Chapter 1146: Departure

Chapter 1146: Chapter 1146: Departure

It’s normal to feel shy in the past; these are typical responses.

But this morning, she was so ashamed she couldn’t even bear to look at him.

Zhao Dingli was feeling pleased, completely unaware that Li Xiaoyun was avoiding eye contact partly because she was embarrassed.

But more was due to guilt.

Guilt about her own thoughts, feeling unworthy of Zhao Dingli’s trust.

He considered her a friend, yet she was thinking... of him.

Li Xiaoyun’s guilty thoughts were automatically muted inside.

Additionally, she had decided to move back home but hadn’t told Zhao Dingli.

This made her feel even guiltier.

Naturally, she dared not meet Zhao Dingli’s gaze.

After breakfast, just like usual, Li Xiaoyun rode in Zhao Dingli’s car to the company.

Coincidentally, a client had arrived, so Zhao Dingli not only accompanied the client last night but also needed to entertain them this afternoon.

Li Xiaoyun didn’t need to find Zhao Dingli.

She could use the afternoon to pack her belongings.

Li Xiaoyun sighed, feeling guilty for leaving without a word, knowing it was wrong and would surely hurt Zhao Dingli’s feelings.

But because she knew if she proposed this to Zhao Dingli, he wouldn’t agree, she had to leave secretly.

Her heart felt particularly uneasy, feeling she had wasted Zhao Dingli’s kindness.

Because of this, Li Xiaoyun was distracted at work all morning, and her work efficiency was poor.

During work, her thoughts frequently drifted away.

They drifted to Zhao Dingli, thinking about him.

Finally, it was noon, and Li Xiaoyun called a car back to Zhao Dingli’s home.

On the way, she even hoped the car would drive slower.

But Li Xiaoyun knew that this thought was merely a delay.

Eventually, she still had to move.

The car stopped downstairs at Zhao Dingli’s home.

The security guards were familiar with Li Xiaoyun, so the car was allowed through right at the entrance.

Li Xiaoyun got out of the car, went upstairs, and entered the house.

The house was naturally empty.

She was the only one there; Zhao Dingli was not home.

The house felt particularly empty.

As she passed by the kitchen, Li Xiaoyun couldn’t help but glance, inadvertently recalling the scene of preparing breakfast in the morning and dining with Zhao Dingli at the bar.

She had lived here for quite some time; she could say every corner was familiar.

Even every corner had traces of her lingering or staying.

She curled up on the spacious sofa watching shows.

Used an iPad and a projector alike.

She had taken red wine for a small drink from the wine cabinet.

Returning to the bedroom, the dressing table, the small round table, the carpet—apart from the wardrobe and the bed, all others were specially bought for her by Zhao Dingli.

Li Xiaoyun felt more and more like an ingrate.

She let out a heavy breath; she was leaving, but her mood was unbearably heavy.

Unprecedentedly heavy.

It was as if a big stone weighed on her heart, pressing her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Li Xiaoyun’s eyes were sore as she packed everything into her suitcase.

Dragging the suitcase, she returned to the living room.

Along the way, scattered here and there were the little ornaments she had bought.

Including the ornaments and various cushions, dolls in her room.

Piled cushions and dolls on the windowsill.

These, Li Xiaoyun decided not to take.

For one, there were simply too many, scattered around.

Just packing her luggage was already quite tight.

These ornaments couldn’t possibly fit.

For another, Li Xiaoyun felt that taking everything away cleanly seemed very stingy.

She had lived here for so long; leaving nothing behind felt too stingy.

If Zhao Dingli felt they didn’t suit his style and disliked them, he could throw them away.

Thus, Li Xiaoyun simply didn’t take them.

Li Xiaoyun dragged her suitcase to the door, then turned back for a last look.

This was probably the last time she’d be here.

"Thank you," Li Xiaoyun said to the empty room.

Thank you for helping me when I was most helpless, for taking me in.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.

Thank you for being so kind.

Li Xiaoyun’s eyes were wet and heated, tears stinging her eyes.

Her breathing trembled along with it.

Li Xiaoyun pulled her suitcase and went out.

She called for another car and moved back to her own home.

She hadn’t lived there for a while.

Returning to her home, Li Xiaoyun actually felt a bit of unfamiliarity.

Her apartment wasn’t big; it was very small.

But because no one had lived there for a long time, the apartment had lost its warmth.

The air had the sample house scent, only the smell of furniture, cold and lifeless.

Unlike before, when she was living there, she’d place aromatic oils and turn on the aromatherapy machine at night.

Plus, she’d use perfume before going out, leaving traces of her perfume scent at home.

Every time she returned, the house had the fragrant smell she liked.

But now, it was all gone, unfamiliar as if no one had lived there.

Moreover, after not living there for a while, everything about the house felt unfamiliar, uncomfortable.

Li Xiaoyun shook her head; regardless, this was her home, hers, hers alone.

Once she stayed for a few days, the house would be warm and lively like before.

But with all the back and forth, there wasn’t much lunch break time left.

Estimating that lunch break time would be insufficient, she took an hour off.

But even so, it wasn’t enough to pack her luggage.

By now, Li Xiaoyun hadn’t had time to eat lunch.

So, Li Xiaoyun first put the suitcase down at home and hurried back to the company.

After exiting the community, she bought a sandwich at the convenience store opposite and quickly ate it on the way to the company.

In the afternoon, Li Xiaoyun was conflicted, unsure of how to tell Zhao Dingli.

In the morning, she was distracted at work because of moving.

Now, thinking about what to say to Zhao Dingli, she was distracted again.

Li Xiaoyun felt helpless.

But she had to tell him, otherwise Zhao Dingli coming to pick her up in the afternoon would’ve been for nothing, right?

Just as Li Xiaoyun was conflicted, Zhao Dingli sent a WeChat message first.

Zhao Dingli: "I have another engagement tonight, can’t come to pick you up. I’ll have Liu Minghao pick you up."

"No need, I’ll go back myself," Li Xiaoyun thought, since Zhao Dingli had an engagement tonight, it might be better to talk to him after his engagement ended.

"Let Liu Minghao follow you then. You’re drinking again tonight, aren’t you?" Li Xiaoyun said.

Zhao Dingli didn’t plan to trouble Li Xiaoyun to pick her up again.

"Alright," Zhao Dingli nodded, "but I won’t get drunk tonight."

For fear that leaving her with a bad impression again.

"Okay," Li Xiaoyun saw the message, stayed silent for a long time, then typed "okay."