Having someone attend to his every need was far better than being alone in that cold, three-hundred-square-meter apartment spanning two floors.
So Jian Suiying casually stayed another night at Xiao Zhu's place.
At night, they slept in the same bed but covered themselves with separate blankets. Jian Suiying's mind was preoccupied with countless thoughts, far from any romantic mood.
After dawn, Jian Suiying took Xiao Zhu's phone number and left.
He hadn't been to the office in days. He couldn't just wallow in despair forever because some pretty boy had deceived him.
Life, whether good or bad, had to go on. Keeping himself busy meant he wouldn't dwell on Li Yu.
Jian Suiying repeated this to himself over and over. No one was going to help him; he had to pull himself up by his own bootstraps.
After a busy day, he arranged a dinner meeting that evening, bringing along Secretary Liang and a senior executive surnamed Tang.
Secretary Liang and Executive Tang had never seen their boss drink so recklessly. Besides, the guests they met today weren't exactly big shots
, so why drink so recklessly?
Secretary Liang nudged Jian Suiying several times under the table, hinting he should stop drinking.
Jian Suiying ignored the nudges, determined to drink until he was thoroughly drunk. He scared everyone at the table. After three rounds of drinks, Jian Suiying had knocked out
the other executives one by one.
Finally, a drunken Jian Suiying was ushered into the car.
Secretary Liang drove, with President Tang accompanying them to his apartment.
Fearing he might vomit, Secretary Liang kept the window open during the ride. The cold wind blew through the entire journey, sobering him considerably.
though a fierce headache left him slumped in his seat, eyes shut tight, unwilling to move an inch.
The two in the car assumed he was asleep. Tang whispered, "What's gotten into the boss lately? He seems kind of down in the dumps.
. In all the time I've worked with him, I've never seen him like this before."
"Could it be the pressure from that Fifth Ring Road land deal? The board meeting is coming up in a few days. Who knows how it'll turn out."
Secretary Liang sensed that General Manager Tang was testing her.
In such a delicate situation, Jian Suiying naturally couldn't afford to reveal his true stance too openly. Whether they could win the boss's favor depended entirely on their own abilities.
Secretary Liang smiled: "Indeed, who knows how this will turn out? It's a major deal after all."
Mr. Tang seemed disappointed and fell silent.
The two drove to the underground garage of Jian Suiying's apartment building. Mr. Tang summoned a security guard, intending to help Jian Suiying into the elevator.
But when the car door opened, Suiying staggered out on her own, slurring, "I'm fine... I can walk myself."
fine, I can walk."
Secretary Liang quickly grabbed his arm, afraid he might stumble and fall.
Under the watchful eyes of the three, he made his way steadily to the elevator.
All three were eager to get him safely home, then call it a day and head back to their respective places.
But just as they inserted Jian Suiying's key into the lock, the door swung open from the inside.
"Xiao Li? What are you doing here?" Mr. Tang was baffled, never expecting to see the boss's assistant here— —and that the boss had even given him a house key?
Li Yu observed Jian Suiying, who could barely stand upright. Calmly addressing Secretary Liang and President Tang, he said, "Perhaps you two should head back first. I'll take care of President Jian."
Li Yu regretted her rash decision to run off today. With Jian Suiying drunk, it really wasn't the right time for a conversation.
But having finally mustered the courage to come, he refused to slink back home empty-handed.
Secretary Liang, fearing Jian Suiying might say something damaging if he continued, desperately signaled to Li Yu with his eyes. "Li, you should go now. Jian
is too drunk. Let's discuss anything else another day."
He pointed a trembling finger at Li Yu, "You two-faced pretty boy! All the feelings I had for you
down the drain, huh?"
Li Yu's voice was deep and solemn: "Enough. Get inside first." He reached out to help him up.
Jian Suiying took a step back, cursing, "Li Yu... you bastard... I'll never forgive you..."
Secretary Liang exchanged an awkward glance with the security guard, then looked at the startled Mr. Tang. Supporting Jian Suiying, she whispered: "Jian
, please stop. There are so many people here."
Jian Suiying shook off her arm and shouted, "What's wrong with saying it? Why can't I say it! This... this bastard
! I treated him so well, and he fucking... treacherous ingrate... I might as well have raised a dog
, I'd have trained it well. And he... he slept with me for so long..." Jian Suiying felt her eyes burning,
each breath growing harder as his vision blurred, obscuring Li Yu.
Truthfully, he had never truly seen Li Yu clearly. To have shared a bed for so long with someone yet never truly understood them—
How utterly tragic.
Secretary Liang glanced at Jian Suiying, who could barely stand upright, then at Li Yu's darkened face, hesitating for a moment. President Tang tugged her arm and gave her a meaningful look.
Secretary Liang instantly grasped the stakes and followed Tang and the young security guard out.
Jian Suiying slumped limply against Li Yu, barely able to stand, still muttering curses under his breath.
Li Yu carried Jian Suiying into the room and laid him on the bed. Looking at his drunken, disoriented face, a pang of sorrow welled up inside him. Jian Suiying slowly drifted off to sleep.
Li Yu removed his shoes, clothes, and pants, tucked him under the covers, then gently wiped his face with a warm, damp towel.
Jian Suiying looked so peaceful asleep. She could simply admire his striking features without enduring his cutting insults.
Li Yu had never understood why he'd entangled himself with someone who picked fights every other day. He didn't
admired Jian Suiying's arrogant and unrestrained nature; they were fundamentally incompatible.
Jian Suiying's passionate affection and magnetic personality wove a dense net, trapping him tightly—a bond he yearned to break free from yet couldn't bear to sever.
When they woke tomorrow, he would have a serious talk with Jian Suiying.
This man, he would never let go.
Young Master Jian slept exceptionally deeply that night.
He had indeed drunk far too much, becoming utterly intoxicated. When he finally awoke, enduring a splitting headache, he couldn't recall
what had happened the previous night, and his memories were jumbled.
He sensed someone behind him, lying close, an arm draped over him.
Jian Suiying's eyes were swollen beyond recognition, and opening them caused immediate discomfort. He nudged the person behind him and croaked, " " "Xiao Zhu,
go get me a glass of water." The figure beside him stirred.
Jian Suiying swallowed hard, the saliva burning like fire as it passed through his parched throat. "Go, Xiao Zhu, get water." A voice as cold as ice came from behind him. "Who are you calling?"