What kind of man was he, really? Why did he seem so infuriatingly wicked, yet impossible to truly hate?
After returning to the Shen family, Shen Qi threw herself onto her bed and lay there for an entire week before fully recovering. During those days in bed, Shen Qi shed countless tears, sorting through her memories with Zhan Bo again and again, sealing them away piece by piece. She gathered everything Zhan Bo had given her, packed them into a large box, rented a small apartment, and locked all those memories away inside it.
Zhan Bo was gone, and with him, her love had died. It no longer mattered who she married. If sacrificing her marriage could pay for her brother’s medical treatment, it was worth it.
Once Shen Qi had fully recovered, she took the initiative to find Mrs. Shen, expressing her willingness to marry into the He family in Shen Yinyin’s place. Seeing Shen Qi so cooperative and sensible, Shen Gang and Mrs. Shen were very pleased. Because of Shen Qi’s initiative, Mrs. Shen also relaxed her surveillance, tacitly allowing her to visit Zhan Bo several times.
Three months later, Shen Qi once again sat before Zhan Bo’s grave, holding a bouquet of lilies. “Zhan Bo, this is the last time I’ll come see you. I’m getting married.” Shen Qi leaned against the tombstone, speaking to the photo on it as if to herself. “I haven’t fallen for someone else. I haven’t loved anyone new. I’m marrying in Shen Yinyin’s place. Because the Shen family wants their daughter to marry into true high society, the engagement that was originally hers has fallen on me. Without you, marrying anyone means nothing. I don’t care if he’s rich, from a powerful family, has inheritance rights, or is an adopted son. That person isn’t you, so none of it matters.”
Shen Qi clumsily wiped the tears from her face. “After I marry, you take care of yourself in heaven. If you meet a girl who’s good to you, then you… then you…” Shen Qi suddenly couldn’t go on.
“Zhan Bo, if we can meet again in the next life, don’t abandon me like this.” Shen Qi fiercely dried her tears. “I’m leaving! I’m really leaving this time!” With those words, Shen Qi wiped her tears and fled the cemetery in disarray. But the tears only came faster. In the end, she hardened her heart and buried this love deep within.
The wedding day arrived quickly. The ceremony was held in a small chapel on the outskirts of town. Only a few unimportant members of the He family showed up, and the groom didn’t even appear. Seeing how little the He family valued this wedding, Shen Gang stormed off on the spot, leaving Shen Qi alone in the chapel’s waiting room.
When Shen Qi heard the news, she felt neither sorrow nor joy. Alone, wearing her white wedding gown, she slowly walked into the chapel and stood before the priest. The few onlookers who remained were stunned by Shen Qi’s actions. A man from the He family watched her with keen interest, unable to resist stroking his chin in amusement.
“Father, please proceed directly with the ceremony.” Shen Qi stood alone before the priest, speaking calmly. “I can complete the wedding by myself.” The priest had never seen such a wedding scene. It took him a moment to snap out of it. Hearing Shen Qi’s words, he turned to look at the He family’s representative. The man nodded at the priest, who then began the ceremony for this solitary wedding.