Chapter 31

The flight was at 4 PM.

The banquet hall was over an hour’s drive from the airport, and after estimating the time, Chu Yu decided to leave early with the two interns.

Chu Yu’s time management was precise, and the three of them boarded the plane on schedule.

The seating arrangement was the same as when they traveled to M City for business; Chu Yu and Chi Xiting sat in one row, with Huo You Shen separated by an aisle.

This business trip would last three days, and after returning to B City, they would need to work for another two days before they could rest.

Chi Xiting could already feel exhausted just thinking about it.

Business trips really drained him more than being at his desk.

And then there was the looming confrontation with Shen Zhizhe when they returned.

The notification Shen Zhizhe had sent in the group chat had been lingering in Chi Xiting’s mind, refusing to be forgotten. Whenever Chi Xiting tried to relax, it would reappear, a constant reminder to stay alert and anxious.

Chi Xiting put on his eye mask.

After feeling his eyelids twitch a couple of times, he gently closed his eyes.

He didn’t know what bad news he would hear once they got back.

Forget it.

I’ll deal with it when I get back.

For now, I’ll just die a little.

Chi Xiting peacefully fell asleep.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t slept well last night, combined with the stress from his recent business trip, Chi Xiting closed his eyes and fell asleep immediately, staying asleep until they reached their destination.

Just before the plane landed, Chi Xiting groggily opened his eyes and took off his eye mask.

They had already arrived in B City.

Chi Xiting grabbed his luggage and exited the plane. When he entered the waiting hall, he noticed the sky outside was dark, the night was pitch-black, with only a few scattered lights.

—–

He checked the time on his phone.

10:57.

Chi Xiting silently put his phone away and quickened his pace to catch up with Chu Yu.

Chu Yu glanced at the time, furrowed his brow, then turned around to look at Chi Xiting and Huo You Shen. “The driver is already waiting outside. I’ll have him take you back.”

Chi Xiting and Huo You Shen exchanged a look, then nodded.

As soon as they stepped outside, Chi Xiting immediately spotted the Porsche Cayenne. Without hesitation, he was sure it was Chu Yu’s car.

Sure enough.

Perhaps because he recognized Chu Yu, the driver, Xiao Hu, got out of the driver’s seat and walked directly to Chu Yu, taking his luggage. “Mr. Chu.”

Chu Yu said, “Take them first.”

Afterward, he turned to look at Chi Xiting.

Chi Xiting immediately understood what Chu Yu meant and reported his home address.

Huo Youshen, confused, glanced at Chi Xiting, seemingly unable to understand how Chi Xiting could figure out Chu Yu’s meaning just from a glance.

Though confused, Huo You Shen didn’t ask any questions and also gave his address to the driver.

Xiao Hu considered the situation and said to Huo Youshen, “I’ll take you first.”

Huo Youshen’s house was closer to the airport, while Chi Xiting’s was near the city center. It wasn’t very convenient.

Xiao Hu subtly glanced at Chu Yu.

Chu Yu currently lived in the Nanshan district, which was neither far nor close to the city center. If they took Chi Xiting first, they would have to turn back from that area, which would be a detour.

Xiao Hu was about to suggest this to Chu Yu when he caught a subtle look from Chu Yu.

Xiao Hu immediately kept quiet.

Whatever problem Xiao Hu could think of, Chu Yu had surely already considered it.

This arrangement must have made sense to the boss.

Xiao Hu quietly loaded the luggage into the trunk, dutifully completing his responsibilities as a driver.

Huo Youshen was successfully dropped off at his door.

After politely bidding farewell to Chu Yu, Huo Youshen left.

Xiao Hu glanced at Chu Yu and Chi Xiting in the rearview mirror. “Should I drop this gentleman off now?”

Chi Xiting also turned to look at Chu Yu.

Chu Yu closed his eyes, resting.

Chi Xiting then turned to Xiao Hu. “My name is Chi, thank you.”

Xiao Hu hesitated for a moment, his gaze briefly frozen, but then he followed Chi Xiting’s instructions, stepped on the gas, and headed towards Chi Xiting’s home.

Chu Yu, perhaps tired, sat quietly in the back seat, not saying a word.

Chi Xiting looked out the window. The scenery outside gradually became familiar, and only then did he realize they were close to his home.

Sure enough, as soon as Chi Xiting turned his head, Xiao Hu said, “Mr. Chi, we’ve arrived.”

Chi Xiting responded with a thank you, then turned to look at Chu Yu.

Chu Yu had already opened his eyes and looked at Chi Xiting.

The night was thick and dark. The streetlights emitted a dim yellow glow, stretching towards the edge of the night, and the black car stood firmly at the gap in the night.

Chu Yu’s features were softened by the night, and the emotions in his eyes were hidden behind the lens, like the clearing of the storm after the clouds dispersed.

—–

After a while, Chi Xiting licked his lower lip and spoke, “Mr. Chu, shall I leave now?”

Chu Yu’s gaze lingered on Chi Xiting’s lips for two seconds before nodding in agreement. As Chi Xiting stepped out of the car, Chu Yu added, “It’s okay if you arrive a little late tomorrow.”

Chi Xiting was surprised and looked down at Chu Yu.

Chu Yu remained unfazed, “I won’t count it as you being late.”

Xiao Hu in the front seat subtly changed his expression, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He then secretly glanced back at Chi Xiting.

It was strange.

Chu Yu, who usually had such a strong sense of time, actually allowed an employee to be late?

Chi Xiting accepted the offer as if it was the most natural thing, and teased Chu Yu, “I thought you’d tell me not to come in tomorrow.”

Chu Yu chuckled lightly, his tone showing he understood Chi Xiting well. “If I told you not to come, you’d probably just say you wouldn’t come the day after tomorrow either.”

Today was Wednesday.

Taking Thursday off and working on Friday wouldn’t sit well with his conscience.

Caught in the act, Chi Xiting turned his eyes away, no longer pursuing the topic. He waved at Chu Yu, bid him farewell, and closed the car door.

As he stepped into the building, Chi Xiting glanced back.

Chu Yu’s car was still there.

Chi Xiting turned away and continued up the stairs. Only when he reached the second-floor hallway did he faintly hear the sound of the engine starting downstairs.

He suppressed the subtle stir of emotions in his heart and continued climbing.

Their building was a walk-up, and Chi Xiting’s apartment was on the fourth floor, not too high or too low, and the stairs weren’t shaky, making it easy to climb.

As Chi Xiting reached the fourth floor and approached his door, he began to sense something was off.

The shoe rack by the door was in disarray, with two cigarette butts next to it.

Chi Xiting frowned, a bad premonition rising in his chest.

He pulled out his keys, twisted the lock, and the door barely opened, letting the noise from inside seep through the gap in the door.

“Yuan Yin, bring me the trash can!”

A rough voice rang out, loud and full of energy, making the tension between the brows of Chi Xiting grow even tighter.

“Tch.” Yuan Yin complained impatiently, “Can’t you come down and get it yourself? You’re so lazy. You said you were coming to find a job, but look at the work you’re doing…”

Before Yuan Yin could finish, his words were cut off abruptly.

“You, how did you come back?” Yuan Yin looked at Chi Xiting in shock, standing at the door.

Chi Xiting glanced at Yuan Yin for a second, then looked straight into his room.

The door to his room was wide open.

The scene inside was laid bare.

The neat and clean room he had tidied up before leaving was now a complete mess—tissues, cigarette ash, and sunflower seed shells scattered across the floor. The blanket was carelessly piled into a ball, wrinkled and wedged between the legs of a large, burly man.

Chi Xiting couldn’t help but smile bitterly. It was true that when you’re extremely angry, you laugh.

He looked back at Yuan Yin, who was now uncomfortably fidgeting. Perhaps aware of his own wrongdoing, Yuan Yin awkwardly squeezed his hands and stammered, “My cousin, well, he came to M City to look for a job…”

“Your cousin?” Chi Xiting retorted.

Hearing a stranger’s voice, Yuan Qiang sat up from the bed, glaring at Chi Xiting with a flicker of scorn in his eyes and sneered, “Oh, Yuan Yin, who’s this? Your lover?”

Chi Xiting frowned.

Yuan Qiang lazily leaned back on the pillow and said, still with a dirty tone, “Don’t misunderstand. Yuan Yin and I are brothers. Don’t think you’re catching me cheating, haha.”

Yuan Yin shot a glare at Yuan Qiang and snapped, “Can you shut up? Why are you talking so much?”

Yuan Qiang chuckled, “Oh, so now you’re siding with an outsider?”

Before Yuan Qiang could finish, Chi Xiting calmly pulled out his phone, swiftly dialed 110, and briefly explained the situation. He then calmly opened the camera app and started taking photos of the room.

Yuan Yin’s instincts told him something was wrong. The veins on his forehead twitched, and he lunged to grab Chi Xiting’s phone. However, due to their height difference, Chi Xiting easily sidestepped and, frowning, said softly, “Don’t move, I’ve already called the police.”

Yuan Yin gritted his teeth. “Chi Xiting, do you really have to be so ruthless? We’re roommates.”

Chi Xiting smiled. “You still know we’re just roommates? Looking at your attitude, I thought this place was yours.”

Yuan Yin had brought outsiders into their shared home without permission and even moved into his room without asking.

Chi Xiting, already annoyed, quickly scanned the room again. It felt like the entire space had been tainted by Yuan Qiang.

The smell of cigarettes mixed with sweat and foot odor.

There were also clumps of tissue paper scattered on the floor.

Chi Xiting grimaced and turned his gaze away, continuing, “Before I left, I made a checklist of everything in my room. When the police arrive, if anything is missing, it’s on you guys, understand?”

Yuan Yin became agitated. “Just because you say something is missing doesn’t mean it is! My cousin is just staying here temporarily; he won’t touch your stuff.”

Chi Xiting didn’t want to waste any more words with Yuan Yin. He crossed his arms and stepped back, quietly waiting for the police.

When the police arrived, Chi Xiting patiently recounted everything from the beginning and showed them the photos he had taken.

The officers nodded and thoroughly inspected the room with Chi Xiting.

Yuan Yin and Yuan Qiang, who had been arrogant before, fell silent when the police showed up, standing quietly off to the side like quails.

Yuan Yin tried to speak a few times but was silenced by Chi Xiting’s glare.

They had no argument to stand on.

It was all Yuan Qiang’s fault.

If he had just stayed in bed, things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated.

Yuan Yin was frustrated, his thoughts a tangled mess. He shot a glare at Yuan Qiang, who was unconcerned, sprawled nonchalantly beside him.

By the time the police finished discussing things with Chi Xiting, it was nearly midnight.

Chi Xiting went downstairs to see the officers off and stood there for a moment, thinking.

His room was now a mess, and the bed had been slept in by someone else. He had no desire to sleep there, but at this hour…

Going back home would be too far, and it would disturb his parents.

What about Chi and Yuan?

They might just kick him out.

Maybe he should get a hotel room.

Chi Xiting sighed, glancing at his phone, and aimlessly scrolled for a while before suddenly getting an idea. He took a photo of himself and posted it to his social media.

【Chi Xiting】: Any kind-hearted person willing to take me in for a night? [Image.jpg]

He posted a photo of his own shadow, squatting on the ground.

After posting, Chi Xiting turned off his phone screen, lifted his gaze to the silent building, and stared at the distant night.

His home was near the commercial district, and the tallest building in the area was the Chushi building, surrounded by two other commercial buildings.

Even though it was almost midnight, a few lights were still on in the building.

He felt like those three buildings were like three pillars, firmly anchoring him to the bottom of society.

Chi Xiting lowered his gaze again, absentmindedly twisting the disposable gloves he had used earlier while inspecting his room.

This life seemed no different from the last.

He was still alone, indifferent to everything, living day by day.

—-

In his previous life, he lived in a haze.

Success was always a false notion. What defined success? In his previous life, he had a respectable job, a decent salary, and was among the top in terms of capability. Almost everyone considered him relatively successful.