Zhou Xing's words were very calm.
Yet they gave off an air of unquestionable authority.
Xiao Lanlan didn't mention going back again; she simply let Zhou Xing hold her hand as they walked toward the elevator.
At some point, his grip had shifted from holding her hand to leading her by it.
A staff member was already waiting at the elevator doors.
They pressed the button for the elevator.
The Ritz-Carlton's presidential suite was on the 51st floor.
The elevator was very fast.
In less than thirty seconds, it reached the 51st floor.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened.
Standing at the entrance was a man in his sixties with graying temples.
He wore a butler's uniform, white gloves, and a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
His hair was combed back, every strand in place.
His entire being exuded cleanliness and meticulousness.
When he saw Zhou Xing and Xiao Lanlan come out, he bowed slightly and said, "Hello, Mr. Zhou. I am your private butler; you may call me Butler Wang. Welcome to the Ritz-Carlton. During your stay, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I will do my utmost to serve you and ensure you have a perfect experience at our hotel."
"These are your car keys."
Butler Wang handed the Lamborghini keys to Zhou Xing.
Zhou Xing took them and tucked them into his pocket.
"I will show you to your room."
Butler Wang stepped aside and made a guiding gesture.
Zhou Xing nodded and led Xiao Lanlan toward the room.
He swiped the room card.
He pushed open the door.
What met their eyes was the magnificent view of The Bund and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
Under the night neon lights, it looked exceptionally brilliant.
The room was themed with contemporary Art Deco, featuring a living room, a dining room for ten, a private study, a library, a walk-in closet, a master bedroom with a marble bathroom, and a spacious lounge with a guest bath.
The area was over four hundred square meters.
However, Zhou Xing was in no mood to admire Shanghai at night; instead, he focused his attention on Xiao Lanlan.
Butler Wang was also very tactful: "I won't disturb your rest then. If you need anything, you can call me anytime via the room phone."
After saying that, he backed out and closed the door.
The room immediately became quiet.
Xiao Lanlan felt inexplicably nervous.
She swallowed hard.
She looked up and happened to meet Zhou Xing's gaze.
Unlike his previously clear eyes, his eyes were now slightly bloodshot.
Xiao Lanlan immediately turned her head away, not daring to look him in the eye.
Zhou Xing stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace.
She tried to break free but found she couldn't summon any strength.
Zhou Xing's arms were like iron bands, firmly binding her.
After a while.
Xiao Lanlan stopped struggling.
A deathly silence filled the room once more.
Only the sound of their accelerating heartbeats remained.
"I'm going to take a shower,"
Xiao Lanlan lightly patted Zhou Xing.
"No need."
Zhou Xing refused domineeringly: "I like you in these clothes."
Click!
Zhou Xing pressed the sleep button in the room.
The room lights went out instantly.
Only faint light remained from the hallway and the bathroom.
The curtains slowly drew shut automatically.
Shanghai at night.
It was still brightly lit... Piercing sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Zhou Xing was in a daze, feeling a heavy weight pressing down on him.
He opened his eyes.
What met his eyes was Xiao Lanlan, fast asleep.
She was sleeping very soundly, though her brows were slightly furrowed.
Clearly, it was due to exhaustion.
He picked up his phone and saw it was already past eleven in the morning, almost twelve.
He couldn't help but marvel at the energy of youth.
He was still feeling spirited.
He put on a bathrobe and went to the living room. Feeling famished, he prepared to call room service to have the restaurant send up some food.
That's when he saw his pants lying on the floor.
A note had slipped out of the pocket.
Zhou Xing rubbed his temples; he had almost forgotten about this.
No wonder he felt like he had forgotten something last night.
He picked up the note, recorded the phone number on it with his phone, and immediately crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the trash.
Then he called the front desk.
"Hello, this is the front desk. How may I help you?"
A sweet voice came from the other end of the line.
"Send up some lunch for two. As for the variety, just use your discretion,"
Zhou Xing said.
"Alright, we have a Supreme Deluxe Set for Two. The total price for the set is 26,600. Would that be alright?"
"Sure."
"Please wait a moment. I will notify the restaurant to prepare it. It should be delivered to your room within thirty minutes."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Zhou Xing hung up the phone.
But he suddenly felt someone hug him from behind.
"I woke up and you were suddenly gone. I thought you had disappeared,"
Xiao Lanlan's resentful voice sounded.
"How could that be?"
Zhou Xing turned around, pulled Xiao Lanlan into his arms, and smiled. "It's late. I just called the restaurant to send up some lunch."
"You must be very hungry too, right?"
Xiao Lanlan nodded and pouted coquettishly. "I was woken up by hunger."
After one night, Xiao Lanlan had changed a lot and started to become a bit clingy toward Zhou Xing.
"Alright, alright. After lunch, I'll take you shopping to make it up to you, okay?"
Zhou Xing smiled faintly.
"No need."
Xiao Lanlan shook her head. "I have no strength left in me. Where would I get the energy for shopping?"
"Then we'll talk about it once you've rested enough."
Zhou Xing didn't push her.
"What is our relationship now?"
At that moment.
Xiao Lanlan looked up, her bright eyes staring at Zhou Xing, her expression exceptionally serious. "We're boyfriend and girlfriend, right?"
Zhou Xing's expression froze upon hearing this, and he fell silent for a moment.
He was living a second life.
He wanted to enjoy a carefree life and was unlikely to be tied down by one girl.
"Of course we are."
However, Zhou Xing didn't argue.
It was just a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.
The law didn't stipulate that he could only have one girlfriend.
Having received a definite answer, Xiao Lanlan didn't look happy. Instead, she said to herself, "I know. A man like you—handsome, wealthy, young, and vigorous, and even great at 'playing games' at night—will have plenty of women flocking to you."
Zhou Xing raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You're so perfect, it's impossible for me to have you all to myself."
"But you must at least give me a status, so I can feel a bit better."
Xiao Lanlan bit her lip hard. "This request isn't too much, is it?"
"Of course not,"
Zhou Xing said with a smile.
"I knew it, you're definitely not that honest!"
Xiao Lanlan glared at Zhou Xing resentfully. "Bah, scumbag!"
Zhou Xing wasn't angry. Instead, he pulled Xiao Lanlan close, kissed her smooth cheek, and then turned her head to face him.
Zhou Xing looked at her. "I can give you a promise. As long as you're willing, you can stay by my side forever."
"Houses, cars—whatever you want, I can give you."
"If the time comes when you want to leave, I'll give you a sum of money, and we'll part on good terms."
"As for love..."
Zhou Xing paused for a moment and then said, "I can give that to you as well. It's just that my heart has been broken into many pieces, so my love might be spread a bit thin."
"I'm sure you can understand!"
"Understand my foot!"
Xiao Lanlan gritted her teeth in anger. She grabbed Zhou Xing's arm and was about to bite down.
But when she bit down, the force was very light, like a tickle.
Then she let go of his arm, buried herself in his chest, and whispered, "I won't leave you."
Ding-dong.
At that moment, the doorbell suddenly rang.