Addicted to You - Chapter 6

With Luo Jie gone, Xu Yu not only had to study but also take care of her own life. After finishing a practice test, she carried a shopping basket and headed downstairs.

The route to the market passed by the Langzhu Community bus stop.

While she was waiting at the crosswalk opposite the bus stop, a bus happened to pull in, with a completely white sedan behind it.

Still thinking about what vegetables to buy, she was abruptly interrupted by a sudden shout from across the street.

Xu Yu looked toward the noise and saw someone getting out of the back seat of the car, followed by someone stepping out from the driver’s seat.

The woman wore 7–8 cm high heels and a white suit, looking just like one of those professional elites from TV dramas.

She watched as the woman walked toward the man who had gotten out earlier. Their lower halves were blocked by the car, only their upper bodies were visible.

The woman’s face was clearly visible, but the man, wearing a baseball cap, had his face mostly obscured.

Cars behind them were honking impatiently, but Xu Yu couldn’t hear what they were saying. Still, she could sense the tension.

Zhou Yiheng’s neck veins bulged, his face slightly red. “So why did you come back? Do I need your interference? Have you ever actually taken care of me?”

Facing her son’s accusations, Tang Ping remained indifferent. “Think carefully about what I said. I have work to do. I’ll be leaving now. I hope to see you tonight.”

Her tone didn’t sound like a mother talking to her son—it was more like a superior issuing orders. Without a glance back, she returned to the driver’s seat and drove away, leaving Zhou Yiheng in a cloud of exhaust fumes.

A few seconds later, the light turned green. Xu Yu calmly crossed the street.

Everyone at the bus stop had already boarded, except for a boy standing in the corner wearing a black T-shirt.

She walked past casually, but just as they were about to brush shoulders, a voice called out.

“Where are you going?”

That voice was one of the few familiar ones in Beicheng—she couldn’t possibly not recognize him. What she didn’t understand was why he was here, and why he was arguing with that woman.

“Where are you going?” Zhou Yiheng asked again.

Xu Yu turned to look at him. “To buy groceries.”

“Oh.”

Just a flat “oh.” No follow-up. She felt like this guy had something wrong with him.

Ignoring him, she continued toward the market.

But it seemed someone was following her.

His footsteps were heavier than hers, like someone walking after drinking.

She stopped. He stopped too.

She walked again. He followed.

They exchanged no words. Zhou Yiheng just kept trailing behind, while Xu Yu’s palm, gripping the basket, was soaked with sweat.

The weekend sun was pleasant. Their shadows on the ground overlapped, as if they were wrapped in the same silhouette.

She sneaked a glance—this image… felt a bit ambiguous.

He was walking very close, almost pressing against her back.

On this road were two teenagers: one tense, one indifferent.

The market was bustling. Xu Yu had been there many times, familiar with which stalls had the freshest produce, which were cheapest, and which owners were kind. She walked to her usual vendor.

Seeing her, the vendor smiled kindly, “You’re back again, young lady. What do you need this time?”

She pointed to the vegetables. The vendor asked if she wanted the usual. She nodded.

Just as she was about to pay, a hand reached out before her.

The boy scanned the vendor’s QR code with his phone, thumb swiftly confirming payment—and didn’t bother hiding it either, openly showing her the screen.

Xu Yu turned to look at him. He stood just slightly to her right.

After paying, Zhou Yiheng withdrew his hand and stuck it back in his pocket, back to his usual deadpan expression.

“I’ll pay for myself,” Xu Yu said firmly.

“Oh.” Still flat as ever.

The vendor lady chuckled at the pair, “Oh my, what’s the point of splitting things in a family?”

Family? Xu Yu was stunned by the word and quickly clarified, “No, we’re not.”

But the vendor, clearly experienced, waved her off, “I get it. Don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

Tell what? Even she didn’t know. In the end, she couldn’t win against the vendor’s sharp tongue.

As they walked away from the stall, she noticed many nearby shopkeepers looking in their direction. Her face started to burn again. In the end, she didn’t buy everything she wanted and headed back with the basket.

He was still following her. Xu Yu was starting to get annoyed, but her rational side reminded her to stay calm. Once they reached the bus stop, he’d leave. Worst case, she’d come back later.

Ten meters left to shake him off. Five… three… one… finally.

She relaxed as she crossed the zebra crossing, assuming he was gone, and looked back.

Nearly jumped in fright.

Zhou Yiheng glanced down at her, eyes cold and puzzled.

He was like a piece of stubborn tape stuck to her.

Only five seconds left before the red light—no time.

Zhou Yiheng grabbed her elbow and quickly pulled her across the street.

It was another moment of close contact with the opposite s3x—Xu Yu was stunned.

His strides were big. She nearly had to jog to keep up.

Her elbow burned where he had touched it.

Once across, he let go.

Back to his usual posture—head down, hands in pockets, that black T-shirt making him look untouchable, cold and distant.

Xu Yu didn’t want to think about it. She was heading home. But he was heading in the same direction—and somehow, he seemed to know the way.

He walked ahead. She followed behind. The scene looked like they had just finished shopping together and were going home.

She decided to let him walk ahead a bit more before going in herself.

But as she slowed, Zhou Yiheng noticed. He turned back and saw her lagging far behind, so he came back.

“What are you standing there for?”

Xu Yu wasn’t great at lying. She looked around and said, “I thought the scenery here was nice, wanted to take a look. You go on ahead.” She even forced a smile.

The area’s greenery was nice—but with the sun blazing, sweat was dripping down her temples. Her lie lacked any conviction. Zhou Yiheng wasn’t dumb; he knew she was avoiding him.

“Okay, I’ll stay and look with you.”

Xu Yu was now sure—this guy was a pest.

“I don’t want to look anymore. You stay.”

“Oh. Then I won’t look either.”

Back to walking in a line again.

She deliberately widened the gap. He caught up.

Eventually, she couldn’t hold it in.

“Can you walk properly?” Her tone was lightly complaining.

He answered with a question, “Aren’t I walking properly?”

“There’s something wrong with your brain,” she thought.

“I mean—can you not walk so close to me?”

“No.”

Facing such unreasonable behavior, she gave up. At least the walk to her building was peaceful.

As they reached her building, Zhou Yiheng was still with her.

Xu Yu stopped and turned. “I’m home.”

“Oh.”

As expected, that flat response again. She pressed her lips together, preparing to go upstairs.

Zhou Yiheng didn’t know what had gotten into him today. From the moment he saw her, he just wanted to stay close—follow her like some clingy stray dog. And she hadn’t chased him away. She might’ve been the only one who cared about him today.

He swallowed and called her name, “Xu Yu.”

She stopped at the stairs and turned, “Yeah?”

“Can you talk with me for a bit?”

Under the scorching sun, they sat on a public bench. Xu Yu didn’t know why she agreed to such an unreasonable request.

People walking past glanced at them. Her heart raced—afraid of gossip, or of running into someone she knew.

“Are you hot?” Zhou Yiheng asked.

“Not really.”

There was a subtle tension in the air—something unspoken. Xu Yu wasn’t good at small talk. She usually just listened when her friends chatted.

It was Zhou Yiheng’s first time feeling so nervous around a girl—and the first time he tried to have a real conversation. He coughed to mask the awkwardness. “You’re not from around here?”

“I’m from the south.”

“Where in the south?”

“Nanjiang.”

“Oh.”

And that was it—felt like a blind date.

Xu Yu checked the time. It was still early; commuters were still on their way home. But she was feeling warm.

Sweat rolled from her forehead down her temple, cheek, neck, collarbone, and finally soaked her camisole.

But the guy next to her didn’t seem hot at all—not a drop of sweat.

Zhou Yiheng noticed her gaze and said calmly, “Why are you looking at me?”

She felt like a voyeur and lowered her head in silence.

He glanced at her—sweaty, radiant skin in the sunlight, especially around her neck. Then he unintentionally noticed her damp shirt, the outline of her undergarments showing through.

His mouth went dry. He swallowed again.

“Why aren’t you asking me?”

“Asking what?”

“Why I showed up here today.”

Xu Yu honestly didn’t know why, but she also didn’t want to pry, so she kept quiet.

Seeing she wasn’t going to ask, Zhou Yiheng felt awkward. He coughed and said, “The woman you saw talking to me—that’s my mom. She wanted me to come home.”

So he had seen her back then, Xu Yu realized.

She slowly looked up. “Why didn’t you go back?”

He replied, “I grew up with my grandma. They never really took care of me—not even during holidays. Today is my grandma’s birthday. They’re all there, and I didn’t want to see them. So I didn’t go back.”

Xu Yu was also raised by her grandmother. Ever since she could remember, they were always together. At the mention, she started to miss her too.

“Do you miss your grandma?” she asked, looking at him.

Her big round eyes were full of sincerity, slightly watery at the corners. Zhou Yiheng looked into them, momentarily frozen.

The summer breeze blew. Heat and feelings mingled in the air—uncertain where they’d drift next, or whether they’d already merged.

His heart beat faster. Overwhelmed, he averted his eyes and calmly answered, “Yeah.”

She did too.

“I miss my grandma as well.”

Both were raised by their grandmothers. They shared a deep bond with them.

Another breeze blew by. Xu Yu spoke quietly, “You should go home. At least your grandma’s there.”

The corners of his mouth lifted ever so slightly. As the wind brushed past, she heard him say, “Okay.”