In this flurry, no one noticed that the cruise ship had slowed down its speed.
–
Under the lights, the beauty as fragile as colored glaze had a pale face, tears in her eyes about to fall yet not falling, thick eyelashes already dampened by tears. No one who saw wouldn’t say: what a pity.
In such a pair of eyes as bright as the stars, there should not be tears.
She asked in a trembling voice: “How long have you two been together?”
Xu Chuwei frowned. She had just prepared to speak when she heard Qin Song honestly say: “We’ve been together for a year. The second year after Chuwei came to England, we were together.”
Xu Chuwei: …… Damn.
This dog man!
Qin Song wore a guilty face, “Xian Xian, I know this matter is my fault. If you want to cancel the engagement with me, I accept it. But I… Chuwei and I truly love each other.”
Wen Xian’s emotions, holding back tears, were full at this moment, yet were made somewhat out of place by this sentence of Qin Song’s. Wasn’t this a little too obvious?
Xu Chuwei even more forcefully shook off Qin Song holding her wrist. Just now after she entered the room, Qin Song had been beating around the bush talking to her, not getting to the point for half the day.
Later, he even suddenly started pulling and tugging, apologizing to her because of that car matter.
She had not yet managed to shake him off when he lowered his head and kissed her, and right after that, Wen Xian pushed the door open and came in.
If one said this wasn’t arranged beforehand, even a ghost wouldn’t believe it.
Thinking of this, Xu Chuwei looked at Qin Song and sharply asked: “Qin Song, are you a man?”
Qin Song, without the slightest hesitation, answered loudly and clearly: “I am not!”
Everyone: “……”
After a brief pause, Wen Xian looked toward Qin Zan. Her tone was sorrowful: “Big Brother Qin, I know these years Grandpa Qin has taken good care of me, but feelings are not something that can be forced.”
The tears held in Wen Xian’s eyes finally fell down, “I want to cancel the engagement with Qin Song.”
Qin Zan stared at the tear on her cheek for a while. He restrained himself from the impulse to wipe away her tears. He shifted his gaze toward Qin Song: “A’Song, this matter was our Qin family breaking the agreement first. Since Xian Xian wants to cancel the engagement, tonight I’ll make the decision on behalf of you two to cancel the engagement.”
“From now on, you two will no longer have the relationship of fiancé and fiancée.”
Hearing these words, everyone let out quiet sighs. If Wen Tianlin were still here, how could the Qin family possibly let go of this marriage agreement so easily? Now that there was only Wen Xian left in the Wen family, only then did Qin Song dare to act as he pleased.
They all looked sympathetically at the girl crying like pear blossoms in the rain.
But they would not do anything. They wouldn’t even spread the word that Qin Song got tangled up with Xu Chuwei and so cast aside Wen Xian. This circle was just that realistic.
Interests above all else, the strong are respected.
But after tonight, they would all know that the engagement between the Qin family and the Wen family no longer existed.
Wen Xian would completely sever ties with Licheng’s upper circle.
Cinderella did not become a princess again.
After the farce, everyone dispersed. Qin Zan stayed behind to handle Qin family affairs.
And the others couldn’t wait to go upstairs to tell the others this news. They also found the reason why Xu Chuwei and Wen Xian had a falling out. No wonder things got so ugly at that auction that day.
Wen Xian, however, let out a breath of relief. She wiped away her tears and slowly walked out.
Qin Zan stood in place silently watching Wen Xian’s departing back. Then he shifted his gaze onto Qin Song and Xu Chuwei. He said in a flat voice: “You two, come with me.”
Qin Song’s tone was cheerful: “Okay, Big Brother!”
Xu Chuwei bit her lip unwillingly. If not for being wary of Qin Zan’s background, she would have already slammed the door and left.
She simply couldn’t understand what kind of thing Qin Song was. She felt like she must have been blind to have gone and snatched Wen Xian’s fiancé. She should have wished them a long and lasting life instead.
–
Wen Xian did not return to her room immediately but walked to the deck to let the sea breeze blow for a while. She stared blankly at the turbulent sea surface under the night, and not far away there was even a speedboat speeding off.
Ever since finding out about Wen Tianlin and Qin Huai’s agreement at the manor, there had always been a doubt Linggering in her heart. Back then the Wen family was at its peak, so why would Wen Tianlin propose such a condition?
Was the death of Wen Tianlin and Chang Shuang really just an accident?
Wen Xian made up her mind. After returning, she would go look for Wen Tianlin and Chang Shuang’s lawyer. She knew her parents only trusted that one lawyer, the very same one who four years ago had her sign documents and then go to the bank.
Above her was the wild music and cheerful laughter. Wen Xian quietly listened for a moment, then turned around and went back to her room.
Wen Xian lifted her skirt and opened the room door without paying attention to the situation inside. She bent down to take off the gradient-colored crystal shoes on her feet, and habitually called out: “Qiuqiu.”
Qiuqiu let out a soft cry, yet did not rub against her feet as usual.
She lifted her head in confusion to look.
The man in a black suit was holding Qiuqiu in his arms, with a newly replaced cage placed beside his legs. Zanzan was poking its small butt, playing on a slide inside its luxurious villa.
His black eyes were fixed on her body, the emotions in his gaze dark and unclear.
Wen Xian: ?
Wen Xian didn’t even bother to put on her slippers. She ran over to stand in front of Shen Lingge with loud thuds, looking down at him from above. She said in disbelief: “Gege, how did you come here?”
Shen Lingge’s expression did not change: “I don’t know.”
Wen Xian: “……”
Wen Xian secretly glanced at Yu lying on her bedside table. It was obediently staying there, completely still.
Yu would never go against her will, so it couldn’t have summoned Shen Lingge over. That meant he definitely came on his own.
Wen Xian glared at him: “What exactly did you come here for? Don’t you have work?”
Shen Lingge, who had long forgotten his bodyguard persona, lightly coughed: “…Weekend holiday, I came back to see you. I wasn’t at ease with you staying alone on the ship, so I came over.”
Wen Xian thought of that speedboat speeding off just now and asked: “You came over by speedboat?”
“Mm, Mr. Chi helped me contact the captain.” As he spoke, Shen Lingge glanced at her, hinting, “I think going back and forth like this is a waste of money. Next time, you should just directly let me come over.”
Wen Xian gave a light humph: “I don’t want to!”
Shen Lingge frowned: “About this afternoon, I apologized to you, it was my fault.”
Wen Xian raised her chin: “I don’t accept your apology. I’m going to take a shower and remove my makeup now.”
After saying that, Wen Xian turned around, grabbed her clothes, and entered the bathroom, leaving Shen Lingge all alone in the living room. Fortunately, there were still two fluffy little things accompanying him.
Shen Lingge lowered his head and met Qiuqiu’s watery big eyes: “Should I use that method from last time to coax her again?”
Qiuqiu licked its paw: “Meow~”
When Wen Xian came out wearing her pajamas, smelling fragrant, she saw the dining table was already full of fragrant late-night snacks. Besides seafood, there were also her favorite grilled skewers and beer.
Wen Xian, whose throat had been seized by fate: “……”
Shen Lingge sat by the dining table, his usually cold and stern face softened a little because of the warmth in his eyes. He looked at her: “Want to eat grilled skewers? I’ll drink with you.”
Wen Xian walked over to Shen Lingge and sat down in front of him, muffling: “Gege, I don’t like it when close people misunderstand me like that.”
She paused and said again: “I feel really sad.”
The little girl’s eyelids drooped unhappily. Her fair and tender face still carried some flush from the heat in the bathroom. She looked very aggrieved, also carrying a bit of fragility.
Shen Lingge’s throat felt slightly rough. He knew that outside, she would never show weakness in front of others.
After a long while, he finally said hoarsely: “Xian Xian, I’m sorry, it’s my fault.”
Shen Lingge awkwardly added: “I just… wasn’t at ease with you and Qin Zan being together.”
Wen Xian lifted her gaze and looked at him for a moment. She picked up a grilled skewer by the table and mumbled: “If there’s a next time, I really won’t bother with you anymore. Qiuqiu won’t bother with you either, right, Qiuqiu?”
Qiuqiu wore an innocent face: “Meow~”
Shen Lingge said in a low voice: “There won’t be a next time.”
Shen Lingge himself didn’t know why he had gotten so anxious. After she didn’t reply to his messages, he rushed overnight to Licheng. Just thinking of her and Qin Zan having to stay on a ship together for an entire night made him irritable.
He thought, maybe his mood today was the same as when Chi Yan was looking for Jiaojiao that day.
He let out a light sigh. He was always uneasy about her being alone.
When Wen Xian was outside by herself, she didn’t dare drink alcohol, but today with Shen Lingge there, she had no more scruples.
Taking a bite of meat and then a sip of alcohol, she felt like the happiest person in the world.
Only after seeing her mood return to normal did Shen Lingge ask: “What about the engagement with Qin Song?”
Hearing that, Wen Xian’s brows and eyes curved slightly, “Already canceled. Before the cruise docks tomorrow, this news will have spread throughout Licheng’s upper circle. Outsiders don’t know the Qin family has an internal financial crisis, so Qin Song is still a hot commodity.”
Shen Lingge had originally wanted to ask what she thought about Qin Zan, but recalling that he had just made her upset this afternoon, he didn’t open his mouth.
Wen Xian bit into a big shrimp, looking at Shen Lingge who only took a few vegetable skewers and corn kernels, and asked: “Gege, when are you going back to Licheng? How many days off do you have?”
Shen Lingge thought for a moment about next week’s schedule and answered: “In a couple of days. Mr. Chi is on a business trip recently.”
Wen Xian blinked: “You don’t have to follow along?”
Shen Lingge: “Mm, not convenient.”
Seeing that Shen Lingge had time these two days, Wen Xian brought up her idea of looking for the lawyer: “After hearing what the Qin family said about this matter before, I’ve always wanted to confirm whether it’s true or not. Thinking it over, I could only think of that one lawyer.”
Shen Lingge felt that this matter wouldn’t be that simple.
When he had people investigate earlier, they hadn’t found any clues related to this. It seemed Chang Shuang wouldn’t have entrusted this matter solely to that lawyer.
But these things couldn’t be told to Wen Xian, so he nodded and replied: “I’ll go with you.”
After eating and drinking her fill, Wen Xian’s mood improved quite a bit. When she felt a bit tipsy, she consciously put down her glass. After all, she still had to meet people tomorrow, she needed to adjust her condition.
The two of them casually chatted about recent matters while eating the late-night snacks. Most of the time, it was Wen Xian talking while Shen Lingge listened.
This peaceful atmosphere continued until the sound of knocking on the door rang out.
“Dong—”
The knocking sounded twice.
Wen Xian turned her head to look toward the door, and at this time Qin Zan’s low voice also came from outside the door. Because it came through the door, the voice was slightly muffled: “Xian Xian, are you asleep?”
Wen Xian turned her head and made eye contact with Shen Lingge for a few seconds.
The two stared at each other, big eyes staring at small eyes, the atmosphere frozen.
Immediately, Wen Xian hurriedly looked around the suite, then pointed at the wardrobe and said: “Gege, you quickly go hide inside.”
Shen Lingge immediately furrowed his brows: “……?”