Chapter 37

Lin Yuxi usually wasn’t much of a drinker. If she did, it was either at unavoidable work gatherings or when accompanying her friend Yu Jiaxiao for a night out. 

But today, she felt so suffocated, so overwhelmed, that it seemed like alcohol was the only thing that could ease her pain. 

She had initially thought about calling Yu Jiaxiao to join her, but Yu had been swamped with work, pulling all-nighters and barely getting any sleep. Lin Yuxi had even typed out the message but then felt sorry for her friend’s exhaustion and didn’t want to bother her with her own problems. 

She was lost, overwhelmed by the heartache that was consuming her. 

She had never known that Jiang Nan had a nickname, “Xixi.” 

So all those nights when Zhou Yanjing held her, whispering sweet words in her ear, calling her “Xixi” with such tenderness who was he really calling? 

Was it “Xixi” as in her, or “Xixi” as in Jiang Nan? 

Were those moments of affection simply him borrowing the opportunity to express feelings for someone else? 

When he kissed her, he looked at her, but who was he really thinking of? 

A suffocating feeling surged from her heart, making it hard to breathe. 

She had once thought that Zhou Yanjing had at least loved her if only for a short time. 

Because she had been loved so passionately by him, it was hard to let go after being neglected. She couldn’t move on. 

She repeatedly questioned herself was it because she wasn’t likable enough that Zhou Yanjing had grown tired of her so quickly? 

Was she not good enough? Not worthy of being loved? 

For over two years, she had struggled through their cold and lonely marriage, only to slowly begin to move on. And now, she was being told that even that brief and fragile love had never been meant for her? 

That Zhou Yanjing had never loved her. 

Her suffering, her struggles, her anguish had all been a complete joke! 

She had always been an insignificant NPC, even borrowing someone else’s name. 

She had never been loved. 

She always knew there was no one in this world who would love her. 

The ones who loved her had long died, in that abandoned factory, on that freezing winter night. She should’ve died there too. 

Her parents had fought desperately to give her a second chance at life, stealing her back from death. Her life was one that had been taken from the hands of the Grim Reaper. 

So no one would ever love her again because she shouldn’t have been alive in the first place. 

She should’ve died that day. 

Upstairs in the VIP lounge, a server knocked and whispered something in Zhou Shengan’s ear. Zhou Shengan checked his watch, frowned, said something to his friends, and got up to leave. 

The first-floor lobby was noisy and chaotic, with loud music thumping in the background. Lin Yuxi was slumped over the table, surrounded by empty bottles. 

A man from the neighboring booth, encouraged by his companions, walked over and reached out to touch her. “Hey, beautiful?” 

Before his hand could reach her shoulder, someone grabbed it. 

It was the bar owner, dressed in a black floral shirt. He smiled warmly, but his grip was strong. 

“I suggest you not touch her.” 

The man, though intimidated, tried to save face. “I was just worried she might get too drunk and be in danger. Who are you, anyway? Is she yours?” 

The owner kept his smile, but his tone remained firm. “She’s not mine, but she’s also not someone you can touch. If you don’t want to lose an arm or a leg, I advise you to stay away. When the real deal arrives, even if I gave him this bar for free, it wouldn’t save you.” 

The man withdrew his hand, muttering curses as he left. 

The owner stood beside the booth, watching the woman lying on the table. 

He couldn’t tell if she was fully drunk. She was resting her head on her arms, silently shedding tears. 

At that moment, Zhou Shengan walked over. The owner’s demeanor shifted to one of respect. “President Zhou, here for a drink tonight?” 

Zhou Shengan nodded briefly and said, “I’m taking Xiaoxi with me.” 

The owner hesitated for a moment but didn’t interfere. After all, they were all part of the Zhou family, and it didn’t matter who took her. 

Zhou Shengan tried to help Lin Yuxi up by her arm but found it difficult to maneuver. After a moment’s thought, he scooped her up in his arms. 

As they were walking out, Lin Yuxi’s eyes fluttered open. 

Her eyes were swollen, and her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol. Dazed, she saw the man’s profile and mistook him for Zhou Yanjing. 

With tear-filled eyes, she looked up at him and sobbed. 

“I regret it so much. I never should’ve married you.” 

Zhou Shengan was momentarily stunned. “Xiaoxi, are you mistaking me for someone else again? I’m your brother.” 

Lin Yuxi didn’t hear him at all. Seeing who she thought was “Zhou Yanjing” brought another wave of uncontrollable sadness to her heart. 

“You’re just like the others, bullying me because I’m an orphan, with no one to stand up for me.” 

There’s no reasoning with someone who’s drunk, so Zhou Shengan gave up on correcting her. As he listened to her words, he couldn’t help but wonder what exactly his younger brother had done. 

Lin Yuxi was so overwhelmed with sorrow that she cried until her vision blurred, unable to make out the face of the man holding her. She persistently asked: 

“Did you ever love me?” 

“Why don’t you love me.” 

Carrying her out of the bar, Zhou Shengan looked up and saw a car parked by the roadside. Zhou Yanjing stood silently beside it, dressed in a black coat, watching them without a word. 

Zhou Shengan approached with Lin Yuxi in his arms. Zhou Yanjing had his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable as his gaze briefly swept over the woman in his brother’s arms. 

She looked up at the man carrying her, crying so bitterly, repeatedly asking why he didn’t love her. 

Zhou Yanjing remained indifferent, making no move to take her from his brother. 

Zhou Shengan frowned, “Why are you just standing there?” 

Zhou Yanjing gave a casual, amused smile. “Since you’ve already gone this far, you might as well take her all the way home.” 

Zhou Shengan’s frown deepened. “Is this how you act as a husband? What did you do to Xiaoxi to make her cry like this?” 

“Me, bullying her?” Zhou Yanjing replied, “Do you really think I even have the chance to bully her?” 

With a careless, almost indifferent air, he continued, “Big brother, why don’t you teach me how to be a proper husband to her?” 

The rumors about him and Jiang Nan had been circulating everywhere, and Zhou Shengan was undoubtedly aware of them. Being five years older than Zhou Yanjing, he had always doted on his younger brother and rarely spoke harshly to him. But today, for once, his face hardened as he reprimanded him. 

“Yanjing, the Zhou family has no tradition of being irresponsible. I don’t care what your private affairs are like, but as long as Xiaoxi is still your wife, you should fulfill your responsibilities.” 

Upon hearing the familiar name, the drunk Lin Yuxi’s tears flowed even more fiercely. She mumbled angrily, “Zhou Yanjing, you bastard!” 

Zhou Yanjing chuckled lightly, “Even drunk, she doesn’t forget to curse at me.” 

Finally, he took his hands out of his pockets and reached to take Lin Yuxi from Zhou Shengan’s arms. 

He tried to set her down, but Lin Yuxi, completely drunk and limp like a rag doll, slid to the floor. 

Zhou Yanjing caught her with one hand. “You can’t even stand. Did your legs give out?” 

There was no response from the intoxicated woman, who leaned bonelessly against his chest. 

Left with no choice, Zhou Yanjing picked her up again. 

Old Liu hurriedly opened the car door, and Zhou Yanjing bent down to place her in the seat. But as soon as he tried to set her down, Lin Yuxi, like a baby who reflexively clings when being put to bed, wrapped her arms around his neck. 

Zhou Yanjing tried to pry her hands off, but her grip was tighter than iron chains. 

Caught in an awkward position, bent over with one hand on the seat, he looked at her drunken, unconscious face and let out a half-amused, half-exasperated laugh. 

“Lin Yuxi, I swear you’re just trying to drive me crazy.” 

In the end, Zhou Yanjing had no choice but to sit in the car seat, holding her on his lap.