Chapter 17

On my way down the mountain, I saw He Wei.

I had no idea how he managed to follow me here.

He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t want to tempt fate by talking to him either.

So I just pretended not to see him and walked past.

Only when I opened the car door did I hear him call out, “Jiang Yu.”

I didn’t look back.

When I got home, the lights were already on.

Fu Ziyi was lying on the sofa, playing games out of boredom, while Zhuozhuo had found a comfortable spot on his stomach to lie down.

As soon as the door opened, Zhuozhuo leapt lightly into my arms.

Fu Ziyi didn’t move from the sofa, just asked casually, “Why are you back so late today?”

I replied, “Mm. I ran into a few people I don’t like.”

Fu Ziyi thought for a moment, then asked, “He Wei?”

His spot-on guess made me laugh.

“What’s up with him now?”

Fu Ziyi must have finished his game, because he tossed his phone aside and carried the now-cold dishes into the kitchen.

Since he took over, I didn’t bother to move.

I simply leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching him reheat the food with interest.

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

Fu Ziyi didn’t press further.

The kitchen wasn’t big, just enough space for two people to pass. The warm yellow light overhead cast a glow over Fu Ziyi’s busy figure, making him seem bathed in warmth.

“I finished cooking at six, thinking we’d have dinner right away. Who knew you’d be back so late.”

I said, “Yeah, who could’ve guessed?”

When the doorbell rang, I didn’t think much of it.

But when I opened the door, I saw He Wei standing outside.

He was holding a beautifully wrapped box.

I asked, “Do you need something?”

He Wei handed me the box, his expression less stiff than usual this time.

He said, “Happy birthday.”

My gaze lingered on the box for a moment, but I didn’t dwell on it. “No need. I don’t want it.”

If it had been in those first few years after I returned to the He family, I might have been happy about a gift from him.

But later I learned that the expensive ornaments he gave me were just items he happened to pick up while he was carefully choosing gifts for He Yu.

So I stopped expecting anything from his so-called gifts.

I don’t need generic presents, no matter how expensive they are.

When Fu Ziyi came out, He Wei’s hand was still outstretched, not yet withdrawn.

He Wei asked, “You invited other friends too?”

The smile in Fu Ziyi’s eyes vanished the moment he saw He Wei, and he turned cold.

He Wei frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Fu Ziyi shot back indifferently, “None of your business.”

He Wei turned to look at me again, his expression growing unpleasant.

I sighed and nudged Fu Ziyi gently with my elbow, signaling him not to get upset.