Chapter Forty-Seven: A Love for One Person in This Life

The Cheng family’s disciplinary method involved whipping the back with a particular kind of whip, typically carried out by the butler. Occasionally, if the head of the family decided to personally administer the punishment, the butler would first intercede and plead on behalf of the one about to be punished. This time, however, the butler didn’t bother with that; he hurried off to fetch the whip.

He even wondered whether he should bring a basin of salt water, so that after Cheng Yunting was beaten, he could pour it over his back—ah, the sting of that!

The butler was especially fond of Leng Zheng, just as Cheng Changfeng and Shao Suya were; they treated her as their own daughter. Even if Cheng Yunting had his reasons, in the end, he still caused Leng Zheng pain. In a word: deserved!

Before Cheng Changfeng began, Shao Suya stopped him. “Wait. Butler, bring a basin of salt water—let’s dip the whip in it first.”

“Understood,” the butler nodded and quickly brought over the prepared salt water.

The Qin brothers watched in astonishment—it seemed everything had been prepared in advance. Tsk, little Zheng really was beloved by everyone.

Qin Yu, always the irreverent one, sidled up to the butler as Cheng Changfeng beat Cheng Yunting, and whispered, “Grandpa Lu, did you have all this ready beforehand?”

“What else could I do? He bullied little Zheng so much. Her health has always been poor, and then he made her pregnant, and then that Du-whatever incident happened—how could anyone not be angry?” Butler Lu muttered indignantly, although he thought he was whispering, everyone present heard him clearly.

Qin Yu, at a loss for words, nodded and slipped away.

Damn, if only you’d kept your voice down. But everyone heard you—what can you say about that… Sigh…

Originally, the family punishment was to be twenty lashes. Cheng Changfeng intended to stop at twenty, but Shao Suya thought it wasn’t enough and added another twenty. Yes… confirmed, she was truly his mother.

“All right, just kneel here,” Shao Suya said, satisfied as she looked at Cheng Yunting, nodding before heading upstairs to bed.

“Let’s go,” the Qin brothers said nothing more and left as well.

Butler Lu also departed, leaving Cheng Yunting alone, kneeling there.

Butler Lu fetched another person, instructing her to bring a basin of salt water. As she passed Cheng Yunting, she pretended to stumble and spilled it over him.

“Young master, I’m sorry. It was my mistake.”

“It’s fine.” Cheng Yunting shook his head. “Go about your business.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cheng Yunting had overheard Butler Lu’s words and knew this was orchestrated by him. After all, he deserved it…

His girl had suffered far more than he ever had; it was only right…

He wondered how she was doing now…

…

Inside the villa.

Leng Zheng woke up, carefully got out of bed, poked her head out, and glanced around. Seeing no sign of Cheng Yunting, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Little Zheng, is that you?” Aunt Li, hearing movement, came upstairs and spotted Leng Zheng peeking out, her face lighting up in delight.

“Aunt Li, is that you?” Leng Zheng scrutinized her closely; it had been a long time since they’d seen each other.

“The young master asked me to take care of you—well, never mind him.” Aunt Li helped Leng Zheng downstairs, her expression souring at the mention of Cheng Yunting. “Little Zheng, wait here—I’ll bring you some porridge.”

“All right, Aunt Li.” Leng Zheng nodded and sat down on the sofa.

“Here, little Zheng, have some porridge.” Aunt Li set the bowl on the table and blew gently to cool it.

“Aunt Li, I’m not a child anymore. You don’t need to cool it for me,” Leng Zheng said helplessly.

Aunt Li smiled, doting on her. “Little Zheng, in my eyes, you’ll always be a little girl who never grows up.”

“Mm.” Leng Zheng nodded and hugged Aunt Li.

“All right, drink up—be careful, it’s hot.”

“Mm.”

…

At the Cheng family manor.

Cheng Yunting knelt in the living room all day and night, without food or drink, enduring the pain. When he finally stood up, he nearly fainted.

“Cheng Yunting, let me tell you—little Zheng is more important to me than anything. If she does anything to hurt herself because of you, you just wait and see!” Shao Suya shot him a fierce glare.

“Yes,” Cheng Yunting bowed his head and limped away.

“Tsk, Yunting, do you need me to tend to your wounds? Or are you planning to use them as a ploy when you go back?” Shen Dongleng asked, gloating over his misfortune.

“I’d better get patched up first—I don’t want to scare little Zheng,” Cheng Yunting replied, getting into the car.

“Tsk, your leg… All right, let’s go back to the hospital for a check. I doubt you’ll recover anytime soon,” Shen Dongleng shook his head regretfully.

“President, wasn’t Master and Madam a bit harsh?” Gui Xiangwan, trembling as she drove, ventured timidly.

“No, it’s what I deserve,” Cheng Yunting lowered his head.

“Tsk, Assistant Gui, don’t worry—your boss is lovesick,” Shen Dongleng leaned over and whispered in Gui’s ear.

PS: As for Cheng Changfeng and Shao Suya, they simply adored little Zheng. Their greatest wish was to have a daughter. But Cheng Changfeng couldn’t bear to see Shao Suya endure the pain of childbirth again, so he chose sterilization. Their biggest regret was never having a girl.

So when they saw little Zheng, they immediately took a liking to her; she was beautiful, charming, and utterly lovable. To them, she truly was as dear as their own child. Sometimes, when Leng Zheng was around, Cheng Yunting would even suspect he wasn’t their biological son.

Butler Lu never married or had children, so he was especially fond of kids. When Leng Zheng first came to the Cheng family, Butler Lu took to her instantly, always treating her as his own daughter.

That’s why, whenever anyone bullied little Zheng, the Cheng couple and Butler Lu would always rush to her defense.

Cheng Yunting, for his part, had set his heart on little Zheng ever since she saved him. He was somewhat obsessive—he loved her, but never said it, never told her.

Perhaps everyone knew that Cheng Yunting loved Leng Zheng—except for Leng Zheng herself.

He and little Zheng were similar in that neither spoke much of what was on their minds. Cheng Yunting kept everything bottled up and wouldn’t say a word unless it was urgent. Leng Zheng, on the other hand, would confide in those she trusted, but there were some things she’d never reveal, no matter how dire the situation.

Cheng Yunting loved only one person in his life, and for his entire life, it would always be her. Once he made up his mind, even if he could only watch her from afar, he was content.

Ah, that’s all for today’s update. Today, I saw a particularly heartbreaking couple on Douyin—a pair I’ve shipped for a long time.

Truly, the boy in that couple was hit by a truck and died, his body shattered…

I hope in their next life, they’ll be happy and together forever.

All right, goodbye everyone~