Feng Moheng couldn’t help but caress Shen Yuling’s charming face.
“You will always be my wife.”
And also my tool.
After uttering those affectionate words, Shen Yuling’s eyes curved into crescents, as if brimming with boundless tender smiles.
Yet in reality, she was quietly and meticulously observing every subtle expression on Feng Moheng’s face.
The flicker of excitement in Feng Moheng’s eyes finally made everything click for Shen Yuling.
Suddenly, she understood many things that even the original host’s memories had not revealed.
In the storyline where the original host did not reincarnate, and only Liu Jingyi had transmigrated—
In that lifetime, perhaps the many conflicts between the two women had been secretly orchestrated by Feng Moheng himself!
Shen Yuling had been mistaken before.
She had thought Feng Moheng was merely a scoundrel wavering between two women, with both women scheming against each other—whoever was more skilled would emerge victorious.
Now, upon reflection, perhaps that wasn’t the case.
The consort Princess Xihe had married was a highly sought-after scion of a noble family in Qian Capital, a man of graceful demeanor and exceptional talent.
Yet who could have foreseen that later, the consort would fall in love with a delicate maidservant?
He completely disregarded their marital bond and betrayed her.
How could Princess Xihe, a woman of her stature, tolerate such humiliation?
Without a second thought, she directly divorced the consort.
From then on, the princess’s residence housed many favored courtiers, a matter that spread like wildfire throughout Qian Capital.
Growing up in such an environment, Feng Moheng had never truly felt his mother’s love for him.
Even his mother’s licentious and domineering behavior felt to him like a profound disgrace.
His mother, betrayed by his father, indulged in pleasures and had no time for him.
It was during this period that he encountered a woman who treated him exceptionally well, making him feel as though he had finally found the maternal love he had always yearned for.
Thus, he placed his complete trust in her, regarding her as his closest confidante.
Yet little did he know, this woman harbored deep-seated hatred in her heart.
She resented his mother for turning her husband into one of the favored courtiers in the princess’s residence.
She meticulously schemed her way to Feng Moheng’s side.
Her sole intention was to hurt Feng Moheng as a means of exacting revenge on the princess and venting her pent-up hatred.
When she attempted to assassinate him, Feng Moheng was utterly devastated.
Yet at the same time, he encountered Liu Jingyi.
The emotions he had nowhere to place instantly found a home, all transferred onto Liu Jingyi.
He needed a woman who truly loved and understood him to fill the immense void in his heart.
That year, Feng Moheng was ten years old, and Liu Jingyi was eight.
From then on, the two children grew up together, becoming childhood sweethearts.
Shen Yuling recalled the meeting between Feng Moheng and Liu Jingyi.
She had originally thought that Liu Jingyi had completely replaced the original host by seizing the opportunity and had even redeemed Feng Moheng, but perhaps…
That wasn’t the case!
In the original storyline of this world, the original host was a girl like a little sun, who loved Feng Moheng with all her heart.
Feng Moheng found redemption through her, and the two spent a blissful life together.
However, Liu Jingyi’s transmigration shattered everything.
Knowing the shadows lurking deep within Feng Moheng’s heart, she preemptively made him transfer all his emotional dependence onto herself.
Yet as a transmigrator, what she loved was merely the Feng Moheng depicted in the book—the male lead of her own imagination.
She used feigned affection to attract Feng Moheng, yet she never truly understood the deep emotional needs hidden within his heart.
Only when facing the original host would Liu Jingyi feel fear.
She tried to obtain various reassurances from Feng Moheng.
Constantly demanding his favor, constantly seeking promises from him—her insecure behaviors instead led Feng Moheng to mistakenly believe this was how she expressed her love for him.
Thus, Feng Moheng began to pretend to show affection toward the original host.
All just to make Liu Jingyi feel jealous and filled with envy.
He reveled in the feeling of being fought over by two women, of being deeply needed by them, as if this could fill the void of love missing from his heart.
So, that indifferent gaze in the sea of fire…
Was it truly indifference?
Shen Yuling’s heart tightened for a moment, but it quickly returned to normal under her restraint.
Yesterday, Feng Moheng went to Liu Jingyi’s place, likely having sensed her frenzied jealousy.
Because Shen Yuling not only succeeded in making Feng Moheng stay on their wedding night.
Today, she even openly held hands with him within the estate and accompanied him to pay respects at the Princess’s mansion.
This situation made it impossible for Liu Jingyi to maintain her facade of innocence and magnanimity in front of Feng Moheng, nor could she sustain her pretense of loving and tolerating him.
She was filled with inner panic.
Afraid that Shen Yuling, as the original female lead, would snatch Feng Moheng away from her.
And precisely because of this, Feng Moheng displayed such extreme contrasts between today and yesterday.
Having figured everything out.
The smile on Shen Yuling’s lips grew wider.
She looked into Feng Moheng’s eyes, her sincerity growing even more intense.
Feng Moheng, I’ve finally discovered the real you.
So our goals align so perfectly—you want me to fall in love with you, and I want you to believe I’ve fallen in love with you.
Isn’t that a coincidence?
Thinking this, Shen Yuling narrowed her eyes slightly, already forming a plan in her heart.
Shen Yuling’s enchanting face was captivating, a hint of shyness quietly creeping onto her cheeks.
“Husband, then tonight… will you let me become your wife?”
Her voice was soft and sweet, tinged with a coquettish tone.
Her slender hand slipped inside Feng Moheng’s collar.
Shen Yuling knew Feng Moheng wouldn’t touch her now.
Because in Feng Moheng’s heart, intimacy must only be shared with someone he loves, as he despised the male favorites kept by her mother in the Princess’s mansion.
He loathed those men who flattered and clung to his mother because of her power!
Their relationship with the Princess was nothing but lust, which disgusted Feng Moheng.
Feng Moheng firmly grasped Shen Yuling’s hand, stopping her movement.
Since he was ten years old, when Jingyi saved him, he had personally molded Jingyi bit by bit into the person he desired.
Wholehearted love, unwavering admiration—for him, she seemed willing to sacrifice everything, even content to be a concubine.
Innocent and magnanimous, caring only for his feelings, never minding her own gains or losses.
Liu Jingyi was the person who loved him most in this world.
Matters between husband and wife could only be shared with someone who loved him.
This twisted emotion born from his past experiences, hidden like thorns in the shadows, remained unknown to anyone…
Shen Yuling’s gaze was filled with confusion.
Feng Moheng appeared gentle yet carried an elusive, unfathomable air.
He let out a soft sigh.
“Liu Jingyi has been in poor health lately and is also in low spirits. She… she still cannot accept you. I came today only to properly explain last night’s matter to you, so you wouldn’t be hurt by it.”
Shen Yuling sneered inwardly.
Hah, he really knows how to manipulate people.
She praised him for being loyal and righteous, and now he actually thinks he’s some kind of romantic hero?
Although she had never met Liu Jingyi, Shen Yuling faintly sensed that Liu Jingyi might not truly understand what kind of temperament this romance novel male lead possessed.
Feng Moheng and Liu Jingyi—both were pretending to be someone they were not.
What they received in return was merely a counterfeit, fabricated affection.
How utterly ironic.
Despite these thoughts, Shen Yuling gently cupped his face with both hands.
She tilted her head slightly and planted a kiss on Feng Moheng’s cheek.
Then, she casually lay down on the couch, turning her back to Feng Moheng. Her tone was calm yet carried a hint of stubbornness as she said, “Husband, you may leave. I can still fall asleep without you.”
Feng Moheng enjoyed the feeling of being loved.
But to him, the sensation of being loved was far from simple, unconditional trust and tolerance.
What he truly desired deep down was the ability to completely control the other person, just like with Liu Jingyi.
Yet Shen Yuling before him kept dancing on the edge—sometimes showing a hint of concern for him, other times coldly pushing him away like this.
It was as if he could easily grasp her, yet also as if she could effortlessly slip away from his side.
Feng Moheng felt the lingering moisture on his cheek and frowned.
She kissed him, yet so easily let him go.
Why?
Hadn’t she already prepared herself to love him?
Feng Moheng’s gaze gradually darkened.
Pressing his lips into a thin line, he finally turned and left the room.
It didn’t matter. There was still plenty of time.