Chapter 109: Showing Up at Her Doorstep

Over the past three years, he had sent her countless calls and messages, all of which she had ignored. Ouyang Chen was a childhood friend of Li Mingye and seemed to harbor some affection for her; she truly did not want to get entangled with him, so she could only resort to giving him the cold shoulder.

"Zhang Xiluo, that is a dead end ahead," Ouyang Chen said, walking leisurely behind her, offering a well-meaning reminder. "If you don't want to hit a wall, you should turn back."

Zhang Xiluo glanced ahead, then stopped in her tracks, took a deep breath, and turned around.

"What a coincidence."

"It is a coincidence, though you clearly don't want to see me." Ouyang Chen’s gaze was deep and his expression unreadable as he looked her over.

Zhang Xiluo offered an awkward smile without offering an explanation. She felt that some things only became more complicated the more one tried to clarify them. Since he already knew her stance, there was no need for her to make excuses.

"Ouyang Chen, I’m heading off now. I have things to do."

"Let’s grab a meal together." Ouyang Chen frowned slightly. His tone was flat, sounding less like a request and more like an instruction.

"Fine."

Seeing there was no escape, she braced herself and agreed.

Ouyang Chen returned to his gallery to change his clothes. Zhang Xiluo admired his paintings, wondering when exactly he had started moving toward Impressionism. His technique, composition, and brushwork were on par with many modern masters; he could easily hold a solo exhibition, and with his looks, he would undoubtedly become famous in no time.

"Let’s go." Ouyang Chen emerged, having changed, and picked up a bag. "You still haven't told me why you’re here."

After walking only a few steps, Zhang Xiluo realized the issue: the place she had rented was not far from Ouyang Chen’s studio—just two streets separated by a river. That was why she had ended up right in front of him so inexplicably. She didn't actually want to be too close to him, but there simply wasn't a more suitable location.

"I’m looking at a shop across the way."

"You’re planning to open a studio, too?" Ouyang Chen’s eyes lit up, which inexplicably made Zhang Xiluo nervous. He couldn't possibly think she was trying to compete with him, could he?

"Yes, but I haven't worked out the specifics yet."

"Let me know if you need any help. You might consider the other side of the river; the rent is cheaper over here." After saying this, Ouyang Chen opened the car door for her.

As if! She had no intention of moving over there. Besides, it wasn't as if she were short on money!

"I’ve already signed the contract, and the penalty for breaking it is quite high," Zhang Xiluo politely declined. Ouyang Chen didn't press the matter.

The restaurant was close to the ancient street, a newly opened establishment with an antique aesthetic. The waitstaff were all dressed in traditional Hanfu, and the women were all tall and exceptionally beautiful. If it weren't clearly a restaurant, Zhang Xiluo would have mistaken it for a high-end club.

"What would you like to eat?" Ouyang Chen gestured for the waiter to hand the menu to her.

"Whatever," Zhang Xiluo said, pushing it back toward him without looking.

"We’ll have one of everything on the signature menu."

"..."

Zhang Xiluo was speechless. Just the signature dishes on the cover numbered more than eight; was he trying to make them both explode from overeating? She wanted to speak up and change the order, but someone blocked her path, causing her to miss the chance to call the waiter.

"Miss Zhang, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."

Zhang Xiluo looked up to see Mu Changjia. He was wearing a blue suit, wearing a polite, professional smile, and greeted her with great courtesy.

"Who are you?" Zhang Xiluo deliberately feigned ignorance. She didn't want to get involved with the Mu family and end up dealing with a mess of trouble.

"Mu Changjia." He was not offended, introducing himself simply and offering a polite handshake.

Zhang Xiluo smiled faintly and nodded. "Is there something you need, Mr. Mu?"

"Regarding the incident where Peipei hit your car, I was hoping to understand the situation in more detail."

She frowned, feeling that Mu Changjia was like an old woman, obsessing over the same thing repeatedly. She had already explained everything clearly in her text message. There was no need to keep asking.

"Why don't you ask Miss Mu how she managed to hit the car? She knows best," Zhang Xiluo replied in a cold tone, clearly signaling she had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Mu Changjia tactfully expressed his apologies. "I apologize for the intrusion, Miss Zhang. Please, enjoy your meal."

Ouyang Chen had been watching her intently. Once Mu Changjia left, he asked, "What was that about?"

"Mu Peipei rear-ended my car," Zhang Xiluo replied dismissively. She wasn't about to let anyone know that this matter was connected to Li Mingye.

"I see. Drive more carefully in the future." Ouyang Chen poured her a cup of tea and dropped the subject.

She had expected Ouyang Chen to grill her about why she never returned his messages, and she had prepared plenty of excuses in her head. Who would have thought he wouldn't even bring it up? He really was just having a simple meal with her.

After the meal, they drove back to the ancient street. Seeing her car, she asked Ouyang Chen to drop her off.

"I’m heading off. Thanks for the meal."

"You're welcome."

Ouyang Chen drove away immediately after. Zhang Xiluo watched his car disappear, feeling that he was actually angry. Well, let him be; she didn't have the energy to probe into anyone else's heart right now.

She took out her phone and checked the map, looking for a route that wouldn't lead to running into Ouyang Chen, just to avoid frequent encounters.

As soon as she arrived home, her mother was preparing to leave. There was a dinner party that evening, and both her parents were attending.

"People from the Li family will be there, so we aren't taking you. There’s food in the fridge; heat it up if you’re hungry." Her mother wanted to keep her away from the Li family, especially Li Mingye.

"Got it. Keep an eye on Dad and make sure he doesn't drink too much."

"I’m off. I’m meeting your father at the office." Her mother took the car keys from Zhang Xiluo and left with her bag.

Zhang Xiluo took a shower, changed into comfortable loungewear, and curled up on the sofa to browse her phone. She fell asleep without realizing it, and when she woke up, it was already dark.

Jiang Xueting had sent over twenty messages, mostly photos showing off her baby. She had named him Zhao Jiangzhi, indicating he was the child of Zhao Chengyi and Jiang Xueting. She had originally wanted to name him Zhao Jiangzhizi, but Zhao Chengyi thought it sounded terrible, so after much deliberation, they dropped the last character.

Seeing Jiang Xueting share these joyful moments put Zhang Xiluo in an exceptionally good mood. The first time she met Li Mingye, she had already decided on the names for their future children, and for all these years, she hadn't changed her mind. If it were a boy, he would be Li Muxi; if a girl, Li Muxi. She had always fantasized about Li Mingye loving Zhang Xiluo.

She thought of the things she had brought back from the villa. She rose and went to her room, retrieving a box from the balcony. Her diary lay quietly inside, along with some handmade items from her teenage years—folded stars, paper hearts, and a sketchbook she had drawn for Li Mingye.

These items, filled with her overflowing love, were nothing but eyesores to Li Mingye. It had been over three years; why hadn't he just thrown them away instead of forcing her to deal with them herself? Li Mingye was still as cold-blooded as ever; he loved to watch her rip open her own scars, loved to kill her spirit.

Just then, her phone rang. Seeing Li Mingye’s number, she instinctively hung up and turned the phone off.

Not long after, a knock sounded at her door. She stood on the balcony and saw Li Mingye standing outside in the yard. That heartless man had actually come all the way to her doorstep.