Chapter 22
1757 Words
An Angel Falling from the Sky
Fu Shuyang pressed his lips together, hesitating to speak.
Xu Mei had been prepared to fall flat on her butt, but to her surprise, someone caught her. Instinctively, she clung to the nearest source of security—Fu Shuyang’s neck.
It was an entirely subconscious act. Only after holding on did she realize the pose was rather ambiguous. Staring at the devastatingly handsome face mere inches away, she froze.
The person in her arms was light and soft. Her own face was clearly reflected in his bright, clear eyes. Fu Shuyang’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as he said in a calm voice, “Can you get down now?”
“Ah…” Xu Mei quickly let go and jumped to the ground, turning away to avoid looking at his expression. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Fu Shuyang stuck his hands in his pockets. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you,” Xu Mei said, remembering her mission and brushing off her embarrassment. “We couldn’t reach you by phone, and you weren’t replying to messages. Everyone was worried. They sent me to check on you. Where have you been?”
Fu Shuyang lifted his gaze toward the tall iron gate. He seemed about to say something, his lips moving—but no words came out.
Xu Mei could tell he was in a bad mood and had expected him to be resistant, so she wasn’t surprised by his indifference.
As her eyes shifted, she saw the shattered wine bottle—and only then did she realize the air reeked of alcohol.
So he’d been drinking again.
In the original novel, the villain only sipped red wine occasionally to show off. Why did the real Fu Shuyang drink so much?
Xu Mei didn’t like seeing him drink. Every time he did, it reminded her of their first meeting—that night in the rain when he stood there with death written all over him.
Back then, she hadn’t understood. Now, she did. The death in him came from the heart.
His heart was already dead, which meant he truly had no will to live.
There is no sorrow greater than a dead heart.
But what could possibly revive a heart that’s already died?
Raindrops began falling, landing on the back of Xu Mei’s hand.
“It’s raining,” she looked up, then at Fu Shuyang. “Let’s talk inside, okay?”
He hadn’t intended to invite her in, but summer rain shows no mercy—it started pouring without warning. Helpless, he opened the door.
At the doorway, Xu Mei paused, eyeing the spotless floor.
Even in a bad mood, he kept his house immaculate. Was he a clean freak?
Still, the fact that he cared about something—anything—meant his heart wasn’t completely dead. That was a good sign.
“Do you have slippers?” She didn’t want to dirty the floor.
Fu Shuyang bent down and found two pairs. After a moment’s hesitation, he handed her the larger pair. “No women’s sizes.”
Xu Mei didn’t notice the detail. She just thought—aren’t these way too big?
Slipping them on felt like stepping into two boats.
Fu Shuyang looked down, lashes fluttering slightly. “You don’t have to change.”
“It’s fine,” Xu Mei said bravely, clomping toward the sofa in her oversized footwear.
Clomp. Clomp. Clomp-clomp. Clomp. Clomp-clomp-clomp…
Fu Shuyang rubbed his nose with a fist, then turned toward the bathroom.
Two minutes later, he returned with water droplets still clinging to his nose, just in time to hear Xu Mei talking on the phone—mentioning “drinking.”
“I was just updating Brother Chu,” she said quickly after hanging up. “Everyone’s worried about you.”
Fu Shuyang didn’t pursue the topic. “Want something to drink?”
“No, just plain water?” She hadn’t had a drop all day—not since leaving the dorm. After running around and talking so much, she suddenly realized how parched she was.
Fu Shuyang didn’t have a water dispenser, so he boiled water in a kettle.
Xu Mei watched the boiling water thirstily. Too hot to gulp, she sipped a little—and tasted a surprising sweetness. Honey?
She looked up to see Fu Shuyang standing a distance away with a cold beer in hand, clearly keeping his distance.
“Your phone’s over there,” she pointed to the coffee table.
No wonder no one could reach him. He hadn’t taken it with him.
“Oh,” he said blandly. “Forgot it.”
Xu Mei took another sip. Yes, there was definitely honey in it.
Maybe it was just hospitality—but it made her feel oddly cherished. Her confidence surged.
“You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”
Fu Shuyang raised his eyes but said nothing.
“You didn’t want to answer Brother Chu’s calls. So you left your phone behind on purpose, right?” She stared him down.
His fingers twitched around the beer can. “I’m fine. Thank you for coming. I’ll take you home.”
“I didn’t bring keys or a bag. I’ve got nowhere to go,” Xu Mei clung to a pillow.
Fu Shuyang: “…”
She realized how pushy she was being—but still pushed ahead. “Stop avoiding this. Sit down. Let’s talk.”
He pinched his nose bridge, brows furrowing slightly.
“Are we really going to sit here all night in silence?” Xu Mei pressed on.
Eventually, Fu Shuyang sat down. “Go on.”
“I know everything,” Xu Mei began bluntly. “About you and that bastard Jin.”
His lips pressed into a line, eyes darkening. After a pause, he responded with a quiet “Mm,” not seeming surprised.
“Jin’s a scumbag. A total creep…” She grew more direct. “He’s the one who should be kicked out of school. Why are you the one quitting?”
Fu Shuyang lowered his gaze. “I just don’t want to study anymore.”
“I don’t believe you. He’s forcing you, right? He’s afraid the truth will get out…”
She suddenly remembered. “That shady guy who spied on your house over summer—Jin sent him, didn’t he?”
She was getting worked up. “You didn’t fall apart, and that made him nervous. So he forced you out!”
Fu Shuyang hadn’t expected her to connect the dots so quickly, but he still denied it. “No.”
“Impossible. You’re a top student. Why would you suddenly quit school?” she leaned forward. “Don’t worry. Even if he has connections, he’s not untouchable. I… we’ll figure it out. We’ll expose him and clear your name.”
Fu Shuyang leaned back. “And how exactly will you do that?”
Xu Mei had no idea. The original novel didn’t include university politics.
She blurted out the only thing she could think of: “Call the police.”
Surely the police could uncover the truth.
Fu Shuyang gave a short laugh, but his tone softened. “Thank you. But I really don’t want to study anymore. Go home. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I already had your withdrawal application revoked,” she admitted. “And we’re trying to get you reassigned to another advisor…”
Fu Shuyang’s eyes darkened dangerously. Xu Mei stopped mid-sentence.
She suddenly realized—this approach, no matter how well-intentioned, was no different from what Xu Lang had done to him.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made decisions for you.” She sat down again. “Just… give me a chance, okay?”
Fu Shuyang’s heart softened at the word “senior.” He saw the determination in her eyes, the glow of conviction. “What kind of chance?”
“One month,” she said eagerly. “Give me one month to clear your name. Then—please don’t quit school.”
In the original novel, Fu Shuyang’s villain arc began with the Jin Mu incident.
No one ever found out the truth. Even when he died, he carried the label of a traitor.
Xu Mei had her own obsession with college and diplomas. She wanted him to finish school—even though he’d go on to become incredibly wealthy without a graduate degree.
But even putting that aside, if this was the turning point in his life, she had to do something.
She wasn’t sure what would change the ending—but the first step was doing something differently.
In the book, he dropped out. So now, she’d make sure he didn’t.
In the book, no one learned about Jin Mu’s crimes. So now, she’d expose him.
“And if you can’t do it?” Fu Shuyang couldn’t help but ask.
“Then I’ll never bring up school again,” she said firmly.
He raised an eyebrow, about to speak, but she added, “Actually, even if the truth comes out—you’ll still have a choice. Quit if you want to. I won’t interfere. Just give me one month. Don’t drop out during that time. Please?”
She was asking so humbly, he couldn’t refuse. “Okay.”
Xu Mei breathed a sigh of relief and downed her water in one gulp.
“Then it’s settled. You…”
“I’ll cancel the withdrawal and take a month off on medical leave,” he interrupted. “Sound good?”
She nodded eagerly. “Perfect.”
Though she’d stabilized him for now, Xu Mei was still anxious.
If even the future billionaire Fu Shuyang couldn’t clear his name, how could she?
Still—she’d try.
You never know unless you try.
And if it failed, she’d find another way.
“I’ll head back now,” she said, planning to review the plot again for a breakthrough.
She clomped toward the door in her clownishly large slippers—then froze.
She’d forgotten her keys.
There were hotels nearby, but they were expensive.
Her living expenses were already tight. The cab ride alone had busted her budget.
Fu Shuyang was still on the couch, arms crossed, watching her calmly.
She clomped back. “Um, senior… I really didn’t bring my keys. Can you… let me stay the night?”
He raised a brow. “You’re not afraid of me?”
Xu Mei straightened her back. “No. You’re a good person.”
- Writer
