Chapter 275: Are you thinking of taking back your ex?

Zhou Du glared, spat out a curse: "Fuck, why is he so persistent?"

Xia Xi then said: "I returned all the money I took from him back then, plus an extra two million as interest. I promised him I would keep to our agreement and not get involved with Xu Yanfeng beyond work."

Zhou Du raised his hand to his forehead, suddenly realizing: "You borrowed money from me before just to……"

"Yes." Xia Xi nodded.

Zhou Du still remembered that day when he got Xia Xi's call; she asked him for that large sum of money, he thought something had happened to her, and no matter how he asked, she wouldn't reveal it, only saying it was because of a small matter.

He finally figured it out: it was Xu Yanfeng's father looking for her again.

Zhou Du felt the situation was tricky, brows furrowed: "So, Xu Yanfeng's father won't budge on our matter?"

"Not saying." Xia Xi's voice sounded heavy with drowsiness, head tilted, looking from Zhou Du's side inward: "Zi Heng and Youyou?"

"They're lying on the bed watching cartoons on iPad."

Zhou Du turned around and shouted; the two kids slid off the bed, put on their shoes, and ran over.

"Why not stay at my place for the night? I have plenty of rooms." Zhou Du suggested.

"No."

Xia Xi had Zi Heng help her get her bag, she put on a coat; it was cold at night, she buttoned it, fastened the waist belt, then took the two kids out, turning back to Zhou Du and saying: "No need to see me off."

"Okay." Zhou Du stood with his hands in his pockets by the door, watching them enter the elevator.

After the elevator doors closed, Zhou Du turned back inside, pressed his stomach; that night's commotion gave him a stomachache.

The elevator went straight to the first floor without stopping; after exiting, Xia Xi released Zi Heng's hand, took out her phone, and called a car.

She kept her head down, looking at her phone as she walked.

Suddenly, her clothes were tugged; Xia Xi looked away from her phone, toward Zi Heng on her right, eyes puzzled: "What's wrong?"

Zi Heng tilted his face, indicating she should look ahead.

Following his indication, Xia Xi looked toward her front diagonal, her breath catching.

Xu Yanfeng hadn't left; he stood beneath the apartment building's steps, posture straight, his long fingers holding a hint of scarlet light.

White streetlight poured down, a faint halo settling atop his head.

A few steps forward was a trash bin; Xu Yanfeng stubbed out his cigarette, waving his hand casually in front of him, as if dispersing the lingering smoke smell.

Xia Xi stared at him for a few seconds, lowered her gaze to her feet, and walked down the steps.

"My car's outside; I'll take you back to the hotel." Xu Yanfeng walked over and naturally took Zi Heng's hand.

Zi Heng didn't want him to hold his hand, tried to pull away, but lacking strength, his face turned red, his small hand still firmly gripped by Xu Yanfeng's large hand.

Xia Xi shook her phone, saying: "I called a car."

"Then cancel it." Xu Yanfeng said nonchalantly.

Xia Xi still wanted to find an excuse, but Xu Yanfeng added: "You said it yourself—it's late, the kids are tired. Waiting for the car wastes time."

"……"

That was the excuse she had just used to brush off Xu Yanfeng, now he turned it against her.

Xia Xi resigned, canceled the order on her phone, and followed Xu Yanfeng out of the residential area.

A car was parked at the curb; seeing Xu Yanfeng come out, the driver immediately got down and opened the rear door.

Xia Xi and the two kids got in; Xu Yanfeng took the front passenger seat.

On the road, no one spoke; it was utterly quiet, occasional honks sounding distant.

Zi Heng was tired, yawned twice, leaned sideways into Xia Xi's embrace, and soon fell asleep. Youyou remained energetic, hugging Xia Xi's phone to play a dress-up game.

The car arrived at the hotel where Xia Xi stayed; without waiting for the driver to open the door, Xu Yanfeng got out first.

Youyou returned the phone to Xia Xi, stretched, and just as Xu Yanfeng opened the car door from outside, she jumped down herself.

Xia Xi nudged Zi Heng, about to wake him, when Xu Yanfeng bent into the car and whispered: "If he's asleep, don't wake him."

Xu Yanfeng took off his coat, draped it over Zi Heng, held him horizontally, and slowly moved him out.

Xia Xi noted his attentiveness; inside and outside the car were two temperatures, the sleeping child suddenly shifting from warm to cold, easily catching a chill. Xu Yanfeng lacked paternal experience, yet his care looked proper.

Xia Xi pursed her lips, lifted her bag, and got out.

Xu Yanfeng waited by the car for her; seeing her get out, he then stepped toward the hotel.

Zi Heng's eyelids twitched; one cheek pressed against the warm, firm crook of the arm, the other covered by the coat, not a breath of wind could get in, he felt as snug as wrapped in a blanket.

When his mother pushed him, he woke, but before he could open his eyes, a man lifted him up.

He didn't know what he was thinking; at that moment he actually chose to pretend to sleep.

That tall man's embrace differed from his mother's; her hug was soft and fragrant, while his embrace……was steady, giving a sense of security.

He held him and walked with big strides without feeling jostled.

Passing through the hotel lobby, Xia Xi jogged a couple steps forward and pressed the elevator button.

Xu Yanfeng glanced at her, wanted to say something, his lips twitched slightly, but mindful of the child in his arms, worried he'd wake him, he held back.

Upon reaching the upstairs suite, Xu Yanfeng bent to gently lay Zi Heng on the bed, slipped off his small shoes, placed them lightly beside the bed; every move was careful, making no sound, as if he wished to hold his breath.

Xia Xi patted Youyou's back, urging her to go to the bathroom to wash up, then get into bed to sleep.

Xu Yanfeng and Xia Xi exchanged a look; the two exited the bedroom one after another, Xia Xi turned to close the door, raised her voice and said: "You should rest early too."

"What's the plan for tomorrow?" Xu Yanfeng glanced at his watch without thinking; it was before ten, still early for adults.

"Take the two kids to the amusement park to play, return to Nancheng at four in the afternoon."

Xu Yanfeng nodded, preparing to leave; after two steps he noticed the person behind him had no reaction, he stopped, turned to look at her: "You won't see me off?"

Xia Xi didn't get what there was to see off, but she still said "oh" and quickened her steps to follow him.

As they neared the door, Xu Yanfeng grabbed her wrist; her heart jumped, she forgot to pull away, lifted her eyes, met his deep gaze, feeling uneasy, she averted her look to the bedroom door.

In case Youyou suddenly came out and saw them tugging at each other, which would be improper, Xia Xi spoke up: "Let go."

Xu Yanfeng abruptly said: "If you don't tell me what's improper, how can I fix it?"

Xia Xi's expression froze for an instant, her heart again pushing to its limit, pounding heedless of her life. Xu Yanfeng's words were a reply to her earlier casual lie.

——When I pursued you, it was because I liked you; being together was sincere too; later I realized we weren't suited, and I don't much like you anymore.

——If you don't tell me what's unsuitable, how can I change?

Xia Xi suddenly felt a sourness in her nose; she kept pushing him away, yet he kept coming back again and again. Where is his pride, his self-respect—has he thrown them away?

Xu Yanfeng stared at her for a long while; seeing her silent, he couldn't help comparing her to her former self: "Xia Xi, what's wrong with you, suddenly acting mute all the time—you used to be quite talkative, didn't you?"

"The past is the past, the present is the present. I've told you many times—people can change."

"Yeah, I can change too."

Xia Xi stared for a moment; his words were ordinary, yet she heard another layer—you said we weren't suited, you don't much like me anymore, I can change for you, I will change.

She didn't know if her understanding was right, nor did she dare to ask for confirmation; she only knew that if he didn't leave, she would cry.

The hand of Xia Xi that wasn't being held lifted, she pushed his arm, controlling her voice, not revealing too much of her true emotion, she said lightly: "Get out, I'm going to sleep."

"Your way of changing the subject… is really stiff." Xu Yanfeng's lips twitched slightly, as if he smiled: "Every time you say you're tired and need to sleep—such a universal excuse, right? I get it."

"……"

Xia Xi's sore nose and hot eyes eased a little; she wasn't feeling so upset.

Xu Yanfeng tugged her wrist; she was caught off guard, stepped forward, and was caught in his embrace. He lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck, his voice barely a whisper: "After all that, I just want to ask one thing—are you considering taking back your old love?"

Xia Xi's eyelashes fluttered; the feeling that had just faded surged back, overwhelming—her nose tingled, her eyes could no longer hold back the tears, and one dropped.

She didn't want to be seen, so she quickly wiped it away.

"You advise me to let go, but I don't want to hear it." Xu Yanfeng slowly lifted his head, his palm caressing her face as they locked eyes, "Just like I once urged you not to chase after me, advising you over and over, yet you wouldn't listen."