Deep Affection Temptation

Chapter 5: No Debts Owed

Old Liu stammered, unable to answer.

The couple’s discord made it difficult for those beneath them. They were uncertain whether to report Zhou Yanjing’s whereabouts to her. Offending the boss was out of the question, but the lady of the house was no less formidable. Their quarrel could turn to reconciliation overnight, only to bring trouble upon them later.

After much deliberation, he cautiously replied, "The second young master has been busy with company affairs these past few days."

Quite adept at evading the main issue.

Lin Yuxi saw through him immediately, "So he’s been staying at the company?"

"This..." Old Liu was sweating profusely, "That’s not the case."

"Don’t worry about it," Lin Yuxi said, continuing to drink her soup, "You may go."

Old Liu wasted no time in leaving swiftly.

Later that afternoon, Lin Yuxi tried calling Zhou Yanjing again, only to have his assistant answer.

"Madam, are you looking for Mr. Zhou?"

Lin Yuxi asked, "Can you have Zhou Yanjing take the call?"

"Mr. Zhou is busy," the assistant, Yang Kang, replied politely. "You know, Mr. Zhou just returned to the country and has many matters to attend to at Boyu. If it's urgent, I can relay a message for you."

A matter like divorce needed to be discussed in person; what could an assistant convey?

Losing patience, Lin Yuxi retorted, "Then tell him, with all his busyness, he should beware of sudden death."

"…"

"Before he dies, he should return my call."

"…"

After hanging up, Yang Kang glanced at the man signing documents at his desk, uncertain whether to convey the exact message.

Zhou Yanjing had indeed been extremely busy these days. With Boyu Investment’s focus shifting domestically and headquarters moving from Wall Street to Lincheng, the paperwork alone took days to organize.

Having completed a tall stack of files, Zhou Yanjing capped his pen, leaned back in his chair, took a sip of coffee, and asked, "What did she say?"

Yang Kang gave a simplified version, "Madam asked you to take care of your health and not to overwork."

Zhou Yanjing raised an eyebrow slightly, then glanced out the window.

Boyu's new office was right next to the Zhou Group headquarters. Towering silver-grey skyscrapers stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a grand and imposing modern business district. The glass curtain walls reflected the dazzling midday sunlight.

Zhou Yanjing chuckled, swiveling his chair ninety degrees to face the floor-to-ceiling window, and sipped his coffee leisurely.

"The sun hasn’t risen in the west today either."

Lin Yuxi, unsure whether Yang Kang had conveyed her message, saw no change. Zhou Yanjing continued to be unreachable, both by phone and at home.

With one party remaining unseen, the other, Ling Yaqiong, called to urge progress.

"How's the talk with Yanjing going?"

Having another patient to see in the afternoon, Lin Yuxi hastily ate some bread, "He's been busy, and we haven’t discussed it yet."

She could almost see Ling Yaqiong's frown. "Yuxi, are you deliberately stalling?"

"No," Lin Yuxi replied.

Ling Yaqiong sternly said, "If you keep delaying, it will only torment each other. Do you hate us so much?"

"I don’t," Lin Yuxi felt weary.

"Have we ever treated you unfairly? I watched you grow up, don’t make me the villain in the end; it will only look bad on you."

"We’ve already wronged Yanjing for three years. Do you know how I feel watching my son stay in America for years, not returning home because of you?"

Lin Yuxi never knew why Zhou Yanjing suddenly decided to go to America.

They said he went to pursue Jiang Nan, blaming her for not keeping her husband’s heart.

They said he didn’t want to see her, blaming her for being insufferable.

In any case, it was her fault.

All the grievances Ling Yaqiong had harbored over the years poured out, "If not for his grandmother’s meddling, I’d never have allowed this marriage. Yanjing deserves a better wife!"

It felt like her heart was being gouged repeatedly. Lin Yuxi felt no pain, only a bloody numbness.

Clenching her fists, she said, "This marriage wasn’t my wish either. Don’t forget, it was your family that needed me."

The other end of the line was silent for a moment. Ling Yaqiong's tone softened slightly, though still condescending:

"I know. You helped our Zhou family, and we won’t shortchange you. You’ll get every penny you deserve."

"When you divorce Yanjing, this matter will be settled, and we’ll owe each other nothing."

What a notion—owing each other nothing.

After hanging up, Lin Yuxi slumped in her chair.

It was late autumn, and the leaves of the Metasequoia forest had nearly all fallen, leaving only a few withered remnants clinging to the bare branches.

A new trainee knocked on the door, "Dr. Lin, it’s almost one o’clock. Are you ready?"

Lin Yuxi took a deep breath and straightened up, "Yes, I’m ready."

...

"That old witch said what? Owing each other nothing, my foot!"

Before work ended, Lin Yuxi received a call from Yu Jiaxiao. Sensing her low spirits, Yu Jiaxiao pressed for details about the noon call and was furious.

"They owe you so much! What’s so pitiable about the Zhou family? If they felt wronged, they shouldn’t have gotten involved with you in the first place! Ask them if their precious Jiang Nan feels wronged!"

Lin Yuxi nearly spat out her water, glancing around to ensure no one was in the break room.

As she refilled her water bottle, she said, "Ms. Yu, please mind your language. I’m at the hospital."

"So what? We’re all the same race here. It's in our DNA!"

Yu Jiaxiao hadn’t finished ranting, "You’ve never felt wronged, and yet he’s the one feeling aggrieved? After your marriage, hasn’t he been living it up, flaunting his affair with that Jiang Nan, making you a laughingstock? Even a housemaid dares to look down on you!"

"You gave up three prime years of your youth and got what? Everyone’s ridicule and a manipulated relationship!"

A true friend, piercing straight to the heart.

Lin Yuxi sighed, "Would you mind if we didn’t speak for five hundred years?"

"Please, no," Yu Jiaxiao quickly backpedaled from her impassioned tirade, "I’ll come get you after work and treat you to a feast!"

"Your feast is probably more about drinking."

Yu Jiaxiao chuckled, "You know me too well."

Despite her mediocre alcohol tolerance, Yu Jiaxiao loved to drink, citing work stress and the joy of alcohol. Whenever she invited Lin Yuxi for a feast, it always ended up at a bar.

As Lin Yuxi stepped out of the hospital, Yu Jiaxiao’s car was already parked by the roadside. She leaned out the window, waving.

Lin Yuxi got into the car, habitually taking out hand sanitizer. Yu Jiaxiao, well-trained, extended her hands for disinfecting.

"The new bar has a couple's discount today—half off!"

The word "discount" was her Achilles' heel, and "half off" was irresistible. She couldn't pass by.

Lin Yuxi said, "But we’re not a couple."

"Why are you so honest?" Yu Jiaxiao wrapped an arm around her, "They don’t know that. People are so open-minded now. If needed, we could even kiss for show!"

Lin Yuxi declined, "I’ll pass, thanks."

"Refusal is futile. You’re married, but I’m still a maiden, so I’m the one making the bigger sacrifice."

Getting into the bar was easier than Lin Yuxi had anticipated. Yu Jiaxiao, clearly missing a filter, grabbed her waist and tilted her head at the security guard, "See? I’m the T."

Lin Yuxi was speechless.

Trying to cheer her up, Yu Jiaxiao ordered a plethora of food and the most expensive drinks she usually wouldn’t splurge on.

The bar was high-end, with a pleasant atmosphere and tasty snacks, but it was unusually crowded tonight. The booming music was both exhilarating and deafening.

Yu Jiaxiao, a social media spider, always up to date on gossip, asked, "Do you think your husband is back to fight for the family inheritance?"