Chapter 3: Have You Ever Been in Love?

He spoke with such finality, leaving no room for argument. Clearly, he was still angry.

Song Yushu continued, “I don’t know what happened between you two, but after four years together, breaking up shouldn’t be this hasty. You really were a good match...”

Before she could finish, she was cut off.

“Have you ever been in a relationship?”

Song Yushu froze for a second, then shook her head.

Zhou Yancheng let out a low laugh, tinged with mockery. “Then what are you doing playing love guru with me?”

She fell silent.

Such a delicate, beautiful face, yet the words that came out of it were so infuriating.

Song Yushu said, “Understood. I’ll be going now.”

With Zhou Yancheng’s attitude, nothing she said would help, and she didn’t have the ability to persuade him anyway.

She stood and headed toward the entryway. As she passed Zhou Yancheng, he looked up. “Didn’t see your car.”

“Oh, I didn’t drive. I’ll take a cab back.”

Zhou Yancheng picked up his car keys and held them out to her. “Take mine.”

“No need...”

Before she could finish, Zhou Yancheng’s tone turned forceful, brooking no refusal. “Send me your location on WeChat after you get back. I’ll have the driver pick it up tomorrow.”

Since he’d put it that way, refusing again would just seem petty.

Song Yushu took the keys and said politely, “Thanks, then.”

But send it to him on WeChat?

Did that mean Zhou Yancheng hadn’t deleted her WeChat?

She walked to the entryway, changed into her own shoes, pushed open the inner door, and left.

After hearing the door close, Zhou Yancheng stood and walked to the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window. He slipped his hands into his trouser pockets and gazed through the glass at that slender, fragile figure.

“Never been in a relationship, huh...” he murmured to himself.

He remembered that back in university, Song Yushu had someone she liked. Had she never managed to win him over?

Watching Song Yushu drive out of the villa gates, he turned and headed for the stairs.

-

Song Yushu parked the car at a paid lot near her apartment complex, then sent Zhou Yancheng her location on WeChat.

She typed out a message and sent it.

Jiaojiao: Let me know when the driver comes for the car tomorrow. I’ll hand over the keys.

Z: Leave them at the security booth.

Jiaojiao: Okay.

Song Yushu looked at the car keys in her hand and couldn’t help sighing. Rich people really are something else.

A luxury car worth millions, and he didn’t even care.

She thought for a moment, then sent another message.

Jiaojiao: It’s not safe there. I’ll be home tomorrow.

Z: Suit yourself.

With that, she turned and left the parking lot, crossed a street, and entered her own apartment complex.

The moment she got home, she received a call from Jiang Wei.

“So? How was it? What was Zhou Yancheng’s attitude?” Jiang Wei’s voice on the other end was full of anticipation.

Song Yushu sat on the sofa, hugging a cushion. “Couldn’t persuade him. He didn’t even give me a chance to speak. You’d better go find him yourself.”

“That heartless? What does he actually want?”

“How would I know?”

“Then it looks like I’ll have to be the one to lower my head. And I can’t drag it out any longer. If those women find out Zhou Yancheng is single again, they’ll throw themselves at him relentlessly.”

Song Yushu chuckled. “Yeah, you’d better hurry. I saw him tonight, and he seems even more handsome.”

A shriek came from the other end. “Ah! So annoying. If it comes down to it, I’ll really get on my knees and beg him. And when I do, I’m dragging you two down with me.”

“At times like this, I really wish I didn’t know you.”

Song Yushu hung up right after saying that.

Still, it was obvious Jiang Wei had deep feelings for Zhou Yancheng. She could probably succeed in getting back together with him.

She got up and headed to the bathroom, planning to shower and sleep.

She undressed and stood under the showerhead. Warm water poured down from above. She closed her eyes instinctively, and Zhou Yancheng’s face suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Song Yushu frowned. Why would she think of him...

She’d cut off those feelings four years ago. She comforted herself—maybe it was just because she’d seen him tonight.

After her shower, Song Yushu put on a bathrobe and returned to the bedroom, sitting at the vanity to apply skincare.

Her phone, placed nearby, buzzed. It was a call from her mother, Qin Ling.

She answered. “Mom, what’s up?”

“When is your father planning to arrange for you to join the company?” Qin Ling’s tone on the other end was sharp.

“He hasn’t said yet.”

“That woman’s two kids from her previous marriage have both been placed in branch offices by your father. You, his own flesh and blood, are just sitting at home. He’s really something!”

Song Yushu frowned slightly, but her voice remained gentle and calm. “I’ll go talk to Dad.”

Her parents had been divorced for over ten years, and her mother still couldn’t let go of that resentment.

Though she didn’t know exactly what had happened back then, her father had remarried quickly after the divorce, so she could guess he’d probably been unfaithful first.

“If he doesn’t let you into the company, I won’t let him hear the end of it!”

“Okay.”

...

Monday morning rush hour traffic was worse than usual, so Song Yushu left an hour early and returned to the Song family villa on the outskirts of Beijing.

She wanted to catch her father before he left for work and have a few words with him.

Song Yushu stood in the entryway changing her shoes when the housekeeper came over. “Jiaojiao’s back.”

“Auntie, has my dad left yet?”

“Not yet. He’s having breakfast.”

She nodded and walked toward the dining room. Song Lei was sitting there alone, eating breakfast.

Song Lei looked up and saw her. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, “So you still remember to come back. I thought you’d forgotten this family entirely.”

“I came to talk to you about something.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a dining chair and sat down.

Song Lei shot her a glance. “You really only show up when you need something.”

Song Yushu didn’t care about her father’s attitude and asked directly, “When do you plan to let me join the company?”

“You just graduated. What’s the rush to join the company?”

She smiled faintly, gentle but cold. “I heard Auntie Zhang’s children have all been placed by you.”

Song Lei’s hand paused mid-motion as he ate his congee. He looked up at her.

“Your mother’s been gossiping in your ear again?” Song Lei set down the congee bowl, impatience in his eyes.

Song Yushu looked at her father steadily. “You call the truth gossip?”

“It’s because you’re not capable. Auntie Zhang’s children are all outstanding, every one of them. And you? Look at your friend Jiang Wei. The Jiang family has been thriving these past few years, all because of that arranged marriage. You inherited your mother’s holier-than-thou attitude—won’t climb the social ladder, no ambition at all. How am I supposed to feel comfortable putting you in the company?”

After hearing all that, Song Yushu let out a soft laugh.

“Other people’s children being outstanding has nothing to do with you. Why don’t you learn from Jiang Wei’s father? The Jiang and Zhou families could arrange that marriage because they were of equal standing. And besides...”

Song Yushu stood up, her expression calm, and added, “How do you know I have no ambition?”

With that, she turned and left, not wanting to look at her father any longer.

Song Lei stared at her stubborn retreating figure, stunned for a long time.

-

Back in the car, she had just fastened her seatbelt when her WeChat buzzed.

Z: Home tonight?

Song Yushu looked at the screen and typed a reply.

Jiaojiao: Coming for the car keys?

Z: Yeah.

Jiaojiao: I’ll be home. Just have the driver let me know when he arrives.

Z: Fine.