Chaрtеr 15: Таking Нer Homе
Аt the restаurant entrаnсе, thе mаnаger hаd аlrеаdy brought thе car around аnd hаnded thе kеуs tо Нe Yu Zhоu. “Мr. Нe, drive sаfеly.”
Нe watchеd the сar drive awаy bеforе turning bаck into thе restaurant.
In thе саr, Yin Еn Yu fiddled with the sеаtbеlt in frоnt of her аnd cаsually rеmarked, “Тhe manаger seems quitе еnthusiаstic аnd rеspectful tоward уоu.”
He Yu Zhоu brushed it off lightlу. “Who isn’t rеsреctful tоward me?”
Yin Еn Yu couldn’t аrguе with thаt. He wasn’t wrong—everyonе wаs always trying tо сurry favor with him.
Не Yu Zhou suddenly added, “Except you.”
Yin En Yu: “…”
That last sentence was completely unnecessary.
“I can be respectful toward you too,” Yin En Yu said, sitting up straight. “Please, Mr. He, take me home now. I’ll transfer the fare to you.”
He Yu Zhou was amused by her sudden dramatic flair. “Are you sure you’re not treating me like a chauffeur?”
Yin En Yu neither confirmed nor denied it. “Then what do you want me to treat you as?”
Silence fell for a few seconds. A hint of self-mockery flickered in He Yu Zhou’s deep eyes. “What difference would it make if I said it? Would you listen to me?”
He didn’t hold that much weight in her heart.
Yin En Yu could clearly sense the shift in his mood—the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Her red lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, no words came out.
She couldn’t give him a definite answer, afraid of giving him hope only to shatter it later.
He Yu Zhou kept his eyes on the road as he drove. When she remained silent, he let out a faint, mocking laugh.
She really wasn’t even willing to offer a single perfunctory, placating word.
The rest of the journey was enveloped in a heavy silence, neither of them speaking again.
The oppressive atmosphere made Yin En Yu uncomfortable. She gently broke the silence, her voice soft. “Can I play some music?”
He Yu Zhou was unusually terse. “Whatever.”
Yin En Yu reached out and lightly tapped the center console. The gentle melody of music began to flow through the car, breaking the earlier tension.
However, as the lyrics started playing, Yin En Yu instantly regretted suggesting music—
How many times have I looked into your eyes,
How many times have I longed for your reply,
I lack the courage, yet I still want to ask,
How could you bear to let it go…
The melancholic melody filled the car, fitting the moment all too well.
Yin En Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Her slender, pale fingers curled slightly as she glanced at the man driving out of the corner of her eye.
His expression remained unchanged.
Seeing this, Yin En Yu reached out and switched to another song—
Darling, do you still remember,
The first time I kissed you,
We didn’t care about the summer heat,
We just wanted carefree happiness…
Yin En Yu gradually lost control of her expression, her mind going blank.
This time, she gave up entirely. Without hesitation, she turned off the music, not daring to listen any further.
Two songs in a row with melancholic themes—was it really just a coincidence?
She felt as if every line of the lyrics was directed at her.
Yin En Yu pursed her lips and said slowly, “Your music taste has changed quite a bit.”
His playlist never used to have songs like these before.
He Yu Zhou glanced at her. “After being dumped, can’t I listen to some sad songs?”
Yin En Yu lowered her gaze. “You can.”
After a pause, she looked over with clear eyes. “He Yu Zhou, you should be happier too.”
He said he hoped she would be happy, not too tired, and eat on time. But her wish for him was the same.
He should be better than when he was with her.
But the truth was, he really was getting better and better.He Yu Zhou’s fingers resting on the steering wheel twitched slightly. “Are you comforting me?”
“You could say that.”
But more than that, it was a wish.
He Yu Zhou let out an ambiguous chuckle.
Without asking for the address, He Yu Zhou drove Yin En Yu to Yishan Mansion.
The car smoothly entered the villa area and came to a steady stop at her doorstep.
His car was not entering this place for the first time. In the past, whenever he returned to the country during holidays and went out on dates, he would also drive her home.
Yin En Yu unbuckled her seatbelt and pressed the interior button. The gull-wing door slowly rose upward. “I’ll head in first, then. Drive safely.”
He loved speeding, pushing the car to the edge of the speed limit. Only when she was sitting beside him would he restrain himself, driving at a moderate pace, prioritizing stability above all else.
He had also taken her speeding once in Los Angeles, but her body couldn’t handle the breakneck speed.
Her stomach churned violently, overwhelmed by a strong urge to vomit.
“Got it,” He Yu Zhou replied flatly. “I’m off.”
With that, he stepped on the accelerator, turned the car around, and sped away.
Yin En Yu stood in place, not yet having the chance to turn and walk forward before his car vanished from her sight.
Only the high-pitched roar of the engine remained.
Yin En Yu’s gaze dimmed slightly. He would no longer wait, as he used to, to see her enter the house before leaving.
She stood outside for a while before finally stepping into her home.
“Miss, you’re back,” Aunt Yu greeted her, quickly approaching. “Have you had lunch?”
“Yes, I have,” Yin En Yu replied, changing into comfortable slippers. “I’ll go upstairs to change first. Could you cut some fruit and bring it up for me?”
Aunt Yu nodded. “Of course.”
Upstairs in her bedroom, Yin En Yu selected an orange-pink lace-trimmed loungewear set from her walk-in closet and changed into it.
She had only been out for a little over three hours, yet she felt unusually exhausted.
She still preferred staying in the piano room, playing the piano, reading books, or tending to her plants. It brought her a sense of peace, calm, and healing.
Just as she finished changing, her phone on the kitchen island rang abruptly.
Without looking at the screen, Yin En Yu reached for it and answered. “Hello?”
There was a brief silence on the other end before a deep male voice slowly came through. “Did you delete my phone number?”
The tone carried an incredulous accusation.
The familiar voice pierced her ears, and Yin En Yu instinctively pulled the phone away to glance at the screen.
“No, I didn’t check the caller ID.”
Even if she had deleted it, she would still remember his phone number.
Besides, if she were to delete his contact, she would have deleted his WeChat as well.
But now, the displayed contact name remained unchanged—still “A.A.”
It seemed like just two simple letters, yet it would always rank first in her contacts list.
Her words swept away the displeasure in He Yu Zhou’s heart. He said, “Come out for a moment.”
“Where are you?” Yin En Yu asked, bewildered.
He Yu Zhou replied succinctly, “At your doorstep.”
Yin En Yu froze. Hadn’t he already left? Why had he suddenly come back?
“I’ll be right down,” she said, slipping on her slippers and hurrying out.
Just as she reached the staircase, Aunt Yu happened to be carrying a fruit platter upstairs for her. Seeing her seemingly about to go out again, Aunt Yu asked in confusion, “Miss, are you going out?”
Yin En Yu replied, “I’m heading out for a bit. Just leave the fruit in my room.”