Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 58

Xu You’s official start date was set for Thursday.

During the preparation period before she began work, Yu Yao had recovered enough to walk with Mai’s support. The investigation results from the design company were also made public in the shortest time possible.

Tax evasion, cutting corners on materials, and several cases of intentional assault were combined for punishment. As a public prosecution case, it required a court hearing to finalize the charges and penalties. All the evidence collected so far had been submitted to the court, and the main participants were detained awaiting trial.

On Wednesday evening, Xu You carried takeout while waiting for the elevator to go up to the hospital room. That afternoon, a major traffic accident had occurred on the eastern elevated highway. By the time the police arrived, there were already six fatalities and twenty-two injuries. Nearby hospitals were overwhelmed, so many of the injured were transferred to the military general hospital. The inpatient ward where they were staying was much busier than the previous few days. The elevator was packed with family members, forcing her to squeeze into a corner.

The elevator stopped at the floor of Yu Yao’s private special care room. Only a few people got off. Xu You struggled to push her way to the door, but just as she was about to step out, the elevator doors closed and started moving again. Thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal to walk one more flight, she rode it up one more floor.

A few seconds later, the elevator doors opened again.

The floor had a T-shaped layout, with the elevator facing one of the multi-patient rooms. The iron door was wide open. Xu You saw over a dozen family members, who looked like laborers, squatting outside that room. The sound of the elevator was drowned out by the noisy environment. Some hung their heads, while others anxiously tapped on their phones. Some had dust and sweat on their faces, while others had dark stains of blood.

A force from behind pushed Xu You forward. Only after being shoved out did her dazed mind snap back to reality. She glanced at them briefly, her heart pounding, and quickly hurried into the stairwell, descending the tiled steps.

“You took so long,” Yu Yao said, having just finished walking and sitting by the bed, smiling as she asked Xu You.

The impact of the scene lingered, especially the stark contrast between the two floors, leaving her feeling disoriented. After placing the takeout on the table, she walked to the window and opened a small crack in the glass.

The harsh winter had passed, and early spring was approaching. A cool breeze brushed against her face, diluting the heaviness in the air, and her mood lightened just a little.

Closing the window and turning around, she saw the takeout containers had been opened and laid out on the small table. She forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Let’s eat.”

The three of them sat around the small dining table. Mai snapped apart the disposable chopsticks and handed them to Yu Yao. Xu You, alone and feeling like a third wheel, hadn’t even started eating when she received an urgent call from Australia.

Since they were all familiar with each other, there was no need for secrecy. Xu You answered the call directly.

On the screen, two frames each showed three familiar faces.

“Youyou, what happened to Yaoyao?” Xu’s mother asked anxiously, her eyes quickly reddening as she saw Yu Yao’s hospital gown.

The video and conversation were pixelated to prevent others from recognizing them, but close family could instantly tell they were among the victims.

Yu Yao set down her chopsticks and struggled to stand up. The camera was too far away to clearly capture her pale complexion, but her voice could be heard. “Auntie, I’m fine. Just a bit unlucky. I’ll be discharged in a couple of days.”

“Sit down, sit down! You haven’t told your mom, have you? She’d be heartbroken if she knew,” Mother Xu said, well aware of her mother’s temperament as a longtime friend of Yu Yao’s mother.

Xu You shook her head. “We’re keeping it from her.”

“Sigh, you kids, why didn’t you tell us when something happened? Youyou, are you taking care of Yaoyao in North City until she recovers before coming back?” Mother Xu wiped away her tears with a silk handkerchief, regaining her dignified and elegant demeanor.

As the topic shifted to her, Xu You instinctively averted her gaze, glancing at the food on the table and then at Yu Yao.

“Mom, they must have their own plans. It looks like they’re eating right now, so let’s not disturb them. We can video call again when they’re free, Mom.” Xu Tian had already sensed something, her sister was definitely hiding something but she would protect her sister.

Relieved by her sister’s intervention, Xu You hummed in agreement and flipped the camera to show the takeout they had just unpacked and the untouched rice.

Understanding the situation, Mother Xu urged them to eat well before hanging up from her end.

The screen went black, and Xu You slumped against the foot of the bed, exhausted.

After a moment of silence, Yu Yao asked, “You still haven’t told her? Should I explain?”

Xu You shook her head, feigning nonchalance. “No need. I’m starting my new job tomorrow. Just take care of yourself.” She then turned to Mai and said, “Later, I’ll take you downstairs to show you where the food delivery drop-off is. From now on, I’ll need you to handle picking up the deliveries.”

“Of course.”

Having given up her rented apartment and unwilling to face any awkward encounters, Xu You had moved into Yu Yao’s luxurious home while waiting for the game collaboration with YUYOO to wrap up.

After walking Mai around the hospital to familiarize her with the route, Xu You drove to the spacious house where she was currently the only occupant.

Knowing her sister would call, she answered the phone just as she parked in the garage, grabbing her bag and heading inside.

“Sis, are you hiding something from me?”

Bending down to take off her shoes, Xu You glanced at the screen and saw her sister in her own room, the vermilion door tightly shut.

Slipping into her house shoes, she walked to the kitchen and drank half a glass of cold water before speaking, just as Xu Tian’s impatience began to surface.

“Well, Zhou Siyu and I reached an agreement, I’m joining YUYOO and will be staying in the country for about…” She frowned slightly, unsure of the exact duration. “Three months?”

At the mention of Zhou Siyu’s name, Xu Tian’s expression instantly darkened, as if Zhou Siyu were a switch that could instantly sour her mood.

Barefoot, Xu Tian paced back and forth in her room. “Does it have to be her? Is she up to something again? Is it just a job at the company, or is there some other agreement involved?”

The word “sponsorship” was a taboo between them. Defeated, Xu Tian collapsed onto her bed, her phone resting beside her as she stared at the scattered starlight refracted by the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.

“Sigh, it shouldn’t be like this.”

Xu You set the glass down on the marble countertop, the clear clink of glass against stone echoing in the quiet.

She didn’t try to stop her sister’s wild speculations. Walking across the soft carpet, she entered the room she was staying in.

Alone, she didn’t even bother turning on the lights. The pitch-black room swallowed her shadow. Covered in the dust from the day, she couldn’t lie directly on the bed, so she settled on the carpet, joining her sister in the shared silence.

“You’ll come back, right?” After a long while, faint rustling sounds came through the receiver, followed by Xu Tian’s voice.

Xu You smiled with her eyes closed. “Of course. Why would I stay here and be a third wheel forever?”

“Is Yaoyao’s injury serious?” Xu Tian giggled at the “third wheel” comment and asked.

“Very.”

How could it not be? That one glance into the ICU had scared half her life away.

The pain of a broken rib was unimaginable, and to make matters worse, her lung had been punctured, by no means a minor injury.

“But at least she’s alive. After this, she’ll learn her lesson.” Xu You’s heart was still racing as she finished lecturing Xu Tian about Yu Yao. “See? If you keep acting recklessly, what happened to Sister Yao will be your future…”

Xu You had the authoritative demeanor of a parent, delivering her reprimands without pause.

Since her sister was willing to lecture, Xu Tian listened attentively, though how much actually sank in depended entirely on her.

The next day, she had work to attend to. Australia had already seamlessly transitioned into a new day. Hanging up the call, Xu Tian switched apps to review the encrypted documents labeled with names like Zhou Siyu.

That day was approaching soon.

She couldn’t wait to watch the towering empire they had painstakingly built crumble and collapse in an instant.

When that happened, her sister would probably scold her again for being reckless. But after all, children are bound to be a little mischievous.

Xu You knew nothing of Xu Tian’s plans. After washing up and going to bed, waking up before the alarm had become her habit. She ate toast with milk for breakfast, her stomach feeling cold. While waiting at a red light, she suddenly thought of Auntie Zhang.

There was a time when Auntie Zhang would prepare nutritious and delicious meals for her, taking care of her daily needs. Honestly, she still missed the feeling of being cared for.

Perhaps that was one reason she had impulsively agreed to Zhou Siyu back then, when Zhou had wrapped a scarf around her, bringing a touch of warmth on that bitterly cold, windy winter day.

The traffic light blinked. She shook her head, letting her wandering thoughts drift away with the exhaust fumes, then stepped on the gas and sped toward the tech park where YUYOO was located.

She had been surprised when Zheng Ran mentioned the company hadn’t relocated, but upon reflection, investing in technology rather than flashy appearances seemed more practical and understandable.

Her eye-catching sports car attracted the attention of most employees entering the park. Xu You raised an eyebrow, spotting a familiar license plate on a large G-Class in the rearview mirror. Without stopping to greet anyone, she drove straight into YUYOO’s underground garage.

She wasn’t particularly early, the garage was already quite full. She picked a spot near the elevator, parked neatly, grabbed her designer bag from the passenger seat, and got out.

“What a coincidence?” Zhou Siyu’s car was parked in its usual spot. She had clearly come deliberately to intercept Xu You, jogging over slightly out of breath.

“Quite the coincidence,” Xu You replied, showing no intention of continuing the conversation as she headed toward the elevator bank.

All the elevators except Zhou Siyu’s private executive one were heading up. Standing side by side, Zhou Siyu grew impatient.

“Come up with me. I’ve already had Zheng Ran prepare the contract,” Zhou Siyu pressed the button, and the innermost elevator doors slid open. She gestured invitingly.

Xu You didn’t respond, letting her actions speak for her. With a free hand, she casually pressed the button for the elevator accessible to regular employees.

It had been a while since she had openly defied Zhou Siyu. Strangely, this stirred a perverse excitement in Zhou. Ignoring her own private elevator as its doors opened and closed, she stood stubbornly beside Xu You, a faint smile on her lips, waiting to ride up with her.

In the space they shared, the very air seemed to slow.

Unable to prevent such shameless behavior, Xu You felt an urge to light a cigarette, to hide herself within the smoke.

The thought grew stronger and stronger, so intense she almost gave in. Instead, she reached into her rare crocodile leather bag, her fingers brushing against a sharp corner. The restless beating of her heart gradually calmed.

They walked into the elevator one after the other, the fixed lighting illuminating their faces. Zhou Siyu pressed the button for the top floor, while Xu You stood in the corner with her arms crossed.

A public elevator meant it would stop at every floor.

Ding.

The first floor arrived.

Colleagues chatting and laughing as they stepped forward froze in their tracks upon seeing the figures inside. Not a single one was willing to enter, all waiting for the next elevator.

Anticipating this situation, Xu You curled her lips. Thirty precious seconds of her life were being wasted here.

Both inside and outside, everyone waited for the metal doors to close, an inevitable outcome.

“Xu You?”

Just as the gap in the doors narrowed to a sliver, Xu You heard someone call out from outside.

Her name, spoken by that person, ended with an upward inflection, carrying a heavy tone of astonishment and disbelief.

Through the crowd, Xu You could only make out her blurred face. Yet, her sharp and acerbic appearance had long been etched into Xu You’s memory.

Li Rui, long time no see.