abandon
A few days later, one evening, just as it was time to leave work, Qu Shiyao walked out of the company gate with the flow of people.
At a glance, you can see Yi Yu wearing a helmet, riding his familiar little electric scooter, waiting obediently by the roadside.
"Why are you here so early today?" Qu Shiyao smiled and walked over quickly, handing him the bag in her hand.
Yi Yu smiled, revealing two cute little tiger teeth. She took the bag and carefully placed it in front of her, explaining, "I didn't have class this afternoon. I played basketball with Henxi for a while, and when it was almost time, I came straight here."
"Let's hurry to that super popular restaurant! God knows how much I had to set an alarm, race against time, and compete with a bunch of other people to get a table!"
Qu Shiyao's eyes lit up, and she was practically drooling.
The system grumbled in her mind, "Host! It was clearly me who worked so hard to get it for you, okay?!"
It felt like it had no presence as the unsung hero, and it was so sad!
Qu Shiyao ignored the system's incessant chatter, deftly straddled the back of the electric scooter, fastened the helmet Yi Yu handed her, placed her hands on his shoulders, and waved excitedly:
"Let's go! Yan Xi and Qing Yi messaged me saying they're almost there!"
"Hold on tight!" Yi Yu replied with a smile, skillfully maneuvering the electric scooter into the rush hour traffic.
Jin Yuxi and Gao Huixin, who had just come out of the company, happened to see this scene.
"That's so nice! It makes me want to fall in love." Jin Yuxi watched their departing figures, her tone filled with undisguised envy.
Gao Huixin chuckled and put her arm around her neck, revealing the secret in a single sentence:
"Come on! I think you're just jealous that Shiyao managed to book a reservation at that hard-to-get restaurant, while you can never get a spot yourself, right?"
"Hehe...you figured it out!" Jin Yuxi playfully stuck out her tongue, then her eyes darted around before she said, "As compensation for seeing through my thoughts, you're treating tonight!"
"You wish!"
"Wait! I have some interesting gossip, do you want to hear it?"
"...What would you like to eat?"
"Hmm~ Let me think..."
...
-----------------
The restaurant was bustling with activity and doing brisk business.
The waiting area outside was full of diners holding numbered tickets.
Qu Shiyao and Yi Yu entered smoothly amidst envious glances, thanks to the electronic reservation code on their mobile phones.
After passing through the bustling lobby, we were led to a relatively quiet corner.
Gu Yanxi and Shen Qingyi were already seated and studying the electronic menu.
As soon as Gu Yanxi looked up and saw them, she immediately smiled and handed them another ordering tablet: "You've finally arrived! Take a look and see if there's anything else you'd like to add. Order whatever you like, it's on me today!"
Yi Yu took the tablet, first placing Qu Shiyao's bag in the innermost safe spot, and then waiting for Qu Shiyao to sit down in the innermost seat before sitting down next to her.
"When did you arrive?" Qu Shiyao took the hot tea that Yi Yu had poured for her, took a small sip, and then her eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, as if the tea was missing something.
The system was already getting a little nervous while she was drinking tea.
It stared at its host, afraid that if she was dissatisfied, she would pull out some strange thing and start creatively mixing it up.
Fortunately, Qu Shiyao only thought the taste was ordinary and had no intention of taking any action.
"We just arrived not long ago, about ten minutes earlier than you," Shen Qingyi said gently as she ordered the dishes she wanted and handed the tablet to Gu Yanxi.
She wore a light-colored knit sweater today, giving her a gentle and refined look.
"Have you made up your mind this time? When do you plan to leave?" Qu Shiyao asked, looking up as she fiddled with the tableware in front of her.
Shen Qingyi neatly tied her long hair, which was draped over her shoulders, into a ponytail, making her look refreshing and capable.
"Yes, Gu and I have discussed it carefully. Let's finish up some trivial matters here first, and then book a flight to leave next Friday."
"Sigh... We've only known each other for a short time, and you're already leaving again..." Qu Shiyao showed a regretful expression.
"It's okay. With such advanced communication technology these days, we can video chat anytime and chat in the group," Shen Qingyi said with a gentle smile, trying to comfort her.
"You don't need to worry about us. But you," Gu Yanxi said, putting down her tablet after ordering her food, her eyes filled with obvious concern as she looked at Qu Shiyao.
“I’m still not entirely at ease knowing you’re still working at his company.”
Mentioning this, Shen Qingyi also looked worried. She hesitated for a moment, then gently reminded her:
“Shiyao, I know him fairly well. He's a very stubborn person. I'm afraid he'll continue to bother you, or even…”
"You think I'm afraid of him?" Qu Shiyao crossed her arms and let out a clear, cold laugh.
"If he dares to mess with me, he'll have to ask my fists first!"
At this moment, Yi Yu had already ordered the dishes that Qu Shiyao liked according to her taste. He raised his head, his gaze firm, and said in a steady tone, "I will protect Sister Shiyao."
Upon hearing this, Qu Shiyao flicked Yi Yu's forehead lightly with her finger, saying with a mixture of amusement and helplessness:
"What nonsense are you talking about? If anyone should be protecting someone, it should be me, the senior, protecting you, the junior!"
The system screamed silently in her mind: 【Aaaaaah! This stench of love is overwhelming! This system is about to be overwhelmed by it!】
It felt like a giant third wheel, sandwiched between two couples, even though the other three couldn't see it.
Shen Qingyi and Gu Yanxi looked at each other, their expressions somewhat subtle, as they watched the two of them interact in this role reversal.
Logically, shouldn't it be the boyfriend making a powerful declaration to protect his girlfriend? Why is it completely reversed in their case?
Yi Yu didn't see anything wrong with it at all; on the contrary, he felt quite pleased with Qu Shiyao's words.
In his view, as long as two people are happy and comfortable together, it doesn't matter who protects whom. He really likes this feeling of being cared for.
As the dishes were served one after another, Yi Yu took a sip of the complimentary tea in her cup and savored it carefully.
Then, to the surprise of Gu Yanxi and Shen Qingyi, he took out several small sealed bags from his backpack, which contained powders or dried flowers of different colors.
He skillfully added a little to his teacup, stirred it well, tasted it, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction, his brows relaxing.
Then, he picked up Qu Shiyao's cup, did the same thing, and then handed it to her: "Sister Shiyao, try this. I adjusted it, and it should taste much better."
Shen Qingyi and Gu Yanxi were dumbfounded. This operation was too professional!
Qu Shiyao took the cup, took a sip, her eyes lit up, and she nodded in approval: "Mmm! It really does feel much better!"
Seeing the astonished expressions on the faces of the two people opposite her, she smiled and explained, "Yi Yu knows a bit about cooking and is also very knowledgeable about beverage preparation. He knows my tastes quite well, so he often helps me adjust them slightly."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yanxi subconsciously looked down at the ordinary cup of tea in front of him, then turned to look at the glass of lemonade next to Shen Qingyi, and a sense of frustration gradually welled up in his heart.
He suddenly felt that he was a terrible boyfriend. He only knew that his girlfriend liked lime-flavored lemonade, but he never thought about what her specific taste preferences were, let alone made it for her himself.
Yi Yu noticed Gu Yanxi's mood and quickly waved her hand, explaining somewhat embarrassedly, "Brother Gu, please don't misunderstand. I just did it out of habit, that's all."
His explanation only made things worse, leaving Gu Yanxi feeling even more heartbroken and enveloped in a heavy atmosphere.
Seeing Gu Yanxi's devastated expression, Qu Shiyao and Shen Qingyi couldn't help but exchange a glance and burst out laughing.
The atmosphere at the table immediately became more relaxed and pleasant, filled with laughter and chatter until all the dishes were served and everyone picked up their chopsticks, each with a relaxed and contented smile on their face.
This heartwarming and joyful scene did not escape the eyes of those in the shadows.
Not far from the restaurant, a man wearing a mask and with his hat pulled low quietly raised his phone and snapped a few photos of their table.
-----------------
Soon after, these photos were delivered to Sicheng.
At this moment, he is alone in his spacious and luxurious study.
The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, and several empty bottles were scattered haphazardly on the carpet and next to the desk.
Si Cheng's clothes were slightly disheveled, his tie was loosely pulled open, and his eyes were hazy with drunkenness.
He stared intently at Qu Shiyao's bright and cheerful face in the photo, his fingers repeatedly stroking her cheek in the image.
He hadn't seen her since their unpleasant encounter in the office.
But longing was like a poisonous insect that gnawed at his heart day and night.
In the end, he couldn't resist and hired a private investigator to keep a close eye on her movements.
He had thought that after leaving that time, she would at least feel a little lost and a little sad.
But what did he see?
In the photo, she's smiling so happily, so without a trace of gloom!
She and that penniless poor student, her childhood sweetheart, and Shen Qingyi were so happy together!
"Shiyao..." he murmured to himself, his voice hoarse and tinged with drunkenness.
"How could you... how could you abandon me like this..."
He clutched the photo tightly in his hand, the edges of which were wrinkled.
He thought their entanglement across lifetimes was unforgettable, but he never expected that he was the only one who couldn't let go. She was able to turn around and throw herself into a new life, laughing so happily!
It was as if everything in the past held no weight for her!
"It's all because of him! That bug who popped up out of nowhere!!!"
Si Cheng's emotions suddenly turned agitated and violent. He violently tore off the part of the photo showing Yi Yu, tearing it into pieces like a madman! White scraps of paper fluttered down.
"He's just a poor student! He has nothing! Shiyao! What exactly do you see in him?! Huh?!"
He roared at the photo, veins bulging on his forehead.
"You have no future with him! Do you know that, Shiyao?!"
"...Waaaaah...Shiyao, I was wrong...I know I was wrong...Please come back..."
After the outburst of rage came a breakdown of tears. He huddled in the large leather chair like a lost child, his shoulders trembling helplessly.
But soon, the tears were replaced by a deeper madness.
He blamed all the mistakes on that annoying figure:
"It's all his fault! It's all his fault! It's all his fault!! If he hadn't appeared, Shiyao would never have left me!"
“Shiyao…you’re just temporarily misled by him…that must be it…”
“If you lose your job…and have no income…being together will only make things harder…yes, no income…”
His thoughts were in a state of chaos; he cursed, cried, and tried to convince himself incoherently.
The torn pieces of Yi Yu's photos on the ground were unconsciously crushed under his feet, leaving clear shoe prints.
Suddenly, he shakily grabbed the phone on the table and dialed a number based on muscle memory.
The call was answered almost immediately, and Wen Yanbin's cautious voice came from the other end: "President Si?"
Si Cheng, speaking into his phone in a heavily intoxicated yet unusually fierce tone, commanded, "...Fire Qu Shiyao...right now! Immediately!"
Wen Yanbin's heart sank on the other end of the phone. He tried to persuade him tactfully, "President Si, shouldn't you reconsider? You might not be fully lucid right now. Let's wait until tomorrow..."
"Is nothing I say going to do anymore?!"
Si Cheng abruptly interrupted him, his voice rising sharply and filled with undeniable brutality: "Don't you want to quit either?!"
Startled by the madness and threat in his words, Wen Yanbin immediately changed his tune, speaking respectfully and swiftly: "Yes, Mr. Si! I understand, I'll take care of it right away!"
Hearing the busy tone of the phone being disconnected, Si Cheng felt as if all his strength had been drained, and he sat down on the ground.
He grabbed the half-empty bottle of wine beside him, tilted his head back and took a big gulp, then smashed the bottle hard against the ornately decorated wall opposite!
"Snap!"
Glistening shards of glass and amber-colored liquor splattered everywhere, leaving a messy stain on the wall.
Si Cheng slumped back into the sofa, completely unconcerned, his head bowed low, his hands tucked into his hair, his broad shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Suppressed sobs, tinged with pain and confusion, echoed softly in the empty, silent study:
"Shiyao...how could you...do this to me..."
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