Zhao Xiaorou had only watched ten minutes of "Rhinoceros in Love" when she decisively pulled Hu Xiu's hand as the house lights came on. "Let's go..."
"Where to...?"
"To settle scores with Diao Zhiyu. Standing up my friend Zhao Xiaorou? I'll make him pay with his life."
Wiping her tears, Hu Xiu chuckled instead. "That's too much..."
"Do you know where he lives?"
"No... and there's no need to find him." Hu Xiu let out a soft laugh as she remained seated. "Whatever reason he had for not coming, I've figured it out."
"You might have figured it out, but I haven't." Zhao Xiaorou yanked her firmly. "The last time I saw this expression was when your ex-fiancé called off the engagement. What 'figured it out'? Women shouldn't be the ones figuring things out—they should be holding knives to men's throats demanding confessions. Damn it, get up. If you won't get revenge, I'll teach you how."
This was bad. With Zhao Xiaorou's explosive temper, Diao Zhiyu was likely in for a bloody night—
The last time she'd been this furious was during the broken engagement, back when Zhao Xiaorou was still clinging to her "Wang Guangming persona."
But during the few days her ex had returned to his hometown to visit family, this seemingly demure young woman had hired someone to axe down his front door.
Her previously unreachable ex had sent Hu Xiu his only message afterward: "Was it you seeking revenge?"
Completely in the dark, Hu Xiu knew nothing about it, and the matter eventually faded away.
Six months later, Zhao Xiaorou mentioned it offhandedly: "That guy... I had people chop down his door. If it weren't for your sake, I'd already have picked his burial spot."
A dark cloud swept over Hu Xiu. "Zhao Xiaorou, I don't know where Diao Zhiyu lives. Don't be impulsive."
"Impulsive? I've been planning this for at least half an hour. My thoughts are clear and logical—a life for a life."
"I'm not pregnant. Stop saying such scary things."
"To REGARD. Li Ai will know. If he won't talk, I'll smash his shop."
It wasn't just Diao Zhiyu—she had a score to settle with Li Ai too. Hu Xiu sighed. She hadn't even had time to process the heartbreak into her script; the melancholic scenes had been outright deleted.
If she didn't go along, there was a high chance Zhao Xiaorou would grab Li Ai by the neck with shattered glass, demanding, "What's wrong with me? Why did you choose that older woman with a child?"
Shenyang had domestic violence centers protecting men—a testament to deeply rooted realities.
None of Zhao Xiaorou's harsh words were ever sincere, but she loved posturing. Wang Guangming had been right to rein her in and craft her persona.
Compared to her face, her temper was too coarse, often hurting others to assert dominance first.
In the taxi, watching Zhao Xiaorou's violently shaking crossed leg, her murderous aura nearly set the car ablaze.
Hu Xiu thought to herself, maybe Wang Guangming hadn't divorced due to public pressure.
Perhaps he'd just had enough of managing her. No one could sleep peacefully holding a time bomb.
Zhao Xiaorou once said in a relationship guide: "Women only need three principles in this world—say what sounds nice, choose coquettishness over tantrums, and when angry, shed tears instead of raging. With these, you can capture most men."But once the camera was off, she was usually clutching a wine bottle: "Men are all dogs, don't be good to them either. Just like Mom, you break your heart for them, and they only like those with big breasts who won't give them the time of day."
Arriving at REGARD, the scene before them startled both Hu Xiu and Zhao Xiaorou.
Chairs inside the shop were overturned in disarray, coffee was splattered on the floor, the floor-to-ceiling glass was shattered—clear signs of a struggle. Passersby had gathered to watch, and only the unfamiliar Xu Meng and the barista remained at the entrance, enduring sympathetic and curious glances.
Xu Meng, wrapped in her red coat, glanced around—it seemed to be the only coat she wore repeatedly. The barista kept checking his watch; it was already ten o'clock.
Hu Xiu noticed blood on the floor: "What happened?"
"The family members of the accident victim came looking for Li Ai, and a conflict broke out. Some of them brought a funeral portrait and used it to smash things in the shop. Li Ai's leg hasn't healed yet, and Xiao Diao stepped in front to block the portrait with his arm. The glass shattered right on his arm."
"Where are they now?"
"Either at the hospital or the police station, I'm not really sure." Police station—such an old-fashioned term.
"Holy shit, he used his bare hand?" Zhao Xiaorou's mouth fell open, but she quickly followed up: "Have you been here the whole time?"
"Yes, I didn't leave tonight." Xu Meng checked her watch again. "Now that you're here, I can go. I'll wait another fifteen minutes to make sure they're okay, then head home."
"About that Five Categories and Twelve Types issue before, I spoke up for you. Did you manage to resolve it later?"
Xu Meng gave a bleak smile: "No. Just look at the shattered mess behind us—it shows who power ultimately protects."
For a moment, everyone fell silent, with only the cold wind quietly rustling the fallen leaves on the ground.
While Zhao Xiaorou was rushing to the Yihai Theater, Diao Zhiyu was at REGARD, using his arm to shield Li Ai from harm. The thought sent a jolt of fear through her, but it also brought some comfort—he hadn't intentionally rejected her.
A taxi pulled up in front, and Li Ai and Diao Zhiyu got out, emerging from the front and rear doors simultaneously with an air of rugged resilience.
Li Ai carried the restraint of a mature man, limping without his cane, his anger still simmering.
Diao Zhiyu had his arm wrapped in bandages up to the base of his thumb. He stepped out of the car like an iceberg, dressed entirely in black, his sharp facial lines making it clear that his rage hadn't subsided either.
His gaze briefly met Hu Xiu's without a word, then he slung his backpack over his shoulder with his right hand and made to leave: "I'm heading back first."
"Leaving? Diao Zhiyu, are you some kind of Iron Arm Atom?" Zhao Xiaorou sighed, all her anger turning into helplessness. "Come to my place. We'll pull down the rolling shutter for now, and I'll have someone come clean up tomorrow."
"You all go ahead, I'll handle the cleanup myself."
"Li Ai, you're coming home with me." Zhao Xiaorou left no room for refusal. "If you don't come with me today, we're done being friends."
It felt like a declaration of sovereignty in front of Xu Meng.
The taxi hadn't left yet. Xu Meng opened the door and slipped inside, bidding farewell to Li Ai: "I'll go ahead..."
"Sorry about today." Li Ai leaned against the car door, his tone noticeably intimate. "And you weren't in a good mood either."
"There's no need for apologies between you and me."
Hu Xiu felt Zhao Xiaorou take a sharp breath beside her. In her eyes was a familiar resentment—her coldness and dominance seemed utterly powerless against such a soft yet perceptive woman.She wasn't unaware of those gentle yet effective approaches, but the dynamics had solidified over their long-term interactions—she couldn't possibly act tenderly in front of Li Ai.
She didn't consider herself much luckier. Diao Zhiyu stood in the distance, staring down at her own hands—fingers clenched into fists that refused to straighten—her heart aching in waves.
The desperate urge to transfer Diao Zhiyu's injuries onto herself felt both pathetic and twisted, a ridiculous overflow of maternal instinct. Yet love at its most extreme ultimately manifests as an unwillingness to let the other suffer even the slightest harm.
Li Ai merely sighed: "Let's stay here. I need to sort things out and order a floor-to-ceiling glass panel as soon as possible."
REGARD had never been in such disarray. Traces of the fight were clearly visible: the shattered guitar, tables knocked askew from the struggle, the small speaker and ornaments smashed to the ground in anger, the Christmas tree kicked over and trampled, glass that had broken against Diao Zhiyu's hand before falling, the crimson blood staining the floor... Zhao Xiaorou couldn't bear to look any longer: "I hold shares in this café too. I'll cover the renovation costs."
"Closing it down wouldn't matter either. After all this chaos, I'm somewhat exhausted."
"What exactly happened?"
Li Ai stopped holding back: "The lawsuit can't proceed—evidence keeps dwindling. The families from the other two parties showed up, begging me to settle so they could each get 2 million in compensation. I refused, and they escalated their harassment."
"Not just escalation." Diao Zhiyu rested her elbows on her knees, the bandages wrapped so tightly her fingertips were turning purple. "They were already mentally unstable—burst in claiming their wives had gone mad, threatening to kill themselves by crashing into the door if we didn't settle."
"Don't put it that way." Li Ai pulled out a cigarette. "Everyone has their own struggles."
"This was bound to happen eventually—the disease of poverty. You don't understand terms like 'preying on the heirless' until you witness it firsthand. Those parents never intended to sue from the moment their child died—they saw Li Ai as a debtor, beyond reasoning."
Diao Zhiyu spoke these words while staring at her bandaged hand, her tone icy and hardened. This wasn't her first time witnessing such scenes.
One might expect a twenty-two-year-old raised in Shanghai to prioritize reasoning, calling the police, resolving things with dignity. But this reckless, clumsy approach was no different from Zhao Xiaorou's—when unreasonable people resort to violence, she'd never back down, even if it meant bloodshed.
There was something oddly captivating about it. Zhao Xiaorou punched Diao Zhiyu's shoulder: "Fighting your way into a police station—typical you."
"I didn't throw the first punch."
"How did you get released?"
"Pei Zhen bailed us out..." Diao Zhiyu answered bluntly, exchanging a glance with Hu Xiu that clearly indicated lingering resentment.
"Perhaps I truly need to settle. I'm exhausted from all this turmoil, and more people keep getting dragged in."
Diao Zhiyu leaned back on the sofa: "It's not your fault. You just want answers for your deceased wife—why should you be violated to this extent? If you can't strike back, I will."
Her gaze never once drifted toward Hu Xiu. Zhao Xiaorou noticed keenly: "Diao Zhiyu, did you see the gift Hu Xiu left for you on Snowpiercer?"
"No..." Diao Zhiyu offered no elaboration, simply stood up to fetch water, exuding the same limping-Co vibe from "Lives of Omission."Li Ai smiled: "It was the police officer who found it while searching the bag. They almost detained me for seven days."
"No need to explain..." Diao Zhiyu said lightly, "If you didn't see it, you didn't see it. Explanations are meaningless."
He poured the first glass of water and handed it to Hu Xiu without a word, his peripheral vision catching her red, tear-filled eyes.
That single gesture alone made Hu Xiu's throat tighten. She quietly slipped into the back kitchen to wipe her tears.
Diao Zhiyu followed. The two stood in the darkness without speaking, the once happily intimate Camp Bed and Beanbag Sofa nestled together. Hu Xiu thought, breaking through the paper window with a boy she didn't like enough was truly self-humiliating.
"Don't waste your time on me," Diao Zhiyu broke the silence first. "I'm not the best match for you. Qin Xiaoyi is perfect; I'm not."
His words were a clear rejection. Why wasn't it dark enough for her vision to fail? At least then she wouldn't have seen his hesitation. Hu Xiu stared at him defiantly. Go on, say it all.
"Most people who get involved with me end up unhappy. All I can give you are dreams.
I'm truly sorry for getting close to you before, giving you illusions. It was my fault for not maintaining boundaries."
"From the moment you met me until now, have you ever liked me even a little?"
The figure in the darkness remained still and silent.
You can't draw me close and then push me away. You can't treat me like this. Hu Xiu stumbled against a stool behind her, grabbing onto a shelf to keep from falling. Diao Zhiyu instinctively moved to help but froze mid-action.
The series of actions made her laugh: "I understand now. Your care for me is just instinct, like how you'd protect Li Ai.
But that time in the Escape Room when you called out Qin Xiaoyi's name—it was just a mistake in the heat of the moment. Who you pretend to be doesn't matter to me, because it's Diao Zhiyu I like.
It's just... I know deeply that I'm not first in your heart. I've always comforted myself thinking you might come to like me.
After all, we were so close before. Given time, maybe you'd find me somewhat special.
It's not like I've never begged someone to stay before. The outcome... This time, I won't."
Diao Zhiyu was the first to leave the dark space. Hu Xiu stepped into the light, suddenly feeling a rush of wind fill her arms.
The rolled-up shutter door had been pulled open, letting sharp cold air flood into the exposed room. Zhao Xiaorou was also arguing with Li Ai. Strange how suddenly everyone could no longer contain their discontent, as if urgently seeking some breach to shatter, letting truth rush in unchecked.
"If you really want to push me away, fine. Return the REGARD money to me. I'll never come here again. Zhao Xiaorou isn't some shameless woman who'd cling to a cripple."
"Fine..."
"You've tainted my feelings. You're not worthy."
"Don't provoke me. I won't take the bait."
"Then say it! Say it! You know what I want."
"It's late. You should go home."Hu Xiu saw Zhao Xiaorou cry for the first time. She wiped her tears forcefully: "I lost. You've got me figured out—you're certain I'll always stay by your side. I'll restore REGARD to its original state as soon as possible, even make it cozier than before. Later, I'll shamelessly insist on making you my business partner, forcibly pulling you into my life to become part of me, pretending I'm incapable of doing anything alone and can never find a suitable partner.
And you'd never refuse me, just like you'd never say harsh words to me. You'll always brush me off by saying you're not good enough for me, so I'll deliberately live miserably, clinging to the delusion that I can have you. Even when Xu Meng stands between us, taking away a part of your affection, I'll stay by your side and endure it. All because—I can't live without you."
After saying this, Zhao Xiaorou ran out. Li Ai leaned against the counter, lifted his head to take a deep breath, his eyes glimmering with unreadable emotions. They reddened as he bit his lip hard.
This was also Hu Xiu's first time witnessing it—if it weren't for Zhao Xiaorou, Li Ai would never show such an expression.
When he looked at Hu Xiu again, Li Ai had returned to his usual gentle self: "Seems like it's just the two of us again. Mind helping me reset the tables and chairs?
Before I leave, I want it to at least look—not as messed up as I am."
Both were people who could endure loneliness best, yet now they couldn't bear to be alone. The tables needed to be pushed against the wall, stools stacked upside down on them. The Christmas tree and broken decorations had to be discarded, stuffed into black bags and left by the door as trash. The broom hit fragments, fragments collided with other fragments—the crisp clinks were nothing compared to the crashing sound of Li Ai throwing away his broken guitar.
The stains on the wall might need another coat of paint; the counter with a large chunk missing from its edge would require some creativity.
Li Ai spoke from behind: "Anyway, we've already promised gift exchanges for Christmas Eve—can't stand everyone up. Might need to work overtime recently to fix things."
Hu Xiu bent over while stepping back and bumped into Li Ai's chest. He instinctively said, "Sorry."
She threw down the broom, clung tightly to Li Ai, and wept uncontrollably. She vowed this would be her last time crying—why does falling in love always bring so much helplessness? Every bit of it becomes a precise reason for tears to flow, striking right at the weakest spots. Emotions travel through the finest nerves, each tiny sensation stinging yet so intoxicating.
I crave intangible feelings so desperately—even unrequited love makes me feel less hollow.
You so easily tell me not to waste my time on you—it's too cruel. I want to return to a numb, painless life, but what I can't bring myself to say is—I'm not ready at all.
"We're really experts at embarrassing ourselves in front of each other," Li Ai's voice rumbled muffled from his chest. "Right now, I'm hurting too."
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