Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 15

Neither Xu You nor Zhou Siyu had expected that this wait would stretch another three or four days.

After her bath, Zhou Siyu emerged wrapped in a silk robe, her damp chestnut-brown hair clinging to her ears. Translucent droplets rolled down the strands, and her skin showed faintly through the thin, wet fabric.

Her sharp eyes swept the room, empty. With nowhere to direct her pent-up restlessness, she noticed the steaming mug on the table and her irritation faded. She retreated to the bathroom to blow-dry her hair, changed into comfortable loungewear, and headed downstairs.

A light drizzle had started outside, the pattering rain forming a gentle backdrop to the muffled conversation drifting from the kitchen.

A lonely childhood, perpetually busy parents, and social interactions filled with pretense, her once-warm heart had long frozen over in weariness, building walls around itself.

But now, a tiny crack had appeared in those walls. Warmth seeped through, carrying an unfamiliar sense of comfort into her heart.

Pausing at the foot of the stairs, Zhou Siyu had never known a home could feel so alive.

Maybe this kind of life wasn’t so bad after all, she thought, a slight smile touching her lips as she crossed the living room toward the kitchen.

“Auntie Zhang, what’s the secret to making good chicken soup?”

As she drew closer, their voices grew clearer, accompanied by the rich aroma. Zhou Siyu stopped walking.

Auntie Zhang’s gentle voice chimed with the clinking of porcelain: “There is! You generally want a free-range hen about a year old, not too fatty, not too lean, so the meat stays tender but not tough. The broth will be clear and not gamey. For the pot, it’s best to use an earthenware one… Miss Xu, why are you taking notes? If you want soup later, just tell me.”

“N-no reason, just curious. Learning. Please go on, I’ll go check if Sister is done bathing.” Xu You stammered, her hurried footsteps following.

Zhou Siyu remained where she was, watching Xu You freeze a meter away, clutching her sketchbook as if paused mid-action.

After a few seconds, Xu You caught her breath. She scanned Zhou Siyu up and down, confirming she’d dried her hair and put on warm clothes, then said, “Dinner will be ready soon.”

Zhou Siyu nodded, staying still as she waited for what came next.

“Are you very hungry?” Xu You stepped closer.

Fresh from the bath, Zhou Siyu carried a strong grape scent from their shared shower gel, fresh and crisp, identical to Xu You’s own fragrance, yet it carried a subtle, intimate undertone.

Xu You naturally set down her sketchbook and slipped her hand into Zhou Siyu’s palm, wrinkling her nose as she greedily filled her lungs with the grape aroma.

She coaxed, “Want to see my latest work? I drew a lot while you were away. Pick one or two good ones, I want to frame them for my friends.”

Thinking of her grandmother living alone in her tidy little house, her smile grew more genuine.

Silence meant consent. Led into Xu You’s personal studio, Zhou Siyu’s attention was instantly captured by the half-finished sunflower painting standing in the center.

The process of oil painting resembled decoding a mosaic, broad color blocks layered, covered, and refined until a vivid image emerged on the canvas. This half-person-height work was part earthy tones, part vibrant orange-yellow; even incomplete, it radiated vigorous life.

Following Zhou Siyu’s gaze, Xu You turned to the easel, thoughtful. “I’m meeting Grandma on Sunday. This one isn’t finished yet, but if I put in some time, it should be fine.” Her grandmother loved flowers. Imagining her delighted expression upon receiving the painting, Xu You’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

“Mm.”

Zhou Siyu circled the studio, trying to distinguish which paintings had been hung earlier and which were newly completed. Unfortunately, she couldn’t tell the difference. Aunt Zhang’s call for dinner summoned them back to the dining room.

The fish maw chicken soup and seasonal stir-fries finally graced the marble dining table with both its owners present after a long time.

After a simple meal, Aunt Zhang was picked up by the ride-hailing car Xu You had called, leaving the two of them alone in the spacious villa.

Despite the potential for passion on a damp, rainy night, no sparks flew. By the time Xu You finished her shower, Zhou Siyu was already fast asleep on her side of the bed.

Xu You tiptoed carefully, lifted the blanket, and slipped in. The next moment, a pair of strong arms pulled her close. The intensified scent of grapes enveloped her, making her feel as if she were immersed in heated grape juice, warm, steamy, and fermenting.

“Good night.”

Wrapped in the warmth of an embrace she hadn’t felt in a long time, she whispered inwardly, gazing at Zhou Siyu’s closed eyes.

The next day, when Xu You opened her eyes, the sky was already bright. The dark clouds had been blown away by the wind, the haze in the air had settled, and sunlight bathed the earth.

The space beside her was empty, but her heart felt full.

After washing up, she pushed open the bedroom window. The moment the crisp, cold air filled her nostrils, every cell in her body awakened simultaneously.

Her phone on the bedside table buzzed. She closed the window a bit and walked over to check.

There was one message and one email.

Naturally, she checked the rare message from her dear sister first.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: Went to the company. The product launches on Monday, so I won’t be back for the next couple of days. Be good and eat properly at home.]

It was perfectly in line with Zhou Siyu’s decisive, no-nonsense personality. Xu You stood by the bed, her fingers flying across the screen.

[YOYO-chan: Okay~ You should eat on time too, and cut back on the coffee!]

Zhou Siyu had just received the final internship list from the design department and, unsurprisingly, saw Xu You’s name. She clicked her mouse, switching back to their chat window.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: Don’t worry, I’ll try to live a couple more years so you can enjoy yourself a bit longer.]

Xu You had been waiting for Zhou Siyu’s reply, but upon reading this, her phone dropped straight onto the soft bed.

Such indecent talk in broad daylight, how outrageous!

Blushing, she skipped over the last line, muttering to herself as she opened the email from YUYOO Company.

The company’s email was either to notify her of passing the interview or regretfully inform her she hadn’t made the cut. She clicked to open it. It began with “Congratulations,” and knowing she had successfully secured the position, half the weight lifted from her anxious heart.

The email ended with a notice to start on Monday, leaving her little free time. To ensure she could deliver the painting smoothly on Sunday, Xu You spent the entire Saturday in the studio.

Aunt Zhang initially thought she had returned to her listless habits from when Zhou Siyu wasn’t home, but upon seeing her finish a full bowl of rice and a small bowl of soup in one meal, she quietly relaxed.

By Sunday afternoon, the sunflower painting was successfully hung above her grandmother’s bed, in a spot visible as soon as one opened the door. After staying for a simple meal at her grandmother’s, the two agreed to meet again the following weekend.

The night before her first day at work, Xu You tossed and turned in bed until the early hours. She thought she would stay awake until dawn, but exhaustion from the repetitive motion eventually lulled her into a deep sleep.

On Monday morning, she turned off three consecutive alarms. She didn’t have time to eat, so Aunt Zhang packed her breakfast and stuffed it into her backpack. She did her makeup in the car.

She jogged into the company, where the team leader in charge of the interns was already waiting at the card-swipe gate, waving her over with her employee badge.

A familiar back came into view, and she slowed her pace.

He turned around and said sarcastically, “It sure is different when someone’s taking care of you. Making us wait so long on your first day.”