Chapter 13: How Have You Been These Years...

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, she finalized the shooting location and cast for Bo Heng Technology’s product advertisement in the past few days.

The coffee in her porcelain cup was nearly gone.

Xu Wu double-checked the company expenses once more before heading to Chen Haili’s office.

“Come in.”

A cheerful voice responded from inside.

Upon opening the door, a flash of bright red caught her eye.

Xu Tianya was also there.

“Alright,” Chen Haili glanced over the documents on his desk, his brow lifting slightly with satisfaction. “Good work this time—don’t make the same mistakes as last time.”

As he spoke, he closed the document.

Bold black letters dominated the center of the page. Xu Wu inadvertently caught a glimpse of the text—

Cooperation Agreement with Yangkang Intelligent Group Co., Ltd.

It appeared to be a long-term cooperation agreement.

If she remembered correctly, Yangkang Intelligent had risen to prominence in recent years, gaining significant influence in the industry. Though Yangkang started later than Bo Heng Technology and initially lacked sufficient funding and user credibility, it had approached Bo Heng for investment. However, Bo Heng, prioritizing creditworthiness, had declined.

Later, an unknown figure emerged, investing heavily in Yangkang and introducing advanced foreign technology, allowing Yangkang to rise to its current standing as an equal to Bo Heng Technology.

Xu Tianya took the cooperation contract handed to her by Chen Haili.

After she left, Xu Wu turned to Chen Haili. “We already have a tech company like Bo Heng. Yangkang has a history of credibility issues. Are you sure about letting Xu Tianya cooperate with them?”

Chen Haili dismissed her concerns with a sly smile. “That was years ago. Besides, Yangkang is now one of the top companies in the industry. It’s mutually beneficial for Xu Tianya to collaborate with them, isn’t it?”

Mutually beneficial?

Focusing on short-term gains while neglecting long-term operations.

Xu Wu said nothing further, handing over the report for his review and signature before leaving the office.

“Xu Wu,” Xu Tianya had been waiting outside, blocking her path in a striking red dress. The rolled-up contract rested against her chin, her crimson lips curling into a smirk. “I’ve decided—I’m taking that PR Vice Director position.”

“Even without Bo Heng, I can still collaborate with other companies. I’m determined to get it.”

Her tone was sharp, like thorns attacking aggressively.

But Xu Wu replied softly, “Then I should congratulate you. I’m busy and need to get back to work.”

Without further entanglement, Xu Wu returned to her workstation.

Both of them had brought many resources to the company, each excelling in their own way. Unlike Xu Wu, most of Xu Tianya’s previous collaborations had been with leading companies in the industry.

After speaking with her, Xu Wu hadn’t yet completed the Bo Heng project and needed to find information on another company.

Her desk was cluttered with the materials and schedule arrangements she had just organized for the Bo Heng project. Xu Wu opened the drawer under her desk and placed the documents on top of others.

The cold touch of metal traveled from her hand to her nerves.

She set down the documents and retrieved what was inside.

As she lifted one end of the chain, the other end slipped from her fingers, revealing the crescent moon-shaped necklace in its entirety.

Delicate lines outlined the crescent, with the letters “Z” and a slash engraved above it.

This necklace had been a birthday gift from him. After their breakup, she had kept wearing it until he returned to Linjing, at which point she removed it and placed it in the drawer, forgetting to take it back.

From start to finish, Xu Wu had never understood the meaning behind the engraving.

Before she could ask, they had already broken up.

Coming back to her senses, she placed the necklace in the smallest pocket of her bag.

________________________________________

Around seven o’clock in the evening, Xu Wu finally returned to her apartment after leaving the company.

The bright full moon illuminated the thin mist outside her window.

She had just bought some bread from a nearby shop and nibbled on a few bites.

Back in her room, Xu Wu took out the necklace and found the matching box on her vanity. Inside the box was a small piece of paper, with bold black handwriting scrawled across it.

She quickly placed the necklace back inside, leaving the paper untouched.

She dared not look at the content of the paper again—it would be too easy to get lost in it.

…

After contacting the participants for Bo Heng’s advertisement shoot that afternoon, she stayed late to list all potential collaborating companies, printing the information and placing it on the floor. After showering and changing into her pajamas, she sat cross-legged on the carpet to organize.

She had always enjoyed sitting like this to study or work—a small table with snacks and warm water, her bottom cushioned by a soft pad. It felt oddly comforting and secure, though she had been more restrained during her time living with the Wei family.

“Woof woof woof woof,” a series of barks echoed outside, growing louder as they approached. “Woof woof woof!”

Pudding’s barks.

The sound carried both dissatisfaction and a hint of anger, as if something had happened.

Xu Wu paused her work, stood up, and opened the door to check.

As she turned the handle, a large white blur rushed into her legs.

A strong milky scent wafted over her.

Several clumps of white foam clung to her pajama pants, gradually dissolving into water, soaking the light blue fabric into a darker shade around her calves.

Before she could see clearly, a shadow darted away.

Xu Wu turned to look at the person standing by the door. A few specks of white foam dotted his thick eyebrows, making him look somewhat comical.

Zhou Jinye glanced at her calves and explained, “Pudding didn’t want to take a bath and ran here.”

No wonder there was foam on him—it must have transferred when Pudding escaped.

“Then come in and look for it.” Xu Wu stepped aside to let him in.

“Does it dislike baths?” Pudding, freshly coated with shampoo, left wet paw prints along the floor as it followed the trail of water.

“Mm,” Zhou Jinye followed her in slippers. “It needs a bath every fifteen days or so, and it always acts up like this.”

Pudding’s footprints stopped at the carpet. Looking up, Xu Wu saw it nestled in the spot where she had been working earlier, curled up on her cushion.

“…”

Zhou Jinye took a step forward, prompting Pudding to stand up and prepare to run again.

Noticing this, Xu Wu gestured for Zhou Jinye to wait. She removed her slippers and approached carefully—Pudding was now wet and sticky.

“Be good, your fur is all matted. Can we go take a bath first?” She gently stroked the damp fur atop its head.

Zhou Jinye stood outside the carpet, looking toward her. Aside from the printed papers scattered on the floor, he noticed the half-eaten bread on the table and frowned.

Moments later, Pudding obediently allowed Xu Wu to lead it back to the opposite door for a bath.

Zhou Jinye trailed behind them at a distance, entering his own home.

Pudding led Xu Wu into the bathroom.

This was her second time in his bathroom, and she realized it was quite spacious, even equipped with a small bathtub specifically for Pudding’s baths.

“You wash it,” Zhou Jinye placed the dog shampoo nearby, leaning against the wall as he watched.

As Zhou Jinye had said, Pudding truly hated baths. As soon as the warm water hit its fur, it began shaking its body instinctively, trying to escape. The water splashed onto Xu Wu’s face, trickling into her hair and causing loose strands to cling to her cheeks.

Pudding had always been raised by Zhou Jinye, and every bath was a struggle. Feeling a pang of guilt, Xu Wu gently poured warm water over its little paws.

“It’s such a hassle to bathe it. Maybe I’ll help with its baths from now on.”

Bright lights illuminated her figure, the steam from the bath filling the small space. She tilted her slender, pale neck upward, her cheeks flushed with heat. A small bubble clung to her nose, and within that tiny black circle lay only him.

For some reason, she recalled Li Qingyang’s words—two people who were once deeply in love had each other in their eyes.

It used to be like that—but only for him.

The humidity in the bathroom grew stifling.

Zhou Jinye swallowed, crouching down to wipe the foam from her nose. “Alright.”

His voice seemed softened by the warm, humid air.

The dry, calloused pads of his fingers brushed against her delicate skin, sending sensations to her nervous system. Xu Wu’s breathing suddenly grew lighter, her mind blank, and her heart began to race belatedly.

Instinctively, she took a few steps back.

He noticed, lowering his gaze to wipe the foam from his hands with a towel. “You had foam on your nose.”

After regaining her composure, Xu Wu refocused on Pudding, speaking gently. “Thank you.”

________________________________________

Some time later, all the foam was rinsed off Pudding’s body, and Zhou Jinye handed her a bottle of conditioner specifically for dogs.

Seeing Pudding’s reluctance, Xu Wu turned to Zhou Jinye. “Do I have to apply this too?”

“It’s necessary,” Zhou Jinye placed it in her palm, crossing his arms. “Its skin was bad at first—it shed a lot. After using the shampoo, this repair treatment is essential.”

Xu Wu lowered her gaze, realizing how meticulous Zhou Jinye was. No wonder Pudding’s coat was so thick and soft. “Alright, I’ll remember.”

As soon as the conditioner was applied, Pudding desperately wanted to leave.

Most of the water Pudding had shaken off earlier had splashed onto the floor, leaving the tiled surface wet.

Pudding collided with Zhou Jinye’s right leg, slipping on the slick floor and crashing into the bathtub.

“Are you alright?” Xu Wu set down the conditioner and rushed to support him.

Zhou Jinye braced himself against the wall, his knee hitting the edge of the tub.

He nearly fell in.

“No, just a scrape.”

The culprit sat comfortably in the drying box, enjoying itself.

Xu Wu carefully applied iodine to his knee, watching as the scraped skin and scabs became visible. “Did you hurt your bones?”

“No,” Zhou Jinye glanced at the dog in the box.

The iodine on his leg was still wet. Xu Wu went to put the iodine back into the first-aid kit.

“Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital to get checked?” she asked with concern.

He looked at her. “No need—it’s just a minor scrape.”

Xu Wu’s pajamas were nearly soaked through, her sleeves exposing her slender wrists as she held the iodine bottle. Her wrists were almost as thin as the bottle itself.

He blurted out, “Xu Shuwang, how have you been these past few years?”