Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 68

The cubicle door was pushed open from the inside by Zhou Siyu, and immediately after, the woman who stood just a few centimeters taller than her collapsed into her arms. Xu You held a thermos cup filled with warm water in one hand and clutched medicine in the other, leaving her with no strength to push Zhou Siyu away.

Drunk and disoriented, Zhou Siyu could no longer distinguish whether the person before her was real or just another fragment from her countless dreams. She had endured too many days like this since Xu You left, dreams and reality intertwining until she could no longer tell what was true and what was false. With the last shreds of her rationality deliberately set aside, she chose to follow her heart, even if it meant chasing after an elusive illusion, she would dream earnestly.

Zhou Siyu leaned into Xu You’s embrace, her arms wrapped tightly around Xu You’s waist as if trying to fuse her into her own body, never to part. Her hot breath brushed against Xu You’s ear, and her straight, slightly cool nose nuzzled back and forth against the soft flesh of Xu You’s cheek like a cat.

“Youyou, Youyou.”

It was a murmur, a soft whimper.

Having shared a bed for over four years, Zhou Siyu hadn’t forgotten any of Xu You’s sensitive spots, even in her dazed state. Driven by instinct, she sought intimacy, making Xu You’s body grow weak and struggle to break free.

The air in the cramped space began to heat up, warmth enveloping the two of them.

“Want to touch up your makeup before heading up?”

“Sure! What lipstick are you wearing today? The color really suits you.”

“My sister gave it to me. Want to try it?”

Footsteps and conversation approached from outside the restroom. Zhou Siyu stubbornly refused to let go, her grip only tightening further.

As the sound of high heels clicking against the floor tiles grew louder, Xu You summoned a burst of raw strength from somewhere deep within. With a few quick movements, she broke free from Zhou Siyu’s hold. Clenching her hands into fists, she pressed them against Zhou Siyu’s shoulders and shoved her back into the cubicle. Stumbling, Zhou Siyu lost her balance and slumped awkwardly onto the closed toilet lid.

The commotion inside was loud enough to abruptly halt the conversation outside. Both women grew alert, straining their ears to listen and guess what was happening.

Zhou Siyu, still heavily intoxicated and disoriented, felt uncomfortable in her slumped position. Her red lips parted slightly, as if she were about to spill more nonsensical words.

Making a sound now would only draw attention. Nerves stretched to the breaking point, Xu You moved at lightning speed, pulling the wooden cubicle door shut and locking it. She stuffed the pills into her coat pocket, freeing one hand to clamp firmly over Zhou Siyu’s mouth.

Soft lips met a tender palm, a collision of heat against heat.

Already confused, Zhou Siyu felt a surge of grievance and lifted her eyes to look at the person treating her so roughly.

Their hazy gazes met, Xu You’s filled with tension and unease. As the fog in Zhou Siyu’s eyes cleared, a flicker of sober clarity emerged. In her usually deep, unfathomable pupils, there was now only intense shock and guilt.

Unfortunately, this moment of clarity didn’t last long.

After a tense standoff between inside and outside, the two women in the open continued their makeup touch-ups warily. They chatted about cosmetics, patted their skin with powder puffs, and meticulously refined their beauty.

Xu You tilted her head back, trying to ease the discomfort in her neck.

The hotel toilet was rather low, and to keep Zhou Siyu’s mouth covered, she had to bend over. Before long, a dull ache had spread from the base of her spine upward.

She was so unlucky. Gritting her teeth, she swallowed her frustration, silently reaching back to massage her own spine. Even this had to be done gently, careful not to alert anyone outside.

The commotion outside the door gradually faded, and the sound of heels hitting the floor resumed. Xu You, her back almost stiff with tension, finally let out a sigh of relief and made to move her hand away from the lower half of Zhou Siyu’s face.

“Tsk.”

Just as her guard relaxed, a sudden damp warmth spread across her palm. A jolt shot from the soles of her feet straight to her brain, making every pore on her body tremble. Instinctively, she let out a sharp hiss.

Zhou Siyu was a damn dog!

Only dogs lick people!

Xu You instantly flared up, her gaze dropping to Zhou Siyu with boundless fury.

“Oh my god, did you hear that? They’re really going at it in the restroom.”

“Seriously, tsk, what kind of people are they? Don’t they find it disgusting? There’s a hotel right upstairs, and they couldn’t wait to start here.”

Two teasing, mocking female voices chimed in one after another. Xu You could no longer maintain a pleasant expression toward Zhou Siyu, who was acting like a three-year-old. This time, she made sure the women outside had left and the hallway was clear before releasing her grip.

As she let go, Zhou Siyu’s plump, red lips glistened with moisture. Staring at the dampness still lingering on her palm, Xu You shot a disgusted glare at the oblivious Zhou Siyu. Glancing at her hand again, she closed her eyes in frustration and used her nearly six-figure-valued coat as a towel, wiping the saliva off thoroughly.

Feeling dirty, she rubbed her hand repeatedly, only stopping when a burning sensation appeared. She withdrew her hand with a huff.

The air slowly began to circulate again.

“You’re angry,” Zhou Siyu said, staring blankly at Xu You.

Xu You had no intention of responding. Fuming, she pulled a pill from her pocket, pinched Zhou Siyu’s face to force her mouth open, tossed the pill in, and before she could react, poured a large gulp of water from a bottle into her mouth. She pushed Zhou Siyu’s chin upward, watching as she swallowed the pill.

The motion was too abrupt. Zhou Siyu choked on the warm water, coughing violently as she clutched her chest.

She looked pitiful, but it didn’t evoke even an ounce of sympathy from Xu You.

“Serves you right,” Xu You snapped back at her.

Unaware that her current stance and demeanor made her look like she was taking advantage of the innocent “little wife” before her, Xu You was simply angry, angry at herself for not being heartless enough to walk away and leave Zhou Siyu to fend for herself. Instead, she was stuck here taking care of her.

Zhou Siyu’s coughing subsided into muffled groans. Xu You nudged the tip of Zhou Siyu’s shoe with the side of her leather shoe.

“Hey,” she called out, not bothering to use her name.

“Hmm?” Zhou Siyu slowly turned her head, her beautiful cheeks tinged with a soft pink. Her eyes shimmered, utterly captivating.

“Stop looking at me,” Xu You growled.

“Oh.” Zhou Siyu obediently turned her head away but failed to avert her gaze completely, stealing glances at Xu You from the corner of her eye.

Like a child caught misbehaving, Zhou Siyu’s gaze made Xu You feel utterly helpless against this “fool.”

Adopting the tone of a kindergarten teacher using threats and coaxing, she said, “Get up. I’ll take you home.”

Zhou Siyu tilted her head, her muddled brain struggling to process the words, then obediently complied.

Xu You unlatched the door and stepped out, with Zhou Siyu following closely behind like a shadow.

As they entered the larger space, the little “tail” Zhou Siyu grew cautious and fearful, uncomfortable under the concerned gazes of the people around her. She reached out and grabbed the fabric of Xu You’s clothes at the small of her back.

Pulled backward by the force, Xu You steadied herself and continued leading Zhou Siyu out.

The duty manager and a valet approached together, asking if they needed a designated driver or help with hotel registration. Xu You declined everything, retrieved her car keys, and after learning where her car was parked, strode through the lobby like a mother hen leading her chick. She ushered Zhou Siyu outside and, with a mix of coaxing and insistence, stuffed her into the car.

Fueled further by alcohol, Zhou Siyu’s mind was no longer as sharp as before. She could no longer manage complex actions, only simple questions and answers.

Grateful for her help in facilitating their collaboration, Xu You “secured” her in the passenger seat and kindly drove her back to the home they had once shared.

The night in Beicheng was as dazzling as ever, with neon lights shimmering like pearls in the sky. The scenery flew past along the way, and only when waiting at a red light did Xu You notice through the car window how much the city had changed over the years. Many areas had been developed, with low-rise buildings demolished and replaced by towering skyscrapers. Time had passed, and everything was different now.

As they approached the villa district, the traffic thinned, and the roads grew quiet. Inside the car, it was even quieter, so quiet that Xu You could clearly hear Zhou Siyu’s steady breathing from the passenger seat and the rhythmic beat of her own heart. She glanced briefly to her right before quickly looking away.

Zhou Siyu had fallen asleep, nestled in the seat. The unprecedented tranquility between them had arrived so effortlessly.

The howling wind was shut out beyond the windows, and the roar of the sports car’s engine was muffled. Within minutes, Xu You shifted her foot from the accelerator to the brake. As an outsider, she rolled down the window to register her information at the security checkpoint.

She could have found the house with her eyes closed. Xu You parked the car outside the iron gate and gazed through the window at the house shrouded in darkness. She wondered if Aunt Zhang was still the one managing the household affairs. Even the light that used to stay lit at the entrance had gone out.

Suppressing her surging emotions and indelible memories, Xu You reached over to the sleeping Zhou Siyu beside her. “Wake up, you’re home. Wake up.”

The saying that alcohol makes it easier to sleep held true. Zhou Siyu seemed as though she had been drugged, not even managing to crack open an eyelid.

Unable to bear seeing her so at ease, Xu You reached out and shook her shoulder. In her dream, Zhou Siyu was boating on a lake with Xu You when a sudden gust of wind rocked her body back and forth. As the wind grew stronger, the small boat trembled violently. In an instant, it capsized. Unable to protect Xu You, she fell into the lake with her. The sensation of weightlessness jolted her awake.

“Are you okay?” she asked instinctively upon seeing Xu You.

Xu You, her face cold, watched as Zhou Siyu sobered up slightly and shook her head in response.

Most of the alcohol-induced haze had been scared away. Still unsettled, Zhou Siyu lowered her gaze, regulating her breathing. She didn’t want to part from Xu You, nor did she want to get out of the car, but she had no idea what to say.

“We’re here. Get out. I need to go home.” Seeing through her thoughts, Xu You mercilessly urged her to leave.

Zhou Siyu’s breath hitched. Glancing at the electronic display between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, she ventured hopefully, “It’s already half past midnight. It’s too late. Why don’t you stay? There are plenty of empty rooms in the house. I promise I won’t-”

“No need,” Xu You cut her off. “If you really think it’s too late, you should get out sooner so I can go home earlier.”

When both were sober, it was difficult to maintain a harmonious atmosphere. Though the car doors remained closed and the windows unrolled, a chill seemed to seep into the car from all directions.

Knowing Xu You’s past self well enough, Zhou Siyu understood that once her mind was made up, it wouldn’t change.

“Alright,” Zhou Siyu said hoarsely, stiffly reaching for the buckle to release her seatbelt. “Be careful on the road,” she added, her hand resting on the car door as she couldn’t resist expressing concern.

“Thank you,” Xu You replied without looking at her.

With the opening and closing of the door and a single sound, the car lost half its weight. Zhou Siyu’s feet touched the ground, and as she steadied herself, she was met with a mouthful of exhaust fumes.

The dark red outline lights traced straight lines in the air as the sports car accelerated to its limit and sped out of her sight, leaving the residential area and heading toward another home she yearned for.

The cold wind blew away the last remnants of Zhou Siyu’s drunkenness. She stood at her doorstep for several minutes, and after being greeted by a patrolling security guard in the dead of night, she dejectedly opened the door and returned to a cold, lifeless home.

After a hot shower, she slipped into bed with her body still warm. She sensed that a severe illness was about to strike. Before falling into a deep sleep, she mustered her strength to send one last message to Xu You.

[Zhou Siyu: Did you get home safely? I’m sorry for taking up your rest time to drive me back. Thank you.]

The phone screen went dark, only to light up again much later, by then, Zhou Siyu was likely already asleep or had passed out.

Message notification: Xu You.

[No need.]

She had become the one of few words, and the dynamics between them had subtly shifted.