Chapter 652 Favorite Jerk

Chapter 652 Favorite Jerk　　  After that interaction, they both fell silent. Perhaps, they both weren't certain how to continue this conversation. Several times Gu Ye parted his lips to say something but in the end, nothing came out of his mouth. 

Finally, he gathered enough courage to ask, "So, how have you been?"

"Peachy," she replied. "And how are you? How is your married life?"

Gu Ye's smile slipped his face once she asked that question. He tried to find if there was something behind those words that could indicate that she was hurt but he was proven wrong. Of course, he was wrong. She never loved him. 

If it was before, this thought would have hurt him but now this thought only brought him relief. It was better this way. After all, his intention was never to hurt her. Even though his one-sided feelings did end up hurting her, it was never his intention and maybe she knew that and that's why she never even said a word of blame or complaint towards him. Or as always, she simply didn't care at all.

He couldn't possibly know what was on her mind. It was difficult to understand her and her mind.

"It's good," he replied to her.

"That's good to know," she said.

"What about you?" he asked.

"Hm?"

"How is your life?" he paused for a while before opening his mouth to say, "Are you ma-?" He couldn't bring himself to complete that question.

But Mu Chenyan had a knowing smile on her face as she replied, "My life is perfect. And no. I'm not married. You know, I still love my freedom a lot more."

Gu Ye nodded his head in understanding, "So you never managed to find that someone whom you could love more than your freedom?"

Mu Chenyan's brows quirked up ever so slightly when she heard that question. Yes, those were her words when he asked her why she wasn't willing to try being in a relationship. She had said, she loved her freedom more. And if she ever found someone whom she could love more than her freedom, only then she'll be willing to try out the thing called 'relationship'. She didn't think he'd still remember those words.

"No, I did find someone I love more than my freedom," those words fell on Gu Ye like a bomb out of the blue. He for one never thought he'd hear something like that from her ever!

Mu Chenyan could perceive the shock on his face but didn't feel the need to explain that the one whom she loved more than her freedom was Raelle. She didn't think they were still friends. No matter how strong a friendship once was, when the time comes between that friendship, the line between friendship and strangers become quite hazy.

They were both new people now after 2 decades. At most, they were somewhat familiar strangers but that wasn't enough for her to mention anything about her life in detail. And neither was she interested in getting to know him all over again. 

"Are you here alone?" he chose not to continue that topic and asked another question.

"No," she said. "I haven't fallen to such a pathetic state where I'll have to come to a place like a nightclub all alone."

"Right, what a weird question," he smiled self-deprecatingly. "How can Boss Mu not have company?"

Mu Chenyan grinned, "Indeed, I'm still people's favorite. Even if I was a jerk, I was everyone's favorite jerk on the block!"

Gu Ye almost rolled his eyes at her comment. Oh god! She still loved to brag! But actually, she was just stating facts no matter how much of a jerk she sounded like saying that herself.

"Do you wanna join?" he asked. "We booked a private room here and you know most people. They'd love to see you again."

Mu Chenyan waved her hand nonchalantly, "I'm not in the mood for a reunion. Besides, tonight is all about my special people. Wouldn't wanna ruin that."

"You still have your priorities straight," he commented.

"Can't help it," she shrugged. "Now, I gotta go. I've been here for a long. But it was nice to see you again."

"Was it?" he asked. "I heard you've been back for a while. If you really wanted, you could have come to see me."

Mu Chenyan chuckled, "I didn't feel the need to go and seek you out."

"Your words are still very hurtful," he pointed out.

"Well, I'm just that kind of a person," was her response as she pressed her lips together.

As she turned to leave, he called out, "Chenyan!"

"Hm?" she turned around to look at him again.

"Can I have your contact details? I'll invite you to my home for dinner with my family," he said.

"Gu Ye, do you really think that I want to sit with your family for a meal?" she asked. "I think none of us will be able to eat anything."

"That was a dumb suggestion," he smiled a bit sadly at her. "Then I hope I see you around."

Mu Chenyan narrowed her eyes at him but didn't comment on that. She simply turned back to leave and raised her hand over her shoulder to say, "Goodbye, Gu Ye!"

"How many times are you gonna say goodbye to me?" he muttered to himself as he looked at her receding back. He wouldn't lie, he almost thought like he was transported back in time. The day he last saw her. She had also walked away from him in the same manner and said the exact same words.

It took him twenty-five years to reach from that goodbye to this hello. He wondered how long the next hello was gonna take? Or whether it was ever gonna come or not? It was hard to say when she was involved. 

Shaking off these thoughts, he rubbed his hand on his face and went back to the private room that they had booked.