Chapter Fifty-Two
After You Yi left the apartment, he drove straight back to the place where he used to live. It was a villa near a scenic area, not only boasting beautiful views but also connected to the city center by a main road. The entire area was developed into a forest of villas; it was said that when these were first put on the market, they were snapped up instantly, and the price for one villa was driven up to an astonishing amount, unimaginable for ordinary people.
Everyone who lived here was someone of considerable status in V City. While most people saw Big Boss You as nothing more than a ringleader running bars and gambling dens, he had acquired this house with far more ease than the others. Four years ago, a wealthy businessman borrowed money from You Yi at high interest, using this very villa—originally kept for his mistress—as collateral. When the investment failed and he was left penniless, You Yi took possession of the villa without a second thought and renovated it with a flourish.
But...
But he hadn’t returned in two years. The servants had all been dismissed when he moved in with Yi Xiaoyu two years prior, and the villa’s iron gates had been locked ever since, the grounds overrun with weeds. The imposing villa stood in the darkness, looking especially desolate.
Big Boss You didn’t even get out of the car; he just gazed at his lifeless villa through the window, then glanced at the brightly lit homes in the distance. Suddenly, a cold wind seemed to blow straight through his chest, a chill more bitter than swallowing ice.
A home without a wife—what kind of home is that?
He opened his wallet and, as expected, found the spare apartment key he’d kept there. Turning the car around, he drove to the apartment complex where Yi Xiaoyu lived, but after hesitating downstairs for a while, he eventually drove over to the building where Yi Yu lived instead.
Yi Yu was still awake, reading documents in his study when You Yi knocked on the door.
“You Yi, you…” Seeing him carrying a suitcase in each hand, Yi Yu guessed what had happened and asked quietly, “Did my brother kick you out?”
“Don’t mention it.” Big Boss You dragged his suitcases inside, dropped onto the sofa, and sighed deeply. “Your brother wants a divorce.”
Yi Yu poured him a glass of water. “So what are you going to do? Knowing my brother, I don’t think he’ll forgive you this time. Not that I mind—he’s always been like that toward me.”
Yi Yu’s words only made Big Boss You regret it all the more. “I’ll just… wait for him to calm down.”
“I know my brother. If he didn’t know anything, he might still rely on you in this situation. But now that he knows you and I set him up, even if he loses everything, he won’t…”
“Can’t you say something encouraging?” You Yi leaned back against the sofa, visibly impatient, but noticing Yi Yu looking just as dispirited, he frowned and asked, “What’s with you? You look weighed down by something.”
Yi Yu crouched on the sofa, chin resting on his knees, staring blankly at the floor. “I got dumped,” he said softly.
“Huh?” Seeing Yi Yu’s haggard appearance, You Yi guessed he was the one who’d been abandoned. He couldn’t help but think—what kind of fool doesn’t treasure a good-looking, lovable young man like Yi Yu!
“He treated me like a plaything for a while, then said he liked me.” Yi Yu closed his eyes, his voice weary. “But right after he confessed, he threw me away.”
“Tell me who it was, and I’ll send someone to teach him a lesson!”
Yi Yu shook his head and stretched lazily. “Forget it. It was just for fun anyway. By the way, I’ll go tidy up the guest room for you.”
“I plan to stay here for a few days,” Big Boss You said.
He didn’t dare go home now. During this painstaking period of trying to mend his relationship, he couldn’t live too far from his wife, or he’d be giving that pretty boy a chance to weasel in.
“Really? Well, you might as well keep this apartment. There’s still three months left on the lease.”
“You’re moving out?”
“Yeah.” Yi Yu nodded. “I’ve already rented a place near the office—much closer. I’m moving tomorrow.”
That night, Big Boss You couldn’t sleep. In the middle of the night, he got up, leaned on the bed, and smoked a cigarette in lonely silence. Finally, he couldn’t resist taking out his phone, scrolling through the wedding photos taken with Yi Xiaoyu in Bali.
Looking at Yi Xiaoyu’s smiling face with his arm around him, Big Boss You’s heart felt as if it were being lashed by electricity.
He brought the phone to his lips, stopped himself from licking the screen, and instead pressed a gentle kiss to the image of Yi Xiaoyu.
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
Yi Xiaoyu didn’t leave the apartment all day. Wen Ming called in the morning to invite him out, but Yi Xiaoyu declined, citing ill health.
He was feeding Scallion when the doorbell rang.
Yi Xiaoyu opened the door, expressionless, and looked at the man outside.
Big Boss You was dressed tonight in a custom-tailored black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a tasteful blue-and-white tie. The aura of a business elite radiated from him—imposing and handsome, his chiseled face straight from the pages of a novel’s domineering CEO.
With his nose in the air, Big Boss You glanced sidelong at Yi Xiaoyu.
Since neither sweetness nor force worked, he’d have to rely on his own charm…
Yi Xiaoyu looked at him, neither cold nor warm. “Are you here to sign the papers?”
Hands in his pockets, Big Boss You lifted his chin. “I’m here to see our sons.”
With that, he strode inside.
Scallion had no idea what had happened between his parents. Seeing his father, he yelped and pounced, while Tangyuan continued lounging in his bed, aloof as ever.
Big Boss You spent his time playing with the cat and dog, all the while stealing glances at the figure making breakfast in the kitchen. When Yi Xiaoyu came out with breakfast, Big Boss You patted Scallion’s head theatrically. “Son, don’t forget at nine to watch the ** Channel’s ** live broadcast with your brother. See how handsome your dad looks on TV.”
After that, Big Boss You stood up. “Sons, I’ll come see you again later.”
(Yawning Bro: Happy Goddess Day, ladies~)