Chapter 079　 If there’s an opportunity, I’m definitely going to take a shot at it.

  *

  "Have you reached him yet?"

  Su Xian gestured for him to sit on the sofa and handed him the water. "No. He left his phone here, along with his bank cards and the credit card sub-card. His mother won't answer my calls either." The more she spoke, the more aggrieved and angrier she became.

  "Did you check the credit card spending records?"

  "I haven't had the chance yet." She immediately opened her phone and realized she had received a transaction notification at 11:00 AM that she hadn't noticed. The record showed a purchase from ANA, but there was no detailed description.

  Zhao Nanfeng immediately checked flight information. There was only one ANA flight to Dalian every day, and it had landed an hour ago. "I'll have Old Zhang go to his house to find him and have him talk to you."

  "Don't. What if Old Zhang asks questions? I don't want one more person to know about the abortion."

  "Do you know his phone number back home?"

  "He deactivated it before coming to Japan."

  "Then keep trying his mother."

  "If his mother knew I got rid of her grandchild, she’d hate me even more than he does."

  "Then what? Are you just going to give up?"

  "I'll message Li Xiao. Even if she doesn't take my calls, she’ll tell Li Chengshi. As long as he knows I’m trying to reach him, it’s enough. He’s in a fit of rage right now. I’ll try again in a few days once the initial heat has died down."

  "Aren't you going back to find him?" Zhao asked. As long as the two of them met, it would only take a few words for them to realize he was the one behind the scenes.

  "Is there any point? Find him just to tell him I can get pregnant again right away and have a baby for him? No, I don't want that."

  Zhao Nanfeng was temporarily relieved and hurried to comfort her. "It's not your fault." He glanced toward the kitchen and pointed at the takeout boxes on the table. "Is that dinner?"

  "Yes."

  "I'm hungry. Can I eat?"

  "Go ahead."

  *

  Zhao Nanfeng took out the food, heated up what needed heating, and then called Su Xian over to eat.

  "No appetite."

  "Eat a little even if you don't feel like it. I see you bought things that are easy to digest. Be good—come on, just a few bites."

  "I said I'm not eating!" She was so stifled she felt like she might vomit; how could she eat? She lay back down on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, her mind a chaotic mess that felt empty at the same time.

  "If you don't eat, will you be able to work tomorrow?"

  "Yes!"

  "Alright then." After eating, he asked, "Do you want me to stay and keep you company?"

  "You've had your fill, now leave. Don't add to my trouble."

  "Ok." He put the untouched food back in the fridge, organized the trash, and came over to the sofa. He knelt down and whispered, "I'm leaving then. Get some sleep early. Call me anytime if you need anything."

  *

  Later, she somehow fell asleep curled up on the sofa without eating or washing up. At five in the morning, she jolted awake and immediately grabbed her phone. No messages.

  You little bastard, you're truly heartless.

  Su Xian’s heart sank further.

  She sighed and thought gloomily: If he firmly chooses to break up, then so be it. At her age, the accidental pregnancy and abortion were miserable enough; she didn't need to endure mental torture on top of it. It really wasn't worth it.

  Feeling hungry, she heated up last night's leftovers and ate, then took a hot bath to regain some vitality.

  She hadn't even returned to the bedroom last night. Only now did she realize that before leaving, he had made the bed—but he had thrown his own pillow onto the chair by the window.

  Childish.

  She walked over, picked up the pillow, and put it back on the bed. Then, after a thought, she threw it back onto the chair.

  She paced around slowly, checking the wardrobe. He had only taken the clothes he bought himself. She checked the study; he hadn't taken the books she bought for him. Checking the shoe rack, he had only worn one pair of sneakers out. When she went out to the mailbox, she found his keys. He must have left them there specifically after locking the door. Hanging from them was the Rukawa Kaede keychain she had bought for him.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Oh, so you're being "noble" now?

  Stinky puppy, just wait and see how I punish you when you come back!

  But... would he ever come back?

  *

  While watching the morning news, she fell asleep again without realizing it. It wasn't until 7:40 AM that she sluggishly changed and headed out.

  Zhao Nanfeng’s car was parked at the entrance. "Morning."

  "What are you doing here?" Su Xian frowned.

  He shook a paper bag in his hand. "Brought you breakfast."

  "I ate."

  "That’s good. Seems your spirits have recovered well. Get in the car."

  "Why should I get in your car?"

  "You’ve been stressed and upset these past two days; you shouldn't drive yourself, it's unsafe. It’s no trouble for me to pick you up and drop you off."

  "Don't even start." Su Xian rejected him without hesitation. "Don't think I can't see what you're up to. Taking advantage of our breakup, pretending to be a 'nice guy' coming over time after time—aren't you just trying to swoop in while I'm vulnerable?"

  "If there’s an opportunity, I’m definitely going to take a shot at it."

  "Give up on that idea. Even if I break up with Li Chengshi, I won't go back to you. Cheaters never change."

  "They can!"

  Su Xian ignored him and walked straight ahead.

  "Where are you going?"

  "I'm taking the train."

  He followed in his car. "Fine, fine. I won't pester you. You can take the train back yourself after work tonight. But since I'm already here, just get in. Not getting in makes it look too intentional."

  Su Xian was still hesitant, but a car was coming from behind. The alley was narrow, and it had to stop to wait for them to move. She had no choice but to pull open the car door and sit in the back.

  **

  The more he tried to escape through sleep, the earlier he woke up. It was still dark outside. He turned on the light and looked at his watch: only 4:00 AM, which was 5:00 AM Japan time.

  Li Chengshi got up to use the bathroom, washed his face, and sat on the living room sofa in a daze.

  Li Xiao walked out of the bedroom with a coat over her shoulders. Seeing him in short sleeves, she went back in and brought out a small blanket to wrap him up. "It’s colder here than in Tokyo. Mind the warmth, or you'll catch a cold and get diarrhea again."

  He leaned against Li Xiao. "Mom, you're still the best."

  Li Xiao rubbed his hair. "Engineer Su tried to video call last night. You grabbed my phone and wouldn't let me answer, then even took out the SIM card. Can you give it back now? Mom has a social life, too."

  He went back to the bedroom, took out the SIM card, and handed it back to her. "Mom, why didn't you go on the Golden Week trip with Uncle Huang?"

  "He left for Japan today to see Xiao Huang, remember? I told you."

  "Oh." He remembered now. His mind had been too much of a mess lately.

  *

  Li Xiao inserted the card and turned on the phone. Seconds later, various messages popped up one after another.

  Li Chengshi leaned in to look, but there were no new messages from Su Xian.

  I knew it! That bad woman doesn't care at all. Right now, she must be happily doing business with Zhao Nanfeng. Sigh. He was just the one blocking the way.

  Li Xiao sighed and said, "Back then, you knelt and begged me to agree, and you were comfortable enough to accept that one million. That showed you were sincere and determined. But now that you’ve come running back so heartbroken, the only reason I can think of is that Engineer Su is seeing someone else."

  "No, Mom, she isn't." He immediately covered for Su Xian. The fact that she was seeing someone else, got pregnant, and had an abortion was something he could absolutely never tell his mother. Even if they broke up, he didn't want his mother to hate her.

  "If it’s not a fundamental issue like that, and you want to break up, then we have to pay back that one million. We can't let her lose both the person and the money."

  "There's no need to pay it back. Between the laundry and the cooking, I'm worth that much."

  *