Chapter 128: Still Angry

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Still Angry

Nan Zhi remembered.

Sun Xiu really had tried to warn her back then.

But Sun Xiu’s warning had been so vague and roundabout that Nan Zhi hadn’t taken it seriously.

It wasn’t until Sun Xiu’s explanation today that Nan Zhi learned there was more to the story—

Chen Han, the upperclassman who owned the bubble tea shop.

Oh, wait, she shouldn’t call that scumbag "upperclassman."

Because not long after the bubble tea shop went out of business, Chen Han had also been forced to drop out of Yan University.

And all of it had been Lu Shixu’s doing.

That night, he had come to the shop to pick Nan Zhi up after her shift.

Nan Zhi was inside changing her clothes while Lu Shixu waited outside. He happened to overhear Chen Han in a nearby alley, talking to a friend on the phone about Nan Zhi. His mouth was full of filthy, lewd remarks. He was even laughing as he said he would install cameras in the bathroom and changing room and upload the videos online...

The other person who heard this was Sun Xiu.

Her face turned deathly pale. She couldn’t imagine someone’s malice could be so terrifying.

But what terrified her even more was the look on Lu Shixu’s face.

It was as if he had absorbed all the light in the world, leaving only a terrifying darkness.

Then, Sun Xiu watched with her own eyes as Lu Shixu strode into the alley.

She didn’t dare follow, only faintly hearing the dull thuds of fists hitting flesh.

That was all. There weren’t even any of Chen Han’s pleas or pained cries.

It made Sun Xiu think for a moment that Chen Han was dead...

Just as Sun Xiu was debating whether to tell Nan Zhi, Lu Shixu emerged.

There was blood on the back of his hand, but his expression was as cold and indifferent as ice.

And he said to her:

’Don’t tell Zhizhi.’

...

"You probably know what happened after that—Chen Han’s bubble tea shop went out of business, and he was advised to withdraw from the university. The reason given was that they found photos on his phone from him secretly taking pictures of other female students. Judging by his character, it probably wasn’t the first or second time he’d done something like that..."

Even after all these years, Sun Xiu was still furious about it.

At the same time, she apologized to Nan Zhi:

"I should have told you sooner. If your boyf— uh, Mr. Lu hadn’t found out, who knows what would have happened. I just didn’t expect him not to tell you the truth."

’He did more than just not tell her the truth!’

’Lu Shixu had faced her misunderstandings and accusations without saying a single word!’

’What, did he think staying silent was some kind of profoundly moving, incomparably devoted act?’

’Did he think he was protecting her from filthy words, making her world a beautiful paradise where she couldn’t even see the shadow of a bad person?’

’How ridiculous! How self-righteous!’

Nan Zhi’s emotions were once again easily stirred up.

If Lu Shixu appeared in front of her right now, she would probably charge over, grab him by the collar, and mock him relentlessly!

’Oh, right. It would have to be the Lu Shixu who hadn’t lost his memory.’

’The Lu Shixu of today doesn’t remember a thing!’

The thought made Nan Zhi even angrier.

"N-Nan Zhi, are you okay?"

Sun Xiu asked tentatively.

Nan Zhi took a deep breath, shook her head, and smiled.

"I’m fine."

Sun Xiu silently swallowed. ’She doesn’t look fine at all,’ she thought.

Noticing Sun Xiu’s concerned expression, Nan Zhi had to suppress her anger and change the subject, pretending like nothing was wrong.

The two started chatting about their university days, and the atmosphere became cheerful again.

Before long, Nan Yi returned with his chosen cake.

Since Sun Xiu had a class in the afternoon and Nan Zhi had a photoshoot,

they didn’t stay for long. After exchanging new contact information, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

On the way back, Nan Yi held the small cake in one hand and his mother’s hand in the other.

He looked up, his tone certain.

"Mommy is unhappy."

"How could... okay, I am a little."

Nan Zhi admitted it frankly.

Nan Yi was full of curiosity, or perhaps, he just wanted to comfort Nan Zhi.

"Why? Did the aunties just now say something that made Mommy unhappy?"

Nan Zhi didn’t want to brush Nan Yi off.

She thought for a moment before answering carefully,

"I can’t say I’m unhappy... but I can’t say I’m happy either."

Nan Yi frowned, troubled.

"That’s a little hard to understand."

Nan Zhi smiled and patted his head.

"It is, isn’t it? I think so too."

The human heart is a complex thing; you can’t generalize it.

Take her, for example. She had just suddenly learned the truth about something from years ago.

She was angry because he had hidden it from her, but also relieved that the misunderstanding was finally cleared up.

After all... he was someone she had truly loved.

Nan Zhi said, "Alright, let’s go home and rest. Is Yiyi tired?"

Nan Yi shook his head. "I want to finish my cake first."

"Does Yiyi like cake a lot?"

"It’s yummy."

"Then Mommy will bake one for you herself next time!"

"Mommy knows how to bake a cake?"

"No, but I imagine it’s pretty simple."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Mommy’s the best! You’ll learn in no time!"

"..."

The mother and son’s conversation drifted away on the wind.

Along with the old stories from years past.

...As if!

Nan Zhi’s gaze fell upon the figure standing beside a Maybach on the side of the road, and the anger she had just suppressed flared up again for no reason.

She took several deep breaths to rein in her impulse, then walked over, pretending to be nonchalant...

"Nan Zhi!"

Lu Shixu, who had been hanging his head, seemed to have an automatic Nan-Zhi-detection function.

The very second Nan Zhi stepped within ten meters of him, he shot his head up, his gaze locking onto her as he pinpointed her presence and location with the sharp senses of a wild animal.

Nan Zhi glanced at him and gave a polite nod.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Lu, our lunch service is over. If you want to eat, please come back this evening."

"...I’m leaving!"

Lu Shixu blurted out, his gaze never leaving her for a second.

Just as he’d hoped, Nan Zhi stopped.

"And?"

Nan Zhi looked straight at Lu Shixu.

It was as if she was trying to see through his current self, past the years, to the Lu Shixu from back then.

And ask him what on earth he was thinking all day.

Lu Shixu didn’t understand, so he continued to explain,

"I’m leaving on a business trip, so I won’t be in Yanjing for the next few days, and I won’t be able to come to the restaurant to eat..."

So, he had wanted to come and see her.

’But why was she looking at him so strangely?’

’It was as if... she were looking right through him at someone else.’

Lu Shixu’s lips instantly tightened into a thin line.

It was a very obvious sign of his displeasure.

Nan Zhi sighed silently in her heart—

’He’s changed so much, he’s even forgotten his memories, so how has this little habit not changed in the slightest?’

Of course, Nan Zhi’s tone remained cool, as if she were speaking to any ordinary customer.

"I see. Have a safe trip."

With that, she turned to lead Nan Yi away.

Lu Shixu subconsciously raised a hand, unwilling to let her leave so quickly...

But the movement sent a sharp, twisting pain searing through him.

Caught off guard, he hunched over in pain as beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Nan Zhi was startled by this sudden turn of events.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Nan Zhi’s eyes swept over him and saw that his hand was pressed against his stomach.

"Is your stomach acting up again?"

Ever since they’d met, Lu Shixu had suffered from stomach problems for years.

He claimed it was because he was a picky eater as a child.

But Nan Zhi later discovered that he wasn’t a picky eater; he was simply anorexic.