Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 36.1

Zhou Siyu had been gone for nearly a month.

At the end of the year, the company chose not to develop new games but instead focused on maintaining and upgrading previously released titles, promoting an enhanced version of Otherworld: Mountains and Seas. The design draft Xu You created on her first day of work was submitted by Team Leader Qian, and the department head was highly satisfied with her work, directly assigning her the task of designing several new spirit beasts to be added in the new version.

She commuted alone, spending day and night at the company sketching, revising, and scrapping ideas. She was so busy that it seemed as though no one had ever heard the rumors about her, and she almost forgot about Zhou Siyu’s existence. Only occasionally would her thoughts drift to him, leaving her momentarily lost in thought.

Zhou Siyu, on the other hand, was doing who-knows-what. From across the ocean and an insurmountable time difference, she would occasionally send her messages urging her to rest well. Whether she replied or not was no longer under her control.

By early February, the final draft was submitted, and Xu You finally welcomed a long-overdue moment of relaxation.

The department head told her she could take two days off to recharge before returning to wrap up the remaining tasks. The man who had once been unfriendly to her, after seeing how much weight she had lost from staying at her desk for nearly a month, unconsciously spoke to her with a tone of affection, as one would to a younger family member.

Xu You nodded without refusing. She wasn’t a robot, she was exhausted.

At first, she had buried herself in work to avoid thinking about Zhou Siyu, escaping home and hiding at the company. Later, it was because countless players would control the characters she designed in the game, and their love for her creations motivated her to put in the effort.

In the evening, as she drove out of the company, she seamlessly merged into the long line of cars heading west. Along the way, she could see the fiery orange sun burning through the clouds, casting a crimson glow across the sky.

Beneath the crimson sky, an endless stream of cars flowed alongside the neon lights. The red trails of taillights were segmented by traffic signals, repeating in an endless cycle.

Just one more intersection, and she could turn into the villa area. The Bluetooth-connected control screen in her car displayed an incoming call. Calmly, she steadied the steering wheel with one hand, reached over with her right hand, and with a glance to confirm the button’s position, pressed the answer key.

“Hey, Xiao Xu, are you busy?” A robust male voice came through the speakers. The moment he spoke, Xu You recognized him as Professor Liu, her mentor who had always looked out for her.

With her left hand, she flicked the turn signal and checked the rearview mirror to confirm the traffic behind her. With a gentle turn of the steering wheel, she smoothly curved into Shengshi Avenue, her residential area not far away.

“Professor Liu, I’m not busy lately. What can I do for you?” she replied, accelerating as she spoke.

Professor Liu sounded cheerful. “The competition results are out. You won the national gold award. The event organizers sent the trophy and certificate to me. Let me know when you have time to come and pick them up.”

She had already won countless awards, big and small, on this career path, but this competition entry was different from the others. The person depicted on the canvas was her beloved grandmother in Beicheng. The joy of this achievement should be shared with her.

Thinking she had the next day off, she could use it as an excuse to visit her grandmother. She arranged to meet Professor Liu in the morning and planned to surprise her grandmother by sneaking into the alley in the afternoon.

After parking her car and returning home, Aunt Zhang, as usual, asked about Zhou Siyu’s return date. Out of habit, Xu You told her she didn’t know.

After dinner, she collapsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep. Her phone alarm rang repeatedly, but by the time she woke up, less than an hour remained before her scheduled meeting with Professor Liu.

The straight-line distance between the two spanned half the city, yet Xu You arrived swiftly, bowing and apologizing to Professor Liu in one fluid motion.

“Xiao Xu, how have you been lately?” Professor Liu’s brow furrowed instantly as he looked at his beloved student.

In his memory, just two months ago when winter break began, Xu You’s face still carried just the right amount of softness, her cheeks were full like apples, and though her jawline wasn’t sharply defined, it flowed smoothly. Now, after less than two months, her baby fat had faded away, her facial contours seemingly recarved, refined yet stripped of their youthful vitality.

She resembled stagnant water, calm and unrippled without external forces acting upon her.

The question struck Xu You right in the heart.

How was she?

Pretty good, she supposed. Through her own hard work, she had earned the respect of many at the company. Her life was peaceful, living in a spacious house without worrying about food or shelter. She had achieved what most people envied and strived for, all in her twenties.

What could possibly be wrong?

She smiled faintly and shook her head, taking the items from Professor Liu. “I’m doing well. My internship at YUYOO is going smoothly too. If you have time, you could download our mobile game ‘Otherworld: Mountains and Seas’ and look for my designs. I promise I haven’t let you down.”

“You silly child, I’ve always been proud of you. I’ll download the game later. If you’re not too busy next semester, help me mentor some freshmen. I’ll apply for a teaching assistant position for you so you can get a head start on graduate life.” Professor Liu began planning Xu You’s final university days after the new year.

Xu You’s eyes darkened slightly, her lashes fluttering twice. “Alright, I’ll check my schedule after the new year and get back to you.”

As lunchtime approached, Professor Liu invited her to stay for the meal. When she saw a young man around her age step out of the elevator and greet Professor Liu, she immediately understood her mentor’s intentions. After politely declining and stating her feelings, she took her things and headed downstairs to return home.

The day had been off to a rough start since she missed her alarm that morning.

On her way back, a multi-car collision occurred on the elevated highway ahead, over a dozen vehicles crashed, blocking all lanes. Everyone was stuck with no way forward and no route to turn back.

Several police cars and ambulances arrived. After nearly an hour of efficient clearing, the congested highway, packed like sesame ox-tongue pastries, finally began to see movement.

As Xu You descended from the elevated road, she spotted scattered metal car parts and dark fluids staining the pavement. The frustration from the long wait quickly faded upon witnessing the danger firsthand. Fortune and misfortune intertwined, she still held her life and health in her hands.

Having endured the gridlock, the rest of the journey felt remarkably smooth.

The villa area was well-equipped with amenities. Though the commercial district wasn’t large, it housed dozens of international luxury brands. Nearby stood a private hospital renowned in North City for its environment and service.

While passing through this bustling street, Xu You unconsciously glanced outside. Amid the towering buildings, an ambulance blaring its siren flashed by.

Someone once said that the urgency of an ambulance siren reflects the severity of the patient’s condition. Hearing the sharp, high-frequency wail, Xu You’s heart inexplicably twitched. A sudden surge of pain brought a clear tear to her eye. She could roughly imagine the suffering of the person inside. Continuing to drive, she silently offered her blessings to them.

On a weekday, the old alleyways were eerily quiet.

Xu You’s driving skills weren’t good enough to park flush against the wall without scraping it, so she honestly parked her small car in the paid outdoor parking lot outside. Holding her certificate and trophy, she walked with light, brisk steps.

Coming to see Grandma, she cast all her sorrow and sadness aside, only looking forward to cheering with her upon their meeting and then enjoying a home-cooked meal she prepared.

The sound of her footsteps echoed in the alley, creating an eerie atmosphere. Passing by the noodle shop they had often visited together, Xu You craned her neck to peek inside. It was normal for the door to be closed in winter to keep the heat in, but at this moment, the shop was completely empty, not a single familiar neighbor in sight.

Something was wrong.

She quickened her pace, almost running as she hurried deeper into the alley.

“Auntie Qin?” she called out as she passed a courtyard.

“Auntie Gao?” she called again near another small house, her toe catching on the edge of a protruding stone slab and nearly tripping.

At the end of the alley, the wooden door to Grandma’s small house was slightly ajar. Through the crack, she could see half of the courtyard’s layout. The non-stick pan Xu You had given her was sitting on the stove, its lid covering whatever was inside. In the corner of the yard, a flowerpot held a green plant she didn’t recognize.

A gust of wind pushed the door open, and the wood slammed against the wall before bouncing back and stopping just an inch from Xu You’s nose.

The pain in her heart suddenly intensified, as if someone had reached into her throat and ruthlessly twisted her insides.

Trembling, she finally pushed the door open and dragged her feet step by step toward the inner room where Grandma lived.

Maybe they were just old friends out for a walk. On a sunny winter day like this, the elderly loved to go out, bask in the sun, and chat.

Maybe they all just happened to be away. Everyone had urgent matters to attend to, it could just be a coincidence.

Xu You stood at the doorway, her eyes fixed on a pool of deep red staining the clean floor. Her legs felt as heavy as lead, unable to lift or take another step inside. It was blood, bright, vivid blood, spread out conspicuously on the marble floor.

It took only a second for her spirit to shatter. The thread holding her together snapped completely, and her body went limp, sliding down along the doorframe. The trophy in her hand fell to the ground, twisting out of shape.

The flowers on the windowsill were still in bloom, vibrant under the rays of sunlight.

How could someone as strong as her possibly be in trouble? Xu You shook her head repeatedly, leaning against the doorframe as she pulled out her phone from her pocket to make a call. She believed it was all in her head, once the call connected, she would hear the familiar words, “Have you eaten yet, child?”

This time, she would reply, “No, I haven’t. I’m waiting for you,” and beg her to come back quickly.

Searching through her contacts, she finally found the name: Su Lanting.

Her pale finger hovered in the air, the dial button right in front of her, but she couldn’t bring herself to press it. The air trapped inside her felt suffocating; she wished she could just explode.

The screen flickered, and an incoming call appeared from the contact: Su Lanting.

It felt like a needle had pierced through her, deflating all the air inside. Clinging to a sliver of hope, she answered the call.

“Grandma Su, where are you? I’m waiting for you at your house.”

As she spoke, Xu You’s tears broke free, falling heavily to the ground.

She could hear Auntie Qin sobbing, Auntie Gao calling Grandma Su’s name, urging her to open her eyes and speak, and Auntie Zhu repeatedly pleading, “Old Su, wake up.”

But she couldn’t hear anymore, couldn’t hear Auntie Hou telling her that Grandma Su was gone, at the hospital, and that she should hurry to see her one last time.

When someone arrives, preparations must be made; when someone leaves, the same applies.

Xu You staggered to her feet, murmuring apologies as she retrieved a set of clothes that Grandma Su had loved from her wardrobe. The book on the desk lay open, its pages uncertain whether they had been ruffled by the wind. She could only mark the current page with a bookmark and close it. A piece of paper lay on the floor, she, being someone who valued cleanliness, had to pick it up.

Noticing her own name written in elegant small script on the first line of the letter, Xu You quickly folded it and tucked it into her pocket.

She gathered the trophies, certificates, and clothes. Unable to drive herself, she hailed a ride-hailing car, sobbing as she contacted funeral service providers and nearby funeral parlors.

All of this was once unfamiliar to her. After her grandfather passed, she had become acquainted with the process, and today, she experienced the customs of Beicheng firsthand.

The driver stole several glances at her during the ride, listening as she fought back tears to make call after call, dealing with professionals in the funeral industry. Out of compassion, he drove at the maximum speed limit, delivering Xu You to the hospital as quickly as possible.

“I’ll pay online, thank you,” Xu You said, her legs weakening at the sight of the two large red characters for “Emergency.”

As the platform automatically deducted the fare with a notification sound, she swallowed back her tears and asked for directions to the morgue.

Grandma Su’s neighbors and old friends were waiting at the entrance. When they saw Xu You holding her shoulders, they trembled together.

“Old Su was fine this morning, how could she be gone so suddenly?”

“Just when Xu You finally came to keep her company, and they had only a few good days together. Her life was so hard.”

“Let’s not cry. Let Xiao Xu go in and have a word with her.”

Released from their embrace, Xu You explained her purpose to the morgue staff and was allowed to enter alone. The morgue always felt chilling and unsettling to her, a place of final farewells.

A staff member slid open one of the freezer drawers as if pulling out a cabinet. Grandma Su was covered with a white cloth. Xu You’s hands trembled too much to lift it, so a staff member helped her, revealing Grandma Su’s face.