My Ex Who Dumped Me Comes to Hook Me Up Every Day - Chapter 26

Jiang Yuhuai spoke calmly, “I’ll choose to drink.”

Jin Zhou looked up at her.

Even under the unwavering gazes of so many people, Jiang Yuhuai’s expression remained steady. It was as if this were a simple choice made on a whim, rather than an attempt to conceal some unspeakable truth.

Only Jin Zhou, sitting beside her, could see the faint flush creeping up Jiang Yuhuai’s ears in that hidden corner.

Jiang Yuhuai could be shy too. There was no doubt about it.

What was she thinking right now?

Was she trying to come up with an excuse? Or was she thinking about last night…?

“I’ll drink for her,” Jin Zhou said abruptly, pulling her scattered thoughts back into focus.

It was Jiang Shuyi, speaking from beside them. She had volunteered to take Jiang Yuhuai’s place in drinking.

For the gossip-hungry crowd, getting Dr. Jiang, who seemed honest and trustworthy, drunk and spilling the beans was far more appealing than trying to pry information from the impeccably composed Big President Jiang.

The crowd erupted in protest: “No way! You have to play fair! No substitutes!”

Jiang Shuyi raised her glass, smiling at the crowd.

“Xiao Huai was injured recently and can’t drink. I hope everyone will understand.”

The crowd exchanged glances. After all, she was injured, and pressing the matter further would seem heartless.

Friend A cleared his throat. “Then…”

Before he could finish, Jin Zhou stood up.

She moved her body to block Jiang Shuyi’s hand holding the wine glass and turned to Friend A. “I’ll drink for her.”

If some oblivious individuals had missed the subtle tension in the room before, Jin Zhou’s words made it undeniable. Everyone could now sense the palpable hostility between the two women.

Jin Zhou seemed to genuinely despise Jiang Shuyi.

And that was indeed the truth.

Jin Zhou harbored not a shred of goodwill toward Jiang Shuyi.

The way Jiang Shuyi instinctively shielded Jiang Yuhuai behind her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, infuriated Jin Zhou. It was as if they truly shared some secret, unspoken bond.

This animosity even extended to Jiang Shuyi’s voice. The moment Jin Zhou heard her speak, she unconsciously frowned. The more Jiang Shuyi spoke, the deeper her frown became.

During the accident, when Liu Zhi kidnapped Jiang Yuhuai, he had indeed slashed her neck with a knife.

As the other party involved, Jin Zhou naturally knew better.

It was just a superficial wound that had already mostly healed over the past few days.

There was absolutely no need for Jiang Shuyi to jump in now and deliberately ingratiate herself.

Friend A’s gaze shifted between the two women’s faces.

“Sigh—this is a bit awkward. After all, we only need one person to drink. Chairman Jiang…”

Jiang Shuyi smiled, nodding slightly. “Lawyer Jin still needs to drive. I’ll take it.”

Jin Zhou acted as if she hadn’t heard, insisting, “I’ll do it.”

Jiang Shuyi turned her head, her tone still gentle. “I heard that children under three haven’t fully developed their language systems, so—they just repeat everything they hear.”

There were no toddlers present, making it clear who her words were aimed at.

Jin Zhou scoffed coldly. “Are you calling me childish, a parrot repeating what others say?”

Jiang Shuyi stepped forward, positioning herself a shoulder ahead of Jin Zhou, as if gaining the upper hand in their silent standoff.

“Lawyer Jin, don’t misunderstand. I was just making conversation.”

“Really?” Jin Zhou lowered her gaze, suppressing her rising anger. “Then, if I may ask, Chairman Jiang, in what capacity are you drinking this toast for Jiang Yuhuai?”

Jiang Shuyi smoothly deflected the question back to her. “Let’s set aside my position for now. Lawyer Jin, I doubt you have the standing to ask such a question, do you?”

“Hiss—”

What had been a prime spot for watching the drama unfold suddenly transformed into a pool where they might be caught in the crossfire at any moment. Friend A gasped, his eyes darting to Jiang Yuhuai for help.

“Yuhuai, why don’t you speak up? Tell us who should drink for you.”

After a long silence, Jiang Yuhuai finally spoke.

“I’ll do it myself.”

Friend A, feeling like he’d been granted a pardon, quickly declared, “Then it’s settled! Yuhuai will drink it herself!”

Jiang Shuyi’s eyes filled with concern. “Xiao Yu, are you sure you’re okay?”

Jiang Yuhuai shook her head slightly. “I’m fine. I wasn’t really hurt in the first place.”

Hearing this, Jiang Shuyi didn’t press the matter further.

This was one of her strengths: her impeccable sense of timing and proportion, making it difficult for anyone to resent her.

In stark contrast, Jin Zhou’s emotions were glaringly obvious.

After being rebuffed, the temperature around her seemed to drop noticeably. Throughout the exchange, she merely glared coldly at Jiang Yuhuai without uttering a word.

After Jiang Yuhuai finished her wine in small sips, everyone returned to their original seats.

Jin Zhou said casually, “You guys have fun. I’m going to the restroom.”

The full-length mirror illuminated the entire space, leaving nothing hidden.

The restroom was empty.

Jin Zhou hadn’t actually come to use the toilet.

She stood before the mirror, scrutinizing the woman’s expression reflected within.

The corners of her eyebrows drooped, her gaze was icy, and her lips were pressed tightly together.

Her displeasure was obvious at a glance.

Jin Zhou, you’re jealous, Jiang Yuhuai’s words echoed in her mind.

Jin Zhou lowered her gaze.

Was she truly annoyed by Jiang Yuhuai and Jiang Shuyi’s lingering entanglement?

But Jiang Yuhuai was no longer her concern, was she?

They had broken up six years ago, former lovers who now knew nothing of each other.

Six years had been enough time for Jin Zhou to transform from a rash and naive girl into a calm and composed adult.

In court, even in the most tense situations or facing the most unfavorable circumstances, she would simply smile and cite relevant legal provisions, clearly articulating her client’s claims and arguments.

Jin Zhou was never easily provoked to anger, and she would never embarrass someone in public. She was like a deep, silent spring.

Yet Jiang Yuhuai had only been back for a few days.

The tranquil spring had begun to boil.

When Jiang Yuhuai was taken hostage, Jin Zhou rushed forward without considering the consequences.

When Jiang Yuhuai came to her door, Jin Zhou wrestled with her conscience before deciding to let her stay the night.

When Jiang Yuhuai felt unwell, Jin Zhou eagerly made her pig’s trotter soup to nourish her.

Jin Zhou was acutely aware that her thoughts were being swayed by Jiang Yuhuai’s every move, driving her to make one irrational decision after another.

It seemed that with just a flick of Jiang Yuhuai’s finger, Jin Zhou would compromise her principles again and again.

This wasn’t what she wanted.

Jin Zhou took a deep breath and gently patted her cheeks.

Jin Zhou, get this straight—

Jiang Yuhuai can flirt with Jiang Shuyi.

She can talk to her, sit with her.

It’s perfectly normal for Jiang Shuyi to take drinks for her, and naturally, to drive her home.

You need to draw a clear line with Jiang Yuhuai.

What you should be doing isn’t getting angry at her fickle behavior.

Instead, she learned to accept.

To accept the fact that she and Jiang Yuhuai had returned to being the most familiar strangers.

To accept that Jiang Yuhuai was free to flirt and entangle herself with others.

Finally, her emotions settled into the desired calm.

Confirming that her reflection still looked presentable, Jin Zhou turned to leave.

Footsteps approached.

Coming toward her was the person Jin Zhou least wanted to see at that moment:

Jiang Yuhuai.

“Why haven’t you gone back yet?”

It was still that familiar, cool voice, but now it lacked the heart-stopping allure it once held.

Jin Zhou lowered her gaze, refusing to look at Jiang Yuhuai, and didn’t pause her steps.

Until Jiang Yuhuai blocked her path.

When Jin Zhou spoke, her tone was polite yet distant: “Dr. Jiang, is there something you need?”

Jiang Yuhuai looked directly into her eyes. “…Are you angry?”

Jin Zhou’s voice remained steady. “No.”

“You’re injured and shouldn’t drink. That’s why I stopped you. Don’t be mad, okay? Zhouzhou…”

Jiang Yuhuai’s voice softened, her tone slightly teasing—a familiar, affectionate way she used to speak when they were together.

It wasn’t a particularly contrived pose, but it always worked wonders on Jin Zhou.

Jin Zhou nodded. “Thank you for your concern.”

She didn’t correct Jiang Yuhuai’s use of “Zhouzhou,” nor did she betray any further emotion.

Jiang Yuhuai opened her mouth to speak, then paused. She realized that Jin Zhou’s eyes held no trace of anger or bitterness, only cold indifference.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

Jin Zhou skirted around Jiang Yuhuai’s frozen figure and strode toward the end of the corridor.

As she’d anticipated, she wouldn’t have to exchange another meaningless word with Jiang Yuhuai.

But since it was merely an expectation, there remained the possibility of the unexpected.

Jin Zhou didn’t manage to brush past Jiang Yuhuai so easily.

As their sleeves brushed, Jiang Yuhuai reached out and grabbed her forearm.

“Zhouzhou!”

Jin Zhou frowned, but Jiang Yuhuai’s grip was too strong for her to shake off immediately.

“Let go.”

Jiang Yuhuai remained silent, her grip tightening instead of loosening.

The two women stood locked in a tense standoff for several seconds.

Jin Zhou sighed and turned back to face her.

“Jiang Yuhuai, our relationship ended six years ago. Have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Jiang Yuhuai replied, forcing herself to remain calm as she stared into Jin Zhou’s eyes. “We’re not together, but you promised we could start over.”

Jin Zhou raised her gaze. “When did I ever say… we could?”

We could.

Jin Zhou had never given such a clear answer.

Not even in the heat of passion in bed.

She had never said she was willing to start over with Jiang Yuhuai.

Jiang Yuhuai had long noticed this, but she had stubbornly ignored it.

But self-deception has its limits. Now that the truth had been laid bare, she could no longer pretend not to see it.

Jiang Yuhuai’s movements stiffened for a moment, a bitter expression creeping into her eyes.

“But last night…”

Jin Zhou cut her off, a sardonic smile curling her lips. “We’re both adults. It was consensual. Dr. Jiang isn’t expecting me to take responsibility, is she?”

The air hung heavy with silence.

Then she heard Jiang Yuhuai’s trembling voice.

“I don’t want you to take responsibility. I can just be your friend… and give you head.”

Jin Zhou knew exactly what kind of person Jiang Yuhuai was.

Yet these words had come from her own mouth, each syllable uttered with deliberate clarity.

It was absurd.

Even the memory of that girl, once as vivid as a cinnabar birthmark, now seemed to blur at the edges.

She gave Jiang Yuhuai one last, lingering look.

“Jiang Yuhuai, you’re insane.”

Jiang Yuhuai seemed wounded by the words, but her hands remained clamped around Jin Zhou’s forearm, her grip so tight that the delicate blue veins stood out against her pale skin.

She opened her mouth, struggling to speak. “Zhouzhou… don’t drive me away.”

Watching Jiang Yuhuai’s pathetic, submissive posture, Jin Zhou felt no satisfaction. Instead, a heavy weight pressed down on her chest, as if something were blocking her throat.

Her expression remained impassive as she corrected Jiang Yuhuai.

“Jiang Yuhuai, you’re wrong. You were the one who left.”

With those words, she pried open Jiang Yuhuai’s stubborn fingers, one by one.

Jin Zhou turned to leave, only to collide with someone standing in her path.

It was Jiang Shuyi.

She didn’t know when Jiang Shuyi had arrived.

Jin Zhou had no intention of stopping, but Jiang Shuyi called out to her.

“Can we talk?”

Jin Zhou lowered her gaze. “I have nothing to say.”

Jiang Shuyi studied her face. “Aren’t you even a little curious about what happened to Xiao Yu all those years ago?”

What happened all those years ago… What did she mean?

Even though Jin Zhou had just resolved to distance herself, her heart still trembled slightly.

She tried to feign indifference, but her mouth betrayed her, asking involuntarily, “What do you know?”

Jiang Shuyi looked up at her. “I know everything about you, Jin Zhou, from childhood to now.”

Jin Zhou froze.

From childhood to now.

That meant—

She turned to look at Jiang Yuhuai, her expression incredulous.

But Jiang Yuhuai’s gaze didn’t meet hers.

Facing Jiang Shuyi directly, Jiang Yuhuai asked with unwavering seriousness, “Are you going to break the promise you made to me?”

Jiang Shuyi shook her head. “No. But this is an exception.”

Jiang Yuhuai pressed her lips together tightly, saying nothing more.

As someone with a keen mind who had spent years with her cousin, Jiang Shuyi naturally sensed her anger.

In that moment, a complex mix of emotions flooded Jiang Shuyi’s heart.

If she had a choice, she would never push Jiang Yuhuai toward Jin Zhou again.

But unfortunately, she had no choice at all.

Jiang Shuyi concealed the melancholy in her eyes and forced a helpless smile. “Xiao Yu, don’t be angry.”

If you can’t say it, I will.

After all—

More than our own happiness, I want to see you happy.

Jin Zhou, belatedly realizing the situation, glanced between the two women. “You two… aren’t in the kind of relationship I thought?”

“What kind of relationship?” Jiang Shuyi asked calmly.

“A romantic relationship.”

“Who ever said we were in that kind of relationship?” Jiang Shuyi countered.

The tables had suddenly turned.

Jin Zhou, feeling awkward, admitted, “Well, no one actually said that.”

Indeed, no one had ever explicitly stated it.

Jiang Yuhuai knew Jin Zhou was overthinking things, yet she deliberately—

Well, Jin Zhou hadn’t actually said anything.

With no grounds for anger, the resentment and fury that had been building in Jin Zhou’s heart deflated like a punctured balloon, vanishing in an instant.

She asked softly, “Then you’re…”

Jiang Shuyi replied, “Xiao Yu’s mother and my father are siblings.”

Siblings—

Jiang Shuyi was Jiang Yuhuai’s cousin?

This misunderstanding was far too great.

Jin Zhou glanced at Jiang Yuhuai, bracing herself for the other woman to seize this opportunity to tease her mercilessly.

But when her gaze landed on Jiang Yuhuai, the other woman’s eyes were lowered, her expression cold and solemn, as if she hadn’t heard their conversation at all.

Only then did Jin Zhou recall Jiang Shuyi’s earlier words.

The things that happened back then…

So—Jiang Yuhuai really did have her reasons?

After a moment’s hesitation, Jin Zhou voiced her question.

“What was it you wanted to tell me earlier?”

Jiang Shuyi paused, as if unsure where to begin.

“Xiao Yu hasn’t had an easy time these past few years. You must have heard—she was hospitalized after being injured. A group of thugs attacked her with knives.”

Thugs?

Jin Zhou recalled the incident Friend A had mentioned at the dinner table.

She instinctively pressed, “When did this happen?”

Jiang Shuyi leaned against the wall, recalling, “The night of November 7th, just after 11 PM. Xiao Yu was on her way home from her part-time job.”

Though she already harbored some unrealistic suspicions, Jin Zhou’s heart still skipped a beat when she heard those words.

November 7th.

That was her birthday.

So while she had been obsessively waiting for that meaningless message, Jiang Yuhuai had already…

As Jin Zhou fell silent, Jiang Shuyi looked up at her.

“I think you’re truly blessed.”

The abrupt, seemingly unrelated remark left Jin Zhou puzzled.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Jiang Shuyi paused before slowly explaining, “At that time, Xiao Yu had lost so much bl00d she could barely speak in the ambulance. Yet she was still begging me to call you.”

Jiang Yuhuai had called her?

So… she hadn’t forgotten?

Jin Zhou’s lips parted slightly as she stood frozen, unsure how to react.

“Sister Yi,” Jiang Yuhuai interrupted.

“Alright, alright, I get it,” Jiang Shuyi said with a resigned look, cutting herself off.

Jin Zhou lowered her head, her expression hidden. After a moment, she asked, “…What was the motive of those thugs?”

Jiang Shuyi answered without hesitation, “Intentional retaliation.”

Jin Zhou frowned, her hands clenching into fists behind her back.

“How so?”

“Auntie was running a street stall. When those thugs came to collect protection money, a conflict erupted. Xiao Yu broke up with you back then because…”

Recalling the past, Jiang Shuyi’s eyes still flashed with anger.

But just as she was about to reveal the truth, Jiang Yuhuai spoke again.

“Jiang Shuyi.”

Not “Sister Yi,” but her full name, her tone icy and uncompromising.

Jiang Shuyi knew she couldn’t say any more.

“Goodbye!”

“See you next time!”

“Remember to come back in a couple of days, everyone!”

The drunken guests stumbled through their goodbyes, slurring their words.

Jiang Shuyi and Jiang Yuhuai had both drunk heavily, and Wen Yan, as the hostess, was even more hopelessly drunk.

Only Jin Zhou and Qu Xinran remained completely sober.

After struggling to get the unconscious guests into their cars, only a few people remained.

Qu Xinran supported Wen Yan, while Jiang Yuhuai stood quietly behind them.

Beside them, Jiang Shuyi remained silent.

The designated driver Jiang Shuyi had called arrived first. The white SUV pulled up at the intersection. Before getting in, she turned to look at Jin Zhou again.

“Xiao Yu is very stubborn. Even when she’s wronged, she won’t say anything. As her elder sister, I still want to ask: if you can, please give her a little more time. Okay?”

Jiang Shuyi’s face was flushed, as if she were drunk, but her eyes held an undeniable sincerity.

Jin Zhou hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Qu Xinran and Wen Yan hadn’t driven.

When Jin Zhou first saw the pink electric scooter, she was surprised.

But when Qu Xinran pulled out a pink key ring, she immediately guessed who the scooter belonged to.

Wen Yan was still hugging a utility pole by the roadside, singing:

“Oh my love, we’re getting married…”

Jin Zhou helped her onto the pink electric scooter.

And so, the object of Wen Yan’s clinginess shifted once again, from the utility pole to Qu Xinran.

Wen Yan leaned against Qu Xinran’s shoulder, murmuring incessantly, “Wifey~ Wifey~ We’re getting married! Aren’t you excited?”

Qu Xinran didn’t mind Wen Yan’s chatter. She carefully fastened Wen Yan’s helmet and gently placed her hands around her waist, securing them in front of her.

Before leaving, she smiled shyly at the two of them. “You two really make a great couple. If you can, please come to our wedding!”

After Qu Xinran left with Wen Yan, only the two of them remained.

The air hung in silence for a moment.

Until—they both spoke at once.

“Let’s go home together.”

“Will you take me home?”