Chapter 4: Long Time No See

“This is all my fault.”

If she had not opposed Yu Siting’s relationship with Zhao Xue’er so fiercely, perhaps he would already have seen the woman’s true nature.

Yan Xi bit her lip. Her nose stung, and all the hurt she had endured seemed to rise at once.

She held her breath, forced back her tears, and smiled.

“It isn’t your fault, Grandma. Siting and I just weren’t meant for each other.”

They had been married for three years. Even an iceberg might have thawed a little in that time, yet Yu Siting still had not fallen in love with her. There was no one to blame.

Grandma Yu held her hand tightly.

“My dear, one day Siting will realize you’re the one who truly cares for him.”

“As long as I’m here, you will always be his wife and the lady of this family.”

Her solemn promise touched Yan Xi deeply. Even if her marriage could not last much longer, it had given her a grandmother who sincerely loved her.

Perhaps that meant it had not been entirely without consolation.

Yan Xi stayed until Grandma Yu fell asleep.

She closed the ward door softly behind her, then noticed Yu Siting sitting outside.

Their eyes met. She immediately looked away.

“Grandma’s asleep. Go home. I’ll stay with her.”

A servant spoke at once.

“You should both go home and rest. I’ll look after Madam. You both have work tomorrow, and you have patients to operate on, Mrs. Yu. You can’t afford any mistakes. You need your rest.”

Yan Xi was about to answer when Yu Siting rose. He glanced at her coldly.

“I’ll take you home.”

She wanted to refuse, but he had already walked past her, his face set.

Biting her lip, she followed him out of the hospital.

From the reflection in the windows, he could see her walking behind him with her head bowed. There was something inexplicably forlorn about her.

Neither spoke on the way.

As soon as the car stopped at their home, Yan Xi opened the door and got out. Her steps were much quicker than before.

Yu Siting frowned. The words on his lips went unsaid, his eyes darkening.

“Drive.”

Yan Xi watched the car leave without trying to stop him. They would divorce sooner or later. If he refused to help Yan Group, she would have to find another way.

And there was the baby. She rested a hand lightly over her stomach. She did not know how much longer she could hide it.

Long after the car had left, Yu Siting still saw her stricken face when he refused her condition for the divorce. Irritation stirred in him. He tugged at his tie, his gaze turning sharp.

“Find out which companies have broken their contracts with Yan Group.”

The assistant in the front seat was briefly stunned. For a moment, he thought he had misheard. He glanced at the expressionless man in the rearview mirror, then quickly answered, “Yes, sir.”

Once again, Yu Siting did not come home that night.

The next morning, Yan Xi rose early to make plain rice porridge for Grandma Yu.

Carrying the food container into the hospital, she came face-to-face with an exhausted Yu Siting on his way out.

He was still wearing last night’s suit, his handsome face drawn with fatigue.

Had he actually spent the whole night here with his grandmother?

Surprised, Yan Xi pressed her lips together and stepped toward him. Before she could greet him, a clear male voice called out in delighted recognition.

“Yan Xi?”

She turned, unable to hide her surprise and pleasure.

“Xicheng?!”

Her initial uncertainty vanished. The man nearby was Qin Xicheng, her childhood friend, who had emigrated with his family years ago.

“Long time no see.”

Her eyes warmed as she walked toward him.

He hurried forward too, opened his arms, and pulled her into a big hug. He did not let go for a long time.

“It has been a while. Did you miss me while I was away?”

The sudden embrace caught her off guard. She was not quite comfortable with it.

Then she remembered his years abroad. To him, a simple hug was probably no different from a handshake, merely a greeting.

Almost at once, her eyes searched for Yu Siting. She wanted to explain.

He looked up to see another man drawing her into his arms. His steps slowed, his expression icy. When Yan Xi did not struggle, his gaze grew colder still.

He looked away and strode off.

Watching him head straight out of the hospital without another glance, Yan Xi felt her spirits sink.

“Of course,” she answered Qin Xicheng softly, weariness creeping into her voice.

She missed more than him. She missed the days before he had emigrated.

Back then, she had not met Yu Siting or fallen in love. Everything had been lovely and free of worries.

After all these years, Qin Xicheng still looked bright and carefree. Lately, she felt worn down.

She stepped back out of his arms.

At the sudden emptiness, he raised his eyebrows.

Smiling, she changed the subject.

“Are you not feeling well?”

He shook his head, watching her closely.

“I came especially to see you.”

She looked puzzled, her gaze instinctively searching for Yu Siting again.

Qin Xicheng laughed, his voice gentle.

“You cried your eyes out when I left. I thought I ought to see you first thing when I came back.”

“I happen to need a physical, so I booked an appointment with you.”

Yan Xi pressed her lips together. The Qin family had lived next door to hers. She and Qin Xicheng had grown up together, then been separated in high school. Of course she had hated to see him leave. She had been sad for a long time afterward, but it had nothing to do with romantic love.

She caught sight of Yu Siting’s receding back. He seemed to be telling her he had no interest in what she and another man had to say.

Outside, his driver had arrived and stopped the car in front of him.

He got in without pausing.

After three years of marriage, hardly anyone knew about them. He must have left in such a hurry because he had not wanted her to approach and greet him.

He had never wanted their relationship made public.

Yan Xi looked down at the container she still had not delivered. When she looked up at Qin Xicheng, she was smiling again, her sadness put away.

“I need to take this to someone. Wait in my office. I’ll be right back to examine you.”

He nodded, watched her leave, then looked in the direction Yu Siting’s car had gone.

Outside the hospital, Yu Siting got into the car with a cold expression. His inexplicable agitation made every bit of his displeasure plain.

His assistant, at the wheel in front of him, had never seen him look so grim. He hardly dared breathe.

Realizing he had lost his composure, Yu Siting’s dark eyes deepened. Once calm again, he asked indifferently, “Have you found out what I asked you to investigate yesterday?”