Mr. Lu Was Devastated After I Left - Chapter 10

The moment Xu Zhuoyang stepped inside, Lu Beiye was hit by the strong scent of alcohol clinging to him, not to mention the fact that he was dragging a complete stranger along.

“What time is it?”

Xu Zhuoyang pursed his lips. “It is almost ten.”

“I thought you were not coming home tonight at all,” Lu Beiye said, arms crossed, his smile failing to reach his cold, calculating eyes.

Xu Zhuoyang looked apologetically at Xiang Liang, who was lying on the floor, sleeping soundly. They had gone out in the afternoon, but they had ended up chatting until ten. If Xiang Liang had not vomited, he likely would not have returned even then.

“Brother, have you had dinner?” Xu Zhuoyang asked weakly.

“I have already eaten.” Lu Beiye glanced at the man on the floor with visible distaste. “Staying out all night, drinking with some wild man, and leaving me at home. Xu Zhuoyang, I hope this is the last time.”

Hearing the tone of his voice, Xu Zhuoyang knew Lu Beiye was angry, but this time, he refused to just silently accept the blame. He retorted with anger, “Am I not allowed to have my own friends? You can run out in a hurry and stay out all night based on a single sentence, but I am not allowed to come home a little late after dinner with a friend? I have my own life and my own friends. I am not a housewife who does nothing but revolve around you. I have my own career.”

This was the first time Xu Zhuoyang had spoken his true thoughts.

Lu Beiye knew his every itinerary—when he traveled, when his work finished, when he would return home—yet Xu Zhuoyang knew nothing of Lu Beiye’s work. Lu Beiye’s word was law. When he did not come home, claiming it was work, Xu Zhuoyang had no choice but to believe him. When he returned smelling of someone else’s perfume, claiming it was for social engagements, Xu Zhuoyang had to believe that too.

Whenever Xu Zhuoyang was not traveling for work, he had to be home before Lu Beiye, preparing everything just waiting for his arrival.

Why was Lu Beiye speaking to him so harshly over this one isolated incident?

Seeing the usually docile and submissive Xu Zhuoyang yelling at him for the sake of a stranger on the floor, Lu Beiye’s irritation spiked. He knew Xu Zhuoyang was loyal and that nothing was going on with the man on the floor, but the defiance in his attitude was intolerable.

“I do not need you to work,” Lu Beiye said, his face darkening. “I do not care for the pocket change you earn. If you stay home and serve me well, I will give you double that every month. Xu Zhuoyang, weigh your options. Forget being a Best Actor or your celebrity status. If I want to, I can ensure you never get a single role again for the rest of your life.”

They had argued many times, but this was the first time Lu Beiye had said such a thing. Xu Zhuoyang suddenly felt that the man before him was a stranger.

“Lu Beiye, what do you take me for?”

I climbed to this position with everything I had just to be worthy of you. Yet, with one sentence, you have dismissed all of my efforts.

The disappointment in Xu Zhuoyang’s eyes pierced Lu Beiye’s heart like a sharp blade, causing his breath to hitch. He knew he had spoken too harshly, but he could not bring himself to apologize. After a long and tense stalemate, Lu Beiye broke under the pressure. “You two can live here together.”

He turned to leave, but as Xu Zhuoyang reached out to grab his sleeve, Lu Beiye recoiled as if burned.

As he watched Lu Beiye walk into the elevator and the doors slide shut, Xu Zhuoyang sobbed, cursing, “You are a monster.”

Lu Beiye descended to the lobby, debating where to spend the night, when his phone rang. The screen displayed the name “Little Yuan.” He sighed and answered.

Mu Yuan’s joyful voice came through the phone. “Brother Lu, did you know? I passed the audition for Shadow today.”

“Is that so? Congratulations.”

He could not help but think of Xu Zhuoyang. Xu Zhuoyang had started an argument the moment he got home without even mentioning the results of his own audition, whereas Mu Yuan was eager to share his joy with him.

“I wanted to share this good news with my friends, but I realized I have no friends in China. I could only call you in the middle of the night. Brother, am I bothering you?” Hearing the hesitant and careful tone on the other end, Lu Beiye’s heart softened.

“Brother, could you come to my place? I want to make a midnight snack; shall we celebrate?” Mu Yuan placed several bottles of red wine on the dining table, enticing him with a mischievous smile.

Lu Beiye looked up at his own apartment window. At the moment he looked, the lights went out. As if in retaliation, he whispered into the phone, “Alright.”