After two days in the hospital, Cecilia Ye was finally allowed to be discharged.
Charles Chase drove her home and was preparing to head to the office—there were still a pile of issues at the company needing his attention, all thanks to the latest moves from the Fu Group.
"Go on, I’ll be fine," Cecilia Ye told him gratefully. She didn’t know why, but Charles Chase had been at the hospital with her the entire time. She felt bad for troubling him so much.
"I might have to be away for a couple days. If you need anything, remember to call me," Charles Chase said, still clearly worried. "Or... why not stay at my villa for a bit?"
Cecilia Ye hesitated, then shook her head. "That’s not necessary, but thank you."
Seeing her insist, Charles Chase had no choice but to leave. The sooner he finished his business, the sooner he could come back.
Cecilia Ye had expected to have to clean up the garden when she returned home, but the small courtyard was immaculately tidy—someone must have done it for her. Even the flowerpots had been swapped for new ones.
Fu Zhiyan’s car had been parked down the street all this time. After seeing Charles Chase drive away, he got out, carrying Zoey Zhang in his arms.
The sight of the tall man holding a tiny dog was actually rather lovely—except for the bruises marring his face in blue and purple patches.
He hesitated at the gate before crouching to set Zoey Zhang down inside the wooden fence.
Zoey Zhang trotted across the stone path, tilting his little head in puzzlement. The dog’s new collar, decorated with a heart-shaped bell, tinkled softly with each movement.
Those bright, inky eyes fixed on Fu Zhiyan, almost as if to ask, "Why aren’t you coming in with me?"
"Go on, don’t make Cecilia come looking for you," Fu Zhiyan said quietly, shoving his hands back in his pockets.
Maybe understanding that he wouldn't be coming in, Zoey Zhang wagged his tail and dashed towards the house.
Cecilia Ye was searching everywhere for Zoey Zhang. So much had happened two days ago, she hadn’t thought of the dog until now. Yesterday she’d asked Brother Hua to check in, but he said he hadn’t seen the puppy.
That scared her so much she wanted to rush home immediately, but the doctor didn't allow her to leave early.
After checking the living room on the first floor, Cecilia Ye went upstairs.
Just as she thought Zoey Zhang had made a run for it, she heard yipping downstairs.
"Zoey Zhang!" Leaning against the banister, Cecilia Ye looked down to see Zoey Zhang waiting at the bottom of the staircase, gazing up at her.
Worry slid off her face, replaced by a relieved smile. "Sorry, Zoey Zhang. I haven't been home these past few days..."
She hurried down and scooped up the little dog, immediately noticing its new collar. She froze for a moment—she remembered buying a matching red and blue set and leaving them in a bedroom drawer.
So, was Fu Zhiyan looking after Zoey Zhang all this time?
For a second, her heart fell silent.
She told herself not to overthink it. After all, Zoey Zhang was his dog too.
After eating a little, Cecilia Ye went upstairs to rest.
Dusk fell and the streetlights in the villa district flickered on one by one.
She took a shower, then told her baby a bedtime story.
Somehow unsettled, she frowned at the tightly closed curtains.
She slipped from the bed, hesitated, and moved towards the window. After a moment's thought, she turned off the bedroom light, leaving just the small lamp glowing by the bed.
Carefully, hidden by the white wall, she pulled the curtain aside a crack. A black car sat parked at the corner.
Leaning against the car, that familiar figure stood with his head lowered, the glow of a cigarette blinking red between his fingers.
She’d suspected it, but seeing Fu Zhiyan with her own eyes still caught her off guard. Her heart lurched, aching with a thousand pinpricks.
If she weren’t on the second floor, she wouldn’t even have seen him—was he afraid that he’d have to leave if she noticed him there?
Why was Fu Zhiyan here...
In her memories, Fu Zhiyan had always been proud, confident—even a little self-absorbed. But the figure outside looked so lost. Cecilia Ye didn’t like seeing him that way, as if all his pride had been shattered.
Fu Zhiyan, if anyone’s supposed to be heartbroken, shouldn’t it be me? Why do you have to look like this?
Clutching her shirt, Cecilia Ye sniffled back the sourness in her nose, trying to hold it together.
The pale glow of two streetlights overlapped his shadow, making his loneliness all the more stark. It was almost 10 p.m.; the street was nearly deserted.
That kind of solitude was never meant for Fu Zhiyan.
She lowered the curtain, forcing herself not to look anymore.
Forget it. He’ll leave soon.
The instant the curtain dropped, the man by the car looked up. His sharp features were gentled by the soft gaze that wandered up to the small window on the villa’s second floor.
Seeing the light go out, he figured Cecilia had gone to sleep.
Fu Zhiyan shook the pins and needles out of his legs, stubbed out his cigarette, and got back in the car.
It wasn’t so bad—just being near you, knowing what you're up to, whether you’re eating or sleeping. It was better than tossing sleeplessly in a cold, empty home. At least it made him feel at ease.
For several days in a row, Fu Zhiyan waited there, only leaving for the company when dawn approached.
Cecilia Ye had no idea. She simply told herself he couldn’t possibly stay long.
But every day she found herself strangely listless, as if something heavy was pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
After dinner, Cecilia Ye tidied the living room. She had just sat down to rest when her phone rang: Mia Moore was calling.
"Cecilia, darling!"
"Mm, what is it?"
"Is my little darling Cecilia alright? What about our tiny precious one?"
Knowing she meant the baby, Cecilia Ye smiled tenderly. "We’re well."
"Ugh, I still can’t make it back in the next couple days! The old man here is working me like a mule—he’s got me subbing classes all week and still won’t let me go."
Mia Moore grumbled from the other end. Ever since she heard about Fu Zhiyan’s situation, she’d been dying to hurry home, afraid something would happen to Cecilia.
"Don’t worry about me. Just focus on work. The opening tomorrow is simple—just unlock the door and it’s all set."
Her new art studio would open tomorrow. Cecilia Ye felt it was no big deal: she’d just paint in the studio’s main hall. If anyone showed up, they could join her. It wasn’t all that different from usual.
Painting together with others might even keep her mind off things.
"Right! Did he come around to bother you again? If he does, I’ll ditch the old man and come back myself!"
Cecilia Ye paused, feeling slightly guilty. "Um... no. Haven’t seen him these days."
She didn’t tell Mia Moore about Fu Zhiyan waiting outside every night; she wanted to pretend she didn’t know—like an ostrich hiding her head in the sand.
"Good. If he does come, remember to ask Brother Hua for help, got it?"
"Alright, alright, I know!"
"By the way, I prepared the cutest opening gift for you. My brother will bring it by tomorrow. Be sure to take it, okay? Mwah, gotta go—damn, the bell’s ringing!"
Cecilia Ye couldn’t help but smile. Mia Moore’s boisterous personality always seemed a little out of place with her job as a teacher.
"Okay, better run, Teacher Mu."
After hanging up, Cecilia Ye glanced around—the preparations were all done. There really wasn’t anything left to fix.
She headed upstairs. Outside, the man was still standing there.
Cecilia Ye took one last look and let the curtain fall.