Chapter 34: It Is Love

“Uncle Xu.”

Zhou Jinye had finished everything and left work a few hours early.

The grass and trees in the yard had already been trimmed, unlike the picture he had sent him earlier.

The person sitting there waited for the tea to brew, his clothes exuding a sense of calm serenity.

As Zhou Jinye approached, he finally opened his eyes. The fallen leaves of late autumn rustled faintly on the concrete road outside the courtyard. The ground shimmered with golden hues, and at the corner of his eye, a faint scar was still visible.

Uncle Xu, whose real name was Xu Wanhua, had once started a business with Qin Shili. Later, during university, he met Zhou Jinye’s mother. She wanted to join them, and the three of them became close friends at that time. Zhou Jinye’s grandfather, who was still teaching at the university, had many resources and students. His mother took the two of them to seek advice from his grandfather.

Though he appeared to be an ordinary university professor, the students he taught were top figures in the industry back then.

Noble families were complicated. As an illegitimate child, Qin Shili lacked good resources. He was mocked after losing his fiancée to others. Long ago, he had planted the seeds of revenge. He coveted the connections behind Zhou Jinye’s grandfather, knowing that Zhou Jinye’s mother was one of the most beloved daughters of Zhou Lao. He began to cozy up to her.

As Qin Shili had hoped, his resources improved, and the company he founded gained recognition from the Qin family. In pursuit of ultimate power, noble families disregarded relationships entirely. Qin Shili, who had been lurking in the shadows, seized the position at the last moment. However, past events had twisted his mind, and he would occasionally beat Zhou Jinye’s mother. Fortunately, Xu Wanhua was there to shield her when Qin Shili threw a bottle at her. The broken glass cut Xu Wanhua’s eye, leaving a small scar despite stitches.

Later, Qin Shili rarely returned home. Zhou Jinye’s mother endured until she had another child but accidentally discovered Qin Shili’s affair. In anger, she decided to break up with him. A mishap led her to fall into a deep abyss, and no one knew the truth of her death. At that time, the only person Zhou Jinye could see was Xu Wanhua. Qin Shili soon found out and forced Xu Wanhua to leave the country under some pretext.

After Zhou Lao learned what kind of person Qin Shili was, he took him to court. There was evidence of domestic violence, but his mother’s death had been buried in a place without sunlight. Qin Shili hadn’t been seen for a long time, and everything related to the Qin family had been transferred to others.

The next time they met was when Zhou Jinye was injured and lying in the hospital after breaking up with Xu Wu. Afterward, Qin Shili suppressed him abroad. There, he met Xu Wanhua again. His hair was grayer than his peers; only then did he know Qin Shili had taken his son abroad as leverage.

Qin Shili’s heart was completely twisted and perverted. He wanted them to be like him.

Xu Wanhua’s child had passed away due to illness long ago, so there was nothing to hold against him. Four years ago, he stopped working with Qin Shili.

“You gave me these health supplements, why didn’t you take the flowers out of the car?” Xu Wanhua had heard the friction of the car against the ground and looked outside.

Zhou Jinye saw the chair prepared beside him, sat down, and smiled easily: “They’re for my girlfriend.”

Xu Wanhua picked up the wooden cup, sipped the tea, and gazed at the garden full of plants: “Isn’t it the girl you went back to find five years ago?”

He trusted Xu Wanhua while abroad. The ID card and passport he used to return home were obtained with his help.

Xu Wanhua also roughly understood why he went abroad and why he returned briefly.

Seeing Zhou Jinye nod, he put down the cup: “You’re very much like your mother, not like him at all.”

He set aside the Chinese medicine he brought for Xu Wanhua: “I’ve already severed ties with him. He is him, and I am me.”

“So, is it because of this girl that you want to settle things with Qin Shili?”

Zhou Jinye looked at Xu Wanhua: “Yes and no. He should have faced legal punishment over ten years ago, but he had already made preparations. Being by his side, we couldn’t find any evidence he left behind. This time, I’m still going to use legal means to make him pay for my mother’s life.”

Xu Wanhua examined him: “Reopening that case from over ten years ago will be very difficult.”

The tea in front of Zhou Jinye had cooled. He picked it up and began drinking: “For so many years, he never expected us to revisit that case from over a decade ago.”

“Alright,” Xu Wanhua observed his demeanor: “He doesn’t know I’m back. It will be convenient for me to investigate in the suburbs.”

Sipping the bitterness of the tea, Zhou Jinye couldn’t help but glance aside: “This tea has quite a taste.”

Xu Wanhua chuckled. The flowers and plants in the walled courtyard were meticulously trimmed by him: “I bought it yesterday. Originally, I went to try my luck, but unexpectedly, the old shop was still selling tea in the same spot. It’s still your mother’s favorite flavor.”

Zhou Jinye watched the color dyed by the tea leaves. He remembered that when he was a child, she always had afternoon tea, reading the latest newspaper while sipping tea. Back then, she was still alive.

________________________________________

In the afternoon, as the sun began to set, Xu Wu finished her work.

Unlike her usual birthdays, she felt more anxious this year. She packed her bag and, while heading downstairs, took out her phone.

“Xu Wu, why are you in such a hurry?” Shu Ke, who was also preparing to leave, saw Xu Wu almost at the door and quickly followed her.

“Something came up.” Xu Wu and Shu Ke waited for the elevator.

She had just sent a message to Zhou Jinye, and he replied with a picture of the entrance to her company.

She didn’t expect him to arrive so early.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Xu Tianya. I wonder what she’s scheming behind our backs?”

At Shu Ke’s mention, Xu Wu recalled seeing her at the company before, but almost never afterward.

Since Xu Tianya was close to Qin Shili, being a smart person, Xu Wu believed she wouldn’t cause problems.

Coincidentally, the person they were just talking about appeared in the elevator, looking as if she had just come up.

Meeting each other was unexpected, and they weren’t sure why Xu Tianya was at the company during off-hours.

Neither spoke.

She walked past Xu Wu, her strong perfume making Xu Wu’s nose itch.

Shu Ke and Xu Wu descended the stairs. Zhou Jinye wasn’t standing by the car this time. Through the one-way mirror of the business building, Xu Wu immediately saw Zhou Jinye waiting outside for a long time.

Seeing him, Shu Ke naturally noticed too.

These days, Shu Ke left work early and often heard office gossip.

She asked Xu Wu for confirmation: “Xu Wu, recently, Jinye has been picking you up a lot.”

As Xu Wu walked toward him, she nodded in response.

Her uncontrollable smile let Shu Ke know that the rumors about Xu Wu having a boyfriend were true: “Why didn’t you tell me you were together? At least post something on social media!”

Post on social media?

Whether during high school or now, neither Xu Wu nor Zhou Jinye had ever posted about each other on their social media. “Hmm, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Xu Wu took the suggestion of posting on social media seriously.

Zhou Jinye was waiting outside her company. Xu Wu naturally held Zhou Jinye’s hand.

“Do you need us to drive you home?”

Shu Ke stared at their intertwined hands, a doting smile spreading across her face: “No, no, I’ve already called a taxi. It’s arriving soon.”

After saying goodbye, Xu Wu and Zhou Jinye left the company building hand in hand.

What she didn’t know was that Xu Tianya, who they had encountered earlier, had witnessed this scene as she exited the elevator.

Zhou Jinye carried a hint of coolness. Xu Wu couldn’t help but frown: “When did you get here?”

“Around four o’clock. I’ve been sitting in the car.” He answered honestly.

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Of course, I waited for you to finish your work,” Zhou Jinye squeezed her hand tightly: “Today’s your birthday. If you hadn’t taken leave, I assume you wouldn’t have been busy today.”

________________________________________

Xu Wu sat in the passenger seat, and Zhou Jinye handed her the flowers he had bought earlier.

“Happy birthday.”

Xu Wu rarely bought flowers herself. The fragrance of the flowers in her hand filled the car. Zhou Jinye helped her fasten her seatbelt and drove toward their home.

Today, it was just the two of them again, along with Pudding.

Zhou Jinye followed Xu Wu’s wishes and spent time together with her.

Xu Wu ate cake and watched Zhou Jinye washing dishes in the kitchen. He wore her pink apron, which strangely felt very warm.

She thought of what Shu Ke said. After they got back together, few people knew they were together again.

The bouquet Zhou Jinye gave her had already been photographed, as had the cake. She captured their playful moments of smearing cake on each other and took a group photo including Pudding.

Xu Wu had always lived a quiet life, rarely doing romantic gestures. She edited and posted on social media.

Not long after, the usually quiet and inactive social media feed exploded.

Wei Ming, classmates from high school, and others from the same school expressed their admiration. Those who saw the photos also conveyed their blessings for the couple.

After Wei Ming viewed the post, he privately messaged Zhou Jinye.

Zhou Jinye had just finished drying his hands and taking off the apron.

First, he took a screenshot of the post and then started reading:

[Are you two back together again?]

Zhou Jinye zoomed in on the image and then checked his social media. Five minutes ago, the fresh images and text had been posted.

Year after year, my future birthdays will be spent with you.

And above, there were pictures of them together.

Looking at these, he realized how rare it was for her to take the initiative in romantic actions. Her gesture, unknowingly done, melted Zhou Jinye’s heart.

Xu Wu was adjusting herself within their relationship. As the male lead in her narrative, he commented below—

I will.

Three simple words, yet carrying conviction.

After replying to Wei Ming, he knew how hard it was for them to be together again.

Back then, Wei Ming had seen the carefree youth who, after their breakup, ran over in a patient gown asking where Xu Wu was. He had seen him return to Xu Wu’s university to see her and even asked him to keep it a secret.

However, he didn’t know that Xu Wu actually knew. Over the years, when he asked her if she was doing well, she had always been speaking ironically. Their rekindling made Wei Ming genuinely wish them happiness.

But…last time at an event, he saw Qin Shili. He truly regarded Xu Wu as his younger sister, so he sent Zhou Jinye a message: [If you need, I can help you.]

After posting on social media and replying to a few comments, Wei Linxuan called to wish her a happy birthday.

Wei Linxuan talked about campus life. As Xu Wu conversed with him, their conversations became increasingly frequent.

After hanging up, she felt hands wrapping around her waist, pulling her close.

Then soft lips brushed against her earlobe.

The gentle touch tickled Xu Wu, and she backed away slightly. Zhou Jinye followed closely, and they fell onto the carpet.

Xu Wu’s breathing grew heavier. She asked the man above her: “Jinye, do you really like me?”

Her question came out of nowhere, but Zhou Jinye didn’t hesitate for a second. He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest: “It’s love.”

Through his clothes, she could clearly hear the beating of his heart. When she released her hand, Zhou Jinye had already changed into loose clothing. Lying beneath him, she faintly saw a clear scar near his chest.

Her heart ached uncontrollably. She would find an opportunity to talk to Zhou Jinye about Qin Shili.

This time, she didn’t push him away because of Qin Shili. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck: “Thank you for giving me so much love.”

They kissed passionately on the carpet, lost in each other. Just as she felt something pressing against her, before she could look, Zhou Jinye had already gotten up from her.

His voice hoarse: “It’s late. I’m going to take a shower first.”

By the time Xu Wu realized what it was, she was already lying in bed. Both adults, physiological reactions were normal. Xu Wu turned over.

Feeling unsatisfied, something hard touched her hand.

It was the necklace box. When had she placed it on the bed?

The crescent shape reflected silvery-white light in the room’s glow. Xu Wu wore it around her neck once again.