Volume One, Chapter 95: Secret Affection

Sheng Yurou harbored a deep hostility toward Song Qingyu. Even though she knew Song Qingyu had broken up with Chu Xingzhi and was now married, her dislike persisted. More than dislike, it was a kind of fear—as if the mere wave of Song Qingyu’s finger would cause Chu Xingzhi to abandon her and follow Song Qingyu without hesitation.

Xie Liuzheng immediately stepped in front of Song Qingyu, protective as ever. “What’s the matter? Is this hotel owned by your family? You think only you’re allowed to come here, and we’re not?”

In the past, Sheng Yurou would never have let them off so easily. But now, Xie Liuzheng was an artist signed to Panhai Entertainment under the Fu Group, and Song Qingyu was an employee of Tianqi Group. Even a dog’s handler must be respected; with Gu Yuandong and Fu Linhan present, no matter how dissatisfied Sheng Yurou was, she dared not openly tell them to leave.

Especially when she saw Gu Yuandong’s cold gaze, she wilted instantly, like a cat whose nape had been seized. “I… I was just curious. You didn’t come earlier or later, but now that we’re here for some fun, you suddenly show up.”

Xie Liuzheng snorted. “We arrived first. You followed after.”

Sheng Yurou refused to believe such a coincidence. “You must’ve found out we’d be here and deliberately came to ‘bump into’ us, right?”

Xie Liuzheng sneered. “Who do you think you are?”

Fu Linhan, ever the protector, especially since Xie Liuzheng was his brother’s wife, spoke up. “Miss Xie is our company’s artist. She was injured recently, so I recommended she come here for some herbal baths to aid her recovery. I gave her the tickets myself.” He glanced at Chu Xingzhi with a hint of mystery. “But your arrival here with Young Master Chu does seem rather fortuitous.”

Sheng Yurou’s expression stiffened.

She’d learned that her cousin and Lu Rongrong planned to visit, knew exactly what Chu Xingzhi desired most, and wanted to seize this opportunity to win him over.

Rolling her eyes, she forced a smile. “My uncle gave me the tickets. He said you’d be here today, and suggested I bring Xingzhi along for some fun. More people, more merriment.”

Lu Rongrong, who had watched quietly from the sidelines, immediately realized Sheng Yurou was her ally. She stepped forward and smiled, helping to ease the tension. “Indeed, the more the merrier. Yurou, let’s have fun together.”

Sheng Yurou was overjoyed.

Lu Rongrong would one day marry her cousin, becoming the empress of their social circle. Building a good relationship with her mattered far more than contending with Song Qingyu.

“Yes, I wanted to hang out with you last time, Rongrong, but you were so busy dancing with my cousin, I didn’t dare interrupt.”

The two began chatting, each with their own agenda.

Fu Linhan took the opportunity to invite, “Zhengzheng, Qingyu, why not join us?”

Song Qingyu declined, “Thank you, President Fu, but we prefer to enjoy our own holiday.”

Xie Liuzheng glared at the silent Chu Xingzhi. “Yes, President Fu, some people here would spoil our mood. To avoid unnecessary conflict, it’s best we go our separate ways.”

Song Qingyu nodded to the group. “If you’ll excuse us.”

Chu Xingzhi watched her retreating figure, his heart aching and bitter. Throughout, Song Qingyu’s gaze never once rested on him. She no longer paid him the attention she once did.

Pei Jingmo noticed Chu Xingzhi’s fixation and a cold glimmer flashed through his dark eyes.

So he still hadn’t given up.

Perhaps the stare was too sharp and intimidating, for Chu Xingzhi’s body stiffened. Seeing Gu Yuandong’s fierce gaze, his heart skipped a beat.

If the Prince discovered his relationship with Sheng Yurou was fake, Chu Xingzhi reached out and straightened Sheng Yurou’s collar. “It’s cold up here. Don’t catch a chill.”

His sudden concern stunned Sheng Yurou with joy. She threw herself into his arms, “If you hold me, I won’t be cold.”

Chu Xingzhi’s body was rigid, but before Gu Yuandong, he could only embrace her tightly.

Lu Rongrong teased, “Your relationship is so sweet.”

Pei Jingmo’s lips curled with mocking disdain as he witnessed the scene.

After Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng left, Xie Liuzheng grumbled angrily, “Of all the people Chu Xingzhi could be with, why Sheng Yurou? ‘Idiot’ might as well be plastered across her forehead, can’t he see it?”

Noticing Song Qingyu’s silence, Xie Liuzheng linked arms with her. “Qingyu, do you think Chu Xingzhi is with Sheng Yurou just to provoke you?”

Song Qingyu had no idea what was in Chu Xingzhi’s heart, nor did she care to know anymore.

“Didn’t you want hotpot? Let’s eat.”

“You really aren’t curious at all?”

“Not in the least.”

Who Chu Xingzhi was with now, whom he would marry, what kind of life he’d live—it no longer concerned her.

She only wanted to live her own life well.

“You’re right. A scumbag isn’t worth being curious about. Come on, let’s eat hotpot.”

Halfway through their meal, snow began to fall outside—first light, then thick, heavy flakes.

“Qingyu, look! The snow’s getting heavy. Let’s go play in it.”

Song Qingyu loved snow, too. The two put down their chopsticks and rushed out excitedly.

On the other side, Fu Linhan saw the snow and was thrilled. “Dongzi, let’s go see the snow.”

Pei Jingmo, always indulging Fu Linhan, agreed. “Alright.”

They too left the restaurant and went downstairs.

As soon as they reached the open space, they saw Xie Liuzheng chasing after Song Qingyu. “My darling, slow down! I can’t even catch your face in a photo.”

“Haha! That depends on your skill then.”

Song Qingyu hadn’t been so happy in a long time.

Chu Xingzhi watched the smile on her face, filled with nostalgia and sorrow—nostalgia for their shared moments, sorrow for having lost the treasure he loved most.

Sheng Yurou saw this and felt both jealous and angry.

Spotting Lu Rongrong nearby, Xie Liuzheng’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Rongrong, don’t be fooled by her innocent exterior. She’s actually cunning and loves stealing other people’s men. You’d better watch out.”

Now that Song Qingyu had her cousin’s protection, Xie Liuzheng couldn’t target her directly, but by dragging Lu Rongrong into things, it was a different matter. Besides, hadn’t Lu Rongrong seen her cousin dancing with Song Qingyu? If she learned Song Qingyu still tried to seduce him despite being married, she’d never let her off.

Lu Rongrong’s gaze landed on Xie Liuzheng in the distance.

Turning, she saw Gu Yuandong staring at Xie Liuzheng with a tenderness that could drown a person.

She’d never seen him look at anyone that way.

In that instant, Lu Rongrong suddenly realized—

Of course, with Gu Yuandong’s personality, if he didn’t like her, why would he so publicly go to the hospital to clarify things?

He wasn’t clarifying at all—he was protecting her under the guise of clarification.

Gu Yuandong protected Song Qingyu so fiercely, perhaps because she was Xie Liuzheng’s best friend.

And Fu Linhan, his closest brother, signed Xie Liuzheng to Panhai Entertainment, showered her with resources, and promoted her—wasn’t that covert pampering?

If she were just a minor celebrity, why would Fu Linhan care so much, even giving her special tickets to come to Jiuhuang Mountain?

Wasn’t it because he worried Xie Liuzheng would misunderstand things between her and Gu Yuandong, so he arranged for her to keep watch?

All that talk about being gay, about not being his lost love, was just smoke and mirrors!

Damn—

She almost believed Gu Yuandong’s lost love was someone else, not Xie Liuzheng!

Realizing this, Lu Rongrong was furious. If looks could kill, Xie Liuzheng would have been torn to pieces.

“Dare to steal my man? Over my dead body!”