Chapter Seventy-Two

That afternoon, Yi Xiaoyu and You Yige boarded a plane to England, only arriving at Xiao Zhou’s house after six in the evening.

The estate was enormous, with a grand entrance that required two guards to push open the gates together. Yi Xiaoyu and You Yige took a taxi to the iron gates of the estate, where Xiao Zhou’s mother, Shen Yunduan, was already waiting. She wore an ivory hat and a pale green business suit, her presence exuding both the stern dignity of a powerful woman and the refined elegance of a lady of high society.

Yi Xiaoyu found it hard to imagine that Xiao Zhou, who always seemed rougher than a certain chubby friend, could have a mother with such distinguished bearing.

Once inside the gates, they were met with endless lawns stretching far into the distance before the house itself came into view. Yi Xiaoyu and You Yige climbed into a car designated for guests’ transport within the estate.

It was Yi Xiaoyu’s first time seeing such a magnificent, luxurious old European manor, and he couldn’t help but gaze around in awe.

You Laoda noticed Yi Xiaoyu’s fascination and nudged him with his elbow, whispering, “You should come visit my place sometime—it’s an estate too, even bigger than Xiao Zhou’s…”

Yi Xiaoyu pinched You Yige’s thigh and rebuked him in a low voice, “Save your nonsense. Is this really the time for such talk?”

You Laoda pursed his lips, silenced and aggrieved.

Just then, Shen Yunduan, sitting in the front seat, sighed deeply. “Xiao Zhou hasn’t eaten anything since yesterday. He’s locked himself in his room, and I’m truly worried he might do something rash.”

Yi Xiaoyu asked gently, “Could you tell us what happened? That way, we’ll know how best to comfort Xiao Zhou.”

It was only for a fleeting moment, but Yi Xiaoyu caught a strange look pass over Shen Yunduan’s face.

“Last night, Xiao Zhou took Xiao You to meet some friends. In the end, they all drank too much. Xiao Zhou was brought home by his friends, but Xiao You drove himself. On the way, his car crashed off a stone bridge…” Shen Yunduan closed her eyes and continued, “There’s no water beneath that bridge—only rocks. The car exploded not long after it fell. By the time the fire was put out, Xiao You’s child had already been… burned beyond recognition. Xiao Zhou only learned of it this morning when he sobered up. Despite my pleas, he insisted on going to the hospital to see the body. The explosion had destroyed the child’s face completely. After that… sigh, Xiao Zhou was devastated. He loved that child deeply, so you can imagine his collapse. In the end, the doctors had to sedate him to calm him down. Later, he called you—I think because he just couldn’t bear it any longer…”

Yi Xiaoyu sat behind Shen Yunduan and could clearly see her profile.

It was a composed expression. Though her voice sounded mournful, Yi Xiaoyu did not sense the grief of someone who had lost a life. It was as if she was only concerned for Xiao Zhou.

If she cared only about her son and not the dead, that might explain it. But what struck Yi Xiaoyu as odd was that, although she hadn’t witnessed the accident herself, she recounted the story as if she had seen it with her own eyes.

After hearing this, You Laoda was deeply moved. “Don’t worry, we’ll do our best to comfort Xiao Zhou.”

Once inside the hall, Shen Yunduan led Yi Xiaoyu and You Yige upstairs, stopping before Xiao Zhou’s door and knocking gently. “Xiao Zhou, your friends are here to see you.”

There was no response. You Yige knocked as well. “Xiao Zhou, open up, it’s me.”

After a moment, the door opened.

Xiao Zhou’s face was ashen, his eyes swollen from long hours of weeping, his clothes rumpled, his hair unkempt. As he looked at You Yige and Yi Xiaoyu, he broke down in tears once again.

“Laoda…” Xiao Zhou threw his arms around You Yige and sobbed, “Laoda, what should I do? What should I do?”

You Yige gently guided Xiao Zhou back into the room, and Yi Xiaoyu followed.

Shen Yunduan glanced at her son, sighed softly, and left. Even as his mother, she knew she was unnecessary at such a moment.

Once inside, Xiao Zhou crouched beside his bed, arms wrapped tightly around himself, his whole body shaking with sobs.

“He promised to get engaged to me… but now he’s gone…” Xiao Zhou wept. “I can’t live without him. I miss him, Laoda, I really miss him… I never had the chance to treat him well, to make it up to him…”

Pain wracked Xiao Zhou’s chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. He had no idea what would happen to him in the next moment—it felt as though he might die at any second.

His mind was a fog; the world around him rang with emptiness, every fiber of his being screaming the name “Chu You.”

Wiping his tears, Xiao Zhou suddenly began slapping himself, each strike fierce and punishing. “It should have been me! I should have died! I should have been the one burned to death!”

You Yige hurried to stop him, coaxing him gently before turning to Yi Xiaoyu for help with a desperate look.

This was the first time You Yige had seen Xiao Zhou so utterly shattered.

Yi Xiaoyu poured a glass of water, knelt down, and patted Xiao Zhou’s shoulder. “Xiao You feels no pain now. Perhaps he’s already started a new life in another world. You need to pull yourself together. If you miss him, talk to the sky—I believe he can hear you.”

He handed Xiao Zhou the water. Xiao Zhou sniffled, looked at Yi Xiaoyu, and slowly drank.

Yi Xiaoyu tugged at You Yige’s sleeve, signaling for him to step outside.

Once outside, Yi Xiaoyu said, “Try to get Xiao Zhou to eat something—anything at all. Just don’t let him go on with an empty stomach.”

“What about you?” You Yige asked.

“I’m going to talk to Xiao Zhou’s mother. There’s something I need to ask her.”

You Laoda looked puzzled. “Ask her? About what?”

Yi Xiaoyu frowned. “I have a feeling Xiao Zhou’s mother is hiding something from us. Xiao You’s death might not be as simple as she says.”

“Damn, you can sense that?”

“Yes. You can see it in her words and expression.”

“I didn’t notice anything.”

“That’s because you’re an idiot.”

(YawnBro: Determined to finish this story within the month, I’ll post as many updates as I can in the remaining days! The first chapter of the new novel will be uploaded on the last day of this month. Actually… I still haven’t thought of a title for the new story… sob…)