Chapter 3

Xue Meng’s case had been difficult from the start.

Just as Zhou Yuxing had said, she was too emotional.

Whenever he asked a question, she gave him feelings instead of facts.

There was nothing for it. I became her spokesperson.

Zhou Yuxing was not pleased.

He slapped the desk. “Go outside. I want to speak to her alone!”

Even I was afraid of him when he was angry, let alone Xue Meng.

She clung to my hand, refusing to let me leave.

“Either do as I say or find another lawyer,” he said coldly.

Xue Meng had no choice but to let go.

They spent over an hour in his office that day.

When she emerged, there was a rare brightness about her.

“Zhou Yuxing is amazing,” she said.

“How so?”

“He’s just… very gentle.”

Her choice of words made my heart give a jolt, but I didn’t dwell on it.

I asked Zhou Yuxing what he had done.

“Just because I don’t like her personality doesn’t mean I can’t handle her. She hasn’t grown up. She’s too dependent on you. From now on, I’ll deal with her directly.”

Zhou Yuxing must have had his reasons. I trusted him.

Sure enough, the case went more and more smoothly after that.

At first, Xue Meng still shared the details with me.

I couldn’t say when we began speaking less and less.

Then one day I called to ask how her case was going.

She sounded relaxed. “How’s it going? I don’t know. I just do whatever Zhou Yuxing tells me. He’s handling everything.”

I laughed helplessly. “All right. I’ll ask him when he gets home tonight.”

She said there was no need.

“He’s right here. I’ll let him tell you.”

And just like that, out of nowhere, I found myself speaking to my husband on my best friend’s phone.

Whatever he said, I barely took it in.

All I could think was how close they seemed to have become.

Zhou Yuxing teased me. “Aren’t you glad I’m getting along with your best friend?”

As if it didn’t matter, I asked, “Do you still dislike Xiaomeng?”

He was working on his laptop at the time.

He spared a moment for a laugh.

“She’s pretty cute.”

All those little signs wound my nerves tighter and tighter.

When did that final thread snap?

It must have been that early morning.

Zhou Yuxing and I were asleep when his phone rang.

Still half asleep, he answered, “Hello?”

I didn’t know what he heard, but a second later, he sprang out of bed.

“Why are you crying? Don’t be afraid. Just lock the door and call the police. I’ll be right there!”

His voice was steady. He even sounded as though he was smiling.

But his hands moved frantically as he searched for clothes.

Zhou Yuxing was always composed.

This was the first time I had seen him panic.

Yet even in his panic, he was doing his best to reassure whoever was on the other end.

It left me with an awful feeling.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” I asked.

“That scumbag Xie Yang is making trouble for Xiaomeng again. Go back to sleep. I’m going over there!”

“Why didn’t she call me?” The words slipped out.

Zhou Yuxing turned sharply, his gaze cutting into me.

“You’re not worried about her safety? That’s all you care about? Li Shuning, you’ve gone too far. She’s your best friend!”

Yes. She was my best friend.

But when she was frightened and desperate, it was my husband she called first.

Zhou Yuxing was furious. He all but slammed the door on his way out.

I stood there for a long time, forcing down the emotions churning inside me. In the end, I decided to follow him and see for myself.

When I arrived, Xue Meng’s front door stood open. I could clearly hear her stifled sobs.

And Zhou Yuxing’s low, soothing voice.

“Stop crying. It’s all right. I’m here now, aren’t I? He won’t dare do anything to you!”

Without listening any longer, I walked in and addressed the two people holding each other. “What are you doing?”

Looking back, I must have been afraid.

Afraid to hear too much, afraid to let them go on, afraid of hearing something I couldn’t bear.