Getting Caught Up In His Cycle Of Passionate Love - Chapter 23

A Shocking Secret (?)

So tired. That was all Xu Tao Yue felt right now.

She was sprawled on the bed, not wanting to move at all. Her younger brother was trying to cuddle with her, but Xu Tao Yue pushed him away. He froze for a second before letting out a yell.

Xu Wen came in after hearing the commotion. “All you do is cry out all day. I don’t know why you’re so tired. Go out and buy something for me.”

Xu Tao Yue sighed as she looked at Lu Que’s unanswered message. “Okay, I’ll go right away…”

Taozi Taozi: “I’ll be back at school soon. What day is your ticket?”

Lu Que didn’t reply, and she couldn’t find the motivation to do anything. She could only drag her unwilling body out to buy what her mother wanted.

As she passed the small alley, Xu Tao Yue subconsciously glanced inside. She remembered that a major event was supposed to happen here in the original novel. Come on, brain, think!

Her phone screen lit up for a moment, and she realized it was January 15th. It all suddenly flashed in her mind.

At this time in the original story, a major event involving Song Mo and Lu Que was described in great detail. Xu Tao Yue’s heart sank. She quickly bought what Xu Wen wanted and hurried back.

“Mom, I put what you wanted on the dining table. I’m going out tonight, so don’t wait for me.” Xu Tao Yue rushed in and piled everything on the table.

Xu Wen came out and saw Xu Tao Yue’s phone on the table. She had rushed out and disappeared somewhere, so Xu Wen could only yell down the hallway, “You’re not coming back? You didn’t take your phone.” Xu Tao Yue was already running down the stairs and didn’t hear a word Xu Wen said. Xu Wen had no choice but to let it go.

Xu Tao Yue ran breathlessly to the alley and waited patiently at the intersection for Lu Que. According to the plot, Lu Que would definitely pass by here today. Xu Tao Yue decided she wouldn’t move from this spot. There was no way she’d let Song Mo intercept him this time.

Xu Tao Yue fumbled in her pocket for her phone and realized she must have forgotten it at home. She could only sit on the steps helplessly. The sun set in the west. Xu Tao Yue hadn’t seen a single person, let alone Lu Que. She got up and looked down the road. It must have been colder than she thought, as she felt a chill despite her down jacket.

Xu Tao Yue shook her head, got up, and started walking. She didn’t know what was going on with Lu Que today; he hadn’t replied to any of her messages. Xu Tao Yue figured it was getting late and decided to head home.

The sound of a key turning in the lock echoed, and Xu Wen stood at the door, watching her. “Where did you go so late?”

Xu Tao Yue shook her head. “Mom, where’s my phone?”

Xu Wen handed it to her. “Someone called you just now. I didn’t answer. You should check if it’s important.”

Xu Tao Yue unlocked her phone and saw that Lu Que had called her about half an hour ago. She breathed a sigh of relief. If he could call her, it meant Song Mo hadn’t made her move yet. Xu Tao Yue called him back.

The phone rang for only three seconds before Lu Que answered. “Xu Tao Yue.”

“Hmm?” Xu Tao Yue was taken aback by his preemptive tone.

Lu Que was silent for a while before asking, “Are you busy right now?”

Xu Tao Yue instinctively shook her head, then quickly answered him. “No, I’m not!” Then, she suddenly remembered Song Mo and anxiously asked, “Did you see Song Mo?”

“Yeah.”

Lu Que hadn’t had time to say anything else. Just the single word “yeah” was enough for Xu Tao Yue to start imagining a dramatic Shura Field.

“Stop overthinking it,” Lu Que said, as if he knew what Xu Tao Yue was thinking. He directly interrupted her thoughts. “If you’re not busy, can you come to the hospital?”

Xu Tao Yue’s heart immediately sped up. “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Why are you suddenly at the hospital? What about Song Mo? Is she okay?”

Lu Que: “…”

Okay, maybe I got a little too excited, she thought. After realizing this, Xu Tao Yue replied, “I’ll be right there! Wait for me, okay? You have to wait for me!”

Lu Que’s voice held a hint of indulgence. “Thank you for coming all this way so late. Be careful on your way.”

After hanging up, Lu Que’s unapproachable expression returned. Song Mo sat to the side, covering her injured hand. She saw a flash of impatience in Lu Que’s eyes and cautiously asked, “Am I causing you trouble?”

“No,” Lu Que replied flatly.

Song Mo looked down. “I’m sorry to bother you like this. I didn’t know that you… and Xu Tao Yue were back together.”

Lu Que didn’t say anything, just looked at her. “Yes. If nothing had happened, I was going to…”

“I understand.” Song Mo cut him off, as if she didn’t want to hear about their relationship.

Lu Que maintained a one-person distance from Song Mo. He only relaxed after Xu Tao Yue arrived.

“Are you okay?” Xu Tao Yue rushed in, checking him from left to right. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he wasn’t hurt.

Lu Que supported her and shook his head, giving her a look that told her to look at Song Mo. “I’m fine, but Song Mo…”

Xu Tao Yue finally had the presence of mind to notice Song Mo. She walked over. “Song Mo, are you okay? What happened?”

Song Mo lifted her injured arm and smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry. Lu Que got involved in my private matters, and now I’ve made you come out so late, too.”

Xu Tao Yue didn’t think it was a big deal at all. She waved her hand to show that she didn’t mind. Just then, the doctor came out and called a number. “Number 67, prepare for stitches in the operating room.”

Song Mo got up. Xu Tao Yue looked around and noticed that Zhou Yu wasn’t there. Then, after Song Mo left, she stealthily asked, “How did you and Song Mo suddenly get together?”

Lu Que flicked her forehead. “Can you please be clearer when you talk? What do you mean ‘how did I suddenly get together with her’?”

Xu Tao Yue realized her words could be misinterpreted and laughed awkwardly.

Lu Que had no choice but to tell Xu Tao Yue what had happened today. Song Mo had had a fight with Zhou Yu for some reason and ran out. By coincidence, she stumbled into the confession scene Lu Que had set up for Xu Tao Yue. Song Mo was a little incredulous. It took her a long time to confirm that Lu Que had prepared it for Xu Tao Yue. She was very surprised by this, since everyone knew that in high school, it was always Xu Tao Yue who was “shamelessly” chasing Lu Que. Later, rumors even spread that Xu Tao Yue had allegedly left the school after giving up on chasing Lu Que. So, she was shocked to run into Lu Que preparing to confess to Xu Tao Yue.

“I didn’t think you two would ever get together,” Song Mo said. “After all, Xu Tao Yue left without a word back then and never gave a reason.”

Lu Que didn’t say anything but then asked Song Mo, “Did Zhou Yu let you come out?”

Song Mo shook her head. “I snuck out.”

In reality, Zhou Yu and Lu Que were half-brothers. This was a secret only the three of them knew. Song Mo looked down and then at him. “Aren’t you coming back?”

Lu Que shook his head.

“I’ve always listened to you and never let anyone know we know each other. But we grew up together as friends,” Song Mo said, her eyes quickly filling with tears. “I knew you were different toward her back at the botanical garden. She seems to care about you a lot. Are you planning to tell her everything?”

Lu Que didn’t say anything, as if he was tacitly admitting it.

“Lu Que, you know how I feel. Why?”

“There’s no ‘why’.” At this moment, Lu Que finally looked up at Song Mo. The impatience in his eyes deeply hurt her. Then Song Mo ran out. The alley was usually empty, but for some reason, a car appeared and hit Song Mo. Although she wasn’t seriously hurt, a glaring wound appeared on her arm.

Then they came to the hospital, and Lu Que called Xu Tao Yue.

Xu Tao Yue breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the story. “Ah, so she and Zhou Yu had a fight, she ran into you, then she got emotional, ran out, and got a cut from a car?”

Lu Que looked at Xu Tao Yue and nodded. “Yes.”

Xu Tao Yue nodded. “Okay, okay, I believe you.”

After waiting for more than ten minutes outside the operating room, Song Mo came out. Just then, Zhou Yu arrived after hearing the news. He saw Lu Que but didn’t say anything. He rushed to Song Mo’s side to check on her.

Xu Tao Yue saw that Song Mo was being taken care of, so she and Lu Que quietly left the hospital room. Lu Que tried to find the words to tell her everything.

Xu Tao Yue noticed his hesitation. She walked a few steps forward, then turned around. “Lu Que.”

“Hmm.”

“Is there something else you want to tell me?”

Lu Que was startled, then nodded.

Xu Tao Yue was surprised that he just obediently nodded. She smiled. “Then why don’t you tell me?”

Lu Que hadn’t quite organized his thoughts, but since Xu Tao Yue had already figured it out, he no longer wanted to hide anything. He just went ahead and said it.

“Zhou Yu is my brother, in name.”

“Oh.”

Xu Tao Yue didn’t react at first. By the time she realized what she had just heard, it was too late. “Wait, what did you say!?”

“Zhou Yu? Your brother?”

Lu Que nodded, finding Xu Tao Yue’s reaction a little cute. He rubbed her head, with a feeling like, “I knew she’d react like this.”

“We’re not biological.”

There was a small garden above the gym equipment on the left side of the hospital. The two of them walked in. It had snowed a few days ago, so there was still snow on the steps. Lu Que took a tissue from his down jacket and wiped the snow off the steps for Xu Tao Yue to sit down. He sat next to her and explained seriously.

“We have the same father but different mothers.”

“We’re basically strangers who grew up together. Song Mo has been attached to Zhou Yu since she was little. My father only brought Zhou Yu back after my mother passed away.”