Chapter 12: Teaching Him How to Confess

I booked a private room at the club, and Qian Yushu nervously followed me inside, his movements awkward and stiff. His tense demeanor was almost comical. Had he misunderstood something?

“I want to talk to you in detail about the confession plan for the celebration banquet. It’s not convenient to speak outside,” I said.

“Oh, I see…” he forced a laugh, looking embarrassed.

I shook my head. “Did you receive the invitation to the celebration banquet?”

“No.”

I had expected that. Zhou Zizi wouldn’t have given him one. At this point, she didn’t take him seriously. Only later, when she needed help, would she occasionally offer him some favors, keeping him at arm’s length with a cold and warm attitude, always distant yet close enough to keep him tightly controlled.

“I can take you in.”

Qian Yushu nervously rubbed his hands together. “So you want me to confess at the banquet?”

His face flushed, shy and hesitant, a stark contrast to the cold expression I had seen on him before my death in a past life.

“Trust me, this is your only chance. After graduation, your family will arrange a match for Zizi, and you won’t have the chance to see her again.”

I deliberately tried to scare him. For a passionate young man, nothing was more terrifying than being unable to meet the one he loves.

Sure enough, Qian Yushu bit his lip and made up his mind.

“Alright, I’ll do whatever you say, but I don’t know how to confess. And there will probably be a lot of people at the banquet. I… I…”

He glanced down at his clothes, too ashamed to meet my eyes.

I pulled out a wad of cash from my pocket and handed it to him. His eyes widened.

“Use this to buy yourself some new clothes.”

“I can’t accept your money… I’m already grateful you’re willing to help me…”

I said flatly, “You don’t want to look too plain and embarrass Zizi at the banquet, do you?”

Qian Yushu was speechless for a moment.

He was actually quite handsome, but dressed plainly now, he didn’t stand out and would easily be lost in the crowd. A change of clothes would make him look completely renewed.

With that settled, a new problem arose.

Qian Yushu rubbed his hands anxiously and whispered, “But I’ve never confessed to anyone before. I don’t know what to say…”

He was so innocent it caught me off guard. Sometimes, looking at him, I felt a strange sense of detachment.

I took out my phone and sent him a few elegantly worded confession letters.

“Read these carefully and study them well.”

“The sky clears, the rain stops, and my feelings for you…”

Qian Yushu was eager to learn and took it seriously, though he stumbled over the words and blushed occasionally as he glanced at me.

I stood up. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Closing the private room door behind me, I went to the balcony at the end of the corridor and took out a pack of cigarettes.

Smoking was a bad habit I’d picked up from my past life. My husband didn’t cherish me, my in-laws were cold, and after my brother and best friend had their accidents, I couldn’t drink. At some point, I had started smoking—a small comfort amid despair.

Staring at the cigarette in my hand, I hesitated to put it to my lips.

I wanted to quit.

“Xiaoyan?”

I rolled my eyes at the persistent voice and turned around.

Zhou Zizi looked surprised. “Why are you here alone? Are you looking for Ge? Everyone’s in the private room having fun. Don’t just stand out here by yourself. Come inside with us!”

Without waiting for my answer, she grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room.

The moment I appeared, the lively private room fell silent as if no one were there.

Some of the people I recognized, others I didn’t—but none were close to me. They were all friends of Zhou Chenyang, who never took me out with him.

“Why are you here?” he looked up at me, frowning slightly, clearly displeased.

“Ah Yang, I saw Xiaoyan standing alone outside, so I brought her in. Why didn’t you bring her along? Leaving her to stand outside in the cold!” Zhou Zizi said as if it were the obvious thing to do.

Her words instantly made the others glance at each other strangely.

I caught Zhou Zizi’s eye out of the corner of mine and suppressed a smile.

She played this little trick more than once.

She acted so innocent and pure, as if unaware of how inappropriate her words sounded. She cozied up to Zhou Chenyang, linking arms with him.

And there I stood at the door, watching my husband and his foster sister so intimate.

I felt like an outsider.

More like an uninvited guest.

“Ah Yang, next time you can’t do this. Wherever you go, you must tell Xiaoyan. If she’s left outside in the cold and catches a cold, what then?”

“Being someone’s husband means you have to be gentle and considerate,” she said sweetly.

Zhou Chenyang glanced at her with amusement and lightly tapped her head. “Little girl, what do you know?”

She pouted. “I know everything. Don’t treat me like a kid anymore.”

“Drink your beverage.”

Under all eyes, Zhou Chenyang openly showed his affection and care for Zhou Zizi, always choosing her favorite orange juice.

She smiled brightly, happy and radiant.

I found the whole scene tedious and had no intention of shamelessly staying. Turning to leave, I heard his voice, cold and indifferent.

“Where are you going?”

I didn’t look back. “I have other matters to attend to.”

He chuckled lightly, full of disdain. “Since you followed me here, just stay.”

He was certain I had tracked him down.

I paused, then added, “I’m here because I have an appointment, something important. It has nothing to do with you.”

I knew that saying this would ruin the atmosphere and instantly chill the room.

But it was the truth.

Zhou Chenyang glared coldly. “I said sit down.”

I glanced at him once more and walked away.

“Mu… Yan…”

He spoke slowly, his voice heavy with suppressed anger and warning.

Everyone held their breath, the room eerily quiet. Just as I reached the door, the birthday boy hurried over to stop me.

“Don’t! Sister-in-law, since you’re here, it’s my birthday. Give me some face and sit down to have fun with us.”

Looking at his flattering smile, I couldn’t help but recall my past life. I never fit into Zhou Chenyang’s social circle; his friends never liked me.

Back then, I didn’t care, focusing solely on Zhou Chenyang, much like those daughters-in-law trapped by mother-in-law conflicts, thinking that marrying the husband meant no worries about the mother-in-law.

But the truth was, if he truly valued me, those around him wouldn’t look down on me.

Conversely, his friends’ and family’s attitudes reflected his own feelings.

The birthday boy before me was the only one among his friends who treated me well. So I softened my stance.

“I’ll stay, but I didn’t bring a birthday gift today. All I can offer is a verbal wish: Happy birthday.”

“Heh, thanks, sister-in-law.”

“I really have to go now. Have fun, everyone.”

I wondered how Qian Yushu was doing with the love letters. I desperately wanted to return and check on his progress.

“Xiaoyan, don’t go!” Zhou Zizi grabbed my arm, refusing to let me leave. “If you leave now, everyone will think you and Ah Yang are having a fight. Come on, sit down!”

Her sweet tone gave me a headache. Before I could react, she pulled me beside Zhou Chenyang and forced me down by the shoulders.

“You two should sit together!”

Instantly, both of us stiffened.