CHAPTER 360: 151 WILL EVENTUALLY REACH THE IDEAL SHORE_2

"Why are you wandering the streets alone in such heavy rain? Get in the car."

The boy lowered his gaze, ignoring him, and prepared to leave.

Zhao Heng immediately grabbed him, dark-faced. "What are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Without waiting for a response, he dragged the boy into the car.

Rong Xianning, with his thin arms and legs and barely any weight on him, was no match for Zhao Heng, who had been a core member of his university’s taekwondo club. With little effort, he shoved the boy into the car.

Then he locked the doors, giving no chance for the boy to get out.

The boy accepted everything without a change in expression. Even if Zhao Heng were to drag him to an execution ground at this moment, he probably wouldn’t even flinch.

For some reason, Zhao Heng always felt a faint unease around this boy. He grabbed a blanket from the passenger seat and tossed it to him.

"Dry yourself off."

Zhao Heng adjusted the car’s air conditioning. The gentle flow of warm air began to chase away the cold.

Through the rearview mirror, Zhao Heng glanced back—exactly where he had thrown the blanket, it still lay untouched.

Alright, this kid is a bit stubborn.

The car pulled into the underground garage. The sound-activated lights lit up in sequence, and the car rolled to a stop in a designated space. Zhao Heng got out and opened the backseat door.

"Do I need to carry you?"

The boy’s wooden expression finally cracked slightly. He looked at Zhao Heng coldly.

"Who are you?"

Zhao Heng rolled his eyes and sneered. "I thought you didn’t care about anything. Just get out of the car, kid."

So young—why act like some brooding philosopher?

If it weren’t for the boss, Zhao Heng wouldn’t bother dealing with this ticking time bomb.

The boy pressed his thin lips together tightly. Whatever he was thinking, he quickly reverted to his emotionless state and silently got out of the car.

Zhao Heng gave him a curious glance. "Aren’t you afraid I might sell you off?"

"You can try."

The boy’s voice was crisp and pleasing, yet when he spoke calmly, it carried an unspoken menace.

Zhao Heng felt a lump in his throat. Shouldn’t boys this age be innocent and cheerful? Why was this one so peculiar and absolutely no fun?

The two stepped into the elevator. On the elevator wall was an iris-scanning device. Zhao Heng let his eyes sweep across it, and the electronic screen immediately displayed the number thirty-two.

The elevator began its ascent.

Leaning against the elevator wall, Zhao Heng crossed his arms and sized up the drenched boy standing before him.

He had to admit, Ding Meng’s taste was impeccable. The boy had an outstanding appearance, clean-cut and striking—a sure recipe for stardom.

"Aren’t you even going to ask where I’m taking you?"

"If you want to tell me, you’ll tell me."

If he didn’t want to, no point in asking.

Zhao Heng was momentarily speechless. Did all young people have this much attitude nowadays?

On TV, he portrayed the image of a gentle, neighborly boy-next-door. How come in private, his personality was so sharp?

So it was all an act, after all.

The elevator moved quickly and soon reached the thirty-second floor.

This was a one-unit-per-floor layout. As soon as the elevator opened, it was a private foyer. On the left was a shoe cabinet and a sofa; on the right, a rack of green plants.

Zhao Heng bent over, grabbed two pairs of slippers from the cabinet, and tossed one pair in front of Rong Xianning, motioning for him to change into them.

Past another doorway, to the left was a fire escape, and to the right was the main entrance.

Zhao Heng walked over and input the door code. A beep followed, and the door unlocked.

The moment the door opened, the lights inside the apartment turned on one by one, revealing a warm, bright space.

He turned to look at the silent boy and raised an eyebrow. "After you."

The apartment had a minimalist decor—mostly warm tones, with creamy whites as the primary color. To the left of the entrance was an open-plan kitchen; on the right, a dining area and wine cabinet.

Farther inside, the living room wasn’t large but had a great view. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the night view of Spring River was fully displayed.

But with the current storm raging outside, the contrast only enhanced the cozy tranquility of the interior.

On either side of the living room were two south-facing bedrooms. The master bedroom was closed, while the other had been converted into a study, with three walls of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

"If you’re homeless, you can make do here for the time being."

Zhao Heng pointed to the study. "The sofa in there can be pulled out into a bed. Other than the master bedroom, you can go anywhere you like."

As he spoke, Zhao Heng started to get annoyed again.

He had painstakingly chosen this apartment for the boss, hired a top designer, and supervised the entire renovation himself.

He had planned to surprise the boss the next time she came to Chunzhou.

But when he asked if the boss wanted Rong Xianning to stay at a hotel or in a company-provided apartment, the boss had said outright, "The place you prepared for me is just sitting empty. Let him stay there—it’s more private."

Zhao Heng hadn’t even had time to question how the boss knew he had prepared an apartment for her before her next words completely crushed him.