Chapter 63

Now, everything has simply returned to square one.

The worst part is that there would be no more ties, but he was fortunate to have one small cherished memory.

He would hide it carefully, never allowing anyone to see or steal it again.

When he boarded the bus, it was the last one on the loop line. Despite having an umbrella, he was still drenched, drawing a second glance from the driver. Afraid of dirtying the seat, Ye Zhi stood holding onto a pole. The bus was empty of other passengers and moved slowly yet steadily towards his destination.

Getting off the bus, Ye Zhi’s steps became heavier again. Although he was good at comforting himself, approaching a place where Huo Youqiao existed still made him feel an oppressive weight in his heart, like a dull knife grinding against his flesh, causing a constant, stifling pain.

But it was late now; Huo Youqiao should be asleep by now, right?

Huo Youqiao was punctual with his routines, rarely going out at night unless for necessary social engagements. In his free time, he was either working out or reading. He was a responsible official, doing his job remarkably well. Although Ye Zhi didn’t know much, he was aware that Huo Youqiao had a good reputation among the public after taking office.

The Huo family mansion gradually came into view, with lights indicating someone was home. The house, with its long-standing, imposing presence, looked grand. Ye Zhi had considered moving out since Huo Youqiao had more right to live there. If Huo wanted to avoid him, it would be better for Ye Zhi to leave. He had even decided to ask his company for an advance to rent a small place.

He just hadn’t expected to lose his job.

And the reason for losing his job was even more unexpected. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that being fired in such a manner made it nearly impossible for him to find a suitable job in the industry again.

What was he going to do in the future?

His head ached dully, and his steps grew even heavier. After a long walk, Ye Zhi finally reached the gate. He opened it quietly and slipped inside silently.

The rain was still falling. Ye Zhi walked under the eaves and slowly put away his umbrella.

He needed to find a time to return the umbrella to the kind stranger.

Thinking of the kind boy again, Ye Zhi regretted not getting his contact information, feeling foolish. It took him a long time to fold the umbrella properly before he opened the door.

The lock clicked softly as Ye Zhi opened the door. Stepping onto the entrance rug, he realized just how soaked he was—there wasn’t a dry spot on him. The house was warmer than outside, and the sudden warmth made him shiver even more.

As he bent down to change his shoes, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. The familiar sound let him know without looking who it was, causing his whole body to tense up even more, slowing his movements further.

He also didn’t want the other person to see his disheveled state.

The large living room was dim, with only the wall lamps on. Unless Huo Youqiao came close, he wouldn’t see Ye Zhi’s sorry state clearly. From Ye Zhi’s recent experiences, Huo Youqiao was probably coming down just to get a drink or something, and they would only exchange a simple greeting without much interaction.

So he dragged out the time, waiting until Huo Youqiao reached the bottom of the stairs before he lifted his head and said, “Good evening, brother.”

Based on past encounters, Huo Youqiao would likely just say “Good evening” blandly and then leave.

Ye Zhi waited quietly, but to his surprise, Huo Youqiao didn’t respond as expected. Instead, he stopped and asked, “Did you get caught in the rain?”

Although it was posed as a question, it sounded more like a statement.

Their distance wasn’t far enough to obscure each other’s features. Despite the dim lighting, some things were still evident.

The unexpected response left Ye Zhi stunned, unable to reply. Huo Youqiao frowned, walked closer, and said, “Didn’t you use an umbrella? How did you still get wet?”

Ye Zhi was bewildered.