Chapter 227: Forget All This

Even though her mind was blank and she was near death, Xia Xi still heard Xu Yanfeng's voice, as if coming from a distant place, echoing, each word striking her eardrum.

I don't want to see you again; never appear before me.

Xu Yanfeng left.

He left, and his childhood friends naturally couldn't stay here.

Fu Li lagged behind, turned back, and glanced at Xia Xi with an inscrutable expression; the pain on her face was obvious, tears streaming down in large drops, her body trembling incessantly—there was no trace of the pleasure of escaping Xu Yanfeng.

According to her, she didn't really like Xu Yanfeng's type; having gotten her wish to part from him, shouldn't she feel relieved?

Why is she so heartbroken?

Fu Li always felt something was off; perhaps there was a hidden reason, or maybe he simply didn't believe deep down that Xia Xi was the kind of person to change her mind.

He didn't have time to investigate further, and strode out.

The hallway was already empty of Xu Yanfeng's figure; the elevator had just closed, and Ling Yan's voice sounded urgent: 'A-Feng!'

Ling Yan chased after him, wanting to comfort Xu Yanfeng, but she was wearing high heels and couldn't walk fast; before she could touch the corner of his coat, the elevator began to descend. She pressed a button, and another elevator opened.

Fu Li simply couldn't rest easy about Xu Yanfeng, worried that in his state of grief and rage he might get into an accident while driving.

Ling Yan entered the elevator, and Fu Li followed closely behind.

With another person present, Ling Yan had to keep her expression in check, putting on a worried look; actually, her inner excitement outweighed her concern for Xu Yanfeng. Xu Yanfeng's sadness was temporary—someday he would move on and welcome a new love. What pleased her was that Xia Xi had finally left Xu Yanfeng's world.

As the elevator descended floor by floor, Ling Yan said to Fu Li, 'Xia Xi really went too far—she actually cheated, and Xu Yanfeng saw it with his own eyes. What a blow to him; calling it a tremendous disgrace is not an exaggeration.'

Fu Li didn't echo her words, only saying, 'Don't bring it up in front of Xu Er later.'

Ling Yan gave an embarrassed smile and said, 'I know.'

The elevator reached the underground parking garage; fortunately they were in time, Xu Yanfeng hadn't left yet, just getting into his car.

Fu Li rushed over in a few strides, flung open the driver's door, pulled the grim-faced Xu Yanfeng out, shoved him into the back seat, and took the wheel himself.

Fu Li was glad he hadn't drunk alcohol that evening.

Ling Yan got in from the other side, sat beside Xu Yanfeng, stared at his face, wanting to comfort him, yet feeling any words would be pale and powerless at this moment; she pressed her lips together and sighed.

Fu Li started the engine, drove out of the parking lot, and asked calmly, 'Where would you like to go?'

Xu Yanfeng didn't answer, so Fu Li decided on his own and took him for a drive around.

In the private room, Xia Xi almost heard a 'thud'; her heart dropped straight to the ground and shattered.

Tears flowed like an opened sluice gate, relentless; she lifted her hand to wipe them, but couldn't get them dry, the skin on her face rubbed raw by her sleeves, stinging like needle pricks.

No one else was in the room; Zhou Du dropped the pretense, walked to Xia Xi's side, and placed his large palm over her trembling shoulder: 'Are you all right?'

As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhou Du realized he'd asked a pointless question, frowned with regret—how could she be all right?

Xia Xi slowly turned her head to look at him, and actually broke into a smile through her tears.

It was over; everything was over.

Zhou Du couldn't find words of comfort; he sighed and gently patted her head and back, one tap after another, to lessen her trembling. The hardest step had already been taken; what remained was a long process of healing and recovery.

It will get better.

Zhou Du, a big man, had red-rimmed eyes: 'All right, all right, it's in the past.'

Xia Xi wanted to leave, but her feet felt nailed to the spot, unable to move. She clutched the fabric in front of her with her fingers, slowly squatted down, and curled herself into a ball.

After who knows how long, she finally stopped crying; her legs were numb, her voice hoarse as if rubbed on sandpaper: 'Zhou Du, come drink with me. I really want to get drunk and forget all this.'

Zhou Du: 'Sure, I'll keep you company drinking—drink as much as you want.'

As long as she could still make requests, it showed there was hope; what would truly be frightening is if she had no thoughts at all.

Zhou Du bent over, grasped her slender arms, pulled her up from the ground, half-dragging, half-supporting her away, leaving this illusory realm of extravagance and returning to the bustling world of mortals.

Zhou Du often gathered with friends and knew which bars were quiet; he took her there.

Having arrived, he got out, went to the passenger side, and opened the door for Xia Xi.

Xia Xi pushed his hand away: 'I can do it myself.'

To prove she was fine, she held onto the seatback and jumped out of the car, scanned the surroundings, and found the bar's entrance.

A bright blue sign bore black artistic lettering reading 'Go forward'; four steps led up to the door, each fitted with a lightbox that lit up a blue arrow when stepped on, pointing inside.

Xia Xi gave a wry smile, pointed to the bar's sign above her head, and told Zhou Du, 'See? It's telling me to go forward, not look back—no one walks back on their own path.'

Zhou Du was at a loss for words, couldn't utter any profound, beautiful phrases; he grunted an 'uh' and repeated her words: 'Go forward, don't look back.'

The wry smile on Xia Xi's lips turned into a foolish grin as she lifted her foot onto the step.

Her body swayed; even without alcohol she seemed already drunk. Zhou Du feared she'd fall and wanted to support her, but she shook her head, refusing, insisting: 'I can walk myself.'

Hardly had the words left her mouth when, after just two seconds, she fell.

Zhou Du reached out but failed to catch her; her right knee slammed hard against the step's edge, hurting so much she cried out, sweat beading on her forehead, and the tears she had just stopped began to flow again.

'How are you?' Zhou Du hurriedly helped her sit on the step, crouched down to examine her.

The fragile composure Xia Xi had managed cracked, and she broke down again: 'I hurt so much, Zhou Du, I really hurt…'

Her knee ached, but there was a spot inside her body that hurt a hundred, even a thousand times more.

Zhou Du knew what she meant, since her hand was pressed to her chest, not her knee. His Adam's apple bobbed as he rubbed her back: 'I know, I know.'

He thought it might be better to call Liang Yuan after all; Xia Xi's condition was too unstable, and having more caring people comfort her might help a bit.

On a Friday night, the bar was crowded, passersby casting glances their way. Xia Xi was striking in appearance, Zhou Du no slouch either; together they inevitably invited imaginations of a love‑hate drama.

Fu Li muttered under his breath, 'What a karmic tie,' as he drove Xu Yanfeng around; coincidentally passing by, he saw Xia Xi and that man entwined at the bar's entrance.

He hastily pressed the accelerator, and the car sped past.

Fu Li prayed Xu Yanfeng hadn't seen, glanced up at the rearview mirror, and saw Xu Yanfeng facing the window, street neon lights reflecting on his face, his brows and eyes dark, his emotion unreadable.

But Fu Li knew his prayer was useless; Xu Yanfeng must have seen.

He had noticed everything—after all, Xu Yanfeng knew Xia Xi even better.

Fu Li opened his mouth, then closed it again; anything he said would be superfluous.

Although Ling Yan sat on the other side, she and Xu Yanfeng were looking at the same pane of glass, so she naturally noticed that scene. Xia Xi repeatedly hurting Xu Yanfeng only pushes him further away, leaving no room for reconciliation between them.

She would love that.

Ling Yan couldn't hold back and muttered under her breath: "Dog couple, hugging and kissing in the street, shameless."

Fu Li's heart jumped hearing that—hadn't she emphasized not to mention Xia Xi in front of Xu Yanfeng? Why won't she listen?

Ling Yan always behaved like a proper lady from a noble family; uttering such harsh words was already overturning her image. Fu Li held back, then still spoke up to remind her: "Don't say that."

Ling Yan glanced at Xu Yanfeng, thinking that insulting Xia Xi was venting her anger for him: "She's done all that, does she still fear what others say? That kind of girl, who toys with others' feelings, will never have a good ending."

After a slight pause, she asked Xu Yanfeng: "You prepared the stock transfer contract earlier, she hasn't signed it, right?"