Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 8

Xu You froze in place. Zhou Siyu’s retreating figure was so resolute and decisive that she hadn’t even processed which word or phrase had upset her, let alone managed to voice any attempt to stop her.

Outside the window, the night was like an ink stain that refused to dissolve, thick clouds veiled the moonlight and hid the stars, leaving only the streetlamps and neon signs along the road struggling to shine.

Staring blankly at the tightly shut door, she lay awake the entire night.

Dawn crept over the horizon, piercing through the clouds but unable to penetrate the curtains. Having sat on the bed hugging her knees all night, the moisture in Xu You’s eyes had long since dried up, leaving only a web of angry red veins across the whites.

In all the time she had known Zhou Siyu, she had never seen her act like this. No matter how big the issue at work or how foul her mood, Zhou Siyu had never taken it out on her, at most, she might be a little rougher or more intense. That was why, right now, Xu You was terrified…

She blinked, but no tears fell, only a dull, aching soreness tugged at her nerves.

Her phone, lying beside the pillow, suddenly lit up. She had unlocked and locked it countless times throughout the night, and at this faint glow in the room, she snatched it up within a second to check the message.

[YAOYAO: OMG, just met a French girl at the café. I think I finally get why you were so lovestruck at first sight back then.]

It wasn’t Zhou Siyu. Xu You forced a bitter smile, then mustered her energy to unlock the phone and reply.

[YOYO: What, has your cement heart started to flutter?]

[YAOYAO: Probably, maybe, seems like it, yes.]

[YOYO: That’s great! Since you like her, did you go after her? Did you get her contact info?]

Yu Yao was her only close friend. They had been neighbors since childhood, classmates throughout their school years, and knew every detail of each other’s lives. Ever since Yu Yao’s love letter was rejected in middle school, she had locked away her heart and sworn off love. Hearing that she felt a spark now, Xu You immediately urged her to go for it boldly.

But she knew Yu Yao’s personality, usually bold and outgoing, but in moments like this, she’d probably be blushing and unable to make a move.

The next second, the ringtone of a WeChat video call echoed through the quiet room, Yu Yao’s cry for help, traveling over mountains and rivers to reach her.

Xu You swallowed, her throat dry and scratchy from not speaking for so long that she felt the urge to cough. Suppressing the discomfort, she tapped the decline button and carefully worded a reply to Yu Yao.

“Can we chat by text? Or you can send voice messages. It’s a bit inconvenient for me here.”

Halfway through typing her message, the impatient Yu Yao beat her to it.

[YAOYAO: Wow, nobody puts ‘friends after romance’ into practice like you do. Is that one still not awake at this hour?]

Disapproving of Zhou Siyu, Yu Yao wouldn’t even type out her name.

Xu You sighed. The more she said, the more mistakes she’d make, better to let Yu Yao misunderstand. At least that way, she wouldn’t worry and get worked up on Xu You’s behalf.

She cleared the text box and replied with a simple “Mm.”

Just as Yu Yao was about to tease her further, she remembered her main reason for reaching out and briefly outlined the current situation between her and the French girl, all the information she had gathered about her, and the endless excuses she was making for her own hesitation.

What if she’s straight? What if she doesn’t like foreigners? If they argue because of cultural differences and she can’t understand, what then? With different nationalities, would they break up when she eventually returns to her home country?

From before dating to the height of passion to the brink of a breakup, Yu Yao asked about every possible problem, no matter how unlikely.

Xu You pressed her lips into a thin line. As someone who had been through it before, she too had overthought when Zhou Siyu first showed her favor. It wasn’t until her daily rhythm was disrupted, her mind and heart filled with the breathtaking memory of their first encounter, that she resolved to come to Beicheng and pursue this person full of unknowns.

Admittedly, their relationship was unconventional and couldn’t be openly acknowledged, but she knew deep down that refusing would lead to regret. Only by taking the initiative could more possibilities unfold. And now, she had no regrets, even if time were rewound, her choice would remain the same.

As she chatted with Yu Yao, Xu You gradually calmed down. After encouraging Yu Yao to be brave, she switched to her conversation window with Zhou Siyu.

The day before, she had stubbornly ignored Zhou Siyu’s messages, and their exchange had stalled at that brief explanation. Below it were long strings of apologies and humble pleas for reconciliation. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Alone in the room, Xu You tightened her grip on her phone, hesitant to open the door. Only after the bell rang three times, unhurried and spaced out, did she tighten the belt of her robe and head to the entrance.

Cracking the door open a sliver, she saw a woman in a bar uniform and widened the gap. The woman held a branded shopping bag in front of her, a luxury brand Zhou Siyu frequented.

Upon seeing Xu You, she offered a polite smile. “Miss Xu, Ms. Zhou asked me to deliver this to you. She also mentioned that the driver is waiting in the parking lot. Once you’re ready, contact him for a ride home.”

Xu You took the bag, thanked her, and closed the door. The gloom over her head instantly lifted, chaotic thoughts cleared away, and her cheeks rounded with a bright smile.

[YAOYAO: Sweetie, she gave me her contact info!]

Just as Yu Yao updated her on her romantic progress, Xu You threw herself onto the bed, her cotton robe slipping down to her knees. Her slender, pale legs swung back and forth as she sent a voice message, congratulating her friend with a laugh.

She congratulated Yu Yao for taking the first step and herself for finally receiving a response.

Yu Yao replied with a teasing voice message, calling her “cheap,” which Xu You happily accepted.

Changing into the new clothes Zhou Siyu had sent, she folded the soiled clothes from the previous day into the bag, contacted Xiao Fu to confirm his location, and headed to the front desk with her key card to check out.

“Are both rooms under Ms. Zhou’s name being checked out?” The front desk staff paused, mouse in hand, and looked up after scanning the key card.

Two rooms?

Xu You’s eyebrow twitched. So, Zhou Siyu hadn’t left, she had just booked another room farther away to avoid her. The thought brought a sigh of relief; at least she hadn’t been reckless enough to drive under the influence. Her safety was what mattered.

As the staff waited for her reply, she nodded. “Yes, check both out.”

The checkout process was much simpler than check-in. In just over ten seconds, the staff informed her it was complete and she could leave.

On her way down to the parking lot via the elevator, Xu You received a new message. Unlocking her phone without much expectation, her mood genuinely lifted at the content.

[Patron Sister: Don’t overthink it. Last night was my fault.]

Xu You sweetly replied with an “Okay,” then skipped her way to the business car in the parking lot, pulling the door open and hopping in.

After exchanging greetings with Xiao Fu, he stepped on the accelerator and drove her back to Jingsheng Imperial Club.

The unpleasantness of the previous night seemed to have never happened. After getting out of the car, she greeted Aunt Zhang, who was weeding the front yard, then returned to her studio to draw. She ate lunch and dinner alone.

Late at night, after changing into the pajamas Zhou Siyu had personally picked out, she lay in the large bed and suddenly felt a sense of unease.

It was too quiet.

Although it was common for Zhou Siyu not to initiate messages for a day, Xu You couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

[YOYO: Are you coming back tonight, sis?]

Believing their relationship had thawed, Xu You took the initiative to contact Zhou Siyu first.
She didn’t dare ask what time she’d return, only timidly inquiring whether she’d be back at all.

Zhou Siyu seemed to be deliberately keeping her waiting, taking an excruciatingly long time before replying with a simple “No.”

One day of this, Xu You could still comfort herself by thinking Zhou Siyu was too busy with work to return. But ever since their unpleasant parting at the hotel four or five days ago, their conversations had remained this brief.

With the weekend approaching, Zhou Siyu hadn’t responded to earlier invitations for park sketching walks, and now she wouldn’t even exchange casual words with her. Xu You knew something was definitely wrong between them, yet she stubbornly maintained their nightly question-and-answer ritual, enduring the long nights alone.

On Sunday, without telling anyone, she went alone to the nearest riverside park in the villa district.

With her emotions tethered to Zhou Siyu, only painting, which she’d studied since age three, still held enough power over her to provide solace. She needed to save herself.

Finding a secluded spot with nice scenery, she set up her easel and arranged her paint box and palette. After roughly sketching the outline, she looked up to observe details and her gaze happened to fall on a bench not far away.

It was an ordinary park bench, but the person sitting on it was someone she knew well.

Zhou Siyu, who hadn’t been seen for almost a week, was leaning against the backrest wearing the black coat they’d chosen together. One of her long legs, clad in suit pants, rested vertically on the ground while the other stretched lazily forward, her heel lodged between two pebbles.

The person sitting beside her was none other than Zhang Qin, the only one who could call her “Ayu.”

From Xu You’s diagonal vantage point, hidden behind her easel, she couldn’t tell if they could see her. But she could see them clearly, the two seemed in good spirits. Zhou Siyu’s heel tapped rhythmically against the small depression, while Zhang Qin laughed coquettishly, her chest nearly pressing against Zhou Siyu’s arm.

That vixen was clearly trying to seduce her, and she wasn’t even trying to avoid it.

So, had “being busy” all these days just been an excuse?

These thoughts surfaced one after another. Xu You tried to make herself smaller, her eyes reddening as she pulled out her phone to send a message.

[YOYO: Still so busy on the weekend?]

Her hands trembled as she typed, needing several attempts to finally hit send.

Afraid of being discovered yet wanting to see her reaction, Xu You stealthily shifted position.

Zhou Siyu took her phone from her pocket, retracting her leg impatiently as she glanced down and swiped at the screen a few times. Soon, the caseless phone was tossed back into her pocket.

A vibration came from Xu You’s palm.

[Zhou Zhou Jiejie: Yeah.]