Chapter 68: The Golden Canary

He picked up another glass and poured a cup of plain water.

"You're sweating. Drink some water."

He handed her the glass, his fingertips accidentally brushing against the back of her soft, delicate hand, sending a faint trace of coolness slowly transmitting across her skin.

Only then did Tang Xi realize that her temples were slightly damp with sweat.

The room was very hot. She was still wearing her coat, and coupled with her nervousness, that was why she was sweating.

Taking the glass, Tang Xi took a small sip.

She had no idea how much longer Zhou Jingchuan's gathering would last, and out of politeness, it was impossible for her to urge him to leave.

"Mr. Zhou," Tang Xi murmured, holding the water glass, her clear, lustrous phoenix eyes looking at him.

"Hmm?" He took a sip of alcohol, his Adam's apple bobbing, a lingering hue of liquor still visible on his lips.

"Would you like me to ask Ms. Wu to come pick you up instead?"

"Who?" Zhou Jingchuan tilted his head slightly, a look of incomprehension in his eyes. "Which Ms. Wu?"

Tang Xi thought to herself, is this man playing dumb, or does he simply refuse to admit it?

She had clearly witnessed that former Miss Hong Kong's prominent display at the boutique. Had it not been for using Mr. Zhou's name, the manager would never have entertained her personally.

Young Master Huo had said that he kept a canary in Victoria Peak, and the place Wu Bixuan was heading back to was precisely Victoria Peak.

All signs pointed to the fact that Wu Bixuan was Zhou Jingchuan's woman.

Yet what was the meaning of this bewildered expression of his?

"Wu Bixuan." Regardless of whether he was feigning ignorance or not, Tang Xi boldly pierced through that layer of pretense.

Assistant An was really something else. Knowing full well that he had a woman, why on earth would he ask her to come and pick him up?

She had no interest in such triangular relationships; in fact, she detested them.

Because of the ordeal involving Gu Yu and Gu Wennuan, she was all the more determined never to become the superfluous third party in anyone else's romance.

Seeing that Zhou Jingchuan seemed to have finally recalled something, Tang Xi asked, "Can you give me Ms. Wu's number? I'll have her come over."

The man's dark eyes gazed back at her intently, as deep and fathomless as an ocean, obscure and enigmatic.

Under such a gaze, Tang Xi felt a sudden, ungrounded sense of guilt, as if she were the one who had done something wrong.

"Why would I have her phone number?" Zhou Jingchuan suddenly chuckled softly, the glass in his hand swaying slightly with his movement.

His single question left Tang Xi stunned.

"And just who did you hear from that I have a connection with her?"

Tang Xi bit her lip nervously.

"Hearsay?" Zhou Jingchuan appeared quite helpless. He gently placed the glass back onto the coffee table and suddenly leaned forward, his imposing figure drawing closer. Tang Xi found herself looking directly into his eyes, eyes so profound and utterly inscrutable.

There was the scent of alcohol about him, which somehow subdued the usual heavy fragrance of sandalwood.

She shrank back slightly, but it was not enough to avoid being trapped between the sofa and his solid chest.

The man spoke, a hint of sarcasm lacing his tone, "Miss Tang hasn't been in Hong Kong for very long, yet you certainly seem to know quite a few gossip stories. Tell me about it, what kind of scandalous affair do I have with this Wu Bixuan?"

A scandalous affair? That was putting it too strongly.

At most, it would be romance and passion, but it had nothing to do with a scandalous affair.

"Isn't... isn't she the woman you keep at Victoria Peak?" Tang Xi could sense the oppressive weight emanating from the man. In the dim, warm light, his gaze was gloomy.

Although she hadn't known Zhou Jingchuan for long, he had never spoken to her in such a tone before.

He had always been gentle, like the breeze brushing through the mountains.

She still remembered his back as he busied himself in the kitchen—domestic and casual, making one momentarily forget that he was a true man of high power and status.

"I keep a woman at Victoria Peak?" Hearing this, the veins on Zhou Jingchuan's forehead throbbed visibly. "Very well, Miss Tang is truly skilled at pinning labels on me."

The more he acted like this, the guiltier Tang Xi felt, but her reason told her that she absolutely could not lose her momentum.

She wasn't just talking nonsense with her eyes wide open; she had synthesized this conclusion based on information from multiple sources.

Besides, there was no smoke without fire; if he truly hadn't done anything, how could there be so many mutually corroborating rumors?

Seeing that the person before him not only refused to admit her mistake, but was also stiffening her neck against him like a little fighting rooster, Zhou Jingchuan felt a headache coming on.

"Wu Bixuan, is it?" Zhou Jingchuan waved his hand and summoned someone over.

Jogging over was a young man whose eyes had not strayed from their direction for a single moment, glued more tightly than industrial adhesive.

"Mr. Zhou, did you call me?" He looked at Zhou Jingchuan, but his peripheral vision kept sweeping across Tang Xi's face.

Being too far away earlier, he hadn't seen clearly, but up close he realized she was a certified beauty.

Her features were pure and flawless; each individual trait was lovely on its own, and put together, they were breathtaking.

Moreover, her gentle and refined temperament complemented Mr. Zhou's, making them a remarkably well-matched pair.

Zhou Jingchuan pinched the bridge of his nose. "Tell her who Wu Bixuan is."

Hearing this, Gong Yunpeng understood the situation instantly.

It must have been the rumors between Wu Bixuan and Mr. Zhou that had displeased this young lady, prompting her to come here and demand an explanation.

If this wasn't reined in soon, the future development of the situation would be unpredictable.

"Saki, which is Wu Bixuan, is an artist signed under my agency, and also a spokesperson for a dairy company owned by Mr. Zhou."

Gong Yunpeng's sudden explanation caught Tang Xi somewhat off guard.

She hadn't expected a single remark of hers to stir up such a commotion.

Zhou Jingchuan asked, "Why does she live at Victoria Peak?"

"That's a... dormitory our company arranged for three of our female artists. Besides Wu Bixuan, there are two other female artists living with her."

Only after finishing did Gong Yunpeng remember that Zhou Jingchuan also owned a villa at Victoria Peak.

"It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding," Gong Yunpeng hurriedly explained. "If you don't believe me, I can have my assistant send over the surveillance footage from our place at Victoria Peak."

Tang Xi realized that she had truly misunderstood Zhou Jingchuan, and her face burned with heat.

Yet Zhou Jingchuan's gaze relentlessly pursued her. "Do you believe it now?"

"I didn't start these words, nor did I fabricate the rumors. I was merely a listener." Tang Xi turned her head to the side, presenting him with a stubborn profile.

Besides, there was no need for him to make such a grand display of calling someone over just to explain it to her.

Or perhaps this man cared far too much about his pristine reputation and refused to be tainted by such gossip.

Zhou Jingchuan looked at Gong Yunpeng. "Have your people investigate how these rumors started. If something like this happens again, don't bother cooperating with them."

Gong Yunpeng had long guessed that the rumors must have been artificially manufactured, and as for who was responsible, it went without saying.

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhou, I will certainly handle this matter to your satisfaction."

It wasn't as if Gong Yunpeng hadn't heard rumors regarding Wu Bixuan and Mr. Zhou from elsewhere.

She was indeed a spokesperson for the Universal Group, but Universal Group's subsidiary industries were countless, and its spokespersons were even more innumerable.

What made Wu Bixuan luckier than the others was that at Universal's annual gala, she had won the grand prize, and this prize had been personally presented by Mr. Zhou.

After the award presentation, Wu Bixuan had boldly gone to toast Zhou Jingchuan. Because she had won the grand prize, Zhou Jingchuan had granted her that courtesy.

Yet this courtesy was misinterpreted by herself and others, leading them to believe that she held a unique place in Mr. Zhou's heart.

Later on, when rumors spread that Mr. Zhou kept a "canary" at Victoria Peak, Wu Bixuan had feigned casualness to hint to others that she also resided at Victoria Peak.