Returning - Chapter 79
Chapter 79: Did the Act Fall Apart?
Upon returning to the company, Xue Zhan's first words were: "Notify HR. As of today, Zhao Yu officially serves as my assistant."
The crowd was inwardly astonished, but dared show nothing on their faces. Only Xue Zi'ang's expression turned unprecedentedly ugly. Zhao Yu even caught a glimpse of fluster in him.
Before this, no matter how much she ignored him, even when she used Xue Zhan to provoke and retaliate against him, he had firmly believed she would not transfer her affections, and was even more convinced that his own uncle would not compete with him for a woman. But now, Zhao Yu knew, that confidence of his had already begun to crumble.
Releasing the fist he had clenched for so long, Xue Zi'ang strode forward, seized Zhao Yu's wrist, and made to drag her into his office.
Zhao Yu struggled, but his grip only tightened. Rage and fear had nearly robbed him of his reason.
But before he could haul her into the office, a tall figure blocked his path.
Xue Zhan looked at him coldly. "Let go."
Xue Zi'ang glared back with fury. Right in front of him, he pulled Zhao Yu possessively into his arms. "She's my girlfriend."
"You've already broken up." Xue Zhan's gaze fell on her wrist, pinned in his grip. "Let go."
Xue Zi'ang's hold tightened even more, his eyes filled with nothing but provocation and hostility.
"Xue Zi'ang, let go!" Zhao Yu continued to struggle. "You're hurting me."
Because he was using so much force, the veins on the back of her hand had bulged out. Xue Zhan glanced at it, his eyes growing colder. "What else can you do, besides bully her and hurt her?"
These words were like a blade, stabbing once more into Xue Zi'ang's weak spot. His whole body trembled. He looked down at the wrist he had grapsed red, and at the tears welling in her eyes.
He abruptly released his hand. Before he could speak, Zhao Yu had already said icily, "Didn't you say you wanted to talk? Fine. After work, I'll talk with you."
It was the same restaurant as noon, and also the same private room. Only the person across from Zhao Yu had changed from Xue Zhan to Xue Zi'ang. And the one who was restless and uneasy had also changed from the midday Zhao Yu to the present Xue Zi'ang.
Watching her utterly composed demeanor, Xue Zi'ang hesitated several times before finally uttering those words: "Zhao Yu, I… have fallen in love with you."
All this time, he had been chasing after her to apologize, saying sorry countless times, yet never once had this particular sentence been spoken aloud.
However, such a serious and sincere confession only earned a faint, indifferent smile from Zhao Yu. "I know. It was probably… before you transferred me to be your assistant, you had already fallen for me, right? Otherwise, why would you suddenly do those things for me? It's a pity I was so stupid, really believing it was just as you said — that you couldn't stand seeing me bullied, and helping me was just a matter of lifting a finger."
Hearing the sarcasm in her words, Xue Zi'ang rubbed his brow in frustration. "Zhao Yu, I admit I was wrong before. I did see her shadow in you, so I… but later it wasn't like that. Later, I…"
"I won't believe it anymore." Zhao Yu looked at him expressionlessly. "Xue Zi'ang, no matter what you say now, I won't believe it anymore."
"Zhao Yu…"
"If you really loved me, you wouldn't have abandoned me alone at the Xue family home for Xu Miao's sake. If you really loved me, you wouldn't have let me experience that danger at the annual meeting. The one you've always loved is Xu Miao, not me."
"She's already canceled the wedding. I also now know she never forgot me all these years. If I still liked her, I would have gone to find her long ago. Why would I be sitting here telling you all this?"
"Because you can't accept it." Zhao Yu looked at him calmly, the corner of her lips curling into a smile. "You don't love me. You just can't accept that someone like me — who was once so humble before you — would one day no longer want you."
Xue Zi'ang was speechless.
He clearly knew what she said wasn't the truth, clearly believed in his own feelings, yet at this moment, facing this version of her, he realized just how powerless his explanations were.
He had done too many things wrong, broken her heart completely, and shattered all the trust she had in him.
"Xue Zi'ang, let me go. I'm truly tired. I don't want to play this kind of game with you anymore. I can't afford to play."
Her tone was full of helplessness and self-mockery. "You and I were never from the same world. Before, I was too naive, dreaming an unrealistic dream. Now, the dream has woken, and everything should end."
His fingertips gripping the spoon in his hand with deadly force, Xue Zi'ang stared fixedly at her, silent.
Zhao Yu stood, took her bag, and walked towards the door. Just as she pulled open the private room door, she came face-to-face with a group of men in suits and leather shoes heading to the adjacent private room. Among these people was, unmistakably, Ji Sui, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Ji Sui also spotted her in a single glance. Aside from surprise, he even seemed a little at a loss. Then, subconsciously, he glanced into the private room and happened to see Xue Zi'ang on the sofa.
The fluster on his face gradually faded into dejection. Having hesitated whether to greet her or not, he ultimately passed by her slowly without uttering a single word.
Zhao Yu had originally intended to leave directly, but unexpectedly encountering Ji Sui and seeing his reaction, she suddenly changed her mind.
Such a coincidence was something even her deliberate arrangement might not have achieved. Now, naturally, she must make good use of it.
Taking advantage of Xue Zi'ang not chasing after her, the moment she left the restaurant, she entered the restaurant directly across the way, found a position easy for observation, and used the sofa as cover to quietly watch this side.
Not long after, she saw Xue Zi'ang come out, head hanging low, utterly dejected. Even without seeing his expression clearly, she could feel his loss and despair.
Unfortunately, she had already become selfish enough to lack much empathy, let alone any sense of guilt.
After waiting over another hour, Zhao Yu finally saw Ji Sui and that group of people exit the restaurant opposite, turn a corner to the left, and walk towards the elevator.
She swiftly paid her bill and left. From the right side, she took the escalator down to the first floor, exited the main doors, and faced the raging snowy wind. Hugging her arms, she hunched her body, walking slowly along the street lit by bright lamps.
Ji Sui would surely have to go to the underground parking lot to get his car, and wouldn't be faster than her. The road she was now walking was the mandatory one-way street exiting from the basement.
He had just seen her, should still remember her clothes, and would certainly recognize her back. A silhouette that was extremely abrupt and conspicuous on such a stormy, snowy night — both lonely and disheveled.
Indeed, not long after walking along the street, a car pulled over beside her.
Hearing the horn, she pretended to turn back in surprise. But when she clearly saw the car, she was genuinely startled for a moment.
It wasn't Ji Sui's car, but an unfamiliar black sedan. Only, the person in the driver's seat was someone she recognized.
She had never imagined that after unexpectedly encountering Ji Sui here, she would once again run into Shang Lu by chance.
Seeing her standing frozen, not getting in, Shang Lu could only open the car door and step out. He conveniently picked up the overcoat resting in the passenger seat as well. When he reached her side, he wrapped the coat around her, took her arm, and bundled her into the passenger seat.
Shang Lu didn't speak, so Zhao Yu remained silent too, merely staring blankly out the window. Very quickly, she saw Ji Sui's car in the rearview mirror.
So, just now, did he see?
Would he know who Shang Lu was? Would he check this car's information?
Had she botched this act?
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