Yu Qian, though seemingly lost in the moment, had sharp ears. Hearing this, he straightened up immediately, his hand against the tree trunk, interrogating her as if in a courtroom, “Really?” “Really!” Lai Hui nodded earnestly, confirming that it was not just a spur-of-the-moment confession. Yu Qian chuckled twice, gave her forehead a light peck, and then said, “You sobered up pretty quickly, didn’t you? But I guess it’s not your fault!” Seeing Lai Hui’s eyes widen in the darkness, he added, “Let’s head down the mountain. It’s not safe to stay here late!” He draped an arm over her shoulder, taking a couple of steps forward, but sensing her reluctance, he stopped in front of her. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Next time, don’t sober up so fast; I might love you a bit more then!”
Lai Hui, not wanting to hear more of his playful banter, asked, “Why did you come here?” “Secretary Lin got a call from Xiao Zhang!” Lai Hui thought with gratitude, this police officer really does his job well! They didn’t return to the Nanling Villa; instead, after landing, Zhou Yuqian instructed the driver to head to the East District mansion.
The cherry blossoms in the garden were in full bloom, a mix of pink and white, fluttering in the wind, with leaves gently falling into the tranquil lake. The house by the lake seemed to ripple on the water’s surface, its eaves swaying with the waves. Lai Hui leaned against Zhou Yuqian, her eyes half-closed as if intoxicated, lazily saying, “It’s just a small trick, and you kept it from me for two years!” Her words made Zhou Yuqian’s expression turn uncomfortable; he dared not move, fearing she would notice, and after a hum, he said, “Back then, you were only thinking about taking the money and leaving. In fact, you did just that!” He felt proud of himself for being cautious with her, knowing that once one cares, they fear being reminded of past debts, and no matter how one calculates, he owed her.
Lai Hui didn’t press further; there were too many accounts to settle, and this was just a minor one. “Then why couldn’t I reach you when you were in the country?” Zhou Yuqian adjusted the cushion against the wall, cradled her, picked up a magazine, and pointed at the spirited old man on the cover, “That’s my father. Thirty years ago, he and my mother started from nothing, and now he’s the largest shareholder of Zhou Group, as you know.”
Lai Hui looked at him for a moment, then said uneasily, “Of course, I know, but what I can’t figure out is, if your father is a wealthy Chinese, why are you here? They run a retail business, so why are you involved in technology?” Zhou Yuqian handed her a glass of juice from the table and began explaining the backstory. Ten years ago, his father, Zhou Chenjun, worried about his son’s lack of discipline and feared he would squander the family fortune. Upon Zhou Yuqian’s graduation, he invested a sum of money and sent him away, leaving him to fend for himself. Compared to his previous luxurious lifestyle, that money wouldn’t last long, forcing Zhou Yuqian to think of ways to multiply it. At that time, the high-tech industry was just emerging in the mainland, and he seized the opportunity. Within a few short years, his business expanded significantly. His parents were initially proud, but his first marriage disappointed them. His wife’s constant scandals drained their resources and efforts to keep their family’s reputation intact. They were troubled, and Zhou Yuqian insisted on keeping his family background hidden. His parents were exhausted from managing the situation, and when he divorced, his family’s history was exposed, angering them. Zhou’s mother lectured him for a whole month and learned about Lai Hui’s existence.
Before returning to the country, Zhou Yuqian mentioned Lai Hui to his parents, who were strongly opposed. They believed he had poor judgment in choosing partners, but due to his insistence, they compromised, agreeing to a one-month trial period during which Zhou Yuqian would not contact Lai Hui. If she remained scandal-free, they would fabricate a family background for her, allowing her to marry into the Zhou family honorably. They were confident because they had discovered Lai Hui’s ongoing entanglement with Jia Yi, believing she was practical and wouldn’t stand loneliness, likely to settle for someone else if abandoned. Zhou Yuqian was also confident of winning, focusing on paving the way for the future. His best connections were with the Gu family from Shengshi, and Gu Ling, the daughter of the Gu family, was always friendly with him, ready to help. So, the media only captured them together, but in reality, they were plotting to first integrate Lai Hui into the Gu family and then present her as a relative. The photo of Zhou Yuqian smiling at Gu Ling was just him laughing at the mention of Lai Hui.
The whole affair was simple yet ironic. Gossip journalists catered to public taste, unaware of the harm they caused. Zhou Yuqian also thought a bit of shock might help Lai Hui realize her feelings. However, he miscalculated; after he left, Lai Hui had already recognized her love for him and decided to express her feelings upon his return, but his timely shock had obliterated the little trust she had left.
“Actually, marrying me is hard. It’s difficult to gain my parents’ trust, and even if you eventually get along with them, you’ll have to live under the guise of being a relative of the Gu family, no longer the old Lai Hui. Everything from the past would be irrelevant. Knowing this, are you still willing to marry into the Zhou family?”
Lai Hui pondered for a long while, then looked back at him and slowly said, “You’re really selfish, only thinking about your own status and background, expecting me to make sacrifices.” She stared intently into his slightly flustered dark eyes until tears rolled down her cheeks, then she clenched her hands clasped over her chest and said, “But what can be done? For you, I am willing to live the rest of my life as someone I’m not supposed to be!” Zhou Yuqian turned her around, sat her on his lap, and for the first time, trembling, caressed her face with a look of compassion and self-reproach. “It doesn’t matter. Being someone you’re not is just for others to see. In my heart, you’re the one who prepares dinner for me when I come home from work, who brews tea for me while I work. Don’t mind what others think; all that matters is what I think, okay?”
“Okay!” she nodded.
“But I’m not ready to marry you yet!” Zhou Yuqian, who had been deeply moved, immediately darkened his expression upon hearing this, tightening his grip on her. “What do you mean? Was everything you said just now a lie?”
“I’ve applied to school and don’t want to give up. I’ve given up the past twenty-six years of my life for you; you should give up two years for me!” As she spoke, she dragged her handbag off the floor, pulling out two printed contracts to hand to him. Zhou Yuqian only glanced at a few lines before tossing them away. He pinched her cheeks, distorting her face and pouting her lips, only then easing his anger a bit. He then asked menacingly, “What does ‘no visitation for unjust reasons’ mean? And what’s this ‘smiling at others is a violation, forfeiting one visitation opportunity’? And what about these random obligations like ‘mandatory tutoring, not allowed to refuse’ and ‘letters must be over a thousand words’? Just tell me what you want!”
Lai Hui shrugged. “I want to enjoy being pursued, to build trust and understanding between us, to love myself well, and for you to cherish me more!”
“I’m over thirty; I don’t have time for these games!” Zhou Yuqian glared at her.
“If you don’t comply, that’s fine. I’ll marry you after I graduate, and you can forfeit all visitation opportunities. When you can’t stand the loneliness, you can find someone else, and by then, I’ll be back in the country and can find a job to support myself!”
