Volume One, Chapter 15: Who Is the Lover?

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After hearing her account, Qin Yue smiled faintly and led her to the spot by the restroom door. “This will be your workstation. I’ll send you the details of your tasks once I’ve organized them.”

“Sister Qin, are you sure about this?” Bai Nannan frowned, unabashedly pinching her nose. “The smell here is awful.”

“How could that be? The company cleaners clean five times a day; there shouldn’t be any odor.”

Bai Nannan grew impatient, her tone sharp. “Sister Qin, this was a special instruction from President Lu. Aren’t you afraid he’ll give you trouble if you assign me here?”

Qin Yue maintained her composure, not rolling her eyes. “Is this spot not good?”

“This spot is...”

“It faces President Lu’s office directly. You’ll see who goes in and out, and if President Lu needs anything, you’ll be the first to know.”

At that moment, the curtains in Lu Jinye’s office were open, and Bai Nannan caught sight of him standing by the window, smoking.

The man’s tall, strong figure stood there, the smoke swirling around adding to his unique allure.

Blushing, she lowered her head. “Alright, then I’ll take this spot.”

Disdain flickered in Qin Yue’s eyes, but she nodded and gave a few more instructions before leaving.

Bai Nannan kept watching the person inside the office; the image of Shen Yechu had long been banished from her mind.

*

After parting ways with Lu Jinye, Jiang Li returned home and had a late-night snack with her father.

“Xiao Li, I saw your interview. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Remember to rest properly and get some fresh air.”

“I know, Dad. I’ll balance work and rest,” she replied, leaning against her father on the sofa, feeling utterly relaxed.

“By the way, Shen Yechu came to see me a few days ago.”

Jiang Li suddenly sat up. “When?”

Seeing her expression, her father sensed she didn’t want to talk about him. Sighing, he said, “It was the day of your interview. He came to apologize.”

Jiang Li clenched her hands tightly. “Dad, please don’t meet him again. We’re already divorced; there’s nothing left to say.”

“All right, I won’t see him anymore. If you have any worries, you can always talk to me.”

She caught the concern in his voice and forced a smile. “I’m not worried. I just think that since we’ve separated, there’s no need to contact each other anymore.”

Her father nodded. “You’re right.”

By the time she left home, it was nearly eleven o’clock. Jiang Li decided to take a walk.

So much had happened recently that her thoughts were tangled.

Not just Shen Yechu, but also Lu Jinye.

Every time she thought of him, her heart churned—she couldn’t say if it was bitterness or regret, but something felt missing.

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She had barely taken a few steps when a dark gray Rover honked beside her.

“Get in.”

Shen Yechu’s face was grave, his tone utterly devoid of his usual gentle humility.

Jiang Li turned her eyes away and kept walking.

Shen Yechu opened the car door, chased after her, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the car.

“Shen Yechu! What do you think you’re doing?”

He remained silent, his face stern.

After the door shut, Jiang Li rubbed her reddened wrist, tears welling up from the pain.

Shen Yechu’s eyes softened; he gently placed his hand over hers, his tone tender once more: “Sorry for hurting you.”

Jiang Li shook off his hand. “Then what the hell is wrong with you?” She tried to open the door but found it locked.

His face lit with hope. “Xiao Li, you love me, don’t you?”

“What?”

Jiang Li was stunned and angry. How could he say such a thing?

She smiled with bitter irony. “President Shen, I don’t know what gave you that illusion, but I’m sorry.”

Shen Yechu shook his head, utterly convinced. “No, you love me. You wait for me until late every night, make soup, prepare honey water.”

“You gave up your favorite Go game for me, took care of my daily life. Isn’t that love?”

A wave of sadness swept through Jiang Li. So he knew everything she had done.

For three years, she had devoted herself to the family, hoping that one day Shen Yechu would hold her and understand her hardships.

She thought he was too busy to notice these daily details, so he didn’t love her.

But today, he said he knew it all—every detail!

Yet he still chose to divorce her, to be with Bai Nannan, tossing aside three years of her devotion and sincerity.

Now he asks if she loves him? It was utterly ridiculous.

She... was so pitiful.

She forced herself to keep her eyes open, unwilling to cry before him. But the hurt and humiliation welled up, and tears traced down her cheeks.

Shen Yechu reached out, gently wiping them away. “Don’t cry, it’s my fault, Xiao Li.”

“Can we start over?”

Jiang Li pulled her hand back, her voice choked. “President Shen, you’re overthinking. I’m crying for my own worthlessness, not because of you.”

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“No,” he said obsessively, grabbing her hand. “You’re crying for us, Xiao Li. Trust me, I won’t do it again.”

Jiang Li struggled fiercely, turning her head to avoid him, but Shen Yechu caught sight of the fading kiss mark behind her ear.

His expression darkened, terrifyingly so. Jiang Li shuddered, instinctively sensing something was wrong.

Fearful to be alone with him, she pressed the car window button to call for help, but before she could utter a word, Shen Yechu forcefully rolled it up and slammed the accelerator.

Back at the apartment where she had lived for three years, her heart sank.

If Shen Yechu dared bring her here, no one else must be home.

The car pulled into the garage. Shen Yechu yanked off his tie and roughly bound Jiang Li’s hands, then carried her out of the car.

No matter how much she struggled, he held her tightly as if trying to merge her into his body.

Only when Jiang Li was thrown onto the sofa did he catch his breath with force.

“Shen Yechu! This is kidnapping!”

No sooner had she spoken than his expression turned sinister—something she had never seen before.

“What... what are you going to do?”

He grabbed her head and pressed on the red mark behind her ear. His voice was dark and hoarse. “Who did this?”

“Let me go!”

“Jiang Li, it’s only been a month since you left me, and you’re already in another man’s bed?”

Jiang Li sprang up suddenly, headbutting his nose.

But Shen Yechu seemed unfazed by the pain; he wiped the blood from his nose, grabbed her chin harshly. “Who’s the adulterer?”

Tears streamed down Jiang Li’s face uncontrollably. Frustrated, she shouted, “When you cheated on me with Bai Nannan, why didn’t you call her a slut? What kind of person are you, putting on this act for whom?”

Shen Yechu suddenly faltered. Gently stroking her face, he repeatedly apologized. “I’m sorry, Xiao Li. It’s my fault. I won’t contact her anymore. I only love you. Can we start over?”

“Dream on!”

But Shen Yechu didn’t get angry; instead, a wild, manic smile appeared on his face. “It’s fine. Once we’re together physically, you’ll know. I’m so much better than your adulterer.”

As he spoke, he leaned in and deeply inhaled the scent of her neck, smiling with satisfaction. “So this is your scent. I let you keep an empty home for three years.”

“Don’t be afraid, I’ll be gentle.”

Just as his rough lips touched Jiang Li’s neck, the door was slammed open.

Outside, Lin Xunan exhaled and rubbed his aching shoulder, a faint smile on his face. “Well, what a coincidence, President Shen.”