Hu Xiaoyu used to detest Li Yu and the Hu family, but now that he had severed ties with the Hu family, the only ones he truly despised were Li Yu and Yu Tan.
Li Yu clutched his wrist. "What are you so smug about?"
Hu Xiaoyu: Again with this phrase.
He didn't understand why Li Yu always said that, nor did he care to analyze it. Human thoughts were too complicated, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't figure it out.
He simply said, "Shibai, call security to escort him out."
Li Yu, both angry and anxious, retorted, "What, are you guilty now?"
He got up, cautiously distancing himself from Hu Xiaoyu, glaring at everyone around them, almost maliciously, and said, "Do you know your boss? A country bumpkin pulled out of the mud. Claims to be a second-generation rich kid, but in reality, he's a lower-class good-for-nothing that no one wants. Doesn't even want to go to school. The Hu family rejects you, the Yu family threw you out. Oh, by the way... After being with Yu Tan, you got nothing, not even a bit of respect, and were thrown out. And you all still think of him as a treasure..."
Xin Shibai shot Li Yu a disgusted look. "What are you talking about?"
If the boss really disliked Hu Xiaoyu, then why would he call him three times a day and always want to know what Hu Xiaoyu wore?
Seeing everyone in shock, he hastily instructed a staff member, "What are you standing there for? Call security!"
Li Yu, emboldened, seemed to think that this speech would somehow push Hu Xiaoyu under his heel.
Why? What did he have that was inferior to Hu Xiaoyu? Now, the Hu family no longer welcomed him, his cousin had become distant, and Yu Tan... even worse, had exposed all his past deeds of reckless driving, casual flings, and drug use while abroad. Now, his social media were full of insults, and he would likely spend the rest of his life hiding away like a rat in a gutter.
Hu Xiaoyu locked eyes with Li Yu's malicious gaze, speaking in a soft tone, "Have you said enough?"
Li Yu sneered. "What, are you guilty?"
Hu Xiaoyu's gaze was as calm as ice. "You're furious. You want to humiliate me, don't you? Why? Because you're jealous? Or is it because... you like Yu Tan?"
Li Yu's pupils contracted, then he quickly regained his confidence, responding, "Jealous of you? Ridiculous! But you're right about one thing, I do like Yu Tan!"
He was trying to get Hu Xiaoyu to lose his composure or show some reaction, but instead, Hu Xiaoyu's gaze drifted to behind him.
Standing there with a thermos was Yu Tan.
Yu Tan had just gotten out of the elevator and heard Li Yu confidently say, "I like Yu Tan," before noticing Hu Xiaoyu's emotionless gaze. His heart skipped a beat.
He coldly commanded, "What are you talking about?"
Li Yu stammered, "... Yu... Yu Tan..."
Just moments ago, he had boldly declared his feelings for Yu Tan, but now, upon seeing him in person, the fear and anxiety flooded his body. His shoulders even shrank away.
Had he known Yu Tan would show up like this, he would never have dared to approach Hu Xiaoyu, no matter how angry he was.
Yu Tan strode over to Hu Xiaoyu, his expression softening slightly, though with a hint of nervousness. "Xiaoyu, good morning."
Back when they were still close, Hu Xiaoyu would often snuggle up to Yu Tan in the mornings and greet him happily, "Yu Tan, good morning."
Hu Xiaoyu took a step back. "I don't have any money."
Yu Tan recalled the check he had torn up yesterday and replied thoughtfully, "That debt's on me, I won't ask you for money again."
Li Yu, frightened by Yu Tan's presence, observed how he was speaking with Hu Xiaoyu.
This wasn't right—why did Yu Tan look so cautious? Why was it Yu Tan who seemed so careful in this situation?
For a demon, mornings were usually the best part of the day, but today, it has been ruined.
He glanced at Li Yu and said to Yu Tan, "I'm looking for you. The studio doesn't accept outsiders. You two can talk outside."
Yu Tan, who had gotten up before five to make breakfast, was not about to leave.
He cast a cold glance at Li Yu, his eyes full of disdain. "What did you say?"
Li Yu could no longer withstand the pressure and took a step back.
Yu Tan, wanting to resolve this quickly since breakfast had been sitting out too long and would lose its flavor, glanced around and saw that Li Yu had clearly been spreading false rumors to turn things against Hu Xiaoyu.
He looked at A-Jiu and said, "Let him speak."
Li Yu, who had seen A-Jiu's methods before, took a panicked step back, saying, I didn't say anything wrong! It was you who kicked Hu Xiaoyu out of the Yu family! And you... you hit him... you...
The truth was, Li Yu had heard that Hu Xiaoyu had beaten Yu Tan.
But Yu Tan was someone who was respected by everyone in the city; no one dared to disrespect him, let alone lay a hand on him. So, the rumor that Hu Xiaoyu had beaten Yu Tan was definitely a distortion of the truth.
Li Yu just wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, and even if it was wrong, Yu Tan was too proud to admit it in front of everyone, just to protect Hu Xiaoyu's face.
Then, Yu Tan's voice rang out, sharp and firm: "Enough nonsense!"
Li Yu, stunned, couldn't respond.
He watched as Yu Tan loudly declared that, then turned to Hu Xiaoyu, his cold energy dissipating. Lowering his head, he spoke softly, "I have nothing to do with Li Yu. I only like you. You've beaten me, kicked me, ran away from home... I know I was wrong. Xiaoyu... will you forgive me?"
These words carried so much weight.
The calmest, most habitual reaction probably came from A-Jiu.
Xin Shibai and a few others from the studio stood frozen, trying to process what they had just heard.
So, the little boss had run away from home? Yu Tan, the mighty CEO, was actually a "wife-governed" man who could even cook? Which should they be more surprised about?
Li Yu, his face pale with embarrassment and disbelief, tried to say something, but was forcibly escorted away by A-Jiu.
Hu Xiaoyu hadn't expected Yu Tan to say such a long apology, but it didn't matter. Apologies mean nothing now. Yu Tan had apologized plenty before, whether it was to pull him back in or promise there would be no more incidents after Yang Kai's matter.
But then what? The disdain and nonchalance that came afterward always left Hu Xiaoyu feeling suffocated.
He pushed away Yu Tan's increasingly closed head. "No forgiveness. This is my place. You leave."
Yu Tan had been taught by Shi Jingyang, so he understood that apologies were rarely effective on the first try, especially in these circumstances.
He allowed himself to be pushed back but didn't resist. "Can you at least keep that thing? It's something you really liked."
Hu Xiaoyu fell silent for a moment, and his tongue unconsciously touched the roof of his mouth. "I won't eat it. Take it away."
Yu Tan gazed at the boy's long lashes, his eyes lingering on them, and then spoke softly, "Think about it. Consider it like a takeaway order?"
Hu Xiaoyu's senses sharpened. He was certain he could smell shrimp. His lashes fluttered, and he finally shook his head. "No, you leave."
Sure, he could buy it with money, but if he had to buy it made by Yu Tan, he would probably feel a bit disdainful for his own craving.
Yu Tan wasn't willing to leave.
Hu Xiaoyu ignored him and went straight to the rest area, locking the door behind him.
Yu Tan followed to the door, standing there as if on punishment.
But once Hu Xiaoyu was gone, his dignity, his pride, and his imposing presence all returned. He glanced back at the onlookers, still stunned and unsure of what to do.