Shen Qi knew that both Feng Manlun and He Yining had their own informants. But the fact that Feng Manlun knew such detailed information could only mean one thing: Cui Yuelan had blatantly taken over her study. Otherwise, Feng Manlun’s people couldn’t have infiltrated the main building of Jinghua Manor. At most, Feng Manlun could only know things like where He Yining went and who he met, but not what happened inside the main structure. Those people were He Yining’s trusted inner circle, impossible to penetrate. Now that Feng Manlun knew this, it proved Cui Yuelan hadn’t just loudly occupied Shen Qi’s study—she’d probably taken over other things too.
Hearing this, Shen Qi felt an inexplicable pang of sadness. That was her study! Her designs, her books, her assignments were all in there. Jinghua Manor had so many rooms, so many studies—why did Cui Yuelan have to take that one? Shen Qi closed her eyes gently and asked, “Brother, can I ask you something? I know you’ve been keeping an eye on He Yining. You should know best about his matters.”
“Go ahead, ask,” Feng Manlun replied softly.
“Is Cui Yuelan very important to He Yining?” Shen Qi bit her lower lip, almost forcing the words out one by one: “Is she very important in the He family? Important enough to sacrifice others to protect her?”
Feng Manlun chuckled lightly. “Whether she’s very important, I can’t say. I can only tell you that back then, someone was foolish enough to bully Cui Yuelan, and He Yining directly wiped out their entire family, making them disappear from high society completely.”
Shen Qi felt her heart sink even faster. It was like a lead weight, crashing down heavily, pulling at her stomach until it ached.
“Does Cui Yuelan like He Yining?” Shen Qi asked again.
“Do you want the truth or a lie?” Feng Manlun countered. “If you want me to comfort you, I can do it flawlessly.”
A sharp pain stabbed through Shen Qi’s heart. She didn’t need to ask anymore; she already knew the answer. After a long pause, Shen Qi let out a deep breath and said, “I’ll take the house. Thank you, brother.”
“It’s nothing.” Feng Manlun reached out and ruffled Shen Qi’s hair. “I may not be as rich as He Yining, but giving you a gift is still within my means.”
Shen Qi lowered her eyes. “Thank you.”
When Shen Qi returned to Jinghua Manor, the whole estate seemed to be buzzing with joy because of Cui Yuelan’s arrival. As she reached the entrance, she heard laughter from upstairs: “Yining gege, come catch me! Come catch me! I won’t let you get me!”
He Yining’s helpless voice followed: “Lanlan, stop messing around.”
If she wasn’t mistaken, they were playing around in her study. That was her study. It was filled with her design drafts and the materials she needed to review. She usually didn’t even let the maids in to clean, doing it herself to avoid messing up those documents. Now He Yining was indulging Cui Yuelan as she turned the place upside down. Did she even need to keep asking Feng Manlun? Everything was clear now, wasn’t it?
Shen Qi slowly climbed the stairs. The noise from the room grew louder. The study door wasn’t closed, and as she looked up, she saw Cui Yuelan, running around, “accidentally” tear up her design drawing.
He Yining saw Cui Yuelan ruin Shen Qi’s design and his heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling rising. He was about to scold Cui Yuelan when he looked up and saw Shen Qi standing outside the study door.
“Xiao Qi… you’re back.” He Yining meant to explain, but the words came out as, “Lanlan didn’t mean to… she just…”
Shen Qi looked at him with a mocking expression. She didn’t mean to tear up my design, right? So was it my fault for just happening to see her actions just now? He Yining, that’s enough. Thank you for once protecting me, thank you for once doting on me. I’m grateful for all of that. But since you have someone else who needs your care and affection more, I’m willing to step aside. Just… can you give me a heads-up first? Let me prepare. Don’t catch me off guard like this. Don’t make me so pathetic. Okay?
When you were searching for the angel in your memories, I already understood that I don’t mean much. I’m just a tool for you to deal with your family. I should have known that long ago, shouldn’t I? It’s my fault. I was too greedy. Knowing there was someone else in your heart, I still clung to your tenderness and affection. I was too smug, thinking you might like me even a little. But reality is so cruel, slapping me hard in the face and making me see my place. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have confused duty with love. You don’t love me. You never have. In your heart, your angel, your sister—they’re all more important than me. So who can I blame? I blame no one but myself. Thank you for helping me so much, for letting my brother go to Germany for treatment. Now that you don’t need me to act anymore, shouldn’t I take my bow and leave?
Shen Qi lowered her eyes and didn’t answer He Yining. Just then, Cui Yuelan bounced over and said without any sincerity, “Oh, sorry about tearing up your drawing just now. I’ll pay you back for it, okay?”
Hah. That was her design. Could she afford to pay for it? Someone who disregards another’s hard work and creative effort—can a flippant offer of compensation make up for it? Shen Qi replied flatly, “No need. It seems Miss Cui really likes this study, so I’ll leave it to you.”
Cui Yuelan immediately brightened and whined to He Yining, “See, see? I told you she’d give it to me! You should have agreed! She said it herself, I didn’t force her!”
Shen Qi didn’t want to go in and pack her things. Still keeping her eyes down, she said, “Sorry, my teacher hasn’t been feeling well lately. I want to go take care of him for a few days. You two have fun.” With that, she turned to leave.
He Yining’s heart lurched. He could clearly feel Shen Qi pulling away from him. Xiao Qi was angry! She must have misunderstood! He had to explain! He rushed out and grabbed Shen Qi’s wrist. “Xiao Qi, listen to me! It’s not what you think between Lanlan and me!”
Shen Qi suddenly looked up, staring at He Yining. What explanation would you give? Are you really willing to explain to me?
Just then, Cui Yuelan, who had been lively a moment ago, suddenly cried out, “Ah, my stomach hurts so much! It hurts! Yining gege, it hurts so bad!”
Hearing this, He Yining instinctively let go of Shen Qi’s wrist. Shen Qi’s heart plunged into an abyss, with no tomorrow in sight. He Yining immediately turned and rushed to Cui Yuelan’s side. “Why does it suddenly hurt? Did you eat something bad?”
“I don’t know, it just hurts so much!” Cui Yuelan screamed louder than a pig being slaughtered.
Standing there, Shen Qi laughed bitterly again. The trace of his warmth on her wrist vanished instantly, fading into nothing. So he still wouldn’t explain to me, would he? He doesn’t even care enough to explain. What was I hoping for? Hadn’t I already told myself he doesn’t love me? Why was I still expecting anything? I’m so foolish, so foolish, so foolish…
Shen Qi watched the two of them in a flurry, and she knew she didn’t need any explanation anymore. Just go. Leave like this. Without even taking a change of clothes, she walked out of Jinghua Manor.
Shortly after Shen Qi left, He Yining pulled out his phone to call Dr. Qin and realized she was already gone. Damn it, Xiao Qi must have misunderstood! He really wanted to explain! But Lanlan suddenly got sick, and he couldn’t ignore that. His parents had entrusted her to him, and he couldn’t take it lightly. He could only let Xiao Qi be wronged for now. Xiao Qi, I’m sorry. I’ll give you an explanation!
Shen Qi didn’t know how she got out of Jinghua Manor. She only knew that by the time she reached the traffic light, her vision was blurry. Cry? Why should I cry? Why cry so sadly? Isn’t facing reality early a good thing? Why are tears falling? No, this isn’t crying. It must be sand in my eyes, stinging them. Yes, that must be it!
When the light turned green, Shen Qi stepped on the gas and sped off. With the whole world out there, where should I go? Feng Manlun had given her that apartment, but she didn’t want to go there. After thinking it over, she drove to Mr. Charles’s place.
Mr. Charles was about to have dinner and was startled to see Shen Qi suddenly appear. “Teacher, can I stay here for a few days?” As soon as she finished speaking, her barely contained emotions collapsed, and tears streamed down her face.
Mr. Charles was alarmed. “My child, what’s wrong?”
Shen Qi just shook her head, saying nothing. Mr. Charles sighed. “My house isn’t big, but there are a few empty rooms. Stay as long as you like.”
“Teacher…” Shen Qi couldn’t hold back anymore. She stepped forward and hugged Mr. Charles, like she used to hug her father when she was wronged as a child. Though Mr. Charles didn’t understand what was happening, seeing Shen Qi cry so bitterly gave him a rough idea. These young people—they always cling to love and get hurt by it. But that’s because they’re still young!
Once Shen Qi calmed down, Mr. Charles invited her to sit and eat together. Shen Qi had no appetite and only managed a bowl of porridge, and that was only to keep Mr. Charles from worrying. He didn’t ask why she wanted to stay but instead brought up the upcoming show in H City.
“I heard Feng invited you to be his date?” Mr. Charles asked.
Shen Qi nodded.