"My aunt?"
Chang Xuyu covered her mouth, her round eyes showing surprise.
How did Yi Zhuo know her aunt?
"Mm."
The man narrowed his eyes, looking at the white mist from their breaths. His large hand directly grasped her soft hand, wrapping it up and continuously transferring warmth to her. Feeling how cold she was, he frowned but still spoke gently: "Get in the car. It's cold out here."
"Wait!"
Just as Chang Xuyu behind him was about to be led away, Yuan Zixu suddenly pulled her back and raised a hand to stop the man's action.
"Who exactly are you?"
Being so intimate...
Before Yi Zhuo could answer, he caught the smell of alcohol on both of them.
He frowned, his expression turning icy in an instant.
"You took her drinking?"
Yuan Zixu was startled by the sudden anger.
But before she could respond, Chang Xuyu's eyes suddenly went dark, and she collapsed straight down—
"Xuyu!"
The three of them cried out almost in unison.
Jian Jiayue rushed over but missed catching her.
He pursed his lips, his arms slowly retracting like a mechanical machine, his gaze empty.
Yi Zhuo held her tightly in his arms, lowering his head. Veins bulged on the hand gripping her waist, as if he were protecting the only treasure in the world.
Yuan Zixu's legs went weak, and she stumbled back a step.
The man glanced at Jian Jiayue, his eyes darkening. He said to Yuan Zixu, "If you don't mind, I'd like a word with you alone."
With that, he picked up Chang Xuyu and strode off to the side.
Yuan Zixu was stunned for a moment, then gathered herself and followed.
The streetlight was dim. The man's detachment and heartache intermingled in the shifting light and shadow.
He closed his eyes, suppressing the rage inside him, and spoke to Yuan Zixu in a low voice: "She... is actually ill."
His tone was deep and rough, as if veiling the pain in thick fog, desperately concealing it.
"Xuyu's aunt said you're her best friend," he paused. "Xuyu will inevitably want to hang out with you in the future, so I'm telling you this in advance. I hope you can take good care of her. I'm counting on you."
He lowered his eyes and slightly bent his waist to make the request.
"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!"
Though she hadn't fully processed it, it was surprising that such a man would set aside his pride to plead with someone.
"You see, I've known Xuyu for six or seven years now. Of course I treat her like my own sister..." She coughed lightly, a note of guilt in her voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't know about her illness, otherwise I'd never have taken her drinking..."
She sighed—
The man shook his head.
"She doesn't actually know she's sick, so don't blame yourself or her."
So that's how it was...
"This girl never tells me anything. She must have run into something really upsetting today to suddenly come find me. She told me she wants a divorce. Yeah, it must be about the divorce."
At this, Yi Zhuo froze, as if a string in his brain had snapped.
She rubbed her chin, narrowing her eyes.
Based on her guess, that had to be the real reason.
Even though Xuyu didn't say it, how could she, the "understanding flower," not know?
"In my opinion, that secretly married husband of hers can't be a good person. Xuyu told me he treats her as a substitute! Can you believe how utterly despicable that is!"
She spoke with righteous indignation, gritting her teeth and shaking her fist at the word "substitute."
Yi Zhuo frowned slightly.
What substitute?
How could he not understand?
Yuan Zixu continued cursing Chang Xuyu's despicable "husband," punching and kicking the air.
Having vented, she smoothed her chest comfortably, exhaled, and looked at Yi Zhuo, who was holding Chang Xuyu tightly. She didn't know if Xuyu's aunt had children, but given how close they were, they must be relatives, right?
She waved a hand and casually asked, "Oh, right, I don't know who you are yet. Are you Xuyu's cousin?"
The light in the man's eyes dimmed. He lowered his head and answered after a moment, "My name is Yi Zhuo. I'm Xuyu's husband."
The wind rustled the plastic grass on the ground.