Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 53

After the call with Zhou Siyu, without those troublemakers bothering them, the Xu You sisters enjoyed a few peaceful days.

Yu Yao and Mai embarked on a spontaneous romantic trip, leaving the car for Xu You. The details of the art exhibition hadn’t been finalized yet, and in Xu You’s mind, the sooner it was done, the sooner she could leave. So once her period ended, she took the car and drove Xu Tian around to various art supply stores in North City.

With all the tools purchased, the next step was deciding on a theme.

After sitting at home for two days, aside from a thin layer of hair on the floor, the drawing paper on the easel remained blank, untouched by any color.

“Sis, if you don’t start drawing soon, you’re going to go bald,” Xu Tian said, half-lying on the beanbag chair next to Xu You, engrossed in her phone game. The game volume was low, but the faint dialogue of NPCs and the gentle background music were still audible.

Xu You hung her head, her waterfall of curly hair covering her face. She reached out casually and patted her sister’s knee. “If I go bald, I’ll just pluck your hair to make a wig.”

“Fine, as long as you don’t mind my poor hair quality. Take as much as you want,” Xu Tian replied, her eyes fixed intently on the small screen. The knee under Xu You’s hand jiggled upward.

Xu You’s hand was bounced into the air and fell back down repeatedly. After a few times, the silk sleeve of her nightgown slid down to her forearm. Without the fabric covering it, the silver bracelet on her slender wrist was revealed. Irregular thick silver pieces, hammered into shape, dangled from the chain, clinking softly against each other with every movement. The characters “Esme” engraved on the silver pieces flickered in and out of view.

It was a gift handmade by Xu Tian. Xu You had worn it since her birthday. The silver accessory suited her cool, fair skin perfectly, adorning the blank space around her wrist with shimmering silver dots and adding a playful touch to her demeanor.

“What are you playing?” Xu You gave up on struggling and leaned over to look at Xu Tian’s phone screen.

Xu Tian didn’t hide it. Her thumb deftly maneuvered the character into an empty patch of grass before turning the phone toward Xu You.

It was the familiar art style of Otherworld: Mountains and Seas. Seeing the character she had designed bouncing around on the screen, Xu You smiled, finding it amusing. In a way, she had left her mark online too.

“My classmate from Australia recommended this game to me. She said the character looks a lot like me,” Xu Tian said, swaying side to side in sync with the little girl on the screen. “What do you think?”

Xu You was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t intentionally designed the character to resemble her sister, but now, with the two side by side, she had to admit that her subconscious had guided her to create a figure so similar to Xu Tian.

Just as she was about to boast to Xu Tian, her phone, screen-up on the plush carpet, lit up. An unlisted number appeared in the center. With a single glance, Xu You’s smile vanished, and she pressed the decline button.

They had already laid everything out, and there was nothing left between them. She couldn’t understand why Zhou Siyu would have any reason or excuse to contact her.

Zhou Siyu was unfazed when she saw the call screen change. It was expected that Xu You wouldn’t answer her call. If she had, Zhou Siyu would have been surprised.

“CEO Zhou, should I contact Ms. Xu instead? We’ve gathered all the materials. I’ll do my best to negotiate with her. The terms you’re offering are unmatched by any other company in the industry. She’ll relent,” Zheng Ran said, standing stiffly by Zhou Siyu’s desk, having just witnessed his boss’s call get rejected.

Recruitment had long ceased to fall under Zhou Siyu’s responsibilities. On the first workday after the New Year, the decision-makers held a meeting and had already chosen Esme’s replacement. Just a couple of days ago, when the handover was about to begin, Zhou Siyu called it off immediately upon discovering Esme’s true identity.

While the senior executives at the company could still swallow their pride and give Zhou Siyu enough face, Zheng Ran, who had once witnessed her deep love for Xu You, found the current situation both astonishing and understandable.

“No need,” Zhou Siyu tapped her fingers on the desk, the dull thuds echoing softly. Her tone was even, betraying no emotion. “Go back to work. I’ll handle her matters myself.”

Zheng Ran understood. Gathering the contracts signed by the boss, he pushed the door open and left the office with them in hand.

Zhou Siyu’s demeanor appeared relaxed, but the bulging veins on the back of her hand and her erratic tapping betrayed her inner turmoil. As a subordinate, he had no right to criticize. He could only hope that Xu You would give her a chance to clear up the misunderstanding before making any decisions.

The faintly glowing screen gradually dimmed.

Leaning back in her executive chair, Zhou Siyu closed her eyes and thought for a while. The image of Xu You looking at her with utter disgust pierced her heart like a steel needle, replaying over and over in her mind. She tried to find any hint of softening in those familiar expressions, but in the end, her numb heart resorted to self-consolation, igniting a flicker of hope.

[Do you have time recently? I’d like to discuss a collaboration with you.]

Even after hanging up the phone, the goosebumps on Xu You’s back stubbornly refused to subside. Xu Tian, once again absorbed in her game, was oblivious. Xu You sat hugging her knees in front of the easel, the warm afternoon sunlight slanting through the floor-to-ceiling window and pooling at her feet, a scene of serene beauty.

Yet in the warmth of the room, she felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss.

In the past, she had eagerly awaited Zhou Siyu’s calls. But after running away, she developed a visceral reaction to any news of her. It started with being unable to look at her face, then unable to hear any updates about her, until even the mention of her name became unbearable. She had managed to pull through only with the help of her therapist and Yu Yao.

Now that she was back, she could feel certain closed-off parts of herself slowly reopening, her body straying from its intended path.

The phone had only rung once. After sitting for a long time, her back grew warm under the gentle sunlight, her pores relaxing. Just as Xu You began to feel calm enough, Zhou Siyu’s text arrived.

Collaboration?

Xu You was baffled after reading it. What collaboration could the two of them possibly have now? They were worlds apart.

Moreover, knowing full well how much Xu You detested her, and aware of her own wrongdoing, how could Zhou Siyu have the audacity to call, text, and shamelessly propose a collaboration?

Ignoring her was Xu You’s immediate response.

She fished her paintbrush out of the water bucket, wiped off some of the moisture, and haphazardly dipped it into the palette. With bold, sweeping strokes, she filled the paper with large blocks of color, venting her emotions. Once the white paper was completely covered, she tossed the brush back into the bucket, placed her hands behind her, and leaned back, her upper body forming an angle with the floor as she stared at what could hardly be called a work of art.

After her outburst, she examined the painting more carefully. Vivid reds and deep blues clashed across the canvas, the chaotic brushstrokes clearly reflecting her current state of agitation and frustration.

Zhou Siyu was like a sudden gust of wind, capable of rippling a calm pond, thawing a frozen heart, unsettling her thoughts, and shattering her peaceful life.

It had been that way in the past, and it remained so now.

“Sis, I’m ordering milk tea. What do you want?” Xu Tian, feeling a bit bored, had just learned how to order delivery and was eager to put her new skill to use.

Xu You’s chest heaved beneath her nightgown as she gritted her teeth and spat out, “Get me some green tea, I need to cool down.”

“Sorry, we don’t have any. How about jasmine milk tea?” Xu Tian flipped through the shop’s menu but found nothing.

After a long pause, Xu You squeezed out an “Okay” through clenched teeth.

It wasn’t the time for thinking or going out. After putting away her painting supplies, she lay flat on the oversized sofa, half her body sinking into the plush feather-filled cushions, clearing her mind and trying to regulate her emotions.

Zhou Siyu’s number was already blocked, but knowing he might find another way to contact her, she had no other means to stop her.

Soon, the doorbell chimed from the entryway. Thinking her food delivery had arrived, Xu Tian dashed to the door without even putting on her slippers.

Hearing the heavy thuds of bare feet hitting the floor, Xu You shouted without opening her eyes, “Xu Tian, if you don’t wear your slippers, I’ll throw them away when I get up.”

Before she could finish speaking, the distinct metallic sound of the door unlocking echoed. After she finished, instead of hearing Xu Tian’s reply or the door closing, her eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright, staring toward the entrance.

The entryway had no obstructions. Xu Tian stood inside, the security door half-open, making it impossible to see who was outside from the sofa. Xu Tian’s hand rested on the door handle, silent and unmoving. Xu You’s heart sank. Without bothering with slippers, she snatched the small hammer from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, the one used for cracking nuts and rushed to the door.

She moved like the wind, reaching the entrance in under five seconds, shielding Xu Tian behind her. Hammer raised defensively, she adopted a protective stance before recognizing the person outside. Her face darkened as she grabbed Xu Tian’s wrist and slammed the door shut.

“How did she get our address?” Xu Tian blinked stiffly.

Xu You leaned against the metal door, shaking her head.

She didn’t know. Most likely, it was some underhanded trick. They had too much power in Beicheng, a sprawling international metropolis of tens of millions. With just a word, any information they wanted could appear instantly. Finding them was as easy as scooping water from a full bathtub.

Xu Tian nodded slowly, only now grasping the situation. As the two turned to head back to the living room, the doorbell rang again.

The sisters exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.

“Sis, maybe we should move,” Xu Tian suggested, pretending not to hear the noise as they casually walked back to the sofa and sat down.

The thought of the hefty penalty for breaking the lease made Xu You’s heart ache, but compared to dealing with Zhou Siyu, she’d rather work harder and paint an extra piece to cover the loss.

“Alright. I’ll look for a suitable place later.”

They deliberately avoided looking toward the door, but the incessant ringing pierced through the open space, drilling into their ears.

“Should we call security to kick them out?” Xu Tian suggested, thinking on her feet.

Xu You agreed and reached for her phone on the coffee table. Just then, the ringtone from Xu Tian’s pocket sounded.

Suspicious but cautious, Xu Tian answered, ready to ask who it was, but the person on the other end spoke urgently.

“Miss Xu, right? I’ve delivered your order. No one’s home, so I’ll leave it in the lobby downstairs, okay?” Before Xu Tian could respond, the doorbell stopped. A moment later, the man lowered his voice. “I’ve gone down a floor. Miss Xu, why is there someone standing at your door? Are you inside? Do you need me to call the police or get security?”

The concern from a stranger warmed their hearts. Xu Tian glanced at her sister, then toward the door.

“Sorry to trouble you so much. Please help us call the property security to drive this person away while ensuring your own safety. Thank you.”

The man, determined to do a good deed, replied firmly, “Okay.”

The call wasn’t disconnected. After a few seconds, he added, “I have other deliveries to make. Could you hand the food to your security guard and give me a five-star rating?”

Xu Tian was deeply moved. “Of course!”

The quiet at the door wasn’t true quiet. After the deliveryman hung up, Xu You raised her eyebrows inquiringly at Xu Tian, who leaned in and whispered the situation. The two sisters then settled on the sofa, waiting for security to rescue them.

In a high-end residential area with hefty property fees, security responded swiftly to potential dangers.

Zhou Siyu watched as the food was handed over to the security guard. Before he could react, the cold tip of a non-electrified baton pressed against his shoulder.

The security guard, noting Zhou Siyu’s attire and demeanor as unusual, muttered to himself but acted righteously for the residents’ safety. “Hey, where are you from? Do you even know how many minutes it takes to get to the nearest police station from here if you cause trouble in our community?”

A loud male voice echoed at the door. Xu You and Xu Tian, holding hands, cautiously approached and peered through the peephole before carefully cracking the door open.

As soon as the door creaked ajar, Zhou Siyu’s cool, unhurried voice drifted through.

“I know. It’s 1.2 kilometers in a straight line. I am the owner of this property.”