Ch 26: I Regret It
Xiao Yao had just stepped into the room when she immediately noticed something was wrong.
The room had an additional black computer desk, on which sat a cool-looking Alienware computer and a keyboard with flowing lights, next to an ashtray filled with cigarette butts.
A high-tech air humidifier stood by the bed; its glossy exterior alone suggested a high price.
The bed sheet and duvet cover were still the ones she used, but there were many men’s clothes, socks, and underwear… on the bed.
Xiao Yao stiffened, and saw Mu Yang dart past her with lightning speed, quickly gathering the items on the bed and stuffing them into a cabinet. He gave an awkward smile, “I’m staying in this room.”
At that moment, Xiao Yao’s embarrassment reached its peak. She quickly glanced at her own cabinet; she wondered if Xiao Qiang had put away her underwear, and if not…
The thought of a certain possibility suddenly made Xiao Yao feel nauseous.
“Where are my clothes?” Xiao Yao asked, her complexion not looking good.
“I didn’t touch your things. In the cabinet, I only used the section against the wall.” Mu Yang finished his explanation and opened the cabinet, implying she could see for herself that nothing had been moved.
Xiao Yao stood still at the doorway, quickly closed the door, turned around, and quickly walked into the guest room, locking the door.
What was wrong with this Mu Yang? He wasn’t so poor he couldn’t afford new bedding, yet he still used the set she had slept in. It was already strange enough that he was staying in this house, and he chose her room.
Thinking back to his previous pursuit of her, could it be that seeing she was married, he had no chance, and was settling for her room to get a feel for things?
Xiao Yao couldn’t help but shiver, a fine layer of goosebumps rising all over her body.
Xiao Yao called Xiao Qiang to question her, but Xiao Qiang’s phone was constantly busy, and she didn’t know who she was talking to.
Mu Yang in the master bedroom next door was the one on the call with Xiao Qiang.
He completely concealed the news of Xiao Yao’s arrival from Xiao Qiang and sent Xiao Qiang to his “currently under renovation” luxury villa tens of miles away to get him some clothes.
Xiao Qiang had no suspicions; she was happy to do things for Mu Yang. After hanging up, Xiao Qiang saw several missed calls from Xiao Yao in her call log. She hesitated for a moment, then chose to ignore them.
The thought of Xiao Yao made Xiao Qiang’s mood plummet. She couldn’t help but think that the reason Mu Yang agreed to live with her was because he was staying in Xiao Yao’s house, and in her room.
She wondered what kind of spell Xiao Yao had cast on Mu Yang; she was clearly indifferent to him, yet he was completely infatuated with her. She poured her heart out to him, but he ignored her.
Xiao Qiang felt extremely unbalanced. She hated Xiao Yao, yet she had to use her to get closer to the man she liked. This feeling made her feel like her love was very humble.
She almost despised herself.
Xiao Yao found a suitcase in the storage room. Watching Mu Yang, who was sitting neatly on the sofa in the living room drinking water, occasionally glancing at her, she suppressed her discomfort and said, “I need to go to my room to get some clothes. Is that okay?”
“Of course, this is your home.” Mu Yang quickly stood up from the sofa and ran to open the door for her.
Xiao Yao scoffed inwardly. Her home? She didn’t feel that way at all.
“Need my help?”
Xiao Yao shook her head. Because of some private items, Xiao Yao asked Mu Yang to wait outside.
She took all the clothes out of the cabinet, unable to fold them neatly, she haphazardly stuffed them into the suitcase. She also opened the drawer compartment and took out all her underwear, socks, and other intimate clothing and stuffed them into the suitcase.
Just as she was checking for anything she might have missed, Xiao Yao heard the doorbell. Mu Yang got up to answer it, and then there was suddenly no sound outside.
Thinking it was Xiao Qiang returning from grocery shopping, Xiao Yao, ready to confront her, immediately got up and opened the master bedroom door. Suddenly, she saw Zhuang Lingyun, his face grim, appearing at the door, emanating a cold aura.
His dark eyes glared coldly at Mu Yang, his expression unfriendly. Seeing her appear, he turned his gaze to her, cold and icy.
How did he know she was here? Xiao Yao was surprised.
This situation was obviously easy to misunderstand, but Xiao Yao had no intention of explaining.
She nonchalantly turned back and continued packing.
“Move.” Zhuang Lingyun’s voice was cold, his face stern as he looked at Mu Yang who was blocking the way.
Mu Yang was a smart man and immediately saw the conflict between the two. Not wanting to miss the drama, he smugly said, “Excuse me, this is my home. You’re not welcome here.”
“Your home?” His dark eyes narrowed slightly, Zhuang Lingyun couldn’t help but sneer, “How did it become your home? Have a little shame, will you?”
While saying this, his eyes scanned Mu Yang’s casual home clothes and the navy blue slippers revealing his unsightly toes. His eyebrows furrowed. Could he be living here?
“None of your business?” Mu Yang pushed hard against his chest, “Get out, Xiao Yao doesn’t want to see you, don’t make a fool of yourself, get out quickly, or I’ll…”
With a click, the bedroom door opened, and Xiao Yao came out dragging her suitcase, “Don’t spread rumors, I don’t want to see anyone.”
“Xiao Yao, where are you going?” Mu Yang watched Xiao Yao put on her down jacket, drag her suitcase to the door to change her shoes, and urgently said, “Aren’t you waiting for Xiao Qiang to come back?”
“No, you… forget it, when Xiao Qiang comes back, ask her to call me.” Xiao Yao hesitated, carrying her suitcase, and brushed past Zhuang Lingyun without a word or eye contact, heading towards the elevator.
Zhuang Lingyun followed.
One silent, one observing.
Out of the elevator and out of the residential area, Xiao Yao pulled her suitcase along the streetlights in the night. The suitcase wheels rattled, and it swayed with every unsteady step, so she walked slowly.
Zhuang Lingyun walked behind her. Seeing her hands, red from the cold, he wanted to take the suitcase, “Let me.”
“No need.”
“Xiao Yao.” He pulled her, taking her cold hand in his, although his was just as cold.
“I’m sorry, don’t be angry, okay?”
“Zhuang Lingyun, I regret it.” Xiao Yao sadly lowered her head and sniffed, “I made such a rash decision about my life, that’s why I foolishly jumped into your trap. If I could choose again…”
Before she could finish, he suddenly grabbed her arm, “There’s no going back, since you married me, don’t overthink it. Xiao Yao, I never intended to deceive you, how can you call it a trap?”
Seeing tears welling up in her eyes, he panicked, “Really, it’s all true. I know my family has caused you a lot of unhappiness, but I had no choice but to be born into that family. I promise this won’t happen again, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“It hurts…”
Xiao Yao pulled away from him, not knowing how much force she’d used. Through the thick down jacket, her arm was almost broken by his grip; she was close to tears from the pain.
Zhuang Lingyun, afraid she would leave, the moment he released her hand, pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, “I won’t let you overthink it. The swan meat is always the best, only a fool would let it go.
Using that analogy, are you a toad?
Xiao Yao rolled her eyes. In fact, she had originally wanted to say that if she could do it over again, she definitely wouldn’t have gotten married so quickly. She would have taken time to investigate properly.
But before she could finish, he panicked.
He was so anxious about her, was it really because he liked her, cared about her? Or was it something else…? Thinking of the ex-girlfriend mentioned by that woman, Xiao Yao felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Held in his arms, the cold gradually dissipated, and her whole body warmed under his embrace.
Xiao Yao leaned against his chest, murmuring with a slightly heavy nasal tone, “How did you know?”
She hadn’t made a distress call, so how did he know that woman had kidnapped her, and how did he know she had returned to her apartment? Didn’t he have an engagement in the evening? Xiao Yao wondered, could he have installed a tracking device on her?
Zhuang Lingyun asked, “Are you still angry?”
“I’m asking you a question.”
“Answer me, and I’ll tell you how I found out if you’re not angry.”
Bargaining? Like a child? Xiao Yao raised her head and glared at him, “Angry.”
“Then let me coax you.” He playfully hugged her tighter, burying his head in her neck, “The bar manager saw you and called me.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Okay, actually, it was my informant near Zhong Lingxiu who informed me in time.”
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