Volume One, Chapter Four: Don’t Rush into Love So Soon

The sharp pain in her waist reminded Shen Qingqing of her previous life, when Xu Mingxuan’s kick to her side had been even more severe.

Enduring the pain, she tilted her head back and smiled.

“If your plan succeeds, when you see my corpse, will you feel even a trace of guilt?”

Shen Qingqing’s smile was laced with irony and distance. Xu Mingxuan’s chest tightened abruptly.

Back then, the treetop couldn’t hold three people; he had no time to think that deeply. He just wanted to survive.

If Shen Qingqing really died, he…

Xu Minyu glanced at the dazed Xu Mingxuan, then with a sudden thud, knelt on the ground.

“Qingqing, it’s all my fault. If you want to blame someone, blame me. I couldn’t control my heart, I couldn’t hold back. My brother…”

“Xiaoyu, what are you doing!” Xu Mingxuan immediately shrugged Shen Qingqing off and turned to pick up Xu Minyu.

Shen Qingqing’s body suddenly lost support and she fell from the bed to the floor.

Her not-yet-healed ankle twisted again, and the piercing pain gradually spread throughout her body.

Xu Mingxuan looked down at Shen Qingqing with contempt, gritting his teeth as he spat out a few words: “Xiaoyu is already my woman. Stop acting all jealous and petty here. If you can’t stand it, you can call off the engagement.”

The room fell into deadly silence.

Shen Qingqing reached out, clutching her ankle, and smiled coldly.

So, in his eyes, everything she said and did was just jealousy and spite.

Xu Minyu lay against Xu Mingxuan’s shoulder, tears shimmering like pear blossoms.

Xu Mingxuan gently patted her shoulder, soothing her softly.

Watching the scene before her, Shen Qingqing recalled a rainy night seven years ago.

That young boy had once held her like this, giving her warmth and telling her not to be afraid.

Back then, he was cautious, his eyes only for her.

But now, the person in his heart and in his eyes was no longer her.

Soon, Shen Qingqing’s adoptive parents, Shen Dahai and Sun Mei, pushed open the door.

Sun Mei rushed to Shen Qingqing’s side, helping her back onto the bed, inspecting her injuries. Her eyes were red and swollen, likely from crying all night.

Shen Dahai followed, smiling as he greeted Xu Mingxuan:

“Young people quarrel when they’re angry. It’s Qingqing’s fault. I’ll have her apologize to you. Marriage is a serious matter; you can’t just call it off so easily…”

Xu Mingxuan straightened up arrogantly and glanced disdainfully at Shen Qingqing, who was leaning against the headboard.

He knew the Shen family would never dissolve the engagement.

The moment they heard talk of breaking it off, the two families couldn’t sit still.

Over the years, their interests had become deeply intertwined.

Moreover, who in the capital didn’t know Shen Qingqing was madly in love with him? She would never marry another.

No matter how much he mistreated her, she would eventually forgive him.

Therefore, Shen Qingqing could only marry him, even if he no longer loved her.

Xu Mingxuan was also well aware that he could not—and would not—marry Xu Minyu.

As long as Shen Qingqing remained as obedient as before, he would allow her to be Mrs. Xu forever.

After all, she was his first love, the woman who once made his heart race with passion.

“Dad, I want to call off the engagement,” Shen Qingqing’s resolute voice echoed through the hospital room.

Everyone inside was stunned.

“Shen Qingqing, you better know what you’re saying!” Xu Mingxuan was the first to speak.

Shen Qingqing raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze cold, as if looking at a stranger.

“Xu Mingxuan, you betrayed me, I kicked you, and now we’re even.”

After several bouts of despair, all she wanted was to get as far away from Xu Mingxuan as possible.

“Even? How are we even?” Xu Mingxuan gripped the nearby crutch, trembling slightly.

Why should she be even with him?

In the capital, how many capable men spend their whole lives with just one woman?

Did she need to react so intensely?

A man’s desire for a woman changes with age.

He was no exception.

When young, just seeing Shen Qingqing smile made him feel the world was free of worries.

Holding her soft, sweet body gently could excite him until he trembled slightly.

But over time, they became too familiar with each other, like siblings.

Holding hands felt like gripping one’s own left hand with the right; embracing was like soothing a child.

Xu Minyu was different—she always knew how to keep things interesting for him.

She taught him that relations between men and women could be thrilling.

In his youth, it was natural for him to be unable to resist such excitement.

When older, he would naturally return to family life and raise children.

In his eyes, Shen Qingqing was just being difficult now.

Countless arranged marriages were merely formalities on the surface, each party doing their own thing; why did she have to be different?

He had spoiled her too much.

Xu Mingxuan raised his crutch arrogantly, pointing it at Shen Qingqing, threatening:

“I can have you thrown in jail. Do you believe me?”

Shen Qingqing glanced at Xu Minyu, her expression indifferent.

“You can try. As long as you’re not afraid that your scandal with her will become public knowledge…”

Smack!

The crisp slap landed on Shen Qingqing’s cheek.

The one who struck her was Shen Dahai.

He shouted angrily, “Have you lost your mind? Who taught you to act like this?”

Shen Qingqing covered her face and met Shen Dahai’s gaze squarely.

“Yes, I am crazy.”

Having died once before, what was there to fear?

She had spent her life pleasing others—her fiancé, her parents.

Now, she refused to play along any longer.

None present had ever seen Shen Qingqing so stubborn.

Sun Mei immediately stood and tried to mediate.

“Mingxuan, Qingqing might be frightened. You and Minyu should go back and rest.

We’ll talk to her properly, okay?”

Xu Mingxuan’s gaze once again fell on Shen Qingqing’s face.

Her usually rosy cheeks were now pale, and her bright eyes had lost their former sparkle.

He took a deep breath and decided to let her be for now.

After Xu Mingxuan and Xu Minyu left, Shen Dahai rose and closed the hospital door.

He turned coldly to Shen Qingqing.

“This man is your choice. You have to go through with it, even if you have to kneel. Even if he messes around outside, the marriage must happen.”

Shen Qingqing’s eyes instantly reddened.

Her father, with whom she had lived for over a decade, knew about Xu Mingxuan’s affair with Xu Minyu but refused to side with her.

When Xu Mingxuan shoved her to the ground, he didn’t rush in to defend her; instead, upon hearing talk of breaking the engagement, he barged in demanding she apologize…

Seeing the tension between father and daughter, Sun Mei sat on the edge of Shen Qingqing’s bed, gently stroking her back in a soothing manner.

“The engagement invitations have already been sent out. Calling off the engagement now isn’t appropriate. The capital is small; how will you find another husband later?”

Shen Qingqing looked up at her gentle mother, feeling her warmth slowly fade.

“Mom, I thought you would understand me, support me…”

Knowing full well her husband was unfaithful yet still marrying him—what kind of marriage was that if not hell?

Sun Mei dared not meet Shen Qingqing’s gaze. She turned away, quietly wiping her tears.

At that moment, the sound of the television on the wall broke the silence.

“The heir to the Mo Corporation, Mo Lingcheng, will arrive in the capital tomorrow to assume the position of CEO…”

Hearing the news, Shen Dahai couldn’t help but sigh with regret.

“I told you long ago not to fall in love so early. If you hadn’t gotten involved with Xu Mingxuan, maybe you’d have a chance to marry into the Mo family.

The men of the Mo family are famously honorable…”

“What use is it to talk about that now?” Sun Mei shot a glance at Shen Dahai. “The wedding is in two months. What are we going to do about Qingqing?”

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