Chapter 20: How Are You So Sure They’re Just Siblings?

After composing myself, I pretended as if nothing had happened and went downstairs.

At the dining table, I encountered someone who took me by surprise.

It was Qian Yushu.

Zhou Zhizi had actually brought him home for dinner.

Mrs. Zhou treated Qian Yushu very well, seeming quite pleased, and kept asking about him.

When she learned that Qian Yushu came from a poor family, she only furrowed her brows slightly.

Zhou Chenyang’s expression was cold.

If it weren’t for Mr. and Mrs. Zhou being present, I wouldn’t have doubted that he would have thrown Qian Yushu out immediately.

I ate my meal with great appetite.

Zhou Zhizi and Qian Yushu exchanged glances and subtle smiles.

Qian Yushu was naturally shy, and Zhou Zhizi’s rare initiative thoroughly had him under her spell.

I sighed silently to myself—this life, he still could not escape the fate of being used.

And we were destined to be enemies.

Just as I was thinking this, a pair of chopsticks suddenly appeared in my dish.

Zhou Chenyang was picking food for me, his tone gentle, “This dish is delicious, try some.”

Mrs. Zhou smiled, saying, “Look, finally our son understands how to be considerate and take care of his wife.”

I shivered.

I kept my distance from the piece of meat in my bowl.

Others might be unaware, but how could I not know?

His rare act of kindness was not what it seemed.

Like every gentle moment before, it was never meant for me.

I looked at Zhou Zhizi. She lowered her head, poking at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks, no longer displaying that lively sparkle she had earlier, then glanced toward Zhou Chenyang.

He sipped his soup, seemingly in a good mood.

Ha.

Using me as a pawn in their little game?

Disgusting!

But since it was in front of everyone, I couldn’t just toss the meat into the trash. I pushed it aside instead.

No one was watching; I focused on eating.

Once I finished, I quietly slipped away.

There was bound to be drama later.

I didn’t want to get involved.

Given Zhou Chenyang’s character, he had already used me to provoke Zhou Zhizi at the table; who knew what nauseating tactics he had planned next.

Unexpectedly, Qian Yushu chased after me.

“Miss Mu.”

Hearing this form of address, I raised an eyebrow slightly.

Before, he always called me Sister Mu.

Qian Yushu asked sharply, “Miss Mu, why did you lie to me?”

“What lie did I tell you?”

I pretended not to understand his meaning.

My feigned confusion made him hesitate for a moment, doubting himself.

I asked leisurely, “I told you I am Zhou Zhizi’s sister-in-law. Am I not?”

“Yes, but—”

“I saw how deeply attached you are to her, promised to help you get into the celebration banquet, help you confess. Haven’t I done that?”

“You did, but—”

I looked at him calmly, “But I didn’t tell you Zhou Chenyang is her brother.”

Qian Yushu stumbled over his words, caught off guard by my swift interruption, and hurriedly nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me? It made me misunderstand Zhou, I even thought she was with Mr. Zhou…”

“Telling you wouldn’t change anything. Aren’t they close? That’s a fact.”

“But they are siblings!”

I looked at Qian Yushu and suddenly laughed.

He looked at me dumbfounded, staring blankly.

I laughed for a while before calming down.

“You’re really quite naive.”

Qian Yushu gazed at me in confusion.

“There’s no blood relation; can they really be called brother and sister?”

For Qian Yushu, this news was probably a thunderclap on a clear day.

His lips trembled. “But they seem very close, look affectionate, and share the same surname…”

He appeared to be trying to convince himself, but the more he spoke, the more his expression soured.

“Why bother deceiving yourself?”

See? Even this naïve fellow could see that their closeness had long surpassed sibling bounds.

Without blood ties, their relationship was even more ambiguous.

My voice was gentle, my gaze calm. “They’re not deeply attached siblings, but childhood sweethearts.”

Qian Yushu stared at me, stammering, “So Mr. Zhou really likes Miss Zhou? Then what about Miss Zhou…”

Suddenly, I recalled the previous life, how differently Qian Yushu treated Zhou Zhizi and me.

His judgment of Zhou Zhizi was this:

“Zhizi is pure and kind, never seduced anyone. It’s Zhou Chenyang who harbors ill intentions toward her, and you’re just useless for not controlling your own husband.”

A surge of resentment welled up inside me.

In the last life, Zhou Zhizi had established herself before him as a gentle, harmless innocent.

This time, I wouldn’t let her have her way.

“How do you know it’s one-sided?”

I lowered my head, raised my hand to rub my eye corner, pretending to wipe away a tear.

Qian Yushu grew anxious. “Don’t cry, did I say something wrong?”

I forced a faint smile. “No. To be honest, getting close to you was partly selfish on my part. My husband likes his sister... and Zhizi is very close to him too. I tried to separate them, but failed. Zhizi has rejected many suitors for him. I think, in her heart, she cares for him.”

I glanced at Qian Yushu, who looked pale and clearly shaken.

I covered my face with my hand, feigning sorrow and despair.

In truth, I was hiding the smile tugging at my lips.

“Actually, I considered letting them be. But though there’s no blood relation, they’re family. The in-laws would never approve of them being together. If this got out, it would be a scandal ruining them, especially Zhizi.”

Qian Yushu clenched his fists. His resentment toward me had vanished, replaced by sympathy and anger.

“Mr. Zhou, how could he…”

His fury was directed solely at Zhou Chenyang.

Not a word about Zhou Zhizi.

I almost envied Zhou Zhizi—what a loyal, useful dog she was.

“I came to you because I had no other way. I know you like Zhizi, and you’re a good person. I hoped you two could be together. I believe you could make her happy,” I sighed, “But unfortunately…”

I left the rest unsaid.

Qian Yushu was left to imagine the rest himself.

“This is too much!” Qian Yushu fumed. “Mr. Zhou has already married you, how can he still like someone else? If he liked Zhizi, he wouldn’t have married you!”

My heart jolted.

His words surprised me. In my impression, Qian Yushu was Zhizi’s staunchest fan, a die-hard loyalist who would never waver.

For him to say something so morally upright... I looked at him oddly.

Could he have been possessed?

He continued, “Married to you but still two-timing—that’s irresponsible to both of you. If he really likes Miss Zhou, he should be faithful. I even thought I misunderstood him, but he’s just a…”

He flushed, unable to finish.

I felt a surge of satisfaction. If not for fear of breaking his character, I’d have encouraged him to say more.

Say whatever you want!

But soon, Qian Yushu’s expression turned fearful. His eyes fixed intently behind me.

I instinctively turned around.

A car was speeding toward us.

Behind the wheel, Zhou Chenyang’s expression was blank, his handsome face devilish.

Was he trying to kill us?!

At that moment, my body froze, my mind screaming to dodge, but my legs felt as heavy as lead.