Chapter 408 - 409: The Greatest Cruelty

Ye Xingbei didn’t chat aimlessly with him but dived into work without delay, being meticulous and serious, carrying out her duties with absolute professionalism.

Watching her cold and distant demeanor, Jee Xiu felt extremely upset, as if a colossal stone had fallen onto his heart.

Fortunately, “Half Dream, Half Awake” was a poignant love song, fitting perfectly with Jee Xiu’s mood. The artistic conception of the lyrics was outstandingly good, making it easy for Jee Xiu to immerse himself in it, his mesmerizing voice filled with sorrow, entrancing the staff.

After one listen, Ye Xingbei gave some feedback and left the rest to the executive producer before quietly leaving the scene.

Given Jee Xiu’s level of professionalism, he wouldn’t need her for anything else at that point.

She thought it would probably be best if she limited her interactions with Jee Xiu.

As she busied herself, the morning flew by rapidly.

Just before the end of work, Ye Xingbei’s cell phone rang.

It was a call from Jee Xiu.

Ye Xingbei felt a headache coming on, and she hesitated for a few seconds before answering the call.

“Beibei? I hope I’m not interrupting you?” Jee Xiu’s familiar voice radiated through Ye Xingbei’s ear, deep and somber, still exuding the melancholy from the song he just sung.

“No, you aren’t,” Ye Xingbei answered politely. “I’m almost done with work.”

“That’s good,” Jee Xiu said, “I’ve just finished too. Beibei, would you like to have lunch together?”

“No, I can’t,” Ye Xingbei replied, “I have plans for lunch already.”

“Ah Li and I are together,” said Jee Xiu. “I asked Ah Li, and he said you have nothing planned for lunch.”

Ye Xingbei:”…”

That boneheaded Brother Li!

She wanted to shake him by the collar and ask him why he was making things difficult for her. Wasn’t he afraid that the Fifth Lord of Gu would find out and confront him?

Jee Xiu waited for a moment, not receiving a response from Ye Xingbei. His voice was even more melancholic as he said, “BeiBei, don’t get me wrong. There’s just one line in the song that I can’t portray correctly. I wanted to discuss it with you… BeiBei, we’re still friends, aren’t we?”

His voice was so deep, so sorrowful, it was heartbreaking.

Ye Xingbei felt an uncomfortable twinge in her heart as well.

Over those years she spent in Y country, Jee Xiu had helped her a lot, caring for her in every possible way.

She regarded Jee Xiu with the respect one would have for an elder brother, secretly vowing to repay his kindness once she found success.

She never expected that while she viewed him as a brother, Jee Xiu was in love with her.

She did not love Jee Xiu.

Keeping Jee Xiu in suspense, giving him hope then ultimately offering him nothing – that would be the worst kind of cruelty.

She bit her lip, making the cruel decision. “Brother Xiu, I genuinely do have something on at noon. My husband just called me, saying he’d come to pick me up for lunch.”

“…Hu, husband?” Jee Xiu’s voice faltered as if he had been pierced by an arrow straight through his heart.

“Yeah,” Ye Xingbei deliberately said nonchalantly, “You’ve met him, you know who he is – it’s Gu Junzhu!”

On the other end of the call, Jee Xiu’s hand was shaking so severely that he could barely hold the phone. His voice trembled, “You, you guys…”

Feigning ignorance of his unusual reaction, Ye Xingbei playfully said, “Ah, I keep telling him not to be so clingy, but he never listens. If he doesn’t see me for a few hours, he becomes restless, he even insists on coming to my office to have lunch with me. So annoying!”

Jee Xiu clenched his phone tightly, his face turned pale, his lips quivered, and he was at a loss for words for quite some time.

Ye Xingbei continued speaking her fabricated story, “Brother Xiu, I have to go now. My husband is waiting for me outside. I’ll hang up first. Let Ah Li keep you company.. Have a good meal and we’ll chat another time!”