Calm Bar.
Zhu Heqing sat on a single sofa, his long legs crossed, one hand resting on the armrest while his fingertips lightly tapped against his phone.
There were quite a few people in the private room, all familiar faces.
He Zhiheng took a glass of wine from a waiter and looked toward the woman in a white dress sitting opposite him, his tone filled with emotion. “Yunshu, you left for three whole years without coming back even once. That’s really heartless of you.”
Others chimed in.
“Yeah, before, you were always there whenever Brother Zhu celebrated his birthday. I haven’t seen you for years—I’m not used to it.”
“You’ve gotten even prettier after all this time.”
Xu Yunshu pursed her lips into a smile. “There were too many things to deal with abroad. I really didn’t have time. I came back as soon as I finished everything.”
This gathering had been organized by He Zhiheng to celebrate Xu Yunshu’s return.
He Zhiheng said, “You used to follow us around all the time. When you suddenly went abroad, I wasn’t used to it. If you had come back a few years later, I might not have even recognized you.”
Xu Yunshu smiled. “Brother Zhiheng, you’re still as teasing as ever.”
“Hahaha, I’m used to teasing my cousin.”
The man sitting to He Zhiheng’s left nudged him. “Yunshu isn’t your cousin. Teasing someone else’s sister right in front of Brother Zhu—are you asking for trouble?”
Zhu Heqing’s mother and Xu Yunshu’s mother had been close friends since their youth. Before Xu Yunshu’s mother passed away, she had asked Zhu Heqing’s mother to take Xu Yunshu into the Zhu family.
Xu Yunshu had grown up in the Zhu household, calling Zhu Heqing’s parents godfather and godmother. Calling Zhu Heqing her brother was completely natural.
Xu Yunshu instinctively glanced at Zhu Heqing.
His fingertips moved slightly, his gaze fixed on his phone. He showed no reaction to their conversation, his expression unchanged.
Xu Yunshu froze for a moment.
In the past, Zhu Heqing had never ignored her like this.
She forced a small, unnatural smile, her fingers tightening around her glass. “You’re all my older brothers.”
He Zhiheng couldn’t stand Zhu Heqing’s absent-minded look.
Everyone present was familiar with each other, so they spoke without restraint.
“A He, your girlfriend just went on a trip. Don’t look like a resentful husband whose wife isn’t coming back. You’re scaring your phone to death.”
His words caused an uproar.
Except for He Zhiheng, no one else knew Zhu Heqing had a girlfriend.
In their circle, casually playing around with women was common. Some even had multiple girlfriends at once.
But Zhu Heqing was different. He had once said he didn’t want to influence Xu Yunshu badly, so he had kept himself completely free of women. He was famously known in Beijing as an untouchable, aloof figure.
Countless women had tried their best to win him over—top actresses, daughters of elite families—none had succeeded.
And now, suddenly, they were being told that this unattainable man had a girlfriend? And was even staring at his phone like a lovesick husband?
If this news got out, who knew how many hearts would break.
“Damn, He Zhiheng, is this for real?”
He Zhiheng rolled his eyes. “The person involved is right here. Would I make something like that up? You think I have a death wish, spreading rumors about Zhu Heqing?”
The man ignored his sarcasm and turned to Zhu Heqing. “Brother Zhu, who’s sister-in-law? When are you bringing her over for us to meet?”
Zhu Heqing glanced at him calmly. The man had dyed red hair, which oddly suited his face.
Just then, his phone buzzed repeatedly with message notifications.
Zhu Heqing lowered his head to look—Yu Huan had sent several messages in a row, all insults.
Yu Huan lived in a world full of kindness; even when she cursed, she only knew a handful of phrases, repeating them over and over.
Zhu Heqing didn’t know what he had done wrong this time, but he still replied instantly, as he always did when admitting fault.
Baby,Iwaswrong.Baby, I was wrong.Baby,Iwaswrong.
The red-haired man rubbed his nose and turned to He Zhiheng again. “Do you know which family sister-in-law is from?”
He Zhiheng glanced at Zhu Heqing. “She’s still in school.”
The man’s eyes widened.
Damn.
Still in school? Brother Zhu was really going for someone much younger.
Xu Yunshu sat quietly in the private room. Under the warm lighting, her face looked slightly pale, and her heart felt as if something was blocking it, leaving a bitter ache.
When Yu Huan received Zhu Heqing’s reply, she almost exploded with anger.
She had only scolded him a few times, and he was already apologizing.
That only proved he knew how guilty he was.
She urged the driver, “Sir, please drive faster.”
Through the rearview mirror, the driver saw the anger and grievance on her face.
He tried to reassure her. “Miss, don’t rush. Safety comes first.”
Yu Huan raised her voice, her emotions surging, her eyes turning slightly red. “I’m going to catch someone cheating!”
The driver immediately pressed the accelerator. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you catch them.”
As he sped up, he couldn’t help but sigh. Such a delicate, jade-like girl, yet she had encountered a scumbag.
How could fate be so cruel?
What should have been a thirty-minute drive took just over ten minutes.
When Yu Huan got out of the car, the driver kindly asked, “Miss, do you need help?”
“No, thank you.”
Even at night, Beijing’s summer heat was stifling.
Yu Huan had come in a hurry and was still wearing clothes suited for Moscow. The moment she stepped out, the hot wind hit her, leaving a sticky, uncomfortable feeling.
She quickly walked into the bar. The first floor was crowded.
Not knowing exactly where Zhu Heqing was, she took out her phone and opened the location app again, studying it carefully.
Her appearance was so striking that she drew countless gazes just by standing there.
Someone holding a drink approached her, reaching out as if to place a hand on her shoulder. “Beauty, here alone?”
Yu Huan frowned, stepping back to avoid his hand. Her tone was sharp. “Go away. Who do you think you are? Don’t touch me.”
Even in anger, she looked stunning.
But provoking her anger caused the little remaining sense of gentlemanly behavior in others to surface.
After all, leaving a good impression on such a beauty was worth it.
“Man, she clearly doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“Forcing it isn’t a good look.”
…
The man, being criticized from all sides, flushed red with embarrassment. He wanted to say something more, but seeing the clear displeasure and disgust in Yu Huan’s delicate features, he shut his mouth awkwardly.
“Miss, may I ask—are you here for something urgent?”
People who came here were usually here to have fun, their expressions relaxed or curious.
Yu Huan clearly wasn’t.
She glanced at the speaker—someone she didn’t recognize, with a strong scent of perfume.
The location app could only provide a general direction, not an exact position.
Yu Huan put her phone away and said impatiently, “I’m looking for someone.”
“I know most of the people here. Who are you looking for?”
Yu Huan looked at him suspiciously, clearly distrustful, but still said the name.
She really didn’t feel like searching anymore.
“Zhu Heqing.”