Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 22

The next morning, Zhou Siyu and Xu You left home one after the other.

With Zhou Siyu’s luxury car leading the way, Xu You smoothly followed in her Mini all the way to the company. The building in the industrial park belonged to YUYOO, and Zhou Siyu’s car had long been parked in the same spot in the underground garage. Over time, everyone tacitly avoided the parking spaces on either side of hers.

After effortlessly reversing into her spot, Zhou Siyu sat in her car and watched as Xu You struggled, twisting left and right, repeatedly adjusting her position. Despite her efforts, the rear of the car didn’t even manage to align with the parking lines.

Zhou Siyu pressed her temples, grabbed her phone, and got out of the car, locking the door behind her.

Tap, tap. Startled by the sudden knocking on her window, Xu You, who had been highly focused, stomped hard on the brake pedal. The car jolted to an abrupt stop, and she swayed with the motion.

As the window rolled down, Zhou Siyu pointed at the handbrake. Confused, Xu You shifted into neutral and pulled it up.

“What’s wrong?” Xu You asked as the driver’s door was pulled open.

Zhou Siyu rested her hand on the sharp edge of the door. “Get out.”

Not understanding, Xu You unbuckled her seatbelt in a daze and watched as Zhou Siyu got into the car, moved forward slightly, adjusted the steering wheel, and smoothly guided the Mini into the parking spot, aligning it perfectly.

Zhou Siyu got out, carrying the canvas bag from the passenger seat.

Xu You took her bag with admiration in her eyes and was about to speak when an unfamiliar male voice suddenly came from behind.

“President Zhou.”

As the man approached, Xu You instantly stepped back, lowering her head and pretending not to know Zhou Siyu.

Zhou Siyu glanced at the top of Xu You’s head, nodded to the man, and walked away first.

“You must be a new employee, right? I’m Fu Gang, team leader of Group A in the third-floor Marketing Department.” Fu Gang introduced himself to Xu You while staring at Zhou Siyu’s retreating figure. Just as Zhou Siyu turned left into the elevator lobby, revealing her profile, she raised her hand and waved.

Xu You felt somewhat flustered. “Hello, I’m Xu You, an intern in the Design Department.”

“Ah, I could tell you’re new.”

There was only one way up from the garage. Xu You reluctantly walked with Fu Gang into the elevator lobby to wait for the elevator. She wanted to escape, but Fu Gang didn’t give her a chance to speak.

“As your senior, I feel it’s my duty to share some unwritten rules with you,” he said, stepping into the elevator as the doors opened. “Didn’t you notice when you parked that the spaces on either side of our boss’s car are always empty?”

Xu You nodded and gritted her teeth as she followed him in.

“Those two spots are unofficially off-limits. First, to avoid scratching her car, and second, because the boss really dislikes people getting too close to her,” Fu Gang said mysteriously. “She has severe OCD, if someone else touches something, she won’t go near it again.”

“By the way, I just saw her getting out of your car. Do you two know each other?”

Fu Gang belatedly realized he might have overstepped, like a dog trying to catch mice, minding others’ business.

The elevator stopped on the first floor, and the doors opened. A large crowd of employees surged in, pushing Xu You closer to Fu Gang. A pungent perfume scent wafted from somewhere in the corner.

She whispered an explanation, “N-No, we don’t know each other. President Zhou just helped me park because I couldn’t get into the spot. Today was the first time we met. I’ll make sure to avoid those two parking spaces from now on.”

“Ah, I was just reminding you. Seeing you drive a little BMW, I figured your family must be well-off. But the boss’s car costs two to three million, scratching it would be no small matter.”

The elevator display jumped from “1” to “2.” Xu You breathed a sigh of relief. “This is my floor. Thanks for the heads-up.”

After saying this, she squeezed through the crowd and slipped out just before the elevator doors closed. She had thought that escaping the cramped space would allow her to breathe fresh air, but instead, the fragrance grew even stronger. When she looked up, she met Li Rui’s mocking gaze.

Li Rui wore a slip dress that reached her upper thighs under her mink coat, which hung loosely over her shoulders, revealing her straight collarbones and the plump curve of her breasts. She carried herself with an air of arrogance.

“Didn’t your sugar daddy used to pick you up in a luxury car? Now he’s downgraded you to a beat-up BMW?” She curled her lips into a scornful smile. “Did you drain him dry, or did he go bankrupt?”

Xu You had no desire to engage with her. She felt the urge to sneeze but couldn’t, her nose and eyes burning with heat and itchiness.

“I really want to tell Professor Qin just how shameless you are. Do your parents know you’ve slept with one man after another, and now you’re trying to scam a boss by rubbing against his car? If I were your parents, I’d be mortified. No… if they raised a daughter like you, they probably aren’t decent people either.”

In an instant, the irritation became too much for Xu You to bear. She let out a massive, unrestrained sneeze right in Li Rui’s face.

Though her nose was now clear, Xu You’s mood didn’t improve. Li Rui’s habit of labeling her, insulting her family, and making assumptions felt utterly childish. Just like how Li Rui skipped school to stand out and waste her education, to Xu You, it was all meaningless and cost her nothing.

“Next time, go easy on the seasoning when you marinate yourself.” Xu You rubbed the tip of her nose and walked past her toward the design department.

Li Rui stomped her feet furiously, the sound of her high heels striking the hard floor making her head ache even more.

Team Leader Qian emerged from the stairwell, unsure what had set Li Rui off. The expression on her face now was a far cry from the obedient demeanor she had displayed yesterday. It took Qian a moment to process before she approached to greet her.

“Xiao Li.”

Li Rui abruptly stopped, quickly switching to a smiling face. “Sister Qian, good morning~”

Team Leader Qian gave an awkward smile, looking her up and down, her gaze lingering on Li Rui’s hands. “Morning, have you had breakfast?”

“I ordered an iced Americano and a sandwich. If you haven’t eaten, I can share some with you.” With that, Li Rui bent down to retrieve something from her Starbucks paper bag.

“No need, I’ve already eaten.” Team Leader Qian stopped her and added a reminder, “Our department’s rule is no eating at your workstation. Why don’t you finish in the cafeteria or the break room before coming up?”

Li Rui’s expression darkened slightly, but she forced a smile. “Okay, Sister Qian.”

Xu You sat down and unscrewed her thermos, taking a few sips of warm water. Zhou Siyu, knowing she disliked drinking water, had personally prepared it and insisted she finish it. The warmth flowed down her esophagus into her stomach, making her feel instantly cozy.

With no new tasks assigned, she opened her software and imported the design she had been working on yesterday. Resting her chin on her left hand, she held a stylus in her right, making adjustments here and there. When Team Leader Qian entered the department and saw this, she shook her head repeatedly. Fine words were no substitute for solid work.

After the weekend and Monday’s break, the design department gradually filled up. Li Rui reappeared, glowing with energy. When her colleagues noticed the new faces, they clamored for the director to treat everyone to a meal. The director didn’t refuse, called Xu You over for introductions, and then had his assistant book a restaurant.

Everyone was curious about the new hires. Xu You, with her quiet and aloof demeanor, and Li Rui, bursting with enthusiasm, stood in stark contrast. At lunchtime, they flocked around Li Rui and headed to the cafeteria together.

Team Leader Qian looked at Xu You standing alone and kindly reassured her, “It’s rare to have a newcomer, so they’re a bit excited. You can stick with me.”

Xu You tightened her grip on her phone, hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, Li Rui was already seated with other team members at a large table. The line at the counter where Team Leader Qian was waiting moved slowly, so Xu You found a table for two, set down her tray, and hurriedly pulled out her phone.

Five minutes earlier.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: Where are you?]