The stubborn her

elevator

After that night at the bar, some time passed.

On a day when Shen Zhitong worked late, by the time she finished, there were hardly any people left in the entire building. The elevator descended from the top floor and stopped at Shen Zhitong's floor. The elevator doors slowly opened, and Shen Zhitong looked up to see a tall man in a dark gray suit standing inside.

"Zhou Xingjin?" Shen Zhitong paused for a moment, hesitated briefly, then walked in and greeted him softly, "Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Xingjin glanced at her lightly and nodded. A silence fell between them. Shen Zhitong pressed the button for the first floor, standing near the front. Despite the distance between them, she could still smell the deep woody fragrance emanating from him - like the incense lingering in a distant mountain temple, or the subtle scent of aged wood in a mysterious castle.

The invisible yet powerful aura of silence made Shen Zhitong's heart beat faster. She looked at the elevator buttons in front of her, waiting for the light of the ground floor button to disappear.

"So late at work?" Zhou Xingjin's deep voice suddenly broke the silence from behind.

Shen Zhitong turned slightly and nodded.

Zhou Xingjin's gaze swept over her from head to toe, with a hint of scrutiny. "What's your name?"

"Shen Zhitong."

"The first floor has arrived," the clear, intelligent female voice of the elevator sounded above them.

Just as Shen Zhitong was about to step out, she heard him say lightly, "You can't leave through this exit after ten o'clock. You'll have to use the main entrance or go down to the basement."

Shen Zhitong was somewhat surprised. Being a newcomer and having never worked this late before, she naturally didn't know about this.

She hesitated slightly, whether to exit the elevator and find the main entrance or just go straight down to the basement and leave from the parking lot.

Zhou Xingjin stood quietly behind her, his face showing a faint expression of amusement, waiting for her choice without a word.

Shen Zhitong didn't hesitate for long. She pressed the close door button directly, intending to leave through the parking lot.

As expected, Zhou Xingjin's eyes flickered slightly.

The basement arrived quickly, and he, with his distinctively articulated fingers adjusting his cufflinks, stepped out of the elevator ahead of Shen Zhitong.

"The exit is to the right," he casually reminded her as he passed by.

"Thank you," Shen Zhitong's voice sounded as he walked away.

His tall and graceful figure, with his back straight and his steps steady and elegant, was seldom seen by Shen Zhitong, and she couldn't help but look at him a few more times.

He drove a black Maybach. The car was quietly parked in the darkness, its massive body hidden behind the pillars, only a glimpse of the front visible.

The silver-trimmed black body refracted a starry brilliance in the dim light, like a huge and noble beast lurking in a shallow sleep.

Simple yet luxurious, and just like its owner, an existence beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Shen Zhitong withdrew her gaze and walked towards the exit. The sound of a car starting came from behind her, and the headlights shone over. Shen Zhitong stepped aside to make way.

The vehicle slowly drove past her, then stopped again.

Zhou Xingjin lowered the car window and looked at her. "Have you eaten?"

Shen Zhitong was startled, and instinctively answered truthfully, "Not yet."

"Get in," Zhou Xingjin nodded towards the passenger seat, then glanced at the driver's side, signaling. "I'll take you to dinner."

Shen Zhitong looked at him in astonishment. "It's not necessary, I'll go home to eat."

"Get in first." His voice was not heavy, but it was not to be refused.

The woody scent in the enclosed car became even richer.

With the interior and exterior of the car dimly lit, the mysterious and cool scent of sandalwood turned warm and comforting, enchanting those around.

It felt like intruding into his absolute private domain. Even Shen Zhitong, who was usually calm, couldn't help but feel moved.

Zhou Xingjin's long and powerful arm turned slightly with the steering wheel as he looked ahead. "Do you like Cantonese cuisine?"

Shen Zhitong nodded. "Yes."

Later, she learned that he took her out to dinner on a whim that day.

Because when he got into the car, he received a distress message from Tao Xinxin.

The message was short and urgent: "My family's restaurant, hurry! Help needed!!"