Chapter 2 Sister

Liang Zhouyue certainly wouldn't agree to have him help with the zipper, but her pride lasted only a few seconds before she was defeated by the chaotic reality before her.

She blushed, turning her back to him, her voice was as weak as a mosquito: "I'm sorry to trouble you."

Since the zipper wouldn't go up, Liang Zhouyue's dress was slipping down. She trapped her waist with one hand and pressed the opening of her clothes with the other hand at her back, managing to wrap herself up fairly tightly.

The man, full of youthful energy, didn't speak. He kept his eyes down and was serious about pulling up the zipper, but it wasn't easy as the fabric got caught a little.

"Let's not use this one, change into another," he said.

As he spoke, he took off his black jacket and considerately draped it over her sleek, gleaming shoulders, saying without allowing a response, "Wait here; I'll get you another one."

This was Liang Zhouyue's chance to really look at him.

He was dressed in a dark casual outfit; his hair was impeccably styled, his features cold, but when he smiled, it became a gentle breeze due to his downward-facing, parallel eyes—a face with puppy eyes.

Upon closer examination, the tear trough under his eyes was prominent, softening his masculine harshness and adding a touch of innocence.

Liang Zhouyue glanced at the jacket on her, slightly embarrassed: "Are you… the owner here?"

When she arrived, the staff had mentioned that this was the owner's former resting room. Moreover, his tone of speaking was very authoritative, likely someone who had control here.

Hearing this, the man didn't stop his departing footsteps and answered casually, "I am a creditor."

…

She didn't quite understand his vague words, but at this moment, she was more frightened than curious.

Fortunately, she had her underwear and base layer pants, which she could barely regard as swimwear. Otherwise, wouldn't she have been utterly exposed to him?

That scenario was something Liang Zhouyue didn't want to recall for a second longer; it was excruciatingly awkward to the point where her toes curled, and she felt utterly mortified.

She wrapped herself tightly in the jacket, seeking a sense of security in this object imbued with a stranger's scent, trying to disperse the fear of what had just occurred.

The man was quick to leave and return, bringing Liang Zhouyue a skirt of the same color scheme, similarly styled with a zipper at the back.

"You can wear this for the shoot; I've given them a heads-up," he said. As he finished, his dark eyes focused, watching her intently.

Liang Zhouyue, unsettled by his gaze, tightened her grip on the skirt, her voice thin and fragile: "I need to change my clothes. Could you… go back to your room first?"

The previous scene had been embarrassing enough; she didn't want the same situation to happen again.

The man didn't joke maliciously but turned and went back to his room.

Seeing him retreat, Liang Zhouyue quickly changed into the new skirt. However, the zipper was located in the same place as before, and she could only pull it up to her spine before it stopped.

Technically, it wasn't revealing, but it wasn't appropriate for her to leave the room with that patch of skin exposed.

"Uh…" Liang Zhouyue hesitated before cautiously asking, "Could you please help me zip up one more time?"

The man, exceptionally compliant today, followed her voice and came out from the room, his tall figure striding boldly, though appearing nonchalant.

He walked directly behind her, his cool fingertips unintentionally brushing against the pale skin on the back of her neck, gathering her silky smooth hair to one side of her shoulder. He held the zipper and gently pulled it upwards.

He moved very slowly, as if on purpose.

"Are you being delicate, or are you not being gracious?" he teased.

Daring to ask this strange man for help with her clothes again and again, portraying the look of a pitiful "little rabbit."

Liang Zhouyue felt the hot breath on her ear and, in a panic, pulled away and turned to meet his eyes.

The teasing and mocking in the depths of his eyes shattered the high opinion she had just formed of him. He was no docile dog but a fierce canine that didn't bark indiscriminately.

A sense of defense instantly went up in her heart, her face paled, losing some of its color as she apologized repeatedly, "I'm very sorry for barging into your room, but it wasn't intentional; I just wanted to find a place without people to fix my dress. I shouldn't have asked for your help either, wasting your time; it really is my apology."

Her continuous apologies made him laugh. His sharply defined jawline was tense, his features rugged yet handsome, his lips slightly curved, as he casually commented, "You're taking it too seriously. A blessing in disguise, perhaps."

Although his leisure time was disturbed, a face of indescribable beauty could dissolve all negativity; he savored it as if it were a sweet treat.

"…"

Liang Zhouyue frowned and uncertainly asked, "Sister?"

"Anyone beautiful is a sister," the man shrugged, picked up his neatly placed jacket from the sofa with one hand, and turned to leave.

Watching his tall figure get further away, Liang Zhouyue felt an indescribable turmoil in her heart.

…

After wasting about fifteen minutes, she gathered her skirt and jogged back to the previously filmed location, her face apologetic and embarrassed.

"Sorry, there was a problem with my dress."

Hearing this, Fang Zirui, who had just finished her solo shot, came over, her eyes full of confusion—she hadn't noticed Liang Zhouyue's departure.

But the photographer, who had already been informed, spoke soothingly, "It didn't delay anything, don't overthink it."

The clothes fitting well, and with Liang Zhouyue's beauty and physique being flawless from every angle, the shoot naturally went very smoothly.

In less than three hours, the two of them had finished taking a couple of best-friend photospreads, just waiting to get the photographer's finished shots.

Fang Zirui was Liang Zhouyue's colleague, but they weren't from the same department. The former taught Marxism and was thirty-one years old; the latter taught English, had been teaching for one year and had just turned twenty-seven.

But since both looked youthful, their ages weren't apparent. Normally, when walking on the street, they weren't short of college students coming up to chat them up, especially Liang Zhouyue, appealing to all ages.

"When are you and your boyfriend getting married? Have you considered it?"

On the way back to school, Fang Zirui chatted with her casually, not exactly gossiping.

Mentioning He Jinseng, Liang Zhouyue obviously felt conflicted, silent for a moment, she cautiously said, "I don't know. We haven't discussed it yet, just our parents have called to push."

She and He Jinseng were from the same city, and their parents knew each other. They had been dating since being set up about six months ago.

"Ah…" Fang Zirui sighed, her words somewhat vague, "Yueyue, honestly, I think you two aren't suitable."

Liang Zhouyue instantly looked at her, her eyes flickering more than she realized, "Why do you say that?"

Being close, Fang Zirui didn't hide her outsider's perspective and shared candidly, "He Jinseng is too mature for his age, not that it's bad, but it appears somewhat fake to me. Besides, he always lectures you, is over-controlling, and feels insincere."

Liang Zhouyue listened attentively without interrupting.

"The most important thing is, his demeanor is so lifeless; dating him must be so dull."

Rarely touching a nerve, embarrassment briefly crossed Liang Zhouyue's face, but soon disappeared.

She remained rational after all, perhaps considering her mother's strong controlling desires, which made her hesitant and reserved in her decisions, "I don't like him, nor do I like anyone else. Since the outcome is the same, choosing someone you thoroughly know should suffice."

She had long lost any pursuit of fiery love; she didn't know what it felt like.

Nor did she have the chance to explore and taste it.