Under the streetlight, Hu Qing's shadow stretched long and slender.
She just stood there, quietly gazing at Cao Yang—surprised, stunned, and with a faint joy that only comes from meeting someone long lost.
She hadn't changed much. Still beautiful, still elegant. The only difference was her hair—her signature long waves were gone, replaced by a neat short cut that made her look even more sharp and capable.
Cao Yang held onto the stroller with both hands, unsure how to step forward.
He had searched for her before. Imagined meeting her again countless times. Yet now that the moment was truly here, he froze.
His trip to Japan had taught him something harsh—he had gone to find Brother Jie full of hope, only to be given two cold words: "We're done."
Would Hu Qing treat him the same?
Many people joked about "sleeping with the boss's wife."But to Cao Yang, Tang Shaojie and Hu Qing had always been family.
When you're young and alone in a new city, the first person who treats you sincerely—whether a big sister or a big brother—ends up becoming your emotional anchor. No matter how good others are later, nothing replaces that original warmth.
As these memories washed over him, he finally noticed the foreign man standing beside Hu Qing—a well-dressed white man in a suit.
A sudden tightness pulled at Cao Yang's chest.
Is that her boyfriend? Or… her husband?Has she already moved on?Would I be intruding on her new life if I approached?
One thought after another held him in place.
"Miss He!" Nanako, oblivious to the tension, cheerfully greeted Hu Qing.
But Hu Qing didn't even glance at her—her eyes were locked entirely on Cao Yang.
Nanako frowned. Okay, my Cao Yang-oniisan is handsome, but staring that hard is a bit too much, right?
"Cao Yang-oniisan…" Nanako tugged his sleeve, trying to pull him away.But he was as frozen as Hu Qing.
"What's wrong, Qing?" the foreign man asked, finally noticing something off.
Hu Qing ignored him. She took a step forward, smiling softly.
"A-Yang."
"Da Sao…" he responded, voice low and complicated.
"You've changed. What did you go through these past years? You've grown up so much."
She reached up and touched his cheek gently.
Cao Yang grinned. "Long story. I'll tell you slowly."
"You two… know each other?" Nanako finally sensed something major.
Cao Yang nodded. "You head back first."
Nanako pouted, clearly unhappy, but left—turning around three times with every step.
"And he is…?" the foreign man asked quickly.
"He's my younger brother from back home," Hu Qing said casually."Sorry, Mr. James. I won't be able to make dinner tonight."
James smiled politely, nodded, and left after giving Cao Yang a glance.
Cao Yang followed Hu Qing to her apartment—a modest building, nowhere near Nanako's luxurious residence.
"You live here?" Cao Yang looked around, surprised."…This seems too simple for you."
"Yes," Hu Qing chuckled, "a woman living alone in a foreign country should keep a low profile."
Then she looked down at the stroller—at little Cao Yinuo, who was staring wide-eyed at her.
"What a cute baby… she's yours?"
"Yes. Her name is Cao Yinuo. Almost a year old."
Hu Qing picked the child up and laughed. "Time really flies. You're a father already."
"Who's the mother? The little girl I tied up back then?"
Cao Yang shook his head. "No. It's Bai Xue."
The expression on Hu Qing's face was… a masterpiece.
"That woman again? She actually gave you a child? Then what about Li Kun?"
"Li Kun's paralyzed. In a nursing home now. His whole corporation was crushed by Xia Zhengming."
Hu Qing started to put the baby down—but Yinuo immediately cried.
So Hu Qing held her again and went to fetch wine with one free hand.
"Open this. Drink slowly. And start talking."
Cao Yang told her everything—carefully, fully, leaving out only the bed-scenes.
He spoke seriously.She listened seriously.
When he finished, Hu Qing sighed. "I told you not to go back. You never listen. You wouldn't be suffering like this otherwise."
Cao Yang chuckled bitterly. "It's all in the past. Talking about it won't change anything."
"Anyway, what about you? How did you become a university teacher? And why is your surname He again?"
"Is it that strange? I told you—I graduated from the University of Hong Kong. I only went off track because of certain people."She rolled her eyes."And I'm teaching Chinese. It's the easiest subject here."
"As for the last name—just a new identity."
"And that guy earlier? James? What's your relationship?"
"What do you think?" she teased.
"Boyfriend?"She wasn't living with him, so probably not a husband.
Hu Qing burst out laughing. "Why do you sound so sour?"
"He's not a boyfriend. Just… someone pursuing me."
"I'm not sour. He just looks like trouble. Face full of bad luck."
"Doesn't matter. I have plenty of suitors. If he's no good, I'll get another one."
Cao Yang fell silent.
Hu Qing smirked. "I'm teasing. You're here now—I don't need anyone else."
…What does that even mean?
Cao Yang rubbed his nose, brain spinning.
"Oh, right. I ran into Brother Jie and Chen Ling in Japan."
Hu Qing's expression flickered before she forced it calm again.
"Today is a happy reunion. Don't mention that pair of dirty dogs."
Since she said not to, Cao Yang stayed quiet.
But seconds later—she kicked him.
"I said continue! What happened when you saw them?"
"…Nothing. They avoided me the whole time."
"Hmph! Tang Shaojie is inhuman. To protect his mistress's child, he abandoned his wife and his brother clean as a whistle."
Cao Yang thought silently: You are the mistress… the other one was his wife…