Chu Youyou wiped her eyes with a tissue and went to open the door. Time seemed to freeze in that moment. Her red eyes met yours, cold and empty as they stared at you, and looked away in unease.
"Where is your luggage?" Chu Youyou stepped aside to let you in.
You carried it to the bedside and turned around. "Are you really leaving?"
Chu Youyou's cool voice followed. "Get me some hot water. I want to soak my feet."
You carefully lined the foot basin with a disposable cover, filled it with warm water, and carried it to the sofa. Chu Youyou turned and sat with her legs crossed.
"You are too tall. It is annoying. Squat down a little."
Several times, you wanted to speak, but for the sake of work, you bent down, like a knight about to kiss a princess's hand.
Chu Youyou's eyes swept over your throat, then across your white shirt. The face had not changed. Only the fierce pride in his eyes was gone. He was humbler now, and more mature. Chu Youyou could not help laughing.
"Looks like these years have not been kind to young Master Chen. What happened? Did your family go bankrupt? After all these years, your old sick pride is gone."
You gave a slight nod. "My dad's business ran into trouble. Luckily, he had divorced my mom legally in advance. Otherwise, my mom and I would not even have a place to live."
Chu Youyou only knew he once had money. He could buy anything he wanted and play however he liked. His bank balance always had seven digits.
"How much do you make here each month?"
You paused. "A little over seven thousand."
She sneered. "I remember your allowance was over a million a month."
Seven thousand was not enough for one nightclub trip or a single tip. You did not know how to answer that. Your leg was going numb, so you quietly shifted to the other foot.
"For that seven thousand yuan, what exactly do you do?"
"Whatever the customer needs. Basically, small tasks for guests."
"Does washing my feet count as a small task?"
You stiffened for a second. "I can help you with anything."
Chu Youyou laughed so hard tears nearly came out. "The mighty young Master Chen is willing to wash my feet now. If you can do it, what are you waiting for?"
She laughed and laughed while staring straight at your face. You breathed deep and placed her feet in the water.
"It is hot." She kicked your shoulder.
Caught off guard, you fell onto the carpet. The gesture was full of pressure. Her fingers flinched as they touched the carpet, but she soon calmed down. He had washed away her torment countless times. You owed her, so you wiped the water from your face.
"Try again. Not hot now."
You lowered your head again, serious, and Chu Youyou's anger rose for no reason, even stronger than before. She put her feet back in the basin.
"Kneeling on one knee looks uncomfortable. Would both knees feel better?"
You never looked up. "It is not uncomfortable."
"Right. For seven thousand yuan, kneeling service is hardly too much. I will pay you extra."
She took her bag and pulled out a thick stack of cash, about ten thousand, then threw it into your face. The bills scattered everywhere. Some landed on the floor. Some fell into the basin. You still kept your head down and focused only on washing her feet.
Chu Youyou pulled out credit cards and bank cards, throwing them all at you. "Not enough money?"
You shook off your hands and wiped them dry. Without a word, you picked up every card and bill and placed them on the coffee table.
Chu Youyou's chest rose and fell, then slowly settled. You lifted her feet and wrapped them in a towel.
This was not him anymore. People always change.
"Are you still the same you?"
Chu Youyou hugged her knees and dodged the question. "Are you married?"
Carefully, you moved her feet onto the sofa. "Dating is easy. Marriage is hard. Especially in this city. A woman who wants no bride price, no car, no house, and will still stay for life is hard to find."
"What about your girlfriend?"
Only then did you realize she meant the woman you made up at the breakup. "She does not exist. I made her up to end us. It is late. You should rest. I should clock out, too."
You straightened up and were about to leave when your phone rang.
"Answer it here." Chu Youyou's tone allowed no refusal.
You pressed answer. Right away, a furious woman's voice rang out through the whole room. "Chen Fan, what do you mean? I was with you for months at least, and you blocked me over one disagreement. Even if you dislike the marriage terms, could we not keep talking? Do you have any manners?"
You never expected it to be Bai Chuchu. There was barely any feeling between you. Blocking her was already the gentlest refusal. Yet she called from another number. And what did she mean, with you for months? You only met through matchmaking and stayed proper even when marriage came up. At most, you held hands once.
Bai Chuchu vented for a while, then finally calmed down a little. "The bride price can be discussed. My bottom line is not living with elders. Otherwise, everything else is negotiable."
You did not want more entanglement. "My bottom line is living with elders. I have something urgent here."
After hanging up, you blocked her again.
"You are in this state and still dating. That part of you really has not changed. When you get bored, you throw people away. Calling you trash is too generous."
"I met her on a blind date. I never touched her. I really need to go. I need my mom's medicine."
Chu Youyou came over in disposable slippers and grabbed your tie, pulling your head lower. "You leave only when I say so."
"My coworkers know I am here with you. It will look bad for you."
"I sent both my parents to jail. Do you think I still care about reputation?"