Yu Xi suddenly felt the world become very quiet. So quiet, as if she were the only one left.
She tilted her head, seeing Su Yingran opposite her in the reflection on the glass, on the verge of speaking but seemingly in a silent contest with her, unwilling to break the silence first. Su Yingran tightly clutched her exquisite coffee cup, occasionally glancing at Yu Xi, her large, limpid eyes carrying a hint of resentment, pitiful to behold.
Su Yingran had no intention of leaving; it seemed she also wanted to clarify everything in front of Young Master Gong. That was fine; before he arrived, Yu Xi didn't need to waste any more words. She didn't dwell on what expression Young Master Gong would wear when he saw Su Meiren in a moment. Such a dramatic scene, one couldn't help but hold their breath, daring not to imagine, until the reality itself unfolded.
So, she gazed idly at Su Yingran's faint reflection on the window. In her dwindling memories, her father's family education had been very strict. If she hadn't left the Liang family in childhood, would she also have grown into a gentle and captivating young lady like Su Meiren? She imagined herself always sitting primly, smiling without showing her teeth, even in summer, wearing proper, elegant dresses, unable to casually sprawl on the bed watching DVDs and laughing out loud, or pretending to be a high school girl on a small, unfamiliar street on weekends, holding ice cream cones of different flavors in both hands, as she did now.
After much thought, she still preferred her current, more carefree self. She immersed herself in her own thoughts, genuinely smiling with self-contentment.
When Gong Youqi entered, he saw her, from a distance, in a rare state of reverie. She was tilted towards the window, her gaze not focused on any specific point. Her thick eyelashes drooped, half-veiling her eyes, which held a hazy, lost look he had never seen before. If not for the familiar playful smile at the corner of her lips, he would almost doubt that such a quiet, water-like, pitiable woman could be the enchantress who always smiled alluringly.
His rapidly beating heart indicated his renewed interest in her. He knew why he couldn't let this woman go. If Su Yingran was a pot of elegant, mellow, precious tea, she was a cocktail with a mix of five flavors that created a seven-colored rainbow, sometimes strong, sometimes fragrant, with every layer of taste changing, always drawing him with unpredictable curiosity to explore and savor.
His dark, inky eyes locked onto her as he walked step by step.
Yu Xi felt a subtle flicker of a shadow on the window. She turned and saw the god-like handsome face approaching from afar. His suit jacket was draped over his arm, and his neat white shirt highlighted his tall, lean, and well-defined physique. She smiled and stood up to greet him. Because of the high partitions behind the seats, he couldn't see Su Meiren, who had also stood up, her expression unusual.
She was wondering if she should reveal Su Yingran's presence before he came closer. At least by doing so, she would be confessing and might receive a lighter punishment.
She watched Gong Youqi gently curve his lips at her, and her heart softened. She was about to say, "Someone who will surprise you is also here," when Su Yingran suddenly moved half her body out, slowly and seemingly hesitantly turning around.
Yu Xi could only focus on the changes in Young Master Gong's expression. His gaze first shifted to Su Yingran, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes, but it quickly returned to a deep inscrutability. The upward curve of his lips subtly tightened, then blossomed into a tenderness. In fact, if she hadn't been observing so meticulously, his expression would have seemed unchanged. Only his gaze was now fixed on another woman, and his steps had slowed, finally stopping beside Su Yingran.
"Young Master Gong, you've arrived." She smiled faintly, no longer wanting to say more. The chance to confess was gone.
Gong Youqi glanced at her, the look in his eyes too fleeting for her to decipher. He had already turned back to Su Yingran, showing no panic. He said softly, "You're here too."
Su Yingran, however, appeared extremely flustered, lowering her head as if struggling for words. "I... originally, Miss Yu was meeting my cousin. I was just accompanying him. I didn't know you were going to dine with Miss Yu. I'm sorry... I won't disturb you. Please enjoy your meal."
Her voice was low. She looked up at Gong Youqi, her seemingly apologetic face showing a hint of sadness. She then lowered her head again, said "Goodbye, Miss Yu," and began to walk out.
Naturally, Gong Youqi reached out and pulled her back tightly, but then turned and glared coldly at Yu Xi, questioning her silently.
She still smiled faintly, feeling there was truly nothing more to say now.
Tsk tsk, even though Su Meiren was incoherent, she had very effectively explained everything. First, she came to meet an unknown gentleman, and it seemed she deliberately brought Su Yingran along. Second, she clearly knew Su Yingran was there, yet still dared to answer his call and intentionally lured him into this situation. Third, until just now, she refused to tell him Su Yingran was there, clearly putting him in a difficult position.
Yu Xi averted her gaze from Gong Youqi, looking instead at the weak, struggling Su Yingran by his side who was trying to leave. Was she intentional or unintentional? It was clearly Su Yingran who had arranged to meet with her and Liang Qingshan, and she also knew that Yu Xi couldn't refuse Gong Youqi's invitation to dine together. If she didn't want to see Gong Youqi, she could have left earlier instead of waiting until now. Also, just now, Yu Xi couldn't help but suspect that Su Meiren deliberately snatched her chance to confess and exposed herself.
Had she always underestimated Su Yingran too much? Believed that such a pure, innocent, pitiful, gentle woman was guileless, and it was unintentional that she ended up taking the blame? Or did she possess a deep cunning she didn't know about, deliberately leading Young Master Gong to misunderstand?
Unfortunately, she had no way to explain herself. She knew that even if she tried to explain, she, a person with a "record," simply couldn't compete with Su Meiren to see whose words Gong Youqi would trust more.
So, other than smiling, she didn't know what other expression to wear.
And from his eyes, she saw a kind of suppressed anger, a cold indifference, and a hint of pain... pain? She doubted she had misread it. How could her seemingly deliberately provocative actions hurt someone as formidable as Gong Youqi?
Su Yingran saw that neither of them spoke. She gave Gong Youqi a sad look, forcefully pulled her hand free from his, and rushed towards the door.
Gong Youqi's face was grim. His fingers curled then clenched into a fist. He actually didn't chase after her immediately, still staring straight at Yu Xi.
"Not going after her?" She turned her head to look at Su Meiren, who had already walked out the door. She looked like a poor girl who had suffered a great injustice, her figure frail, her steps disordered. Shouldn't the hero rush to comfort her now?
Gong Youqi strode over in two steps, his large hand grabbing her sharp, slender chin and forcefully twisting it. The pain made her gasp, but her bright, clear eyes met his without fear.
For the first time, she felt she wasn't afraid of him. Even knowing that his true anger this time would spare her no mercy, even knowing she should feel guilty for deliberately putting him in a difficult position earlier.
But suddenly, a willful sense of grievance welled up in her heart. In truth, she had genuinely intended to tell him that Su Yingran was there, but Su Yingran had beaten her to it. Deliberately letting him come to dine in front of Su Yingran was partly a prank on her part, but more so, she wanted to see how Su Yingran would react. If Su Yingran had suggested leaving then, how could she have cooperated and waited here to welcome him?
However, Su Yingran's departure was timely and reasonable, seizing the initiative, and now Yu Xi had to bear all the responsibility.
Perhaps his failure to pursue Su Yingran inexplicably brought her a flicker of joy and hope. Or perhaps, simply because the opponent was Su Yingran, she suddenly felt an urge to explain everything, knowing it was futile, yet unable to resist wanting him to see the truth. This time, she hadn't deliberately tried to provoke him.
Gong Youqi's face slowly drew closer. She almost gathered the courage to say, "Listen to my explanation," but it was too late again. She only felt his gaze suddenly pierce her like a sharp sword. Close to her nose, his voice was like ancient ice, each word emitting a chilling coldness: "You, you truly disappoint me."
In the blink of an eye, he had ruthlessly flung her hand away. He turned and took a step, then stopped, coldly adding, "Go back, and wait."
She slowly sat down. The quiet world suddenly filled with the chirping of cicadas and insects again. Her mind was like a beehive, buzzing and disturbing all her nerves.
Unconsciously, she looked out the window again. At the street corner, Gong Youqi had quickly caught up with Su Yingran. After a few tugs, disregarding the onlookers, the beauty was finally embraced firmly and decisively by the hero, who, with his masculine power of conquest, perfectly concluded a common tear-jerking scene from a soap opera.
"If the Zen barrier suddenly breaks, the beauty is like jade, and the sword is like a rainbow."
This poem inexplicably popped into her mind. She felt that with a slight modification, it perfectly described the moment. They were the two of them: she was the beauty like jade, and he possessed an awe-inspiring power like a rainbow. How perfectly matched they were.
Yu Xi stared blankly until the embracing couple got into the car and drove away, still not changing her posture. After a long time, she chuckled foolishly and waved down a passing waiter, asking aimlessly, "Why isn't it raining today?"
"..." The dutiful waiter paused for a few seconds, then honestly replied, "Miss, the weather forecast said today would be a hot and sunny day."
As if she hadn't heard, she picked up the cup in front of her and took a gulp of coffee, choking on the bitter taste and coughing repeatedly.
Whether it rained or not, Su Yingran would always have someone pick her up. As for her, whether she was drenched or exposed to the sun, no one would hand her an umbrella. She was truly foolish, even daring to impulsively try to compete with Su Meiren. It was simply like trying to open a dye shop with only three colors, bringing humiliation upon herself.
"Miss, are you alright? Do you need help?" The kind waiter asked, concerned about the pale-faced beautiful lady.
"Cough cough... No, thank you." She suppressed her erratic breathing, forcing a smile. "I really am not suited for coffee... it's so bitter."
She walked slowly down the street, feeling an abnormal oppression in her heart. The afternoon sun was scorching hot; she wondered if she would die of dehydration.
She turned into a shady alley, immediately feeling much more comfortable. The alley twisted deeper and deeper, her high heels tapping on the smooth bluestones, "clack-clack," echoing in the long, empty alley, giving it a somewhat eerie feel.
She stopped, realizing she was lost.
She wasn't panicked, only thinking that if she could reach the main road, she could find a taxi to go home. But these old alleys were as winding as a labyrinth, with many dead ends, and she didn't encounter anyone to ask for directions. She figured no one else would be foolish enough to be out sunbathing and strolling in such hot weather. Feeling suddenly frustrated, she sat on a nearby stone to rest, and tears unexpectedly fell.
Had she, too, fallen for Gong Youqi? She had always controlled her heart, letting go and holding back freely. When did she start having strange feelings for him? She recalled her mistress life over the past few months, beginning to reflect on her own willfulness and ignorance.
These young masters of high society were all seasoned veterans; even if she was good at reading expressions and had some tricks, for an expert like Gong Youqi, they were just superficial moves, only serving to increase his interest and make him unwilling to let go. Only now did she feel foolish, having dug her own grave and jumped in, thinking it was a magnificent pit.
In the end, it was merely two unchanging choices: to leave or to stay.
To leave meant a complete break, with no more entanglement with Young Master Gong; to stay meant letting her heart run wild, perhaps even trying the taste of love, but it was destined to leave her bruised and battered.
She had always been afraid of pain and unwilling to hurt herself.
With a decision made, her body regained its strength. She continued to navigate the alley. Suddenly, she heard many chaotic running footsteps ahead, as if a group of people were having a race.
She couldn't help but tense up, pressing herself against the wall. The footsteps grew closer, mixed with shouts and curses. Just as she envisioned a thief being chased by a crowd, a man covered in blood, his face distorted, appeared around a distant corner, followed closely by several equally menacing pursuers.
Triad fighting, gang warfare... She never expected to personally encounter a scene straight out of a TV show. Clenching her hands and pressing against the wall, she held her breath, only hoping they would treat her as air, pass her by, and continue their fight.
The fleeing man clearly didn't intend to treat her as invisible. As he reached her side, he paused briefly, then grabbed her, his rough arm tightening around her neck. Being wounded and gasping for breath, he leaned his weight onto her. Yu Xi immediately smelled the bloody sweat mixed with his body odor behind her.
She coughed, the pressure on her neck increasing. In a panic, she said, "Good sir, spare my life!"
The man behind her panted, speaking in broken Mandarin, "Shut up, stinking woman!"
Yu Xi's temper flared. Who was stinking, anyway?!
The people behind also caught up, stopping a few meters away. The leader said, "Qian San, you can't escape anyway. Don't cause more trouble, lest Second Master catches you and adds to your crimes."
The man holding Yu Xi spat, "I know I can't escape, but I'm going to drag someone down with me! There's a rule in the gang not to involve innocent people. I'd rather die than let you all escape punishment!"
The situation on both sides was tense. Yu Xi, with a hint of sarcasm, spoke, "Good sir... are you referring to me as your scapegoat?"
The man behind her tightened his grip on her slender neck and cursed, "Didn't I tell you to shut up? If I die, I'll find a companion! You're unlucky to have run into me. Blame those bastards for not letting me go!"
Yu Xi's face turned red. She quickly looked pitifully at the men opposite her and said to the man who had just spoken, "Hero, can we negotiate? You let this big brother go first, and he'll let me go, and then you can continue your game of cops and robbers?"
The corner of the man's mouth twitched. He sized her up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He turned and whispered, "Has Second Master arrived?"
The person behind him replied, "Second Master will be here immediately."
The man spoke again, "Qian San, if you don't involve others, I can ask Second Master to give you a quick end."
Qian San cursed again, "A quick end, my ass! I'm going to die either way. I'm not afraid, and I'm not letting go! It's worth it to drag a beautiful girl with me today."
Yu Xi was now truly annoyed. Cursing every other word, spitting all over her, being stuck to a smelly "nian gao" (sticky rice cake) on such a hot day, and rambling on and on... she couldn't stand it anymore.
Remembering he wasn't holding a knife, she boldly gambled, recalled the basic self-defense moves she knew, and with a lift of her foot, the thin heel of her high-heeled shoe stomped heavily on the man's instep. At the same time, her right elbow forcefully jabbed backward, hitting a previously injured spot on the man's body. He grunted in pain. Although his arm was still draped around her neck, his body involuntarily moved away from Yu Xi. She was waiting for this moment. She turned around, bent her knee, and aimed squarely at the man's most vulnerable spot, thrusting upward fiercely.
A pig-like howl startled several sparrows. Qian San, trembling and doubled over on one leg, clutched his excruciatingly painful privates. Yu Xi quickly staggered away from the danger zone, leaning against the wall, panting.
The men opposite froze for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.
Immediately, two men went up and held down the still trembling Qian San. The leader, his smile not yet faded, walked up to Yu Xi and said, "Miss truly has good skills."
Yu Xi frowned, sniffing the bloody, sweaty smell that had contaminated her. Her neck still ached from being choked. She replied irritably, "This is a truth all women know: men are useless; at critical moments, you still have to rely on yourself!"
"Clap clap" came the sound of applause, and a magnetic male voice chuckled softly, "Well said."
Yu Xi looked up at the sound, and a second later, her eyes gleamed and she stood dumbfounded: what an ultimate handsome man... the world is so vast, where do handsome men not meet!
"Second Master." The others respectfully called out.
Yu Xi immediately stood up straight, straightened her clothes, and looked at the handsome man standing before her, dressed impeccably in a suit, without any triad aura. She offered a standard, soft, gentle smile. "How should I address you, sir?"
Ah, she never expected to see another captivatingly charming man in this lifetime, comparable to Mr. Passerby A! Look at those soul-stirring peach blossom eyes, that naturally curly chestnut hair, that foxy smile that could make the sky and earth darken with a tilt of his lips! Ah! So, heaven too was unwilling to be bound by the rule of "unparalleled and unrivaled," and had still created many handsome men of the same style for the human world to compete against each other.
That Second Master looked at Yu Xi a few times, his beautiful eyes flickering slightly. He then subtly glanced at one of his subordinates, exchanged a few whispered words, and then said to Yu Xi, "I apologize for startling you today, Miss."
Yu Xi quickly smiled. "No worries, no worries."
Second Master's charming eyes slanted, his thin lips smiling. "Since you're alright, we have other matters to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."
She was slightly stunned. He was just leaving like that? At least leave a contact method: "Um..."
Second Master turned back to look at her. "Something else?"
"What's your surname?" And your age? Married? Where do you live? Height and weight?
He narrowed his eyes and chuckled softly. "If fate allows, we'll meet again."
The group left with flair. She patted her head as if it had all been a dream. However, the strange smell on her body reminded her that she had indeed just gone through a terrifying adventure.
She finally wound her way to the main road, hailed a taxi home, took a lovely bath, and then thought about how Gong Youqi would interrogate her when he returned. She sighed, shrinking into the bathtub.
She woke up in the evening. Gong Youqi hadn't returned yet. She hesitated for a while, then decided she should go out to eat and gain some energy for the impending interrogation.
Let him think what he wanted. When he rushed out to embrace Su Yingran, Yu Xi realized how ridiculous she was. She didn't know when she had secretly blown a bubble of fantasy love in her heart, only for it to be so fragile that it burst at a touch.
She was once again the carefree woman, free of love and hate. With nothing to care about in her heart, she feared nothing. Even if he punished her in various ways, it wouldn't stop her determination to leave, as long as the opportunity arose.
Stepping out, she happened to catch a bus. She rode to a bustling street, got off, and looked for a place to eat. After walking for a while, she realized this street only had bars, dance halls, and nightclubs. Desperate with hunger, she entered a seemingly decent bar. In the dim lighting, figures were sparse, and the lazy jazz music made one feel especially relaxed. It was probably still early, so there weren't many customers.
The only edibles were fruit salad and popcorn. She ordered a creme de menthe, took a sip in the corner, and the sweet minty taste immediately cooled her throat.
With energy in her stomach, her bright eyes once again scavenged cunningly, scanning for handsome men. Lacking food, she decided to seek out a visually delectable handsome man to satiate her spirit first.
After searching around, there were very few customers. A lonely figure in the corner of the bar caught her attention. From his back, she couldn't tell if he was handsome, but he seemed vaguely familiar. When the person turned to let the bartender pour another drink, she saw a pair of gentlemanly gold-rimmed glasses perched on the man's nose.
She paused for a moment, then stood up and walked over softly, sitting beside him. She flirtatiously asked, "Handsome, are you free tonight?"
He acted as if he hadn't heard. Yu Xi, unwilling to give up, asked again. Only then did he hazily turn his head, too lazy to even open his eyes, and pointed to himself, saying, "Are you talking to me?"
Yu Xi rolled her eyes at him. "Is there anyone else around me?"
"But," he shook his head, "I'm not handsome."
"Whether you're handsome or not is up to me." She pushed away the glass in front of him. "How much have you had to drink?"
He hiccuped and slumped on the bar counter, replying, "Not much... I can't drink, I got drunk after only three glasses."
He couldn't drink, yet he tried to show off. Yu Xi rolled her eyes at him again. "You're drunk and not going home." Wasn't he still in America? When did he come back? And why was he drinking alone here? Had Su Yingran finally confronted him?
He reached out to fumble for his glass on the counter again. Yu Xi quickly moved it away, frowned, grabbed his clothes, and pulled, sighing softly. "Mr. Xue, you're already drunk, stop drinking."
Xue Han laboriously lifted his head, struggling to open his eyes to look at her. "How do you... know my name?"
She helped him up from the high stool, threatening him in a harsh voice, "I'm sent by your fiancée to supervise you."
Xue Han opened his bewildered eyes and gazed at her blankly. "Really?"
Yu Xi was too lazy to deal with him anymore. She paid the bill and struggled to support the already unsteady Xue Han out, intending to put him in a taxi.
She finally managed to hail a taxi. As she opened the door, desperately trying to steady his body and push him inside, he leaned against her, sending her tumbling into the back seat first. He then fumbled for the car door and instinctively collapsed inside as well.
Yu Xi was exasperated. She couldn't push him away and heard the car behind impatiently honking. She had no choice but to tell the driver to go.
"Where do you live?" She pushed away his wine-scented face that was leaning close.
Xue Han mumbled an address, then tilted his head and collapsed onto her shoulder.
On the way, she heard him muttering something. She leaned in to listen and heard Su Yingran's name.
For a moment, she felt a pang of emotion. Perhaps Su Yingran had always maintained a respectful distance from him, but this man deeply loved his fiancée, simply being inarticulate in expressing it.