Returning - Chapter 108
Chapter 108: On the Brink
Zhao Yu wasn't clear on how Xu Chengyan ultimately dealt with Zhuang Ruyun's scheme against him, but from Ji Sui's frequent returns to the Zhuang family in the following days, Xu Chengyan must have informed the Zhuang family about the matter.
This kind of family shame was something Ji Sui was reluctant to discuss, yet he didn't treat Zhao Yu as an outsider. Moreover, having been unable to accompany her for several consecutive days, he felt guilty about it and honestly gave her a rough summary.
Zhuang Ruyun's actions had severely impacted the crucial marriage alliance between the Zhuang and Xu families. Even if Zhuang Zhen wanted to let the matter rest, Zhuang Yiqing had every reason to press the issue relentlessly. So the final resolution was that the Zhuang family would send Zhuang Ruyun abroad for graduate studies.
Zhuang Ye, who was overseas, had rushed back to assist with company affairs, while Zhuang Ruyun, who was in the country, was instead being forcibly sent abroad. It sounded like an all-around victory for Zhuang Yiqing, a victory handed to her on a silver platter by her enemy's own foolishness.
But would someone like Zhuang Ruyun be willing to let it go?
Not long after, Zhao Yu got her answer.
That day, she got off work as usual and headed to his apartment according to her arrangement with Ji Sui. Midway, however, she received a message from him telling her not to come up yet when she arrived, saying his sister was at his place.
His sister—who else could it be but Zhuang Ruyun?
Zhuang Ruyun's obsessive love for Ji Sui was hardly a secret anymore. So was this a case of failing to force herself on Xu Chengyan and now returning to focus her efforts on Ji Sui?
Was that brainless woman planning to try drugging him again, or would she strip naked and blatantly try to seduce him?
Although Zhao Yu didn't care whether Ji Sui would fall into the trap, she had great confidence in him.
If a man like him could let Zhuang Ruyun succeed, then there probably wasn't a single trustworthy man left in this world.
What she worried about was whether Ji Sui had properly concealed any traces of her presence. If Zhuang Ruyun's appearance had been too sudden, catching him off guard, and she spotted those feminine items of hers, it would likely sow the seeds of future trouble.
Whether it would help or not, Zhao Yu still sent Ji Sui a message, reminding him not to let her existence be exposed. She wasn't ready yet to meet the Zhuang family.
Traffic was already severely congested during rush hour, and since she couldn't show up to watch the drama unfold, she decided not to fight the crowd. She turned right at a shopping mall intersection and drove directly into the underground parking garage, thinking she might as well take the opportunity to buy Ji Sui a gift to deepen their relationship.
The mall had a men's clothing section on the second floor, with shops lining the street-facing side. She browsed along the entire row and ultimately selected a moderately priced shirt for him.
The cash register was right next to the escalator. As Zhao Yu walked while looking down to pull her card from her bag, she heard a "thud-thud-thud" sound coming from the escalator and instinctively glanced downward.
But in that moment, all the blood in her body instantly froze.
The person rushing up the escalator in a frantic hurry was none other than Zhuang Ye.
With no time to wonder why he was here, Zhao Yu stood frozen for only two seconds before immediately reacting. Using the merchandise racks in the middle as cover, she promptly crouched down.
Zhuang Ye's gaze had been directed straight ahead. She was on his left, so he probably hadn't noticed her.
Sure enough, after charging up with a few huge strides, Zhuang Ye never once glanced to the side. He ran directly toward the shop ahead of the escalator—which happened to be the very shop where Zhao Yu had bought the shirt.
Zhao Yu understood now. He had come specifically for her.
Seizing the moment before Zhuang Ye emerged, she quickly got up and stealthily fled toward the back. In a mall like this, the only place that truly offered concealment seemed to be the women's restroom.
But just as she was about to reach the restroom entrance, she suddenly regained her composure amidst the panic. If Zhuang Ye had seen her and come specifically to find her, could she really hide? Would he simply stand guard outside the restroom the entire time?
Turning her head and seeing no sign of Zhuang Ye yet, Zhao Yu changed direction and dashed into the emergency stairwell. She took off her jacket, tied up her hair, and ran down the stairs.
She didn't dare drive away immediately, fearing that would draw even more attention. She could only quietly hide inside her car and wait in silence.
There were so many cars in the underground parking garage anyway; Zhuang Ye couldn't possibly check every single one.
She was just intensely curious about how she had been exposed.
Judging by Zhuang Ye's demeanor, he clearly knew she had been in that shop. So had he spotted her from outside while she was looking at clothes through the window? Was there really such a coincidence?
Thinking about the street outside, completely gridlocked, and the bright lights inside the mall, it actually was a plausible scenario. And from this direction and location, Ji Sui's residence wasn't far now.
Zhao Yu pulled out her phone and tentatively sent Ji Sui a WeChat message: [If you can't handle it, you could always ask someone for help.]
Ji Sui: [Zhuang Ye will be coming over.]
So that's how it was.
Ji Sui's position in the Zhuang family was awkward; he couldn't afford to have a complete falling-out with Zhuang Ruyun. Zhuang Ye was different—even pointing at Zhuang Ruyun and cursing her for being shameless was something he was perfectly capable of doing.
So Ji Sui had notified Zhuang Ye to come collect his sister. And as a result, Zhuang Ye had happened to take this very road, and happened, due to the traffic jam, to glance around and spot Zhao Yu inside the mall?
Zhao Yu truly hadn't expected that despite being so cautious all the time, she could still encounter such a deadly coincidence. It seemed she'd need to wear a mask whenever she went out from now on.
But given the way Zhuang Ye had charged up there looking for her just now, if he couldn't find her, would he be willing to let it go?
Looking at a second-floor mall shop from a car on the street, the view couldn't have been that clear. He probably couldn't be absolutely certain that person was Zhao Yu. After failing to find her, would he just give up?
In the past, Zhao Yu would have dared to draw a conclusion. But after hearing Zhuang Ye's drunken words and sleep-talk that night, she wasn't so sure anymore.
Although he hated her, he still hadn't stopped thinking about her.
If he was determined to get an answer, insisted on finding her, or was hell-bent on confirming whether the person he saw was indeed her, then what should she do?
The mall was full of surveillance cameras. As long as he could find a way to access the footage, not only would her face be clearly visible, but even her license plate could be seen. Following that trail, her current identity wouldn't stay hidden for long.
Once Zhuang Ye discovered her existence, it would only be a matter of time before Zhuang Yiqing found out. That woman would definitely strike first against her, and right now, Zhao Yu was simply no match for Zhuang Yiqing.
She couldn't allow this risk to exist. But what could she do now?
After only a brief moment of deliberation, Zhao Yu made a decisive choice. She unlocked her phone and dialed Shang Lu's number: "Can you help me with something? The sooner, the better."
Aside from Shang Lu, she didn't know who else she could trust. And the building that housed this mall was Kuangshiji property—perhaps Shang Lu really could pull some strings.
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