Chapter 59

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After ending the call, Chen Xi handed the phone back to Li Qing.

Li Qing glanced at Chen Xi’s reaction and, noticing her sour mood, tentatively asked, “They won’t return it?”

Chen Xi smiled faintly and shook her head. “No.”

Li Qing blinked. “Did they ask for compensation, or was it free?”

Chen Xi chuckled at Li Qing’s expression, bursting out laughing for a moment before quickly pulling back the smile. Without any apparent reason, she said, “Qingqing, I think I’ve taken a fall.”

Li Qing assumed Chen Xi was talking about the phone and tenderly embraced her, gently patting the back of her head. “It’s okay. It’s just a phone, not your heart that’s lost.”

“Out with the old, in with the new.”

Chen Xi’s expression showed she was comforted as she joked, “What if it’s the heart that’s lost?”

Li Qing laughed and, as carefree as ever, replied, “Then find it back.”

“Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

Chen Xi gratefully hugged Li Qing and whispered, “Qingqing, thank you.”

Li Qing coaxed in a childlike tone, “No need to thank me. You’re the witness to Zhang Bo and me making up. When we get married, you’re definitely sitting at the matchmaker’s table.”

Chen Xi was taken aback, not expecting Li Qing to have thought that far. She readily agreed, “Sure.”

Lin Fan returned to the dorm after the lights were out.

Chen Xi had just finished blow-drying her hair and entered through the balcony with the dryer in hand, catching Lin Fan’s pale-faced entrance.

Li Qing was already in bed, wearing headphones and scrolling through videos.

Seeing Lin Fan’s unusual state, Chen Xi hesitated to say anything, but before she could decide, Lin Fan threw her Chanel bag on the table, kicked off her shoes, climbed into bed without a word, and closed the curtain.

Chen Xi opened her mouth but said nothing.

She hung the damp towel on the balcony, then, relying on memory, tiptoed into the dorm, crawled into her bed in the dark.

Her bed was right next to Lin Fan’s, so when she climbed in, the bed frame creaked twice, forcing her to be extra quiet.

Finally lying down, Chen Xi felt utterly exhausted.

Without her phone, she couldn’t tell the time.

She stared up at the ceiling, her eyes wide open, and her thoughts began to wander aimlessly.

Before she could make sense of anything, faint sounds came from the bed opposite.

Lin Fan called out a third time before Chen Xi realized she was speaking to her.

Afraid of waking Li Qing, Chen Xi hurriedly got up, tiptoed to the foot of the bed, and spoke through two layers of blackout curtains, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Fan was silent for two seconds before asking, “You haven’t checked WeChat?”

Chen Xi blinked, puzzled, and whispered, “My phone’s lost.”

Lin Fan made a sound of acknowledgment, then, recalling the man’s grim, darkened face from hours earlier, tentatively asked, “Are things okay between you and Xie Nanzhou?”

Chen Xi grew more confused, wondering why Lin Fan suddenly mentioned Xie Nanzhou.

She sat cross-legged on the bed, her back against the cold wall, unconsciously clutching the quilt’s edge, the cotton fabric soft and gentle in her hands.

After a long pause, Chen Xi replied softly, “Pretty good, why?”

Lin Fan remembered what she saw in the library and a trace of mockery flashed in her eyes. Then, in a flat tone, she said, “Nothing much, just asking.”

Chen Xi hesitated two seconds before cautiously asking, “Why bring him up all of a sudden?”

Lin Fan smiled enigmatically. “I ran into him at the library just now.”

Chen Xi tugged at the corners of her mouth and whispered, “It’s almost finals; he should be there studying.”

In the darkness, Lin Fan silently sneered.

She recalled the man’s cold, impatient expression, and suddenly her thoughts cleared.

Not long ago, she found a photo of a back view in the man’s wallet that looked quite like her aloof roommate. She had found it familiar even then.

Now, putting all these clues together seemed to form an incredible answer.

Lin Fan didn’t want to think in that direction, but every thread pointed to Chen Xi.

Perhaps out of jealousy or unwillingness to accept it, Lin Fan never told Chen Xi about Xie Nanzhou’s infidelity.

She reasoned she had no obligation to inform a roommate she barely knew.

Seeing Lin Fan fall silent, Chen Xi climbed back into bed, resting her head on the pillow. Sleep came suddenly, and she drifted off with eyes closed.

That night was destined to be restless, with people in her dreams revolving like a revolving lantern.

Each came and went in haste, leaving no traces of attachment.

Rarely, Chen Xi dreamed of her parents, who died in a car accident. In the dream, they were gentle as ever—her father simmering soup in the kitchen, her mother squatting beside her, playing puzzles.

Halfway through, her father poked his head out and called them to stop playing and eat.

Her mother smiled and told her husband yes, then gently patted Chen Xi’s head, softly saying, “Stop playing, Xi Xi. Come eat first. Dad made your favorite sweet and sour ribs.”

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In her sleep, Chen Xi put down the puzzle and held her mother’s hand as they walked toward the dining table.

The scene shifted to her mother hanging clothes on the balcony, turning to look at Chen Xi, who was squatting in the living room doing homework. Her mother gently reminded, “Xi Xi, put your shoes on, don’t catch a cold.”

Before Chen Xi could respond, the scene changed again—to a hospital.

Her usually neat and clean parents lay bloodied and lifeless on hospital beds. Her mother, pale as paper upon learning her father died on the spot, dismissed the relatives from the room, took Chen Xi’s hand tearfully, and gave her final words: “Listen to your uncle and aunties in the future, be good, don’t worry your uncle.”

“This accident was your father’s fault. There will be a huge compensation to pay. I’ve asked your uncle to help handle it. If there’s anything left, I told him to save it all for you.”

In the dream, Chen Xi cried bitterly, holding her mother’s hand, afraid to look at her mother’s mangled face.

But her mother squeezed her hand with the last of her strength, enduring the pain, and smiled, “Mom and Dad didn’t mean to leave you. Don’t blame your dad, okay? He was rushing home to celebrate your birthday…”

“My dear daughter, Mom hopes you grow up happily. When you meet a man who understands, respects, and loves you, I hope he loves you like Dad did.”

Before Chen Xi could savor her mother’s advice, the scene shifted again.

This time, she was at the penthouse suite of the West Boat Hotel.

She wore a bright yellow dress, holding flowers, her face full of joy as she entered the room. But at the entrance, a woman blocked her way.

The woman arrogantly pointed at her face and called her a homewrecker, telling her to stay away from Zhou Yanzhou.

Chen Xi instinctively glanced at the man behind the woman, who wore a cold expression and said nothing, seemingly endorsing the woman’s accusation.

At that moment, Chen Xi felt as if she were in an ice cellar, trembling all over.

Suddenly awake, Chen Xi opened her eyes, drenched in sweat, the room dark.

She stared blankly at the ceiling for a while before realizing it had all been a nightmare.

But the woman in the dream looked so familiar.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Xi suddenly understood—it was Guan Yue.

But hadn’t she already—

Chen Xi dared not think further. She touched her racing heart, drew back the curtain, and took a deep breath.

Only then did she realize it was already dawn outside; the dorm lights were off, and the curtain made it seem like night.

Li Qing was up, but Lin Fan was still asleep.

Chen Xi quietly got out of bed. Li Qing raised an eyebrow and asked, “When did she come back?”

“She” naturally referred to Lin Fan. Chen Xi, still foggy from the nightmare, replied drowsily, “After lights out.”

Li Qing then noticed Chen Xi’s pale face and damp hair. “You had a nightmare? Why are you sweating so much?”

Chen Xi forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah, dreamed there was a monster bullying me.”

Li Qing: “”

After Chen Xi came out of the bathroom, Li Qing leaned against the wall with arms crossed and asked, “Want to go to the cafeteria for breakfast together?”

Chen Xi, brushing her teeth while holding water in her mouth, nodded.

After washing up, Chen Xi changed into a mint green dress made of shirt fabric.

Li Qing saw it and couldn’t help but compliment, “So pretty. Let me give you a couple of kisses.”

Chen Xi: “”

After breakfast, Chen Xi planned to retrieve her phone. Li Qing, free that morning, asked if Chen Xi wanted to accompany her.

Chen Xi thought for a moment and shook her head.

Li Qing didn’t insist. She took out her phone and handed it to Chen Xi. “You take my phone. I’m going to the library to review. A notebook is enough.”

“If you can’t find me, you can call.”

Chen Xi couldn’t refuse and accepted with a smile.

Leaving campus, Chen Xi looked at the address sent to her and grit her teeth as she hailed a taxi at the gate.

Once in the car, she gave the address. The driver glanced back strangely, apparently surprised that the seemingly obedient girl would be going to such a place.

Chen Xi pretended not to notice and turned her head silently to look out the window.

The place was the Beijing Yintai Park Hyatt Residence, a few years ago she had been there.

Most residents were financial magnates, media tycoons, entrepreneurs, or celebrities; the price of one apartment could support an ordinary person for a lifetime.

Dressed plainly, without a single designer brand, Chen Xi was obviously not a resident there, so it was no wonder the driver’s expression was so telling.

If it were her, she probably would react the same.

Two hours later, Chen Xi arrived at the base of the Park Hyatt Residence.

The lobby manager seemed to recognize her and let her through without a second thought.

Chen Xi sent a grateful look and then walked toward the elevator with a complicated expression. While waiting, she was already organizing her words.

The elevator arrived. Chen Xi stepped in, took a deep breath, and pressed the button for her floor.

The elevator moved swiftly; no one got on. Before she could strategize how to handle things, the elevator reached her floor.

She blinked, and before the doors fully closed, she stepped out.

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Relying on memory, Chen Xi turned left, then right, walked a bit further, and reached the suite door.

She stared at the door number, took a deep breath through the peephole, summoned her courage, and rang the bell.

After ringing four or five times with no response, just as she was about to leave, a click sounded—the lock turned, and the door creaked open a crack.

A man, wearing a silk robe and slippers, with tousled hair, rested his hand on the doorframe. Without fully seeing her, he sleepily snapped, “What’s wrong with you ringing so early?”

“Want me to check the time for you?”

The belt of his robe hung loosely, the collar wide open, exposing a broad chest with crisscrossed muscle lines—undeniably alluring.

Chen Xi dared not stare, quickly glancing away.

Perhaps accustomed to his morning grumpiness, Chen Xi showed no reaction. She stood quietly at the door, waiting for him to finish his outburst.

Zhou Yanzhou hadn’t heard the noise. Looking down, he met a pale, delicate face. The mint green dress suited her surprisingly well, fresh and elegant like a summer lotus.

Her sleek black hair was tied up in a bun, revealing a full forehead and a graceful swan-like neck. Her aura was indescribably refined.

A flash of admiration crossed Zhou Yanzhou’s eyes. He cooled his temper, stepped aside, and said evenly, “Come in.”

Chen Xi looked at the space he made but didn’t move.

“I’m here for my phone,” she said.

Zhou Yanzhou saw she wasn’t going in, lifted his chin arrogantly, and commanded, “Come in first, then talk.”

Chen Xi lifted her face, stubbornly staring at Zhou Yanzhou. They stared at each other for a moment until a sound came from deep in his throat.

The next second, Zhou Yanzhou grabbed Chen Xi’s slender wrist and pulled her inside.

With a bang, Zhou Yanzhou closed the door, turned around, hands on hips, and grumbled, “Why are you picking on me so early?”

“Am I a flood beast? So reluctant to come in? What, have you never slept here or lived here before?”

Chen Xi listened silently to Zhou Yanzhou’s complaints, not uttering a word.

Seeing that, Zhou Yanzhou gave up and stopped wasting words.

He stood for a moment and said, “Wait two minutes. I’ll change clothes and then have breakfast with me.”

“We’ll talk about your phone later.”

Before Chen Xi could refuse, Zhou Yanzhou already turned to walk toward the bedroom.

Halfway, he remembered something and turned back. “Sit wherever you want.”

“There are drinks in the fridge. Help yourself.”

Chen Xi didn’t respond, her face cold.

The bedroom door closed. Chen Xi stood at the entrance for a moment, then walked to the living room sofa.

After an unknown length of time, she heard movement behind her and instinctively looked back.

The man, once disheveled, was now transformed—hair neatly combed, robe off, dressed in a striped shirt and gray trousers, impeccably groomed.

Chen Xi stared at him for two seconds before calmly looking away.

Seeing Chen Xi sitting properly on the sofa, as polite as if it were her first time there, Zhou Yanzhou frowned, walked straight into the kitchen, then came out with two bottles of mineral water.

He handed one to Chen Xi, who hesitated to take it.

Holding the bottle, Zhou Yanzhou threatened, “So, do you want your phone or not?”

Chen Xi: “”

Childish.

In the end, Chen Xi took the water but didn’t drink it.

The man seemed quite thirsty after waking up, unscrewed the cap, tilted his head back, and drank more than half the bottle in front of Chen Xi. His Adam’s apple moved up and down, exuding an indescribable sexiness.

Chen Xi thought of a video compilation she had recently watched and couldn’t help but lick her lips.

Zhou Yanzhou kept his word: he insisted Chen Xi eat breakfast with him before returning the phone. Chen Xi was too weary to argue.

They sat face to face at the table, each with a plate of pasta. Chen Xi had already eaten breakfast and barely touched hers.

After finishing the last bite, Zhou Yanzhou wiped his mouth with a napkin, swallowed hard, and looked up at the girl opposite.

Recalling the scene from last night, he asked meaningfully, “Not been on any dates with your boyfriend lately?”

Chen Xi suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with incredulity.

Zhou Yanzhou smiled and shrugged. “Just asking casually. No need to be so tense.”

“But your judgment of men isn’t very good.”

Chen Xi put down her fork and stared coldly at Zhou Yanzhou. “If my judgment were good, I wouldn’t have ended up with you.”

Zhou Yanzhou chuckled and said gently, “Xi Xi, don’t say that.”

“Let’s talk about facts. How have I wronged you?”