Chapter 669 Qi Yue: Your fiancé?
When Qi Yue came out of the club, he saw a chaotic scene of three people under the streetlights by the roadside.
Chu Yuke vomited, and it landed on Qin Shiyou.
Shen Anning helped Chu Yuke, who had finished vomiting and was now hugging a lamppost and calling out "Thank you, Xu," while pinching her nose with one hand.
She looked at Qin Shiyou, who was three steps away, her tightly furrowed brows revealing her disdain. "Take off your clothes and go to the club to take care of things first."
"This is all I'm wearing right now!" Qin Shiyou roared, his temper flaring. "Shen Anning, calm down! Who are you looking down on?!"
"I'm sorry," Shen Anning said in despair, "but there's nothing I can do about my physical reaction."
"Aaaaaah..." Qin Shiyou grabbed his head in frustration, "Once she sobers up, I'm making her pay me for emotional distress!"
"Go take care of the clothes first, I'll give you your coat..."
As Shen Anning was about to unzip her coat, Qi Yue stepped over.
"Xiaoyou."
The man's voice was deep and resonant. Shen Anning paused, then abruptly turned her head.
Qi Yue walked up to Qin Shiyou and handed him his coat, saying, "Take mine."
"Brother Qi Yue?" Qin Shiyou's eyes widened. "When did you come back to China?"
The parents were friends, part of the same social circle, and would occasionally get together during holidays. Over time, Qi Yue and Qin Shiyou also got to know each other.
"Yesterday," Qi Yue said calmly, "let's deal with it first."
Qin Shiyou took the coat, said thank you, and strode into the club.
Shen Anning, supporting Chu Yuke, stared blankly at Qi Yue.
Qi Yue's amnesia is an open secret among the families he has close ties with, except for Qi Yue himself.
Over the past five years, whenever several families had a small gathering for the Lunar New Year, Shen Anning would always make excuses to decline.
The elders all understand her.
Qi Yue forgot and lived a comfortable and carefree life, while only Shen Anning, who remembered, bore the pain brought to her by the memories alone.
However, since Shen Anning herself was willing to grant Qi Yue's wish, what could the elders say? After all, the elders were extremely afraid and helpless when Qi Yue was in excruciating pain during his illness, and now Qi Yue remembers everything except Shen Anning.
Now, all of Qi Yue's memories of himself and Shen Anning have been erased by an eraser. In his current memory, Shen Anning is just the daughter of a family with whom he has a long-standing friendship. They have had little contact since childhood. Occasionally, his parents would mention her during holidays, but she was just a name to him, and he never paid any attention to her.
Five years ago at the awards ceremony, and today at the blind date, he only remembered Shen Anning's face, but didn't know her name.
Qi Yue only realized that she was Shen Anning after Qin Shiyou called her by her full name.
Under the streetlights, Shen Anning and Qi Yue stared at each other silently.
A cold wind was blowing, and Chu Yuke sneezed, "Xie Xu, I'm so cold..."
Shen Anning glanced at Chu Yuke, pursed her lips and sighed, "How can you not be cold hugging this cold lamppost like that?"
Chu Yuke mumbled incoherently.
Shen Anning was helpless; she couldn't pull her away by herself.
"Do you need any help?" Qi Yue asked.
Shen Anning looked at him again.
The man's expression was indifferent, his deep eyes fixed on her.
Shen Anning pursed her lips, suppressing the myriad emotions in her heart, and maintained a calm expression. "Thank you, but no need to trouble yourself. Qin Shiyou should be out soon."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yue raised an eyebrow slightly.
Qin Shiyou came out at that moment.
He quickly washed his dirty shoulders in the club's restroom, then wrapped himself in Qi Yue's long black trench coat and hurriedly ran out.
To be honest, this scene is a bit comical.
Normally, Shen Anning would have already given a good laugh and complained for a while.
But now that Qi Yue is here, she can't quite manage a smile.
"Thanks, Brother Qi Yue!" Qin Shiyou walked up to Qi Yue and said with a smile, "I had my aunt wash the clothes when I got home, and I'll bring them to you another day."
"No rush." Qi Yue looked at Qin Shiyou and patted him on the shoulder. "It's cold. Take them home. Drive carefully."
"Alright!"
Qi Yue took out his phone and dialed the driver's number.
Only when the Rolls-Royce carrying Qi Yue drove away did Shen Anning's tense nerves finally relax completely.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she couldn't help but turn back to look in the direction the car had driven away.
"How are you?"
Shen Anning turned around and met Qin Shiyou's slightly worried gaze.
For the past five years, Shen Anning has deliberately avoided running into Qi Yue, justifying it as doing her part.
But those who know her well understand that her not seeing him is both a way of fulfilling Qi Yue's wishes and a helpless escape.
Qi Yue forgot about Shen Anning and walked forward without any burden.
I remember everything calm and peaceful, yet I feel trapped in the same place again.
"I'm fine." Shen Anning looked at Qin Shiyou, her pink lips slightly curved, but tears glistened in her beautiful eyes. "We are both doing well now, and our parents are at ease. It's a perfect ending."
Qin Shiyou frowned, wanting to say something, but Shen Anning urged him, "It's too cold, let's get her into the car quickly."
His words were interrupted, and Qin Shiyou sighed before stepping forward to help...
...
The club that Shen Anning and Chu Yuke co-founded is located in an office building in the city center, just one street away from Ronghao Group.
The law firm has two floors, with each floor covering over a thousand square meters.
Both Shen Anning's and Chu Yuke's offices have private rest rooms, which are fully equipped.
This lounge is very useful when a case gets busy.
Qin Shiyou put Chu Yuke in the lounge, hands on his hips, panting heavily, "Don't take her out drinking anymore, she can't hold her liquor!"
“There probably won’t be a next time.” Shen Anning looked at Chu Yuke. “After tonight, she should be more sober.”
"What's the meaning?"
Shen Anning raised her hand and pushed him out, "You're still young, you wouldn't understand even if I told you. It's getting late, you should go back too."
"You're kicking me out already?" Chu Yuke frowned. "I just went through so much trouble, aren't you going to treat me to a late-night snack?"
"I'll transfer you the money. Go eat by yourself. I'm sleepy and going to bed."
"Shen Anning, how can you be such a person? You use someone and then kick them to the curb?"
Shen Anning: "Speak properly."
"What did I say wrong?!" Qin Shiyou exploded. "I don't care, you have to treat me to a late-night snack! A new food stall opened on the snack street next to Peking University, it's delicious! You're coming with me!"
Shen Anning remained expressionless. "I'm on a diet, I won't eat."
"Then watch me eat!"
Shen Anning laughed in exasperation, "Qin Shiyou, you can be any more childish!"
"I don't care! You have to come with me!"
Shen Anning had a real headache. She raised her hand and pressed her temples. "Your sister Yu Ke is drunk. I have to stay and take care of her. How about tomorrow night?"
"Okay, then tomorrow night!"
Having achieved his goal, Qin Shiyou turned around and scurried away.
Shen Anning looked at Qin Shiyou's retreating figure and shook her head helplessly.
…
The next morning around nine o'clock, Chu Yuke woke up and was utterly bewildered!
It's no exaggeration to say that a hangover is one of the ten most cruel tortures in the world!
Shen Anning ordered her a bowl of congee, knowing full well that she was in for a rough time today.
Looking at her half-dead state now, I'm too lazy to even complain.
"You can take a few days off to travel or go back to your hometown to spend time with your family."
Chu Yuke lay on the bed, her face pale from a hangover and expressionless.
Shen Anning sat down next to her and patted the back of her hand. "Senior sister, this will all pass."
Chu Yuke stared at the ceiling, her eyes instantly reddening.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned to look at Shen Anning and asked, choking back sobs, "How did you manage to get through that?"
Shen Anning was taken aback, then her eyelashes trembled.
She habitually hid those emotions in her eyes.
"Maybe I was younger and in better physical condition back then?" she said lightly, with a hint of a joke.
Chu Yuke knew, however, that she was just pretending to be relaxed.
Shen Anning is very good at using a relaxed and optimistic appearance to cover up her inner pain and vulnerability.
Chu Yuke raised her hand to cover her eyes, her trembling lips unable to suppress the sobs that escaped her lips.
She said, "Shen Anning, aren't you tired... Seeing you like this, I'm fucking tired for you. I'm already this heartbroken just because I had a crush on someone. Are you even human...?"
Shen Anning smiled helplessly, "Your insults are really vulgar."
Chu Yuke could no longer hold back and covered her face, bursting into tears. "I really can't understand why he just can't like me. What's wrong with me...?"
“The wrong person, no matter how perfect you are, is still wrong.” Shen Anning pulled out a few tissues and stuffed them between her fingers. “Senior sister, regrets are common in life. Learning to let go is letting go of yourself.”
Chu Yuke stopped crying, removed her hand, and stared at Shen Anning with her tear-filled eyes.
After a long pause, she finally asked, "So, have you let it go?"
Shen Anning smiled and replied quickly, "I put it down a long time ago."
She stood up and said, "I have an appointment with the client today, so I can't accompany you. You should get some rest today."
Chu Yuke watched as Shen Anning walked out of the lounge and the door closed.
She stared at the closed door, pursed her lips, and muttered, "Liar."
...
With Chu Yuke on vacation, Shen Anning became even busier.
At the end of the day, she was so busy that she could only eat a few bites of food at each of her three meals.
Just as Shen Anning was about to go back to her office to order food after get off work, Xie Xu arrived.
He didn't look too good; he must have been drunk last night.
Shen Anning didn't want to talk to him and was about to send him away when she heard him say, "I'm planning to go back to Yuncheng."
Upon hearing this, Shen Anning paused.
"This should be the last time we meet. Could you give me just one more cup of coffee's time?"
Shen Anning ultimately did not refuse.
Because she also had some things she wanted to clarify with Xie Xu.
They went to the coffee shop across the street.
By the window, Shen Anning and Xie Xu sat facing each other.
Shen Anning only ordered a glass of lemonade.
Xie Xu ordered an iced Americano.
The drinks were served.
Shen Anning picked up the lemonade, took a sip, and put it back on the table.
Looking up again, her expression was calm as she asked Xie Xu, "Is your decision to return to Yuncheng a last-minute one, or was it something you had planned all along?"
“I have plans, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.” Xie Xu looked at Shen Anning, feeling a little uncomfortable. “I’m an only child. My dad’s health isn’t very good this year, and he’s been urging me to go back to Yuncheng to develop my career since the beginning of the year.”
Shen Anning pursed her lips and remained silent for a few seconds before asking, "Have you told Chu Yuke about this?"
"No." Xie Xu sighed, and seemed a little irritated when talking about Chu Yuke. "We are just friends who grew up together. If we have to describe our relationship as close, it's like brother and sister. I have no romantic feelings for her."
Xie Xu seemed afraid that Shen Anning wouldn't believe him, so he added, "If you don't believe me, you can go and ask Chu Yuke."
“I don’t need to ask her.” Shen Anning looked at Xie Xu with a cold expression. “Senior Xie, there’s something I need to make clear to you. I’m not choosing you because of Chu Yuke’s existence, but because you yourself are not my choice.”
Xie Xu frowned. "Aren't you hesitant because of Ake?"
Shen Anning couldn't help but sneer, "Xie Xu, as your fellow disciples, I really don't want to be too blunt, but do you really think people like us are that oblivious?"
Xie Xu's face stiffened.
"I don't believe you haven't seen Chu Yuke's dedication and love for you over the years, but you've turned a deaf ear time and time again. Why is that?"
"No, I just..."
"I don't want to hear your explanation. I'm just here to tell you that since you've decided to return to Yuncheng to develop your career, you should say goodbye to Chu Yuke properly. If you don't love her, then stop using her and hurting her."
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen Anning stood up, but when she turned around, she was suddenly confronted by a wall of flesh.
Shen Anning subconsciously stepped back, saying sorry.
Seeing that she was about to hit the corner of the table, the man grabbed her lower back with his large hand and gently pulled her forward—
Caught off guard, Shen Anning was suddenly embraced tightly. She looked up abruptly and met Qi Yue's deep, dark eyes.
Her breath hitched, and her beautiful eyes widened in shock.
Before she could even react, Qi Yue had already released her, gentlemanly taking a step back to create distance between them.
Then, Qi Yue's cold gaze swept across Xie Xu's face and finally landed on Shen Anning's still-shaken face.
"Your fiancé?"
Shen Anning: "...?"
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