Chapter Ten: Gardenias Adore You Deeply

I knew Mu Xianghua would eventually compromise. He was a clever man, but his greatest flaw was his tendency to be too clever by half.

As expected, his voice was heavy as he said, "You may keep the memorial tablet in the village."

I offered a sincere smile. "My mother’s spirit in the afterlife will be grateful to you."

"About your divorce..."

I cut him off before he could continue. "I hope you will stop interfering and let me handle it myself."

Mu Xianghua sneered, "Do you think that’s even possible?"

The business ties between the Mu and Zhou families meant that this marriage was no longer just about me and Zhou Chenyan. A collapse of the marriage would signify a split between the two conglomerates. Without stable relations, there could be no mutual trust. That was why he needed me.

"Beyond divorce, I have other ways to disrupt the relationship between our families. I don’t think Father wants me stirring up trouble in the middle, do you?"

Mu Xianghua looked at me with an unfamiliar gaze, as if he had never known me before. "Mu Yan, you have certainly grown."

"You flatter me. I am merely protecting myself."

In my past life, I failed to understand this truth, leaving myself battered and bruised until I eventually lost my life. Having been granted a second chance, if I failed to grow, I would have lived this life in vain.

Mu Xianghua was likely wary of me, and in the end, he relented. "I can refrain from interfering, but I will not help you either."

For me, that was enough. He was seething with frustration, unable to bear seeing me satisfied, so he deliberately tried to dampen my spirits. "However, let me tell you, even if I don't interfere, you will never get a divorce. Zhou Chenyan won't agree, and the Zhou family won't agree."

He stepped toward me, looking down at me with a cold sneer. "You will never leave the Zhou family."

What a truly vicious curse.

"Thank you for the reminder."

With this, I had finally liberated my mother from this suffocating household. From the very beginning, I had never counted on Mu Xianghua for the divorce. I would be thankful enough if he simply didn't cause me trouble.

I already had a perfect plan.

I arrived at Zhou Zhizi's university and met the person I loathed to the core: Zhou Zhizi’s admirer, her senior, Qian Yushu.

In my previous life, as Zhou Zhizi’s lackey, he did much of her dirty work and acted as her right-hand man. I still remembered the first time I saw him. He was a young man from a poor background, naive and earnest. Later, he looked at me coldly and told me I shouldn't indulge in delusions or try to snatch things away from Zhou Zhizi. He assisted her in her wicked deeds. It was even him who forcibly dragged me onto that filthy hospital bed to have my child cut out of me.

Zhou Zhizi could never have gone as far as she did without Qian Yushu’s significant contributions. I despised him, yet today, I had no choice but to seek him out.

"Classmate, did you need something?" At this moment, Qian Yushu was not yet the executioner who abetted evil. He looked quite green, still offering a polite and friendly smile to strangers.

"Hello, I am Zhou Zhizi’s sister-in-law. Would you mind if we had a chat?"

Perhaps it was the identity of being Zhou Zhizi’s sister-in-law that caused him to drop his guard; he followed me without hesitation.

In the cafe, we sat opposite each other, and Qian Yushu appeared nervous. He was poor. He had a gravely ill mother and a younger sister in college. He wore plain clothes, and his shoes were washed until they were faded. It was likely his first time here, as every fiber of his being radiated one thing: awkwardness.

I ordered a coffee for him. "I quite like this flavor. I recommend you try it; if you don't like it, we can order something else."

"It's alright, this is fine."

He sipped the coffee cautiously. Perhaps unaccustomed to such a bitter taste, he didn't even add sugar, frowning as he drank it in small sips.

"Do you like Zhizi?"

Saying that name made me reflexively feel nauseated. I quickly took a sip of coffee to suppress it.

"...Yes." He was quite forthright about his feelings.

"She mentions you often at home." I spoke vaguely, intentionally filling my words with implication. My plan required his cooperation, and in Qian Yushu’s eyes, I had to be a "good sister-in-law"—someone Zhizi could confide in, someone she trusted with her most private secrets.

Qian Yushu lowered his head, looking tense. I curled my lips and set down my coffee cup. "Zhizi is a good girl. Our family dotes on her; since she was little, she has always had the best of everything. Naturally, we have to be very selective when choosing a husband."

Qian Yushu’s expression dimmed.

"However, with her brother handling the family business, Zhizi doesn't have to worry about money; she will never be without it for the rest of her life. She has said herself that when looking for a boyfriend, she doesn't care about external conditions—only whether the person is sincere."

"I am!"

Qian Yushu lifted his head impatiently. He had spoken on impulse, and only after the words left his lips did he realize what he had said, blushing a deep, embarrassed red.

I smiled gently. "Don't be nervous. The reason I came to find you is precisely to talk about this. Zhizi often speaks of you, and meeting you today, I think you're a good person."

Qian Yushu looked at me eagerly. "Then... are you willing to help us get together?"

"Of course. However, I suggest you act quickly, as the family has already started looking for suitors for her."

I began to spout nonsense. Regardless, with Qian Yushu’s personality, he wouldn't verify it, and Zhou Zhizi certainly wouldn't tell him. Zhou Zhizi had always looked down on Qian Yushu; in her eyes, this man wasn't even a backup option. He was merely a tool to be used and discarded at will.

"But I don't know what to do. After graduation, we will go our separate ways. I might never have the chance to see her again..."

I sipped my coffee slowly. "After the graduation ceremony, the family is planning to hold a celebratory banquet for Zhizi. That is your best opportunity."

Qian Yushu looked at me, confused.

"Zhizi dislikes arranged marriages and has been distressed by this lately. If you are willing to be brave, I can give you a chance to express your feelings."

"Express my feelings?"

Qian Yushu stared at me blankly, his hand on the table gripping the coffee cup tightly as he swallowed nervously.

I smiled. "The opportunity is right in front of you. It depends on whether you have the courage to seize it."

"I... I want to think about it."

He struggled for a long time, unable to make up his mind. But I didn't have that kind of time to waste. I had to get an answer today.

I suddenly remembered something. In my past life, Zhou Zhizi and Zhou Chenyan were supposed to attend a friend's birthday party tonight. It was originally agreed that they would take me, but Zhou Zhizi insisted on going. Zhou Chenyan had always doted on her, so she naturally took my place. I had been heartbroken over that for a long time in my previous life.

This time, however...

I calmly exchanged contact information with Qian Yushu. "How about this? I'll take you somewhere tonight. After you see what I have to show you, I believe you'll be able to make up your mind."

"Sister Yan-yan?"

Hearing that voice, the smile on my face vanished instantly. Zhou Zhizi and Zhou Chenyan walked into the cafe together. The former’s eyes swept over me and Qian Yushu, then she wore a look of utter disbelief.

"You two..."