Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 3

Xu You’s face instantly lost all color, her lips turning pale.

Aunt Zhang, noticing this, quickly set down the tray and asked with concern if she was feeling unwell and whether she needed to call the family doctor.

Xu You waved her hand to indicate she was fine. Only she knew that it was that one message that had drained her nerves, just seeing it was enough to send a chill down her spine.

The brightness of the phone screen on the marble dining table gradually dimmed, and the conversation slowly faded into darkness.

Just this once, Xu You pretended not to see one of the messages. With trembling hands, she replied:

[YOYO: Yes, I just received the email for the final interview. I’m sorry, sis, for not discussing it with you earlier. The winter break is so long, and I miss you so much while staying at home. Going to the company will give me something to do to distract myself, and maybe I’ll even catch a glimpse of you occasionally~]

She tried to divert Zhou Siyu’s attention by acting cute, deliberately sending a bunny emoji after her message.

The little white rabbit was as adorable as she was, hugging a carrot with big, round eyes, looking sweet and charming.

At the same time, she hoped to quickly scroll past the message she didn’t want to see.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: Suit yourself.]

Zhou Siyu might not have been busy, as she replied to her message almost instantly, a rare occurrence.

Xu You let out a long sigh of relief as she looked at the words in the bottom line of the chatbox. They had agreed not to reveal their identities in public, so she could guess why Zhou Siyu had replied this way. The invisible hand gripping her heart suddenly loosened, and blood rushed back to her limbs. She felt alive again.

Unfortunately, this state didn’t last long.

A few seconds later, the previous message was replaced by a new one, and “Okay” moved up a line.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: By the way, Zhang Qin reminded you not to forget the birthday gift you promised her. Remember to bring it with you tonight.]

Zhang Qin, Zhao Ziru, Lu Ang…

Just seeing the names of Zhou Siyu’s friends sent a chill down Xu You’s spine.

Her attempt at acting cute hadn’t helped her escape. Just as she was about to tactfully express her reluctance to go, a new message arrived. She knew there was no room for refusal.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: That’s settled then. I’m off to a meeting. Next time, I’ll try not to leave obvious marks.]

A fish pulled out of water doesn’t die immediately but struggles bit by bit, losing all strength in painful despair.

She felt like that fish forced out of the water, wanting to cry for help but utterly powerless.

The sweet fragrance of dates masked most of the original taste of the bird’s nest. Xu You spooned it into her mouth one scoop at a time, but she couldn’t taste any sweetness at all.

The white porcelain bowl was soon empty. The empty spoon clinked softly against her teeth as she absentmindedly put it in her mouth. Xu You snapped back to reality, set down the spoon, and pushed the bowl away.

Xu You was around the same age as Aunt Zhang’s son, and Aunt Zhang had always treated her like her own child. Seeing that she hadn’t eaten much and seemed dazed, far from being in good spirits, Aunt Zhang frowned.

“Miss Xu, would you like to eat a little more? Breakfast is still warm. If it doesn’t suit your taste, I can make something else for you.”

“No need, I’m not very hungry. Please call me when lunch is ready. I’ll be in the studio for a while.” Xu You tightened her grip on her phone and used her other hand to brace herself against the table as she stood up unsteadily. “Thank you.”

Like a small white flower swaying in the wind.

So fragile it could snap at any moment.

Aunt Zhang watched her disappear around the corner of the hallway, then sighed helplessly as she cleared the table and returned to the kitchen to prepare a nutritious lunch.

Sitting before the easel, Xu You remembered she hadn’t replied to Zhou Siyu’s message. Reluctantly, she typed a single “Mm,” her finger hovering over the send button for a long moment before she finally gave in to her frustration and deleted it.

Her silent resistance was deafening.

At five in the afternoon, Xu You stood at the villa gate with her packaged painting, waiting for the driver. Spotting Zhou Siyu’s Porsche Cayenne parked by the roadside, she cheerfully pulled open the passenger door and slid in, a stark contrast to the sulking girl in the studio.

“Why did you come yourself?” she asked, placing the painting at her feet and reaching for the seatbelt.

“Xiao Fu took leave for a family matter,” Zhou Siyu replied, glancing at the passenger seat. Her hand, resting on the gearshift, lifted casually to brush aside the strands of hair falling by Xu You’s ear, her tone suggestive. “Good thing.”

Xu You’s fingers paused on the buckle, her face flushing crimson as she turned to fasten the seatbelt, murmuring softly, “I put on concealer before heading out.”

Zhou Siyu didn’t look away, continuing to watch her flustered expression, her dry fingertips gently stroking Xu You’s smooth, delicate skin.

Xu You’s pores involuntarily contracted, and her mouth began to produce excess saliva.

She felt her entire body go weak, her throat bobbing.

Despite their countless intimate moments, the young woman remained as tense as the first time.

A mischievous thought sparked in Zhou Siyu’s mind. Curling her lips, she shifted her hand upward, cupping Xu You’s chin and pulling her closer.

Deliberately teasing the little rabbit, she pressed her face close, her warm breath fanning across Xu You’s cheeks. “Why are you blushing? Everyone knows about us. Afraid they’ll see?”

Xu You’s mind had already turned to mush. Her clear eyes blinked.

Pressed too close, her thick, long lashes brushed against Zhou Siyu’s skin, and the blush rapidly spread across her entire face.

In contrast, Zhou Siyu remained perfectly composed, her other hand already gripping Xu You’s slender, delicate waist.

Wherever her fingertips touched, they ignited a trail of fire. Xu You didn’t know where the flames started, but heat radiated from within.

“Say something,” Zhou Siyu coaxed, a smirk playing on her lips as she effortlessly urged her to speak.

The old fox had the little rabbit completely under her spell.

Xu You parted her lips slightly, but only fragmented gasps escaped her throat.

They were the only two in the car.

Zhou Siyu tightened her grip on Xu You’s hand, her eyes gleaming like a predator locking onto its prey, striking in an instant.

A sharp pain shot through Xu You’s lower lip as Zhou Siyu nipped at it like a piece of candy, biting gently, sucking, then applying a firmer pressure as a small punishment for her lack of focus.

Their breaths intertwined, steam rising between them.

A restless hand strayed from its place, climbing instinctively as two bodies pressed together, their souls merging into one.

Just as Xu You was about to surrender completely, the Bluetooth-connected display lit up, and the default ringtone echoed through the car.

Zhou Siyu’s rationality returned in an instant, and she released Xu You’s lips.

Her fingers moved toward the answer button, but her gaze, still hazy with desire, remained fixed on Xu You.

“We’ll continue tonight,” she mouthed.

As Xu You’s hand moved to cover her mouth, Zhou Siyu pressed the button.

When she spoke again, her voice was clear and steady, betraying no hint of abnormality. “Hello?”

“Old Zhou, where are you? We’re all waiting for you.”

The other end of the line was noisy, with occasional sounds of “Five Dots,” “Eight Bamboos,” and “Pong!” from a mahjong game.

Xu You withdrew her hand, still hovering in mid-air, disgruntled. Zhou Siyu noticed and casually placed her hand back on the gearshift.

“Can’t even wait a little while? Fine, we won’t come then. You guys play,” she said, even as she shifted into gear and stepped on the accelerator.

The man still sounded flippant: “Come on, it won’t be fun without you.”

“Got it. Half an hour. Play two more rounds.”

Regardless of the other’s attitude, Zhou Siyu directly ended the call.

Speeding all the way, Zhou Siyu parked just in time, handing the car keys to the valet at the entrance. Xu You followed behind her into the bar, carrying the gift Zhang Qin had asked for.

Night had just fallen, with a pink-purple twilight hanging over half the sky. Only a few scattered young people sat in the bar’s first-floor lounge, all turning to look at the entrance at the sound of the door.

The young man nearest the door whistled provocatively upon seeing two exceptionally beautiful women enter.

Xu You disliked such blatant “flirting”, even if it came from Zhou Siyu, whom she’d liked at first sight. Flustered, she quickened her pace to walk side-by-side with Zhou Siyu.

Zhou Siyu glanced back at the young man, then at the bartender, pulling her hand from her pocket to grip Xu You’s arm and guide her into the elevator lobby.

The young man was chilled by Zhou Siyu’s icy glare, while the bartender understood the top VIP’s unspoken command.

Xu You didn’t dare look back. Commotion erupted behind them, the muffled sounds of two men arguing intensely.

The elevator arrived and opened. As they stepped in, the bar’s main door swung open, and the whistling young man was dragged out and thrown onto the street.

Zhou Siyu’s friends were mostly second-generation rich kids, with a handful of third-generation heirs. They lived for pleasure and indulgence. Zhou Siyu was the only one among them with a proper job, running a currently profitable company.

When their families heard they were hanging out with Zhou Siyu, they figured her influence was better than them crossing legal lines, so they turned a blind eye. Once, during a drinking session, they joked about spreading rumors that Zhou Siyu was keeping a college girl. Zhou Siyu just swirled her whiskey and calmly said, “Whatever.”

Truly, she feared no one’s gaze or gossip.

At sixteen, when her parents died in a car accident, she fought alone to reclaim her inheritance. She buried herself in studies, built a company, and over the years faced so many monsters that she became invulnerable.

Stopping at the top-floor private room, Zhou Siyu released Xu You’s wrist.

Xu You’s anxious heartbeat accelerated. The gift bag’s handle, tied in a pretty bow, dug deeply into her palm.

A soundproofed door was pulled open by an attendant, revealing a scene of dazzling lights and decadent luxury.

“Hey, Old Zhou, you’re finally here!” Lu Ang, who’d called from the car, noticed them first. Holding a wine glass, he set it down and came over as they entered.

Zhou Siyu bumped fists with him familiarly, then let him steer her to a newly vacated seat at the mahjong table. She leisurely picked up a cigarette case from the table and tapped one out.

As she held it between her fingers, a perceptive woman to her left leaned over with her own half-smoked cigarette, its tip glowing dark red, to light it.

Tobacco burned, white smoke rising.

The woman covered her mouth in feigned surprise, looking toward the doorway.

“Oh, Little Xu’s here too. Why aren’t you coming in?”