Chapter 10: It is the 'Xu' of Xu Si'an, and the 'Xu' of Qiao Xu.

“Xu Jie, we’ve arrived.”

The car stopped at the entrance of the residential complex because there was no ground parking lot where Qiao Xu lived.

“All right, thank you, Xiao Song.”

“Mr. Xu, I’m off work now.”

The car door opened, and Qiao Xu got out, walking inside.

Xu Sian watched her retreating figure through the half-lowered car window.

Only after she disappeared from sight did he instruct Xiao Song to drive on.

“Go check if there’s any available unit on the 8th floor of Building 16 in this complex—rent or buy, either is fine. Get it done within half a month.”

Xiao Song was puzzled. “Ah? Mr. Xu, you want to live here?”

“Close to the company. Is there a problem?”

“No problem.”

“Then why specifically the 8th floor of Building 16? Why not any other floor?”

Xu Sian pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re the boss, and I’m the boss, but ever since you came back, you’ve become so indecisive.”

Xiao Song laughed nervously and quickly agreed.

In the empty villa, Xu Sian sat on the sofa, loosening his tie and tossing it casually onto the couch.

After leaning back for a while, he reached into his pocket and took out a bracelet.

He flicked it in front of his eyes, twisting it slightly. “It’s just a worthless bracelet. I have no idea who it’s from—such a shabby gift, yet she managed to accept it.”

“The ones I gave her, she didn’t take a single one.”

He threw the bracelet carelessly into the trash bin beside the coffee table.

If Qiao Xu had seen her bracelet tossed in the trash at his place, she would have surely confronted him fiercely.

Xu Sian went upstairs to shower, then came down to pour himself a glass of water.

Just as he stepped onto the stairs…

He bent down, picked up the bracelet from the trash, and clenched it in his palm.

Good thing the housekeeper had cleaned today; otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to pick something out of the garbage.

When Qiao Xu returned home, as soon as she stepped in, Cherry pounced on her, circling around with a pitiful look and wagging her tail.

Qiao Xu, exhausted, placed her bag on the shoe cabinet by the door.

She bent down to lift Cherry into her arms. “Sorry, I’m late getting back.”

She checked the dog food and water she had left that morning before work. Seeing that Cherry had eaten and hadn’t made a mess in the house, she felt relieved.

Holding the dog, Qiao Xu sat on the sofa without turning on the lights.

There was only a small sensor lamp at home, one she had specially installed to keep Cherry from feeling scared whenever she came home late.

She petted the dog, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

“Cherry, what am I going to do? I lost the bracelet Dad gave me.”

“Am I really that stupid? I lost it, the thing Dad left me.”

Cherry licked her hand gently in response.

Qiao Xu’s emotions surged, and her sobs grew loud. She hadn’t cried like this in a long time.

Yet over the years, she had learned to control her feelings—the pain came fast and left just as quickly.

“Cherry, I’m glad you’re here.”

“Thank you for keeping me company these past four years.”

After showering, she didn’t forget to take Cherry downstairs for a walk.

She went to the convenience store near the entrance and bought a pack of ESSE Lime cigarettes. “One pack of ESSE Lime, please.”

As she prepared to pay by scanning the code, she hesitated for a moment. “Also, one pack of Shuan Hemen and a lighter, thank you.”

Outside the store, Qiao Xu slipped the ESSE into her pocket, looped Cherry’s leash around her wrist, and began walking while opening the Shuan Hemen pack.

She took one out and lit it.

After taking a drag, her brow furrowed deeply.

When they were dating, she had been curious and tried inhaling from Xu Sian’s cigarette once.

She had made the same face then. “So harsh.”

Xu Sian had punished her with a kiss, stealing the lingering tobacco scent from her lips.

“Good girls shouldn’t smoke. If you do, it should be my cigarettes.”

Qiao Xu blushed and punched his chest. “Xu Sian, you’re talking nonsense again.”

He grinned mischievously, holding her close. “Not nonsense. I really want to.”

“Get lost, you rogue!”

Qiao Xu took only one puff and let the cigarette burn out.

Back home, she removed Cherry’s leash, which had a small pure silver tag engraved with her old phone number and Xu Sian’s number, marked with “XU” — Xu being Xu Sian’s surname and also a nod to Qiao Xu’s name.

She sat cross-legged on the floor, turned on the TV, and slowly unpacked her familiar pack of ESSE.

Not because they tasted good, but because the flavor was mild and wouldn’t cling to her clothes.

The TV played her favorite variety show, but her mind was elsewhere entirely.

She smiled wryly, stroking Cherry’s head.

“Cherry, I’ll find you a dad someday.”

The dog seemed to understand and barked twice at her.

Qiao Xu muttered, “If I don’t like it, then forget it. I probably won’t fall for anyone else either. So it’ll be just the two of us, after all these years.”

The next day was Saturday. Xu Xing had weekends off and didn’t need to work.

Qiao Xu woke early and began tidying the house. Then she sent a location in the group chat, inviting Ye Yurou and the others to come over for hotpot.

A little housewarming, to bring some warmth and liveliness.

She rubbed Cherry’s head. “Be good at home, Mommy’s going to buy groceries.”

Near the complex were both a market and a mall. Walking, Qiao Xu muttered, “Damn capitalists, crazy people with too much time on their hands, why’d they have to crash into my car?”

“All right, enough grumbling. You still have to walk when you go out.”

“Fine, I guess I’ll just buy another one.”

Qiao Xu’s hands were full of bags, and she carried a bouquet of pink lilacs in her arms.

“Why are you here?”

A man stood outside the door, about thirty years old, dressed casually, with a box of items by his feet.

The man took the bags from Qiao Xu. “I went back to my hometown a few days ago. My aunt asked me to bring something for you.”

Qiao Xu unlocked the door with her fingerprint. “Come in, there are disposable slippers in the shoe cabinet.”

Meng Zhe dragged the box inside.

Opening the shoe cabinet, he saw a pair of men’s slippers. “Aren’t there already slippers here?”

“Don’t move. If you do, I’ll have Cherry bite you.”

Hearing the commotion, Cherry dashed out of the room and barked furiously at Meng Zhe.

“Qiao Xu, control your dog.”

Meng Zhe took off his shoes while complaining, “Your dog’s been around for years but still barks at me. I’ve told you so many times—I’m family, family.”

Cherry was Xu Sian’s dog. Whenever a stranger came, especially a man, she reacted strongly.

While organizing the kitchen, Qiao Xu called, “Cherry, come here.”

Meng Zhe thought it ridiculous that, as a repair shop owner, he was afraid of a pet dog.

But it wasn’t his fault. Three years ago, when Qiao’s father passed away, Meng Zhe had just hugged his cousin and was bitten by this silly dog, resulting in tetanus treatment.

“Xiao Xu, Auntie says you should go on a blind date. What do you think?”

Qiao Xu took a glass bottle filled with water from the kitchen and began unpacking the pink lilacs.

“You go instead of me.”

Meng Zhe’s mouth twitched. “Your brother and I both have our reputations ruined by you. I’m almost out of friends. They all think I’m gay and are afraid I’ll mess with them.”

Qiao Xu smiled lightly. “Aren’t you?”

[Private note: Remember to add to the bookshelf, the charming and reserved Mr. Xu pursues his wife in various ways—if once isn’t enough, try several times.]