In the Restroom
Water droplets dripped from Shen Zhaoning’s fingertips, splashing into tiny droplets on the marble countertop.
Behind her came the crisp sound of high heels tapping against the floor. Chu Lingyi’s figure appeared in the mirror, and Shen Zhaoning frowned slightly as she looked at the reflection.
“Who are you? What’s your relationship with Huaixu?”
Chu Lingyi’s face was cold, her eyes filled with hostility as she stared at Shen Zhaoning.
Shen Zhaoning turned off the faucet, pulled out a paper towel, and slowly dried the water droplets from her fingertips until the towel was crumpled and tossed into the trash bin.
Only then did she slowly turn around, her silk dress rippling with the movement.
When she clearly saw Chu Lingyi’s face, a flicker of understanding flashed in her eyes.
She looked up, examining Chu Lingyi, her gaze calm and unruffled: “And who are you? What does this have to do with you?”
“No matter who you are, Huaixu is mine. Don’t even think about seducing him.”
“Did you see me seducing him?” Shen Zhaoning scoffed.
Chu Lingyi thought about how Fu Huaixu had kept his distance from women all these years, never taking the initiative to flirt. But today, he had looked at this woman with the eyes of a lover.
Suddenly, she remembered the girlfriend he had dated while studying abroad. Could this woman be her?
Her eyes held a mix of scrutiny and hostility: “Are you the kept woman Huaixu had while studying abroad five years ago?”
Born into a wealthy family, Chu Lingyi had received elite education since childhood, excelled in multiple talents, and was a renowned painter. She looked down on people like Shen Zhaoning with disdain.
Shen Zhaoning sneered: “Oh? Is that what he told you?”
“So it really is you!” Chu Lingyi’s voice suddenly rose, the anger in her eyes almost boiling over. “Since you left back then, why did you come back?”
“Hah, miss, I think it’s my freedom to go wherever I want.” Shen Zhaoning was speechless. She hadn’t done anything, yet she was being inexplicably warned.
It was all because of that scoundrel earlier.
“Huaixu loves me, not you. Even if you come back, he won’t marry you. I advise you not to cling to him.”
Shen Zhaoning laughed. Was this woman following the script of a wicked mother-in-law?
“Miss, what identity are you speaking from?” Shen Zhaoning crossed her arms, looking utterly exasperated.
Hearing Shen Zhaoning’s question, a smug smile instantly spread across Chu Lingyi’s meticulously made-up face:
“You probably don’t know yet, but I’m Huaixu’s fiancée. We grew up together, and our families have been close for generations.”
“Oh? Childhood sweethearts, huh.” Shen Zhaoning raised an eyebrow. “So you’re here today to assert your dominance? Does your Huaixu know about this?”
“You’d better be smart and leave Shanghai, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Chu Lingyi’s voice carried a hint of gritted teeth.
Listening to these words, Shen Zhaoning couldn’t help but let out a light laugh, her smile tinged with mockery.
“Whether I leave or not, it doesn’t seem to be any of your business!”
Shen Zhaoning really didn’t want to deal with this clown any longer. She turned to leave but was blocked by Chu Lingyi.
“I’m the eldest daughter of the Chu Group. The Chu family is a top-tier wealthy family second only to the Fu Group. Do you think you can compete with me?”
Chu Lingyi lifted her chin, her tone full of arrogance. “I can make it impossible for you to stay in Shanghai.”
Shen Zhaoning looked as if she had heard a joke, the curve of her lips widening even more. “If you’re sick, go get treatment. Don’t go crazy here.”
Chu Lingyi’s face instantly turned ashen. She took a deep breath to suppress the fury in her heart, then sneered coldly:
“I know he’s just playing with you. Wasn’t it the same five years ago? He abandoned you for me, so don’t delude yourself.”
Shen Zhaoning smiled meaningfully and said, “Do you know what position your Huaixu gege likes in bed?”
Hearing this, Chu Lingyi trembled with rage, the anger and jealousy in her eyes almost erupting.
“But I know,” Shen Zhaoning replied calmly with a smile. “Judging by your reaction, I guess you don’t?”
After saying this, she didn’t even glance at Chu Lingyi before turning and walking toward the door.
“You…!” Chu Lingyi shook with anger but could only watch helplessly as Shen Zhaoning’s elegant figure disappeared through the doorway. That composure and calmness felt like the greatest insult to her.
No, Fu Huaixu could only be hers. She would never let this woman take away everything that belonged to her.
After the press conference ended, Shen Zhaoning was almost the last to leave. Lu Xingran had to rush to another engagement and had already returned.
Shen Zhaoning stood outside the door as the night breeze, carrying the warmth of early summer, brushed against her cheeks. She reached up to adjust her shawl and was about to walk toward the car parked by the roadside when a familiar voice called from behind, unmistakably urgent.
“Zhaozhao.”
Her footsteps paused. Turning around, she saw Fu Huaixu striding toward her, his black suit jacket casually draped over his arm and his tie slightly loosened.
The man before her had long shed the innocence of youth. The sharpness in his eyes had been tempered by time into a more steady presence.
He stepped forward and grabbed her wrist, his tall figure enveloping her in shadow.
His deep eyes churned with emotions she couldn’t decipher, like a volcano suppressed for too long finally finding an outlet.
“What are you doing?” Shen Zhaoning frowned slightly, instinctively taking half a step back to create distance between them.
“Why didn’t you call me? You left without saying a word. I’ve been waiting for you. Didn’t you say we’d talk after the event?”
“If you have something to say, say it here!”
Fu Huaixu’s voice was slightly hoarse, carrying an undeniable firmness. “About the truth back then, Zhaozhao. Isn’t it inconvenient here?”
Shen Zhaoning’s fingers instinctively curled. She glanced toward her assistant standing by the car, who immediately understood.
Shen Zhaoning took the lead, walking toward the small garden not far away, with Fu Huaixu following behind.
He took a deep breath, his gaze burning as he looked at Shen Zhaoning. “Zhaozhao, that text message wasn’t sent by me. I never wanted to break up with you.”
“It was my mother. To ensure I could smoothly inherit the Fu family business, she wanted me to marry a woman of equal social standing. So, she took it upon herself to send it using my phone.”
“At that time, I was in a car accident and was unconscious for over two months. I truly had no idea. When I woke up, I couldn’t find you, and I couldn’t reach you.”
“All these years, I’ve been looking for you. I never intended to marry that woman either.”
Hearing about his car accident and coma, Shen Zhaoning felt a pang in her heart.
“How did you get into a car accident? I had no idea. When I asked your cousin, he said you had returned to the country to get engaged.” Her voice was soft but carried a barely noticeable tremor.
At the time, she had tried to contact him, but his phone was always unreachable, and her messages went unanswered.
A few days later, she received his breakup text message—he was returning to China to get engaged. When she called again, a woman answered, saying he was asleep and couldn’t take the call.
In the end, she changed her phone number, deleted all her accounts, and returned directly to China.
“When my mother found out about my car accident, she immediately came to Country Y and kept the news of my accident hidden from the outside world.”
Fu Huaixu spoke in a pitiful tone, “Zhaozhao, even though we were separated by fate in the past, I’ve always loved you, and my heart has always belonged to you. These five years, I’ve searched for you so desperately.”
Fu Huaixu took a step forward, wanting to embrace her.
“Zhaozhao, I’m still your boyfriend now. Can I hug you?”
Shen Zhaoning avoided his embrace, hiding her emotions. “Fu Huaixu, it’s over between us. What happened in the past is in the past.”
The corners of Fu Huaixu’s eyes turned faintly red, and he looked aggrieved. “Zhaozhao, this isn’t fair to me. I didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you sentencing me to death?”
Shen Zhaoning’s heart trembled violently, as if struck by something heavy, but she remained firm, as if delivering a verdict. “Let’s both move forward. Since we missed our chance, it means we weren’t meant to be.”
Before this, she had only wanted to raise the two children and hadn’t given any thought to love.
Moreover, the five-year gap between them wasn’t something they could bridge immediately, so she just wanted to escape now, to calm down and think things through…
“Zhaozhao,” he spoke, his voice hoarse and trembling with restraint. “Are you really going to be this heartless? Don’t you want me anymore?”
“Don’t you… love me anymore?” he asked cautiously, afraid that she truly no longer felt anything for him.
“I have a new life now,” Shen Zhaoning’s fingers tightened slightly.
“Is it because of that Su Zelin? Have you fallen in love with him?” Fu Huaixu’s tone carried a hint of certainty.
“How do you know about him?”
But upon second thought, given Fu Huaixu’s capabilities, he could indeed uncover some superficial information about her. Over the past two years, she had indeed attended some banquets with Su Zelin, all for the sake of promoting her jewelry brand.
Fu Huaixu pursed his lips, his face slightly pale, and even his eyes were tinged with red.
“Even if it’s not him, I don’t want to be with you right now,” her voice was soft but carried an undeniable firmness.
Fu Huaixu’s voice held a trace of pleading. “Zhaozhao, give me a chance, and give yourself one too, okay? For the past five years, I’ve thought of you every moment. I’m still… untouched.”
Shen Zhaoning’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “Fu Huaixu, we both need to calm down right now.”
He knew that the five-year gap between them couldn’t be bridged with just a few words.
“Zhaozhao, then I’ll wait until you’ve calmed down to talk,” Fu Huaixu’s expression darkened slightly, a bitter smile not reaching his eyes.