Chased by My Heartless Ex - Chapter 81

Xu You’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the cup she was holding. She couldn’t deny that Zhou Siyu had such intentions toward her. Reflecting on Zhou’s actions, she sighed helplessly and slowly nodded.

Qian Doudou’s gaze toward Xu You grew complicated. Zhou Siyu was undeniably attractive, wealthy, and a prominent figure in Beicheng. Qian Doudou couldn’t believe Xu You would provoke her, so she feared it was Zhou Siyu who had taken the initiative.

Someone who had climbed to such heights was the most difficult to deal with once crossed.

Noticing that Qian Doudou’s mood had soured because of her, Xu You waited for the coffee machine to finish brewing. She swapped her cup with Qian Doudou’s, pressed the button, and handed the ceramic mug to her.

The ever-thoughtful Qian Doudou, preoccupied with worrying about Xu You, absentmindedly brought the cup to her lips. The scalding steam hit her face, but she didn’t react until the hot liquid touched her lips, sending a wave of heat that jolted her back to her senses. She set the cup down, hissing and stomping her feet in pain.

Startled, Xu You quickly opened the ice maker, grabbed a square ice cube, and brought it to Qian Doudou’s mouth.

“What rotten luck,” Qian Doudou mumbled, clamping the ice between her teeth and letting her lips envelop it. The cool sensation instantly numbed the pain. “Well, serves me right for gossiping behind someone’s back.”

“Couldn’t agree more.”

The conversation ended there. Worried their colleagues might complain, the two returned to their desks one after the other. The design department fell into a focused silence as everyone immersed themselves in sketching for the new game. After reassuring Yu Yao, Xu You unexpectedly spotted an unread message from Zhou Siyu in the chat bar.

How does she always get news so fast?

A chill ran down Xu You’s spine as she moved the cursor over Zhou Siyu’s avatar and clicked.

[Zhou Siyu: I washed and hung your clothes last night. Should I bring them to you tomorrow?]

Staring at the overly ingratiating message, Xu You felt a headache coming on. She saw right through Zhou Siyu’s ulterior motives, using the clothes as an excuse to meet. If they did meet, Xu You was sure there’d be more waiting for her. The clothes weren’t valuable and had been stained the day before. Her slender fingers tapped briskly across the keyboard.

[Xu You: No need. Just throw them away.]

Almost instantly, the “typing” indicator appeared above the chat box.

Without waiting for Zhou Siyu’s reply, Xu You opened her drawing software and pulled up several sketches, scrutinizing which parts needed revision and where the details fell short. The folder named “Nüwa” remained empty. The thought of her stalled work fueled her irritation, just as another message from Zhou Siyu popped up.

[Okay, I’m free tomorrow evening. Want to meet?]

[Yes.]

Xu You typed the word through gritted teeth. No one could understand the turmoil inside her, her aversion was no match for her sense of responsibility and concern for her reputation. All she wanted was to finish the project and put it behind her.

Absorbed in the sketches on her screen, time flew by at the company. Two days passed in a flash.

As the team leader, Xu You had nearly finalized the assigned character designs and was working overtime to wrap things up.

The evening glow painted half the sky, with a fiery red sun sinking in the west, casting a warm orange hue across the design department’s office.

Despite the beautiful scenery, no one was there to appreciate it.

Xu You stared intently at the screen, meticulously adjusting the details of Yang Jian’s water-controlling entrance, the splashing droplets had to convey control, neither too many nor lacking in power. She repeatedly erased and redrew, trying out different approaches until she was finally satisfied. Tilting her head back, she began to relax the stiff muscles that had been held in one position for too long.

The office was so quiet that only the soft scratching of styluses against graphics tablets could be heard. Looking around, everyone was immersed in their own little worlds at their workstations.

After finishing her task, Xu You massaged her shoulders and glanced at the bottom right corner of the screen.

The time read 7:30 p.m. two hours past the usual end of the workday. Outside, night had crept over the treetops, swallowing the last traces of twilight. A cool, pale moon hung in the center of the sky, casting a faint glow.

She felt a bit tired and a little hungry.

Considering that Yu Yao and Mai were likely busy with company matters and might not be home or even if they were, there might not be any food, Xu You decided to grab a quick bite outside before heading back. The three of them, each preoccupied with their own lives, felt more like roommates struggling to make it in Beicheng than close friends.

Not wanting to disturb her colleagues, who were still focused and tense, Xu You quietly shut down her computer, packed her bag, and slipped out of the office without bothering anyone. She took the elevator down to the parking garage.

YUYOO’s garage had long replaced its constant lighting with motion-sensor lights in response to energy-saving initiatives.

As the elevator doors slid open, she stood in the brightly lit cabin and peered out into overwhelming darkness.

The early spring evening wind was still biting, and the drafty underground garage felt eerie. Xu You tightened her coat, but an invisible chill still seeped through her sleeves and collar.

The crisp sound of her heels against the floor tiles echoed around her and bounced back. The light at the elevator entrance flickered on, illuminating a small patch around her.

But beyond that small circle, thick darkness swallowed everything in sight.

Reluctant to move, Xu You had no choice but to press forward.

Her senses sharpened with tension, every rustle and whisper of wind amplified her fear, making her hairs stand on end.

As she cautiously approached the boundary between the elevator lobby and the garage, her heartbeat quickened. Fear of the unknown had reached its peak.

Suddenly, a sharp metallic screech echoed through the underground parking lot, followed by a faint, fiery red glow in the distance. The dim red light did little to reveal its surroundings, and Xu You’s heart sank.

A floating flame ruled out supernatural phenomena.

It could only be… a person.

What kind of decent person would hide silently in a parking garage at this hour? Xu You glanced up at the overhead light, her face pale. She was already exposed. A rough estimate put the distance between them at over thirty meters, she could still make a run for it.

At the very least, she could retreat to the elevator lobby, where surveillance cameras would capture any incident and help identify the perpetrator.

Her anxious thoughts only made her already heavy mood worse. The distant glow seemed to be drifting vaguely in her direction. Every hair on her body stood on end, her limbs refusing to obey her brain’s commands. She wanted to turn and sprint away, but her movements felt clumsy and uncoordinated.

Stumbling backward, she noticed that aside from Zhou Siyu’s private elevator, which was stopped on the same floor, the fire escape’s metal door was tightly shut.

Taking the elevator in this situation would be akin to suicide. Xu You locked the large iron door and sprinted up the stairs, her long legs moving swiftly. As her hand gripped the doorknob, a biting chill pierced through her skin, but she paid it no mind. With a forceful twist, she flung the door open and charged upward.

The clattering of her nearly five-centimeter heels echoed through the stairwell, accompanied by another set of footsteps that didn’t belong to her. The motion-sensor lights flickered on one by one as she passed, as if escorting her, lending her courage and hope.

The buildings in the tech park adhered to a uniform height standard. From the basement to the first floor, there were twenty-three steps. Xu You took them three at a time, reaching the first-floor exit in just over ten seconds before rushing into a coffee shop that was still open.

The café sold salads and sandwiches, and some overtime-working colleagues bought them for a quick dinner and a caffeine boost. At this hour, several people were lined up at the ordering machine. Hearing the commotion Xu You caused, they all turned to look at her.

Being stared at was better than being harmed. Xu You found a seat by the window and, with trembling hands and a heart pounding like a drum, pulled out her phone to seek help.

She scrolled through her contact list from top to bottom but couldn’t find anyone suitable. Since she hadn’t yet confirmed the identity of the person following her, she hesitated to call the police. After a moment’s thought, she followed the crowd of commuters heading home and made her way toward the security booth at the entrance.

Xu You didn’t dare look back, convinced that a pair of eyes was fixed on her.

The distance, which usually took just a minute by car, felt unbearably long on foot. Even surrounded by people, she felt no sense of security.

With less than a hundred meters to the security booth, Xu You tightened her grip on her phone, her nerves stretched to the breaking point. Just then, her phone rang.

Caller: Zhou Siyu.

“Hello, what’s up?” Xu You answered numbly, unaware of how badly her voice was trembling.

“Where are you?” Zhou Siyu had been thinking about their planned meeting nonstop. Unable to bear Xu You’s silence any longer, she had called, intending to play the victim. But upon hearing Xu You’s voice, she shot up from her office chair in alarm. “What’s wrong?”

Xu You’s ability to speak was compromised. She tried to form words, but they stuck in her throat, refusing to come out.

She was almost at the security booth. She looked closely.

The booth was empty, no one was on duty. Only the surveillance monitors inside displayed real-time footage from various points around the park.

“Xu You, where are you now? Answer me.”

Faced with Xu You’s silence, Zhou Siyu grew frantic. The central heating in her office meant she was only wearing a thin sweater. In her haste to find Xu You, she rushed out, leaving her coat hanging on the rack.

Xu You leaned against a support on the bustling main road, scanning her surroundings warily.

“At the main gate of the tech park.” It took over two minutes of hurried footsteps and concerned questioning from the other end of the line before Xu You slowly responded to Zhou Siyu’s first question.

Zhou Siyu, breathing unevenly, tried to calm her. “Okay, stand under a streetlight and wait for me. Don’t be afraid, I’ll be right there.”

Words offered Xu You little comfort. She listened blankly to the sounds Zhou Siyu made, waiting without expectation.

Zhou Siyu was true to her word. On the straight road, she was the only one running with all her might. Oblivious to the curious stares around her, she locked onto Xu You’s figure from afar and ran toward her with unwavering determination.

From the sixth floor to the first, from YUYOO Company to the main gate, Zhou Siyu arrived without hesitation. Ignoring Xu You’s stiff posture as she held her phone, she pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Zhou Siyu tried to channel her energy outward, soothing Xu You’s frayed nerves through both actions and words, one gentle reassurance at a time.

Xu You stood frozen, forgetting that colleagues might notice their intimate embrace on the way, forgetting the potential storm it could stir. She simply breathed heavily in Zhou Siyu’s arms.

“Earlier in the garage… there was someone,” Xu You finally spoke after a long pause, but couldn’t bring herself to say more.

Zhou Siyu’s heart skipped a beat, her arms tightening around Xu You, unable to let go.

The security guards changing shifts finally arrived near the security booth. With Zhou Siyu holding Xu You’s hand, the three of them pulled up all surveillance footage from YUYOO’s first floor and garage. Dozens of small screens played simultaneously, and ever since spotting the man’s presence, Zhou Siyu’s brows had remained tightly furrowed.

The unfamiliar man in the surveillance footage had swaggered into the underground garage through the vehicle entrance, casually examining hundreds of cars of various brands. Several clear camera angles even captured his enigmatic expression as he ran his hands over car exteriors.

He had been lurking for at least an hour, the sped-up footage showed him shifting positions while wandering among different cars for several minutes. Then Xu You appeared, they confronted each other across the darkness, a lighter flicked open and closed, and he made his move.

Recalling the terrifying moment, Xu You’s legs went weak while Zhou Siyu’s face darkened as if dripping with ink.

“Call the police. This man must be caught.” Zhou Siyu’s palm slammed hard on the desk, her fiery eyes seeming ready to devour the perpetrator.

The security guard, aware of Zhou Siyu’s position and how detrimental such an incident would be to their security company, immediately radioed the on-duty guards to search the premises for the man after hanging up with the police.

Xu You remained immersed in post-fear shock. Zhou Siyu held her hand, rubbing it back and forth, completely understanding Xu You’s breakdown because she knew better than anyone how severe Xu You’s night blindness and fear of darkness were.

Four or five police officers arrived, simultaneously reviewing footage, conducting interviews, and launching the arrest operation.

In less than half an hour, the security team apprehended the man and handed him over to the police.

Xu You remained seated while Zhou Siyu called the security captain and responsible personnel aside for discussions.

Soon she returned to Xu You’s side, her chilled hands not daring to touch Xu You again, only gently tucking the disheveled strands of hair behind her ears.

Kneeling before Xu You, she said: “You must be hungry. Let me take you to eat.”