Chapter 38: A Woman's Broken Heart

It was 11:30 PM, and Chen Zhaojun, who usually didn't stay up late, was still sitting in front of the TV, watching the constantly changing colorful images casting vibrant reflections on the walls.

"Dad."

Receiving his father's silent signal, Chen Hanxing sat down on the sofa next to him.

"You're still awake at this hour?"

Chen Zhaojun glanced at his son, who had grown from a mischievous child into an 18-year-old young man. It was hard to believe that a girl was feeding him sugar-coated haws.

"Dad, I wanted to talk about this afternoon…"

Chen Hanxing planned to be upfront with his father since there was nothing between him and Xiao Rongyu. Their relationship was entirely innocent.

Unexpectedly, Chen Zhaojun waved his hand dismissively. "No need to explain. I'm not like your mother who's so conservative. As long as the girl's character is good, you can hang out and see where it goes."

"No, Dad, I really… and Xiao Rongyu…" Chen Hanxing tried to explain.

"Hmm, Xiao Rongyu… that name sounds familiar," Chen Zhaojun interrupted again, furrowing his brow as he recalled the source.

"The daughter of Captain Xiao from the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Public Security Bureau," Chen Hanxing clarified, hoping to speed things up.

"Oh, the daughter of Xiao Hongwei!" Chen Zhaojun exclaimed, suddenly understanding. He laughed and added, "Your Uncle Xiao was once the most handsome guy in the police force in Hong Kong City when he was young. No wonder she's so pretty. Not bad!"

"Dad, Xiao Rongyu and I are just normal classmates. It's not like you think," Chen Hanxing finally found an opening to explain.

But to his surprise, Chen Zhaojun just smiled. "Why are the younger generation so timid? We used to hide things, but now you guys use 'just classmates' as an excuse. Do you really think I don't watch TV dramas?"

Seeing his father lost in his own assumptions, Chen Hanxing decided not to explain any further. Eventually, everything would come out in the open.

"Dad, weren't you a little worried before you knew who she was?"

Chen Hanxing changed the subject.

"Of course not," Chen Zhaojun immediately denied. "I've been watching TV all along. I'm not worried at all."

"Oh." Chen Hanxing nodded and sat with his father for a while longer. When he stood up to leave, he patted his father's back. "You're holding the air conditioner remote. Can you change the channel on the TV?"

Chen Zhaojun looked down and, sure enough, was holding the air conditioner controller, which was why the TV had remained unchanged.

"I'm going to bed. Don't worry so much. If you're that bored, just argue with Mom," Chen Hanxing said as he waved his hand.

While Chen Zhaojun claimed not to be worried, he was, in fact, still pondering the girl's identity. It wasn't until he knew Xiao Rongyu was Xiao Hongwei's daughter that he felt reassured.

Shaking his head, Chen Zhaojun muttered as he watched his son's retreating back, "This kid…"

---

The seven-day National Day holiday felt long, and after visiting his grandparents, Chen Hanxing found himself with nothing to do.

He received a call from Xiao Rongyu inviting him to hang out at an ice drink shop with a few of their high school classmates, but Chen Hanxing made an excuse to decline. He had little in common with them, and he didn't want to be misinterpreted as having something going on with Xiao Rongyu.

"Zibo, wanna go play pool tonight?" Chen Hanxing called Wang Zibo.

Wang Zibo immediately agreed. As a guy with little social life, if Chen Hanxing didn't take him out, he'd probably be at home with his mom rewatching *My Fair Princess*.

Chen Hanxing was well-acquainted with Hong Kong City's internet cafes, nightclubs, and KTVs. He took Wang Zibo to a place with a billiards room on the second floor and a nightclub downstairs.

While drinking beer and playing pool, they felt the vibrations of the music coming from the downstairs club. Wang Zibo's dark face lit up with excitement.

"Wow, I didn't expect such a fun place in Hong Kong!" Wang Zibo shouted above the loud music.

Chen Hanxing chewed his gum, smiling without replying as he focused on aiming at the balls on the table.

That night, Wang Zibo was clearly distracted, constantly glancing at the girls walking up from the nightclub downstairs. They wore fishnet stockings that exposed their midriffs, thick makeup, and as they passed, the air around them smelled of perfume and alcohol.

Chen Hanxing didn't rush him, patiently waiting for Wang Zibo to refocus.

Wang Zibo blushed. "Isn't it cold? It's already October."

"What do you know? It's called 'beauty freezing people,'" Chen Hanxing teased, grinning.

A few girls noticed Chen Hanxing and were struck by his smile, which was both mischievous and charming. They thought he would be fun to hang out with.

However, Chen Hanxing wasn't interested. Sometimes, when he got bored, he would pat the girls' waists and tease them. "The guy across from us is still a virgin. Go flirt with him."

At first, Wang Zibo looked enviously at how Chen Hanxing flirted with the girls. But when it came time for him to do the same, he blushed and didn't know how to respond.

At 10 PM, Chen Hanxing and Wang Zibo left the venue. Wang Zibo wasn't eager to leave.

As Chen Hanxing lit a cigarette, he warned, "Girls who hang out at nightclubs, no matter how pretty they are, it's okay to have a little fun, but don't take them seriously…"

"What else?" Wang Zibo asked, but then noticed that Chen Hanxing had suddenly gone silent. He followed his gaze and saw Xiao Rongyu and two of her female friends standing quietly nearby.

They had just come out of the ice drink shop and seemed to be heading home. Xiao Rongyu was holding a cup of cold drink in her hand.

Wang Zibo quickly turned around, pretending not to know them. Chen Hanxing, however, couldn't act so clueless. He felt embarrassed and thought to himself, *What are the chances I'd run into them here?*

"Good evening. Finished your gathering already? Xiao Rongyu, I don't think your house is in this direction?" Chen Hanxing said, trying to sound casual. He repeatedly told himself that there was nothing going on between him and Xiao Rongyu, so going to a bar was completely normal.

But somehow, he couldn't shake the guilt he felt.

"You said you were going to your grandmother's place tonight," Xiao Rongyu spoke first, but her voice was colder than the autumn wind.

Chen Hanxing didn't know how to respond. He had used the excuse of visiting his grandmother to avoid the evening gathering, but now his lie had been exposed.

Xiao Rongyu's fair face was filled with an emotion called "heartbreak."

"Chen Hanxing, when we were talking earlier, Xiao Yu even said she could consider accepting you…"

One of Xiao Rongyu's classmates tried to intervene but was immediately interrupted by Xiao Rongyu's cold voice.

"Enough!" she snapped.

She placed her drink on the ground, sniffed, and said, "Let's go."

Her back was resolute as she turned, and the autumn wind blew her long hair like a soft, lingering thread of emotion. 

From a distance, they could still hear her classmate's voice:

"Chen Hanxing, you're not a good person. Xiao Yu bought a delicious fruit drink for you at the ice drink shop tonight, but you lied to her and came here to mess around!"

"Go to hell, jerk!"

---

Chen Hanxing suddenly understood. Xiao Rongyu had been on her way to deliver the drink to him.

"Wow, Chen, looks like you really got Xiao Rongyu interested…" Wang Zibo said nervously. "But now… it seems like you lost her."