Chapter 20: Tang Yu and Her Young Boyfriend

In the days that followed, Aunt Liu invited Tang Yu to her home for meals every day. Whenever Tang Yu declined, Aunt Liu would personally deliver the food to her.

After being persistently fed by Aunt Liu, Tang Yu felt embarrassed and decided to visit her voluntarily.

Fortunately, Lou Xizhou hadn’t been home for meals, so they didn’t run into each other. Aunt Liu mentioned he had been working late into the night recently and left early in the mornings.

Tang Yu wondered if this was connected to their conversation over breakfast that day—that perhaps he was deliberately giving her space.

As for Lou Huainan, Tang Yu shared lunch and dinner with him every day, and they had good conversations.

On the opening day of the Equestrian Culture Week, the sun was scorching early in the morning, yet the atmosphere at the venue was lively and enthusiastic. The riders were all full of energy.

Tang Yu and her colleague Xiao Wu arrived early at the Xiqing Equestrian Club, already sweating profusely. Neither the parasols nor the small fans helped much.

Tang Yu’s fair complexion had turned a rosy pink from the heat.

“I’ll go get two bottles of water,” Xiao Wu said, noticing their water was finished again.

“Tang Yu!” Lou Huainan finally spotted her in the reporters’ group and ran over with a smile.

Before Tang Yu could nod, Lou Huainan was already hurrying toward her—a handsome, sunny, and energetic young man. This was the impression Lou Huainan left on her.

He handed her a bottle of water and gave one to Xiao Wu. His skin had tanned several shades darker lately due to training.

Tang Yu smiled and thanked him, took a sip, and then asked, “You’re not competing today, right?”

“Tomorrow. I’m here to keep Tang Yu company!” Lou Huainan smiled as he took the parasol from her hand. “I’ll hold the umbrella and fan for you. Actually, I’m here to check out their equestrian skills and get a feel for the competition.”

That wasn’t the whole truth—he was really there just to accompany Tang Yu.

She reached out and patted his shoulder, which was level with her head, encouraging him, “I think you’ll be fine!”

“My uncle said he’ll come watch my competition tomorrow,” Lou Huainan beamed. “I’ll wear the gear he bought me and take the championship, as a gift for both my uncle and you!”

Hearing that Lou Xizhou would be attending tomorrow, Tang Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

She hadn’t seen him for several days and wasn’t sure if she was ready to face him.

Yet, she also felt a strong desire to see him again.

“Just give it to your uncle, no need to give me anything,” Tang Yu said.

If Lou Xizhou came tomorrow, she planned to keep her distance from the uncle and nephew to avoid running into Lou Xizhou directly.

“Thanks for your hard work these days as my training partner and guide,” Lou Huainan joked. “When I win, we’ll celebrate.”

Xiao Wu looked at Tang Yu in surprise. “Tang Yu can ride horses too? How come you never mentioned it before?”

When it came to someone she liked, there was always a lot to say. Lou Huainan was no exception, expressing his admiration for Tang Yu with endless praise. His words were all about her qualities.

Xiao Wu caught on and gave Tang Yu a meaningful look.

“So after breaking up, Tang Yu’s been dating a college student, huh?”

Tang Yu didn’t pay much attention, listening to Lou Huainan’s nonstop compliments, and helplessly looked away.

“Tang Yu, I’m going to the restroom and then I’ll be right back,” Lou Huainan said as he handed her the parasol and ran off.

“Xiao Tang, is this your boyfriend?” Xiao Wu teased.

Tang Yu gave him a sharp look. “Boyfriend? Don’t talk nonsense!”

She didn’t like either ‘little wolves’ or ‘little puppies.’

To her, Lou Huainan was just a sunny boy, and nothing more—except that he happened to be Lou Xizhou’s nephew.

Xiao Wu clicked his tongue. “What’s the harm in admitting it? Sister-brother relationships are trendy now. Even if you two were dating, no one would say anything. People would probably envy you!”

The more he talked, the more absurd it sounded, and Tang Yu grew increasingly speechless. She handed him her camera. “I’m going to the rest tent to write.”

Inside the rest tent, the large fan roared, blowing hot, scorching air.

Sitting down, Tang Yu felt even more overheated.

She glanced around at the bustling crowd under the blazing sun but suddenly found herself fixated on a red billboard she had noticed several times before but now caught her attention.

This year’s International Equestrian Culture Week was exclusively sponsored by Shengsheng Group. The competition venue was owned by Lou Xizhou personally. Such a grand gesture was rare in the business circle. Regarding sponsorships, apart from popular events often having exclusive sponsors, others seldom did.

The fame and fortune naturally belonged to Shengsheng Group and Lou Xizhou.

Tang Yu knew many brands wanted to ride the wave of Shengsheng Group or the event’s popularity to boost their visibility, but Shengsheng Group wasn’t one to play small—they secured exclusive sponsorship rights outright.

Though some brands grumbled, the venue belonged to Lou Xizhou, so they had no choice.

By the end of the opening ceremony, Lou Huainan still hadn’t returned.

Tang Yu didn’t mind and focused on the competition and interviews, unexpectedly running into Yu Shuang again.

Yu Shuang glanced coldly at Tang Yu and walked past her.

After a long day, both Tang Yu and Xiao Wu were exhausted, yet they still had four more days of coverage ahead.

Back at the newsroom, colleagues all asked about Tang Yu and her ‘little boyfriend.’

Leaning back in her chair, Tang Yu immediately turned to Xiao Wu.

This guy’s mouth is so fast!

Xiao Wu raised his hands innocently. “I just casually said it in the group chat.”

Tang Yu rolled her eyes inwardly, unwilling to say more. She opened her phone to transfer her drafted article to the computer, only to find the file completely blank.

No matter how she searched, the article was gone.

Tang Yu’s expression stiffened as she sprang into action, opening her iPad, but the draft was nowhere to be found there either.

“Xiao Wu, my article is missing!” she said, staring at him with a tense frown.

How could it have disappeared?

Xiao Wu hurried over to help her search, flipping through files, but it was truly gone.

“Did you accidentally delete it?”

Tang Yu ran her hands through her hair, recalling the day’s events. Apart from a few trips to the restroom, the iPad hadn’t left her side. Whether or not she deleted it by mistake, this shouldn’t have happened.

It was like a ghost had taken it!

Seeing her silence, Xiao Wu said, “Then just write it again from memory. If not, forget it—it’s not that important anyway.”

Sister Li shouted loudly, “How could it not be important?! Don’t you remember Tang Yu is Shengsheng Group’s special correspondent? This International Equestrian Culture Week is exclusively sponsored by Shengsheng Group, and the venue belongs to Mr. Lou! How are you going to explain losing the opening ceremony article to Mr. Lou? This concerns the reputation of the newspaper!”

Colleagues in the office all chimed in, trying to help Tang Yu find a solution.

Xiao Wu went to retrieve some scattered notes he had jotted down to see if Tang Yu could use any of them.

Tang Yu thanked Xiao Wu, reviewing his notes and recalling details as she hurriedly rewrote the article.

“It’s over. Tianxia Finance already published their report!” Xiao Wu said while checking his phone. “Look at the clicks and comments—they’re skyrocketing.”

“Let me see!” Tang Yu said.

The nearest Sister Li handed her the phone. “Yu Shuang wrote it. I have to say, this time the article is really well done.”

Tang Yu read it and fell into deep silence.

Why did it feel like they had rewritten the very article she had lost?