Chapter 1787 - 1786: Is the Good Thing Nearing?
She was wearing a camel-colored trench coat, her long, wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face had light makeup, and she was carrying a pile of items of various sizes in her hands.
The person following behind her was An Hao, someone who had left a particularly deep impression on Hou Zicheng.
At the sight of An Hao, Hou Zicheng’s mind immediately conjured the image of her man — that cold steely demeanor, sharp eyes, and the air that kept everyone at a thousand-mile distance, Captain Qin.
After Cang Lang finished speaking, he realized Hou Zicheng wasn’t responding, his gaze firmly fixed in the direction of the doorway.
"What? Spotted another beautiful woman? I really think your name shouldn’t be ’Sly Fox’ but ’Lustful Fox,’" Cang Lang teased.
Hou Zicheng was just about to open his mouth to explain but immediately thought better of it. He abandoned the thought and replied smoothly, "It’s nothing, just a business associate I saw."
It was true he dealt in intelligence, but he still needed a legitimate business to mask his true identity.
Cang Lang curled his lips into a smirk but didn’t say anything further, leisurely picking up the coffee cup in front of him to savor it.
As Lin Qiushu walked past Hou Zicheng while carrying her things, Hou Zicheng slowly stood up, wearing what he believed to be an appropriate smile.
"Boss Lin, what’s the occasion today? Boss Lin, you’ve been on such a shopping spree today — planning to empty out the entire mall?"
"Oh please, how much could I possibly buy? When Boss Lin shops, it’s in bulk. Shops, properties, that sort of thing," Lin Qiushu paused and joked back with a smile.
"Oh, come on now." Hou Zicheng lowered his gaze to the pile of shopping in Lin Qiushu’s hands, vaguely guessing a thing or two. "What’s this? Is Sister Lin preparing for some good news?"
Since Hou Zicheng had already figured it out, Lin Qiushu didn’t bother hiding it anymore. "Boss Hou, sharp as ever. I’m getting married in a week. The venue is set at the State Guesthouse Grand Hotel. If you’re free, I’d love for you to attend my wedding."
"Of course! Of course!" Hou Zicheng readily agreed with a laugh. "I must prepare a grand gift. After all, the woman I fancy is getting married — how could my heart not ache from the pain!"
"Boss Hou, spare me the act! I can’t see even a trace of sadness on your face," Lin Qiushu scoffed, clearly disbelieving his nonsense.
In his eyes, there was always a glimmer of greed for money.
A stark, undisguised greed!
"How could you say that? Sister Lin, if you feel sorry for me, how about calling off the wedding? Or better yet, marry me instead?" Hou Zicheng quipped.
Lin Qiushu gave him a dramatic eye roll and cut him off with a single sentence to change the topic, "Boss Hou, thank you for your kindness, but could you please step aside? Our legs are about to give out — we really need to sit down and rest."
"Oh, let me help you carry those!" Boss Hou eagerly offered his assistance.
"There’s no need! Don’t you still have a guest? We won’t intrude any further." Unable to bear it any longer, An Hao stepped around from behind Lin Qiushu to stand directly in front of Hou Zicheng, facing him head-on. "Excuse me, could you make way?"
Hou Zicheng let out an awkward chuckle before stepping aside. An Hao tugged Lin Qiushu along, heading toward a spot further away from Hou Zicheng.
After the two sat down, Lin Qiushu ordered two cups of coffee.
Meanwhile, Hou Zicheng appeared to be chatting with the man opposite him, glancing intermittently in their direction.
"Qiushu, what do you think of this Boss Hou?" An Hao whispered softly.
"Just a merchant with nothing but greed for money in his eyes," Lin Qiushu responded, succinctly summing up Hou Zicheng.