Chapter 7: Huai City

Xia Wu suddenly felt stifled, and was about to blow up.

Xu Ying said, "Let's go to the pottery studio this weekend. Didn't you say before you wanted to make a pair of cups? Saturday's my shift swap day—we can go together."

Xia Wu stared blankly at the person beside her. He remembered. He remembered it all.

But why couldn't he have treated her a little better in their last life? Didn't he owe her too?

Owed her those years of cold indifference. Owed her a life.

Sure, they'd gotten together because she'd clung to him relentlessly—but hadn't he cheated too? Emotionally cheated.

So couldn't she take something back? As long as she didn't force him to marry her, before he returned to the Xu family, she'd torment him to death—just like before.

No, she needed a different approach. Anyway, she'd lost all hope of being with him forever, so she wouldn't be plagued by insecurities anymore.

Thinking this way, Xia Wu felt much better.

Besides, she still loved this face so much. It had hit her right in the heart.

Who knows, maybe in the future she'd meet someone she liked even more.

Her last life had been too limited—fixated on just him.

"Dare to lie to me, Xu Ying, and you're dead!" Xia Wu said viciously. The sound of his name finally set his heart at ease.

This was the real Xia Wu—the domineering, unreasonable Little Drama Queen.

"Lie to you? How would I dare lie to you." Xu Ying laughed softly.

"Happy now?" He reached his hand around Xia Wu's neck, pulled her over, and pressed her against his chest. "Sleep."

Xia Wu suddenly remembered something and turned her head. "Did you tell your boss? About going back to Su City—you're quitting the part-time job at the restaurant."

"No, forgot. Besides, it's not bad over there. Close to home. The pay's a bit low, but it's summer break now—even if we go to Su City, I can't stay in the dorms. So it evens out." Xu Ying murmured in reply, already about to drift off.

Xia Wu twisted her body. "Let go, it's so hot. Go sleep on your side."

Xu Ying's eyes snapped open. "Before, no matter how hot it was, you always wanted me to hold you while you slept. You've had a revelation today?"

"Yes, I've had a revelation today!" Xia Wu said, then broke free of him, scooted to the very edge, and hugged a pillow to sleep.

Xu Ying's arms were suddenly empty. His fingertips curled slightly. He said nothing.

By the time Xia Wu was drowsy and half-asleep, she felt her body grow hot again.

The next morning was the same as always.

Xu Ying had left early—same note, same breakfast flipped upside down on the table.

Xia Wu went for a stroll around town. She figured she should start saving some money.

Before, she'd relied on Xu Ying for everything, and her parents had left her a not-insignificant sum, so she'd gotten by fine in life.

Later, after she forced Xu Ying to marry her, life got even better.

After Xu Ying became President Xu, he certainly didn't shortchange her financially.

He gave her money, gave her jewelry, gave her a big house, gave her everything she wanted—except himself.

But this time, no matter how much money Xu Ying had, it had nothing to do with her. She should live her own life well.

As she walked, Xia Wu found herself wandering to the restaurant where Xu Ying worked.

Through the bustling crowd, through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, she spotted him at a glance—tall and lean, with outstanding looks.

It was summer break, and the restaurant was full of young faces.

A girl holding a menu was looking at Xu Ying shyly, as if she'd asked a lot of questions, and Xu Ying was patiently explaining each one.

Through the glass, amid the blur of figures, Xia Wu seemed to see her past self.

"Xu Ying, can't you just let me stay here? I promise I won't bother you."

After entering university, Xu Ying officially started part-time work to earn tuition and living expenses. Xia Wu naturally wanted to tag along, but Xu Ying stopped her.

Xu Ying's expression was a bit impatient. "How am I supposed to work with you here?"

"How can't you work? I won't interfere with you."

"You sure?"

"Sure!"

Xu Ying was just too good-looking. Plenty of girls came specifically to the restaurant to order, just to catch a glimpse of him.

Xia Wu watched as a girl—exquisitely dressed and made up—boldly pestered him. "Do you have a girlfriend? I—"

Before the girl could finish, Xia Wu walked over and hooked her arm through Xu Ying's. "He does. It's me."

Xu Ying looked at Xia Wu. "Go back to school first. I'll tell you when I'm done."

"Why are you in such a hurry to send me away? You think I'm here bothering you while you flirt around?" Xia Wu's eyes were red with anger as she questioned him.

Xu Ying's expression shifted slightly. Before he could speak, the girl sneered, "Ha, girlfriend? I don't think this handsome guy seems too willing to acknowledge you as his girlfriend."

"She is." Xu Ying spoke flatly.

In the end, Xu Ying got complained about for bringing his girlfriend to work, and had a week's wages docked.

Afterward, Xia Wu looked at the silent Xu Ying. "I'll pay you back, alright? Besides, it was her fault in the first place. She meddles in everything—even other people's relationships?"

Xu Ying knew Xia Wu's temperament—once she started acting out, there was no end to it. So he chose the most direct method to threaten her.

"If you do this again next time, we break up."

Xu Ying said it very seriously, the look in his eyes leaving no doubt he meant it. Xia Wu was successfully cowed, and from then on she restrained herself a lot.

She couldn't let Xu Ying leave. If she couldn't even hold onto Xu Ying, what would she do?

……

Perhaps Xia Wu's gaze was too intense, because Xu Ying looked up and was slightly surprised.

He instinctively moved a bit away from the girl ordering, putting some distance between them.

Then he thought—good thing he hadn't believed her nonsense about going back to Su City. If he'd really gone far away, who knows what kind of scene she'd make.

Xu Ying collected himself and put in the girl's order.

When he looked out the window again, Xia Wu was already gone.

Only the traffic light blinked mechanically in the scorching summer heat, day after day.

He took out his phone and checked. No messages.

"Oh, isn't this Xia Wu? What are you wandering around for in this summer heat? Aren't you afraid of heatstroke?"

Xia Wu was walking along the river when a car suddenly pulled up by the roadside. The window rolled down, revealing an exquisitely made-up face.

Xia Wu squinted. Maybe the summer sun was too glaring—she didn't recognize who this woman in the BMW was.

"How quickly the important forget." The woman got out of the car, stepping in red high heels.

A tight bodycon dress showed off her curves to perfection.

Holding a handheld mini fan, she stood gracefully under the tree shade, brows slightly arched, like a proud peacock spreading its tail.

Her red lips parted lightly. "You don't remember me? Class Two, Senior Year—Zhao Na."

Xia Wu's face cleared with realization, but the face before her didn't match the one from before at all. Only a faint shadow of resemblance remained.

Zhao Na smiled seductively. "Can't recognize me? Can't blame you. I spent big money to get pretty in Korea. Of course you wouldn't recognize me."

"Indeed, I really couldn't recognize you. You've changed quite a lot." Xia Wu replied politely.

Zhao Na looked Xia Wu up and down. "You haven't changed at all. What, Xu Ying isn't with you?"

Then she put on a shocked expression. "Don't tell me he finally couldn't stand you and got snatched up by some better girl in university?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, still the same woman as before... But don't be sad. No matter how good Xu Ying is, he's just a broke university student. Who knows when he'll ever make it big."

Zhao Na stepped closer, placing a hand with red-painted nails on Xia Wu's shoulder.

"Seeing as we're old classmates, let me introduce you to someone. My boyfriend knows lots of young, promising bosses. With your looks, you'd have them eating out of your palm."

Xia Wu smiled—just like a canna lily in full bloom under the blazing July sun.