“If she performs well in the interviews and written tests, no one will gossip! I’m just introducing her, but if she doesn’t do well and fails the probation assessment, she’ll still be let go!” At that point, it wouldn’t be her concern anymore. Lai Hui lowered her head, stirring her coffee, watching the brown swirls, thinking she had repaid Cheng Lan with a job, which was a way of returning the favor. From now on, Cheng Lan would have to rely on herself.
“How is Xu Ya doing?” Lai Hui suddenly remembered a childhood friend in City A, feeling a bit ashamed. Initially, she had been avoiding him, and now she hadn’t even bothered to check on him, which seemed a bit excessive.
Jiayi didn’t know how to respond. Since they had last spoken openly, to avoid awkwardness with Xiao Yu, he hadn’t seen Xu Ya, only occasionally hearing through phone calls that his job was stable, and his relationship with Xiao Yu was still ambiguous, without any formal commitment.
“Oh… seems like he’s quite busy with work,” he could only vaguely reply. “As long as he’s doing well, that’s fine!” She checked her watch, stood up, and said, “I should head back!”
“It’s only ten o’clock!” Jiayi said. He really didn’t want her to return to Zhou Yuqian’s side; it felt like a stab in his heart, reminding him that she still belonged to Zhou Yuqian. To truly have her, he had to wait another six months, during which he not only had to endure his beloved sleeping with another man but also adhere to Lai Hui’s promise of no intimate contact. He knew that during this half-year, Lai Hui wanted no relation with him; she didn’t want to be seen as an unreasonable woman entangled with two men. He also wanted to possess her completely, so he was willing to endure, even if each day felt like his heart was being torn apart.
In the shadows of the Nanling Villa, Zhou Yuqian leaned against the wall, his face grim as he watched Lai Hui emerge from a sports car and then enter the house. His legs felt as heavy as lead. He had searched for her all night, worried all night, only to find she was out with another man. He let out a sarcastic cold snort, feeling utterly ridiculous and foolish. Since hearing about Cheng Lan’s suicide attempt in the evening, he had cancelled all his social engagements, knowing well how Cheng Lan’s tragedy could affect Lai Hui. In the past, even minor incidents would make her lose herself in sorrow for a long time, trapped in her own world of self-pity. This time, Cheng Lan’s suicide was far more serious. Just imagining Lai Hui’s distress and shock, he couldn’t calm down, especially after hearing she had left the hospital, fearing she might be out there, shocked and doing something reckless. Yes, fear! His heart had been hanging high all night, anxiously searching for her. The irony was, when he finally found her, she appeared calm, stepping out of another man’s car, while he felt like a pathetic mouse hiding in the corner.
The bedroom was slightly chilly, with a cold wind blowing in from outside, making her skin feel icy. Lai Hui hurried to close the window, catching a glimpse of Zhou Yuqian entering through the front door. The fallen leaves on the path hadn’t been cleared yet; he still had his hand in his suit pocket, his leather shoes crunching over the yellow leaves, his steps slow and heavy — he seemed very tired, indeed he was. Another gust of west wind brought in some leaves, making Lai Hui shiver, and she quickly closed the window, noting the temperature must have dropped. Turning around to the bathroom, she prepared a bath, setting the water temperature slightly higher than usual. Sitting on the edge of the tub, she dipped her hand into the warm water; perhaps because she was cold earlier, she didn’t want to pull her hand back, letting her palm glide through the warm water. He looked so exhausted; a hot bath and some sleep would rejuvenate him, right? Taking care of him had become a habit, from initially observing his moods to please him, to now doing these things naturally. With their impending separation, perhaps he would think these were things she should do. Lost in these thoughts, she heard the door handle turn, quickly went to greet him, took a thick robe from the wardrobe, draped it over her arm, and went behind Zhou Yuqian to help him out of his suit, saying, “The hot water is ready!”
Zhou Yuqian remained silent, only lifting her chin with his hand when she turned to unbutton his shirt, his eyes full of confusion. Lai Hui was surprised to see a usually composed man looking so troubled; her heart fluttered, and she quickly lowered her lashes, not daring to look further. He disliked her avoidance, embraced her, buried his head in her shoulder, and muttered, “I’m very tired, especially these past few days!” He didn’t care if she understood or not.
“Yes, I can see that, so I prepared a hot bath for you. Have a good soak and then a good sleep!” His familiar scent, yet it was a different Zhou Yuqian. She thought he would never open up to her, but as they neared their separation, there was an unexpected warmth and dependency between them. Perhaps because they were about to part, they were trying their hardest to express the lingering affection in their hearts.
He took the robe from her, walked into the bathroom, and lay in the tub. The warm water seeped into his pores, easing the soreness in his legs. Years of busy work and lack of exercise made him feel the strain after just a few hours of searching. Maybe he should find time to take a break from work, perhaps take her along. He knew he was making excuses, trying to deny the real sense of crisis that had been lurking in his soul for a long time, which had now manifested after witnessing her with her ex. He had thought he could let her go freely, thought she would miss him and not want to leave. But now he knew he couldn’t be so carefree, especially seeing her with her old flame; she clearly didn’t take him seriously. Despite everyone else scheming to keep him, she alone lived by her principles, serving him wholeheartedly without entanglement.
