Volume 1 Chapter 5: Shang Shiyan Had Liked Meng Zhi for Many Years
Her demure, downcast demeanor held none of a young woman’s vitality—instead, it was profoundly dull and withdrawn.
At that banquet, Shang Ye had once said he preferred the lively, spirited Meng Zhi of the past…
Shang Shiyan’s gaze gradually darkened and deepened as he silently clenched his fingers.
Perhaps what Shang Ye meant was the Meng Zhi of now.
He had seen her like this long ago—
Even earlier than Shang Ye had.
Meng Zhi tilted her head, noticing that Shang Shiyan’s thin lips were pressed tightly together, his earlier smile having vanished without a trace.
In its place was an expression filled with coldness.
Not understanding why his mood had shifted so quickly, Meng Zhi struggled to raise her hand.
The young woman first brushed her pinky finger lightly against him.
At her touch, Shang Shiyan quickly snapped back to reality.
The man’s clenched fingers relaxed, but that gave Meng Zhi an opening.
Her small hand slipped directly into his palm, gently tracing circles against it.
Finally, she hooked her fingers through his, interlacing them tightly together.
“Husband, are you unhappy?”
Meng Zhi tilted her head, looking up from below to meet Shang Shiyan’s gaze directly, asking tentatively.
The young woman’s eyes sparkled like brilliant gems.
A radiant smile lingered at the corners of her lips.
Her smile seemed to possess a kind of magic, effortlessly able to influence and infect those around her.
Shang Shiyan looked at her and unconsciously curved his lips upward as well.
“No.”
“Really not?”
“Mm.”
Shang Shiyan patiently coaxed her to sleep like one would soothe a child.
Just as she was drifting off into a daze, a text message notification suddenly sounded from the bag on the nightstand.
Her drowsiness interrupted, Meng Zhi couldn’t help but furrow her brows.
Shang Shiyan soothed her while reaching for the phone.
The name “Shang Ye” on the screen instantly darkened his expression.
Meng Zhi had saved him as “A-Ye.”
Shang Shiyan opened the text messages—all of them were interrogations, not a single word of concern.
The white glow of the screen illuminated the man’s face, making his expression seem even more cold and stern.
“What’s wrong?”
Meng Zhi stared at Shang Shiyan’s reaction, unable to suppress her curiosity.
“Nothing. Go to sleep.”
He narrowed his eyes, switched the phone to silent mode, and placed it face-down on the nightstand, gently patting her to lull her back to sleep.
On the other end of the phone, Shang Ye was still sending messages to Meng Zhi.
Receiving no response for so long stirred an inexplicable unease within him.
“A-Ye, I’m in so much pain…”
Chu Qinyan watched the man who kept his head down, fiddling with his phone, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.
But the moment he looked up, it vanished instantly, leaving only innocence and grievance in her gaze.
Chu Qinyan’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at Shang Ye, acting coquettishly.
“I can’t sleep from the pain. Can you go find a doctor for me?”
All night long, Chu Qinyan had been complaining—first it hurt here, then it hurt there.
Every single time, she made Shang Ye run around!
One moment she wanted him to fetch a doctor, the next she wanted a massage, then she wanted water…
Shang Ye went from his initial patience to gradually falling apart.
The dual torment of body and mind made Shang Ye involuntarily miss Meng Zhi.
If she were the one lying in that bed, she would never be so difficult.
Even if she were in pain, she would pretend to be strong, refusing to let him worry or exhaust himself.
But this time…
Just thinking about how there was still no news from Meng Zhi—how the last message she’d sent on the chat app had been asking what time he’d arrive, saying she was already on her way.
She had no idea how long she had waited at the civil affairs bureau, even though he was nowhere to be seen and she hadn’t sent a single word of urgency.
This time, he was truly in the wrong. When he got back, he would definitely apologize to her properly.
Meng Zhi was so understanding—she was sure to forgive him.
With that thought, Shang Ye dialed her number again.
This time, however, he was met directly with the automated message that her phone was powered off.
She hadn’t replied to his messages for this long—could something have happened to Meng Zhi?
Shang Ye could no longer sit still. He was just about to grab his jacket and go look for her when Chu Qinyan’s sweet, coquettish voice stopped him.
“A-Ye, where are you going? I’m in so much pain—can you stay and keep me company?”
She looked at him with pitiful eyes, her voice full of pleading.
Shang Ye pressed his lips together, hesitating before setting down the jacket he had just picked up.
Meng Zhi was probably just sulking. He could go find her tomorrow.
Watching the man return to her side, a look of triumph flickered beneath Chu Qinyan’s lashes.
Meng Zhi, so what if you’re the true daughter of the Meng family?
You still lost to me!
Pretending to be frightened, she clung tightly to Shang Ye’s arm, refusing to let go.
“Sleep now. I’ll be right here.”
Shang Ye raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair, his voice filled with boundless tenderness.
Chu Qinyan nodded and closed her eyes to rest.
When she opened her eyes again, she found Shang Ye asleep, slumped over the edge of her bed.
The man had a handsome, well-defined face with striking features—especially the elegant bridge of his nose and his alluring lips in profile.
Back at school, he had been the heartthrob pursued by countless girls. Not only was he intelligent and capable, but he also had the entire Shang family backing him. He was simply the perfect candidate for a husband.
With such an excellent match, why did it have to be Meng Zhi who was betrothed to him?
A flash of intense jealousy crossed Chu Qinyan’s eyes.
But then she thought of what had happened to Meng Zhi, and that jealousy quickly faded, replaced by deep satisfaction.
Soon, he would be hers.
A smug smile curled at the corners of Chu Qinyan’s lips as she reached out and gently traced Shang Ye’s cheek.
Feeling the warmth of his skin, she let her imagination run wild, dreaming of the blissful life she would have as the young mistress of the Shang family.
“Zhizhi…”
Sensing someone caressing his face, Shang Ye cracked his eyes open just a slit.
His vision was hazy, and the vague outline before him looked very much like Meng Zhi.
“Zhizhi, I was wrong. Don’t be mad…”
He apologized over and over, reaching out with effort to grab the other person’s hand.
When Chu Qinyan felt his grip, a flicker of delight passed through her eyes.
But the moment she heard the name on his lips, her expression changed drastically.
Meng Zhi! Meng Zhi!
Why was it always Meng Zhi in his eyes and in his heart!
Jealousy clawed at her from within. She gritted her molars, barely managing to hold back her emotions.
Chu Qinyan clenched her hands into fists, letting her nails dig viciously into her palms.
The lingering pain brought her rationality back just enough.
She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and then spoke to interrupt Shang Ye’s rambling.
“A-Ye, what’s wrong?”
Her voice snapped Shang Ye back to his senses in an instant.
Realizing he was holding her hand and seeing her shy expression, he instinctively pulled away.
The man quickly straightened up and smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes.
Chu Qinyan frowned inwardly, suppressing her displeasure, and leaned in again.
“A-Ye, did you have a nightmare? Your forehead is all sweaty—let me wipe it for you…”
She reached her hand toward Shang Ye’s forehead, ready to make her move, but to her surprise, he suddenly dodged.
Caught off guard, Chu Qinyan nearly tumbled off the bed.
“A-Ye…”
She pouted, her eyes filled with reproach, her tone coquettish and petulant.
Shang Ye hadn’t expected this either, a hint of awkwardness and discomfort on his face:
“Cough, you should get some rest! The doctor said your injuries aren’t serious—you’ll be able to leave the hospital after a couple more days of rest.”
Watching his retreating figure, Chu Qinyan was seething with anger inside.
She knew perfectly well that Shang Ye was in such a hurry because he was going to find that bitch Meng Zhi!
That bitch Meng Zhi!
She was supposed to be dead already, yet she still refused to fade away like a lingering ghost—how infuriating!
Chu Qinyan bit her lip hard, not letting go until a thick taste of blood spread through her mouth.
But then she thought of how Meng Zhi’s parents and Shang Ye would soon discover Meng Zhi’s corpse.
A flicker of grim satisfaction crept into Chu Qinyan’s heart, which was otherwise filled with rage and venom, and a twisted, manic smile spread across her face.
She couldn’t wait to see it.