After Xiang Zhengyun learned about the "cause and effect" of the matter, he let Xiang Yutang go, and didn't forget to give a few instructions: "Although Zhu Zhengchu is gay, you can't say it in public. You still have to leave some face for others. Do you understand?"
Xiang Yutang nodded. "Sure, sure, I got it."
Zheng Wanyin's birthday party was about to start, so the Zhu couple temporarily let Zhu Zhengchu off and went to greet the guests. Xiang Yutang didn't want to talk to so many people, especially didn't want to run into Zhu Zhengchu, so she went to the small garden alone to get some fresh air.
"Tangtang!" Zhu Zhengchu still couldn't help but follow her.
When Xiang Yutang heard his voice, she pretended not to hear and kept walking, trying to shake him off. Zhu Zhengchu caught up and walked beside her. His tone was a bit nervous. "Long time no see."
Xiang Yutang turned her head away without looking at him. "It would be better if we never saw each other again."
Zhu Zhengchu had seen all kinds of Xiang Yutang, but this cold and aloof one today was the first time.
"How have you been this year?" Zhu Zhengchu still didn't want to give up this chance to talk to her.
"Great. I'm doing really well with my boyfriend." Xiang Yutang deliberately wanted to provoke him.
Zhu Zhengchu clenched his fists. "You have a boyfriend? Ying Zikui?"
Xiang Yutang nodded. "Yeah. Didn't you say I was very suitable to be with him? We're in a great relationship now, and we're planning to get married next year."
Zhu Zhengchu felt as if something was blocking his chest and it was hard to breathe.
"If you have nothing else to do, please leave. I'm going back."
Zhu Zhengchu reached out and grabbed her hand. "Tangtang! I'm really sorry about what happened a year ago. I..."
Xiang Yutang turned around and interrupted him. "Actually, you don't have to apologize. Thanks to what happened a year ago, I was able to get out in time. Otherwise, I would still be kept in the dark by you until now. This is good. You go your own way, and I'll go mine. There's no need to contact each other in the future. Let go!"
Xiang Yutang didn't know why Zhu Zhengchu suddenly apologized, but she didn't want to listen to a single word. Now she didn't want to have anything to do with this person anymore.
Zhu Zhengchu still didn't want to let go. "Tangtang, can we find a place to talk?"
"Dad!" Xiang Yutang shouted at someone behind Zhu Zhengchu. Zhu Zhengchu thought Xiang Zhengyun had come back. He turned around to explain, but unexpectedly, he was tricked by Xiang Yutang.
Xiang Yutang ran all the way back to her family's car, started it, and drove away.
Zhu Zhengchu slapped on her car window outside, but Xiang Yutang still stared straight ahead and drove away directly.
She stepped on the accelerator and rushed out of Zhu Zhengchu's house. Xiang Yutang found a place to stop, leaned back on the seat, and called Zhuo Ziyu.
"Baby Tangtang, what are you doing? We have to attend an event tomorrow. You have to come back tonight." Zhuo Ziyu's voice was as gentle as ever.
Xiang Yutang choked for a moment, not knowing whether she should tell Zhuo Ziyu about Zhu Zhengchu.
"Tangtang? Are you listening?" Zhuo Ziyu asked again.
Something was not right. Usually when Xiang Yutang called, it was very noisy. Why was it so quiet today?
"Yeah, I'm listening. Someone just came to toast me. I just called to tell you that I'll go back tonight." Actually, thinking about it carefully, there was no need to let Zhuo Ziyu know about this. Besides herself, Zhuo Ziyu was also one of the people who got hurt at that time. There was no need to let everyone recall the bad memories again.
Zhuo Ziyu said, "Do you want me to pick you up tonight?"
"No, I can go back by myself."
Xiang Yutang chatted with Zhuo Ziyu for a few more words and then hung up.
—
Zhu Zhengchu didn't celebrate the birthday with everyone downstairs. He went back to his room alone and searched for the CP supertopic of him and Xiang Yutang.
The supertopic that was ranked first in popularity a year ago was now gone, not even a trace of it left.
It was said that after Xiang Yutang's background was exposed, the Xiang family said they didn't like her having such gossip outside, so they forcibly shut down all her CP supertopics.
But the CP supertopics of Xiang Yutang and Zhuo Ziyu, or Xiang Yutang and Ying Zikui were still high on the popularity list.
Zhu Zhengchu tightened his grip on his phone. His chest felt extremely sour, not knowing what else he could do.
Xiang Yutang's attitude today was very obvious. She didn't want to have any relationship with him. What else could he do?
By now, even if he didn't want to admit it, he couldn't lie to himself. He liked Xiang Yutang much more than he had imagined, and he had even long had the idea of spending his whole life with her. But why did he just realize it now? What on earth was he doing a year ago?
Zhu Zhengchu slammed the sofa hard. His mind was in a complete mess.
What should he do? Was there any way to get Xiang Yutang back to his side now?
—
At night, Xiang Yutang returned to the villa she bought with Zhuo Ziyu. Ying Zikui was also there, playing games with Zhuo Ziyu.
"Xiang Yutang's back. Go wash the dishes later." Ying Zikui casually ordered. He knew Xiang Yutang wouldn't do it, but he just wanted to tease her and wait for her to argue with him.
Unexpectedly, today, Xiang Yutang actually went!
Ying Zikui heard the sound of water coming from the kitchen and couldn't even focus on the game. He looked at Zhuo Ziyu in disbelief. Something was wrong. It was so wrong. What was going on!
Xiang Yutang did it purely out of guilt. Because she had spread the rumor that Ying Zikui was gay outside today, she felt a bit uneasy.
Ying Zikui said nervously, "Ziyu, did you see clearly just now? Is the person who came back really Xiang Yutang?"
Zhuo Ziyu nodded.
The two of them put down their phones and quietly walked to the kitchen together.
Xiang Yutang turned around and was almost scared to death by the two of them.
"What are you two doing! You scared me to death." Xiang Yutang trembled.
Zhuo Ziyu said worriedly, "Tangtang, what's wrong with you?"
Ying Zikui reached out to touch her forehead. "Are you running a fever?"
Xiang Yutang slapped his hand away. "Get out of here. I'm fine. Ziyu, help me get my phone and charge it. I'm going upstairs to take a shower."
Zhuo Ziyu took out the phone from her pocket and discussed with Ying Zikui while walking.
"Judging from her expression, it seems that nothing has happened. It's strange."
Just as the two of them were feeling confused, Xiang Yutang's phone rang. They took a look and saw that it was that overseas number.
After exchanging a look, Zhuo Ziyu pressed the answer button.
"Tangtang, it's me." Sure enough, Zhu Zhengchu's voice came from the other end.
Ying Zikui instinctively wanted to scold him, but Zhuo Ziyu grabbed him and made a gesture to be quiet.
"Tangtang, can we find some time to have a good talk?"
Ying Zikui took the phone. "No."
There was a moment of silence on Zhu Zhengchu's side. "Ying Zikui, why do you have her phone!"
"Funny. What's wrong with me having my girlfriend's phone?"不愧是发小, they even said annoying things in the same way.