Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 77

Zhou Siyu stood frozen, stunned by the words Xu You had thrown at her. Having just recovered from a serious illness and stayed up all night, she had barely closed her eyes and drifted into a light sleep when she was abruptly awakened and accused. Her mind struggled to process the situation, leaving her sluggish and bewildered.

However, her actions and expression only came across as evasion to Xu You.

Questions swirled in Xu You’s mind, when and why had she ended up at Zhou Siyu’s home? How had her clothes been removed? Had anything inappropriate happened between them?

Her head ached, her stomach hurt, and even her bones seemed to throb.

“Why am I at your place?” The soft silk fabric brushed against Xu You’s skin, intensifying her desire for an answer.

Memories of the previous night suddenly surged into her mind, causing even Zhou Siyu’s head to ache alongside Xu You’s.

“I didn’t lay a hand on you. Your clothes were soiled from vomiting, so I had no choice but to change them for you. I swear, aside from that, I didn’t touch you.”

After years of interaction, even at a distance, and despite her blurred vision making it hard to discern Xu You’s expression clearly, Zhou Siyu could guess what Xu You was most anxious to know. After addressing the crucial point, she began to slowly unravel the truth, replaying the scenes from their drunken night.

To avoid Li Rui’s insistence on drinking, Xu You had pretended to be drunk and asleep, but soon she genuinely dozed off. Though clever in her own way, she had remembered to ask Qian Doudou to take her home but forgot to tell her where she lived.

After the gathering ended, Qian Doudou, struggling to handle Xu You in the parking lot, happened to run into Zhou Siyu, who was on her way to her car.

What should have been an ordinary encounter between a supervisor and a subordinate took an unexpected turn when Xu You suddenly woke up, spotted Zhou Siyu, and rushed over, hitting and cursing at her.

“President Zhou, I’m so sorry. This is Xiao Xu from our department. She had too much to drink at the dinner, please don’t take it to heart.” Qian Doudou watched in horror as Xu You’s loosely clenched fists landed weakly on Zhou Siyu’s shoulders, one after another, sending chills down her spine.

What was the penalty for assaulting a superior?

Qian Doudou didn’t dare to think about it. Nervously, she stepped forward, trying to peel Xu You off Zhou Siyu. Her flustered gaze darted around until it landed on Zhou Siyu’s arm wrapped around Xu You’s waist, and her already blank mind went completely empty.

“You… she…”

Her speech center was just as muddled, and she stammered incoherently. Meanwhile, Zhou Siyu had neither the mind nor the time to listen.

Xu You had drunk far too much. With her backbone gone, she clung to Zhou Siyu like a mollusk, her mind foggy yet insistent on weakly pounding Zhou Siyu with her fists while muttering curses under her breath.

“Zhou Siyu, you’ve wronged me. You’re a bad person.”

“Yes, yes, I’m a bad person. Can you try to stand on your own?”

As Xu You’s punch veered off course, her center of gravity tilted in the same direction. Zhou Siyu swiftly caught her by the waist, holding her steady.

“You’ve done so many wrong things. Did you ever think about how I’d feel? I… sob… hate you.”

“I’m sorry. I was at fault before. Punish me, hit me, but don’t cry.”

The distance between them closed as Xu You buried her face in Zhou Siyu’s shoulder and neck. Warm, damp breaths brushed against Zhou Siyu’s neck, and her hand on Xu You’s waist moved upward, as if to stroke her back.

“You lied to me. You’re a big liar.”

“I’ve never lied to you.”

“Right, you didn’t lie. I was the fool for thinking you liked me.”

Long past the point of reason, Xu You wept and wailed, pouring out the emotions she had suppressed for so long.

Zhou Siyu’s palm rested on her back, close to her slightly trembling body, while his own heart felt like a muddy mess. She had made too many mistakes, attracting the purest and most beautiful person at an age when she didn’t know how to love, and then, in years when she couldn’t express herself, she had shattered, broken, and pushed that person away.

She hated her former self, yet she couldn’t bear to let go of her beloved.

Qian Doudou could hardly believe her eyes and ears. She even wondered if she had drunk too much, hallucinating from blurred vision and impaired hearing. But she hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, so there was no room for such assumptions.

Xu You’s agitated emotions gradually calmed. Her mouth no longer formed long sentences; instead, she mostly called out Zhou Siyu’s name a couple of times, followed by soft whimpers of discomfort.

“Z-Zhou… President Zhou,” Qian Doudou blinked.

Zhou Siyu gently stroked Xu You’s back, sparing a moment to glance up. “You’re Qian Doudou, right? I’ve heard Youyou mentioned you.”

“Judging by your reaction, it seems you weren’t aware of our relationship. I hope you can keep tonight’s events confidential.” Facing an employee, Zhou Siyu reverted to her cold, authoritative demeanor as the boss.

Qian Doudou nodded. If Xu You hadn’t told her, there must be a reason. As a colleague, friend, and a member of the company, she would keep it confidential for Xu You’s sake and for the sake of their work.

Satisfied, Zhou Siyu held Xu You and scanned the surroundings. “She asked you to take her home, right? Since you’ve heard about our relationship now, where’s your car? I’ll take her there.”

“This one,” Qian Doudou pointed to the car beside her, then cautiously asked, “But she didn’t tell me the address. Do you know it?”

Under the heavy curtain of night, the two seemed to simultaneously envision a crow cawing as it flew past.

Silence. Xu You’s soft moans reached everyone’s ears unmistakably.

Awkwardness. Qian Doudou and Zhou Siyu instinctively averted their gazes.

Zhou Siyu had no answer. Xu You had moved to Yu Yao’s place and hadn’t disclosed the address at all. After several warnings, Zhou Siyu didn’t dare cross the line again to inquire and risk upsetting her. In this situation, her only option was to ask Lu Ang.

A week ago, she might have selfishly taken Xu You home. But now, she had changed, shifting her focus from herself to Xu You.

Lu Ang’s phone rang for a long time before he answered. Upon learning about Zhou Siyu’s predicament, his mind filled with thoughts of Xu You deceiving him. Suppressing his anger, he hurriedly contacted Yu Yao.

Given the duo’s history of tricks, the highly cautious Yu Yao, suspecting a setup, ignored them completely.

With no success in obtaining the address, the only two sober people once again avoided each other’s gaze.

“Thank you for your help. I’ll handle it from here,” Zhou Siyu said, patting Xu You gently as if soothing a child. Taking her home would undoubtedly lead to a confrontation the next day. After careful consideration, it seemed better to take her to a hotel.

Qian Doudou was on the verge of breaking, worried that the boss’s decision might go against Xu You’s wishes. She hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

As if sensing their dilemma, the considerate Xu You let out a sudden, loud cry that echoed through the parking lot, vomiting all over herself and Zhou Siyu’s chest.

Having eaten very little for dinner, what Xu You expelled was mostly alcohol-laced liquid. Qian Doudou had heard that the boss had a cleanliness obsession. With the mess now in plain sight, Zhou Siyu’s next move would determine her fate.

Zhou Siyu gave her no time to hesitate, scooping Xu You up into her arms. “You should head home now. Be careful on the way.”

Leaving behind the most basic concern, she carried Xu You and walked away without looking back.

Just hearing Zhou Siyu’s description, Xu You’s toes curled beneath the down comforter. Her dignity had been lost in a drunken episode that could have been avoided, and not only had she gotten entangled with Zhou Siyu, but Qian Doudou had also learned about her unspeakable past.

The springtime repentance she had once displayed before others had now turned into silver needles piercing back into her, making her so frustrated she wanted to blow up the entire planet.

“Are you feeling unwell now? Should I take you to the hospital, or get you some water or something to eat?” Zhou Siyu seemed unbothered, having finished recounting the events, and continued to express concern.

Xu You didn’t want water or food, she just wanted to dig a hole in some scenic spot, lie down, and pretend to be dead.

Knock, knock, knock. A gentle tapping at the door pulled her wandering thoughts back. Instinctively, she glanced at Zhou Siyu, unaware of the tension and doubt in her own eyes.

“It’s probably Aunt Zhang. I’ll handle it,” Zhou Siyu said, rising from the sofa and slipping on her slippers. As she walked toward the door, she added, “There are clothes in the walk-in closet that should fit you. Last night, I only changed your clothes, I didn’t-”

“Got it, just go,” Xu You clutched the blanket tightly, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. It had been a long time since she’d had such intimate contact with anyone, and she didn’t even dare to imagine the scene. Right now, all she wanted was for Zhou Siyu to leave quickly, leaving her alone to deal with her embarrassment and shyness.

Zhou Siyu paused briefly, assured that Xu You wouldn’t leave immediately, then calmly responded to Aunt Zhang outside the door before stepping out and walking away.

The carpet swallowed the sound of her footsteps. Xu You waited a few minutes before throwing off the covers and sitting on the edge of the bed.

The nightgown she wore seemed to belong to Zhou Siyu, after all, the ones she owned never lasted more than a week, and fragments of them could be found in every corner of the house.

Gathering her thoughts, she got out of bed.

Red wine wasn’t as strong as baijiu, but a faint scent of alcohol still lingered around her. She made her way to the walk-in closet with practiced ease.

The last time she was here, she hadn’t taken a good look at the room where she had lived for several years. Today, she slowed her pace and examined it carefully. The placement of everything was almost exactly the same as it had been years ago, with just a few additions of her own works.

As for Zhou Siyu’s belated affection, Xu You didn’t bother to comment. She stopped at the entrance of the walk-in closet, and when she looked up, it felt like a thunderbolt had struck her.

Long ago, their clothes and accessories had each occupied half of the space. Now, half of it was still reserved for her.

She had assumed those blush-inducing nightgowns had long been destroyed, never expecting Zhou Siyu to restock so quickly and thoroughly. Not only was the cabinet that once held her nightgowns still there, but Zhou Siyu had even allocated a section of her own space for them.

Pervert!

Xu You turned away, refusing to look further. She picked out an outfit from the clothes Zhou Siyu had ordered in her old style and slipped away as if her feet were greased, rushing into the bathroom attached to the room in an attempt to wash away the discomfort.

Warm yellow light spilled down onto her smooth skin. As she rubbed shampoo into her hair, foam ran everywhere, slipping into her eyes and blurring her vision. Squinting, she fumbled for the faucet handle, her fingertips brushing against the cool metal before lifting it. Scalding droplets of water cascaded down, making her gasp instinctively.

“What’s wrong?”

The foam rinsed away, and suddenly, there was someone else in front of her.

Zhou Siyu had just returned to the room after instructing Aunt Zhang to prepare hangover soup and a warm breakfast. Hearing Xu You’s cry, she rushed over to check. Instead of finding her fallen or injured, she was met with a vision of stunning beauty veiled in the steam, far beyond what she had imagined.

She froze. After countless intimate encounters, she could tell at a glance that Xu You had grown much thinner, her waist now slender and delicate, yet her chest remained as full and rounded as ever. Yesterday, she hadn’t dared to look closely.

Xu You watched as two dark red trails trickled down from beneath Zhou Siyu’s nose. Snatching up the faucet, she used the spray of water to block Zhou’s dazed stare.

“Get out! Get out!”