Ch 30: Trouble With The Ex Again

“Come here.” His voice was incredibly gentle, as if possessing a kind of magic, causing Xiao Yao to unconsciously walk over.

Xiao Yao looked at the scarf in his hand, suddenly realizing something, and immediately gestured with the fur collar of her wool coat, “I have one, no need.”

“Come here.” He continued to gently call to her, “Come.”

Xiao Yao stubbornly shook her head, “It’s too ugly, and so thick, I won’t wear it.”

“Disobedient?” He directly stepped forward and grabbed her, quickly wrapping the scarf around her neck in a few seconds. The extra half-meter was then wrapped around her head.

Xiao Yao’s resistance was ineffective; ultimately, her head was wrapped into a large black fur ball, only revealing one angry eye glaring at him.

“Okay, this way you won’t be cold, we can go.” He was very satisfied with his handiwork.

“I can’t even see the road! You did this on purpose!”

Xiao Yao was angry and wanted to remove it. She was dressed beautifully, but her head was wrapped like this—it was humiliating!

“Remove it. If you remove it, we won’t go. Let’s just go back to bed; it’s much warmer in bed than outside.”

Zhuang Lingyun just stood with his arms crossed, watching with a leisurely and provoking expression.

Xiao Yao couldn’t win against him. Rather than returning to bed and being further “exploited,” she would rather go out and be a spectacle for others to watch. Huffily, she pushed aside the obstacle blocking the door and strode out.

Zhuang Lingyun followed her with a smile, quickly catching up and wrapping his arms around the still-angry woman. He complacently enjoyed the surprised or amused looks of passersby.

Xiao Yao felt she had married a stubborn mule.

After a half-hour car ride, they arrived at the shopping mall. Zhuang Lingyun had already coaxed Xiao Yao with his sweet talk, and the two got out of the car and hand-in-hand began their year-end shopping spree.

Xiao Yao experienced the wonderful feeling of having money for the first time.

She could spend without restraint, and when she liked something, she didn’t need to think twice. There were only two concepts in her mind: like, dislike.

Zhuang Lingyun was responsible for carrying the bags and paying with his card. Accompanying a woman shopping wasn’t an easy task, but Zhuang Lingyun enjoyed the process.

The morning flew by quickly. Near noon, Xiao Yao felt a little hungry and her legs were aching. Zhuang Lingyun took her to a restaurant in the mall to eat and rest.

As soon as the food was served, Zhuang Lingyun’s phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, his brow furrowed slightly, and he pressed mute. Xiao Yao curiously glanced at it, discovering it was an unfamiliar landline number, and didn’t pay much attention.

After automatically disconnecting, the number relentlessly called several more times.

Xiao Yao sensed something was wrong, “Why don’t you answer it? What if it’s an emergency?”

“Is it bothering you?” Zhuang Lingyun looked at his phone, his handsome face slightly darkened, and stood up, saying, “I’ll go answer the phone.”

“Go ahead.”

Xiao Yao nodded, watching him walk away. He answered and hung up after a few words, hurrying back.

“What’s wrong?”

“The housekeeping aunt found some of my mother’s relics while cleaning the storage room. I need to go back to my father’s place to retrieve them. Will you come with me?”

Xiao Yao immediately showed a troubled expression, “Ah… Do you want me to go with you?”

She really didn’t want to go. Zhuang Lingyun’s father was too intimidating, leaving her with some psychological trauma. And his stepmother wasn’t easy to get along with, constantly criticizing her and even resorting to violence.

“Presumably… they wouldn’t want to see me either? I’d rather not go.”

Zhuang Lingyun laughed, habitually stroking her hair, “Okay, then I’ll take you home first. I’ll come back to accompany you after I get the things.”

Xiao Yao said she didn’t need a ride; she hadn’t finished shopping yet and told him not to worry about her.

Zhuang Lingyun left his card with her, telling her to spend freely. He then repeatedly instructed her to keep her phone on and said he would pick her up after retrieving the items. Then, he left carrying the numerous items she had bought.

Xiao Yao finished her meal alone and checked her Moments while digesting.

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Xiao Qiang.

“Finally remembered to call me?,” Xiao Yao said angrily as she answered, “Were you afraid I would kick you out? Hiding from me like this, even skipping work, taking a week off in advance—you’re amazing, Xiao Qiang! What excuse did you use to take leave? The school even approved it!”

“Don’t be sarcastic. I’m only hiding from you because I’m free.” Unexpectedly, the voice on the other end was very weak and muffled.

Xiao Yao was startled, “What’s going on?”

“Car accident, hospitalized.”

Xiao Yao was shocked, and words of concern blurted out, “When did it happen? Is it serious?”

“It’s definitely not as serious as yours, ha, disappointed?”

Xiao Yao choked, almost angered to death.

“Xiao Qiang, are you sick? Can’t you tell the difference between a joke and a serious matter?”

Xiao Qiang was also secretly holding a grudge. Ultimately, her car accident was also related to Xiao Yao.

This has to go back to that night when Xiao Yao suddenly returned to the apartment, and then Xiao Qiang was sent by Mu Yang to a place several dozen miles away to fetch something from his villa.

When she returned, it was already midnight. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Mu Yang dejectedly sitting on the sofa drinking heavily, already drunk beyond recognition.

As soon as Mu Yang saw Xiao Qiang, he hugged her, calling her Xiao Yao repeatedly, and took advantage of her stunned moment to pounce on her and kiss her fiercely.

Although Xiao Qiang was used as a substitute, she was heartbroken but went along with it.

Afterward, Xiao Qiang learned that Xiao Yao had come back, and that Mu Yang had sent her to get something just to get her away. Her heart ached terribly, and to avoid embarrassment in the morning, she left home at dawn.

As a result, she was hit by a car just a few steps away. Luckily, she was only seriously injured with two broken ribs.

Now, looking back, she felt very sad and pathetic.

How could she stoop so low for a man? It’s not like she didn’t have anyone who liked her or wanted to marry her. Mu Yang was clearly not a reliable man, but she couldn’t help wanting to get closer to him.

She also wanted to break this thought, but she really couldn’t.

Xiao Qiang also knew that blaming her misfortune entirely on Xiao Yao wasn’t appropriate.

Sighing, she got straight to the point, “Shen Mingzhe is at your house, squatting at the door and refusing to leave, saying he must see you. Mu Yang is annoyed; quickly take him away.”

Shen Mingzhe?

Xiao Yao frowned, “What is he doing?”

“You ask me? Who should I ask? Have you two cleared things up? From what Mu Yang says, Shen Mingzhe seems to still not know that you’re already married. Xiao Yao, what kind of play are you putting on? I really admire you; you’ve got several men spinning around your finger. Impressive.”

“Even being sick doesn’t stop your mouth.”

Xiao Yao didn’t want to see Shen Mingzhe. His existence was a humiliation and a testament to her poor judgment. Moreover, he had already returned the car and money, signifying the end of their relationship. Why was he looking for her again?

Xiao Yao frowned and pondered briefly, still deciding not to see him.

“Tell Mu Yang to just get rid of him. If he doesn’t leave, call the police.”

After hanging up, Xiao Yao lost her desire to continue shopping. She left the mall and hailed a car to go home.

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