Chapter twenty-nine

The items purchased were already numerous and couldn't bear any more trouble. Leo's sudden appearance had caused the fruit bags to tear.

Upon seeing this, Leo insisted on delivering them to her home.

Zoe felt helpless and couldn't refuse, so she had to let him.

As soon as they emerged from Walmart, it was getting dark.

The festive atmosphere was even more intense in the evening, so Zoe had to hasten her steps home. Leo carried another bag of items and followed Zoe without even a car, since there was no place to park near Zoe's home.

As they walked, Leo chatted with Zoe, "What are you cooking for dinner tonight?"

"I just saw some shrimp. Are you going to make shrimp?"

Leo looked at Zoe's profile, his lips curved into a smile, and asked softly.

He didn't ask about why she was spending the New Year alone in the city.

Zoe was a bit annoyed for a moment, but seeing how faithfully he carried the fruit bags and other items, she softened her expression and said, "Yes, I'll make shrimp."

"Your shrimp must be delicious."

Leo's eyes were like the warm sun in winter, full of charm and tenderness.

Zoe smiled but didn't respond.

Ahead of her, she walked up the pedestrian bridge, and Leo followed suit. He said, "You bought so many things at once, I thought you were going to empty out the supermarket."

He was trying to make conversation, a bit cautiously.

Zoe could sense that, so she said, "I didn't want to go out again, so I bought more to stock up in the fridge."

"You really know how to enjoy life."

Leo's eyes were bright, full of smiles.

The two of them spending time together gave him a thrill.

Seeing her smile occasionally, her gentle face, Leo almost forgot about her in high school.

He only remembered her now.

So captivating.

As they reached the staircase entrance of the apartment complex, the two were still laughing and talking.

A deep voice came from the stairs, cold and sinister, like it had been pulled out of hell.

"You're having a great chat, huh..."

Both of them looked up the stairs simultaneously.

Nick was descending the stairs, wearing a black shirt with a jacket draped over his arm and a cigarette between his fingers.

The wall light on the stairs had been broken for a few days, and it was difficult to find property management during the New Year to fix it. The old apartment complex was even more eerie.

The orange glow of the cigarette only illuminated a small part of Nick's face. The light flickered, and he stopped on the steps, his narrow eyes filled with malice as he looked down at them.

Like a demonic guardian of human lives.

Even though the shops outside were brightly lit, a chill still crept up Zoe's back.

Nick tilted his head to bite the cigarette, one hand tapping on the railing, and he looked at Zoe, "Didn't you go back to City B? Did you specifically stay here to spend the New Year with Leo?"

Without asking, he twisted the truth.

Feeling chilled by his gaze, Zoe unconsciously tightened her grip on the shopping bags.

The two of them did have contact, but it was rare.

On that particular day, when she was feeling low and on the verge of collapse, receiving a text and call from him briefly warmed her heart and brought her some solace. It was during that moment of vulnerability when his simple inquiry healed her somewhat.

However, as time went on, she regained her composure.

When they reconnected, she avoided him more often than not...

And now, faced with the truth of the lie being exposed, Zoe felt a bit embarrassed but also didn't think an apology was necessary since it was his own misunderstanding in the beginning.

It was just that the way he asked the question was quite intimidating.

Zoe paused and said, "I never intended to go home anyway."

"So, you're spending the New Year with him?" Nick said, his gaze shifting to Leo while he leisurely held his cigarette.

Leo was annoyed that Nick's unexpected appearance had ruined their brief joy.

Seeing Nick's ominous tone, Leo felt agitated. He glanced at Zoe, afraid that she would be bullied by Nick again, and stepped forward to shield her. "She's not spending the New Year with me. Didn't you hear her clearly?

She didn't plan to go home, she's spending the New Year alone here. What do you mean by 'spending the New Year with me'?

If she were really spending the New Year with me, I'd be overjoyed... You would have seen me post about it on my social media."

This protective stance reminded one of a guard dog protecting its food.

Nick's eyes flashed with coldness and brutality.

He calmly removed the cigarette from his mouth, extinguished it, and strode forward.

Upon seeing Nick, Zoe was startled and instinctively stepped back, and Leo instinctively shielded her again.

This stance, this action...

Nick gritted his teeth.

He reached out and grabbed Zoe's wrist with a forceful pull, yanking her behind him. Nick glared coldly at Leo, filled with malice, "Does she need your protection?

Hmph?"

With that grab, the bag in Zoe's hand made a snapping sound, and she struggled vigorously.

Leo watched helplessly as Zoe was dragged away, still holding the fruits in his arms. He couldn't free up his hands to save Zoe, and hearing Nick's deranged question, he couldn't help but say, "Nick, you're a fucking psychopath. Didn't you hear me?

I explained."

Nick sneered, "You explained, but why are you protecting her?

Do you have the right to?"

It was this action that enraged him.

And Zoe hiding behind him made it worse.

After saying that, he turned to look at Zoe.

Zoe continued struggling, unaware of the significance of her earlier evasion and Leo's protective stance.

However, she was immensely annoyed and shouted, "Nick, let me go! If you want to argue, do it outside. I have to go back."

Even if it was a New Year's Eve dinner for one, she still had to prepare it.

Nick narrowed his eyes.

Leo chimed in, "Yes, Zoe needs to go back and cook. Nick, please..."

"Shut up."

Nick turned and coldly shouted.

Leo: "..."

Damn it.

He's a thug, a psychopath, and arrogant...

I can't handle him!

Damn it.

But looking at Zoe, Leo felt a bit reluctant to give up.

The two sides faced each other, and another tense confrontation ensued.

After a while, Leo glanced at Zoe, who was still struggling, her arms turning red from the effort. He sighed helplessly, "Nick, let Zoe have a good New Year. Can we not argue like this?"

Nick lowered his gaze and saw Zoe's wrist.

Her dress sleeves and coat sleeves had slipped down due to her struggles.

Her snow-white wrist, twisted and turned, was all red. His eyes darkened, and he loosened his grip slightly, whispering, "Stop moving."

Zoe gritted her teeth, "Let me go."

"If I let go, you'll run away."

Nick growled.

Zoe: "..."

Of course.

Nick glanced at Leo with a cold expression, his intention to drive him away quite evident.

Leo pursed his lips, "Let's go together. We all have to go home for New Year's Eve dinner, right?

Mr. Nick?"

He didn't want Nick and Zoe to be alone, so getting rid of Leo was the best option.

Nick sneered and pulled Zoe away from Leo's grasp, saying, "You go first."

Leo: "I'm not going."

Nick narrowed his eyes and rubbed his lips, then raised his eyebrows at Leo, "Your phone is ringing."

Yes, the ringtone was annoying all three of them.

Leo furrowed his brows and cursed before taking out his phone and answering the call. Whatever was said on the other end annoyed him greatly. "Alright, I'll buy it, I'm coming back now, I'll buy it, just buy it."

It was his sister's daughter who had been asking him to buy food.

Plus, New Year's Eve dinner was about to start, and he really couldn't stay.

He felt reluctant.

Leo glanced at the two still deadlocked people and reluctantly said to Zoe, "Yi Yi, I'm going back first. Happy New Year."

With one less person, there would be less trouble.

Zoe hurriedly forced a smile and responded, "Alright, take care, Happy New Year."

"Thank you for helping me bring these things back."

"You're welcome."

Leo gave Zoe a deep look and then turned to leave.

After Leo left.

The atmosphere at the stairwell remained tense.

After a while, Zoe said, "Can you let go of me now?"

Nick looked down at her, his lips curling into a smile, and he bent down to pick up the fruits and shopping bags, "I'll help you carry them upstairs."

Zoe wanted to say no, but she knew it wouldn't be effective if she did.

She hesitated and asked, "Are you going home for New Year's Eve dinner?"

Nick paused.

Then he casually smiled and replied, "Yes, I'll just help you carry them upstairs."

"Then... thank you."

In Zoe's understanding, Nick's family seemed quite prominent. He was a local from the city of Haishi, his father had once been the city secretary, but later retired and went into business.

His mother was the founder of a luxury brand that had suddenly gained popularity in the past two years.

In any case, the family had always been wealthy, but they were quite low-keyed. If Zoe hadn't liked him and investigated him thoroughly, she would never have known about his family background.

Such a family would usually have a reunion dinner together during the New Year.

Nick, as the young master of the family, would never miss it.

After going upstairs, Zoe took out her keys and bumped into her wrist, feeling a slight pain. She glanced at it and rolled her eyes.

Then she opened the door, went inside, and placed the shopping bags on the coffee table.

Nick, tall and muscular, walked in, his gaze scanning the room indifferently.

The old apartment and the house were quite worn, and the furniture had a certain age, but it was still very clean.

He also put down the things he was carrying and hung his black jacket on the back of the sofa.

With another tall boy in the room, the spacious living room suddenly felt a bit cramped.

Zoe hung up her jacket first and turned to see that Nick had already put away the shopping bags and fruits.

She paused and said, "Thank you..."

Zoe waited for Nick to leave.

Nick straightened up and adjusted his cuffs, seemingly tidying up but actually undoing them.

Zoe said, "I'll see you downstairs."

Nick lazily responded and then said, "I'll use the bathroom."

"Oh... It's here."

Typically, one would offer a guest a glass of water, but Zoe really wanted him to leave soon.

So she pretended to forget about it.

She pointed to the bathroom door.

Nick nodded and walked towards the bathroom, entering it.

Zoe bent down to arrange the dishes and fruits on the coffee table, then stood up and glanced at the closed bathroom door before raising her hand to tie her hair.

As she was tying her hair, her dress sleeve slipped off, revealing her pale arm.

Her dress today was very soft, made of silky fabric with a beautiful color. Under the light from the ceiling, she exuded an unparalleled beauty.

She had just grasped a strand of hair.

An arm suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind, startling Zoe. Her hair fell loose, and she cried out in surprise, "Nick..."

The scent of her body filled his nostrils. Nick tightened his grip and pressed her forward, pinning her body against the wall.

She cried out, and Nick's fingertips traced the buttons on her chest, his voice low, "The scene of you with Leo tonight was too dazzling. Do you know that?"

The next second, his lips landed on Zoe's neck, and then he grasped her chin, turning her face towards him and kissing her lips fiercely, blocking her cries with his tongue as he delved deeper, and the buttons on her chest were undone.