After being reborn, the aloof female CEO became a paranoid.

Watching Xu Xinran's figure disappear outside the door, Shen Shuqing finally couldn't hold back any longer and poured out all the questions that had been swirling in his mind these past few days.

"Zhou Yu, that woman is the reason you've been hiding and refusing to come back, isn't she?"

Zhou Yu nodded silently.

"But now, none of that matters. Now that she's found me, I guess... I just have to bite the bullet and face it."

"The way she looked at you was so affectionate."

Shen Shuqing's tone was quite certain, but looking at the indescribable atmosphere between the two, he was somewhat puzzled.

"You're wrong."

Zhou Yu gave a wry smile: "Her feelings for me are probably just a kind of twisted possessiveness."

Love?

If it were so easy to fall in love with someone, why couldn't he earn even a sliver of her tenderness after giving his all in his past life?

"So, you two now..."

"We got married. We just got our marriage certificate. I'm her husband now."

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuqing fell silent.

He could tell that Zhou Yu was extremely unhappy.

As for why he agreed, it's probably related to me and Miaomiao.

"I'm sorry... I've dragged you into this. If you hadn't been worried about me and Miaomiao, you wouldn't have agreed to her request."

"Brother Shen, you're being too polite."

Zhou Yu patted his shoulder gently and then said, "Actually, it's because of me that you've all been dragged into this mess. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be stuck here, and you might be living a peaceful life in Beicheng right now."

Upon hearing the words "North City," Miaomiao suddenly interjected, "Big brother, when can we go to North City? Are you still coming with us?"

Miaomiao heard every word the two adults had said. Although she couldn't fully understand the complexities of the adult world, she vaguely knew that marriage meant two people would spend the rest of their lives together, just like her parents.

"Big brother, after you marry that fierce sister, does that mean you'll have to stay with her forever and won't be able to be with us anymore?"

Miaomiao blinked her clear, watery eyes and looked at Zhou Yu with a puzzled expression.

Zhou Yu's heart tightened, and he immediately squatted down and gently stroked Miaomiao's head.

"Miaomiao, your big brother might not be able to go to Beicheng with you. But when he has time, he'll definitely come to see you, okay?"

"Then you have to keep your word, pinky promise!"

Miaomiao stretched out her tiny finger and stared intently at Zhou Yu.

"Okay, hang yourself with a hook, and it won't change for a hundred years."

Zhou Yu responded with a smile, but there was a hint of unspeakable bitterness hidden in his smile.

Shen Shuqing, who was watching closely from the side, couldn't help but sigh: "Is there really no other way? Do we have to compromise like this?"

Zhou Yu shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with helplessness and resignation.

"I accept it. Maybe I'm destined to spend my life like this with her. Now that I'm her husband, so be it."

Shen Shuqing looked at Zhou Yu and seemed to see his own past self, who had been tossed about by a woman.

I'm just lucky; she hasn't found me yet.

Seeing Shen Shuqing's worried face, Zhou Yu comforted him instead: "Brother Shen, don't think about it. This is good. You won't have to live such a worried life anymore."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than footsteps sounded outside the door.

A moment later, Xu Xinran appeared at the door and said in a cold tone, "It's getting late, we should go."

Zhou Yu ignored her and just looked at Shen Shuqing and Miaomiao.

"Xu Xinran, I want to see them leave safely before I go back with you."

Xu Xinran smiled slightly, "Don't worry, I've arranged everything. Someone will take them to the airport."

Zhou Yu naturally didn't believe her and insisted on going to the airport to see her off.

“I said I wanted to see them leave with my own eyes.”

"Okay, I promise you." Xu Xinran agreed without much thought.

Seeing how readily she agreed today, Zhou Yu felt a pang of unease, fearing she might change her mind. So he quickly pulled Shen Shuqing and Miaomiao outside, their steps hurried.

Xu Xinran followed behind at a leisurely pace, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, as if everything was under her control.

……

In the airport waiting hall, Zhou Yu, Shen Shuqing, and Miaomiao embraced tightly.

They both knew in their hearts that this separation might mean they wouldn't see each other again for a long time. But neither of them said it aloud, because they were both afraid of losing the expectation of reunion.

This brief yet profound friendship seemed to be ordained by fate.

Zhou Yu felt that this friend, whom he had only known for a little over a month, seemed to be more compatible than his old friends who had known each other for many years.

"Brother Shen, you and Miaomiao must take good care of yourselves."

Zhou Yu's voice was choked with emotion, and his eyes were slightly red.

"You too, don't be too hard on yourself."

Shen Shuqing patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder and glanced at Xu Xinran standing behind Zhou Yu with a complicated expression.

He knew full well that this marriage was not what Zhou Yu wanted and would only bring endless pain to both of them. But since things had come to this, he could only silently wish Zhou Yu well and hope that he could find his own happiness.

At that moment, the airport announcement announced the boarding process. Zhou Yu watched the two slowly walk into the security checkpoint until their figures gradually disappeared from sight.

Xu Xinran noticed Zhou Yu's low spirits and gently took his arm.

"They are just passersby in your life, Zhou Yu. Only I will always be by your side."

But Zhou Yu simply pulled his arm back slightly, a tired smile on his face, and said softly, "I'm tired."

"Then... let's go home."

Xu Xinran did not insist, but responded gently.

The two had just returned to the villa when the Zhou family arrived.

As soon as Zhou Zhengwen heard that Xu Xinran had taken Zhou Yu to get their marriage certificate, he rushed over without stopping.

This was the wonderful thing he had been longing for! He had to see for himself how his son was doing.

Accompanying Zhou Zhengwen was Zhou Ze, who had always harbored resentment towards Zhou Yu.

Ever since he heard that Zhou Yu was still alive, he hasn't been able to eat. Today, when he learned that they had gotten their marriage certificate, he became even more restless.

He wanted to see for himself what kind of incredible luck Zhou Yu, who had been swept far away by the river, had managed to come back alive and kicking!

Maybe he's missing an arm or a leg now, and Xu Xinran only married him out of desperation!

However, when they stepped into Xu Xinran's villa, they saw Zhou Yu sitting perfectly fine on the sofa.

Apart from looking a little tired, there's nothing seriously wrong.

This fueled Zhou Ze's resentment even more; the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. How could that damned Zhou Yu suddenly "come back to life"?

Upon seeing the two of them, Zhou Yu merely offered a perfunctory greeting, showing no joy whatsoever at the sight of family.

In contrast, Zhou Zhengwen was much more enthusiastic. He grabbed Zhou Yu's hand, his eyes welling up with tears.

"Xiao Yu... I'm relieved to see you're alright. I heard you and Xinran have already registered your marriage, so you're a couple now. You have to treat Xinran well; she's been looking for you like crazy, you know?"

Zhou Yu simply responded with a casual reply, his face expressionless.

At this moment, Zhou Ze deliberately said in a sarcastic tone, "Big brother, Dad and I were worried sick about you, afraid that something might happen to you, but now it seems that you are doing quite well. We were really worrying for nothing."

Zhou Yu didn't even look at him properly, and just coldly replied, "I'm perfectly fine, you don't need to worry about me."

As he said this, he frowned impatiently, a subtle change that Xu Xinran noticed.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Xu Xinran stood up and gave them a rude dismissal. "Zhou Yu's body hasn't fully recovered yet and he needs more rest. Please leave."

Zhou Zhengwen, who had been all smiles, immediately turned pale upon hearing this. His smile froze on his face, and he stammered awkwardly, "Alright, we'll go back first today and come back when Xiaoyu is feeling better."

Finally, Zhou Yu got rid of those two unwelcome people and felt much better.

Xu Xinran seized the opportunity to sidle up to him: "How's it going? I've chased away all those annoying people. Do you feel much better now?"

Zhou Yu rolled his eyes at her and said sarcastically, "Compared to this, I'd rather you disappear from my sight."