Chapter 6

An hour later, a variety of handsome men in uniforms walked in.

I finally understood what she meant by her earlier words. Feeling a headache coming on, I waved them all out.

“What are you doing?”

“Just having some fun,” she said, winking mischievously. “Relax, this place is very private. Lots of people from the industry come here to hang out. We’re just having drinks, nothing more.”

I sighed, “Really, there’s no need. Just the two of us having a drink is fine.”

Zhou Ru’s face turned serious, her eyes scanning me from top to bottom like X-rays.

It made my scalp tingle.

Zhou Ru: “You’re not thinking of staying with Shen Yuxiu, are you? After all these years, he hasn’t even considered marrying you and now he’s off to form a business alliance. Weiwei, I wouldn’t blame you for being a mistress, but you’re a star. If this gets exposed, it’s no joke!”

Her reasoning warmed my heart and made me laugh. She wasn’t against me being a mistress; she was just worried I’d get cyberbullied.

I had never told her the true nature of my relationship with Shen Yuxiu. It would only add to her worries, and since it was all over now, I decided to come clean.

Zhou Ru gritted her teeth: “What a scumbag! Does having power and influence make him so great? Isn’t this just deceiving you under the guise of a relationship?”

“Don’t say that.”

“You’re still defending him!”

“I’m not losing out. Shen Yuxiu is handsome, has no scandals, is generous, and hasn’t treated me poorly in the slightest over the years.”

Zhou Ru tilted her head and laughed, “True, men like Shen Yuxiu are hard to sleep with even if you pay. You’re really open-minded. Cheers!”

Her drinking capacity was terrible, her skills lacking, but her enthusiasm was high. Halfway through, she started rambling nonsense.

“Not getting married is fine, boohoo. I only agreed to his proposal on impulse. Now I’ll be stuck with him forever.”

I shook my head, “You better not say that in front of Old Guo, or he’ll leave home again.”

Speak of the devil.

Old Guo called my phone: “Song Zhiwei, is Zhou Ru with you again?”

I was relieved I hadn’t listened to Zhou Ru and invited those handsome men to drink with us. Otherwise, it would have sparked World War III.

Half an hour later, Old Guo came to pick up Zhou Ru. His face was darker than the soles of his shoes, but he still politely offered to drive me home first.

Not wanting to be a third wheel, I declined.

I had driven here and had already called for a driver.

As I stepped out of the private room, I bumped into one of Shen Yuxiu’s friends.

He grabbed my hand, “Sister-in-law, you’re here to pick up Yuxiu, right? Have you two been fighting these past few days? Yuxiu’s been sulking and dragging us out drinking every day. Please make up soon, or I’ll end up with a bleeding stomach from all this drinking!”

He didn’t even give me a chance to respond before dragging me to their private room.

“Sister-in-law is here!”

Several people in the room had been at my birthday party.

Regardless of what they might say about me behind my back, they were all exceedingly warm and welcoming in person.

“Sister-in-law, when you and Yuxiu fight, we suffer.”

“Yeah, whatever it is, talk it out. I’ve been drinking with Yuxiu every day, and my girlfriend’s already complained multiple times.”

Shen Yuxiu was slouched on the sofa, his brows furrowed, eyes closed, looking exhausted.

When he was drunk, he was always unusually docile, so much so that he seemed unlike himself, letting others do as they pleased.

I leaned closer to him, softly calling his name, “Shen Yuxiu, do you want to go home?”

He reeked of alcohol and mumbled, “Hmm.”

I doubted he even knew who I was, half his body leaning heavily against mine.

Those so-called friends sat there, not one of them offering to help.

Unbelievable.

Gritting my teeth, I dragged him out. At the door, Shen Yuxiu’s forehead brushed against my face.

I froze, about to pull away, when I heard him murmur, “Ming Rao…”

I stopped in my tracks, a wave of exhaustion washing over me.

Shen Yuxiu’s phone rang. I fished it out of his pocket.

Ming Rao…

I stared at the screen for a long moment. When she called again, I answered.

Ming Rao said, “Yuxiu, I want to go to the art exhibition tomorrow. Will you come with me?”

Lowering my voice, I replied, “Miss Ming, Shen Yuxiu is drunk. Could you come pick him up?”

She paused briefly before asking calmly, “Where?”

I gave her the address.

After hanging up, I put the phone back and leaned him against the roadside railing.

The dim light fell on his face, flawless and undeniably blessed.

They must have been spending time together these past few days. Where would Shen Yuxiu take her? What would they do?

Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with me, right?

A black Mercedes pulled up by the curb. Ming Rao stepped out, poised and elegant, standing in front of me. “Hello, Song Zhiwei. I’ll take Yuxiu from here.”

Together, we helped Shen Yuxiu into the car.

Ming Rao acted as if she were unaware of my relationship with Shen Yuxiu, her demeanor natural. “Would you like me to drive you home?”

“No need, I’ve called for a driver.”

She smiled faintly, “That’s good. Miss Song, I know about you and Yuxiu. But we’re about to get engaged. Yuxiu might be too sentimental to say it, so I’m saying it for him. I don’t hold your past against you, but it’s best if you don’t see each other anymore. It avoids misunderstandings and is better for both of us.”

Ming Rao’s straightforwardness left me standing there, head bowed, making her seem like the radiant moon in the sky, while I was merely a fleeting, insignificant cloud.

I exhaled softly, “I understand. Don’t worry.”