
"That was last week," he replied evenly, his tone void of irritation, "and it was necessary. To celebrate my father."
Guo Min let out a soft scoff, her head tilting. "So what now? A banquet every week?"
"…No.," he said, voice flat but firm. "I didn't say that."
"Don't be offended," she teased, her tone light but edged with truth, "but your family is anything but normal."
Zihan didn't flinch at her words. Instead, he held her gaze, silence stretching until the playful curl of her lips faltered just slightly under the weight of his stare. His voice was calm, when he spoke, "And you'll be joining soon."
Her breath caught—not because of the words themselves, but the certainty threaded in them. "Excuse me?"
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, unreadable but resolute. "You heard me."
The waiter returned just then, placing steaming dishes between them, the clatter of porcelain breaking the fragile silence that had briefly lingered. Zihan picked up his chopsticks with his usual elegance. His eyes flicked to her once, before he began eating.
Guo Min followed suit, though the food on her plate held less of her attention than the man seated across from her. Conversation was scarce, but not uncomfortable.
When the last dish was cleared and the bill settled, Zihan rose, offering her his hand without a word. She took it, and together they left the restaurant, the evening air cool against their skin. The drive back was silent, the hum of the engine filling the space where words could have been. Zihan's focus remained on the road, his profile lit by the soft glow of the passing street lamp.
He pulled up in front of the Wang estate, stopping smoothly at the entrance. Guo Min reached for the handle, but before she could step out, she felt his gaze on her, almost piercing. .
Her brows drew together. "…What?" she asked, her voice breaking the tension.
Zihan's lips are curved, faintly. "Nothing," he replied, his tone low, almost teasing. Then he leaned closer. A trace of warmth brushed against her hair as he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, the gesture startling in its intimacy.
"Good night," he murmured.
Guo Min froze for a heartbeat, her fingers tightening around her bag. She stepped out into the night, her thoughts in turmoil, while his car remained parked a moment longer till he watched her pass through the Wang gates.