Chapter 13: Miss Yu's Visit

Last night, unable to sleep after Liang Youjia left, she planned to take a nap. But after only half an hour of rest, there was a knock at the door.

Xianyu thought it was a hallucination at first. But when she opened the bedroom door and stepped into the living room, the knocking grew louder.

Since there were no neighbors across the hall, it was clear someone was looking for her. Liang Youjia had a key card and could come in freely, so if it wasn’t him, who else could it be?

“Knock knock knock—”

The knocking never ceased, always three sharp raps at a time.

Calm and unhurried, yet with the unmistakable insistence that the door must be opened.

Xianyu frowned, guessing it might be a food delivery, though she couldn’t rule out someone else coming to see her.

“Coming, who is it—”

Her words trailed off as a cold, refined face appeared before her.

“Let’s talk inside.”

It was none other than Liang’s mother, Yu Qingzhou.

Ironically, though she was the rightful mistress of the room, Yu Qingzhou habitually took charge as if it were her own domain.

She stepped in first. Xianyu, tense, clenched her hands and followed.

The hotel didn’t offer room service or tea, only a fridge stocked with various drinks.

Xianyu grabbed a bottle of “Oriental Leaf” and placed it in front of Yu Qingzhou.

Yu Qingzhou sneered coldly, “Is this your idea of taste?”

Xianyu choked on the words. “This is all we have at home. Or would you prefer canned coffee or milk?”

Yu Qingzhou scoffed disdainfully, “Don’t bother with those flashy things.”

“I told you from the start, Youjia shouldn’t be involved with a woman like you. Years have passed and you’ve made no progress whatsoever.”

“Look at yourself. How could you be worthy of Youjia?”

Indeed, she was utterly unworthy.

Whether in education, family background, personality, or intellect.

What he needed was a confident, intelligent woman who could stand beside him in the business world.

Not a useless ornamental pillow.

Xianyu said nothing, eyes lowered to her toes, enduring Yu Qingzhou’s harsh scolding word by word.

“Youjia is busy with work. Even on his days off, he’s busy closing deals.”

“And you? You’re just using cheap tricks to trap him here temporarily.”

“There’s no future for you two, you understand that, right?”

Xianyu knew this well and understood the unspoken message: Yu Qingzhou wanted her to leave Youjia quietly.

Her heart felt as if stuffed with a wet cotton ball, choking her breath.

She knew she had to leave and was prepared to do so, but... could she wait a little longer?

At least until after Youjia’s grandmother’s eightieth birthday banquet?

Yet, she could not voice this, nor would Yu Qingzhou give her the chance.

In Yu Qingzhou’s eyes, she was nothing but a worthless object.

“This is one million. You have three days to sort things out with Youjia.”

Xianyu smiled bitterly, wanting to tell Yu Qingzhou that even without the money, Youjia was already planning to part ways with her.

But what use would that be?

She did not accept the check.

Seeing this, Yu Qingzhou grew impatient.

“You don’t still intend to cling on, do you? Youjia has a fiancée. What do you want to be? His mistress? His kept woman? Or some secret lover?” Her tone dripped with scorn.

Her chin raised high, bearing the proud arrogance of a noblewoman.

“Our Liang family has never allowed an heir to do such things. So a bastard? That will never happen with Youjia.”

At that moment, Xianyu had nothing to say.

Only a mingling of relief and sorrow.

Relief that she had lost the child early—no longer having to fear her baby being branded illegitimate and abused.

Sorrow that her status did not match Youjia’s. This love was destined to end.

“No bastard,” Xianyu said with hollow eyes, pressing her lips tight but speaking resolutely, “You can be assured of that.”

Yu Qingzhou sneered, “Even if you had your womb removed, I wouldn’t believe such nonsense from a young girl like you.”

“I’ll give you at most half a month. If you don’t leave, I’ll have someone deal with you. If during this time you come to your senses, feel free to call me.”

The one million check.

Yu Qingzhou didn’t take it back.

Along with the check was a sticky note, scrawled with Yu Qingzhou’s phone number in elegant calligraphy.

Xianyu clenched the check, a single bead of tear fell onto the paper, blurring the amount.

How pitiful she was.

Just like the price Yu Qingzhou placed on her—merely a million.

Liang Youjia was somewhat better; at least he was willing to wrap her in money, turning her into a glittering golden cage.

But in the end, her worth was measured by the number written on that check.

No, considering Yu Qingzhou’s words of “deal with you,” perhaps “trash” would be a more fitting description.

She folded the check and slipped it into her wallet.

She had thought about throwing it away or tearing it up for momentary relief.

But then she felt that would be too easy.

She needed to remember the humiliation of the check’s insult.

To resist the maddening sorrow and love she felt for Liang Youjia.

—

“Why are your eyelids swollen? Have you been crying?”

Liang Youjia came by again as dusk fell. The curtains were open, revealing a sky ablaze with fiery clouds.

But Xianyu was asleep.

Only when he called did she slowly awaken.

She hadn’t used a warm compress after crying, and he happened to see.

His fingers, slightly rough, brushed over her soft eyelids, causing a faint ache. Xianyu grabbed his hand tightly.

“I had a dream. We were taking wedding photos on the beach, then you ran further and further into the sea, and I couldn’t find you—”