Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 78

The water stream hit the glass, blurring Zhou Siyu’s vision. Concrete images dissolved into patches of color, giving infinite room for imagination. Crimson liquid trickled from the corner of her lips and down her chin, some droplets traced paths across her skin and vanished into the dark fabric of her clothes, while others splattered onto the white tiles, blooming like red flowers.

Xu You’s intense reaction jolted Zhou Siyu back to her remaining senses. She wiped the lower half of her face with the back of her hand, obediently complied with Xu You’s request, opened the bathroom door, and swiftly left.

Though they had separated, the lingering heat between them refused to fade.

Zhou Siyu’s burning, longing gaze remained etched in Xu You’s mind, evoking memories of their reckless youth, the awkward yet tender first time they bared themselves to each other.

On her eighteenth birthday, after two or three months of careful consideration, Xu You made up her mind to meet Zhou Siyu and share the decision she had long deliberated. She said she was willing, between lover and benefactor, what was bound to happen needed no further explanation.

Xu You flew to Beicheng specifically for this. After confirming their relationship, Zhou Siyu treated her to an extravagant meal and then took her directly to the most luxurious suite in the city’s highest-rated hotel at the time.

In the presidential suite on the hotel’s top floor, the two sat on the edge of the king-sized bed. Xu You’s hands were clasped tightly on her lap. Before long, Zhou Siyu wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gently laid her down.

That day was also their first kiss.

Soft lips pressed together, squeezing and rubbing. Xu You felt her head grow dizzy, unable to draw breath through her nose, and the air trapped in her lungs couldn’t escape through her mouth. Of course, she had never learned how to kiss and didn’t know how to breathe properly. She kissed until she was oxygen-deprived, until she nearly lost consciousness.

After several minutes of fervent kissing, Zhou Siyu noticed the girl beneath her had turned pale and was on the verge of fainting. She quickly released her.

Once their bodies parted, Xu You soon sat back obediently on the edge of the bed. This time, her hands weren’t clasped together. Blushing, she murmured in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz that she wanted to take a bath before moving forward.

She was afraid. Though she had prepared herself in advance, her legs trembled from the hips down. Yet anticipation took the lead. She thought, with Zhou Siyu by her side, she could face anything bravely.

“I don’t force anyone. If you say no, I won’t push further,” Zhou Siyu said, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. The dim, yellowish glow of a small lamp fell across her face, and from Xu You’s perspective, she looked like a celestial being descending to earth.

Xu You listened to her words, her oxygen-deprived brain not yet fully recovered. Misinterpreting them, she concluded, “If you don’t go through with this, there’s no need for us to continue. We’re breaking up.”

Her mind went blank with a sudden crash. Panic-stricken, she scrambled up from the bed and hurried over to Zhou Siyu, flustered and anxious.

She knew nothing before this, she could have been called a blank slate. Unlike others who might navigate intimacy with ease, she could only clumsily, pitifully press her lips against Zhou Siyu’s once more.

Their lips met again. Xu You stood on her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around Zhou Siyu’s neck, burying her fluffy head against her shoulder.

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to,” she paused, lifting her head, the tips of her ears flushed red. “I can. It’s just… I’d like us to take a bath first, to be clean.”

Zhou Siyu looked down at her, observing her trembling, her nervousness, and then her gradual resolve.

She kissed the tip of Xu You’s nose. “Okay.”

And so, in a daze, the two somehow found themselves stepping into the bathroom together.

Zhou Siyu took off her clothes, one piece after another, with clean and efficient movements. After her coat, her base layer followed, pooling on the floor, until only her bra and underwear remained. She had nearly bared it all, leaving Xu You frozen in place, unable to move.

Xu You was utterly captivated, completely stunned.

As an art student, she had rigorously studied art for over a decade. Whether for academic advancement or her chosen path, she had sketched countless meticulously crafted plaster sculptures and various live models.

She was no stranger to the human form, but this was the first time she had encountered such sheer perfection. Her paralysis wasn’t just due to desire but also awe.

“Do you need my help?” Zhou Siyu’s hands moved behind her back, applying a gentle pressure. The restraint on her upper body fell away, revealing even more of herself.

Xu You shook her head, her expression dully betraying her inner thoughts: “You’re so beautiful. May I draw you?”

Zhou Siyu’s hands paused mid-motion. She blinked in confusion before a memory seemed to surface, curling the corners of her lips into a smile. “You may, but only when it’s just the two of us. And,” she pinched Xu You’s plump cheek, “no sharing it with others.”

At this, Xu You’s eyes sparkled with delight.

She had chosen Zhou Siyu, and this flawless exterior had played a significant role in that decision. She could afford to miss out on a person of uncertain merit, but she couldn’t let a masterpiece slip away.

Xu You nodded repeatedly, her previously fidgety hands finally settling on the horn buttons at the top of her coat.

The bathroom ceiling light cast a warm, yellow glow, and the heater filled the space with warmth and an air of intimacy. She undid the buttons one by one, while Zhou Siyu moved to the bathtub, adjusting the water temperature.

Still bashful, Xu You moved slowly, taking several minutes just to remove her outerwear. By the time she reached Zhou Siyu’s level of undress, the warm water in the tub was nearly cool.

“Are you really ready?” Zhou Siyu asked her for the second time that day.

Xu You nodded firmly, shedding the last piece of fabric and wrapping her arms around her chest before cautiously stepping into the tub and sinking into the water.

Who was really the more experienced one? Just as Xu You was adjusting to the temperature, she drew her legs in to make space, only to see a splash of crimson drip into the rippling water. The bright red spread in concentric circles before the blood dissolved and vanished into the clear water.

Zhou Siyu had a nosebleed. She hadn’t done anything, yet her nose was bleeding.

“Quick, take care of it! Don’t tilt your head back, go to the sink and clean up!”

Any trace of romance was washed away by the surprise. Xu You stood up abruptly from the water, droplets rolling down her fair skin in a dizzying display.

Zhou Siyu’s nosebleed only intensified. Pushed toward the sink a few meters away, Xu You swiftly turned on the faucet and cleaned the blood, then stuffed folded tissues into her nostrils.

Sitting on the toilet, Zhou Siyu felt her heart melt as she watched the young woman fuss over her.

In that moment, love outweighed desire; the connection was what mattered most.

She knew her own feelings well. She hadn’t sought out Xu You purely for physical release. She understood even more clearly that her desires burned for this one person alone. So, in a way, she was savoring this time.

The only problem was that she had frightened Xu You.

By the time the nosebleed stopped, the water droplets on Xu You’s body had evaporated in her flurry of activity. Her rosy lips parted slightly as she breathed in shallow, hurried gasps.

“The air is too dry. Have you been too busy to eat fruits and vegetables?” Her chest rose and fell as she faced Zhou Siyu without a trace of nervousness. Her delicate brows drew close together, and she asked with a serious expression.

Zhou Siyu rubbed the tip of her nose and nodded.

She couldn’t possibly admit that she had been overwhelmed by the sight, feeling dizzy and agitated, it didn’t suit her image.

“Then rest for a while. I’ll have someone bring some herbal tea and fruits.” With that, ignoring Zhou Siyu’s attempt to stop her, Xu You pushed open the door and stepped out of the bathroom.

The presidential suite was impeccably soundproofed, no noise from outside could be heard inside, and no sounds from within could escape. Wrapped in a bathrobe and carrying a matching one, Xu You pushed the door open and froze at the sight of Zhou Siyu sitting on the toilet, her face instantly drained of color.

Zhou Siyu sat with her long legs crossed, completely unbothered by her nakedness, her fingers pinching a small card.

If Xu You remembered correctly, that card bore her own photo and the words “Student ID” printed clearly on one side.

Xu You stood rooted to the spot, suddenly unable to meet Zhou Siyu’s gaze. She lowered her eyes to the gaps between the tiles at her feet. The high-end hotel was impeccably clean, with not a speck of dirt between the tiles, unlike the lies she had spun, which had turned her into a deceiver no one would like.

She didn’t know how to speak, how to explain.

How could she explain the clear label of “High School” on the student ID? How could she explain that this high school was located thousands of miles away in Shanghai?

She had lied. She was an outright villain.

She hung her head, awaiting Zhou Siyu’s judgment and reprimand.

She thought their relationship was about to end, barely ten hours after it had even begun. Her eyes reddened.

Zhou Siyu’s gaze remained fixed on Xu You’s student number, which started with “17.” Calculating from that, the girl was only in her final year of high school. She had mistaken her for a student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts when she first saw her at the gate, someone she could approach with money. The thought made her temples throb painfully.

“You’re a high school student?”

Xu You remained still, listening to the icy tone in Zhou Siyu’s voice. A single tear escaped her eye and fell directly onto the tile without even touching her skin.

Was it a rebuke, or something even harsher? The thought made Xu You too afraid to answer.

Seeing the girl’s pitiful, bowed head, Zhou Siyu’s guilt surged rapidly. She tossed the tissue stuffed in her nostril into the trash, stepped closer, took the bathrobe from Xu You’s hand, and draped it over herself. With deft fingers, she tied the belt into a knot, then lifted Xu You’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze.

“Crying?” Xu You’s eyes were red, tears still clinging to the tips of her lashes. Zhou Siyu’s heart ached at the sight.

Xu You didn’t dare look at her, much less speak.

“It seems you’re well aware that a high school student has no place in a relationship like ours.” Zhou Siyu sighed, her thumb gently stroking Xu You’s cheek to wipe away the tears.

The tender gesture only made the tears fall faster, like a broken string of pearls, rolling down one after another.

Zhou Siyu knew her identity. She must be blaming her, angry, thinking of a way to get rid of her. Xu You’s sobs grew louder, uncontrollable, escalating from quiet whimpers to full-blown weeping. Between sobs, she kept apologizing.

“I’m sorry, I lied to you. I shouldn’t have deceived you. Wuwuwu… You should hate me. I’m so terrible…”

Zhou Siyu was no stranger to difficult situations. Throughout her school and work life, without boasting, her looks alone had constantly attracted admirers. She could always handle them with calm composure, yet when it came to Xu You, she felt an inexplicable frustration, as if her strength was useless.

If Xu You was wrong, then she was terribly wrong.

If Xu You was a bad person, then she was the ultimate villain.

“If you keep crying, I’ll get angry,” Zhou Siyu threatened. Hearing this, Xu You stopped sobbing and silently wept instead.

The sight of the teary-eyed girl stirred pity in Zhou Siyu, who inwardly cursed herself for being shameless as she reached out and pulled Xu You into an embrace.

“Tell me, did you agree to be with me just for the money? If you need money, I can give it to you, but you can’t do things like this anymore.” Zhou Siyu was seeking confirmation, she couldn’t possibly take advantage of a high school student; that would be too perverse.

Xu You was too busy crying to speak, only shaking her head in response.

Zhou Siyu led her to the bathroom doorway. The temperature difference made both of them more alert. Xu You curled up on a chair, not daring to look up.

Dealing with someone who was immune to both soft and hard approaches was challenging. After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Zhou Siyu sternly told Xu You that at her age, she should focus on her studies and that their current behavior bordered on illegality. Just then, the doorbell rang.

Assuming it was the fruit and tea she had ordered, Zhou Siyu left Xu You with a “think it over carefully” and headed toward the door.

“I know this kind of relationship is wrong, but I like you. I came to you because I wanted to be with you. Lying to you was my fault, I’m sorry. I’ll go change and leave right away.”

A soft, tearful voice came from behind, followed by rustling sounds. With her back turned, Zhou Siyu guessed that Xu You had slipped on her slippers and was slowly making her way to the bathroom.

The doorbell kept ringing, and as the girl moved away, Zhou Siyu clenched her fist, turned around, and strode toward the bathroom.

She was the one who had initiated this, the one who had made the first move. Xu You shouldn’t have to bear all the blame alone.

“I’m not blaming you. I’m also grateful for your affection and trust in me,” Zhou Siyu said calmly. Xu You, thinking she was just comforting her with a “nice person” brush-off, bent down to pick up her underwear. Forgetting her earlier shyness, she untied her robe and put it on.

“We’re both at fault here, not just you, me too.”

Without pausing, Xu You pulled on her thermal pants and suddenly let out a bitter laugh. She was still a naive child who knew nothing about dressing herself. Layering pants made her look bulky and unattractive, yet she only wore a thin jacket over her base layer.

The gap in age and habits was insurmountable.

“Are you determined to cut ties with me? Today?” Zhou Siyu asked, growing impatient as if Xu You wasn’t listening.

Xu You pulled on a top and turned to her, forcing a pitiful smile that nearly broke Zhou Siyu’s heart.

She smiled bitterly, “What else can we do? It seems we can’t have any other kind of relationship.”

“I’ll wait for you for six months. During this time, I’ll continue transferring money to you each month as agreed. You’ll be busy, and so will I, we’ll understand each other. I won’t demand daily contact from you; just focus on your studies. I’ll visit you in Shanghai once a month. Until you become a college student, I won’t touch you.”

Xu You froze, completely unprepared for this turn of events. In that moment, her love for Zhou Siyu deepened even more.

Memories surged back. Xu You placed the showerhead back in its spot and stood under the water, rinsing off the foam and washing away her wandering thoughts.

Zhou Siyu and she were no longer possible, just as their beginning had never been pure.

She opened her eyes, moved her head away from the water stream, and took two deep breaths. A flash of golden light sparked in her mind.

If not as a lover, Zhou Siyu could serve a better purpose.

Heaven forbid a red lock.