Chapter 1262: Relentless

In the apartment building.

Xia Lin lay back on the bed, relaxed, turning her head to look at Lu Tao, who was smoking beside her.

"You're not in a good state today."

"Maybe I'm just too tired."

"Isn't the youth apartment finishing up soon? What else is there to be tired about?"

"It's not just this one project." Lu Tao sighed and said, "Yuanda has another plot of land to develop. I'm in charge of the design, and there's been a lot going on lately. It doesn't feel right to me."

"Why doesn't it feel right?"

"I heard Xu Zhisen is planning to sell this plot."

"Then wouldn't your design work be for nothing?"

"Yeah, for nothing..." Lu Tao couldn't help but sigh, saying with dissatisfaction, "Xu Zhisen is just a businessman. In his eyes, there is only money, no art. Art is nothing but bullshit to him!"

Xia Lin shook her head: "It's the art you want that's too expensive, Lu Tao."

"Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about this; the more we talk, the more annoying it gets."

"Then let's talk about us." Xia Lin said, "You didn't answer me today. Brother Yan and Yang Xiaoyun have been together for two months less than us, and they've been together for nearly two years now. They're already married. What are your thoughts?"

"I definitely want to marry you, it's just that our current situation isn't stable yet. The bonus I got a while ago was used to buy the car, and we don't have much money in our hands. Not to mention buying a big house like Brother Yan, we at least need a base of our own."

"Those are all excuses. You weren't like this before, Lu Tao. You value money too much now, and you're desperate to climb higher. I just don't understand, why do you have to be like this?

Am I, Xia Lin, a person who loves money? If I wanted money, plenty of men would be willing to spend it on me. Why would I have to be with you?"

Lu Tao shook his head: "I thought that way before, but it's different now, Xia Lin. I'm a man. You can choose not to have it, but I cannot afford not to."

"Suit yourself." Xia Lin said, clearly a bit unhappy.

Lu Tao reached out and hugged Xia Lin, offering silent comfort. These little moods would pass with a hug.

After a moment of silence, Xia Lin said: "I saw you staring at Mi Lai all day today. What? Old flames rekindled?"

"What are you talking about? You can get jealous over this?" Lu Tao couldn't help but sigh, feeling a bit weary, "She returned to the country last year, and until today, I've only seen her twice. Where would I rekindle anything?"

"So, as long as you see her a couple more times, you could rekindle it?"

"No, Xia Lin, you're being unreasonable."

"Did I step on your tail?"

"Why are you being so unreasonable? You weren't like this before, Xia Lin."

"Are you angry?" Xia Lin turned her head to look at him again.

"I just don't understand."

"If I stared at Brother Yan the whole time, would you understand?"

"Go ahead and look, could I stop you?"

Lu Tao sneered, "You know, among all the people I know, Brother Yan really is the most outstanding. In his twenties, parents died early, no help from anyone, yet he relied on his own ability to open such a large used car dealership and build such a large internet company, with a net worth over a hundred million. I admit I'm inferior; I bow to him."

"Listen to the sourness in your own words, Lu Tao. You're the one being unreasonable." Xia Lin huffed, then got out of bed, taking her change of clothes to shower.

Lu Tao, cigarette in mouth, lay on the bed, watching Xia Lin's smooth back... his heart was calm as still water...

He suddenly felt it was all meaningless.

Mi Lai's indifference—the coldness and disgust that showed in her eyes when their gazes collided unintentionally—left a bitterness in his heart that he couldn't describe.

The world shouldn't be like this, people shouldn't be like this...

This feeling made him uncomfortable, even keeping him awake at night.

If Mi Lai still had him in her eyes, he wouldn't care. Now that Mi Lai didn't even have him in her eyes, and even felt disgusted looking at him, he did care.

So, after suffering for a week, Lu Tao finally couldn't hold it in anymore; he went to find Mi Lai.

Of course, he couldn't find her, because at this moment, he realized he knew nothing about Mi Lai's current situation. His phone number had also been blocked; he couldn't reach her at all.

So he secretly sought out Huazi to ask about Mi Lai's recent situation. He learned that Mi Lai was working at her family's company, learned the company's address, and learned which residential complex Mi Lai lived in. Of course, he didn't know anything more detailed, and Huazi didn't either.

But that was enough. On a regular workday, he left work a bit early. He was now working at his biological father's company, and apart from his father, no one managed him, so he was free to come and go.

After leaving the company, he drove to the location of Mi Lai's family company and waited by the roadside, wanting to talk to Mi Lai.

However, the result was that he didn't see Mi Lai at all.

He figured Mi Lai must have already driven away, but he didn't know what car Mi Lai drove.

So he drove to the entrance of the residential complex where Mi Lai lived and waited. He knew Mi Lai couldn't cook, so she likely ate out before returning.

This time he didn't slack off; he observed with intense focus, not letting a single person slip by.

His phone rang; it was Xia Lin. He gave a few perfunctory replies, using the excuse of working overtime tonight and returning late.

He lit a cigarette and sat in the car smoking.

He suddenly felt it was pointless, because he didn't know why he was doing this. What reason did he have to come? What reason did he have to find Mi Lai? And what could he say if he did find her?

He and Mi Lai had long since broken up; they were already strangers.

He didn't know why, but he didn't want to leave; he was still waiting...

Finally, he saw Mi Lai.

Mi Lai wasn't driving. She was wearing a beige long dress, carrying a black bag, wearing white canvas shoes, and her hair was tied in a ponytail. No heavy makeup, looking very youthful and vibrant.

But he couldn't feel the vitality or beauty; he only felt a massive wave of anger surging into his heart, even making it hard for him to breathe. He widened his eyes, which instantly became bloodshot.

Under his gaze, the youthful Mi Lai was hugging a man's arm, the two of them swaying as they walked, laughing and chatting, looking incredibly happy.

He recognized that man; it was Wang Yan...

Seeing Wang Yan suddenly turn his head, he subconsciously ducked behind the steering wheel, then remembered they were so far away that Wang Yan couldn't possibly see him. So he raised his head again, watching from afar.

He watched them talking and laughing, watched Wang Yan pat Mi Lai's bottom, watched Wang Yan hug Mi Lai's shoulders, watched Mi Lai jump up to kiss Wang Yan, watched Mi Lai being carried on Wang Yan's back...

He truly couldn't understand why Mi Lai would be like this.

Mi Lai and Yang Xiaoyun were good friends. Yang Xiaoyun had only married Wang Yan less than half a month ago, yet now Mi Lai was being intimate with Wang Yan?

Various thoughts flashed through his mind, his eyes fixed on the entrance of the complex. He hoped to see Wang Yan come out, but unfortunately, until late at night, he didn't see Wang Yan's figure.

He finally left. He didn't know how he drove, didn't know how he got to the restaurant, and didn't know how he got drunk.

A massive void suddenly opened in his heart, causing him agonizing pain...

The next day, he finally blocked Mi Lai at the entrance of her residential complex as she returned from work.

He spread his arms to block the car, watching Mi Lai impatiently honk the horn, and shouted loudly: "I have no ill intentions, I just want to talk to you."

After a standoff, Mi Lai still got out of the car.

She crossed her arms, leaning against the car, looking impatient: "Lu Tao, is there anything left for us to say?"

"Mi Lai, how did you become like this?"

"Does what I'm like have anything to do with you? Do you have something to say or not? If not, get lost!"

Lu Tao frowned and said: "I saw you and Wang Yan coming back together two days ago. Mi Lai, you can't degrade yourself like this."

Mi Lai was surprised for a moment, but only for a moment.

"Is that it?"

"What do you mean 'is that it'? Isn't this a big deal? Isn't it serious? Mi Lai, are you taking revenge on me? Yes, I let you down, but you don't have to be like this, right? You're the one getting hurt. Why don't you think for yourself? Why don't you think for your parents?"

"Lu Tao, you're too self-absorbed. The Earth revolves around the Sun, not around you. Don't take yourself so seriously. I know my own business; I don't need you to meddle. If you've eaten too much salt, drink more water; don't come out and be an eyesore." Mi Lai huffed and turned to get back in the car.

"Mi Lai, listen to me!"

Lu Tao stepped up and pressed down on the car door, not letting Mi Lai leave.

"I've called the police!" Mi Lai looked at Lu Tao with cold eyes. She really hadn't expected that one day she would find Lu Tao so disgusting. Just over a year ago, she had been dying for him.

"I just don't understand, why do you have to be like this? Wang Yan is already married to Yang Xiaoyun. Who can't you be with? Why do you have to be with her? Wang Yan really lives up to his hooligan background; he's capable of anything!"

"You've got some nerve. Should I call him right now and tell him you're pestering me and calling him a monster?"

Watching Lu Tao stubbornly putting on a brave front, Mi Lai sneered, "Whatever I do has nothing to do with you. Stop meddling in things that don't concern you. Get lost!"

Pushing Lu Tao aside, Mi Lai got in the car and drove directly into the complex.

Lu Tao was devastated, looking like he had lost his soul. He stood by the roadside for a long time before slapping himself and driving away...

Ever since attending Wang Yan and Yang Xiaoyun's wedding, Xia Lin had felt terrible. She couldn't forget the way Lu Tao had looked at Mi Lai with a vacant gaze.

She was very familiar with that look, because that was how Lu Tao used to look at her.

After their brief conversation that night, Lu Tao had been absent-minded for the following days. He always came home very late, and was always listless in bed.

The last time Lu Tao was like this was when Mi Lai returned to the country and they had dinner together, the time they left halfway through. It took Lu Tao a long time to look normal again.

But it was only looking normal, because since then, Xia Lin felt Lu Tao had changed.

The way Lu Tao looked at her before was always filled with aggression, that eager intensity of wanting to tear her apart and merge with her. But ever since Mi Lai returned, Xia Lin had never seen Lu Tao look at her with that gaze again.

This time, Lu Tao's unusual behavior was even more unusual. When faced with her concern, he always talked about being busy with work. She wasn't stupid; having shared a bed for so long, how could she not notice?

Especially one night when Lu Tao was dead drunk and refused to leave the restaurant. The owner used Lu Tao's phone to call her, and she had to go in the middle of the night to get him.

In Lu Tao's slurred, drunken ramblings, she heard "Wang Yan" and "Mi Lai"...

When Lu Tao sobered up the next day, no matter what she asked, he claimed he didn't know because he was drunk. This made her even more worried.

So, after Lu Tao made excuses not to come home for several consecutive days, she had no choice but to fight for her relationship, following behind Lu Tao to see what he was actually doing...

Xia Lin was wearing a tight, navel-baring camisole, washed-out jeans, and high heels. Her makeup was vibrant, and combined with her hot outfit, passersby couldn't help but take a second look.

But she didn't notice.

She stood behind a utility pole by the roadside, watching the entrance of the complex across the street.

Watching how Lu Tao blocked Mi Lai's car, watching how Lu Tao frowned, how he seemed to be pleading earnestly and looking heartbroken, watching how Lu Tao tried to stop Mi Lai, watching how Lu Tao lost his soul and spirit...

She waved to hail a taxi, telling the driver to follow Lu Tao's newly bought Audi A4.

After a while, she saw Lu Tao go into a restaurant, order a few dishes for himself, and drink alone.

Xia Lin stood in the shadows not far from the shop, the streetlights reflecting the glistening tears on her face...

She didn't leave until late at night. She watched Lu Tao ignore the owner's advice, watched him act out while drunk, watched the owner fish out Lu Tao's phone to make a call, until her phone rang. Until she once again brought the dead-drunk Lu Tao back to the apartment...

Lu Tao woke up groggily, rubbing his head in pain, muttering incoherently.

"The water is on the nightstand."

"I've made you worry again, Xia Lin." Lu Tao struggled to prop himself up, leaning against the headboard. He reached for the warm water on the nightstand and drank it all.

"You even added honey? Xia Lin, you're so good. Give me some more, I feel like I'm dying of thirst."

Xia Lin, who was sitting on the sofa hugging her knees, stood up, came over, took the cup to pour water, and stirred in the honey. She asked: "Why did you drink so much again yesterday? Did something happen?"

"No, what could happen? Just a few people from the project team eating and drinking to build rapport, to make work go smoother later."

"Then why did you drink so much?"

"Maybe because of Xu Zhisen? Look, it's almost twelve o'clock. If it weren't for Xu Zhisen, I would have been fired long ago." Lu Tao took the honey water Xia Lin handed him, "Xia Lin, it's so good to have you."

Xia Lin smiled. At this moment, she thought back to when she and Lu Tao were secretly together. She imagined that back then, Lu Tao treated Mi Lai the same way, all sweet talk and perfunctory behavior.

"Are you going today?"

"I definitely have to go. I'm leading the work, and everyone is waiting for me to make decisions." As he spoke, Lu Tao picked up his phone, looked at the missed calls, and showed them to Xia Lin, "Look, they're all looking for me. Let's go downstairs for lunch in a bit, and then I'll go to work. Hey, Xia Lin, why didn't you go to work?"

"You drank like that, how could I be at ease?"

"You're so good." Lu Tao said that again.

Xia Lin didn't know if he was saying it for her to hear, or if Lu Tao was talking to himself, reinforcing his idea of maintaining the relationship.

She didn't respond, returning to the sofa to watch TV: "You smell like booze, hurry up and wash up."

So Lu Tao washed up, ate with Xia Lin, and then drove away...

Lu Tao didn't go far; he just left the apartment entrance and parked after a few streets.

He sat by the roadside, smoking.

Even though he hadn't recovered from the drunkenness and smoking was painful, he still smoked. One after another, non-stop, until he felt nauseous, until he vomited the little lunch he had eaten.

He still cared about the gaze of others, and he was too embarrassed to keep sitting next to his vomit, so he quickly drove away...

He went to find Mi Lai again, but of course, he couldn't find her. But he didn't give up, pestering her for a week, but he never saw Mi Lai again. Mi Lai stopped going to the company, stopped going home; she was unreachable...

After thinking it over, he gritted his teeth, steeled his heart, and went directly to find Yang Xiaoyun.

Yang Xiaoyun didn't go to work at Wang Yan's company. Actually, Wang Yan had mentioned it, but she said she didn't want to be Wang Yan's subordinate. She used the money Wang Yan gave her to open a flower shop, hired a young girl to work, helped out when busy, and sat in the shop listening to music and watching the street scene when not busy.

She was genuinely content with a small life, with quite a bit of small-town mentality. Tracing the source, this came from her money-grubbing mother.

"Roadside Encounter" was the name of the flower shop Yang Xiaoyun ran.

Lu Tao parked the car and walked into the shop.

Yang Xiaoyun saw at a glance that his state wasn't normal and laughed: "You don't look normal?"

"Yang Xiaoyun, I think it's necessary to tell you some things. I believe you have the right to know the truth." Lu Tao got straight to the point.

Yang Xiaoyun was stunned, confused: "What happened?"

Seeing Lu Tao looking at the young shop assistant, she sent the girl out to buy two cups of milk tea, then looked at Lu Tao, "Go ahead, what is it?"

"I'll say this first, you must stay calm."

"Why are you so long-winded?"

Lu Tao let out a long breath: "Mi Lai... she and Wang Yan have secretly gotten together..."

Yang Xiaoyun widened her eyes, her mouth slightly agape, showing her surprise.

Then she frowned and asked: "How do you know?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. That day I wanted to go find Mi Lai to explain, and then I saw her and Wang Yan hugging and kissing."

"Who else have you told?"

"Would I tell anyone else about this kind of thing?"

"Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

"Do I have nothing better to do than come here to tease you?" Lu Tao was so anxious he was about to jump, "I really saw it. I've been thinking about it for several days, and I still feel you should know."

Yang Xiaoyun let out a long breath, then covered her face with both hands, muttering: "Alright, I know. You go, I want to be quiet for a while."

"You must not do anything stupid." Lu Tao advised, at least it sounded like advice.

"I'm not stupid. Keep it a secret, don't go shouting it everywhere."

"Am I that kind of person?"

"Then I thank you in advance."

"We're all friends, I really couldn't stand by. Then you must not do anything stupid. If you need anything, just say so. I'll go first."

Watching Yang Xiaoyun's silent figure with her face covered, Lu Tao sighed and turned to leave the flower shop... ===== CHAPTER 1263 =====