Love For You - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Are You a Eunuch? Is It Really That Bad?

Tu Li vaguely felt that something wasn't right.

It was a strange, indescribable sensation. She didn't know how to put it into words, but Chen Yi was "off"—ever since Miao Jing had returned, he had changed completely.

Chen Yi and Miao Jing didn't act like siblings. To any discerning eye, the affection between them was tepid at best, far less intimate than the bond Chen Yi shared with his group of friends. They were, in fact, people who should have had nothing to do with each other, yet they were living under the same roof.

Late at night, there would be movement from the room next door. Chen Yi would call Miao Jing out, and they would stand on the balcony with the door shut, talking. Tu Li couldn't guess what they were discussing, but she had heard and seen enough from the door crack during their brief exchanges in the living room—the tone, the attitude.

When did Lu Zhengsi leave? Why did he leave so suddenly?

She had already taken her clothes off, only to have to put them back on to go home. The situation was bizarre. Tu Li, her high heels practically stabbing holes into the floor, offered a sarcastic, tight-lipped sneer, mocking Chen Yi, asking if he was even a man or if he had some sort of hidden ailment. His expression was colder than hers; impatient, he lashed out at her: "Looking for someone better? Tell me what kind you like. I’ll make a call right now and have them sent to your bed. Do you want someone rich and handsome, or someone who can last all night?"

"Chen Yi!" Tu Li’s face flashed between pale and red. "I’ve been completely devoted to you. I’ve done everything you wanted, and I’ve been at your beck and call. I’ve never wronged you, so what is that supposed to mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything. You haven't wronged me, and I haven't wronged you. Didn't I give you enough money, or was I not good enough for you?" The scumbag spoke without a hint of shame, his brows cold and hard. "We’re done."

Tu Li gritted her teeth, keeping silent, her face frozen in a mask of frost.

Chen Yi pulled the car over downstairs at the apartment complex, his tone arrogant and dismissive: "Let’s just leave it at that. We had a good run, so let’s end it peacefully. You won't have any trouble finding someone better, and honestly, I'm sick of it. I can't even get it up with you anymore."

The remark hit too close to the heart. Tu Li sneered and curled her lip: "Are you a eunuch? Is it really that bad?"

"That’s right, I’m a eunuch. So what?" Chen Yi scraped his tongue against his teeth, his expression flippant. "It’s better to let you off the hook sooner, isn't it?"

She had already taken off her makeup; her face was pale and translucent, and her vibrant red lips were now a faint white. Hearing Chen Yi say this, her eyes reddened instantly. She set her jaw, said nothing, and mustered the last bit of her pride. She twisted the door open and stepped out of the car, her silhouette alluring and provocative as she stomped toward her home.

Chen Yi leaned lazily against the car window, finishing his cigarette before tossing the butt on the ground and turning back.

Miao Jing’s door was tightly shut, and everything was quiet; she was likely already asleep. He rubbed his face in defeat, sitting in the living room with a frown until the middle of the night before returning to his own room. The next morning, Miao Jing hadn't left yet. Wearing a professional, elegant suit, she stood by the dining table, taking small bites of a rice ball. Seeing Chen Yi standing in the doorway, she asked if he could drive her to work. The headquarters were sending people over today, and she had a presentation PPT to show. It was raining outside, and it wasn't convenient to rush for the shuttle bus in high heels.

He gave a cold grunt. He went into the bathroom to wash up first, catching a glimpse of Miao Jing standing to the side waiting for him. He walked back to his room with a toothbrush in his mouth, taking off his T-shirt as he walked and tossing it carelessly onto the sofa. He emerged shirtless, putting on a black hooded sweatshirt. The hem slid over his smooth, firm muscles, his shoulder bones creating sharp angles. Standing before Miao Jing, radiating a spirit of impatient rebelliousness, he said in a rough voice, "Let's go."

It was early, and the autumn rain was misty and fine. There weren't many cars on the road, and the vehicle moved fast. Miao Jing asked him to slow down, but Chen Yi didn't respond, his brows lowered, too lazy to speak to her.

"The weather is bad, please slow down."

"If you have so much to say, why don't you take a taxi?" he said, his tone icy. "I know how to handle my own car. If you’re going to sit in it, then sit quietly."

Miao Jing pressed her lips together and simply stopped talking, her long lashes fluttering as she turned to look out the window.

When they arrived at the company, Miao Jing had barely stood up after getting out of the car, not even having time to open her umbrella, when the black Cadillac sped away, not staying for even a second, splashing a few drops of water onto the hem of her skirt.

Chen Yi was angry.

The atmosphere at home cooled down in sync with the dropping temperature. It wasn't freezing, but it was chilly enough to require a thin jacket.

Chen Yi was clearly in a foul mood. He sat at home with a grim expression, legs sprawled out, playing games and smoking. When Miao Jing returned from work and saw him there, she asked what he wanted for dinner. He didn't even look up: "Can you make me dragon liver and phoenix marrow?"

"I can't," Miao Jing replied calmly. "I don't know how."

"Is that so?" He curled his lips, his eyes fixed on his phone. "Damn, and here I thought you were capable of everything."

He was intent on being a thorn in her side. Miao Jing ignored his cold remarks and simply cooked two bowls of noodles, calling Chen Yi to eat. He came over slowly, sneered coldly, and shot her a look of extreme indifference. He picked up his chopsticks and ate, his temples throbbing with each bite, though it was unclear just how furious he was. When Miao Jing asked him again to fix the washing machine's water pipe, he gave up, telling her to do it herself.

"You’re so capable, and you studied engineering. Is fixing a washing machine really that hard?"

"I’m busy! Stop annoying the hell out of me! Get lost!"

He was filled with rage and frustration.

Miao Jing walked away without a word. She took the laundry basket from the bathroom, grabbed all his clothes, and dumped them over his head.

Her tone was cold and detached: "If you're so capable, wash your own clothes."

"Miao Jing." Chen Yi closed his eyes, holding back his temper as he pulled the clothes off his shoulders, his jaw tight as he glared at her with a menacing look. "Are you tired of living?"

"That’s right. Is there a problem?" She smiled slightly, hands on her hips. Even then, her demeanor remained elegant and refined, her eyes flicking upward: "What can you do to me?"

Did she think he couldn't handle her?

He frowned deeply, his gaze sweeping over her exquisite figure before his eyelids dropped sharply. He stood up abruptly and strode out of the house, the door slamming shut behind him—he headed to the pool hall.

Tu Li had been stewing at home for several days, but there was no movement from his side. When she called to ask if they were breaking up, he was in the background where the sound of mahjong tiles clattering was deafening. Impatiently, he said yes and hung up directly.

The people at the mahjong table were all his friends. Hearing the commotion, they leaned in with cheeky smiles.

"Brother Yi, breaking up?"

"Is that a problem?" Chen Yi raised an eyebrow with a lecherous grin. "Got an opinion?"

"Sister Li is so beautiful and has such a hot body. You’re really letting her go?"

"What’s there to regret? There are plenty of beautiful women out there."

"Since when has Brother Yi ever lacked for women? They’re always throwing themselves at you."

"Sister Li was the longest one yet. We all thought you’d be tied down and end up married. It’s a pity to break up like this. Brother Yi, she really cared about you."

"Brother Yi, I’ve got a 'little sister' who’s also quite pretty. Interested? I’ll bring her out to meet you sometime?"

"All of you, get lost!" Chen Yi chewed on his cigarette, smiling. "When did I ever say I was getting married? I never expected to do that in this life. Just making do is enough."

Tu Li was huddled at home, looking disheveled. She thought about it over and over before calling Miao Jing. Her mind took dozens of twists and turns, wanting to ask if she knew if there were other women around Chen Yi, or asking what she and Chen Yi talked about on the balcony, or asking about their past.

Miao Jing was exhausted from revising drawings and didn't like having vague, cloud-filled conversations with people: "Sister Li, there are some things I really don't know. You can ask Chen Yi directly about the rest; after all, your relationship with him is more direct."

She hung up on her.

It was only then that Tu Li realized Miao Jing’s aloofness and pride. Living with Chen Yi, she didn't even know what he did every day, who he associated with, or anything else. Was she truly ignorant, or was she simply unwilling to pay her any mind or bother telling her?

In the end, Tu Li called Bo Zai. Bo Zai spent the most time with Chen Yi; his mouth was tight, but he was an honest and warm-hearted person, so she could usually find out a bit of information. Bo Zai had also heard that Chen Yi and Tu Li had broken up and knew she was feeling down, but he really hadn't seen any other women appearing around Chen Yi. When Tu Li asked Bo Zai about Miao Jing, Bo Zai recalled that they didn't have a great relationship, but they had lived together for three years, and Chen Yi had paid for Miao Jing's tuition and living expenses.

"There were no adults, just the two of them living together?" Tu Li twirled a hair tie around her finger. "What about Miao Jing’s mother? When did she leave? Why didn't she take Miao Jing with her?"

Chen Yi didn't like people mentioning Wei Mingzhen’s running off with the money, so Bo Zai hesitated and wouldn't say clearly: "I’m not entirely sure. Anyway, Miao Jing stayed in Teng City. Brother Yi usually lived outside and only came home on weekends. I know they spent the holidays together."

"Back then, Brother Yi always said he wanted to kick Miao Jing out. Every time they talked on the phone, Brother Yi was quite impatient. Later, when Miao Jing finished high school and got into a prestigious university, she didn't come back, and she didn't contact us anymore. I only knew she was back in Teng City because you asked me."

Tu Li hung up the phone with a strange feeling in her heart.

She looked for Chen Yi again, her tone sugary-sweet: "Are you free? I’m going to come by your place to pick up my things."

Chen Yi was playing billiards, his mind elsewhere: "Sure, come by tomorrow."

To prepare for this meeting, Tu Li had gotten eyelash extensions, dyed her hair, and applied an impeccable, glamorous makeup look. She was a dancer, and her figure was curvaceous and alluring. She changed into a tight-fitting, hip-hugging dress, remembering that Chen Yi had indeed liked her in that style. Dressed to look drop-dead gorgeous, she took a taxi to Chen Yi’s place.

Chen Yi had been at the pool hall the night before and hadn't been awake long. When he opened the door and saw Tu Li, he lazily made way for her.

"Where’s Miao Jing?"

"She went on a date with Lu Zhengsi."

He was in a cold standoff with Miao Jing; she hadn't paid him the slightest bit of attention, continuing her work and life, going on dates after work. The two of them hadn't spoken properly for days. The washing machine pipe was broken and still wasn't fixed; Miao Jing had given up, and they hadn't cleaned the house in days. Chen Yi was also too lazy to move—they hadn't been together for so many years that he was actually used to living this way. Now, suddenly crammed together, their habits had changed, and reverting back made everything feel wrong.

Tu Li smiled brightly as she lifted the food container in her hand and placed it on the table: "It’s almost eleven. You haven't eaten yet, right? I packed some stuff—it’s all your favorites. Want to taste?"

Chen Yi stretched his long legs out, propping them crudely on a chair. His dark eyes narrowed as he slanted a look at her, those sinister, gloomy eyes almost piercing through her intentions: "Go get the stuff yourself."

He was listless, as if he had no bones: "We had a good run; we don't owe each other anything, and it wasn't like we had planned exactly where this was going. The money I spent on you over the last two years wasn't a small amount; it’s enough as compensation."

Tu Li’s mouth twitched, but she smoothed it back into a sweet smile: "What did I even say? Why are you in such a hurry to distance yourself?" With a charming laugh, she handed him a pair of chopsticks. "Eat something first. There’s no rush. I even brought wine. Want to have some?"

Chen Yi curled his lips with an air of nonchalance, revealing a cold smile: "What? Is this a breakup meal?"

"Isn't it? Let’s just end it well."

They both picked up their chopsticks. Chen Yi ate a few bites and stopped. Tu Li stood up to go to the kitchen for bowls. As her skirt brushed past, a bowl of chili-oil beef tipped over on the table, the oil and sauce splashing onto Chen Yi’s clothes.

"Oh my, I’m so sorry," Tu Li said with a giggle. "Go change your clothes."

"Just take your things and go. I have to go open the pool hall later; I won’t see you out."

Chen Yi dropped his chopsticks and got up to shower and change. When he came out of the bathroom, the dining table had been cleaned. He walked toward his room and found someone rummaging through his closet. A slender figure in a light-colored dress lit up when she saw him, smiling prettily: "Does it look good?"

Chen Yi’s pupils contracted.

Her rose-colored lips, paired with a shimmering glance, pearl earrings, and hair loosely held by a clip—the long dress wrapped around her figure, making both her curves and her slender frame vaguely visible.

It was a dress Miao Jing often wore that hung on the balcony. The material was silky and thin, the cut light. Tu Li spread out the hem of the skirt and blinked: "Does it look good? My clothes were dirty, so I borrowed Miao Jing's dress to wear for a bit."

He knitted his thick brows, looking her over with a heavy gaze, but said nothing.

Tu Li laughed softly, swaying her waist as she walked over. The scent of her perfume was heavy, her graceful figure pressing against his back, her words bewitching: "Chen Yi..."

She rubbed her chin against him, creating an itchy, tingling sensation. Her laughter was coquettish, straight to the bone: "Don’t look at this dress hanging there like it’s nothing; it actually looks pretty good on. It’s particularly tight around the waist and chest. Miao Jing is so thin that she doesn't have an ounce of meat in those spots, but I... I’m not wearing anything underneath, and it’s squeezing me so tight."

Chen Yi closed his eyes slightly, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Her delicate hands reached out: "Doesn't this feel pretty stimulating?"

She pulled his hand to her curvaceous figure: "See? Miao Jing's dress is really quite narrow."

Her red lips pressed against his ear: "It’s been so long, and it’s not like we haven't done it before... shall I help you let off some steam?"

Chen Yi opened his eyes, his gaze heavy and his face slightly flushed. He suddenly pushed her hand away. Tu Li took the opportunity to wrap herself around him and collapse onto the bed. The dress was thin, soft, and slippery; the scene was filled with hidden delights. Her messy hair covered the woman’s alluring brows and eyes, leaving only her red lips slightly parted and her pink tongue tucked in. He only had to take one look at that extremely charming, half-hidden face for his breathing to turn wild, his body tightening like a bow. Being held by the neck by those slender, fair hands, he fell heavily onto the bed.

Amidst passionate, shifting kisses, Chen Yi’s back broke out in a layer of hot sweat. Tu Li tugged at his waistband; he heard the click of his belt. Tu Li reached out to feel for the condom in the drawer, wanting to help him put it on. Chen Yi’s body suddenly stiffened, sweat bursting from his hairline. He pushed her away and staggered back a step, his face crimson and heavy with defeat. Staring at the woman on the bed with her dress hiked up, his eyes flashing white, he said hoarsely: "Get out."

Tu Li’s face turned gray. She bit her lip and rolled her eyes at the ceiling.

His chest rose and fell violently, his eardrums thrumming with frustration: "Change out of that dress."

Tu Li changed back into her own clothes right in front of him, her voice cold and full of mockery: "Chen Yi, what exactly is your relationship with Miao Jing? I’m afraid it’s not ordinary, is it? You’re so turned on by just this—have you been living a celibate life ever since she came back?"

Chen Yi’s gaze turned sinister in an instant. He stared at Tu Li coldly, said nothing, and simply dragged her out of the house.