Chapter 127: The Phone Call
You Ruxu stared at her phone, unable to reply. She didn’t know how to respond to such a suggestive message, especially knowing Yu Qiao would be furious if she found out they were still in contact.
Zhou Tianzui wouldn’t have said those things, told her not to wait, if there was any other way.
So, You Ruxu didn’t know how to respond, a flicker of hope, which she desperately suppressed, threatening to ignite into a flame she couldn’t control, a flame that would hurt them both.
You Ruxu put down her phone. Wu Xiulian peeked in, “Xu Xu, are you ready to go?”
You Ruxu looked at the time, “So early?”
“You’re starting work on Monday, shouldn’t we buy you some new clothes?” Wu Xiulian said, “Let’s go shopping.”
You Ruxu thought for a moment, then agreed, “Okay.”
Wu Xiulian closed the door. You Ruxu went to change, opening her closet, which was almost empty. She chose a blue turtleneck sweater and black pants. Her recent weight loss made her look taller, her legs slender. After changing, she glanced at the teddy bear on the bed, then after a moment of hesitation, put it away in the closet, out of sight.
She and Wu Xiulian left the apartment. Wu Xiulian’s mother was waiting for You Shu to come home from work, so they went ahead. It had been years since You Ruxu last properly explored Yuhai. She had walked around the area near Zhou Tianzui’s hotel with her once, and now, looking at the familiar streets, she felt a strange mix of nostalgia and unfamiliarity.
Wu Xiulian said, “They turned this street into a main road, lots of traffic, it gets congested during rush hour, avoid this route after work.”
You Ruxu nodded, her voice soft, “I will.”
Wu Xiulian pointed out the changes along the way, “Are you still using the family car?”
You Ruxu said, “I sold the one in Jindu, I’ll buy a new one next week.” The family car was occasionally used by You Shu, and she wanted her own car. Wu Xiulian said, “Then I’ll drive you to work for now, it’s on my way. You can use my car, just pick me up after work.”
After all, a reporter spent more time on the road than she did.
“Okay.” You Ruxu nodded, walking beside Wu Xiulian. They entered a clothing store.
They spent the afternoon shopping, buying two sets of work clothes for You Ruxu, shoes for her parents, and thermal underwear for Wu Xiulian. She suddenly thought of Zhou Tianzui.
Wu Xiulian’s mother had bought Zhou Tianzui some clothes when she came to Yuhai, but she hadn’t accepted them. And after that, every interaction had been strained and unpleasant. She looked at a blue scarf in the display and said, “Could you wrap that one up as well, please?”
Wu Xiulian looked at the scarf, “It’s cold outside, want me to wrap it around your neck?”
You Ruxu said, “It’s not for me.”
Not for her, and the color and style weren’t suitable for Wu Xiulian or her mother either. You Ruxu had just returned, she didn’t have any other friends here, so it was most likely for Zhou Tianzui. Wu Xiulian didn’t pry, just commented, “The color suits you.”
Suits people with fair skin.
You Ruxu touched the scarf, imagining Zhou Tianzui wearing it.
Zhou Tianzui, lying in bed, waiting for You Ruxu’s reply, drifted off. She seemed to see You Ruxu in her dream, walking in, opening the window, complaining, “It’s so dusty in here.”
And Zhou Tianzui explaining, “No one’s been here for days.”
You Ruxu saying, “I was only gone for a few days, weren’t you staying here?”
Zhou Tianzui, puzzled, looked at You Ruxu, dressed in her professional attire, her hair and makeup impeccable, ready for a broadcast, she was captivated, lost in thought, and You Ruxu leaned closer, “What’s wrong?”
She stood up, wanting to hug You Ruxu,
But embraced only cold air.
Zhou Tianzui woke up shivering, the window open, the cold wind blowing in. She was lying in bed, uncovered, having only dozed off for a bit before being woken by the chill. She sat up, still slightly disoriented, the scent of You Ruxu fading from the air. She checked her phone.
No reply.
Zhou Tianzui’s heart ached with a desperate longing, a need to know what You Ruxu was doing, what she was doing right now, at this moment, why she hadn’t replied.
Her finger hovered over the call button, then she remembered, she had told You Ruxu they were breaking up.
She had promised to try again with You Ruxu, then told her not to wait.
She was the one who broke her promises, pushed You Ruxu away, and now, just because Yu Qiao’s condition had improved slightly, she was acting as if nothing had happened, contacting You Ruxu, wanting to rekindle their relationship, wanting to continue being together.
What if Yu Qiao’s condition worsened again?
Would she push You Ruxu away again?
Zhou Tianzui’s heart clenched, a sudden, sharp pain.
Habitual thinking.
She had never considered that You Ruxu might be angry, what she must have felt, receiving her message after being so cruelly rejected.
Zhou Tianzui hesitated, unable to bring herself to press the call button. She covered her forehead with her hand, a wave of regret and self-loathing washing over her, threatening to tear her apart. She lay in bed for a long time, until the sky gradually darkened, and she received a call from Yu Qiao, asking where she was, Zhou Tianzui sat up and looked out the window.
The sunset painted the sky in vibrant hues, another spring, another new year.
She said, “I’m…” hesitating slightly, then, “I’m out, I’ll be home later.”
Yu Qiao said, “Okay, then come home early, didn’t you say your colleagues are coming for dinner the day after tomorrow? I bought some extra groceries today, I can start preparing tonight.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay, I will.”
She got up, left the apartment, and drove home. It was the twelfth day of the new year, the day of Zhou Tianzui’s dinner gathering. Since the start of the New Year, they had been having celebratory dinners almost every day. Usually, Zhou Tianzui wouldn’t participate, but this year, Yu Qiao insisted on treating everyone, as a thank you for their support and care, especially after the recent incident, it was also a way of expressing her gratitude. So, Zhou Tianzui arranged it for the twelfth.
She also invited one other person, Chen Xiang.
Chen Xiang had been surprised by the invitation, thinking You Ruxu, after hearing what she said, had contacted Zhou Tianzui, who, grateful, decided to treat her to dinner. She was quite happy about it, she was also familiar with He Wei and the others, no shortage of conversation topics. After You Ruxu left, she was the one who visited Zhou Tianzui most often at the hospital, building a good relationship with her colleagues was always a good idea, so she readily accepted the invitation.
Zhou Tianzui had ulterior motives, she mainly invited Chen Xiang to hear about You Ruxu.
Since that day, she hadn’t contacted You Ruxu, she hadn’t sent a single message, and neither had You Ruxu contacted her. Many nights, unable to sleep, she wanted to call You Ruxu, staring at her number, every digit etched in her memory, she knew it by heart, yet she couldn’t bring herself to press the call button.
Yu Qiao’s condition had been improving, yesterday, she even accompanied her to visit Zhou Qiming’s grave. Yu Qiao had stood there, talking to him, her emotions stable and calm, but she still hadn’t mentioned You Ruxu.
It was like a thorn.
Zhou Tianzui didn’t know if that thorn had been removed.
She didn’t dare to test it, afraid of pushing it deeper, she could only subtly probe.
Chen Xiang, was her way of probing.
“Dr. Zhou, your home is so cozy,” Chen Xiang, who lived alone in a rented apartment, eating instant noodles with cold water, always busy with work, her own apartment sparsely furnished, commented. Seeing Zhou Tianzui’s home, her eyes lit up, it felt like home, comfortable and warm.
Yu Qiao brought them warm water: “It’s cold outside, isn’t it? Have some water, I’ll cut some fruit for you.”
“Auntie, don’t bother,” Chen Xiang said, “Water is fine, am I too early? I had something to do nearby and smelled the delicious food, so I came over.”
Chen Xiang grinned, “My mom always said I have a dog’s nose for good food.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “You’re not early, they should be here soon.”
Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. Zhou Tianzui went to open it, and He Wei, holding a fruit basket, stood there, instinctively straightening her posture at seeing Zhou Tianzui, “Dr. Zhou.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Come in.”
He Wei walked in and, seeing Chen Xiang, exclaimed, “Reporter Chen!”
Chen Xiang had become a reporter after the New Year, something He Wei and the others knew. Chen Xiang stood up, smiling, “Dr. He, come sit down.”
He Wei, seeing a familiar face, relaxed, the tension from Zhou Tianzui’s earlier gaze dissipating, “Aren’t you cold, dressed so lightly?”
Chen Xiang said, “No, I’m used to it.”
“You reporters are amazing.” He Wei said, “Standing out in the freezing cold in just a suit, reporting live, Teacher You used to do the same.”
She didn’t know about You Ruxu and the Zhou family. Her seemingly casual words were like opening a floodgate, everyone present froze, Zhou Tianzui instinctively looking at Yu Qiao.
Yu Qiao, hearing the name, her expression faltering, then she calmly poured He Wei a glass of water, “Have something warm.”
He Wei quickly said, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Yu Qiao said, “You’re welcome. You two chat, I’ll go prepare dinner.”
She looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Xiao Tian, keep them company.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll help you cook.”
Yu Qiao said, “It’s no trouble, and they rarely visit, spend some time with them.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded.
He Wei and Chen Xiang continued talking about You Ruxu.
“She joined Yuhai TV.” Chen Xiang said, “But not as a field reporter, we probably won’t see her on TV as often anymore.”
“That’s a pity.” He Wei said, “How am I supposed to sleep without hearing Teacher You’s voice?”
Chen Xiang, seeing her dejected expression, chuckled, “You can call her, you can chat with her.”
He Wei hesitated, “I don’t dare to.”
Chen Xiang said, “What’s there to be afraid of?” Then, remembering how she herself had felt the same way, only daring to contact You Ruxu for non-work-related matters after two or three years of knowing her, she said reassuringly, “Teacher You is very approachable.” She looked at Zhou Tianzui, “Right, Dr. Zhou?”
Zhou Tianzui looked up at Chen Xiang, startled by the sudden question, especially one related to You Ruxu. She opened her mouth, Yu Qiao, in the kitchen, could hear their conversation, she looked over and saw Zhou Tianzui’s expression.
The same as always, her composure crumbling at the mere mention of that name.
Yu Qiao looked down.
Zhou Tianzui paused, then said, “Yes, she’s very approachable.”
He Wei, hearing this, felt a surge of courage, she took a deep breath and said, “Then can I call Teacher You now?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “No.”
Chen Xiang and He Wei looked at her, Zhou Tianzui’s expression calm and indifferent, but her throat tightened, “She should be at work now, let’s not disturb her.”
He Wei said, “I forgot, I’ll call her tonight then.”
Tonight?
To talk about what?
Zhou Tianzui’s face darkened slightly. She stared at her cup, and after a few seconds, said to He Wei, “Just call her now, she might not be working during the holidays.”
He Wei: …
He Wei: So, should I call or not?
Zhou Tianzui: Guess.
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