Chapter 143: Lin Yuqing Brings Warmth

"Hey, Mr. Xia, are you leaving so soon?" Gu Ying poked her head out of the car window. "I thought He Dong would host a victory banquet for you."

Xia Yu turned and paused when he saw her.

"Not bad. You really impressed me tonight. I thought you were just all talk the other day, but I didn't expect your skills to be so sharp." Gu Ying said with genuine interest. "No wonder Xiao Jun took you under his wing, and now you’re getting so close to He Dong. You’re quite something."

"Why don't you consider being my subordinate instead?"

It was clearly a taunt. Gu Ying truly disliked him, especially after hearing the messy stories about him and Lin Yuxin; she was deeply repulsed by men like him.

"Oh, I have no interest in being a subordinate to someone who acts like neither a man nor a woman. Goodbye."

"What did you say?!"

Gu Ying’s eyes widened in fury, but Xia Yu had already stepped on the gas and driven off.

"He... he actually dared to call me neither a man nor a woman!" Gu Ying stomped her feet in anger and turned to A-San, who was driving. "Tell me, do I look like neither a man nor a woman to you?"

A-San frowned. "You are very beautiful, Miss. Your hair is just a bit short, that’s all. He was trying to insult you on purpose; don't take it to heart."

"That jerk! Next time I run into him, see how I deal with him!!" Gu Ying rubbed her short hair, gritting her teeth.

...

In the blink of an eye, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

The streets were bustling; it was a wonderful day for family reunions. Every household was filled with joy, much like the Lunar New Year. Liu Hua had taken Liu Xiaomi to visit her grandmother.

Xia Yu stayed home alone, and it felt truly lonely. He held his phone, looking at photos of himself and Zhao Sijie, recalling every little detail of their time together. A happy smile appeared on his lips involuntarily.

But soon, it was replaced by anger.

"Why!"

"Why would I think of her at a time like this? In the end, she’s just like those other women—a woman who ran away because she looked down on me for having no money or status."

"She isn't worth my thoughts..."

Xia Yu felt both annoyed and pained. With trembling hands, he deleted the few photos they had together.

In the evening, just as he was planning to boil some noodles to make do, his phone rang. When he saw the caller ID, his body stiffened—it was his father.

It had been over a year since he became a live-in son-in-law for the Lin family. This was the first time his father had called.

"Hello," he answered.

"Kid, are you doing alright?"

"Are you showing concern for me?" Xia Yu replied sarcastically. "Oh, right, it's a holiday. It’s rare for you to even remember that I’m your son."

"It’s been over a year; you should have cooled down by now. Are you still blaming me for arranging for you to marry into the Lin family?" His father’s voice was deep and resonant on the other end.

"Enough, there's no need for us to discuss this now," Xia Yu said sharply. "Don't you have anything else to say to me?"

"No, I was just asking in passing. When do you plan to come back?" he asked.

"You shouldn't need me to come back yet, should you?" Xia Yu chuckled. "If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."

"Oh, right. He made a move against me. Did you know?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end. "I found out not long ago, but I know what you’re capable of."

"Since you know, you shouldn't have any objections if I kill him, right?" Xia Yu said calmly, though his tone was laced with sharp murderous intent.

"It would be best... not to."

"That remains to be seen."

With that, Xia Yu hung up the phone.

"Not bad, at least he knows how to show some concern for his son."

Just as he walked into the kitchen, his phone rang again. It was Lin Yuqing.

"Brother Yu, come to People’s Square."

"Now?"

"Yes, I’m waiting for you."

Xia Yu set down the noodles, smiled and shook his head, then grabbed his car keys and headed out.

The holiday traffic was heavy, and the square was crowded. When Xia Yu arrived, Lin Yuqing was sitting on a bench, watching the acrobats and street performers.

"Shouldn't you be with your family tonight? How do you have time for me?" Xia Yu sat next to her, catching the unique fragrance she wore.

It was autumn now, and the weather was getting chilly; the girl was already wearing a sweater.

"I was just afraid you’d be spending the holiday alone, all by yourself," Lin Yuqing pouted, smiling playfully. "So, I came to bring you some warmth."

"I made these dumplings myself. Try them quickly."

Looking at her sweet dimples, Xia Yu felt a warmth in his heart. He took the container and opened it; sure enough, there were twenty dumplings inside.

"Not bad, I didn't know you had this talent."

"Of course," Lin Yuqing replied with a proud toss of her head. "I am a very capable young lady, after all. Eat up, or they’ll get cold and won't taste as good."

Xia Yu hadn't had dinner yet, so he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

Seeing him eat heartily, Lin Yuqing felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

"Brother Yu, did you contact your family today? I’ve never heard you mention them, and they didn't even show up when you married Sister Yuxin."

Xia Yu paused and turned to her. "My family lives quite far away, so they couldn't make it. But my dad actually called me today."

"Oh, if they’re so far away, have you ever thought about going back to your hometown? It’s easier to take care of your elders when you’re closer," she said with concern.

Xia Yu gave an unnatural smile. "Perhaps. Maybe one day I’ll leave Shenzhen."

"..."

Lin Yuqing opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing. She hadn't really considered this—what would happen if Xia Yu left one day?

At that thought, she felt a sudden, inexplicable depression. She stole a glance at his face, and her heart skipped a beat.

It seemed she had truly fallen for Xia Yu.

Soon, Xia Yu finished the dumplings and returned the bowl to her.

"Are you full? If not, I can go buy you something else," Lin Yuqing asked concernedly.

"No, I'm stuffed," Xia Yu said, patting his stomach. "But don't bring me food next time. Eating out is fine; it's too much trouble for you to bring it over."

"That's not the same," she rolled her eyes. "Can anything bought outside have the warmth of a home-cooked meal?"

"Alright, alright."

Xia Yu smiled, feeling deeply touched. This girl really did look out for him in every way.

"Brother Yu, after all this time, have you had any news about Sijie?" she suddenly asked.

Xia Yu’s smile instantly froze. He shook his head. "No."

"Then... what are you going to do? What if Sijie never comes back?" She looked straight at Xia Yu.

"Even if she did come back, we couldn't go back to how things were."

Xia Yu couldn't accept a woman who had abandoned him, though she was different from Lin Yuxin. Because Zhao Sijie’s departure was the one that truly caused him pain and sorrow.

"Is it really impossible to go back?" Lin Yuqing felt a flicker of joy. "Then do you plan on finding someone else?"

"Someone else?" He gave a bitter laugh. "Forget it. My love life has been such a failure; I don't want to go through that torment again."

"I..." Lin Yuqing felt anxious.

"You what?"

Xia Yu asked, puzzled.