Chapter 7: A Man Who Doesn't Reply Is Definitely Up to No Good

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Chu Ming said no more, quietly lowering the umbrella she was holding.
Would that make it impossible to see?
Yu Ling didn’t press her on the subtle gesture. “Let’s go.”
Chu Ming carried a large bag on her back, held a makeup pouch in her hand, and still had to raise her arm to hold the umbrella for her. It was quite pitiful to watch.
Yu Ling was a bit taller than Chu Ming; she placed her hand on the umbrella handle. “Let me hold it.”
Chu Ming felt it was inappropriate. She was an employee—how could she let her boss hold the umbrella for her?
It didn’t feel right.
Her hand lingered hesitantly. “Sis, maybe I should hold the umbrella myself.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
Yu Ling turned her head toward her and nodded, signaling her to let go.
Chu Ming tightened the straps of her backpack, and the two of them walked under the umbrella across the street toward the parking lot entrance on the other side.
Just before entering, Yu Ling glanced back quietly.
He was still standing there.
Yu Ling pressed her lips together. Wasn’t he afraid of catching a cold?
[Chi Ran is heartbroken, sobbing—Yu Ling ran off as soon as she saw him, not even willing to say a word.]
[Chi Ran: My wife is ignoring me, my heart is shattered.]
Had she made him upset?
Yu Ling frowned, but to them, they were strangers now.
Forget it. Chi Ran was a grown man; he could take care of himself. Why should she worry?
Ignoring the chaotic comments, Yu Ling and Chu Ming went inside.
Driver Xiao Zhang had been waiting for a while already. Once they got in, he started the car.
The heater was cranked up high, making Yu Ling drowsy, but she forced herself to stay awake, scrolling through the chat with Mu Chenbei.
She had sent a message at eight that morning, but he still hadn’t replied.
From eight in the morning until two the next night—eighteen whole hours.
Yu Ling sneered inwardly. Men really don’t cherish you once they catch you. Always glued to their phones, yet he hadn’t replied for eighteen hours. One might think he was dead.
Back when he was chasing her, Mu Chenbei responded promptly to everything, never letting her words go unanswered.
Yu Ling glanced at the scrolling comments; the pace had slowed down compared to before.

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She guessed maybe they had also gone to sleep.
Three in the morning—time to rest.
[Stop looking, Yu Ling. That scoundrel is currently cozying up to Lin Mianmian, lost in their passion, unaware of anything else.]
[Even worse, that scoundrel had been waiting outside for Lin Mianmian early this morning and took her back to Yu Ling’s apartment as soon as he picked her up.]
[Not only that, Lin Mianmian was even wearing Yu Ling’s clothes when she went to bed with Mu Chenbei. I’ve seen shameless women, but never this shameless.]
Yu Ling clenched her phone tightly, her stomach churning with nausea.
She had been wondering why Lin Mianmian hadn’t come to confront or mock her in person tonight, which was unlike her usual style.
Turns out, she had been too busy pouring her heart out to Yu Ling’s boyfriend to bother with her.
That apartment was no longer hers to claim—just looking at it made her sick.
Her hands clenched so tightly the nails bit into her skin, sharp pain radiating, yet she held on firmly.
At this moment, she needed the pain to keep herself awake and to ward off the looming, vicious emotions that bared their fangs, ready to strike.
Those feelings could devour one’s will to live, more terrifying than any poison.
Years ago, she had come to Linhe alone to make her way in the world; her greatest dream was to own a home there.
When she became successful, she took out all her savings and bought a two-bedroom apartment downtown. Every piece of furniture inside—from the sofa to the curtains and tablecloths—was carefully selected by her.
Later, when she started dating Mu Chenbei, his salary was lower than hers, and he rented a shared apartment far from work, forcing him to wake early for the subway every day.
Yu Ling felt sorry for him but didn’t want to rush into living together, so she lent him the empty apartment temporarily.
Back then, Mu Chenbei was endlessly grateful, calling Yu Ling his angel, a fairy sent from heaven... He couldn’t find enough beautiful words to describe her.
But now…
Yu Ling pressed her aching temples, a sharp pang stabbing her heart.
Before this, she had never been in love; Mu Chenbei was her first love.
She had received so little love that she recklessly and clumsily offered her true heart, hoping to exchange sincerity for sincerity.
She never imagined love could be faked and used to deceive.
Thinking this, Yu Ling’s gaze softened as she looked at the comments.
Silently, she thanked them in her heart.
Chu Ming was also growing sleepy; she yawned and turned to see Yu Ling staring intently at her phone, her face dark.
Seeing this, her mind clicked into place, and she understood what was going on.
That morning, Yu Ling had excitedly told her that her boyfriend was coming to pick her up after work.

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Now it was almost three in the morning, and not a single shadow had appeared.
Yu Ling was surely upset because of this.
Chu Ming sighed inwardly. She had seen Yu Ling’s boyfriend before.
To be honest, he didn’t look like a good man.
At least, that was her impression.
He had shifty eyes and a sharp, sour expression—he looked exactly like one of those “phoenix men.”
If she had to say, Yu Ling was beautiful and kind—what kind of man couldn’t she find? Why cling to a subpar one?
But she didn’t dare say this outright.
Matters of the heart, no matter how clear an outsider might be, were not for her to judge.
Yet she couldn’t bear to see Yu Ling sink deeper into this mire.
It was complicated, truly a dilemma.
After thinking it over, Chu Ming made a firm decision: Yu Ling had been so kind to her; she couldn’t just watch her get hurt.
Taking a bottle of water from her bag, she twisted off the cap and handed it to Yu Ling, asking, “Sis, want some water?”
“Hm?” Yu Ling responded, quickly shutting off her phone and smiling as she took the bottle. “Thanks.”
But the smile looked strained to Chu Ming.
After Yu Ling finished drinking, she hesitated and softly asked, “Sis, why didn’t your boyfriend come to pick you up?”
Yu Ling paused for a moment, then forced a bitter smile. “I don’t know. I sent him a message this morning, but he still hasn’t replied.”
Ha. Did she really not know? She knew all too well.
But she had to pretend ignorance. Taking care of those two scoundrels would require patience. The comments section was too mysterious; she couldn’t reveal anything to others.
After speaking, she quietly watched Chu Ming’s reaction.
Chu Ming’s anger flared upon hearing this. She slapped her thigh and raised her voice, saying, “Sis, I’ve been wanting to tell you for a long time—you really shouldn’t trust Mu Chenbei so much.”
“Huh?”
Yu Ling feigned ignorance and asked deliberately, “Why not?”
“Sis, you always give your all, but love isn’t supposed to be like that.”
Chu Ming tossed the water bottle into her bag, grasped Yu Ling’s hand, and said earnestly, “Sis, you deserve the very best in this world. Love should make you happy. A man who doesn’t reply to your messages is definitely hiding something.”