Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Maybe I shouldn’t have come. (Current and ex-boyfriend...
The girl in the mirror stared straight ahead. Her pretty face could be guessed from her back. Her skin was so white and tender that it looked like water, and the red dots on her neck were particularly eye-catching.
Yan Jiu pursed her bright red lips and evasively applied concealer evenly on her neck with a beauty sponge, intending to cover up the red marks.
After the operation, the red marks could no longer be seen from a distance, but if you looked closer, you could still see the traces of beauty. Yan Jiu's face was flushed red, and she lowered her eyebrows and could not see what she was thinking.
Last night, Chen Yuchu said in a deep and slow voice, "Goodnight kiss."
The standard British pronunciation fell clearly into her ears, which was even more confusing than the kiss.
The screen of the mobile phone on the table lit up, interrupting Yan Jiu's confused thoughts. His white fingers touched the mirror-smooth screen, and it was a message from Xiang Tianjiao.
Xiang Tianjiao: [Do you want me to pick you up? ]
Yan Jiu withdrew his thoughts, looked at the gorgeous wall clock, and tapped the screen with his fingertips.
No thanks. I'll take a taxi myself. Thank you.
Xiang Tianjiao: [ok]
Yan Jiu no longer thought about anything else. She chose a white shirt from the complicated clothes, and layered a pullover sweatshirt and a light blue skirt on the outside. She leaned over to the mirror and nodded with satisfaction.
When they went downstairs, Yong Meiru was playing a ball-throwing game with Ping An on the lawn in the garden. Hearing Yan Jiu's footsteps, Ping An dropped the ball and ran straight towards her, but stopped abruptly in front of her and didn't try to touch her calf.
Yong Meiru turned her gentle gaze towards Yan Jiu, "Ping'an is really well behaved."
Yan Jiu leaned over and patted Ping An's head. He took the snacks from Yong Meiru and fed them to Ping An. A trace of heartache flashed in his eyes. "Stray puppies are very sensible."
Because Ping An had been homeless and could not withstand the hardships, she had always wanted to find the most suitable adoptive parent for him. Fortunately, she has now adopted Ping An herself and will definitely help him find a stable life in the future.
Under the perfect warm sunlight, it is an extremely heartwarming picture.
Yong Meiru smiled understandingly, "Ping'an is fine, Xiaojiu, you're fine too."
Yan Jiu felt a little embarrassed to be praised so suddenly, "Grandma, I have a class reunion today and won't be back for dinner."
Yong Meiru: "Don't worry about me. Although I'm old, I still have my own fun. There are so many people here to keep me company. Does Yu Chu know?"
Hearing Chen Yuchu's name, Yan Jiu looked at her neck guiltily, but found that she couldn't see anything clearly from this angle.
Instead, Yong Meiru looked at her curiously for a second. Remembering Yan Jiu wearing a turtleneck during lunch, she knew what had happened. However, at her age, as long as things were moving in a positive direction, she would always be able to be deaf and blind at the right time.
So she didn't say anything, but called Ping'an to her side and said softly, "Go quickly, Xiaojiu. Let the driver take you there."
Sitting in the back seat of the car, the surrounding buildings and scenery all flashed by.
The gentle light of Wen Xi shone on Yan Jiu's porcelain-white face, casting a soft halo around it, calm and gentle. She remembered what Yong Meiru had said, and with her slender fingers, she tapped the screen of her phone, opening the dialog box with Chen Yuchu.
Type a few words, [I won’t be going home for dinner tonight.]
After thinking about it, he realized that there was some coldness and alienation in his words, and he deleted it all with a slight movement of his fingers.
Change to [My classmates are having a reunion tonight, but I'm not going home for dinner. Will you go home and eat with grandma?]
This sentence seemed to be asking about Chen Yuchu's whereabouts. A few seconds later, the message was still not sent.
Yan Jiu finally deleted the last sentence and changed it to——
[I'm having a class reunion tonight and won't be going home for dinner.]
The screen gradually dimmed and didn't light up again for a long time.
Yan Jiu put the phone back into her bag.
The class reunion was set to be held in a newly opened clubhouse.
Her pure white shoes stepped on the ground. Yan Jiu picked up her bag and said to the driver, "No need to wait for me."
Xiang Tianjiao was already waiting for her at the door. When she saw her get out of the car, she immediately waved and said, "Xiaojiu, I'm here."
Yan Jiu walked quickly to her. Xiang Tianjiao gave her a hug first and teased, "Exclusive driver? This car seems to be limited edition? Your husband's family is not bad."
Yan Jiu didn't look closely at what kind of car the driver was driving. Hearing this, he tapped Xiang Tianjiao's eyebrows and deliberately pouted, "The first thing you said when we met wasn't that you missed me? I'm so sad."
"Seeing that you are doing well, I feel relieved." Xiang Tianjiao stared at Yan Jiu. There were many things she wanted to say in her beautiful eyes, but she didn't say them in the end.
She took Yan Jiu's hand and said, "I miss you so much!"
Yan Jiu went with her to the private room on the third floor. Some classmates had already arrived and were working with the class monitor to adjust the music and decorate the room.
It wasn't intentional, but she moved around naturally.
Qin Rong hasn't arrived yet.
With a "bang", the inflatable fireworks burst into a lot of glitter in front of them.
"Campus Belle, we are all waiting for you!"
Yan Jiu took a step back in fear, holding her with both hands. After she stood firm, he quickly and politely let go and whispered in her ear, "Be careful."
The familiar voice was still as clear as before. Yan Jiu clenched his fingertips and resisted the urge to look back.
The undergraduate classmates didn’t know that they were in a relationship and were all snoring. Only Xiang Tianjiao was looking at her worriedly.
Yan Jiu gave her a reassuring look.
This was the first time she had seen Qin Rong in half a year. She had imagined the scene of their meeting again countless times, but she didn't expect it to be at a class reunion here and now, with so many familiar people.
During the meal, Yan Jiu and Xiang Tianjiao sat together.
Qin Rong sat across from them. He looked much thinner, his jawline more pronounced, and his handsome face had a decadent, cold pallor. Inevitably, their eyes would meet, and Qin Rong would always look away.
During the meal, someone mentioned that Yan Jiu and Qin Rong were attending the same graduate school.
Someone joked, "The campus beauty and the campus hunk have a deep connection. They were classmates in both undergraduate and graduate studies. How could there be no sparks of love? The handsome man and beautiful woman are also a beautiful sight, a feast for the eyes of foreigners."
"Qin Rong is still single, so there's still a chance."
Qin Rong's thin face flushed first. He was about to say something when Xiang Tianjiao raised his glass and stood up, snorting in dissatisfaction: "You only talk about the campus beauties and hunks, but how could you forget that I go to the same school as them? Don't you think I'm ugly and therefore unworthy?"
"How could that be!" Squad leader Lu Wenhao also stood up and filled his glass. "Let's give you three a toast as an apology."
Xiang Tianjiao curled her lips and said, "You toasted the three of us with a glass of wine. How smart."
Lu Wenhao apologized repeatedly: "It's my fault, it's my fault. I will drink three cups as punishment."
Xiang Tianjiao nodded her chin lightly on her pretty face, "That's pretty good."
Lu Wenhao toasted, and naturally Yan Jiu and Qin Rong had to stand up as well. After half a year, Qin Rong finally got to look at Yan Jiu openly and see if she was doing well. He didn't dare to show too much in his eyes. He only took one look at her gorgeous and flawless color, then lowered his head, his long eyelashes covering all his thoughts.
He gave up on her with his own hands, the person he loved most in his life.
There was no way out between them.
His mother, who had raised him alone since childhood, knelt on the roof of the 21st floor and asked him to choose her or Yanjiu.
He had no choice.
During the days since their breakup, not a single day had passed without him missing Yan Jiu. He hated himself and his mother. Qin Rong's lowered eyes were filled with pain, and his slender knuckles were gripping the glass so tightly that they were almost white.
As if to numb himself, Qin Rong drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.
Taking advantage of the empty cup, he looked at Yan Jiu again.
Yan Jiu's alcohol tolerance wasn't great, and she knew it herself, so she drank extremely slowly. The crystal-clear wine slid down the clear glass into her mouth. The corners of her lips seemed to glow in the light.
Qin Rong wanted to drink the cup for her, but he couldn't. Even if they broke up, he wanted to protect her forever. He couldn't let anyone know they were together, and he couldn't let her become the subject of gossip.
He lowered his eyes and heard his classmates' curious questions.
"School Beauty Yan, do you have a boyfriend now? If not, I'm going to pursue you."
Qin Rong heard the familiar sweet voice echoing deep in his ears, "I'm married."
His heart felt empty, and every breeze blew through it, causing pain. But he could do nothing but pour himself another full glass of wine and listen to his classmates continue chatting.
"That's a shame."
"What a pity! Yan Jiu's husband must be outstanding, right?"
"I used to be hesitant to pursue Yan Jiu, but now I'm doing OK with my own business. I didn't expect Yan Jiu to already be taken."
"You're still into pure love, aren't you? Such an outstanding and beautiful girl must have many admirers. For example, many people from my basketball team have asked me for Yan Jiu's phone number. How could I give it to her?"
"The days of studying were so simple."
Yan Jiu just smiled friendly and didn't say anything, and the topic eventually turned to other things.
Art majors aren'toriously hard to find jobs, so many of my classmates have switched to other fields. Some work as advertising planners, others as illustrators, and some have started their own businesses or inherited family businesses. My classmates included both locals and those from other parts of the city. With so many different people coming together, we had a lot to talk about and the atmosphere was very lively.
After dinner, someone wanted to play Truth or Dare, but Xiang Tianjiao rejected it.
This kind of game easily breeds ambiguity and danger. She was truly terrified of picking Qin Rong and Yan Jiu; that would be disastrous. Some things, while beautiful at the beginning and during, are completely over once they're over. Back in England, the three of them had often played together. She witnessed the beginning of their love, all its beautiful moments, and also its end. There was lament and regret, but one must still look forward.
So everyone started singing, and to be fair, everyone had to sing a song. The tone-deaf people started howling and trying to get others to sing for them.
As Lu Wenhao drank more, he gradually became more excited. He made an X with his hands and shouted, "No, no, no! Everyone must participate! Go order songs quickly, otherwise you will have to drink three glasses of wine like me!"
"Brother Lu, you're dragging us down after drinking three cups."
"As long as you are not afraid, I will dare to sing."
"What am I afraid of? No matter how bad it sounds, I can handle it."
When it was Yan Jiu's turn, she sang a song called "The First Dream". Seeing these classmates at this time, she felt a little emotional.
Initially, she had no interest in art. She had watched a medical TV series and was eager to become a doctor. However, Yan Hongsheng believed that being a doctor was tiring and would not bring in much money. While art could not create economic value, it could enhance Yan Jiu's fame and allow her to enter the celebrity circle.
In the end, Yan Hongsheng succeeded.
Yanjiu is a work of art created by him personally.
Maybe Yan Jiu didn't really want to be a doctor, it was just a spur of the moment decision. She just didn't want to live a routine life and didn't want to follow her father's wishes.
When Yan Jiu first arrived in the UK, she felt miserable. She didn't like what she was studying. She was surrounded by people of different skin colors. She only knew Xiang Tianjiao, but they were not studying the same major.
At this moment, Qin Rong appeared. He walked up to her in a white shirt and asked her, "Can I sit next to you?"
Yan Jiu recognized him; they were classmates. Someone in the school had even ranked the most beautiful and handsome boys on campus, and their names were often mentioned together. However, she and he had never crossed paths before.
After that day, perhaps because of the loneliness of being in a foreign land or something else, they gradually became familiar with each other. They would eat hot pot together, and since they were not used to white people's food, they began to learn how to cook.
They said they were doing research together, but in fact it was all done by Qin Rong.
He took good care of her.
When Yan Jiu once again proposed to Yan Hongsheng that she wanted to change her major, they had another big fight, and she went to a very quiet place alone.
Qin Rong searched for a long time before he found Yan Jiu. That day, he confessed his love to her.
There was a vibration sound in the bag, and Yan Jiu's white fingers tapped the screen lightly.
Chen Yuchu: [Have fun.]
She withdrew her thoughts, and a smile unconsciously appeared in her apricot pupils. Her lightly made-up face was bright and charming. She tapped the screen to reply.
Yanjiu: [Okay.]
Yan Jiu stopped singing and chatted with Xiang Tianjiao and some of his former good female classmates.
Around nine o'clock, people started asking to go home. Everyone had been drinking, and they all reached for their phones to contact their families, designated drivers, or their drivers.
Xiang Tianjiao squeezed Yan Jiu's hand and whispered in her ear, "Please give me a ride later. Let me take a ride in your car too."
Yan Jiu smiled gently, her eyes filled with autumn water. She moved her slender fingers slightly to send a message and locate the driver, her voice soft and gentle, "I know."
After a while, most of the students had left.
Only she, Xiang Tianjiao, Qin Rong and Lu Wenhao were left.
Yan Jiu's eyelashes trembled, and just as her wet red lips opened, Qin Rong said before her, "Let's go down first."
After getting out of the elevator, Lu Wenhao answered the phone.
"Old classmates, my designated driver is here. Qin Rong, do you want to come with me? I'll give you a ride."
Qin Rong: "My taxi is almost here."
Lu Wenhao: "Let's get together again when we have time. I'll be leaving first."
As they reached the clubhouse, they noticed a sudden downpour, rain wafting down the steps. Lu Wenhao braved the rain, while Yan Jiu and the others returned to the lobby. A hazy mist clung to the glass door, revealing three hazy figures.
After a long silence, Xiang Tianjiao hesitated and said, "Do you want to talk?"
It wasn't that she wanted to bring them together under the circumstances, but their breakup was not a happy one, and both sides were her friends, so she wanted them to resolve their grudges.
Yan Jiu looked at the crystal clear water droplets on the glass door, blinked uncomfortably, and said nothing.
Suddenly, she remembered what Qin Rong said to her on the day they broke up.
"Xiaojiu, I can give up everything for you, but you can't make my mother kneel down and beg me."
What else is there to say? Maybe it's true that everyone has their own difficulties.
It was not until today when she saw Qin Rong again that she realized that she had let it go.
Qin Rong had hurt her, but he wasn't feeling well either. He looked dejected, devoid of the youthful spirit he once possessed. Qingjun's face was cleansed, without even a trace of stubble, but his once pure, shallow eyes were now filled with pain.
Qin Rong remained silent. He knew that no matter how much he spoke, it would be useless. He had originally wanted to adopt Yan Jiu's puppy through Xiang Tianjiao, as the only connection between them.
But Xiang Tianjiao told him that Ping An did not need to find an adoptive parent.
He thought that his relationship with Yan Jiu was really over.
The glass door opened as it was sensed, and Yan Jiu subconsciously looked up. In his sight, there was only a figure coming with the damp rain.
He walked slowly with his straight long legs in Oxford leather shoes. He was wearing a well-tailored pure black suit that was extremely formal, with the buttons buttoned to the top. The light outlined his handsome figure, and his posture was as straight as a snow mountain, revealing an indescribable dignity.
The sound of heavy rain echoed behind him. When she looked closer, she could see some raindrops sticking to his face. His slender figure stood in front of Yan Jiu, carrying his sandalwood scent. Her palms also felt a little damp.
The exquisite leather shoes stopped, and Chen Yuchu lowered his chin slightly, his dark eyes stained with some unknown emotions, and his voice was low and gentle, "Madam."
A smile appeared on her delicate face, slightly tinged with alcohol. She didn't expect Chen Yuchu to come pick her up in person. The corners of her eyes turned slightly red, and her voice was sweet with a hint of coquettishness, "Why are you here?"
"Come to pick up the madam." Chen Yuchu looked at her politely, but his words seemed to carry a deep meaning.
He leaned down slightly, smoothing her silky black curls and tucking a tuft of hair behind her ear. His gaze paused for a few seconds at her shirt collar. The red marks on her delicate neck were faintly visible as her clothes rubbed against her, no longer able to hide from the prying eyes of those who might be interested.
Yan Jiu's breathing became damp, and his eyelashes trembled a few times. After taking a deep breath, he introduced Chen Yuchu: "These are my classmates, Xiang Tianjiao and Qin Rong, and they are also my good friends."
Chen Yuchu didn't miss the slight pause when Yan Jiu mentioned Qin Rong's name. The outline of his handsome face deepened a little, and his thin lips twitched slightly. "My last name is Chen, and I'm Yan Jiu's husband."
He had heard of Qin Rong's name. Before getting married, Yan Jiu had compiled a complete document of her experiences from childhood to adulthood, which her assistant had given him. Her romantic history was simple, with only one boyfriend, Qin Rong, from her graduate school days.
The reason for the breakup wasn't a disagreement, but rather Yan Hongsheng's forced separation. Qin Rong grew up in a single-parent household, raised by his mother, who pinned all her hopes on him and didn't want his future to be ruined by a relationship. With both parents disapproving, the relationship naturally ended.
His eyes swept over Xiang Tianjiao and Qin Rong, and he nodded in greeting like a gentleman. His handsome face was obviously gentle and decent, but Qin Rong felt a chill on his back, a chill that penetrated into his bones.
In social situations, stating only one's last name without revealing one's first name or background is generally considered arrogant and disrespectful. However, for this man, who was as noble and proud as a piece of finely carved jade, it seemed perfectly natural.
It seems that a man as tall as a snow mountain should be so aloof and cold, with an innate nobility.
Xiang Tianjiao looked at the different expressions of the three people, coughed, and said very measuredly: "Yanjiu, since your husband is here, you should go first. Qin Rong and I will go together."
Qin Rong looked at the tall and handsome man in front of him. Chen Yuchu's expression was very relaxed. He did not avoid his gaze and scrutiny. He glanced at him indifferently, and his eyes were as cold as the deep sea.
At just one glance, Qin Rong knew that the other party had recognized him.
Maybe he knew everything, knew about Yan Jiu and his past, how they met, how they got together, and why they broke up.
Thinking of this, Qin Rong felt a surge of fear in his heart.
"Jiaojiao, didn't you say..."
Before Yan Jiu finished speaking, Chen Yuchu leaned down to block her view, and rubbed her frail neck with his slender, warm fingertips. In a whisper that only the two of them could hear, he said, "There seems to be something here."
What?
Yan Jiu was startled by the face that suddenly approached. When she realized that Chen Yuchu was talking about the kiss mark that she had carefully covered up, her heart skipped a beat, her red eyelids drooped, and she no longer had the heart to ask Xiang Tianjiao if she wanted to take their car.
Her eyes flickered a little, her clear skin was flawless and bright, and her voice was gentle, "Then we'll go first."
"goodbye."
Qin Rong looked at Yan Jiu's back greedily. Only at this moment could he look at her so openly. After a few seconds, he restrained himself and withdrew his gaze, asking the people around him, "Will she be happy?"
The slender Yan Jiu stood next to the man in a suit, and the two looked incredibly well-matched. The glass door opened automatically, and Chen Yuchu reached out and placed his hand on Yan Jiu's waist, easily lifting her up as she stared at him with puzzlement.
Yan Jiu exclaimed in a soft, mosquito-like voice and subconsciously reached out to hold Chen Yuchu in his arms.
They were pressed together without any distance between them, and Yan Jiu could no longer distinguish the scent of each other, whether it was the aroma of mellow wine, sandalwood or the damp smell of rain.
The driver opened an umbrella for them behind him. The umbrella ribs made a "bang" sound, and the sudden and rapid raindrops fell heavily on the umbrella surface, making a muffled but pleasant sound.
Heavy breathing fell from above her head, almost scalding her. Yan Jiu buried her head uncomfortably in Chen Yuchu's shoulder. He walked steadily, and the sound of his chest beating strongly could be heard in her ears. She could even feel the lines of his bulging muscles.
When Yan Jiu was carried to the back seat, she was completely untouched by the rain, even her exposed calves were well protected. Her fingertips accidentally touched the bulging veins on Chen Yuchu's palm, and she looked away uncomfortably, her apricot pupils tinged with a moist peach.
Chen Yuchu sat down slowly. The outline of his hand-tailored dark suit was exquisite and elegant, and the pleats of his drooping trousers were ironed to perfection. Only a little mud on the trouser legs destroyed the overall harmony.
Yan Jiu's calm gaze rested on Chen Yuchu, and he handed him a wet tissue. "Why did you come to pick me up?"
Chen Yuchu's slender fingertips brushed across her palm, and he took the wet tissue and wiped it gracefully. Looking at Yan Jiu's cheeks, which were flushed from drinking, he said in a cold tone, "Perhaps I shouldn't have come."
Yan Jiu then realized belatedly that Chen Yuchu was talking about her and Qin Rong. Mizui's eyes became clearer and her slender arms trembled.
It turned out that Chen Yuchu knew everything but didn't show anything just now. Even now, he was still very restrained in what he said, and his handsome face still looked gentle and polite. He didn't directly question why they were together.
As if it was the rain that had just come in, the whole carriage was filled with a chill and dampness. Yan Jiu's eyelashes trembled, but she couldn't explain it because Chen Yuchu hadn't even asked her.
But what is there to explain?
Did she have to never see Qin Rong again because she and he had been in a relationship? They were still classmates even after their breakup, so there was always the possibility of running into each other. Was she going to sever all ties with her classmate and never see him again?
The carriage fell into a suffocating silence.
Yan Jiu stared at the hem of her skirt. Since Chen Yuchu had carried her into the car, her clothes and skin were dry, yet she felt a strange dampness in her heart. She looked out the window, the glass dappled with rain, obscuring her vision. Her pink lips moved, but she remained silent.
The car stopped, but the rain continued to fall.
The night was thick with rain. The driver opened the door for Yan Jiu, and she took the umbrella from him, letting the raindrops fall onto the black surface as she walked in the heavy downpour. The accumulated rain on the ground splashed onto her delicate calves, like an ugly scratch on fine porcelain.
Chen Yuchu's stern and calm expression did not change until Yan Jiu's back completely disappeared. After a while, he slowly ordered the driver: "Go to Jinlou."
On weekdays, Lao Liu drove for Chen Yuchu, but today Lao Liu asked for leave. He was a little confused. His husband had clearly arrived home, so why did he go out again? He looked at Chen Yuchu's deep and gloomy face, not daring to ask more questions, and replied, "Okay."
The servant took the umbrella from Yan Jiu. Yong Meiru turned around from the sofa where she was sitting and quickly stood up. "Oh my, kid, what happened? You're a little wet. Where's Yu Chu? He said he had a meeting nearby and wanted to take you home together. How could he let you come back alone?"
Yan Jiu didn't know how to explain to grandma, "He..."
He said only one word and couldn't continue.
Fortunately, everyone's attention was on her now. Yu Yinghui handed her a wet towel and said distressedly, "Wipe it quickly."
Yong Meiru nodded and said, "After you're done, go upstairs and take a hot shower. Make sure your hair is dry before going to bed."
Their gentle and caring voices made Yan Jiu want to cry. She suppressed the heat in her eyes and swallowed for no reason, not wanting them to see her embarrassment. She said in a gentle and pleasant voice: "I'm going to take a shower."
"Okay, go ahead."
Yong Meiru watched Yan Jiu slowly walk up the stairs, his straight long legs trembling slightly, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. He had experienced so many things at this age, and although Yan Jiu tried his best to restrain himself and hide it, there was something she didn't know. Something must have happened between the two children.
She immediately took out her cell phone and called Chen Yuchu.
He started to lecture him directly, "Chen Yuchu, get back here."
In the entire Chen family and even in Juancheng, only Yong Meiru would speak to Chen Yuchu like this. He didn't even lift his thin eyelids. Suddenly, there was a loud thunder in the sky, and lightning flashed across the dark sky. The light in that instant illuminated Chen Yuchu's handsome cheeks. The emotion in his eyes was very faint, and it was impossible to see it clearly without looking carefully. In that instant, the emotion quickly disappeared.
He slowly raised his thin lips, and a low syllable escaped from his thin lips, "Grandma, I still have work to do."
Yong Meiru didn't believe him at all and said bluntly: "You have to come back, no matter how important the work is."
Chen Yuchu hung up the phone, "Got it."
"Who knows what he's up to?" Yong Meiru couldn't help but swear, complaining to Yu Yinghui, "He's such a grown-up, but he still doesn't let me worry about him. He even lied to me about work. What kind of work did he have to do in the middle of the night? I think he just wants to escape."
Yu Yinghui consoled him: "At least it shows that in Mr.'s heart, a little wine is still very important. It's good to let them calm down. Young people in love are bound to have tempers."
Yong Meiru touched her chest to calm down, then sat down on the sofa. "Okay."
The phone's screen lit up for a moment and then went out naturally.
The car drove to the door of Jinlou and stopped. The security guard at the porch saw Chen Yuchu's car. He called the manager with one hand and picked up an umbrella with the other hand and waited beside the car.
The black Oxford shoes stepped on the wet ground. In the dim light, the handsome man's face had no expression, and his edges were as sharp as rocks, giving off a sense of coldness and distance.
The security guard put on a smile but didn't dare look directly at Chen Yuchu. It was not until he caught a glimpse of Manager Wang standing at the door that he breathed a sigh of relief, folded his umbrella and returned to his seat.
There was another person standing next to Manager Wang. The person was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed neck glasses. He was so beautiful that he almost looked like a girl, and there was a playful smile on his face.
"It's worth it that this violent storm has brought a rare guest like Mr. Chen here."
It’s Shang Yu, the boss behind Jinlou.
Chen Yuchu took off his rain-soaked suit jacket and threw it to Shang Yu.
Shang Yu, whose face was half covered, was not angry. He slowly handed the suit on his head to Manager Wang and told him to prepare some food and drinks. Then he strolled leisurely to catch up with Chen Yuchu. Shang Yu's smile was almost devilish, with a seductive meaning, "My dear brother, where have you been wronged?"
Chen Yuchu's muscles were flowing smoothly under his shirt. He glanced sideways and said coldly, "Speak human language."
Shang Yu finally calmed down, pursed his lips, and said unhappily, "Only Sheng Jingyao is allowed to call you brother, but I, your childhood friend, can't?"
Chen Yuchu ignored Shang Yu's teasing. It was no secret that the Sheng family was planning for Sheng Jingyao to marry into the Chen family. He asked calmly, "Where's Yun Hui?"
Shang Yu: "Upstairs."
Chen Yuchu walked around the winding wooden staircase and headed straight for the second floor's innermost room. Wen Yunhui, dressed in a black Tang suit of saffron yarn, nodded upon seeing the visitor. He steadily poured a cup of tea, which emitted curling steam. He slowly and calmly pushed it forward and said, "Yuchu, have some tea."
Shang Yu sat down on the sofa before Chen Yuchu, and soon half-reclining in a relaxed position, looking up with a beautiful and lazy look, "You were in a hurry to pick up your wife just now, and now you're willing to come back?"
Chen Yuchu had already sat down, taking a sip of his tea. He glanced at the rain-dappled window, rubbing his jade-like knuckles against the teacup, and said calmly, "We're not done yet."
Shang Yu said indifferently: "As for your younger brother, he is a useless piece of shit. I don't know what your grandfather is thinking. He should have handed the family over to you a long time ago."
A hint of surprise flashed in Wen Yunhui's eyes. What they had discussed before was the land in the west of the city. The general direction had been decided, so there was no need for Chen Yuchu to come back again.
It's clear that he is using this as an excuse.
But who was Wen Yunhui? He was the most cautious person in his words and deeds. He planned everything carefully before taking action, which was much more than Shang Yu expected. He and Chen Yuchu had a tacit understanding, so he didn't expose him. Instead, he looked out the window and said, "The wind and rain are coming so fast and fiercely. You might as well sleep here tonight. It's not too late yet. Call your grandma and tell her not to worry her."
Of course, what Wen Yunhui really wanted to talk about was not Yong Meiru. He just wanted to use Yong Meiru to give Chen Yuchu a way out and let him call Yan Jiu.
Shang Yu was completely confused by what he said. He scanned Chen Yuchu's face, which was even colder than usual, and silently uttered three words to Wen Yunhui in disbelief: "No way."
Shang Yu had known Chen Yuchu for years and knew he wasn't the heartless, disregarding family affection he was portrayed to be. It was always Chen Baichuan who had been provoking him too much. But Chen Yuchu had remained decisive in the face of the countless admirers and pursuers over the years. He seemed to be born without a heartbroken heart, a natural leader.
Half a year ago, Chen Yu went abroad as soon as he got his marriage certificate.
Based on this alone, Shang Yu concluded that Chen Yuchu had no feelings for his new wife. Now, Wen Yunhui's words completely confused him.
Wen Yunhui didn't give Shang Yu any feedback at all, as if he had never spoken to her. Shang Yu felt itchy in his heart as if he had been bitten by a mosquito, and he looked at Chen Yuchu from time to time.
Chen Yuchu glanced back at him casually, his slender fingertips resting on the watchband. He untied the watch and casually placed it on the table, making a slight clinking sound. He took a sip of tea slowly, his sharp Adam's apple rolling as he said lightly, "No need."
Shang Yu saw this and knew there was no way to get a direct answer from Chen Yuchu. She blinked her beautiful long eyelashes, and an idea flashed through her mind. She asked tentatively, "Do you still want Yan Hongsheng to participate in this project?"
A voice like a biting cold wind came: "Everything is as usual."
Shang Yu really didn't understand this time, but he tactfully didn't ask any more questions.
The three of them discussed the details for a while, deducing the reactions of various factions. In the middle of the conversation, the manager came up and brought them a midnight snack, fruit, and wine.
Shang Yu wanted the wine. He had his own private wine cellar in Jinlou. Usually, he was the only one among the three who drank alcohol. The other two preferred to drink tea in non-business occasions.
After finishing their conversation, Shang Yu was about to pick up the wine glass when a white, slender arm crossed in front of him, taking the lead.
His slender finger bones were holding the crystal clear glass, and through the red wine, his eyelashes as black as crow feathers cast a shadow. The expression on Chen Yuchu's face was unclear, and his handsome cheeks were slightly raised, revealing his angular jawline.
The collar of his white shirt was slightly open, and the red wine flowed down his throat. His sharp Adam's apple and even the swallowing movement had a smooth and sexy feel. There was a hint of irritation in his dark pupils, and he looked out.
The rain outside the window was still pouring down, and the wind was blowing fiercely with a devastating force. Raindrops as big as beans were splashed onto the window frames. Drops of rain fell rapidly on the specially treated glass windows, and it was impossible to count them. A large cloud of fog gathered in front of the window, and one could vaguely see the branches of the giant trees rooted in the ground shaking violently.
A loud thunder tore through the sky, illuminating the person curled up on the bed. Her face was pale and bloodless, her beautiful eyebrows couldn't help but gather together, her white teeth bit her lips, and she seemed to be unable to suppress a sound of warning.
Yan Jiu curled up into a bow shape, her silky black hair scattered messily on the bed sheet, revealing her frail white neck. Her palms pressed against her lower abdomen, but the weak strength could not stop the pain in her body. Beads of sweat slid from her forehead onto the soft bed quilt.
His stomach ailment had returned. Yan Jiu had suffered from it on and off since high school, but he hadn't dared to tell his parents and had to endure it. When he arrived in England, accompanied by Qin Rong and Xiang Tianjiao, he went to see a doctor. Only then did they find out that all his indicators were normal and it was just a psychological problem.
She gets stomachache whenever she gets nervous. There is no medicine to cure it, so she can only maintain a good attitude.
Every time this happened, Yan Jiu would realize that no matter how good her temper seemed to outsiders, she was not really calm.
She was just enduring.
Yan Jiu stretched out one hand from under the quilt and began to grope around. A bright light appeared in the darkness. She gritted her teeth, unlocked the phone, and opened the software.
When her fingers touched the name, she suddenly stopped.
Should I explain to Chen Yuchu something that never existed, or something that has already happened?
Chen Yuchu sentenced her without even asking her any questions.
She has endured for too long along the way.
But she was really too tired.
She couldn't choose anything. Her life had always been manipulated, going in the direction everyone expected, but no one had ever asked her if she was willing.
She had done nothing wrong. Her relationship with Qin Rong was over.
Intermittent sobbing sounds came from under the quilt, and tears flowed down her fair cheeks, blurring her vision.
Yan Jiu didn't remember how long she cried. Her mouth was dry and she sobbed while groping for the water cup beside the bed, but her hand shook and the bone china cup shattered on the wooden floor.
She tried to pick it up, but she missed a step.
"Hiss, it hurts."
Suddenly, a bright light appeared in front of him. Yan Jiu subconsciously closed his eyes. Just as he was about to move, he heard a familiar clear voice in his ear, "Don't move."
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