Chapter 82: Diary

The black phantom glided down the road, with Ji Chen behind the wheel, and Gu Hansheng and Su Qin seated in the backseat.

Bored, Su Qin idly flipped through today's entertainment headlines on her phone, unsurprisingly stumbling upon news about her and Gu Hansheng.

Glancing at him, she caught a glimpse of his sharp yet blurred profile, his enigmatic eyes revealing nothing. Her gaze trailed down and unexpectedly landed on the simple ring adorning his left middle finger, resting on his knee.

Thinking back to the actress at tonight's wedding, whose gaze never seemed to stray far from him, Su Qin put away her phone and casually remarked, "Mr. Gu, your charm is just as I expected. Attending a wedding today, you almost stole the spotlight from the groom himself."

Normally, Gu Hansheng rarely attended social gatherings and hardly ever granted media interviews. Even when he did attend, his presence was brief, usually no longer than an hour. But today, at the wedding between the Jing and Wei families, he remained until late into the night, drawing considerable attention.

Various individuals had their own reasons for focusing on Gu Hansheng, whether it was for business opportunities or romantic interests. 

Ignoring Su Qin's words, Gu Hansheng remained silent. 

Finding the conversation uninteresting, Su Qin changed the subject. Glancing at the time, she turned to him. "It's only half past ten. Can you take me to see my sister?"

Fingering the ring on his finger, Gu Hansheng narrowed his eyes slightly. "Not now."

"Then when will you have time?"

Turning his head, his expression calm, Gu Hansheng asked, "When will you give me her diary?"

The mention of the diary again... 

Su Qin pursed her lips, her gaze shifting to the window. "I'm curious. When my sister had her accident, you were so frantic. And a few months ago, you immediately asked me to give you her private diary when I found it. Does that mean you loved her?"

Gu Hansheng's voice remained unchanged. "Do you think I loved her?"

"Isn't it obvious? During the car accident, there were two severely injured individuals, and my sister was even worse off than the other one, yet while the other didn't make it, you raced against death to bring her back from the brink. Besides love, I can't think of any other reason."

As she finished speaking, Su Qin's expression suddenly turned crestfallen. "I still remember how excited she was before returning to China. She said you would marry her. I thought it was some extraordinary love story, but I never expected that even the love of the wealthy is lacking."

After a pause, Su Qin continued, "These past few years, she's been in a vegetative state, and you, you've never been without a woman by your side."

Gu Hansheng glanced at her, his thumb lightly tracing the ring on his left hand. "Su Qin, you should understand. I am a capitalist, not a philanthropist. The world goes on even if someone is gone. Life continues, and so does mine."

Feeling a sense of disappointment, Su Qin softly replied, "If Su Yan were to wake up one day, would you marry her?"

To this straightforward question, Gu Hansheng responded decisively, his gaze cold and firm. "No."

"Why?"

Why?

Gu Hansheng felt there was no need to ponder this question. He already had a wife, and marrying another would be tantamount to bigamy.

That night, Su Qin did not receive an answer to her question.

Gu Hansheng dropped her off at her apartment building.

The cold winter night greeted them outside, and Su Qin grabbed her bag, complaining, "It's so cold in Yucheng in winter."

Seated in the back, Gu Hansheng looked at her and just before Su Qin reached for the door handle, he asked, "What does Su Yan's diary say?"

Tightening her grip on her handbag, Su Qin smirked, turning back to look at him, a hint of her slender neck visible as she said teasingly, "Mr. Gu, you're curious? Then kiss me, and I'll tell you."

Ji Chen sat silently in the front seat, observing Gu Hansheng.

At first glance, it seemed like Gu Hansheng was being pressured step by step by Liang Shu in their relationship. But one day, Ji Chen suddenly realized the truth.

From the moment Liang Shu agreed to donate blood to Su Yan, she fell into the trap set by Gu Hansheng without making a sound.

How could a boss like him, who had seen everything and experienced various situations, be easily controlled by a woman?

In fact, it was his willingness that mattered.

He had manipulated Liang Shu initially, but eventually, he was willing to be manipulated by her, allowing her to become Mrs. Gu.

But Ji Chen could never understand what Gu Hansheng truly felt for Liang Shu.

So, at this moment, when another woman, apart from Liang Shu, made such an unreasonable and almost blatant request to their boss, Ji Chen was curious to see Gu Hansheng's reaction.

Su Qin's finger lingered on the door handle, her enchanting eyes fixed on him.

And what was Gu Hansheng thinking as he remained unresponsive?

Looking at Su Qin's slender neck, Gu Hansheng thought to himself that it wasn't as attractive as Liang Shu's, and her eyes lacked Liang Shu's allure.

Su Qin knew her strengths well; she was generous and adept at showcasing them deliberately to seduce men.

But Liang Shu was different.

Yet, Liang Shu had a more enticing charm than Su Qin, and it happened naturally, without effort or affectation.

For example, there were times when Gu Hansheng would simply walk into the warm greenhouse of Zero Mansion on a sunny afternoon and see his young wife rolling up her sleeves to tend to the plants. Her exposed forearm, the focused look in her eyes, and the snow-white nape of her neck would instantly stir desire within him.

Or when she had just finished showering, with her hair tied up, revealing her smooth forehead and eyes still glistening with water. Without any makeup, her innocent yet alluring gaze could make one's heart itch.

Did Gu Hansheng feel this way about Su Qin now?

No.

Seeing him remain silent, Su Qin found it boring.

Adjusting her clothes, she said, "If you want to understand how a woman loves a man and gets ensnared in the vortex of love for him, then Su Yan's diary is worth a read."

September in Shengdun City was comfortable with temperatures not too high.

During this season, one could see rows of birch trees stretching straight up to the sky along the roadside, transitioning from the emerald green of summer to the golden hues of autumn.

Su Qin was sorting through Su Yan's old belongings. She took out the dusty leather suitcase that had been locked away for years.

Back then, she didn't have the heart to open it, but after several years, she felt it was time to do so.

The suitcase was locked, and the key was long gone.

It took Su Qin some effort, but she finally managed to open it.

Although it was called a suitcase, Su Qin felt it was more like Su Yan's private treasure trove.

Inside were all the admiration and love she had for Gu Hansheng, written down in words. She had written many letters to him, and each unmailed envelope contained a postcard.

There were also two thick diaries, with one of them fully completed. The other one was only a quarter full, with the last page dated sometime in late October 2013.

Su Qin didn't read everything in the suitcase.

These were just the expressions of a young girl's feelings for the person she liked.

Su Qin was just a bit unwilling. Back then, it wasn't just Su Yan who noticed Gu Hansheng; she did too.

However, Gu Hansheng's attitude became very clear later on.

The day before, Su Qin could still catch glimpses of him, such as appearing at certain occasions.

The next day, she had just woken up when she saw Gu Hansheng downstairs talking to Su Yan.

Whenever Gu Hansheng went alone to Shengdun City, his eyes and heart were only for Su Yan, and his purpose and attitude were clear enough.

He didn't see Su Qin, not at all.

So, when her sister Su Yan became a vegetable, and she watched Gu Hansheng go crazy, there were times when she couldn't help but feel a perverse pleasure.

But after three years, for Gu Hansheng, Su Yan becoming a vegetable seemed to have no effect on him.

He took care of her and did everything he could to save her.

But there were still women around him.

He had even forgotten that Su Yan had a sister.

Su Qin hid her thoughts very well. She was unwilling. Given time, if Gu Hansheng could forget Su Yan, then what about her, who had never had a presence in front of him?

So she told Gu Hansheng about discovering Su Yan's diary.

Originally, Su Qin didn't expect him to care much, but Gu Hansheng's level of attention exceeded Su Qin's expectations.

Su Qin knew very well how to deal with someone like Gu Hansheng: don't show your thoughts too clearly, don't take others seriously, and most importantly, don't take yourself seriously.

She quietly, without revealing her desires, spent almost four months from discovering the existence of Su Yan's diary in September to now, when she had actually established contact with Gu Hansheng.

During this period, she rarely contacted Gu Hansheng proactively. Most of the time, it was Ji Chen, Gu Hansheng's assistant, who called her to communicate.

Su Yan's diary was full of the thoughts of a young girl.

But Gu Hansheng was somewhat surprised. He seemed somewhat incredulous, but he hid this disbelief very well.

Crossing his legs, with the dim light in the car, the streetlights outside cast half of his face in light and half in shadow. He said, "The thoughts of a young girl? I suppose I'll have to see it to know."

An inexplicable sense of loss rose in Su Yan's heart.

He was Gu Hansheng, and if he wanted this diary, he naturally had a way to get it.

But he didn't show any eagerness to see it immediately. He wasn't in a hurry to get it, and he was even willing to deal with her for Su Yan.

Did he really love Su Yan so much?

Su Qin shook her head with a smile. "Let me see her first."

With that, Su Qin opened the car door and got out.

As the black phantom drove away, Su Qin hadn't even entered the elevator yet. She turned back, just in time to catch a glimpse of the slowly departing car shadow.

...

On the way back to Zero Mansion, Gu Hansheng received a call from his friend Jing Yu.

Looking at the flashing name on the screen of his phone, he had no emotions and slid to answer.

"Come out and have a drink with me."

"Today is your big day. Are you sure you need me to accompany you for a drink?"

Jing Yu was too busy today, but he still spent about half an hour chatting with Gu Hansheng in a quiet corner of the hotel.

Jing Yu shook a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and threw one to Gu Hansheng. The two of them smoked quietly without drinking.

Gu Hansheng glanced at him, smoke lingering around his lips. "Feeling regretful?"

As the protagonist of today's wedding, Jing Yu didn't have much joy on his face.

He took a deep drag, then tore off the pin from his left chest and threw it aside, then loosened his tie before saying, "There's no such thing as regret. I've played with enough women in my life, and settling down now isn't a bad thing."

Gu Hansheng pursed his lips, saying nothing.

Leaning back, Jing Yu squinted. "You leave a bit later. Consider it a favor for me. You're the focus figure in this Yu City. With you here, they won't keep targeting me."

Another puff of smoke entered Gu Hansheng's throat. He smirked, "This marriage, you'll regret it in the future."

Jing Yu couldn't help but smile indifferently. "Regretful about what? With this settled, the Jing family's influence is in my hands. My uncle won't dominate anymore in the future, so I have nothing to be regretful about."

"Businessmen most abhor self-deception," Gu Hansheng said lightly.

The two of them exchanged only a few words in the evening, but smoked quite a lot.

At this moment, it was 10:30 at night. The groom, who should have been spending his wedding night happily, abandoned his bride and came to find Gu Hansheng for a drink.

Gu Hansheng asked if he was sure.

Jing Yu replied, "The usual place is waiting for you."

Actually, Gu Hansheng shouldn't have gone for this drink.

Because there were people waiting for him at home.

Wen Mingting had taken care of Liang Shu all day, or rather, she stayed with her in the bedroom all day just to keep her company.

Liang Shu was sick and uncomfortable, but Gu Hansheng went happily to attend the wedding, causing a scandal again.

He didn't even make a phone call.

Although Liang Shu didn't say anything, Wen Mingting couldn't bear it.

She called Gu Hansheng and asked when he would come back.

Gu Hansheng answered the phone quickly, not afraid of angering the old lady. He said, "I'm afraid it'll be later. I can't leave here for the time being."

Wen Mingting was angry. "Who says you can't leave? You say you want to come home, who dares to stop you?"

Although Gu Hansheng respected Wen Mingting and was a filial son, very few people could force him.

Sometimes he could even ignore her wishes directly, let alone those people outside?

"But someone is stopping me."

"Gu Hansheng, oh Gu Hansheng, your wife is still waiting for you at home." Helpless, Wen Mingting had to mention Liang Shu.

As if remembering only now at this moment, he asked her, "How is Ah Shu today?"

"Today is better, but she's still not feeling well. When are you coming back?"

"Depends on the situation. Hang up."

"You..."

Gu Hansheng didn't give Wen Mingting time to react. He hung up first.

How should I put it, there was some anger in Gu Hansheng.

He had been out all day, and his schedule today was not a secret. Everyone could see his every move, yet she remained indifferent.

Moreover, the matter about her catching a cold was too coincidental.

It was so coincidental that he really suspected her of doing it deliberately.

When Gu Hansheng arrived, Jing Yu had already ordered drinks.

In the dimly lit private room, it was quiet.

Gu Hansheng sat down beside Jing Yu, casually tossing his coat aside. "What kind of drink is this that must be drunk tonight?"

Jing Yu was adding ice to his glass, his expression unreadable. He said, "The old man has signed. Tonight, I'm sure certain people won't be happy."

They clinked their glasses, and Gu Hansheng said, "Congratulations. It seems the dust has settled."

"The dust has settled..." Jing Yu stared at the brown liquid in his glass with a cold sneer. "He doesn't know how many days he has left. If I can give him the illusion that the dust has settled, that's good enough."

Now, in the eyes of the patriarch of the Jing family, Jing Yu having someone by his side and holding power in his hands was the ending he was delighted to see.

Then followed the silent sound of drinking.

Gu Hansheng was reticent, and Jing Yu's mood tonight was particularly bad, so he spoke little as well.

Later on, it was Jing Yu who spoke first.

He furrowed his brow, raised his hand to unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt, and said, "What happened between you and Ah Xing during the day? I saw him so angry. I heard that you two had some disagreement last time?"

Jing Xing's visit to the Gu mansion to visit Wen Mingting was known to Jing Yu.

He spent the night at the Gu family's old mansion, but when he came back the next day, he was covered in injuries.

At that time, Jing Yu was busy with the Wei family's affairs and didn't have time to ask Gu Hansheng about it.

So he just remembered it now.

Gu Hansheng finished his drink without a word. He had hardly eaten anything tonight, which caused a slight burning sensation in his stomach now.

He said, "This kid is asking for trouble, so I gave him a lesson."

"I understand Ah Xing. He's most afraid of you. If he dares to act like this, something must have happened. What's the matter?"

"He challenged me for a woman. Do you think he deserves to be beaten?"

Jing Yu was stunned, closed his eyes, and sighed silently, as if murmuring to himself, "This kid, hasn't given up yet."

Thinking of his own situation, Jing Yu suddenly said, "Forget it, if he really likes her, I won't stop him. Let everything go as it may. If he stumbles because of this woman in the future, it's his own choice."

There was a heavy shadow in Gu Hansheng's eyes. He chuckled, his expression cold and inscrutable.

That night, Gu Hansheng and Jing Yu continued drinking.

The pungent liquid numbed their bodies and consciousness temporarily.

Jing Yu drank more.

Someone from the Jing family came to find him in the imperial city. The person stood in the private room, bowing low. "Young Master, today is your big day. You can't just drink here. Madam is waiting for you at home."

But Jing Yu didn't give this person a good expression.

He was drinking at the time, and after a sip, the taste of the wine was gone. He then threw the glass in his hand away.

The person dodged to the side, and the transparent glass smashed into pieces on the ground, scattering glass shards everywhere.

Jing Yu pointed in the direction of the door. "Get out."

No one could stop this situation.

The servant from the Jing family could only look to Gu Hansheng for help. Gu Hansheng said nothing, and the person had to leave dejectedly.

By one or two in the morning, it was time for the two of them to leave.

Gu Hansheng drank less and didn't feel drunk, just a bit of a headache.

He picked up his coat, kicked Jing Yu's shin bone, and said, "I'll have someone take you back to the Jing family."

Jing Yu kept his head down, opened his eyes, and pinched his brow. "You go first, I'll stay a bit longer."

It sounded like he didn't plan to go back. Gu Hansheng couldn't be bothered to say anything more and left with his things.

When Gu Hansheng called, Ji Chen was dozing off in the car.

He got out of the car to open the door for Gu Hansheng and asked, "Sir, are we heading back to Zero Manor?"

At this hour... Gu Hansheng pinched his brow and got into the car. "To the Yu Mountain Villa."

However, halfway there, Gu Hansheng instructed Ji Chen to change direction.

At two-thirty in the morning, Gu Hansheng finished washing up in the guest room and entered the master bedroom.

The room's light was not completely off, and even the door was slightly ajar.

It seemed that Wen Mingting left the light on and the door ajar because she was afraid that Liang Shu might need something during the night.

At this moment, Liang Shu was already sound asleep.

Gu Hansheng stood by the bed, quietly watching her, his expression unexpectedly complex.

While in Wencheng, he found out who the fifty thousand on Liang Shu's account came from.

It was from the account of Yu City's eldest son, Lu Zi'an.

The news was simple, but it involved numerous intricacies.

For example, previously, Gu Hansheng couldn't find any connection between Liang Shu and the Lu family.

And why would Liang Shu give fifty thousand to Jiang Jiucheng for no reason?

This needed to be asked of Jiang Jiucheng.

Gu Hansheng slowly sat down by the bed and reached out to tuck her blanket, murmuring to himself, "Marrying me, letting me help you repay your debts, is that really your ultimate goal?"

After all, owing debts for several years, Liang Shu could easily find other men to help her.

In Yu City, there were plenty of wealthy businessmen who could easily produce twenty million. Why did she have to insist on confronting him?

...

The next day, Liang Shu's condition had improved considerably.

She woke up early, though she did not deny that she was woken up by someone's embrace.

She took medicine last night, which had a hypnotic effect, so Liang Shu fell asleep early.

Therefore, she woke up early in the morning, before seven o'clock.

She moved slightly, also waking up the person holding her from behind. His arm was tightly wrapped around her, making it difficult for her to move.

Liang Shu cautiously reached out to pry his hand away, but to no avail. Instead, she ended up waking up Gu Hansheng.

A faint sigh came from above, "It's early, aren't you going to sleep?"

Last night, both she and Jing Shu were like wine and tobacco pots. Gu Hansheng's stomach had never been very good. Although the alcohol last night didn't cause much trouble, it still made him uncomfortable in the latter half of the night.

Finally feeling better now, but someone had started making trouble again.

Hearing his voice, Liang Shu dared not move.

She opened her eyes and looked at the dimly lit bedroom. All the furnishings were blurred, leaving only a silhouette, "You continue sleeping, I... I'll go to the bathroom."

Liang Shu didn't go to the bathroom but took her clothes and left the bedroom.

Gu Hansheng had no sleepiness when she opened the door to leave, and he opened his eyes.

She usually liked to sleep in, even if she woke up early after sleeping a lot, she would usually stay in bed.

But not today.

Was it because of the influence of last night's dream?

Yes, Gu Hansheng didn't lie down until after two o'clock, but his stomach was bothering him, seemingly reproaching him for drinking.

He tossed and turned, but he was afraid of disturbing the person beside him.

The room wasn't completely dark, and Gu Hansheng was afraid that Liang Shu might need something during the night and he wouldn't be able to attend to her in time, so he left a night light on.

Later, he heard her calling out: Ah Sheng.

Ah Sheng, Ah Sheng...

She repeated these two words, short but full of affection and despair.

Her emotions were intense.

Gu Hansheng turned over and saw tears rolling down her cheeks.

He knew that these tears couldn't possibly be shed for him, and the Ah Sheng she mentioned couldn't possibly be him.

In the quiet space, only her almost whispered cries were heard, like a startled deer.

Memories of November 15 surged into Gu Hansheng's mind like a tide. She called out Ah Sheng all night while she was sick.

At this moment, he bent down, took in her expression, and asked her, "Who is Ah Sheng?"

Immersed in her own nightmare, she naturally wouldn't answer him.

His wife had hidden a man in her heart.

Gu Hansheng was determined to find out who this man was.

It wasn't about love; it was about betrayal, something he couldn't stand.

...

Jing Yu slept with a woman on his wedding night.

Gu Hansheng said he would have someone take him back to the Jing family, but he refused.

After that, Jing Yu's memory became fragmented.

He was drunk, but not to the point of unconsciousness. He didn't remember what the woman looked like, but he remembered how his body felt.

Last night was a bit crazy.

When it ended, the sky was already starting to turn pale.

When he woke up, it was dim outside.

Jing Yu couldn't tell if it was morning or evening, and his phone was dead.

When he got up, there was a glaring red stain on the sheets, and some fragments of the night appeared in his mind, blurry like old film, flashing frame by frame. After that, he only remembered that her hair was long, her waist was slim, and her skin was fair.

When Gu Hansheng found Jing Yu, he had just finished tidying up and came downstairs to the hall.

His heart skipped a beat, and he stood with his hands in his pockets in place.

With a serious expression, Gu Hansheng walked up to him, frowned, and looked at him, "Have you been in the imperial city for the past day and night?"

Jing Yu stretched his muscles and bones, made a sound of agreement, and tried to walk past him.

But his arm was grabbed by Gu Hansheng, and Jing Yu turned to look at his face, "Do you need me for something?"

"Prepare yourself. Grandfather passed away an hour ago."

With just a short sentence, it was like thunder exploding in Jing Yu's mind. He stiffened in

On December 19th, the patriarch of the Jing family in Yu City passed away.

The day before was filled with jubilation, but the next day, the entire Jing family estate was engulfed in a somber atmosphere of mourning.

Wen Mingting was caught by Gu Hansheng as she discreetly wiped her tears in the Gu residence. She remarked, "How is it that someone can simply vanish like that? Jing Xing hasn't even graduated from university, and Jing Yu has just entered into matrimony. What are we to do now?"

The internal turbulence within the Jing family had persisted for nearly half a year, barely maintaining an outward facade of peace. With the sudden passing of the patriarch, the Jing family was either destined for disintegration or the dominance of a single individual.

The most challenging situation was faced by Jing Yu and Jing Xing.

Having spent many years abroad, Jing Yu's family influence had now mostly fallen under the control of his second uncle, Jing Shengrong. Even though Jing Yu possessed enough shares to preside over shareholder meetings, the court of public opinion was likely not in his favor.

This predicament deeply worried Wen Mingting, but Gu Hansheng reassured her, "Mother, for Jing Yu, this is both a trial and an opportunity. No growth can occur without first experiencing upheaval. Only when the turmoil reaches its zenith can he become the preeminent figure."

His words had some effect.

At the subsequent funeral, Wen Mingting remarked, "Liang Shu is in good health, and with many people present, it's best not to bring her along."

Gu Hansheng shared the same sentiment. Thus, only Wen Mingting and Gu Hansheng attended the funeral of the Jing family patriarch.

Naturally, this arrangement seemed unremarkable to outsiders, as Gu Hansheng was still perceived as a bachelor in their eyes.

On that day, Liang Shu went to the Lu family.

She sought to find Chen Xian.

Considering it was the funeral of the Jing patriarch, it was likely that Lu Jinsheng would also attend, allowing her to conveniently avoid him.

However, Liang Shu overlooked one detail: Chen Xian was now Lu Jinsheng's secretary and rarely left his side.

Liang Shu's visit to the Lu residence was in vain.

But as she exited the elevator, she coincidentally spotted Chen Xian entering the adjacent one. Liang Shu hurriedly approached and managed to catch up just in time.

In the enclosed space, Liang Shu observed as Chen Xian pressed the button for the top floor.

Chen Xian, still clad in professional attire, seemed unperturbed by the cold, standing tall with a serene gaze fixed ahead.

Liang Shu regarded her and curled her lips slightly. "Chen Xian, do you not recognize me?"

Chen Xian pursed her lips, her gaze shifting downwards.

"Chen Xian, it's Liang Shu. Surely you haven't forgotten me?"

With that, Liang Shu casually pressed a floor button, and the elevator quickly came to a halt. Stepping out, Liang Shu turned back and quietly observed Chen Xian.

As the elevator doors were about to close, Chen Xian suddenly extended a hand to stop them.

Liang Shu reentered, and Chen Xian spoke, "Are you here to see Mr. Lu? He's not in today."

"No, I've come to see you," Liang Shu stated firmly.

"What for?"

"Do you have some time? I'd like to invite you for a meal."

As Chen Xian exited the elevator, she remarked, "I still have to meet someone else. If you don't mind waiting, we can go afterwards."

Liang Shu waited outside for Chen Xian.

Chen Xian went to Lu Jinsheng's office to retrieve something.

In Lu Jinsheng's drawer, she also discovered a shattered phone, broken into pieces but painstakingly glued back together.

Her gaze darkened slightly as she took what she needed and left.

Liang Shu and Chen Xian went together to meet this person.

In the hospital, Chen Xian opened the delicate black velvet box in her hand and presented it to the woman lying in the hospital bed with an impeccable smile. "Miss Cheng, this is a gift personally purchased for you by Mr. Lu."

Cheng Geling glanced at the exquisite necklace but quickly averted her gaze. Through clenched teeth, she asked coldly, "When will Lu Jinsheng come?"

Placing the gift box within her reach on the bedside table, Chen Xian, in the silent VIP ward, exuded an air of stifling oppression.

"Mr. Lu is attending a funeral today, followed by dinner with several business partners. It's unlikely he'll have time to come today."

"No time? Is he refusing to see me, or is he genuinely occupied?!" Cheng Geling's fingers tightened into fists.

Observing her bandaged wrist, Chen Xian lowered her gaze, concealing her emotions. "Mr. Lu has been quite busy lately. If Miss Cheng hadn't cut her wrists a few days ago, perhaps he could have come to see you himself."

A scornful expression flitted across Cheng Geling's face as she turned to look out the window. Softly, she said, "See him? No, I want him to come see me personally."

"Miss Cheng, please rest well. I will convey your message."

As she reached the door, she heard the person behind her ask:

"He used to spoil me, showering me with love. He would buy me anything I wanted, and retaliate tenfold against anyone who wronged me. He, such a lofty figure, never minded my background, never cared that I came from an orphanage. Why then, when I proposed marriage to him, did he react this way?! Why?!"

"What did I do wrong? When my parents visited Yu City, he bought a 200-square-meter apartment in the city center just so they could stay close to me. Doesn't that show his love for me?"

Chen Xian approached the bedside again, watching Cheng Geling's face as it momentarily flickered with confusion. Quietly, she said, "You're Mr. Lu's girlfriend. How could he not love you?"

"But that night when I mentioned marriage, why did he refuse? Not only that, he almost choked me to death."

Cheng Geling's face turned pale. Not only did Lu Jinsheng refuse to marry her, but he hadn't even touched her in all this time.

She had been with him for three years.

During those three years, he had almost always granted her wishes and rarely got angry with her.

She met Lu Jinsheng on a snowy day. That day, she was harassed by several men while working part-time. In the end, she broke several delicate plates in the restaurant to attract attention and free herself.

At that time, Cheng Geling didn't know that those plates were so expensive. The money she earned from part-time jobs wasn't even enough to compensate for them.

On that snowy night, she dragged her weary body out of the restaurant.

She was in her fourth year of university that year, twenty-three years old, and hadn't officially started working yet.

Because her family was not well-off and her foster parents were elderly and sick, Cheng Geling had to work multiple jobs to earn money.

But she had no time to dwell on her troubles. She hurried to her next destination.

Standing as an etiquette hostess at a celebrity banquet for a few hours could earn her a thousand yuan.

That day, she was too tired. It was already late at night when the event ended. She didn't know who had taken her shoes, and she had to return the high heels and dress.

As tough as she was, she didn't utter a word and left the venue barefoot.

Later, she became too cold, tired, and hungry. She felt like she was going to die. She wrapped herself tightly in her down jacket and crouched under a low bush near the hotel parking lot, the falling snowflakes softly landing on her.

She wondered if living people also had near-death experiences because oddly enough, she didn't feel cold without her shoes.

At that moment, Lu Jinsheng appeared, like a scene from a fairy tale.

He got out of the car, stood in front of her, and looked at her intently for a long time. Finally, he personally lifted her into the car and had his assistant find her shoes to wear.

Cheng Geling asked him once why he saved her that night.

Lu Jinsheng seemed absent-minded at the time. He squinted his eyes and looked at her very seriously, but didn't say anything.

After that, he took care of her. She was a performing arts major and quite beautiful, but lacked opportunities.

So Lu Jinsheng gave her that opportunity.

Cheng Geling had now become a somewhat famous star, but she wasn't keen on this industry. She thought that Lu Jinsheng didn't like her being in the limelight, so she had plans to retire.

As long as Lu Jinsheng married her, she was willing to leave this industry.

That night she was well prepared, with a high-end restaurant and a candlelight dinner. During the meal, Lu Jinsheng remained silent, and Cheng Geling felt the process was relatively harmonious.

Then they went to her apartment. Lu Jinsheng sat on the sofa and did nothing, just let her sit opposite him without moving.

She knew that Lu Jinsheng was staring at her face.

That night, Cheng Geling gathered her courage and proposed marriage to Lu Jinsheng.

But Lu Jinsheng was furious.

He grabbed her neck and almost choked her, like a madman.

Cheng Geling would never forget what he said. Lu Jinsheng bent down to look at her pale face, his eyes seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, as if he was looking at her but not really looking at her. He said, "Marriage, are you even worthy?"