Chapter 28: Do you regret marrying me?

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Zhou Chenyin’s face darkened as he strode in, forcefully shoving the box into my hand.

“This is not trash.”

It was clear he was truly angry, grinding his teeth and speaking each word deliberately.

I tried to pull my hand back but failed.

“I don’t want it. Take it back.”

“Why not?”

“No means no.”

Did I really need to explain? If I did, he would surely lose his mind again.

“If you don’t want it, just throw it away. I don’t take back anything I’ve given.”

He looked at me coldly, his eyes full of warning, as if saying: If you dare throw it away—

I released my grip.

With a clink, the box and necklace dropped into the trash can.

Zhou Chenyin’s expression turned stunned. “You!”

I calmly stared back at him, but he seemed so furious he could barely speak, his thin lips trembling.

Boring.

I glanced toward Zhou Zizi standing at the door with a complicated expression. The moment she noticed me looking, she quickly masked it with an innocent smile.

I ignored her skillful change of face.

“Take your people away.”

Zhou Chenyin grabbed my wrist. “What did you say?”

I couldn’t understand what triggered him, but I truly didn’t want to keep arguing.

Fortunately, Zhou Zizi was helpful; she rushed over, grabbed Zhou Chenyin’s arm, and started pulling him toward the door.

“Alright, Ah Yin, don’t be mad at sister. She’s probably still upset about what happened before. Don’t bother her now.”

“I’m bothering her? I gave the necklace as—”

I didn’t want to hear any more about apology gifts. That wasn’t an apology—it was condescension.

I shut the door behind me.

Blocking their voices outside, I leaned against the door and sighed with relief.

Finally, some quiet.

After staring at the trash can for a long while, I changed my mind and took the necklace back out.

Though I still didn’t want to see it, throwing it away felt like too much of a waste.

This necklace…

It must be quite valuable.

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At breakfast downstairs, Zhou Chenyin showed no expression and didn’t even glance at me. He fussed over Zhou Zizi instead, prompting Zhou father and mother to glare at him the whole time.

I didn’t care about any of it and quickly finished my meal before leaving.

I found a jewelry store and took the necklace for appraisal. As I suspected, the clerk told me it was a new design by a famous stylist, very expensive.

“Miss, are you really going to sell this?”

“Yes.”

Though I had received millions from Zhou Chenyin, I still had a seriously ill younger brother. That money couldn’t be spent recklessly.

It had to be reserved for emergencies for him.

By now, I no longer trusted Mu Xianghua or Zhou Chenyin. They treated me with disdain and exploitation; how could they care for my brother?

After leaving the jewelry shop, I felt my pockets grow heavy.

I never imagined a necklace could sell for half a million!

I was happy.

The next day, before reporting to the company, Zhou father called me into his study for a serious talk.

All his words were well-meaning, urging me to work hard, but I knew he was really trying to comfort and warn me—not to cause a scandal in the company.

In simpler terms: The Zhou family couldn’t afford to lose face over me.

I felt like I had touched upon Zhou father’s core. In my previous life, I had little contact with him, only knowing he was decent and devoted to the company, placing great expectations on Zhou Chenyin.

He strongly disliked Zhou Zizi, who “tempted” Zhou Chenyin into ruin.

While my mind raced with thoughts, I put on a meek and obedient front.

“I understand. Don’t worry.”

Zhou father nodded with satisfaction and let me go.

As I stepped out of the study, I rubbed my forehead. Dealing with the Zhou family was truly exhausting.

Then I looked up and saw Zhou Chenyin leaning against the wall, watching me with a smug expression.

“It’s not too late to regret now.”

“It’s too late.”

Zhou Chenyin raised an eyebrow. “If you say you want to change your mind now, I can arrange a new company for you.”

I walked past him without looking, dropping the words lightly:

“I’m not talking about work.”

I meant our marriage.

Zhou Chenyin immediately caught the implication, quickly stepping after me and blocking my path.

“You regret marrying me?”

“You just noticed?”

I never regretted my decisions, but this marriage—I did regret.

Regretted harboring illusions that he would love me, that he would give me happiness.

I willingly stepped into an abyss, doomed beyond redemption.

If it were only me, I wouldn’t be afraid. Life is a series of choices: the right one leads to a bright path, the wrong one shatters you.

No matter the outcome, I would accept it.

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But he had crossed a line by attacking the people close to me.

“Zhou Chenyin.” I looked into his eyes and saw a small reflection of myself deep within—calm and serious.

“I truly wish I could go back to before we met, before you pursued me, and tell you that I didn’t want this.”

But in both my past and present lives, those words never found their way out.

Sometimes, I wondered why I wasn’t allowed to be reborn before marrying him.

Yet I was content now, at least the people I cared most about were still alive.

Zhou Chenyin, perhaps shaken by my words, didn’t follow me when I left.

I didn’t plan to stay home idle today. I asked Zhou father for company materials; I had to learn everything about the design department to quickly integrate.

I pored over documents until late at night, rubbing my sore eyes, ready to shower and sleep, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

“It’s me.”

Zhou Chenyin.

I hesitated, pretending not to hear, and entered the bathroom.

Before returning to my room, I locked the door, having gotten a spare key from Zhou mother.

If I didn’t open it, no one could get in.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, the corridor was silent.

I sighed in relief. Tomorrow was my first day at work; I had to be refreshed and energized, not let Zhou Chenyin affect me.

After all, a tough battle awaited.

…

At Zhou Group.

This wasn’t my first time here. Before, I only came to deliver meals to Zhou Chenyin, watching him chat and laugh with Zhou Zizi, harmoniously discussing work.

And I held the lunchbox like a nanny.

Only when Zhou Zizi reminded him would Zhou Chenyin notice me.

I took a deep breath and entered the company, stepped into the elevator, and smoothly arrived at the design department.

The office was lively, unfamiliar faces chatting, a diligent girl handing out coffee, the atmosphere warm and friendly.

I pushed open the door, and all eyes fell on me.

The girl looked surprised, then came over to greet me.

“You’re the new employee starting today?”

“Yes, my name is Mu Yan.”

“Hi, I’m Can Can.”

Can Can’s face was kind and approachable. My first impression of her was good, but I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that others were looking at me strangely—oddly.

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