Chapter Fifty-Nine
The next morning, Yi Xiaoyu packed a few things and called Xiao Zhou to help her take Yige’s dog away.
As someone who had spent years close to Yige, Xiao Zhou was well aware that his boss’s marriage was in trouble. This time, it seemed more serious than ever; from what he knew, the two had already separated. It looked like divorce was not far off.
Xiao Zhou actually wanted to offer some words of comfort, but seeing Yi Xiaoyu’s indifferent expression, he couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say.
“Xiao-ge, last night the boss drank a lot at the bar.”
“Mm.”
“He kept calling your name when he was drunk.”
“Mm.”
“The boss ended up crying.”
“Mm.”
“I’ve never seen him cry like that when drunk before.”
“Mm.”
“……”
Xiao Zhou couldn’t squeeze out another word. He tugged forcefully at Cong-ge, who resisted every step, while Tangyuan, perched on Yi Xiaoyu’s shoulder, watched Cong-ge being dragged out and meowed incessantly.
Once Cong-ge was finally outside, Yi Xiaoyu handed Xiao Zhou a note.
“This is the address of a friend’s pet shop. For the time being, I’ll leave Tangyuan with my friend. Tell Yige that if Cong-ge gets too restless, he can bring him to this shop to visit Tangyuan.”
Xiao Zhou nodded, then suddenly seemed to realize something. “Xiao-ge, you’re leaving? Where to? Does the boss know?”
Yi Xiaoyu paused for a few seconds. “On vacation. Yige knows. You don’t need to make a special call.”
“Oh.” Xiao Zhou grinned mysteriously. “Will you have time to come to my engagement party?”
“You’re getting engaged? Really? When?” Yi Xiaoyu was surprised. Xiao Zhou had always been known for his wild lifestyle at the bar, and with his personality, it seemed unlikely he’d settle down for several years yet. Unexpectedly…
And Xiao Zhou looked genuinely excited about his upcoming marriage.
With a broad smile and radiant energy, Xiao Zhou replied, “The fifteenth of next month. I checked online—it’s a good day. But it won’t be in V City; it’ll be in London.”
“Why get engaged abroad?”
Xiao Zhou scratched his head. “Uh… that’s a long story. I’ll probably be in London for quite a while, but don’t worry, Xiao-ge—I’ll visit you and the boss often. Oh, and you haven’t met my partner yet, right? Let me show you—my phone wallpaper is him.”
With that, Xiao Zhou enthusiastically pulled out his phone and held it up for Yi Xiaoyu to see. “His name’s Chu You. What do you think? Don’t we look perfect together?”
On Xiao Zhou’s phone screen, he had his arm around a slender, handsome young man in a V University uniform. Chu You was the kind of person whose face made people want to glance twice; his expression was cool and distant, his eyes tinged with melancholy, as if an ascetic aura surrounded him.
Yi Xiaoyu could see clearly that Xiao Zhou’s hand wrapped around Chu You’s waist pressed the fabric down so much it looked as if he’d forcibly pulled him into his embrace. From Chu You’s gaze, Yi Xiaoyu could read a hint of resistance, even disgust.
As for whom that disgust was directed at—it was obvious.
Yi Xiaoyu managed to force a smile. “Yes, you do look like a good match.”
Xiao Zhou became even more excited. “You think so too, Xiao-ge! I said we’re a perfect pair, but the boss always says Chu You is unlucky to have caught my eye.”
“………”
“Honestly, it hasn’t been easy for me and Chu You. I wasn’t very good to him before. Later, he left without a word to work elsewhere, and I thought he’d disappeared. I searched everywhere for him. Only then did I realize how much he mattered to me. I swore I’d never treat him harshly again. I’ve thought about it: if I lost him, I wouldn’t want to live anymore.”
Yi Xiaoyu was startled by Xiao Zhou’s last words and couldn’t help but ask, “Does he feel as deeply for you as you do for him?”
Xiao Zhou’s expression became somewhat awkward. “Well… feelings can be cultivated, right? It’s not too late to nurture them after marriage. Didn’t you and the boss fall in love after tying the knot? Chu You might not… Anyway, he’s agreed to get engaged with me, so he must like me.”
Yi Xiaoyu’s lips twitched. “Then I wish you happiness.”
Xiao Zhou grinned wider. “Thanks, Xiao-ge.”
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Before boarding the plane, Yi Xiaoyu received a call from her father, Yi Dongjun.
Yi Dongjun had already called her several times. He wasn’t fully aware of the rivalry between his two sons; he only knew that Yi Xiaoyu’s company was now under Yi Yu’s control. Recently, Yi Dongjun had been trying to get information from Yi Yu and, at the same time, comfort Yi Xiaoyu, even considering handing over his own clothing company to her.
“No need to talk to Yi Yu anymore. I’ve lost the will to fight for the company. Let it be. If he wants to use that company to win favor for himself and that woman with the family, let him. From now on, I’ll act as if I have no brother. I’m going traveling, so you don’t need to call and comfort me anymore.”
“Xiaoyu…” Yi Dongjun’s voice was tinged with helplessness, and perhaps a hint of weariness and age.
Yi Xiaoyu paused, gently inhaled, and spoke softly, “Drink less, take care of your health.”
“Hey, if you have time… come home for a meal.”
“Mm, I know.”
Yi Xiaoyu hung up. As the boarding announcement sounded, she stood up, pulled her suitcase, and prepared to leave. Her phone rang again.
Seeing the caller ID—Fatty—Yi Xiaoyu silently turned off her phone.
She was seated in first class; the cabin wasn’t crowded, but there was a woman next to her. Yi Xiaoyu put on her eye mask, about to rest, when a familiar gentle voice sounded beside her.
“Excuse me, miss, could I switch seats with you? I’m friends with this gentleman.”
Yi Xiaoyu opened her eyes in astonishment and looked at the man in front of her. “Wen… Wen Ming.”
The woman beside her glanced at Wen Ming’s refined and handsome appearance, a blush quickly rising to her cheeks. “Of course, it’s no trouble.”
“Thank you,” Wen Ming replied with a smile.
“You’re welcome,” the woman said, rising from her seat. As she walked toward the front, she couldn’t help but look back at Wen Ming.
Wen Ming sat beside Yi Xiaoyu, turned, and smiled softly. “I’ll accompany you on this journey.”
(Yawn Brother: Opening Xiao Zhou’s story arc is really asking for trouble~~ Finishing by month’s end is a challenge—sob—planning to start a new story at the end of the month~)