Shen Yue had left, and Lou Qingshuang’s heart was left completely empty. Shen Yue hadn’t said a single word before leaving, which showed that she had been prepared for a long time.
“Heh.” Lou Qingshuang let out a cold laugh. The corners of her lips curled upward, but tears slid down from her eyes, making her look cold, detached, and utterly heartbroken.
“Shuangshuang.” Bai Wan took Lou Qingshuang’s hand, looking at her with deep concern.
“I’m fine. Let’s head back to the company first and prepare for the battle ahead,” Lou Qingshuang said softly, shaking her head.
The locks to her home had been changed, and Shen Yue’s access permissions with the property management had also been revoked.
Shen Qiao looked at her with worry. “Shuangshuang, what happened?”
Lou Qingshuang shook her head, forcing a nonchalant smile onto her face. “Mom, it’s nothing. Shen Yue just had an urgent matter to attend to and had to rush back. I’m heading back to the company now.”
“Alright.” Looking at her daughter, who was forcing a smile to reassure her, Shen Qiao held Lou Qingshuang’s hand tightly and didn’t ask any further questions.
Her eyes were filled with love and support for her daughter. “Mom will be waiting for you at home.”
“Okay.” Lou Qingshuang nodded with a smile and returned to the company with Bai Wan.
By the time they finished handling all the matters back at the company, night had already fallen.
Lou Qingshuang looked out the window at the pitch black sky. Wearing a dress and standing in the office building, she suddenly grabbed her coat and walked out.
Inside the bar, Lou Qingshuang sat alone at a small table, drinking one glass after another. The singer on stage was singing a melancholic song.
Lou Qingshuang threw back her head and downed a glass of whisky. Beside her was a glass of “Unforgetful Water” mixed by the bartender.
She exuded a sense of cold indifference that barely masked her deep pain. Several people tried to approach and strike up a conversation, but she ignored them all and focused solely on drinking.
The owner of Super X Bar came out to do his rounds and immediately spotted Lou Qingshuang. He quickly dialed the number of Liu Yu’s assistant.
“Assistant Zhu, that person you mentioned last time is here drinking. She’s already had over twenty glasses of whisky, and she looks like she’s getting drunk. Do you think someone should come pick her up?” the bar owner asked in an extremely cautious and polite tone.
Zhu Yan turned to look at Liu Yu, who was working overtime. After pressing the mute button on her phone, she spoke up, “Chairman Liu, Miss Lou is getting drunk at Super X Bar.”
Liu Yu was holding a black fountain pen, writing something. Hearing this, she raised her head. A slight shift appeared on her cold, indifferent face as she unhurriedly capped her pen. “Tonight’s work ends here.”
Out of Liu Yu’s sight, Zhu Yan gave a subtle smile. She unmuted the call and released the audio, “Thank you. We’ll be right there.”
“Of course, of course! Rest assured, we are a legitimate bar with guaranteed safety,” the bar owner replied in a low voice.
He recognized Liu Yu, after all. As long as he didn’t offend her, everything would be fine.
By the time Liu Yu arrived in her car, heavy rain was pouring down. Looking through the car window at the torrential downpour, Liu Yu thought to herself that today’s weather suited Lou Qingshuang’s mood all too well.
Inside the bar, Lou Qingshuang looked at the dark amber whisky with hazy eyes. She knew she was nearing her limit, but she couldn’t go home, if she went home, her mother would worry.
The matter with Shen Yue was like a dagger thrust straight into Lou Qingshuang’s heart, it couldn’t be touched, and it couldn’t be pulled out.
She lowered her head as tears dripped down. Her breathing felt stifled, as if her lungs were stuffed with cotton, making it hard to catch her breath.
A delicate handkerchief appeared before Lou Qingshuang’s eyes. It was pure white and carried a faint, woody fragrance. As Lou Qingshuang’s tears fell onto it, that familiar scent assertively and noticeably encompassed the space around her.
“Why are you here again?” Lou Qingshuang unceremoniously took the handkerchief and wiped away her tears.
Liu Yu stood beside her, her gaze deep and inscrutable. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
“No. I’m not going back tonight. Are you going to take me in?” Lou Qingshuang propped her head on one hand, looking up at her with a lazy, alluring charm. A thin layer of glistening tears filled her eyes, contrasting with her upturned red lips as she stared at Liu Yu stubbornly.
Liu Yu’s fingertips twitched slightly. She leaned down and whispered close to Lou Qingshuang’s ear, “As long as you’re willing.”
Lou Qingshuang narrowed her eyes, her upturned eyelashes brushing past Liu Yu’s cheek as she challenged her provokingly, “Chairman Liu, surely you’re not scared, are you?”
Liu Yu turned her head slightly, her lips coming so close they nearly kissed Lou Qingshuang’s eyelashes. Looking at those thin lips, Lou Qingshuang’s breathing hitched for a moment. She leaned back slightly to put some distance between them.
Looking at those thin lips, Lou Qingshuang thought they looked quite kissable, but she still turned her head away to avoid Liu Yu’s mouth. Liu Yu had also straightened her posture and stood up properly.
Drunk and misty eyed, Lou Qingshuang stared at the drink beside her hand and took another sip. The dark amber liquor trickled down her lips, smudging her lipstick. Watching that drop of alcohol slide downward, Liu Yu’s gaze darkened. She reached out and took the glass away from Lou Qingshuang. “You’re drunk.”
Lou Qingshuang stared at her for a long time, as if trying to see through Liu Yu completely. Noble, cold, proud, and possessing the calm composure of a superior, a person like this was immensely charming. Lou Qingshuang let out a sigh. “Just leave. Someone will come pick me up in a bit. I don’t want to get involved with you. You can pull your investment now.”
She wobbled to her feet, her gaze hazy and drunken. Let the heartbreak stay in tonight; after tonight, there would be no more sadness.
Earlier, she indeed had the thought of selling her formula. Lou Qingshuang didn’t want to be involved with anyone anymore. However, she couldn’t let down her good friend and leave her alone in the business arena.
Liu Yu reached out to steady her, narrowing her eyes as she asked in a cold voice, “Just because of one person who betrayed you, you’re going to refuse to stand back up?”
Lou Qingshuang looked up at her coldly. “And what about you? From what stance are you saying this to me?”
“As someone pursuing you,” Liu Yu lowered her head, looking down at her as she spoke in a low voice.
Lou Qingshuang let out a cold laugh and looked straight into her eyes, speaking with the confidence of her intoxication, “Liu Yu, you don’t like me. You just like the thrill of conquest. And because I’m the first person to reject you, you’re just unwilling to accept it.”
Looking at her current state, filled with a heartbroken rose fragrance, Liu Yu softened her voice, “We’ll talk about this tomorrow when you’re sober.”
Lou Qingshuang raised her hand, preparing to leave. As Liu Yu stood behind her, Lou Qingshuang lost her footing and stumbled, falling once again into Liu Yu’s arms, where she leaned against her chest.