153. Absurdity

"What's wrong with Mommy? Why isn't she answering me when I talk to her?" Xia Yufan asked, holding Lin Chenxi's hand as they walked down Graben in Vienna. There was a six-hour time difference with China, and the sun was just beginning to set.

After hanging up, Lin Chenxi's expression was grim. Hearing Yufan's question, he forced a smile. "Nothing's wrong. Your mommy is probably asleep."

"Why? It's still so early..." Yufan found it hard to believe. He remembered that his mommy always went to bed very late every night. The sky hadn't even darkened yet.

Lin Chenxi squatted down and patiently explained, "Because there's a time difference between here and back home. In the summer, it's six hours. It's six o'clock here and the sun hasn't set yet, but it's already midnight in China. So, don't you think Mommy would be asleep by now?"

Yufan nodded in understanding. The two of them continued walking hand in hand. "Uncle Lin, I've never been away from Mommy for this long. Mommy works so hard writing books at night. I really want to grow up fast so I can protect her, and then she won't be so tired."

Lin Chenxi smiled at Xia Yufan. He had watched Yufan grow up since he was a baby. He knew all of Xia Yuwei's scars and pain. He knew that Yufan had been a precocious and sensible child from a very young age simply because both of them understood her hardships and how difficult her life had been.

She looked so fragile on the outside, yet inside she was fierce, resilient, and stubborn. Having experienced too much at such a young age, her brilliant smile often tugged at people's heartstrings.

"In that case, you should grow up quickly and take good care of Mommy!" he said. "Are you missing her? How about we head back this week, and we can visit again another time if we get the chance!"

"Okay, okay!" Xia Yufan cheered happily at Lin Chenxi's suggestion. Everything here was beautiful, and it was certainly worthwhile to broaden his horizons and gain new experiences. But the thought of seeing his mommy again made him even happier. Since even Uncle Lin said they could go back, what reason did he have not to?

Lin Chenxi led Xia Yufan forward. One tall figure and one small figure gradually lengthened in the setting sun.

Yuwei, who is that person by your side?

***

Early in the morning, as the sunlight streamed across her, Xia Yuwei woke up to a splitting headache. Subconsciously, she raised a hand to shield her eyes from the dazzling light.

—This isn't home. Where is this?

Allowing her eyes to adjust to the brightness, she looked around the familiar yet unfamiliar space...

A wide floor-to-ceiling bay window, heavy dark-gray floor-length curtains, and decor radiating a distinct masculine aura. Most importantly, everything was impeccably clean and spotless. This was...

His style!

She looked down at herself and found she was wearing an oversized men's white-striped pajama shirt that reached almost to her knees... There was no restriction around her chest, and sure enough, when she looked down, she realized she wasn't wearing any underwear at all!

...

The memory of drinking alcohol the previous night flooded back into her mind... She remembered acting on a sudden impulse and downing two large glasses of wine... And then... he kept talking to her endlessly... while she slipped into unconsciousness...

...

Was this what they called a drunken mistake... Heavens... How utterly absurd...

Xia Yuwei tugged at her hair, feeling like she was losing her mind...

She buried her face in her knees, unable to lift her head in sheer mortification. She couldn't understand how she could have let this happen... If she couldn't hold her liquor, she shouldn't have drunk at all... God... She couldn't remember anything!

She raised her head and looked around, confirming that he wasn't there. Thank goodness he wasn't. Otherwise, she would feel even more unable to face him! And he was truly infuriating!

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she hurriedly searched everywhere for her watch and phone...

Ah, there they were on the bedside table!

She picked them up and glanced at the screen: 8:50... 8:50?!

Aahhh!!! Work started at 9:00! This was her third day on the job, and she was going to be late! If Liang Boli saw her, she would definitely tear her to shreds and make her life a living hell!

Crying out in dismay, Xia Yuwei leaped out of bed.

Yet she had no change of clothes!

Everything was in complete chaos...

That wretch... ahem~~~ that hateful guy! He had simply walked away in style without even waking her up, let alone preparing any clothes for her to wear!

Holding her neatly folded clothes that still reeked faintly of alcohol, Xia Yuwei felt on the verge of a breakdown.

What should she do? She clutched her head in deep contemplation.

Then she picked up her phone and made a call.

"Hello, who is this?" came a polite and melodious voice. It was Liang Boli.

"Manager Liang, it's Xia Yuwei..."

"Work starts in three minutes. Why are you calling me? Don't tell me you're calling to say you quit?"

"No. Manager Liang, I am so sorry, but I need to take a two-hour leave today. I will definitely be there by eleven o'clock!" Hearing her superior's aggressive tone, Xia Yuwei instinctively reached up to wipe her forehead. Summer was truly hot...

"If you have an absolute must-do reason, then fine, do as you like. But you better explain yourself clearly the moment you get here! Don't forget, today is only your third day on the job, and don't tell me you just overslept because you wanted to laze in bed! According to the regulations..."

"...Manager Liang, let's talk in person. Goodbye!" Realizing Liang Boli's lecture showed no sign of ending, Xia Yuwei hurriedly said goodbye and hung up the phone.

Xia Yuwei managed to put on her clothes, took a taxi home to change properly, and then took another taxi to work. For the entire day, Liang Boli did not give her a single pleasant look. Lulu witnessed the whole thing and felt a twinge of sympathy for her. Xia Yuwei, however, accepted it calmly. Given today's events, she couldn't blame anyone for the cold shoulder—she was clearly in the wrong... What made her most furious, though, was having ten percent of her bonus deducted!

Crossing paths with him meant nothing good for an entire day. That was simply the ironclad law he brought into her life... If she had known, she wouldn't have been so kind-hearted as to return that ten million to him! Sooner or later, she would lose ten million because of him...