Meng Xiang left with Yan Hechuan.
Xia Liuyue returned primarily for the five percent of shares her mother-in-law had promised; she needed to keep an eye on that guy Du Jiashu to make sure he didn't skip town tomorrow.
So, when she returned to the villa close to 3 a.m.,
she found the interior brightly lit.
Du Jiashu was sitting on the sofa with his arms crossed, waiting for her to come home.
His posture was like that of a resentful wife waiting for a husband who was out socializing late into the night.
"You finally decided to come back," he said, a hint of resentment in his tone.
Xia Liuyue responded nonchalantly, "Yes, my brothers can really hold their liquor, we were having a great conversation and fun, so it went on a bit longer."
Du Jiashu, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up upon hearing this.
He repeated in disbelief, "Brothers? More than one man?"
Xia Liuyue nodded.
"Yes, weren't there always several guys when you used to have brother gatherings before?"
"What's the big deal?!"
Du Jiashu sat back down on the sofa, took a deep breath, and said, "Xia Liuyue! Hiring male escorts is one thing, but you actually hired several at once?"
Xia Liuyue wasn't flustered at all; she even proactively walked over and sat down beside him.
"I didn't hire any escorts, they're all good brothers."
"Oh, and they're free," she emphasized the last few words, then gave an example: "Just like when Tang Yinyao calls you, they come running whenever she wants."
Wasn't that being a lapdog?!
Du Jiashu almost blurted it out.
He certainly knew that following Tang Yinyao around before was equivalent to being a lapdog, but the term wasn't pleasant, and he didn't want to admit it.
So, he vaguely used the phrase "good brothers" instead.
Du Jiashu grew wary, his expression turning stern. "Your suitors? Do they know you're married, that you're a married woman?"
Xia Liuyue retorted sarcastically:
"And did Tang Yinyao know you were a married man? Didn't she still hang out with you?"
"Du Jiashu, don't be such a hypocrite."
"I'm tired, going upstairs to sleep. Oh, by the way, I've already moved your things to the guest room. You sleep there."
She walked up the stairs while yawning. Du Jiashu couldn't stay seated either and quickly trotted after her.
When they reached the door of the master bedroom, Xia Liuyue stopped.
She looked at him with a puzzled and confused expression.
"What? Don't tell me you're planning to sleep with me tonight?"
"Did you forget what you said before? That you would preserve your chastity for Tang Yinyao, and told me not to have any wishful thinking."
"That one time when you were drunk was an accident, and you'd rather die than touch me."
These were all things Du Jiashu had said in a fit of anger.
Of course, he remembered them all.
And from beginning to end, the one he liked was Yaoyao; how could he possibly develop feelings for a woman like Xia Liuyue?
It was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, sobering him up considerably.
Du Jiashu took a step back. "Don't worry, I won't touch you."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Even he himself didn't understand why he had stayed up all night waiting in the living room for Xia Liuyue to return.
...
That night,
Xia Liuyue slept soundly and woke up refreshed.
Regardless of the turmoil in Du Jiashu's heart, she dragged him to the Du Corporation the next day to notarize the transfer.
In front of the lawyer, after confirming that the five percent of shares had indeed been transferred into her name, she contentedly placed the share transfer documents into her large envelope clutch.
"Lawyer Zhang, would you like to have lunch together?" Xia Liuyue asked with a bright smile.
This lawyer was a long-term partner of the Du Corporation, also a young talent who had returned from overseas.
He was two years younger than Du Jiashu, with gentle features and an elite, capable air about him.
Lawyer Zhang hadn't expected this. Meeting her beautiful, seemingly eloquent almond-shaped eyes, a faint blush crossed his face. His lips moved as he was about to respond,
but was swiftly interrupted by Du Jiashu:
"Lawyer Zhang has other matters this afternoon. Honey, let's have lunch together."
This was the first time he had called Xia Liuyue "honey" in front of someone else.
It was even more cringe-inducing than imagined.
Disgustingly so.
Xia Liuyue picked up her bag, showing a regretful expression to Lawyer Zhang. "Alright then. Next time you're free, I'll treat you to a meal. Let's exchange contact info first."
She took out her phone.
Du Jiashu stepped between her and Lawyer Zhang, saying to the lawyer:
"Lawyer Zhang, my wife and I have some things to discuss. Sorry for the trouble."
Lawyer Zhang keenly sensed the subtle dynamics between the couple in this arranged marriage.
Without saying more, he left first.
Only the two of them remained in the conference room.
Xia Liuyue looked somewhat impatiently at the man before her.
"What is it?"
"I just wanted Lawyer Zhang's contact for future consultations regarding the shares."
"Is there a need to interfere with my personal decisions?"
Du Jiashu's gaze wandered uncertainly over her face.
Why was it that such a stunningly beautiful, peach-blossom-like face was always so cold and indifferent towards him?
"You think I don't know what you're trying to do?"
"Xia Liuyue, you're planning to get back at me."
Xia Liuyue scoffed.
"Du Jiashu, stop pretending to be some righteous figure now."
You were the one who first told me not to have any wishful thinking, that ours is just a business marriage, without any feelings or affection.
"That I'm just a pretty ornament you keep at the Du residence, a wife you can take out for social events."
"Since that's the case, you have no right to interfere with my normal social life."
Du Jiashu took a deep breath. "Who is it?"
"What?"
"Who is that friend of yours?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"I genuinely want to reconcile with you."
"Then you don't like Yaoyao anymore?" Xia Liuyue delivered the fatal blow.
Du Jiashu fell silent.
Xia Liuyue rolled her eyes. "See, men are all like this. You want to have your cake and eat it too. Why should all the benefits go to you?"
With that, she took a long stride, walked past him, pushed open the transparent glass door of the conference room,
and left without looking back.
Leaving Du Jiashu alone in the conference room, sinking into silence.
At this moment, even he himself didn't understand why he cared so much.
Clearly, the one he liked was Yaoyao.
Always had been, since they were kids.
So why did it make his heart ache sourly to know that other men were pursuing Xia Liuyue, and that Xia Liuyue was close with other men?
"Ring ring ring—"
His phone rang again.
Du Jiashu somewhat numbly answered the call. The caller was Tang Yinyao.
Normally, he should have been happy.
But now, for some reason, his feelings were a bit complicated.
After three seconds of silence, he still pressed the answer button.
"Hello, Yaoyao."
"Brother Jiashu, are you busy? Is sister-in-law there?" Tang Yinyao seemed to bring up the topic unintentionally.
"Not busy, and Xia Liuyue isn't here," Du Jiashu answered truthfully.
The voice on the other end of the line couldn't help but become a bit lighter, with a cheerful tone:
"Oh! Do you remember that thing before I went abroad, when our lab was short on equipment? I originally asked sister-in-law for help, but it didn't work out?"
