Chapter Forty-Three: My Girl May No Longer Belong to Me

“What’s wrong, Yunbao?” Leng Zheng opened the door to the private room and immediately saw Cheng Yunting and Du Ruoyan. “Who is she?”

“You don’t know, do you, Sister? He belongs to me now.” Du Ruoyan smiled and settled herself onto Cheng Yunting’s lap, throwing a provocative look at Leng Zheng.

“What’s going on?” Leng Zheng ignored Du Ruoyan, her eyes fixed on Cheng Yunting. “What is this about?”

“Sister, can’t you see?” Du Ruoyan smiled triumphantly at Leng Zheng and stepped in front of her. “Why don’t you let Yunting go outside first, and we’ll have a chat?”

Cheng Yunting stared hard at Leng Zheng, then lowered his head and left the room.

Suddenly, Leng Zheng understood. She sat down on the sofa and looked at Du Ruoyan. “What is it you want to talk about?”

“Aren’t you curious why Yunting is here with me?” Du Ruoyan asked, her voice full of excitement.

“It’s obvious.” Leng Zheng lowered her head, a bitter smile on her lips. “I understand. No need for you to say anything more.”

“Well, since you’re like this, I feel even more compelled to speak.” Du Ruoyan smiled as she looked at Leng Zheng and took a sip of her drink. “Yunting and I were high school classmates. He pursued me, but I left for overseas afterward. I thought he’d moved on, but I never expected you to look so much like me. Suddenly, I realized Yunting only sees you as my substitute. I doubt you want the reputation of ruining someone else’s family, right?”

“I think you’re the one who should bear that reputation. After all, you never ended up with him. I did… So tell me, who do you think will be blamed?” Leng Zheng retorted with a smile, though her fists clenched tightly. “Let Cheng Yunting come in. I want to hear his explanation.”

“Sister—”

“Let him in.” Leng Zheng’s tone was unwavering as she stared at Du Ruoyan. “Are you feeling guilty, little sister? Come to think of it, I’m younger than you. Why do you keep calling me ‘sister’?”

“You!” Du Ruoyan hadn’t expected Leng Zheng to fight back so fiercely. She’d meant to provoke her, but ended up nearly infuriating herself.

Cheng Yunting had been eavesdropping outside for a while, his palm already bloodied from clenching too hard. He knew that after tonight, his girl would no longer belong to him.

“Bao, answer me. Is what she said true?” Leng Zheng’s voice trembled with urgency. “Is it true?”

Cheng Yunting lowered his head in silence.

Du Ruoyan smiled smugly and clung to Cheng Yunting’s arm. “Sister, isn’t the answer obvious?”

“Fine, I understand.” Leng Zheng dropped her gaze, a self-deprecating smile on her lips, and turned to leave.

“Xiao Zheng!” Cheng Yunting instinctively reached out and grabbed her wrist.

“Master Cheng, you have a girlfriend now. Stop bothering me.” Leng Zheng shook off his hand and looked at him. “We are the past, not the present.”

She turned to leave, but Cheng Yunting scooped her up and carried her toward the garage.

When they reached the garage, Cheng Yunting placed Leng Zheng in the passenger seat and sat in the driver’s seat himself.

He said nothing, letting Leng Zheng curse and hit him, only fastening her seatbelt with care.

“Cheng Yunting, what are you trying to do!” Leng Zheng finally snapped, shouting at him. “Why the hell do you treat me as a substitute! Go find whoever you want, just don’t come to me! You’re not welcome here!”

“Xiao Zheng, don’t push me.” Cheng Yunting took a deep breath and looked at her, his voice humble. “Come home with me, please.”

“Cheng Yunting, what’s your problem? Let me out, what are you doing!” Leng Zheng felt nothing but disgust for his hypocrisy, struggling to break free.

“Isn’t it obvious what I want?” Cheng Yunting’s eyes reddened as he looked at her. “I want to lock you up, make you mine forever.”

“You’re insane!” Leng Zheng stared at him in disbelief.

“Yes, I’m insane. I lost my mind the moment we became the past. So, Xiao Zheng, please, just come home with me.” Cheng Yunting pulled her into his arms, holding her gently.

“You—” Before Leng Zheng could finish, Cheng Yunting made her lose consciousness.

He gazed at her with humble affection, murmuring softly, “Xiao Zheng, be good, just be good.”

With that, he started the car and drove back to the villa.