Chapter 49

Chu Tong stubbornly refused to look at him. Even though her wrist was held tightly in his grip, she desperately averted her eyes.

Shao Yihuai seemed to be easing a pain in his chest, taking a soft, gentle breath before lowering his voice. "...Then I will leave."

Chu Tong nodded slightly.

"Take good care of yourself. Shall I send two domestic housekeepers to assist you?"

"No need."

"...You surely need a car and a driver, at least."

"I am not some pampered young socialite who requires a dedicated chauffeur the moment I step outside. I am merely an ordinary student. I don't need any of that."

"Are you not going to give me even the slightest chance?"

Perhaps because his tone carried a desolate exhaustion she had never heard before, Chu Tong finally could not help herself. She turned her head back to look at him.

And then she regretted it.

She should have known better. He possessed a pair of deep, affectionate eyes capable of the most convincing deceptions. Just being looked at by him like that made her feel as though she were the most precious treasure cradled in his palms. Especially at this moment, when there was a faint, almost imperceptible fragility hidden within his gaze, making it utterly impossible to defend against.

It was all an illusion.

After just a single glance, she immediately lowered her eyelashes and raised the hand he was holding.

The meaning could not have been clearer: *Let go of me.*

Shao Yihuai watched her without blinking for a long moment, and then, very gently, he loosened his grip.

He said nothing more. Reaching around behind her waist, he turned the door handle. The sudden rush of his proximity made Chu Tong flinch and step back in a hasty movement. Her slipper caught on the floor, and her body swayed.

Shao Yihuai steadily caught her by the elbow—a gesture that should have been entirely gentlemanly and proper. But when she instinctively looked up at him in her flustered state, their eyes locked. In that instant, as if no longer able to exercise restraint, his palm slid up against her lower back and pulled her firmly into his embrace.

Once again, he pressed her waist against the door panel.

So close, enveloped entirely by his scent, Chu Tong felt her heart hammer violently.

Her body felt paralyzed, while her brain had already begun automatically waiting, anticipating.

Realizing this abruptly, she shoved him away, retreating like a fleeing fugitive until she hit the entryway cabinet. Bracing herself against it with one hand, she stared down at the floor. "You can leave now."

Shao Yihuai looked at her steadily for a few seconds before finally pulling the door open and stepping outside.

The door lock clicked shut, leaving the entire apartment in silence.

When his physical presence had finally dissipated, Chu Tong exhaled as if all her strength had been drained, her whole body relaxing.

A lingering sense of fear remained.

She had underestimated him entirely.

She had thought she was mentally prepared and that normal interactions would pose no problem, but she had completely overlooked the profound influence this man held over her.

It made sense, of course. In the very beginning, it was she who had charged blindly forward, begging for anything to happen between them. Now that he was the one taking the initiative, how could she possibly have the strength to fend him off?

Well, at least she knew best how to learn from her mistakes.

She wouldn't fall for it again.

Chu Tong gathered her composure and headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash up.

As she turned off the light, her gaze swept past the smart screen by the entryway. On a whim, she pressed the button to light it up and take a look.

On the screen, right outside the main lobby downstairs in the smoking area, stood a figure.

Tall and imposing, dressed in a black suit, with a cigarette pinched between his fingers hanging loosely at his side.

It was unmistakably Shao Yihuai.

Chu Tong immediately clicked the screen dark.

And went to sleep.

-

The next day, she had plans to go shopping with KK.

First, they visited the Tsim Sha Tsui branch of the Joint Publishing Bookstore to buy books, then made their way up Nathan Road—through Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, and Tsim Sha Tsui. They checked out Kowloon Park and Chungking Mansions, and after a grueling walk, they bought ice cream and stood on a street corner, chatting while eating.

During this time, KK received a call from Liang Jiahao.

"Yeah, we're near Chungking Mansions," KK turned around, covering her other ear and speaking loudly. "Huh? Oh, you want to speak with Tongtong?"

Chu Tong turned her head, her eyes asking: *What's wrong?*

"Jiahao is asking if you need to buy an outfit. There's a dress code for tomorrow's orientation ceremony."

"No need."

Chu Tong waved a hand. "I have plenty of clothes."

"...Jiahao says he can't get through to your phone," KK said, relaying what Liang Jiahao was telling her on the other end. "...He also wants to come shopping with us..."

"...Today is our girls' day out. Why is he trying to muscle in?"

"Exactly what I said," KK told the phone. "Don't come today. Tongtong and I are hanging out by ourselves."

Finally hanging up, KK sighed. "Looking across all Chinese and foreign films and literature, do friendships between three people always end up like this? Where one of them inevitably becomes a third wheel?"

Chu Tong giggled and linked her arm through hers. "If it ever comes to that, it'll just turn into a friendship between two people. We'll ditch him."

KK was amused by her remark.

After laughing and joking around for a bit, KK turned serious and asked, "Seriously though, how do you feel about Jiahao?"

It had been over a year since Liang Jiahao confessed his feelings to her.

Back then, she had replied that she needed time to think about it, and Liang Jiahao had never pressed her since.

Aside from the time he flew to Beijing to visit her, KK was almost always present whenever they met up, and they rarely spent time alone together. Coupled with living in different cities and being busy with their respective studies, the topic had never been brought up again.

Yet, their interactions had undeniably grown more intimate than when they were simply plain friends.

KK had seen it all, which was why she possessed the self-awareness of someone about to become a third wheel.

Chu Tong finished off her ice cream, wiped her hands with a wet wipe, and said, "...I kind of want to be with him."

"Kind of?"

"Yeah," Chu Tong admitted honestly. "To be honest, if it weren't for that ex of mine, I probably would have been with Jiahao long ago."

"How so?"

"I genuinely like Jiahao. I appreciate him, and being around him is very comfortable and effortless. But," she paused, "...there's always another shadow in the back of my mind."

She always felt that a man should be like Shao Yihuai.

She would unconsciously make comparisons, and then feel that Liang Jiahao was still just a big boy—not mature enough, not steady enough, not alluring enough.

She knew it was unfair to Liang Jiahao, but if she were to lay everything out in the open, it wouldn't just affect her and Liang Jiahao; it would also impact KK. The friendship among the three of them might completely shatter. That was why she had never made a move to change the status quo.

Now, however, since she would be living in the same city as Liang Jiahao for the long term, whether she advanced or retreated, it was finally time for her to make a choice.

KK gave a sly chuckle, lowering her voice to ask mysteriously, "That ex, that shadow... couldn't possibly be Jiahao's uncle, could it?"

Chu Tong widened her eyes in shock. "How on earth did you know?"

"Please, I sensed it the very first time we met at that club in Beijing. Jiahao was probably up to no good and got caught by his uncle, and he was too nervous to notice."

Chu Tong fell silent.

A stranger could figure it out at a glance, yet that man insisted on flatly denying any connection to her.

Thinking of it now, a familiar ache still welled up in her chest.

The scale in her heart tipped toward Liang Jiahao at that moment.

Given Liang Jiahao's personality, he would never treat her that way.

-

Liang Jiahao graduated with his bachelor's degree that summer and was continuing at CUHK for his master's. KK had also chosen CUHK. The two campuses sat at the northern and southern ends of the city, quite a distance apart.

Consequently, on registration day at HKU the following day, neither of them could accompany Chu Tong to the campus.

Chu Tong joined several classmates she had previously connected with in an online group chat, following the guideposts to rush across campus. They collected their student IDs, received HKU's iconic green graduation gowns, and toured the various facilities.

Eventually, the group parted ways temporarily, agreeing to meet up again for the afternoon's orientation ceremony.

Chu Tong grabbed a meal nearby, returned to Scenic Garden to rest for a bit, changed her clothes, and headed back to the university.

Making those two round trips, no matter how much she might complain internally, she had to admit that the residence Shao Yihuai had bought for her was exceptionally convenient. Walking along Robinson Road took less than ten minutes to reach the East Gate of HKU.

It was even more convenient than living in a dormitory.

The dress code for the orientation ceremony was formal wear. She wore a sleeveless little black dress that fell to her ankles, paired with black leather flats. A delicate necklace and bracelet served as subtle accents, and her long, straight hair fell over her shoulders. The overall look was slender, graceful, minimalist, and elegant.

The scale of HKU's orientation ceremonies was always grand. The campus was bustling, and when she arrived at the auditorium, the live orchestra was already in place while people filled the tiered seating.

"Hi, Pearl!"

Not yet fully accustomed to her English name, Chu Tong turned around a beat too slow, then broke into a bright smile. "Hi, Winnie!"

Winnie sat down beside her. "The group chat is planning a barbecue party this weekend. Do you want to come?"

"Of course! Where is it?"

"A classmate recommended a place, says the food is really good." Winnie looked her up and down. "Your little dress is so pretty. Send me the link~"

"...A friend bought it for me before, so there's no link. Sorry about that."

Winnie teased with a smile, "Your boyfriend?"

"Ex-boyfriend," Chu Tong smiled. "So it's not really convenient for me to ask."

Just then, other classmates joined them, and the conversation drifted elsewhere.

More and more students filled the auditorium, and latecomers who couldn't find seats had to stand.

As the procedures rolled on one by one, evening approached. The ceremony concluded, and the large crowd moved toward the dining area.

Winnie suggested, "The lines will be huge, and the cafeteria food is just average. Why don't we go out to eat instead?"

Several classmates chimed in with agreement.

Wishing to grow closer to her classmates, Chu Tong followed them outside.

Only upon reaching the first-floor lobby did she realize it was raining outside.

Over recent years, Hong Kong's summers were stiflingly hot. Now in September, the summer heat still lingered, and rain showers were frequent.

"Oh, it's raining."

"Well, let's all head back our separate ways then."

"Hey Winnie, is the place far?"

"It's in Sai Ying Pun, near the South Gate. A ten-minute walk, not too far."

After some discussion, the group decided to walk over anyway.

Two of them had brought umbrellas, and several people crammed underneath a single umbrella, jogging toward the South Gate.

As they stepped out of the school gates, the person holding the umbrella let out a startled gasp. "It's Yi's car."

Following her gaze, the group saw a Rolls-Royce with a Hong Kong license plate parked by the roadside. As dusk deepened, the glowing streetlights dissolved into the curtain of rain.

A tall man in a black suit stood beside the car holding an umbrella, one hand tucked into his pocket, looking as though he was waiting for someone.

"Isn't that the one from the Yi family? Mr. Shao."

"You know who that is?"

"Haven't you been reading the news? The gossip rags have been covering him for days, saying Mr. Shao has returned to Hong Kong to develop his career, and socialites are breaking down doors trying to secure a meeting with him."

Chu Tong only glanced at him briefly before looking away.

She could feel that Shao Yihuai was looking right at her.

She resolved to pretend she didn't know him.

"Who is he looking at? Is he looking at us?"

"Let's hurry up," Chu Tong interjected casually, maintaining her composure.

The person holding the umbrella looked back with lingering reluctance and sighed, "He has such an incredible aura."

That steady, mature poise—just standing there was enough to capture everyone's attention.

Perhaps because of this encounter, even after the students rushed into the tea restaurant, the conversation remained centered on this Mr. Shao.

"Mr. Shao is very mysterious, probably because of his Beijing background. Before, when the gossip media talked about the Yi family, they didn't dare mention him much."

"I saw media speculation that his return to Hong Kong might mean he's taking over the Yi family business."

Chu Tong brushed the raindrops off her clothes, then stared silently and intently at the menu while stray fragments of conversation drifted into her ears.

"Makes sense. After all, the current head of the Yi family is his mother. Old Mrs. Yi is getting older; it's about time for her to step down."

"Reports say that back then, Old Mrs. Yi originally intended to have him change his surname to Yi and bring him back to be raised within the main family. In the end, they probably couldn't reach an agreement with the person in Beijing, so it fizzled out."

"Which socialites are breaking their heads to meet him? Wouldn't that just be asking to lose face? Hilarious. Across all of Hong Kong, only the Chen family, with an equally unblemished pedigree, is even qualified to talk marriage with him."

"But the Chen family member of the appropriate age is only the youngest granddaughter, isn't she still studying in the US?"

"That's where you don't understand. A dozen-year age gap might just make it more fun, haha, both sides benefit."

"Ew, you're so gross."

Chu Tong suddenly felt a bit deflated. She put down the menu and spaced out on her own.

*Damn man.*

How was it that no matter where she went, young women were waiting for him?

Quite the romantic playboy.

The group bickered as they finished ordering their food, and the dishes arrived quickly, shifting the conversation elsewhere.

"Let's stop talking about this. What do elite family affairs have to do with us anyway?"

"Exactly, exactly."

The classmates began discussing their future plans.

Which projects held high gold content, which corporate internship positions were difficult to secure, and so on.

Chu Tong occasionally chimed in, and her classmates were surprised by how much she knew, to which she merely smiled.

These were all things Su Jingwen had told her before.

Though she had come to an unfamiliar place all by herself, she wasn't completely in the dark; her housing, resources, and connections were all accounted for. Naturally, all of this was thanks to Shao Yihuai's meticulous foresight.

Oh well. It could be considered a civil and peaceful breakup—why hold a grudge against him?

She had gotten money and a smooth path to the future; she hadn't lost out.

The meal was a mixture of complex emotions.

After finishing and paying the bill, the classmates stood by the counter splitting the cost. As they looked up, through the glass door by the roadside, that Hong Kong-plated Rolls-Royce was parked steadily. The man standing beside the car holding an umbrella was undoubtedly Mr. Shao.

"Gosh! Is he stalking us?"

Someone joked.

Chu Tong's heart was in turmoil.

Stepping outside, she remained determined to ignore him.

The rain had eased a bit. Chu Tong deliberately hid behind her classmates, keeping her head down and pretending not to see.

"Tongtong."

A deep voice.

She hadn't expected him to call out to her directly, and her heart skipped a beat.

Even though they were separated by a distance of several meters, and Mr. Shao possessed such a noble aura, standing high above in an entirely different social stratum, it was clear he was looking straight at a specific person among them. The surrounding classmates stopped in their tracks, looking at each other in confusion. "...Is he calling you? Pearl?"

"..."

She had no choice but to stop, smiling at her classmates. "You guys go on ahead."

The group left, looking back every few steps, every single one of them wearing an expression of astonishment.

Shao Yihuai walked up to her and sheltered her under his umbrella.

They stood in silence for a few seconds before he spoke in a dark tone. "...Day before yesterday you called me an ex, and today you're treating me like a stranger?"

"What do you want with me?"

Chu Tong cut him off bluntly.

"...I originally wanted to have dinner with you."

"I've eaten."

"I saw."

"Then—"

She looked up at him, meeting his half-drooped eyes, and momentarily lost her words.

Uncle Zong stepped out of the car at the right moment, holding an umbrella and opening the back door with an apologetic smile. "Miss, please get in the car."

-

The Rolls-Royce drove through Central.

Chu Tong resolved to play completely oblivious—asking nothing, following him out of the car and up the elevator, until they finally arrived at a rooftop restaurant.

It was completely empty, clearly cleared out in advance.

And spread out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows below was the night view of Victoria Harbour.

Chu Tong felt a sudden sting in her nose.

They had discussed so many times about coming together to watch the Christmas Eve fireworks over Victoria Harbour. Now, after so much time had passed, they were finally overlooking this night view together, but under such circumstances.

She raised her gaze to look at him. The man opposite her had removed his suit jacket, wearing only a shirt and vest with armbands on his sleeves. He sat casually with his legs crossed, leaning lightly against the back of his chair, staring at her without a word.

His expression still lacked any flaws.

Stung by his composure, Chu Tong pressed her lips together and gave a sarcastic laugh. "Mr. Shao, does Jiahao know you came looking for me?"

Shao Yihuai's gaze darkened, and he asked flatly, "...Do you want him to know?"

"Why wouldn't I? Jiahao isn't the type of person to look down on me just because I used to be with you."

"Are his thoughts important?"

"More important than yours," Chu Tong retorted instantly.

Shao Yihuai was silent for a moment, as if soothing a physical pain.

After a long while, he asked, "...You like him that much?"

"None of your business."

"I don't allow it."

Chu Tong was astonished. "Who do you think you are to not allow it? You're so ridiculous." Realizing how angry she still was, she added, "No matter how much power and influence you wield, how can you control who I like in my heart?"

"Perhaps I can't control that," he replied calmly. "But as long as I am alive, the two of you will never be together."

Chu Tong was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"I have ten thousand ways to make him disappear."

Chu Tong finally caught a hint of danger in his calm tone.

She was almost speechless. "...He's your nephew..."

Shao Yihuai continued to look at her, as if saying: *So what?*

"...Are you insane?"

He remained silent.

Chu Tong was on the verge of crying with anger. "Are you sick in the head? You were the one who pushed me toward him in the first place, and now you're stopping me from being with him? Is something wrong with your brain?"

"I never pushed you toward him."

"You didn't?! You think I don't know? When he confessed to me, it was you who gave him the idea to pick a time with a good atmosphere. Do you think you're some kind of mastermind?"

A crack finally appeared on Shao Yihuai's face. He furrowed his brow, his gaze sweeping over her face. "...Is that really what you thought?"

With reddened eyes and a tight jaw, Chu Tong kept silent.

Shao Yihuai said, "It's a misunderstanding."

"Is it?" Chu Tong laughed in anger. "Is there even room for misunderstanding about this?"

Shao Yihuai loosened his tie.

His mind was in turmoil, emotions and thoughts clashing violently with no outlet.

He was entirely unable to clear his name.

He regulated his breathing. "...I thought you had feelings for him. At Manhe, you answered his call in the bathtub and chatted happily, and in the end, you told me yourself that you liked and appreciated him."

"Don't twist my words. I made it clear at the time that it was just fondness between friends."

"Even if it's just fondness between friends, earning your approval is no easy feat," Shao Yihuai said, his throat aching with dryness, wishing he could smoke. "...I wasn't trying to push you onto him; I just... didn't want to limit your possibilities..."

He regulated his breath once more. "...I knew all along that you would leave me. I was arrogant, thinking that if that person were Jiahao, it wouldn't be so bad. The Yi family would support him, you would have an easier life, and I could rest a little easier."

At that, Chu Tong burst into tears. "Listen to yourself! Aren't you just taking the first opportunity to cut me loose and get rid of me?"

Shao Yihuai's eyes turned red. He swallowed, his voice choked with a hoarse rasp, "Tongtong, I never wanted to get rid of you."

He stood up and walked around the table.

Chu Tong stepped back first to escape. "Don't come over."

She retreated step by step.

Shao Yihuai walked toward her step by step.

Until she backed up against the bar counter, leaning against it, grabbing a wine glass and lifting it with an expression of vigilance and defense. "Don't come closer. If you come any closer, I'll hit you."

Shao Yihuai stopped his advance and said gently, "Darling, put the glass down. You'll hurt yourself."

"I am not your darling."

She practically cried out the words.

"How could you not be."

"I won't have it," she cried. "Why is it that you can push me away whenever you feel like it, and now you call me your darling? What kind of darling am I? I'm nothing at all."

"Will you listen to my explanation?"

Chu Tong sniffled, glaring at him with red-rimmed eyes.

A shattered, tender ache filled the depths of Shao Yihuai's eyes. "...If I hadn't heard you say with your own mouth that you liked and appreciated him, even if Jiahao had come to ask me how to pursue you, there is no way in hell I would have given him any advice. Do you understand? I thought you fancied him, so... so I made the executive decision to give the two of you a possibility... I also wanted to know your thoughts, to see if you would choose him, which is why I let him pursue you."

"...And then, he came back and told me your response was 'let me think about it.' Of course I assumed you were weighing your options between him and me."

"So I let go."

"I always knew you would leave me, but I didn't expect it to be Jiahao, and even less did I expect it to happen so fast."

"How could anyone say I pushed you onto him? I never brought him between us to begin with."

After a long silence, Chu Tong gave a bitter, defeated laugh. "...When all is said and done, weren't you still the one who voluntarily let go?"

"...I overestimated myself. I thought I could handle it."

His voice was exceptionally calm—so calm it bordered on the dejected resignation of one who had conceded defeat.

Pausing briefly, Chu Tong looked up at him. Standing tall against the boundless night view of Victoria Harbour behind him, his eyes were dark, heavy with reddened, shattered fragments of light.

He walked closer, step by step.

Chu Tong immediately went back on high alert. "Don't come near me. I haven't finished speaking."

"Mhm."

Shao Yihuai acknowledged her, his stride naturally continuing forward as he closed the distance.

Chu Tong watched helplessly as he walked right up to her, lowered his head slightly, and braced his arms on either side of her. The pressure of his palms was transmitted through the wine glass she held.

"Be good. Let go."

That low, coaxing tone.

She was most defenseless against his gentleness. As the tension in her heart relaxed just a fraction, the wine glass was taken from her hand. Before her fingers could fully unfurl, they were enveloped and grasped within his palm.

She was still offering token resistance, her body stiff and pressed tightly against the edge of the bar.

Shao Yihuai looked down into her face, watching the teardrops on her eyelashes, and murmured softly, "Darling."

Her hand was cocooned within his, feeling the friction of his thumb rubbing against her skin—a motion that felt dangerously hypnotic.

Her entire body was enveloped and imprisoned by his large frame. His broad shoulders—she had countless times rested upon them as she endured his thrusts. His vest cinched a lean waist—she still remembered the muscles and veins of his lower abdomen.

His powerful, warm embrace had once held an infinite attraction for her, sinking her so deep she couldn't pull herself free.

Averting her face, her tear-stained voice thick and muffled, she said stubbornly, "Mr. Shao, aren't you just bullying me?"

Shao Yihuai finally uncurled her fingers, sliding his own into her palm. Her skin was damp with sweat.

Warm and clammy.

His voice was low. "Is that so? And yet I haven't even done anything yet."