“None of my business?”
Ye Linhan was stumped the moment he heard her say that because never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to say such a hurtful thing to him.
“Qi, please consider this carefully. Did you truly mean that?” Ye Linhan grabbed her wrist while questioning her persistently.
Shen Qi looked up at him. “Linhan, previously, I told you that it would never work between the two of us. So why wouldn’t you let go of it? Besides, Ye Moxuan and I are husband and wife, so however he treats me or where my emotions stand are my private matters.”
Ye Linhan was at a loss for words.
“Are you sure that you are fine with the way he is treating you? Are you fine despite the fact that he is humiliating you and using you? Shen Qi, why are you such a fool?”
Shen Qi pursed her lips in silence, and Ye Linhan was unsatisfied with her response, and so he took a step forward before hugging her without warning.
“Come to me, and I will give you the happiness you deserve. I will treat you better by leaps and bounds than Moxuan does you.”
“Ha.”
Ye Linhan heard a quiet chuckle the moment he confessed his love for her.
He took a step backward in shock before noticing the mocking smile across Shen Qi’s face.
“Linhan, you claim that you want to treat me well, and you claim that Ye Moxuan is merely using me and humiliating me. Nevertheless, how are you different, Linhan?”
Ye Linhan was astonished to hear that. “What do you mean?”
Shen Qi looked calm while pulling her hand back from his grasp. “Am I wrong? No matter what Ye Moxuan does or no matter what you say, I am just a sacrificial lamb in the rivalry between the two of you brothers.”
Ye Moxuan frowned at her. “Why would you think that?”
“The question is not why would I think that, because that is a fact. I believe you still remember previously, when I was just married into the Ye family, Old Master Ye summoned me. Weren’t you there as well, Linhan? The Old Master wanted me to keep an eye on Moxuan, and from the very beginning, all of you have been using this marriage by treating me as a pawn which is placed by Moxuan’s side. However, the both of you did not expect that I would refuse to obey you. That is why… you are now changing tactics by treating me well and showing me tenderness. Do you think that I can be your pawn just because you’re nice to me, Ye Linhan?”
Shen Qi was blunt with her words, and although her voice was soft, it felt like a massive boulder crushing Ye Linhan’s heart. He felt as though she had just given him a merciless slap.
Ye Linhan regarded Shen Qi’s gaze, which looked clear, cool, and detached. His lips moved several times, but he couldn’t get a word out.
“It seems like I’ve got you there.” Shen Qi’s smile morphed into a sneer, and she reached out to press the elevator button.
Just before she could press the elevator button, Ye Linhan grabbed her finger before speaking in an exhausted voice.
“Yes, you’ve analyzed it correctly. In the beginning, I did approach you with that in mind, but with time, I realize that… I’ve fallen irrevocably in love with you. Shen Qi, I’ve betrayed my purpose, and now, I love you with all my heart. I do not have any motive apart from that.”
He sounded extremely sincere, and his words were heartfelt, which would most probably move any audience.
However, Shen Qi felt as though he was just putting up an act, and so she smirked at him. “Tell me—who can’t spout sweet nothings? Since you know who I am, you should know that I am not just an ordinary, sweet girl. Sugar-coating does not work on me.”
With that, Shen Qi shoved his arm away before pressing the button of the closest floor. She stepped out the moment the doors of the elevator opened.
“It’s fine if you do not believe me!” Ye Linhan broke the silence hastily, seeing as she was about to leave. “But I truly am in love with you right now, and I am willing to give you time! I will wait for you until the day you are willing to accept my feelings for you. However, before that, can you please promise me that you will take good care of yourself, and that you will not allow Moxuan to use you or humiliate you anymore?”
Shen Qi halted in her steps when she heard that, and she turned around to meet his gaze.
“Linhan, you think that this is a form of humiliation due to the state of your mind. However, have you ever considered the possibility that I might be in love with Ye Moxuan? That is why I am a willing participant, even if he is humiliating me or using me.”
“What did you say? Are you in love with Moxuan?”
“That’s right,” confirmed Shen Qi with a nod. “I am in love with him, indeed. Hence, my decisions are completely up to me, and they are my privacy. I hope that you will stop interfering with my personal issues. As for the 300,000 you lent my mom, I will find a way to return you with its accumulated interest as soon as possible.”
After saying her part, Shen Qi turned around and left without waiting for another second. She did not give Ye Linhan the chance to answer at all.
Ye Linhan stood alone while rooted to the spot, and he gazed sorrowfully at that small and slender figure which exited the elevator.
Ding—
It wasn’t until the elevator doors closed that Ye Linhan finally lowered his eyes, which seemed as deep as the ocean.
…
Shen Qi was just focused on getting away from Ye Linhan, and she did not expect to arrive at the finance department. Just as she was leaving, she bumped into Yan, who was coming out of the pantry. The two of them were stunned when their gazes met, but Yan immediately flashed a cheerful grin at Shen Qi.
“Qi, are you here to see me?”
“Uh…” Shen Qi smiled awkwardly, and she wasn’t sure how to answer Yan.
Can I tell her that I arrived at the finance department purely by chance?
Before Shen Qi could answer her, she had already put her cup down and dashed toward Shen Qi in excitement. She gave Shen Qi a bear hug while exclaiming, “This is great! I knew you wouldn’t be so ruthless to ignore me forever! Qi, I am so glad.”
Shen Qi was rendered speechless by her reaction.
Shen Qi did not have the heart to ruin her naïve and simple thoughts, and so she nodded in agreement instead.
“Qi, you have been ignoring me for the past few days, and I truly thought that we wouldn’t be good friends anymore. I didn’t expect that you’d come looking for me today! Oh, that’s right, come with me to my desk. I bought you a present.”
Yan didn’t take note of Shen Qi’s attitude while she pulled her toward her desk. Shen Qi felt rather helpless as she followed Yan’s lead.
In the end, Yan placed a bag in Shen Qi’s hands. “I know that I was too reckless, and I shouldn’t have run my mouth before collecting evidence. But… I really was doing it for your sake. I bought this from the mall later on as my way to say sorry to you. I was afraid that you might ignore me, and that is why I didn’t dare go see you all this while.”
Shen Qi looked down before she opened the box, and she realized that it was an extremely intricate brooch.
For some reason, Shen Qi felt the urge to cry, and her eyes started brimming with tears as well.
Yan treats me with sincerity, but all this while, I have… never thought of reconnecting with her again. It’s undeniable that I took it personally because I felt that I didn’t need a friend like her, who would badmouth others.
I’ve been close friends with Xueyou for years, and our friendship couldn’t possibly be ruined over someone else’s gossip. That is why… I decided ruthlessly and picked Xueyou, but I never expected Yan to be waiting for me all this time.
Shen Qi sniffed back her tears when she thought of that.
“Huh? Are you crying?” Yan realized with a start that Shen Qi’s eyes were red with tears, and she panicked straight away while asking Shen Qi hastily, “I’m so sorry. Have I said something horrible again?”
Shen Qi gazed at Yan with bloodshot eyes while choking on her tears. “To be honest… I ended up in the finance department purely by chance. I…I do not want to lie to you.”
