He Su flopped onto the sofa without a care for formalities. "If I hadn't reacted fast, that bastard Shen Tingfeng would've caught her at the hospital."
"So," the man narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint within, "you touched her?"
"I had no choice, and I was saving her. Besides..." He Su clicked his tongue. "I feel like you're getting more and more domineering, with this intense possessiveness over her." He sat up, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Don't tell me you've fallen for her?"
The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart. The words twisted in Shen Xiaoxing's mind.
Had he fallen for that silly girl?
Shen Xiaoxing shot him a cold glare. "When did you go blind?"
"Really not?"
Another icy stare from the man made He Su smack his lips. "But your possessiveness is way too strong. Can't anyone else even touch her?"
"She's the eldest young mistress of the Shen family now. Once she steps through the Shen door, she's mine. Even if I don't love her, I won't give her a chance to cause me trouble."
He Su looked unconvinced. His gut told him Shen Xiaolong had definitely fallen for An Ruo. Not admitting it, huh? Just wait—there'll be a day you cry.
"What did Shen Tingfeng say to you?" The man popped another piece of pastry into his mouth, nearly choking on it.
He Su shed his flippant demeanor. "He gave me a million to inject a slow-acting poison into your meds."
Every time Shen Tingfeng came over these years, it was always about the same thing.
"He can't hold back anymore, starting his moves again."
"What's your plan?"
Shen Xiaoxing took a sip of water, like a scheming strategist, eyes narrowing. "Play along."
"You're still going to let them stir up trouble?"
"Soon enough, I'll settle this score with them completely."
He Su sighed. If he'd known coming back home meant playing spy in this undercurrent of chaos, he'd rather have stayed abroad.
He wondered how his old friend, also with a leg ailment, was doing.
-
An Ruo paid the fees at the hospital lobby. The five hundred thousand that Ande Yu had returned in full, she now owed to this hospital.
They'd been kind enough to let An Che undergo surgery before payment, and An Ruo was grateful. Now that she had the money, she couldn't let them down.
As she walked out of the hospital, An Ruo ran into Zou Yikai, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Expressionless, she tried to sidestep him, but Zou Yikai wasn't about to let her go, deliberately blocking her path.
"Ruoruo, how have you been lately?" Zou Yikai wore a navy blue knee-length coat, looking refined. "I heard Xiaoche is in the hospital. I..."
"Mr. Zou, I think you've mistaken me for someone else." An Ruo cut him off and turned to leave.
The man stubbornly followed. "Ruoruo, I know you're still mad at me, but I had no choice when I left back then."
A low-key black sports car pulled up by the roadside. The window rolled down slowly, revealing a man's sharp, handsome face. Across the bustling street, his gaze locked onto the girl pushing away the man beside her.
"Ruoruo, don't go. Just listen to me, okay?"
An Ruo suddenly stopped and turned to face him. "What exactly do you want?"
"I regret it. I want us to get back together." Zou Yikai grabbed her hand. "Give me another chance, please?"
Remembering how decisively he'd left back then, An Ruo was heartbroken. "Let go of me!"
"No. No matter what happens from now on, I won't let go of your hand again."
"We've already broken up, Mr. Zou. Aren't you afraid of being seen and bringing shame to the Zou family?"
"I don't care!" Zou Yikai gripped her shoulders, staring deeply into her eyes. "I'd give up everything for you!"
If only he'd been this steadfast back when he had to choose between the Zou family and her.
But now it was too late. She had married Shen Xiaoxing in An Qing's place, and she had to take responsibility for every choice she made.
An Ruo pushed him away. "Sorry, I already have someone I like. Don't bother me again."
Zou Yikai stood frozen, unwilling to believe it.
An Ruo had met him in college. Zou Yikai was a year ahead, her senior. With his good looks, someone had posted her photo on the campus forum when she first enrolled, and she quickly became the belle of A University.
Back then, Zou Yikai was impressive too—not just from a wealthy family, but also the student council president. An Ruo's excellent grades got her recommended to the council, and they got to know each other.
Zou Yikai pursued her for a long time. The whole school knew she finally agreed to date him in her sophomore year.
"Ruoruo, don't go!" Zou Yikai blocked her again, gripping her hand tightly. "I don't believe it. I don't believe you've fallen for someone else so fast."
Truth was, An Ruo had agreed to date him back then because it was the first time someone had cared for her so thoroughly. After the breakup, what she felt was mostly disappointment.
Chen Keqiao had told her that without heart-wrenching pain, it wasn't love. The disappointment came from placing unwarranted hope in someone she trusted.
"You're lying to me, aren't you?" Zou Yikai pulled a card from his pocket and shoved it into her hand despite her resistance. "Xiaoche's surgery needs a lot of money. Here's six hundred thousand. Use it for now."
An Ruo looked at the cold bank card in her hand, a bitter smile curling her lips.
If only he'd lent her the money a little earlier—just a little—she might not have agreed to the absurd marriage substitution for the An family.
Fate was like that. Everything was right, except the timing was wrong.