Returning - Chapter 16
Chapter 16: The Hunt
Zhao Yu didn't bring up what happened at the company to Xue Zi'ang on her own.
She knew he'd find out soon enough through various channels.
Sure enough, not long after she got off work, Xue Zi'ang showed up at her apartment. As usual, the first thing he did upon entering was take her hand and examine it. "Does it hurt?" he asked.
Zhao Yu shook her head. "It's just a scratch, really."
"A scratch? I saw the surveillance footage. Your whole hand landed on those shards. There was so much blood." Xue Zi'ang frowned, his expression grim. "Did you need stitches?"
Zhao Yu shook her head again. "The coffee cup shards weren't that sharp. The wound isn't deep. No stitches needed, just some disinfection and ointment."
"Why can't you ever give me any peace of mind? I'm gone for one afternoon and you get yourself into this state?"
His words sounded like reproach, but his tone was saturated with pure affection.
Zhao Yu took the opportunity to wrap her arms around him, resting her head quietly against his shoulder.
Xue Zi'ang hugged her back, patting her shoulder. "You haven't eaten yet? I'll have someone deliver dinner."
He ordered an extraordinarily lavish dinner, insisting Zhao Yu needed to replenish herself properly. With her right hand bandaged and chopsticks awkward, he personally fed her, one bite at a time.
As she ate, Zhao Yu ducked her head to evade his gaze and secretly pressed her lips together in a smile. He caught it and couldn't help smiling too. "What are you laughing at? What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Zhao Yu said, straightening up with an exaggeratedly serious expression and obediently waiting for him to feed her. But before long, the corners of her mouth crept up again.
He chuckled softly and shook his head. "My uncle gave you a month off. Stay home and rest properly."
Zhao Yu was a bit taken aback. "I'm really not that badly hurt. Is this really necessary?"
The injury was on her palm. Her fingers were still fully functional. She could have continued working without the leave. She hadn't expected Xue Zhan to proactively give her such a long vacation.
Could it be because her injury was, in one way or another, connected to him?
"What, paid leave is a bad thing? If he gives you a month, then take the month and rest."
Xue Zi'ang spooned some soup into her mouth. "My uncle did it on purpose. He exaggerated your injury so it would spread through the company. He even embellished the story in front of the Old Master, made it sound dead serious, said your hand was nearly ruined, said that Miss Yu is a spoiled, reckless rich girl who came to the company to make a scene, disrupted his work, and treated the employees like dirt. When the Old Master heard all that, he started thinking maybe the daughter-in-law he had his eye on wasn't as good as he imagined. So he stopped pressuring my uncle to keep seeing Miss Yu."
Zhao Yu gave a dry laugh. That Vice Chairman Xue really knew how to seize an opportunity.
Xue Zi'ang grinned. "That uncle of mine, he's never been afraid of anything. Never listened to a word the Old Master said. Whenever women came looking for him, he'd chase them all out without mercy. But now… the Old Master had heart bypass surgery and scares him with it constantly. He doesn't dare cross the Old Master even a little bit anymore."
"So I just have to rest obediently for a month and play my part in Director Xue's little drama?" Zhao Yu looked at Xue Zi'ang thoughtfully. "Hasn't the Chairman ever pressured you into arranged dating or marriage?"
"How old am I? Why would I get married?" Xue Zi'ang raised an eyebrow smugly at her. "I've got my own tricks for handling the Old Master."
"What tricks?"
"I cry while holding my dad's photo. I've been using this move for fifteen years. Never fails. Whatever I want, the Old Master agrees."
Zhao Yu looked at him with a trace of sympathy. "You were only ten when your father passed away?"
Xue Zi'ang nodded, utterly nonchalant. "Can't even remember what he looked like anymore. Anyway, judging by the photos, not as handsome as me."
After a pause, he asked her, "What about your dad? You've only ever mentioned your mom, never any other family."
Zhao Yu gave an equally nonchalant smile. "No idea. I've never seen him, not since I was born. He used to beat my mom all the time. She ran away from our hometown while she was pregnant with me and raised me all on her own. They never officially registered their marriage anyway. So it's just… like he never existed."
After dinner, for once they didn't just default to sex like usual. They sat together chatting, sharing amusing stories. When they both grew tired, they went to wash up and get ready for bed.
Because of her injured hand, Zhao Yu couldn't get it wet. Xue Zi'ang helped her shower. But halfway through, he couldn't resist. He bent her over the vanity and took her hard, once, and only then, satisfied, cleaned her up all over again.
When she saw him pick up the underwear she'd just changed out of and head for the trash, Zhao Yu quickly stopped him. "What are you doing? I just bought that. First time wearing it."
"You can't get it wet, so you can't wash it. Why keep it? Toss it. I'll buy you new ones."
"New ones still need to be washed before wearing. Don't throw it out. I'll wash it in a couple of days."
Xue Zi'ang picked up the underwear and examined it carefully. "Can this thing go in the washing machine?"
Zhao Yu shook her head. "Definitely not this machine. I'll buy one specifically for delicates."
She pulled out her phone to search online. When she looked up after placing the order, she discovered Xue Zi'ang had already started hand-washing her underwear. Though his movements were so clumsy it was painful to watch. This young master had probably never hand-washed a single piece of clothing in his life.
She hurried to stop him. "You don't need to wash them for me. The washing machine will be delivered tomorrow."
Xue Zi'ang glanced at her. "Stand back. Don't get in my way."
She retreated and stood there, staring at him dumbly for a long moment. Suddenly, she stepped forward and hugged him from behind.
Xue Zi'ang's movements stilled. He didn't push her away, just stood there quietly.
Zhao Yu pressed her cheek against his bare back, nuzzling softly. "Xue Zi'ang… thank you."
He was silent for a beat, then a roguish grin curved his lips. His voice turned lecherous. "Your tits are too big. Rubbing against me got me hard."
Zhao Yu reached out to punch him. He caught her hand in a flash, scooped her up, and tossed her back onto the bedroom bed. "We'll finish washing after I'm done fucking you."
Xue Zi'ang bought a pile of expensive medications and even had a doctor come to check Zhao Yu's wound. After barely a week of care, the injury was practically fine.
But since Xue Zhan had granted her leave, she had to obediently comply, spending her days at home reading.
A few days later, while Xue Zi'ang was away on a business trip, Zhao Yu put on heavy makeup and headed to a bar.
A wig. A red dress. Red lips. Red nails. Combined with the practiced ease of her smoking, the person in the mirror bore almost no resemblance to her usual image.
She had just slowly exhaled a smoke ring and taken out her lipstick to touch up when a tall, lean man appeared behind her.
"Miss Zhao, you really are… a surprise every single time."
Zhao Yu froze. "You again?"
Xu Chengyan was dressed in casual clothes perfectly suited for a bar, holding a blue cocktail. He still looked every bit the refined gentleman, though the amused look he gave her didn't quite match his cultured air.
Zhao Yu rolled her eyes, utterly unconcerned with maintaining any image. "President Xu, I didn't provoke you this time."
Xu Chengyan's gaze fell on the still-healing scar across the palm holding her cigarette, and he smiled. "I was at Huacan a couple of days ago and happened to hear about Miss Zhao's glorious deeds. A poor little innocent, bullied and oh-so-pitiful. Tsk. Enough to stir any man's sympathy. It's just... this version of you rather ruins the persona."
Zhao Yu smiled and blew smoke at him. "Was that really something President Xu just happened to hear? Or were you deliberately digging for information? Don't tell me… you can't stop thinking about me?"
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