Upstairs, the two of them had barely taken a few bites when Shi Xian's phone in her coat pocket started to ring.
Shi Xian answered quickly.
It was a call from the military district, and Shi Xian responded with a frown—
"Yes, I understand, Commander. I'll head back right away."
Somewhat dejectedly, she put away her phone and looked apologetically at Shu Yimo across from her, wanting to say something, but Shu Yimo had already spoken indifferently.
"If you have a task, just go back. It's not the first time. I'll pay the bill."
During their usual gatherings, Shi Xian and Jingrong often had to leave like this, with tasks popping up unexpectedly. Sometimes, the moment their meals arrived, a call would come in, and they wouldn't even get a chance to take a bite.
"But you..."
Shi Xian looked down worriedly and her gaze lingered on Shu Yimo.
"I'm fine. I'll go back after I finish eating. I'm not like you; back at the military district, you have subordinates who make exceptions for you."
As she spoke, a rare, gentle smile softened Shu Yimo's usually aloof and beautiful face.
Taking a deep breath, Shi Xian finally nodded, slowly stood up, and slipped her hands into her coat pockets. "Then I'll head back first. Next time, I'll go straight to your place."
"Hmm."
After receiving a response from Shu Yimo, Shi Xian left.
...
The empty corner suddenly quieted down. Shu Yimo continued her dinner, undisturbed, not wasting a single bite and only standing up to leave after settling the bill.
She didn't want to run into the people downstairs.
However, as it turned out, often when you try to avoid something, you end up unable to escape it.
Descending the staircase and passing through the dimly-lit, lengthy corridor, Shu Yimo saw a tall figure beside the curtain at the corner.
Fan Lingjue was leaning against the wall, his slender fingers holding a half-burnt cigarette. His sharp, handsome face stood out under the light. Amidst the thin haze of smoke, he noticed Shu Yimo stopping in her tracks.
A flicker of surprise crossed his dark eyes as his intense gaze rested on Shu Yimo, studying her for quite a while.
She seemed much thinner than before, her cold, indifferent face as calm as ever. Even when they unexpectedly reunited in such circumstances, it seemed as if...
"Why is it you?"
The slightly magnetic voice contained a faint coldness that made Shu Yimo feel a slight chill in her ears.
Shu Yimo also took a glance at him, her gaze darkening briefly. But ultimately, she chose not to say anything, and indifferently diverted her eyes, lowering her gaze as she moved forward.
"You shouldn't be so unfriendly as to not even offer a greeting, Yimo."
Fan Lingjue also straightened his posture slightly, silently watching the figure that was about to pass by him.
"Mr. Fan, it's been a long time. I hope you are well?"
Shu Yimo turned her head to look at him, the smile on her lips carrying a trace of coldness.
Fan Lingjue's stern face darkened, and he looked coldly at Shu Yimo.
"Xixi has fractured her right hand; she might never be able to pick up a paintbrush again in her life."
Seeing Shu Yimo's icy expression, Fan Lingjue said in a low voice.
"And what then? Have me taken back to a cell for a few more years for her to exact revenge? "
Fan Lingjue's eyes darkened. "We weren't suited for each other, and you had no need to harm her."
His tone was calm, so calm that Shu Yimo could hear the sound of her wounds splitting open. In that moment, she felt a tightness in her chest, shortness of breath, and the familiar pain washing over her made her take a laborious breath.
Enough, no amount of explanations would work.
"Indeed, you and she are more suitable for each other, you've won. I'm not trying to stop you or cling to you, you've been free a long time ago, and you don't have to tell me all this. Did you not tell me earlier because you thought I was still of use to you?"
Shu Yimo glared at him coldly.
"The matter between you and me doesn't need to involve Xixi. If you could look at our relationship rationally, it wouldn't have come to this..."
"Xixi? I wish she would drop dead! If she's so innocent, then why is it that every time she has an accident, you both appear immediately and always manage to see me?"
Shu Yimo replied with an indifferent cold sneer.
"Two years, haven't they been enough for you to calm down?"
Fan Lingjue furrowed his brows.
"What does it matter to you, Fan Lingjue, whether I'm calm or not? Stop putting on this act of a moral crusader. From the moment you left with her in your arms two years ago, you lost any right to criticize me."
Shu Yimo's eyes grew cold, his hoarse voice filled with icy bitterness.
"You used me and then betrayed me, Fan Lingjue, you can't deny it. That is your original sin. I hope you'll always remember, if you ever feel guilty and uneasy, I think I would feel a bit better, because, to be honest, I just can't stand to see you doing too well."
"His first love was me! You're wrong, Shu Yimo, there is no such thing as original sin. If it wasn't for the sake of standing by his side in a more suitable position, I wouldn't have gone abroad. Everything was your own willing decision, no one forced you, right?"
No sooner had Shu Yimo finished speaking, a gentle voice came through, its tone firm and resolute.
Shu Yimo felt a heaviness in his chest; without waiting to turn his head, Bai Xiexie's angelically pure and beautiful face appeared in front of him.
He had almost forgotten this woman's pride.
"You already know the answer."
When Shu Yimo met Fan Lingjue's gaze, that's how Fan Lingjue responded.
Already knew the answer?
That's right, he had known from Luo Haiming that Fan Lingjue had never gotten over a woman, but he had not expected that woman to be Bai Xiexie.
Four years ago, the star on the rise, Bai Xiexie suddenly faded from the entertainment industry to study abroad. At that time, Fan Lingjue had been depressed for a while; that was when he had just returned to take over Huading. It was then that Shu Yimo joined Huading and became the sharp weapon Fan Lingjue wielded, she struck wherever he pointed. Being decisively ruthless by nature, over two years, she and Fan Lingjue had worked in perfect tacit understanding, consolidating his position.
She thought...
"So, you're telling me now that you're both going back to each other, and I can just leave? If I don't leave, you'll do everything in your power to drive me away?"
Shu Yimo took a deep breath and ground out these words, his tone frosty.
"Enough, Yimo!"
Fan Lingjue, frowning, looked at the icily composed Shu Yimo and reprimanded him with this exclamation.
"Enough?"
Shu Yimo scanned him with his cold eyes, a chilly smile flickering across his lips as he swiftly reached out, grabbed the tie on Fan Lingjue's chest, yanked him toward himself, and with a raise of his right hand, he put all his strength into the strike—
'Smack—'
The crisp sound of a slap echoed!
"Shu Yimo!"
A woman's scream also rang out!
Everything happened so quickly, even Fan Lingjue himself couldn't react in time!
A cool breeze swept across his face followed by a burst of sharp pain, burning hot, his ears starting to ring.
A clear palm print soon appeared on his handsome face, his dark eyes widened with astonishment, unable to believe that Shu Yimo had actually hit him!
Even Bai Xiexie was stunned.