Chaрtеr 19: If I Sаid I Wаntеd to See Yоu
Тhe neхt day, whеn Yin Еn Yu wоkе uр аnd saw thе missеd саll on her рhone, the cоrnеrs of hеr еуеs liftеd slightly.
А саll at two-thirtу in thе middle оf the night—was therе somеthing he needеd from hеr?
Without bоthеring to get uр and wash her fасе, Yin Еn Yu immediatеlу саlled him baсk.
Thе phonе rang for а long time. Just аs she thought no оnе wоuld answеr, thе ringing suddenly stoрpеd.
Yin Еn Yu waited quiеtly, but no оne sроkе on thе other еnd. Unsure, she glаnсеd at her phone screen—it shоwеd “Call in Progrеss.”
Shе spoke first, lоwеring her voice as she tentatively called out, “He Yu Zhou.”
Finally, there was movement on the other end—a low “Mm” escaped from his nose.
It was muffled and carried a heavy nasal tone, as if he had just woken up.
“Did I wake you?” Yin En Yu’s voice was as gentle as the morning breeze.
She glanced at the clock—eight-thirty.
Instead of answering, He Yu Zhou asked, “What’s the matter?”
His voice gave away no emotion.
Yin En Yu: “Did you call me?”
He Yu Zhou: “You didn’t answer, did you?”
Whether he had called or not no longer mattered now.
“I didn’t hear it. I was already asleep by then,” Yin En Yu explained to him. “I set my phone to silent before I sleep.”
Otherwise, even the slightest sound from her phone would wake her up.
And once she was awake, it was difficult for her to fall back asleep.
Hearing this reason, the suffocating feeling in He Yu Zhou’s chest eased slightly. As long as it was something she said, he believed it.
“If you had seen my call last night, would you have answered?” he asked.
Yin En Yu answered without hesitation, “I would have.”
He Yu Zhou was no longer sleepy now. He sat up bare-chested, lazily leaning against the headboard, revealing his sturdy, broad shoulders and chest.
His temples throbbed, but he paid it no mind.
“If I said…”
The words “If I said I wanted to see you” almost slipped out, but he forced them back down and changed them:
“If I asked you to come find me, would you come?”
Yin En Yu hesitated.
But those few short seconds were like a blunt knife, once again tearing open the unhealed wound in He Yu Zhou’s heart.
“Nothing else. I’m hanging up.”
He Yu Zhou hung up first—this was the first time.
“He Yu Zhou.” By the time Yin En Yu called out to him, her phone had already returned to the home screen.
She didn’t know why he had called her, but even through the screen, she could sense his desolate mood.
Yin En Yu’s finger hovered over the screen, hesitating for a moment, but in the end, she didn’t press it.
At Xilun No. 1 Mansion, He Yu Zhou stared at his phone screen as if waiting for something.
Time passed minute by minute, but his phone remained completely silent. He let out a cold laugh.
Was it the alcohol last night? And now, again?
He Yu Zhou threw his phone aside, pushed open the balcony door, and dove into the swimming pool.
The icy water instantly seeped into his skin. He moved his arms, swift and powerful, creating ripples behind him in the water.
As if he were pouring all his emotions into the pool.
At Yishan Mansion, by the time Yin En Yu came downstairs, her parents had already left for work.
She sat in the dining room and took a bite of asparagus.
Even after swallowing the food, she made no further move, as if something had captured her attention. Her gaze was unfocused, and her fork rested unconsciously on the edge of her plate, tapping lightly.Aunt Yu approached and asked softly, “Miss, is today’s breakfast not to your liking?”
Yin En Yu’s thoughts were pulled back, her lips parting slightly. “No.”
She set down her utensils and rose from the dining table.
Aunt Yu asked, “Miss, are you done eating?”
The breakfast on the table looked barely touched.
“I’m done. Could you please clear it away?” Yin En Yu headed toward the staircase. As she passed through the living room, her eyes caught sight of the box of preserved plums on the coffee table.
Her steps paused, and she walked over to take one, placing it in her mouth.
Yin En Yu went out and arrived at a coffee shop named “Ox & Horse Supplement Station.”
On this bustling street, this shop occupied the largest area, and its decor was as unique as its name.
The shop entrance was designed in the shape of a massive ox head, with two tall, upturned horns—distinctive and exaggerated.
The ox’s mouth was wide open, and customers could only enter the shop through its “mouth.”
On either side of the entrance stood two sculpted white horses, heads held high and proud.
This coffee shop was opened by Wan Tang to pass the time.
However, due to its distinctive name and decor, it unexpectedly sparked curiosity and attention from many.
It attracted countless young people to take photos and check in, unintentionally becoming a trendy internet-famous coffee shop.
Now, under her management, it was thriving.
Yin En Yu carried her bag and walked inside.
The coffee shop had opened a year ago, but this was her first visit.
The interior decor was warm yet stylish, dominated by light tones and complemented by wooden elements, with soothing blues music flowing through the air.
While Yin En Yu was observing her surroundings, a server approached her. “Ma’am, may I ask what you’d like to drink?”
Entering their shop didn’t require a purchase; one could sit and rest for a while, read a book, or work.
Sometimes, they even offered a complimentary small snack.
As their owner put it, she didn’t open the shop to make money.
“Is your owner here?” Yin En Yu withdrew her gaze, her voice as melodious as a flowing stream.
No matter who she faced, she never carried an air of arrogance.
The server looked at Yin En Yu, momentarily dazed, captivated by her demeanor, and thought to herself: Not only is she beautiful, but her voice is also so gentle and pleasant.
“Yes, she is. Is there something you need from our owner?”
“I’m her friend.”
As Yin En Yu finished speaking, Wan Tang happened to come down from the office. Spotting her, she hurried over, surprised. “En En, what brings you here? You didn’t even send me a message.”
A smile graced Yin En Yu’s face. “I came to see you, and maybe mooch a cup of coffee.”
“No problem,” Wan Tang replied cheerfully, turning to the server standing nearby. “Bring my bestie one of every drink in the shop.”
The server nodded. “Alright, I’ll get right to it.”
Yin En Yu tried to stop her but was too late. “That’s too much. I won’t be able to finish it all.”
Wan Tang waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Just take a sip of each and give me your feedback.”
Yin En Yu agreed, “Alright.”
The two chose a relatively secluded corner to sit. The server first brought over an exquisite dessert.
Wan Tang raised an eyebrow at her. “So, tell me, what brings you to see me?”
“Do I have to have a reason to visit you?” Yin En Yu smiled. “Didn’t I just say? I came for the coffee.””If you were just dropping by for no reason, you would’ve texted me in advance,” Wan Tang reasoned logically. “Since you came over suddenly like this, there must be something going on.”
“How long have we known each other? Do you think I don’t know your habits?”
Hearing this, Yin En Yu stopped hiding it and told her about the phone call with He Yu Zhou that morning.
Wan Tang had guessed almost exactly right—it was indeed because of He Yu Zhou.
Otherwise, she really couldn’t think of anyone else who could affect her mood like this.
Wan Tang: “So, you regret not answering him?”
“I…”
“Don’t rush to deny it, let me finish first,” Wan Tang interrupted her. “Deep down, you wanted to say ‘yes,’ but considering your current relationship, you felt it wasn’t appropriate and had reservations.”
It had to be said, Wan Tang truly understood Yin En Yu—every point she made hit the mark.
Yin En Yu: “Also, I felt like he seemed really hurt when he hung up the phone.”
She rarely saw him like that, and it was the version of him she least wanted to see.
He should always be spirited, dignified, and unburdened by anything.
Just like he was before he met her.
Back when they broke up, she had already hurt him once.
“En En, you don’t need to overthink it. Just follow your heart, and that’ll be enough,” Wan Tang comforted her, patting her gently. “Anyway, neither of you is seeing anyone else, so whatever happens, happens.”
“People are inherently contradictory. Just remember that happiness is what matters most.”
Yin En Yu lowered her gaze, her fingers fiddling with the fork on her plate. After a moment of contemplation, as if she had made some kind of decision, she said softly, “Okay.”