Chapter Eleven: I'm Sorry, I Spoke Out of Turn

Qian Yushu glanced at us, looking helpless as his eyes flickered from one to the other.

I managed to get him to leave before he could cause any trouble.

He was surprisingly obedient, didn’t ask many questions, just greeted Zhou Zhizi briefly and then left.

Zhou Chenyang gave me a cold glare, silent.

His face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Zhou Zhizi feigned surprise. "Yanyan, how come you’re with my senior? Were you two on a date just now?"

She covered her mouth apologetically, eyes full of regret.

"Sorry, I misspoke... Ayan, please don’t doubt Yanyan. She would never do anything to hurt you."

Standing there, we had already drawn quite a crowd’s attention. I didn’t want to be a spectacle for onlookers.

Decided to leave first.

Zhou Chenyang blocked my path, his calm tone barely concealing his anger. “Feeling guilty? Aren’t you going to explain to me?”

“Let’s talk outside. Don’t disturb the other customers here, it’s embarrassing.”

I said this, and his face turned completely black.

But he still had some pride, so he didn’t forcibly confront me inside the café, instead following me out.

“Why are you with that man?” he demanded as soon as we stepped out.

I looked at his jealous expression with amusement. It was truly rare—counting both our past lives, I lost track of how many days we had spent together.

He had never once gotten jealous over me.

That treatment was reserved for Zhou Zhizi.

If this had happened in a previous life, I might have leapt with joy.

But now, my heart was as calm as still water, and I almost wanted to laugh.

“I heard your good sister mention that name. We just happened to meet at a café and chatted a bit. Is that a problem?”

Zhou Chenyang frowned, looking at Zhou Zhizi.

She softly defended herself, “I don’t remember mentioning my senior…”

But even she wasn’t sure.

No one remembers such trivial things.

I rolled my eyes and turned to leave, only to have someone grab my arm from behind, causing me to stumble.

My head bumped against Zhou Chenyang’s chest, pain making me hiss.

I sharply shook him off.

“Say what you need to say, don’t touch me.”

Ignoring my pained cry, Zhou Chenyang warned in a low, cold voice, “This is the first and last time. Don’t let me see you with some wild man again.”

I was a bit surprised by his demeanor.

Is he jealous?

No, no, impossible.

This was just the male ego at its worst: I can not love you, but you must love me; I can be with others, but you can’t have any male friends.

Realizing this, I scoffed, “Before pointing fingers, learn to mind your own business.”

“What do you mean?”

“You and your ‘good sister’ haven’t exactly kept your distance, either.” Meeting at the café in broad daylight—what was that if not a date?

Why should he accuse me?

Zhou Chenyang said coldly, “Zizi and I are not as dirty as you think. Don’t change the subject. I warn you, think before you act. Even if it’s not for yourself, do it for your brother. You don’t want him thrown out of the hospital, do you?”

I said sharply, “You dare!”

My brother was my only family, anyone who harmed him was my mortal enemy.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t dare to do.”

Zhou Chenyang gripped my wrist tightly, seeming pleased by my emotional reaction.

I spoke deliberately, word by word, “Zhou Chenyang, if you lay a finger on my brother, your and your ‘good sister’s’ illicit affair will be exposed to the world tomorrow. I swear it.”

Zhou Zhizi looked stunned.

Zhou Chenyang’s anger ignited further, his grip tightening painfully.

I gritted my teeth, enduring it, and said coldly, “If it comes to fish dying in the net, then we all die together.”

“Yanyan, you’re crazy…”

Zhou Zhizi was cautious after all. We both had the courage for a scorched-earth fight, but she didn’t. She pulled Zhou Chenyang aside and gently tried to soothe his anger.

“Ayan, don’t be mad…”

For the first time, Zhou Chenyang ignored her, staring fixedly at me.

“Mu Yan, pack your things and go home. I’ll overlook everything up to now.”

“Impossible.”

I refused flatly.

His face darkened like the bottom of a pot. “Don’t want to go? Then don’t come back. This is your last chance.”

“Thanks so much.”

As if that was a chance—I couldn’t care less. Yet Zhou Zhizi still came over, blocking my way, softly explaining.

“Yanyan, you misunderstood, I…”

“I don’t want to hear it. That’s that.”

This routine wasn’t new to me; I was already tired of it.

Walking a good distance away, I could still hear Zhou Zhizi’s gentle consolations and coaxing behind me.

“Ayan, you’re too harsh. You scared Yanyan.”

“She asked for it.”

Zhou Chenyang’s voice was full of irritation. On impulse, I glanced back.

He looked at Zhou Zhizi with a gentle expression.

I sneered and turned away.

...

Evening.

Qian Yushu contacted me again. I brought him to that familiar place, and memories of the past life uncontrollably surfaced in my mind.

Zhou Chenyang took Zhou Zhizi to a birthday party and didn’t come home all night. I waited at home anxiously until dawn before he returned.

When I questioned him, his answer was so casual.

“Zizi got drunk. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her with others, so I took care of her. I was tired and went upstairs to rest first.”

I felt so wronged and helpless, with no one to confide in.

Though I no longer cared now, the pain I suffered then was real.

Thinking about it now still makes my heart tighten.

Qian Yushu saw the upscale club ahead and dared not enter.

“What exactly do you want me to see?”

“Follow me.”

I led him inside, heading straight to the private room where Zhou Chenyang and Zhou Zhizi were.

The birthday party hadn’t started yet; the door was open, and young people were trickling in.

Friends of Zhou Chenyang.

Friends of Zhou Zhizi.

It was funny—though I was his wife, I never fit into Zhou Chenyang’s circle. But Zhou Zhizi was truly the darling of that world.

Zhou Chenyang adored her.

Everyone else fawned over her.

We stood in a shadowed corner. From here, we could see inside, but no one inside could see us.

Zhou Chenyang sat on the sofa, Zhou Zhizi by his side. I couldn’t hear what she said, but he listened attentively.

Then he smiled and gently stroked her hair.

Between them was an atmosphere no one else could penetrate.

I glanced at Qian Yushu.

His face had gone pale.

“They’re…”

“If you don’t act fast, your beloved will be swept away by someone else.”

Qian Yushu panicked completely. Worried he might slip up here, I hurriedly pulled him away.

Not far from the place, Qian Yushu suddenly asked, “What should I do?”