Finally Being Snatched Away at My Wedding by My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Tender Captivity

“Mm, be good.”

Hearing Pei Xing’s voice come from the phone, Su Yuan first froze, then his face slowly began to burn. He snatched the phone, prepared to be angry, but saw only a screen full of voice bars. They were all sent last night.

Zhou Wei looked up and scanned the surroundings, pretending not to know what had happened.

Getting into the car, Su Yuan’s ears were still red. He didn’t understand why Pei Xing would say something so strange.

After reporting the itinerary, Zhou Wei consoled him, “It’s nothing; when I chat with my girlfriend, it’s even mushier than this.”

Su Yuan’s ears stopped getting redder, but his expression became even worse.

Zhou Wei realized his mistake. “Did I… say something wrong?”

Su Yuan nodded.

“I’m sorry, Su Yuan. I shouldn’t have said that. Ugh, the boss often says my mouth says too much and makes too many mistakes… Please don’t tell the boss; I still want to keep my job. Though he’s been scolding me less lately…”

Su Yuan turned his head to look at Zhou Wei, who was scratching his hair, and spoke in a small voice, “Pei Xing… scolds people?”

True, Pei Xing was indeed very fierce now.

“He’s just very serious, rarely smiles, and speaks very little…”

Su Yuan blinked. Pei Xing used to look that way, but inside, he was kind and gentle. Now, he was like a walking powder keg, exploding in front of him for no reason and getting angry at the drop of a hat.

Beside him, Zhou Wei continued, “…Sometimes when the boss is in a bad mood, for example, if someone asks about his college days, only Sister Mary dares to speak to him.”

Mary…

Su Yuan looked up, wanting to ask something, but swallowed the words back down.

When he woke up, he could still see the sun, but when the car stopped, the sky had turned grey, with only the cold wind of the neighborhood pouring in.

Su Yuan got out with his bag. Zhou Wei, fearing he might run away, kept urging him to leave the bag in the car.

“There are still my things in the art studio. If I don’t bring a bag, how will I pack them?”

“Me and the driver will help you; we can definitely carry it all!”

Su Yuan looked at the two of them and pursed his lips. “You’re going to accompany me inside?”

Zhou Wei’s gaze was sincere. “Su Yuan, if you suffer any more grievances, we will definitely lose our jobs.”

This sentence was a bit strange, but thinking of Pei Xing the powder keg he didn’t refuse again.

Resigning went smoothly, and there weren’t many things; Su Yuan put the scattered items into a storage bag. No one dared to come and watch the excitement, as Zhou Wei had maintained a snarling, fierce expression from the moment he entered, looking like he could fight ten people at once.

The second art studio, however, was not as easy.

As soon as Su Yuan entered the office, Boss Chen spoke first.

“Su Yuan, about the matter you mentioned last time, we discussed it,” Boss Chen sat on the sofa smoking a cigarette with his legs crossed. “Advancing 100,000 in fees at once is too high. If you sign the contract first, we can pay you half.”

People always loathe their past selves.

Su Yuan lowered his head and said word by word, “Boss Chen, I didn’t come to talk about cooperation. This manga is the author’s own original hard work; I cannot accept being someone’s ghostwriter.”

Hearing this, the man on the sofa immediately sneered.

“Cannot accept? Su Yuan, do you still think you’re the young master of the Su family? Giving you this job is already looking up to you; don’t be ungrateful.”

“I’m here to resign,” Su Yuan said.

“What did you say?”

“The pay was daily, and there was no labor contract, so I’m just here to notify you.” Su Yuan finished speaking and turned to open the door, preparing to leave.

“Stop right there!” Boss Chen stood up. “Fine, acting all high and mighty now, are we? I’m telling you, Su Yuan, you’re not walking out of this door today! I—”

Zhou Wei ran in from outside holding his phone, pointing at the snarling Boss Chen. “Everyone, look! This is the boss of Youyou Studio. Not only does he find ghostwriters for his daughter’s ‘original’ manga, he threatens people when they don’t agree! Truly shameless, cheating readers and fans of their money while bullying others!”

Boss Chen was dumbfounded, pointing at Zhou Wei. “Who are you? Where did you come from? Did Su Yuan find you?”

Zhou Wei slapped away the hand pointing at Su Yuan. “Try pointing again. I’ll expose you right now!”

Su Yuan leaned against the wall, eyes wide as he watched the two of them arguing tooth and nail. Zhou Wei shoved the camera toward Boss Chen’s face and didn’t forget to call Su Yuan over to throw in a few insults.

“Su Yuan, the boss said that even if the sky falls, there’s a 193cm guy to hold it up. If you’re unhappy, scold him back!” After speaking, Zhou Wei added, “The 193 part was my own addition; a man over 1.9 meters won’t mention his height anymore.”

Su Yuan let out a laugh.

“Su Yuan, come and scold him back!”

He pinched his fingers, walked up to Boss Chen, and raised his hand. “You… bastard!”

Zhou Wei smiled triumphantly, then realized there was no more sound behind him. He asked hesitantly, “Is that… the end of the scolding?”

Su Yuan nodded.

Zhou Wei put away his phone, thinking to himself: The boss is indeed farsighted. This scolding sounds like acting spoiled; it’s hard not to be bullied by others.

When they came out of the studio, the sun peeked out from the clouds.

After reporting the progress to Pei Xing, Zhou Wei put away his phone. “Alright, now that that’s settled, let me take you to pick out furniture.”

Su Yuan stared blankly at a small pigeon landing on the street corner. “What? Pick out furniture?”

“Yes,” Zhou Wei nodded. “Don’t you think the villa is a bit empty?”

Su Yuan looked away and waved his hand. “It’s not appropriate. This is Pei Xing’s home; I’m only staying temporarily. I shouldn’t be the one buying furniture.”

Zhou Wei pulled out a bank card from his pocket. “Of course you aren’t buying it; the boss is! You’re just responsible for picking it. The boss gave me several cards; fearing you wouldn’t accept them, he left them with me for now.”

Su Yuan lowered his head in a difficult position. He didn’t know if Zhou Wei was aware of his awkward relationship with Pei Xing. Having dated for four years only to have an ungraceful breakup, he had left Pei Xing alone in the summer, fleeing like a cowardly deserter.

“Zhou Wei, Pei Xing and I are not friends, just…”

“An employment relationship.”

Su Yuan looked up. “What?”

Zhou Wei used the rhetoric the boss had prepared. “A busy man like the boss has no time to go shopping himself. In America, he was so busy that even his clothes were bought by personal shoppers. Just treat this as being a furniture shopper.”

Is Pei Xing that busy?

Su Yuan’s thoughts began to drift again. When they lived together, no matter how busy Pei Xing was, he would come home at noon to cook for him. Even if he was tired from overtime, he would accompany Su Yuan to paint, read, or do crafts when he got home, sometimes falling asleep at the desk… He must be even busier now.

“Moreover, the boss said he would pay you at the highest industry rate. You can earn a lot.”

He looked at Zhou Wei, feeling something was off, but the numbers the other party gave soon made his eyes light up.

Su Yuan liked decorating houses. Seeing a room slowly filled with rugs, pillows, gauze curtains, and books made him feel at peace. That way, even if he were required to “rest quietly” by his family again, he wouldn’t be bored.

In the private room of a luxury store, Su Yuan selected some familiar series of furniture, while Zhou Wei was responsible for confirming delivery times and installation with the clerk.

“Su Yuan, go browse outside and wait for me.”

A clerk nearby received a look and followed him.

Su Yuan slowly browsed the ready-to-wear section of the luxury store, his gaze occasionally lingering on a few pieces of clothing before quickly moving on. But every time he stopped, the clerk following quietly behind him would tap something on a tablet.

Su Yuan turned to look at her warily. “I wasn’t planning on doing anything.”

The clerk smiled. “Of course, guest.”

Su Yuan was puzzled. Just then, Zhou Wei walked out, and the two soon went to the next luxury store.

After browsing all morning, his legs were sore. Finally, while testing sofas, he could walk no further.

Zhou Wei sat on the sofa diagonally opposite Su Yuan and lamented, “I feel corrupted by money.”

“But seriously, Su Yuan, how did you survive?”

The backrest of the two-million-yuan sofa supported Su Yuan’s neck, making him reluctant even to turn his head. “Survive what?”

“These luxury goods. You had them for over twenty years, and then suddenly they were gone. How did you endure it?”

The square light of the white mesh weave overhead shone on Su Yuan’s face, coating it in an expensive and beautiful glow.

He smiled. “I don’t know either. Things just happened. Even if one is unwilling to accept it, one can only accept it. Besides, complaining only makes everything worse.”

Listening to this, Zhou Wei tentatively asked the question, “If you had contacted the boss earlier, these things would have been solved quickly… Have you ever thought about that?”

Su Yuan thought of that phone call again.

“Xing? I’m his girlfriend Rosemary. Sorry, who am I speaking to?”

Su Yuan’s eyes flickered. He slowly sat up straight, pretended he hadn’t heard, and used Pei Xing’s money to buy a three-million-yuan sofa out of spite.

The sofa was placed on the empty first floor that same night.

Su Yuan lay on the sofa with his eyes closed, the sound of wind and rain outside the terrace in his ears. The night wind, dampened by rain, blew across his feet, feeling as cool as stream water that hadn’t been touched by the sun.

The lights were off; only the flame of a white scented candle on the floor flickered. Beneath the wick, a shallow hollow had burned. Only after burning longer would those hollows disappear.

The hollow in his heart had burned for two years and was still not level; it still hurt.

Sensing someone, Su Yuan opened his eyes. Melanie walked down the stairs.

“Su, I have organized the clothes that were delivered after washing and drying them. If you want to sleep on the sofa, I can bring you a blanket.”

Su Yuan didn’t know how to answer for a moment. He didn’t understand why the clothes he had looked at in the luxury store were delivered along with the sofa. Just as he didn’t understand his intention for sleeping on the sofa now because no matter how long he slept there, he wouldn’t leave any trace on this expensive sofa, and he would eventually be replaced by the original owner of this home.

“Thank you, Melanie,” Su Yuan stood up and walked upstairs. “Goodnight.”

…

It rained all night.

Su Yuan received a refund from the landlord, who didn’t even require him to pay the liquidated damages. Su Yuan was very happy. He went to the hospital to talk to the attending physician about his father’s condition; hearing that it was stable, Su Yuan breathed another sigh of relief.

Zhou Wei was happy for him on the side, saying Pei Xing had already made arrangements; once he was out of the ICU, his father would be transferred to a better hospital.

When the conversation reached this point, Su Yuan again avoided the topic related to Pei Xing.

“Zhou Wei, you’re like my lifestyle assistant now. Doesn’t that feel like a waste of your talents?”

Zhou Wei graduated with a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Michigan; he shouldn’t be wandering aimlessly in Huaicheng like a ghost alongside him.

“Not at all.” Zhou Wei’s answer was categorical. “I’m the third assistant; I was supposed to have more duties in lifestyle care anyway. In Silicon Valley, I also helped the boss make coffee, deliver documents, and remind him to eat. Being with you, I don’t have to do those three things; I just accompany you to see your uncle and go shopping, and my salary has doubled. A waste of talent? I’d love to be ‘wasted’ like this until I retire.”

Su Yuan pinched his fingertips. “Your work content is quite detailed, even reminding him to eat…”

“The boss is so busy his feet don’t touch the ground. Often, lunch is taken out exactly as it was brought in.” Zhou Wei secretly glanced at Su Yuan, who had lowered his head. “The itinerary for this trip back home was also decided suddenly. He had already declined that university speech, but somehow suddenly agreed again.”

Su Yuan’s expression didn’t seem to change.

Zhou Wei continued, “The last two days have been okay, but a few days ago, I saw messages in the group—the company side was going crazy! It’s understandable; the boss finished the speech, and the plane back to San Francisco was about to land, but he suddenly bought the nearest flight to Huaicheng. It’s no wonder the company people were anxious. Besides, the boss hasn’t closed his eyes for 24 hours back and forth, handling work while worrying about your affairs.”

Su Yuan looked to the side and didn’t respond.

Before getting into the car, Zhou Wei still hadn’t given up. “The boss really cares about you and your uncle. If he had known earlier, he definitely wouldn’t have let you face so much pressure alone.”

These words sounded like something Pei Xing would say. But they shouldn’t have said that when they had already been broken up for two years and he had a girlfriend. So Su Yuan decided to continue pretending he hadn’t heard and got into the car.

He had the driver take him to the southwest side gate of Huaihai University. This was the main entrance to the Huaihai Academy of Fine Arts; there were many shops selling painting supplies nearby, and all the necessary tools could be bought there.

With no need to worry about medical fees or housing, and Pei Xing not allowing him to go out to work, Su Yuan prepared to buy some tools to paint at home as he used to.

After getting out of the car, just as Su Yuan was walking toward a shop, Zhou Wei suddenly ran in front of him and stopped him.

“Su Yuan, you aren’t going to buy painting supplies, are you? No need to buy them.”

“Huh?” Su Yuan looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Zhou Wei struggled to organize his words. “It’s just… no rush to buy them yet. Your priority is to rest for a while; people only have inspiration after they relax.”

Su Yuan was puzzled. Then something occurred to him, his expression shifted slightly, and his voice became very light. “Is it… that Pei Xing doesn’t want me to get the house too dirty? I’ll definitely be careful. I’ll cover the floors and walls with waterproof cloth… or, I can paint outdoors.”

“Of course not!” Zhou Wei was so anxious he almost jumped, scratching his head. “Anyway, rest first. When you’re fit to paint, the boss will definitely agree.”

Su Yuan didn’t understand what Pei Xing really wanted to do. Was he keeping him as a mistress? But it seemed he didn’t need any emotional return; since bringing him back to the villa that day, he hadn’t appeared again, nor had he ever sent a message or made a call, as if he never existed.

He seemed to have walked into yet another greenhouse. But this time there seemed to be no reason to refuse or be headstrong; the wind and rain outside were too heavy, quenching the naive yearnings he once held. He could only stay obediently in this greenhouse.

“Alright,” Su Yuan nodded gently. “I understand.”

…

Su Yuan had to admit that since being brought back to the lake district villa by Pei Xing, this was an unprecedentedly light and pleasant time for him in over a year. This greenhouse made him feel so safe; the exhaustion from the past year was dispelled, and his overworked heart got a chance to breathe. No more worrying about his father’s medical fees, no more worrying about the door lock being pried open in the middle of the night.

Pei Xing wouldn’t hurt him; he knew this clearly.

But his sense of morality didn’t seem to want to let him live too comfortably. It always struck late at night, pulling everything down, reminding him that everything he possessed was but a mirage, or even that he had “usurped the magpie’s nest.” It even forced him to admit his own hypocrisy and weakness.

Su Yuan sat on the terrace every day with his legs hugged, staring blankly at the lake. Soon, the cool wooden terrace was covered with a thick rug. Su Yuan lay on his side right there and continued to stare blankly.

Melanie and the other maids in the house were very quiet, never taking the initiative to talk to him unless necessary, as if living in a vacuum.

Having nothing to do made Su Yuan lethargic all day.

In the evening, Su Yuan was awakened by a tickle on his cheek, thinking it was a fallen leaf again. Opening his eyes, a small calico long-haired cat appeared before him. Two pairs of round big eyes met, and a tender pink nose rubbed against his cheek. “Meow~”

Su Yuan froze, looked for a long time, then propped himself up with his arms. The little calico stretched out its claws to climb up the blanket, jumped into his arms, and kept rubbing its furry head against his chest. “Meow~”

“Little Calico?” Su Yuan finally regained his senses. “How did you find this place?”

This was the little calico that had followed him all the way that night! The little calico stayed obediently in his arms.

Su Yuan went to find Melanie, asking her to help ask Pei Xing if he could be allowed to keep a cat. In the past, his family was worried he would be sad if a pet left too early and didn’t allow him to keep any pets, but now he really wanted a little cat. Especially this little calico he had lost and found again.

Walking through the living room, Su Yuan didn’t see Melanie but saw Zhou Wei chatting with the chef at the dining area island. Zhou Wei turned around and wasn’t at all surprised to see him holding the kitten; instead, he said with a smile, “The boss was right again; you really are happy to see it!”

The smile in Su Yuan’s eyes turned to surprise. “Was it Pei Xing who had you catch the little calico?”

“No.” Zhou Wei was incredibly proud. “The boss caught it himself!”