Chapter 240

Chapter 240: Jiang Shixu, My Heart Only Has You Zhou Xueluo was two years younger than Chu Tang. At twenty-five years old, she had always been single and had never been in a relationship. But never having been in a relationship didn't mean she had never had feelings for anyone. The reason she had remained single all these years was because her heart held someone impossible. Chu Tang knew who that person was in Zhou Xueluo's heart. His name was Jiang Huai—the son of the nanny who worked for Zhou Xueluo's family. Jiang Huai came from an ordinary family. He and Zhou Xueluo were mismatched in social standing, and the Zhou family would never agree to the two of them being together. Gentle and obedient as Zhou Xueluo was, she had once been brave for love. During the summer vacation after high school graduation, on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, Zhou Xueluo had mustered up the courage to confess to Jiang Huai. But he had rejected her. Apart from the two parties involved—Zhou Xueluo and Jiang Huai—only Chu Tang and Chen Yuanyuan knew about this. Even Zhou Xueluo's own brother, Zhou Zheng'an, was unaware. When she had run into Zhang Tingyi at the cocktail party last time, Chu Tang hadn't told him that Zhou Xueluo actually had someone in her heart. "Xueluo, are you still unable to let go of Jiang Huai?" Chu Tang asked Zhou Xueluo. "It's been so many years. Haven't you ever considered liking someone else?" A bitter smile curled at the corner of Zhou Xueluo's lips. With a forlorn expression, she replied, "He's long become my obsession. I don't think I have the strength to fall for someone new." All these years, Zhou Xueluo had never been in a relationship. Neither had Jiang Huai. Both Chu Tang and Chen Yuanyuan could tell that Jiang Huai had feelings for Zhou Xueluo. But Jiang Huai knew he wasn't good enough for her, and all these years he had never accepted her feelings. Presumably, he didn't want Xueluo to marry beneath her station and suffer hardship with him. Compared to Jiang Huai, Zhang Tingyi was indeed a better match for Xueluo. "Do you still remember Zhang Tingyi?" Chu Tang suddenly asked. "Of course I do," Zhou Xueluo said. "Isn't he a friend of Brother Qin Yan's? We had a meal together last time." "I'm not talking about that time." Chu Tang looked at Zhou Xueluo. "Actually, you'd met him long before that. Do you have any memory of it?" Zhou Xueluo frowned, thinking for a few seconds, then said in confusion, "I've met him before? I don't remember that at all." Chu Tang said, "I ran into him at a cocktail party last time. He told me that he'd seen you before when he went to your house to find your brother. You were only a freshman in high school back then." Zhou Xueluo's brows furrowed slightly. "Freshman year of high school? I was only sixteen then. That was nine years ago. I really don't remember." Chu Tang asked again, "Have you seen him recently?" Zhou Xueluo nodded lightly. "I saw him at the company yesterday. He seemed to be there to discuss business with my brother." "Then didn't he add you on his contacts?" "No." Zhou Xueluo asked in confusion, "Why are you suddenly asking about this?" Chu Tang took a sip of tea, deliberating whether she should tell Zhou Xueluo that Zhang Tingyi was interested in her. After thinking it over, she decided against it. When it came to matters of the heart, outsiders shouldn't meddle. "Nothing much. I just ran into him at the cocktail party, and when he mentioned having seen you before, I found it quite interesting, so I brought it up." Zhou Xueluo didn't suspect anything and moved on to other topics with Chu Tang. ... After finishing her shopping trip with Zhou Xueluo, Chu Tang returned to her private villa. As the car drove up to the garden in front of the villa complex, Chu Tang spotted through the car window a man sitting on a park bench, talking on the phone. Why was Jiang Shixu here? Ruan Shaodong and Yang Xuelian occasionally came over to visit her. If they ran into him, there would be trouble. Chu Tang's heart skipped a beat. "A Wen, stop the car." The car came to a halt, and Chu Tang pushed open the door and headed straight for the garden. Jiang Shixu was focused on his phone call and didn't notice Chu Tang approaching. Chu Tang stopped in front of Jiang Shixu. "Why are you here?" Jiang Shixu sat on the bench talking on the phone, his eyes lowered. The first thing he saw was Chu Tang's shoes. Black Saint Laurent high-heeled sandals, and above them, a pair of fair, slender legs. His gaze traveled upward, and Jiang Shixu tilted his head slightly to meet Chu Tang's eyes. She had dressed up today. A black fitted dress showcased her perfect figure to stunning effect. Her red lips paired perfectly with the black, further accentuating the fairness of her skin. She was breathtakingly beautiful—the kind of beauty that was striking and bold. Jiang Shixu's Adam's apple bobbed. He hung up the phone, took Chu Tang's wrist, and gently pulled her into his embrace. Chu Tang naturally settled onto Jiang Shixu's lap. Jiang Shixu wrapped his arms around Chu Tang, his deep, husky voice sounding above her head. "I missed you." A smile curved at the corner of Chu Tang's lips. "I missed you too." "Then why didn't you call me if you missed me? Why didn't you come find me? Hmm?" "I had things to do today." "What things?" "I made plans with Xueluo to go shopping." The man's tone turned sour. "Oh, I see. Your best friend is more important than me." "You're jealous of Xueluo too?" Chu Tang laughed. The man's lips moved downward, brushing against Chu Tang's earlobe as he whispered seductively by her ear, "I can go shopping with you too." "No." It would be too blatant. Now wasn't the time. Right under her father's nose—if someone saw them and told him, another argument would be unavoidable. Perhaps they'd even be forced to break up. Jiang Shixu's breath sprayed against Chu Tang's neck, tickling her. The man's voice was low and husky. "Am I really that embarrassing to be seen with? Hmm?" His voice was too seductive. Chu Tang felt as if an electric current ran through her body. A tingling, numbing sensation. Chu Tang said, "Come back with me. Not here." She stood up to leave. Jiang Shixu pulled her back. "When are you going to give me a proper title?" Jiang Shixu hugged her from behind, his warm lips brushing against Chu Tang's neck, his voice low and husky. Chu Tang softened her voice to coax him: "Be good. Let's talk about it when we get home." Jiang Shixu liked the word "home" very much. "Fine." Jiang Shixu released Chu Tang. "Let's go home." Chu Tang brought Jiang Shixu home. This private villa had been newly purchased a few months ago, and it was Jiang Shixu's first time here. Chu Tang opened the door and invited Jiang Shixu inside. Jiang Shixu strode in on his long legs and looked around, even using Chu Tang's cup to pour himself a glass of water. His leisurely, at-ease manner truly made it seem as natural as if he were in his own home. This house was bought for Chu Tang by Ruan Shaodong after she and Jiang Shixu had broken up. The decor was in the style Chu Tang liked. After finishing his tour, Jiang Shixu held Chu Tang's cup in his hands, looking at her with eager eyes. "Alright, now that we're home, tell me—when are you planning to give me a proper title?" "In such a hurry?" Chu Tang smiled. "Of course I'm in a hurry." Jiang Shixu's expression turned serious. "That surnamed Gu won't stop pestering you, that surnamed Lu has been coveting you for ages, and now there's a surnamed Zhang in the mix. How can I not be anxious?" "You know about it?" Chu Tang asked, somewhat surprised. "How did you find out about Zhang Tingyi?" He hadn't attended that reception. "The Zhang family and your father wanted to set you up with Zhang Tingyi. There were a few people I know at that reception." So that was it. Chu Tang explained, "My father did want me to develop something with Zhang Tingyi, but neither Zhang Tingyi nor I had any interest. He knows I'm with you now, and he even told me that the person he likes is Xueluo." Hearing this, Jiang Shixu's expression softened. "He likes Zhou Xueluo?" Chu Tang hummed in affirmation. "Wouldn't have guessed it, right? I didn't see it coming either. It was quite shocking." Jiang Shixu gave a slight nod. "Well, setting him aside, there are still two men eyeing you hungrily." Chu Tang looked at him with amusement. "Those two pose no threat to you. Are you lacking confidence?" The man's expression turned serious, a flicker of pain and loneliness passing through his eyes. "It's not a lack of confidence. It's the fear of losing you. I've already lost you once; I don't want to lose you a second time." Chu Tang's heart was stirred. She walked up to the man, stood on her tiptoes, and cupped his face with both hands. "Jiang Shixu, my heart only has room for you. Don't..." Jiang Shixu suddenly lowered his head, their lips meeting. The rest of Chu Tang's words were swallowed back.