C18 He Bullied You!

Chu Rusi's gaze fell upon Xu Huanxi's finger, and his expression darkened in an instant. Great, he thought, today marks the first time I've been falsely accused of being a would-be violent criminal. It seems my luck is as bad as today's astrological forecast.

His trigeminal nerve throbbed with pain.

With a forced nod, he managed a terse acknowledgment, "Yeah, me."

He had no choice but to own up to it! How could he possibly explain to Xu Yinuo that someone was targeting her mom? "Be extra cautious walking at night," he'd have to say.

Xu Yinuo's anger flared, and he hurled the cup in his hand at Chu Rusi.

Chu Rusi simply tilted his head, dodging the cup with ease.

Dare to dodge? Xu Yinuo, face ashen, grabbed the phone nearby. "Mommy, should we call the cops?"

Was this really happening? Xu Huanxi immediately shook her head, at a loss for how to defuse the situation. Oh, the mess!

Chu Rusi approached, firmly placed the phone back in Xu Yinuo's hand, and began his persuasive pitch: "Nuo, sweetheart, you're both smart and emotionally intelligent, so I'll get straight to the point. I've wronged your mother, yes, but it was just a slap, and I even escorted her home. So, why do you think that is?"

Xu Yinuo felt utterly cornered by Chu Rusi, like a child bullied by an adult. His eyes nearly shot daggers at Chu Rusi, but he composed himself, offering a mild smile with a distinctly cool undertone, "Why?"

As if he had any idea!

"Because your mommy doesn't despise me, she might even... like me," Chu Rusi said with a radiant smile, glancing at Xu Huanxi as if she were his next conquest.

Xu Yinuo also looked at Xu Huanxi, incredulous. "Mommy?" It was hard to believe her normally reserved nature could lead to such a whirlwind connection in just one day.

Xu Huanxi massaged her temples, at a loss for words. "Well... I don't dislike him," she admitted.

She felt as though she'd been coerced onto a pirate ship and shot Chu Rusi a withering glare.

Xu Yinuo fixed Chu Rusi with a hostile gaze and delivered a polite but firm dismissal, "Mr. Chu, my mother and I need to rest now. Please exit, turn left, and farewell, Mr. Chu."

Chu Rusi wasn't ready to be ousted by Xu Yinuo so swiftly. Seeing Xu Yinuo's refined upbringing courtesy of Xu Huanxi, he felt at ease. He whistled nonchalantly, gave Xu Huanxi an affectionate wink, and sauntered off with flair.

Xu Huanxi had thought she would simply marry and, if necessary, divorce with equal simplicity. Yet somehow, things had become far more complicated.

Perched on the sofa like a judge presiding over a case, Xu Yinuo questioned, "Mommy, Uncle Jiang pursued you for a year, and all you did was kiss and hug. So why did Chu Rusi succeed in just one day? Mommy, if anyone bullies you, you must tell me. I can protect you."

Today's mess was Jiang Tunan's doing, but Chu Rusi was the one carrying the blame. Xu Huanxi furrowed her brow, at a loss for words and utterly drained. She cooed plaintively, "Sweetheart, just say what's on your mind."

Xu Yinuo ventured cautiously, "Mommy, could it be that you actually like Chu Rusi?"

Xu Huanxi gave a wistful shrug, "Mommy doesn't dislike him, but that's as far as it goes." Falling for another man seemed beyond her now; the little bravery she had left had already been given to loving Jiang Tunan.

The following day, life appeared to resume its usual rhythm.

Xu Yinuo headed off to school, Xu Huanxi to work, and the family matriarch to her square dancing, possibly eyeing her next romantic spring.

Everything seemed as ordinary as if the matriarch hadn't concocted a marriage plot, and Xu Huanxi hadn't impulsively married a handsome young face.

But Xu Huanxi was aware that nothing was the same anymore.