Today, Shen Bingci looked breathtaking.
Her slender figure was wrapped in swan-like elegance.
Starry eyeshadow shimmered delicately around her eyes.
The flowing skirt draped over her long legs like a river of stars.
Sitting there, she looked exactly like the little princess inside a ballet music box.
She seemed to glow.
The only thing out of place was the wounded look on her face.
A quiet grievance she couldn’t express.
The moment she saw him enter, she huffed softly and turned her face toward the wall.
As if she were deliberately refusing to look at him.
Yan Ting understood immediately.
Miss Shen was angry.
Without hesitation, he quietly closed the door behind him, ensuring no one would disturb the young couple.
Xie Yuli curled his fingers slightly.
For the first time in a long while, he didn’t know what to say.
Was she really this upset?
Today had been her performance.
The very performance he hadn’t stayed to watch.
“Miss Shen.”
In the silence, Xie Yuli spoke first.
Shen Bingci pouted stubbornly.
She still didn’t want to look at him.
Just seeing him made her feel angry.
Wronged.
Her heart ached painfully.
Xie Yuli suddenly found himself facing a problem.
Comforting his sister was easy.
Buy her something.
If that didn’t work, give her a look.
Or say a few words.
Xie Wanshi would immediately behave.
But comforting a fiancée—
Especially one as precious and delicate as Shen Bingci—
Was entirely different.
He didn’t know what to say.
Or what to buy.
She wasn’t like anyone else.
She lacked nothing.
Owned everything.
Shen Bingci wasn’t someone he could scold.
Or criticize.
Few people had ever dared show him such displeasure.
Yet Xie Yuli remained calm, suppressing the strange emotions stirring inside him.
“Miss Shen.”
“I heard you performed today.”
The worst possible thing to say.
Shen Bingci finally turned toward him.
Her beautiful eyes widened.
“So you knew?”
“Mr. Xie, I performed today.”
“But was there anyone there to watch me?”
The moment she spoke, her emotions surged out uncontrollably.
Xie Yuli felt a headache coming on.
His neck tensed slightly.
He decided honesty was better than excuses.
“I’m sorry.”
“I only learned today that you were performing.”
He apologized immediately.
Without making excuses.
Without lying.
That somehow made her even more frustrated.
Biting her pink lip, she looked away.
A decorative bead on her costume loosened and fell.
Her mood worsened.
“Of course.”
“Mr. Xie didn’t know I was performing.”
“But somehow he knew to attend another dancer’s performance.”
“And even brought gifts.”
Her gaze swept meaningfully over his empty hands.
Yan Ting’s hands were empty now too.
The sarcasm was obvious.
Xie Yuli finally understood.
She was upset because of Wen Shengyue.
Shen Bingci bent down to retrieve the fallen bead.
At the same time, she tried removing her high heels.
The crystal-studded shoes had rubbed her feet raw.
They hurt badly.
She struggled to take them off.
These shoes had been a gift.
If Xie Yuli had given her something today, she wouldn’t have worn them.
She wasn’t particularly close to the person who had gifted them.
But that person had at least remembered her performance.
Unlike someone else.
Suddenly—
A slender hand appeared in her vision.
The fallen bead was picked up and placed gently on the table.
Then that same hand slid beneath her heel.
Another hand lightly held her ankle.
The shoe was removed.
By Xie Yuli himself.
Heat shot up Shen Bingci’s leg.
The moment his fingers touched her skin, a tingling current spread throughout her entire body.
Even her bones seemed to tremble.
Her eyes widened.
The proud and distinguished man before her was kneeling on one knee.
Personally removing her shoes.
Xie Yuli lowered his gaze.
His expression remained restrained and elegant.
He reached for a pair of white slippers and carefully put them on her feet.
Her foot rested securely in his large palm.
The thin slipper barely separated her skin from the warmth of his hand.
The atmosphere became strangely intimate.
“Miss Shen.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Visiting Wen Shengyue wasn’t my own intention.”
“Her brother asked me to attend on his behalf.”
“The gift was chosen by Yan Ting as a courtesy.”
“I didn’t select it myself.”
“If I had known you were performing today, I would have prepared a proper gift and attended for you.”
Few men could kneel before her like this.
Holding her foot carefully in their hands.
The man whom countless people viewed as untouchable and powerful now sat at her feet.
Patiently explaining himself.
Taking responsibility.
How could she remain unmoved?
Especially when—
He looked so handsome today.
“…Do you know…”
Her voice softened.
“When I saw you sitting in the audience…”
“I thought…”
“I thought you came for me.”
The grievance she had been holding finally overflowed.
Her eyes glistened.
“If you hadn’t come, I could have understood.”
“But you came.”
“And then I found out you came for someone else.”
And not just anyone.
Wen Shengyue.
The person who haunted her youth like a nightmare.
“You do remember, don’t you?”
“You’re my fiancé.”
“Not Wen Shengyue’s.”
The more she spoke, the angrier she became.
She pulled her foot away.
Leaving his palm empty.
Shen Bingci was usually very good at pretending to be gentle and composed.
But in truth, she had always been spoiled.
She hated seeing people she disliked succeed.
Especially when they seemed to triumph over her.
She hated feeling wronged.
Needed someone to comfort her.
And even after being comforted, her temper didn’t disappear easily.
Sometimes it only burned hotter.
“Go find Wen Shengyue.”
“Since you’re here specifically for her.”
“Don’t keep her waiting.”
Even while angry, her voice remained sweet and soft.
Without the slightest intimidation.
Xie Yuli narrowed his eyes slightly.
Shen Bingci tried standing.
But a firm hand stopped her.
Xie Yuli sat beside her.
His tall frame immediately filled the space.
The pressure of his presence intensified.
He caught her wrist.
His thumb rubbed gently against her skin.
His voice was calm.
Patient.
Almost soothing.
“I’ve never forgotten.”
Shen Bingci hadn’t expected him to be this strong.
He always seemed gentle.
Yet when he became serious, he was unexpectedly intimidating.
“What… what haven’t you forgotten?”
Her voice trembled.
She instinctively leaned away.
Trying to pull free.
But his grip tightened.
When Xie Yuli stopped being gentle, he became genuinely frightening.
Like a lion locking onto its prey.
His natural authority made her afraid to move.
“Yuli has always remembered.”
His gaze remained fixed on her.
“Miss Shen.”
“Shen Bingci.”
“My fiancée.”
“The future lady of the Xie family.”
Then, still holding her wrist, he lowered his voice.
Deep.
Steady.
Earnest.
“Madam.”
“Yuli was wrong.”
“Will you forgive me?”