To avoid getting dragged into the fallout and interfering with their dramatic “cutting ties” moment, Shen Zhiyi had originally planned to crouch quietly in a corner and watch the show unfold.
But after learning about Xie Yu and Ji Changge’s breathtaking love story, she couldn’t help stepping out as well.
【Ji Changwei and Ji Changge are twins. The siblings were close since childhood, and Ji Changge would never have imagined that the beloved brother she trusted would be the one to ruin her marriage.】
【…】
As more and more truths spilled out through her inner thoughts, the look in Xie Yu’s eyes grew colder and colder.
So the engagement had progressed so quickly because villains had been secretly manipulating things behind the scenes all along!
Though he had no idea why this unfamiliar young woman knew so much, he could tell she bore no ill intent. She must possess some strange supernatural ability, which was why he could hear the thoughts in her heart.
And from his judgment, what she said was essentially true.
Still, one thing puzzled Xie Yu.
Ji Changwei acted for selfish reasons, but Shen Ruoyue had neither grudge nor enmity with Changge.
Why would she go to such lengths?
【No wonder. No wonder Shen Ruoyue was determined to target Ji Changge. Turns out she likes Xie Yu and knew he and Ji Changge were a pair!】
Shen Zhiyi clicked her tongue in amazement.
In this Mary Sue novel full of admirers, there were actually men the heroine couldn’t get?
The system chuckled smugly.
[Of course there are. More than one, actually. They’re just extremely rare—maybe only two or three in the entire story.]
Shen Zhiyi secretly sized Xie Yu up.
【No wonder Shen Ruoyue wanted to flirt and play ambiguous games with him. His aura really is impressive.】
Xie Yu: ?!
So that was why Shen Ruoyue constantly hovered around them, always deliberately acting weak and delicate.
But wasn’t she mutually in love with Wang Zimo?
How could she harbor thoughts like this too?
Xie Yu frowned deeply.
【Second Brother is too dumb. He never realized who Xie Yu’s beloved actually was, but Shen Ruoyue had long been fishing information about Xie Yu from him and already guessed it.】
【Then after eavesdropping on Xie Yu’s visit to the侯府 before he left the capital, she learned he planned to request an imperial reward after completing his mission and marry Ji Changge.】
Thinking of Shen Jingxuan’s personality over the years, Xie Yu silently nodded to himself.
Among the young masters of the capital, if Shen Jingxuan ranked second in foolishness, probably no one would dare claim first place.
【Shen Ruoyue thought Xie Yu ignored her advances because he already had someone he loved. But if he and that person could never be together, maybe she’d have another chance.】
【As for cheapo Second Brother’s happiness? Ever since childhood, she knew there was distance between herself and the legitimate children. Why would she sincerely care about the children born by a woman she hated? It was all just acting.】
【To her, her own interests matter most. She’d actually be happier if Second Brother never found happiness at all.】
Shen Jingxuan stood frozen in place.
That considerate, gentle, and caring Yue’er-meimei… how could she possibly be like this?
He refused to believe it.
Yet scenes from their years together uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.
Details he had never paid attention to before suddenly became crystal clear.
Beneath all those gentle smiles and kind actions, darker intentions finally revealed themselves.
Even as a voice in his heart desperately denied it, the scales inside him had already begun tilting toward the truth.
【Originally Mother wasn’t very supportive of this marriage. She thought Second Brother was being too rash. Scumbag Father also hesitated, though only because he felt Ji Changge’s background wasn’t noble enough to be Second Brother’s principal wife.】
【But after Shen Ruoyue acted spoiled and pleaded a little, Scumbag Father immediately agreed.】
【The reason Second Brother’s “happiness” progressed so quickly is all thanks to Ji Changwei and Shen Ruoyue working together behind the scenes.】
Catching sight of her silly, clueless second brother still standing there obliviously, Shen Zhiyi shook her head lightly.
【Only idiot Second Brother stayed completely in the dark, still thinking he was about to live happily ever after with the girl he loved.】
【Sigh. There really aren’t many people as sincere and straightforward as Second Brother anymore. And the CP I ship actually ends in tragedy—how infuriating!】
【What’s worse is that even though I know everything, I can’t change it. Earlier Second Brother was still trying to confront me on Shen Ruoyue’s behalf. He wouldn’t believe a single thing I said anyway.】
Xie Yu gave Shen Jingxuan a complicated look.
Yet Shen Jingxuan no longer resembled his usual self at all. There was even a trace of melancholy in his eyes now.
After learning the full truth, Shen Jingxuan couldn’t help feeling deeply sorrowful.
He might not be as meticulous and calculating as his eldest brother or third brother, but he wasn’t truly stupid.
He simply disliked scheming and complicated thoughts. He had only wanted to live simply.
He had no time to think about why his little sister also harbored such deep dissatisfaction toward their father, calling him “scumbag father.”
Right now, all he felt was heartbreak.
Prompted by her inner voice, he carefully reviewed everything that had happened over the past month.
Though unwilling to admit it, he knew her words were the truth.
The complete truth.
A truth so thorough that all the darkness and ugliness hidden beneath the surface had nowhere left to hide.
Of the three people he had treated sincerely for years—
One harmed him.
One deceived him.
And the third, because of him, had been separated from the love of his life and was about to sever all brotherhood with him.
Shen Jingxuan didn’t know whether Xie Yu could also hear Shen Zhiyi’s thoughts.
Perhaps he alone could hear them.
But at this point, he no longer cared about his own reputation.
A true man should bear responsibility for his mistakes.
He had been deceived by villains, failed to judge character properly, and neglected to investigate the truth carefully. That was why things had escalated to this point.
He should accept the consequences.
In a low voice, Shen Jingxuan said:
“Sorry, A’Yu. I didn’t know you and Ji Changge loved each other.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything to my parents and contact the Ji family. I’ll make sure the engagement is broken off without harming Ji Changge’s reputation.”
“Once that’s done, you can request an imperial marriage decree from His Majesty.”
Beneath the cold gleam of the blade, the young man in white stood calm and steady, his gaze clear and unwavering.
“You…”
Xie Yu fell speechless.
According to the mysterious girl’s thoughts, Shen Jingxuan should still have been completely in the dark.
If he had already known the truth, things would never have reached this stage.
Xie Yu froze for two seconds before slowly lowering his sword.
The moment their eyes met, inspiration suddenly struck.
Years of tacit understanding instantly made everything clear between them.
So they could both hear her inner thoughts!
【Eh? Isn’t Second Brother supposed to be a hopeless romantic? According to the original plot, shouldn’t he and Xie Yu have had a massive argument and even fought each other? Xie Yu was supposed to beat him black and blue, and in the end they’d cut ties completely, turning from brothers into enemies forever.】
【So brotherhood means this much to Second Brother… He really is loyal and righteous.】
【If Second Brother and Ji Changge break off their engagement, does that mean the CP I ship can finally become real?!】
Excitedly, Shen Zhiyi kept reading ahead.
【AHHHHH! How did this happen?! What a waste!】
The relief Xie Yu had just felt instantly vanished, replaced by dread.
Now that they knew the truth, hadn’t this tragedy already been prevented?
As for Shen Jingxuan and Ling Siyao, there was still plenty of time. If they worked together, surely they could still find a way to unite them.
So what exactly was “such a pity”?!
Shen Jingxuan also grew anxious.
The two exchanged frantic looks, silently urging each other on, but neither dared speak.
They feared that if Shen Zhiyi discovered they could hear her thoughts, she would become guarded and stop revealing information entirely.
【Sigh. Even if Second Brother agrees to let the Ji family break off the engagement now, it’s already too late.】
【Just now, the emperor’s marriage decree was already delivered to Prince Sujiang’s residence and the Ling residence.】
【So annoying!】
Clang!
The long sword crashed onto the ground.
Both Xie Yu and Shen Jingxuan’s breathing halted.
The emperor had issued a marriage decree?
And the couple being matched was—
Xie Yu and Ling Siyao?
How… could this happen…