Li Mai couldn’t really say anything. After getting in the car, she asked: “Mr. Zhou, where should I drop you off?”
Zhou Songyan tilted his head: “Unit C08, 58 Chunfeng Road.”
The image of yesterday’s kiss floated through Li Mai’s mind again, and a blush spread across her cheeks.
Zhou Songyan stared at her profile, the corner of his mouth curving up.
He was about to say something but caught sight of a pair of bright eyes in the back seat.
He stopped himself.
Some topics weren’t suitable for children.
Li Mai drove to Unit C08, 58 Chunfeng Road.
“Mr. Zhou, we’re here.”
Zhou Songyan unbuckled his seatbelt: “Want to come in and sit for a while?”
“No, we still have things to do.”
“What things?”
Li Mai: “…”
“Meeting a friend.”
“Who?”
Li Mai gritted her teeth: “My senior—the one you saw the day I bought the car.”
Li Mai really didn’t want to explain.
Who was Zhou Songyan anyway? He wasn’t her boyfriend or her husband. His interrogating tone annoyed her.
She only answered because she wanted to leave quickly and not get entangled with him.
It wasn’t a man.
Zhou Songyan felt relieved and unbuckled his seatbelt to get out.
Li Mai drove away immediately after he got out.
Back home.
Li Mai looked up the price of the child safety seat Zhou Songyan had bought and transferred the money to him.
[Mr. Zhou, thank you for buying the child safety seat. Please accept the money.]
Zhou Songyan returned the money: [It’s just a few pennies. Who are you looking down on? I bought it because I wanted to. I bought it for Chengcheng—it has nothing to do with you. Don’t be so self-absorbed.]
Li Mai: “…”
She thought about it and transferred the money again: [Mr. Zhou, I know you have money, but I’m not used to taking advantage of others. Please keep it.]
Zhou Songyan quickly returned the money again.
[Li Mai, if you transfer it again, you’ll regret it.]
Li Mai: “…”
She didn’t transfer it again.
She thought to herself that Chengcheng was also Zhou Songyan’s son, so it was fine for Chengcheng to spend a little of his money.
Since Zhou Songyan didn’t want the money, she had gotten her car back, and she had treated Zhou Songyan to a meal…
They were even now.
She and Zhou Songyan had no reason to stay in contact.
So she deleted Zhou Songyan from WeChat and deleted his phone number.
Although it was a bit like burning bridges after crossing them, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to resist contacting Zhou Songyan someday.
Right now, she needs to focus on work and on Chengcheng.
Ji Wangyu was very busy, which meant Li Mai was also very busy.
Once she got to the company, she never stopped.
But being busy kept her fulfilled and left her no time to think about Zhou Songyan.
Her life was filled with work and Chengcheng.
The days when she didn’t think of Zhou Songyan were really good—she didn’t have to be tied down by certain emotions.
On the weekend, Li Mai invited You Huan over for dinner.
She made several dishes.
You Huan was in a bad mood: “Li Mai, I want to drink.”
Li Mai ordered alcohol on her phone.
“I’ll keep you company, but I can’t drink.”
She was allergic to alcohol.
Whenever she drank, she would vomit violently.
But there was an upside—she didn’t have to drink with clients, which saved her a lot of trouble.
Every time she accompanied Ji Wangyu to business dinners, he was the one who drank while she was responsible for getting him home.
The alcohol arrived quickly.
Li Mai poured a glass for You Huan and placed a glass of water in front of herself.
You Huan picked up the glass and downed it in one gulp.
Li Mai: “Drink slowly. If you drink too fast, you’ll get drunk easily.”
You Huan: “I want to get drunk right now. It’s better to be drunk.”
“Senior, what’s wrong?”
“He came looking for me again.”
Li Mai was startled: “Your ex-boyfriend?”
“Yeah.”
Li Mai had never met You Huan’s ex-boyfriend. She only knew his surname was Sheng.
The two had been together for six years, on and off.
You Huan’s resignation was also because of her ex-boyfriend.
That man was her boss.
According to You Huan, they had a secret relationship that wasn’t made public.
Being able to hide it for six years without going public—Li Mai thought the guy was pretty terrible.
When You Huan broke up with him, she was happy for her.
But that man came back looking for her senior again. Back and forth—when would it ever end?
Really annoying!
You Huan downed another glass, a mocking smile appearing on her face.
“Li Mai, do you know? He has someone he’s supposed to marry now. His family arranged it. The wedding date is already set.”
“I waited all these years, and this is what I got. He said we couldn’t make our relationship public—fine, I waited. He said when the time was right, he’d take me home to meet his parents—I waited. He said he’d give me a grand, romantic wedding—I waited.”
“But what did I get? I got his wedding date with another woman.”
“I was like a fool. He went on blind dates—I didn’t know. He went on dates with other women—I didn’t know.”
“Even his wedding date—I found out about it from the news.”
“Fine, I accepted being treated like trash. I accepted wasting six years. I resigned, I stayed away, but he came looking for me again.”
“Li Mai, do you know what he said to me?”
Li Mai’s face was full of anger. “What did he say?”
You Huan slammed her glass down on the table with a sharp sound.
“He said he had no choice, that he couldn’t resist his family. But he loves me, he can’t live without me—he asked me to be his mistress.”
“Don’t you think there’s something wrong with his brain?”
Li Mai said indignantly: “Who does he think he is? Making such a request! Disgusting! Senior, you didn’t agree, did you?”
You Huan took a drink: “If I agreed, I’d be the one with brain problems!”
Li Mai let out a breath: “Senior, you’re amazing!”
You Huan had been very depressed, but Li Mai’s words made her laugh.
“Now I regret not grabbing a broom yesterday and beating him with it.”
Li Mai: “If I’d been there, I would’ve chased him down eight blocks with a cleaver.”
Not that she would actually cut him—just scare him.
You Huan collapsed laughing against her.
“Li Mai, you’re so adorable—just as adorable as my godson.”
Li Mai tilted her head to look at her: “Senior, are you feeling better?”
You Huan: “Yeah, I feel great.”
“Actually, I’ve been thoroughly disappointed in that Sheng guy for a long time. His disgusting behavior destroyed what little feeling I had left for him.”
“I’m sad and upset about myself. How could I waste six years on a scumbag? Just thinking about it makes me despise myself.”
Li Mai patted her comfortingly: “Senior, it’s okay. Who doesn’t run into a few scumbags in their lifetime?”
“You’ve already gotten rid of the scumbag now—that’s worth celebrating. Let that old man fall into a cesspit. We’ll find young hunks—a hundred times better than him!”
She’d heard that Sheng guy was already 35.
An old man.
Whoever wants him can have him!
You Huan loved Li Mai’s sweet talk and rubbed her face: “Ahhh, girl, you’re so good with words—I love it! Old men really aren’t worth it. No stamina. Next time, let’s find young hunks. We’ll look together.”
Li Mai’s main job tonight was providing emotional support.
“Yes, yes, yes! Let’s find them!”
“Senior, what are your plans next?”
You Huan: “I’m planning to travel for a while, then come back and look for work.”
“That’s great. Go out and clear your head—you might even meet a charming young hunk.”
“I’ll take your lucky words.”
You Huan eventually got drunk, and Li Mai helped her to her own bedroom to sleep.
Chengcheng had already bathed and gone to sleep on his own.
She cleaned up the dining table, took the dishes to the kitchen and washed them, then took a shower before going to bed.
But she couldn’t sleep.
She thought of Zhou Songyan.
You Huan had let go.
But she hadn’t let go yet.