Chapter Thirty-Six: Girlfriend

“What act are you putting on? I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Under Zhang Wei’s piercing gaze, Liu Yurou felt a sudden panic, as though her true intentions had been laid bare before him.

“What I meant is, you’re so beautiful and talented at acting—it’s a shame you’re not an actress.” Zhang Wei’s tone shifted smoothly, covering up Liu Yurou’s lie without exposing her, preserving both their dignity.

“Oh, so that’s what you meant!” Liu Yurou breathed a quiet sigh of relief at Zhang Wei’s words, then replied perfunctorily, “Being an actress isn’t that easy. Just being pretty isn’t enough.”

She had originally intended to tease Zhang Wei, but his unexpected question caught her off guard. No longer in the mood to linger on the second floor, she said, “It’s getting late—let’s head downstairs.”

Zhang Wei followed behind Liu Yurou, his eyes tracing her alluring curves. He couldn’t help but mutter inwardly, “Beautiful women are never simple. If I couldn’t see through her, I might really have fallen under her spell.”

After Liu Yurou and Zhang Wei descended the stairs, Zhou Pangzi looked up and asked, “Yurou, did you finish looking at the house?”

“Yes, but I can’t make the decision alone. Let’s go back and discuss it,” Liu Yurou replied sweetly.

“Alright, we’ll talk it over,” Zhou Pangzi’s eyes narrowed, a subtle smile flickering in their depths. He was clearly pleased with Liu Yurou’s tact and sense of propriety.

“Alright, Sister Hong, we’ve finished viewing the house. We’ll head back now. Once we’ve decided, I’ll call Mr. Tian to discuss the details,” Zhang Wei said with a smile to Sister Hong, who stood nearby.

“Of course, I’ll see you out,” Sister Hong replied. Still busy with household chores and eager for them to leave, she certainly had no intention of keeping them any longer.

Wang Min had been following at a distance, observing the group’s interactions with clarity. With her extensive experience in client relations, it was easy to see through their little charade. Zhou Pangzi’s demeanor made it clear he had no intention of buying, while Liu Yurou, though she liked the house, clearly lacked the means to purchase it and ultimately deferred to Zhou Pangzi’s wishes.

All in all, Wang Min had already predicted the outcome: this viewing would come to nothing—a wasted effort, with no hope for a deal.

On the way back, Zhang Wei, Zhou Pangzi, and Liu Yurou didn’t mention the house again, which only reinforced Wang Min’s assessment. She couldn’t help but feel a touch of schadenfreude: “Zhang Wei really has his head in the clouds—trying to sell a villa, as if he’s so capable! He’s finally failed this time. Let’s see if he can keep showing off.”

“Wang, you head back. I’ll see our two clients off,” Zhang Wei said to Wang Min once they had returned from Xiangjiang Residences to Yayuan Court, then accompanied Zhou Pangzi and Liu Yurou to Jingxuan Studio to fetch their car.

“Brother Zhang, you’ve really gone to a lot of trouble today, bringing us to view houses in this sweltering heat,” Zhou Pangzi said with a forced smile, once Wang Min had left.

“No need for such courtesy, Brother Zhou—it’s my job,” Zhang Wei waved his hand dismissively.

“As for the house, you and Miss Liu can take your time. There’s no rush. Just let me know when you’ve decided,” Zhang Wei said.

Normally, Zhang Wei would pressure his clients to hurry up and close the deal after a viewing, but Zhou Pangzi was not an ordinary client. Money was secondary to him; what really mattered was his relationship with Liu Yurou. They’d have to sort things out themselves.

“Alright, whether we buy or not, you’ll have an answer in three days,” Zhou Pangzi said, clapping Zhang Wei on the shoulder.

“You head on back, brother. I’ll just get in the car and go.” As he spoke, the three arrived at the entrance of Jingxuan Studio. Zhou Pangzi stopped beside the A8, ready to say his goodbyes.

“Alright, I’ll be expecting your call, Brother Zhou,” Zhang Wei nodded, intending to see him off before leaving.

Just as Zhou Pangzi reached for the car door, the left front door of the A8 swung open automatically. Even more startling, a woman in her thirties stepped out.

She was tall and voluptuous, with a refined face and a chic short blond haircut, exuding a capable air. As she stepped out, she crossed her arms and glared at Zhou Pangzi, her eyes blazing with fury, as if she might devour him alive.

“W-wife, what are you doing here?” At the sight of her, Zhou Pangzi’s face turned instantly from red to white, then to a sickly green. He swallowed hard, stammering.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” A mocking smile played on the woman’s lips. “Are you saying I shouldn’t be here? Or that I’m interfering with your plans?”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I just didn’t know you were in the car,” Zhou Pangzi stammered, huge beads of sweat trickling down his face, whether from the heat or sheer terror.

Watching this spectacle, Zhang Wei quickly deduced the situation: this must be Zhou Pangzi’s wife, and she was here to catch him in the act. Glancing at Liu Yurou, he saw that she too looked genuinely shocked, as if it were her first time meeting Zhou Pangzi’s wife.

“When you left, you told me Boss Liu invited you to play golf and even had me put a set of clubs in your trunk. So why are you here now?” The woman’s voice grew louder and louder, until she was nearly shouting. Pointing at Liu Yurou, she yelled, “Is this a golf course? Is this fox spirit a golf club?”

“Wife… honey, it’s not what you think. Let’s go home and talk, I’ll explain everything.” Seeing the crowd gathering, pointing and whispering, Zhou Pangzi grew increasingly uneasy. He tugged at his wife’s arm, pleading.

Liu Yurou, apparently intimidated by the woman’s forceful presence, stood frozen, forgetting even to move aside. From the side, Zhang Wei noticed her trembling ever so slightly.

Faced with such a dramatic turn, Zhang Wei was unsure whether to laugh or sigh. He’d already used his mind-reading ability, seeing far deeper than the surface. In just a few exchanges, he’d grasped the whole situation and its gravity.

“Explain? Fine! Then explain it clearly!” The woman jabbed a finger at Zhou Pangzi, her nail digging into his plump cheek and leaving a red mark. Yet Zhou Pangzi didn’t dare flinch. Word by word, she demanded, “Tell me why you’re here, and who is this woman beside you?”

“I… she…” Zhou Pangzi glanced from his wife to Liu Yurou, lips quivering, his whole demeanor collapsing into one of utter defeat. His mind was a muddled mess—he simply didn’t know what to say.

Zhang Wei took a deep breath. He hadn’t expected Zhou Pangzi, who always seemed so imposing, to be so utterly henpecked. If this wasn’t handled properly, not only would Zhou Pangzi never buy the house, but Zhang Wei himself might be mistaken for a pimp and end up getting a tongue-lashing.

Zhou Pangzi fumbled for words but failed to say anything coherent. His wife, on the verge of exploding, jabbed a finger into his chest and then spun around, directing her fury at Liu Yurou. “He won’t talk? Then you tell me! What’s your relationship with him?”

Liu Yurou was startled by the question. Already feeling guilty after learning the woman’s identity, now faced with such aggression, she didn’t even dare to breathe. She knew how to handle men, but against a forceful woman, she could only take the blows.

“Sister-in-law, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Yurou is my girlfriend.” Zhang Wei, seeing Zhou Pangzi’s wife, mustered his courage, walked over to Liu Yurou, put an arm around her waist, and pulled her close, smiling.

His sudden gesture stunned all three of them. In an instant, Zhang Wei, who had been a bystander, became the center of attention.