The Billionaire's Hidden Affection

Chapter 674 - 671: Hold On and Don’t Let Go 6_1

Zhou Ting casually remarked, "Xiaojue, my father would like to invite you over for dinner at our place tomorrow evening."

Huang Xiaojue was slightly taken aback and didn’t respond immediately.

Zhou Ting went on, "I’ve been to your house for dinner several times already, and your Mom’s been exceptionally hospitable to me. Look, she even gave me such a lovely gift..."

She gave a slight shake of her wrist, showing off the jade bracelet she was wearing.

"Zhou Ting, you’re still wearing it? That old bracelet is of mediocre quality, and its color isn’t even good. You’d better not wear it. That’s just my mom, giving such a shabby gift and not even feeling embarrassed by it."

"What are you talking about? I really like this bracelet. Xiaojue, as a matter of reciprocation, my dad wants to invite you for dinner tomorrow night."

Huang Xiaojue had never been to the Zhou Family home before.

With Zhou Ting now inviting him so insistently, he was hesitant, unsure whether to refuse or accept. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally said frankly, "Zhou Ting, is that really necessary? To be honest, I always get nervous about having dinner at other people’s homes. Especially when the head of the household is austere."

Zhou Ting burst into laughter. "Xiaojue, there are times when even you’re scared? There’s no need to be. My dad is definitely not some kind of monster. In fact, he greatly respects young people and is quite friendly and approachable in private."

Huang Xiaojue also laughed. "In that case, it would be rude of me to refuse."

Zhou Ting gave a quick wink. "Thanks for humoring me."

"Not at all! If anything, I feel like a commoner about to have an audience with the Emperor, trembling with trepidation."

It was then that Zhou Ting, as if casually, remarked, "I recently saw some news about Yan Xixi in our social circle. She seems to be having quite an exciting time. Look at this picture, let me send it to you..."

Huang Xiaojue took out his phone.

It was a photo of Yan Xixi and Li Zhen.

"They really are quite a good match, don’t you think?"

Huang Xiaojue kept his expression neutral, as if he wasn’t interested in these photos at all.

Zhou Ting giggled and continued, "Li Zhen is a Cambridge Doctor, and Yan Xixi is a Harvard Master’s graduate. They’re truly a perfect match, a pair of academic powerhouses. While Li Zhen might not be as wealthy as Wan Donglin, his youth and sunny disposition make him a better fit for Yan Xixi."

Huang Xiaojue remained unperturbed, merely offering a faint smile and sipping his coffee.

Lately, he had clearly noticed Zhou Ting becoming increasingly flustered—in private moments, she couldn’t help but betray an unconcealable agitation. Like when she showed him the photo of Yan Xixi and Li Zhen, or when she mentioned Wan Donglin’s name...

Even Huang Xiaojue himself was curious: What exactly was Wan Donglin up to? What ulterior motive lay behind all this commotion he was causing? And had Yan Xixi truly broken up with him, or were they putting on a show together?

"Come to think of it, Li Zhen is a distant relative of yours. What a coincidence..."

He smiled again. "This world is just so small. It can’t be helped."

He faintly sensed a storm brewing, a gathering vortex.

He had an ominous feeling, but it remained elusive. Whenever it came to core issues, he and Zhou Ting had an unspoken agreement not to delve too deeply. They would tread carefully, broaching topics only superficially.

This was a habit children from political families formed from a young age. At critical moments, they were especially cautious, exceptionally smart, and knew when to advance and when to retreat. This was particularly true for someone as well-educated as Zhou Ting, who handled such matters with adept skill. Their interactions were more like those between two political partners, constantly probing each other with their words.

How exhausting.

Occasionally, he would recall his teenage years and the feelings of his first love. It was a time when they shared everything, holding nothing back and keeping no secrets. He had once believed they could understand each other’s innermost thoughts with a mere glance.