Han Xueyou raised her voice, and it attracted the attention of other customers in the café. Shen Qi panicked when she realized that, and she stood up hastily to walk toward Han Xueyou and cover her mouth. “That’s enough. Stop talking.”
“Why are you stopping me from speaking?” Han Xueyou gripped Shen Qi’s hand tightly and sobbed. “You don’t have the courage to face reality, but I am different from you; I am an outsider, and I know what kind of person is suited for you. Besides, I am able to accurately judge who is treating you well!”
“Enough. I don’t want to hear it.” Shen Qi pushed her hand away. “If you insist on talking about it, feel free to stay alone here.”
With that, Shen Qi picked her bag up and left hurriedly.
Han Xueyou was stunned as she stared at Shen Qi’s back for several seconds before she snapped back to her senses. She then wiped the tears away from her cheeks and went after Shen Qi in a hurry. “Qi, don’t be angry. Can you please listen to me?”
Shen Qi ignored Han Xueyou while focusing on marching forward. There are so many people there, and if I allow Han Xueyou to continue with her nonsense, I’m afraid that someone we know might get wind of this. By then… nothing would help nor clarify the situation.
“I know that his status and identity is torturing you, but there are many things which are out of your control in life. As long as he does not look down upon your status, it will be fine as long as he is willing to take responsibility for you. You will be so much happier with him than you are now!”
Shen Qi stopped dead in her tracks suddenly before turning around to face Han Xueyou.
“Do you truly believe that?”
Han Xueyou stopped as well, seeing as Shen Qi was standing still, and she nodded earnestly. “Ye Linhan is gentle by nature, and he is a modest and humble gentleman. Furthermore, I can tell that he has feelings for you, so if you can—”
“Do you think that he’d treat me well just because of that? Xueyou, if he truly wanted to take responsibility, why hasn’t he searched for me?”
“What…?” Han Xueyou stood rooted to the spot.
“The incident happened such a long time ago, and if he truly was thinking about me or if he wanted to be a responsible man, then why didn’t he look for me? On the contrary, I am the one who has been searching for him all along. What does that mean?” Shen Qi laughed self-deprecatingly and continued before Han Xueyou could come up with a reply. “It means that he didn’t care about what happened that night, and he didn’t plan to stay in contact with the woman from that night. Perhaps… what happened that night was not a big deal to him. From a man’s point of view, the incident that day was just an accident, because I… offered myself, and no one would care.”
Han Xueyou pondered before speaking again. “I’ve never thought of that, but it sounds logical when you put it that way. However, has it ever crossed your mind that he might have been searching for you too? The only difference is that… he might be looking for you in a different way. For example, Ye Linhan has no idea that we are searching for him, am I right? It is possible that he hasn’t gathered enough clues to locate you. After all…” Han Xueyou avoided Shen Qi’s eyes at that moment, and she looked down at her feet. “You didn’t leave any clues that night… apart from that button.”
Han Xueyou felt her skin crawl at the mention of the button. How can I get the only button left from Shen Qi? Right now, I have two buttons from the original suit jacket, and as long as I can get the button from her, everything will be perfect.
Han Xueyou seemed to recall something at that point, and she blurted out, “Why don’t I try to figure a way for him to take the initiative to look for you?”
“What? How?”
“Hand me your button, and I’ll have my ways.”
Evil thoughts clouded Han Xueyou’s mind as she formed a larger plan.
Shen Qi stood still. She didn’t answer Han Xueyou, but neither did she reject her.
“Qi? What’s wrong?”
“To be honest, this is fine,” Shen Qi answered lightly. “I don’t mind who the man from that night was, and I don’t plan to compete or ask for anything, I just want to live my life well right now.”
From her tone, it seems as if she is not planning to get back on track with me! Han Xueyou started panicking, and so she questioned Shen Qi, “How could you do that? Do you know that I asked my brother to investigate for you with much difficulty? You claim that you want to live your life well now, but are you able to do that under the current circumstances? You are sleeping on the floor every night, whereas Ye Moxuan is unwilling to spare you a glance. Shen Qi, what is wrong with you? Are you unwilling to leave a man who treats you in such a horrible way?”
That’s right, he treats me horribly.
However, there are times when he treats me so well and keeps my dignity intact.
No one else is anything like him; it is as if he is a god who shows up whenever I need him the most. Even when I am complaining about how arrogant he is, I just can’t help falling deeper in love with him.
“Qi, is it possible that you have fallen for him?”
“That’s right,” Shen Qi replied simply with a nod. “I have fallen for him, indeed.”
Han Xueyou’s eyes bulged in surprise when she heard that, and she staggered on her feet. “You…”
Shen Qi felt much better after speaking her mind.
“I know that you might find me ridiculous, but I am the only one who knows what I’ve been through. I am also the only one who understands what I’ve experienced emotionally, and that is why… even if you truly are doing this for me, you should stop doing it.”
“Qi!”
“Alright, that’s it for today. It was wrong of me to suspect you previously, but… I hope that you will stop trying to get close to Ye Moxuan in the future. I can stop being suspicious of you, but others will still gossip. Xueyou, do you understand what I mean?”
Han Xueyou did not answer her, and instead, she bit her lower lip while staring back at Shen Qi unhappily.
“I do not understand why you would fall for him, especially since you are both getting a divorce in a few months’ time!”
“That’s true.” Shen Qi smiled bitterly while nodding. “I will be leaving the Ye family in another few months, and I don’t have much time left to stay by his side. Hence… allow me to stay close to him just for these few months, and once the time is up, I will leave.”
Han Xueyou seemed uncertain when she asked again, “Qi, why don’t you take some time to think about it? On the other hand… will you leave him when the time comes? In that case… what will happen to you and your child? Where would you go? Haven’t you thought of the possibility that Ye Linhan might be looking for you as well?”
“There’s nothing to think about, because I have no feelings for him. Besides, I do not intend to hold someone hostage using a child,” answered Shen Qi calmly.
Han Xueyou tightened her fists when she realized that Shen Qi wouldn’t listen to her advice. Initially, she planned to matchmake Shen Qi and Ye Linhan, because in that case, she would be able to stay by Ye Moxuan’s side. However, right now… Shen Qi admitted in person that she had fallen in love with Ye Moxuan.
Maybe I can wait until the day when Shen Qi leaves Ye Moxuan on her own accord?
No, that can’t be.
No way!
There is still several months before Shen Qi leaves. They are married for such a short time, and she has already fallen in love with him. If I don’t do something soon, there will be more hurdles in the foreseeable future.
If something happens along the way, it will be out of my control.
“Alright, it’s getting late. You should go home and rest. Please remember what I’ve told you today.”
Han Xueyou gritted her teeth while staring at Shen Qi’s back view.
I cannot allow her to stay by Ye Moxuan’s side, even if she is just staying by him in silence!!!
