Shen Mingyu silently lowered her gaze, not even looking at Si Konghuai, giving him no reaction at all.
Si Konghuai didn’t mind. He stared at her and continued speaking, carrying the conversation alone.
“Five years ago, I went south for a mission and passed through here on my way back.”
“When I was in the wild, I made a wrong judgment and accidentally ate a poisonous mushroom. By the time I realized it, it was already too late—my consciousness started to blur.”
“I had no choice but to enter a village to seek help. I remember pushing open a courtyard gate and walking in. At that time, I had almost completely lost consciousness.”
Si Konghuai was not lying. Even now, after meeting Shen Mingyu, he still couldn’t recall any details. That face of hers felt completely unfamiliar to him.
“I can only vaguely remember what that house looked like. When I woke up again, I was already by the roadside. The mushroom poison had been neutralized.”
“My clothes were slightly disheveled, but I didn’t think much of it. I assumed I had entered a villager’s home for help and that it was just a hallucination caused by the poisoning.”
“At that time, I was rushing back to complete my mission, so I didn’t investigate further. I didn’t expect it wasn’t a hallucination… and that I had actually hurt you back then…”
As he said this, Si Konghuai felt deeply regretful. If he had been more careful back then—even a little more patient in investigating after the incident—he wouldn’t have taken five years to learn the truth.
“I’m sorry for making you suffer. You were hurt by me, yet you still gave birth to my children and raised them. These five years—I owe you.”
“No matter what resentment you have, I will accept it. This is what I owe you. You can do whatever you want to me, and I will not resist.”
“I only want to say one thing: I am willing to take responsibility, to marry you, and bring you to the capital so you and the children can have a better life.”
Si Konghuai looked at her seriously as he spoke, offering his full sincerity.
“Of course, if you are unwilling to accept me, I will respect your choice. I will give you money and send you daily necessities every month. I can still ensure your livelihood.”
“Your future will be my responsibility.”
“Whether you like me or hate me, I hope you won’t refuse these things. They are what you and the children deserve.”
He finished speaking, his body tense, eyes fixed tightly on Shen Mingyu, hoping for even a slight response.
He had said everything he needed to say and even gave her options, showing he would not force her.
However, to Shen Mingyu, all of this sounded like nonsense.
She couldn’t believe it. How could someone come up with such a ridiculous excuse? She originally didn’t want to speak, but now she couldn’t help but glare at him angrily.
“Poisonous mushrooms? You just ate random wild mushrooms? And you’re a soldier—you can’t even tell that?”
“Even if you really got poisoned, how did you just happen to walk into my house? And still have the strength to… to do that with me…”
“And then leave without alerting anyone, without remembering anything at all? Who are you trying to fool?!”
Even if everything he said were true, how could he have been conscious enough to do such a thing, yet remember nothing afterward?
How could he not find it strange?
This was not something that could be explained by mere carelessness. If anything, it sounded more like intentional deception.
Shen Mingyu’s sharp questioning left no room for him to treat her like a fool.
Si Konghuai had no way to refute her.
If he weren’t the person involved, he wouldn’t believe such an explanation either.
How could it be such a coincidence—entering a house, doing such a thing, and then leaving without any memory at all?
But the truth was, he truly remembered nothing.
Apart from slightly disordered clothes and two misbuttoned buttons, he hadn’t noticed anything unusual at all.
This was the only time something like this had happened to him, so he had no reference point. Perhaps he couldn’t distinguish dream from reality.
Now that he thought back carefully, his body that day had indeed felt somewhat off…
But it was already too late to say anything.
He could only apologize.
“I’m sorry. It was my fault.”
“Please give me a chance to make it up to you.”
He lowered his head in guilt, letting her scold him.
Tall and strong, standing there with his hands clasped together, he looked like a big wolfdog being reprimanded by its owner.
Zhou Ning, who was secretly watching from a distance, couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
Even though he couldn’t hear what they were saying, he could roughly guess from their expressions and movements.
Good heavens—this Shen Tongzhi really knows how to discipline someone!
She’s managed to scold Si Konghuai into being more obedient than the soldiers under his command!
“I don’t need it!”
“I will raise my children well. They don’t need a father!”
Shen Mingyu was still angry and refused to accept any apology or compensation.
She turned to leave.
She had not even managed to escape the pit of Qiao Hongye yet—there was no way she would jump into another one so easily.
Moreover, now that the children were older, if Si Konghuai suddenly appeared, who knew if he had ulterior motives toward Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan?
She was extremely guarded.
“If you really feel sorry, then leave now and never come back to find us again!”
“Helping Tuan Tuan today counts as wiping the slate clean between us!”
She pointed toward the train station exit, her voice calm.
“I can’t let it be wiped clean.”
“This is my fault.”
“Tuan Tuan is my child. Saving him is what I should do. I cannot make up for the mistakes I made before.”
“Shen Tongzhi, don’t be emotional. If you don’t want Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan to know I am their father, I won’t say anything. I will respect your decision.”
Si Konghuai stepped back, creating distance to ease her pressure and show he meant no harm.
“Don’t rush to drive me away. Your current husband, Qiao Hongye, treats you badly. At least let me stay and help deal with him.”
“Otherwise, even if I leave, your life with the children won’t be easy. He is a soldier—military marriages are not easy to dissolve.”
“Do you want him to have another chance to secretly send Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan away? You don’t, right?”
His voice was calm and steady, as if trying to reason with her.
Shen Mingyu’s expression flickered. For a moment, she wavered.
What he said was true. She wasn’t confident she could handle Qiao Hongye on her own.
If Si Konghuai helped, it would indeed be easier.
And he was right—she should take advantage of what she could use. As long as it wasn’t immoral and achieved her goal, why not use a man who already owed her?
Good women only get reputation. Bad women get everything.
Her clear eyes darkened slightly as she made up her mind.
“Fine! You can stay for a few days!”
“Help me deal with Qiao Hongye, and we’ll be even.”
“But you are not allowed to tell Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan your identity—or mention it to anyone!”