Chapter Sixteen: Growing Up Means Falling Out of Love

"This gentleman doesn't know Sister Qingpei? The name Zhou Qingpei is almost known by everyone these days," Mu Qingqing took the opportunity to say.

"Who?" Shen Tingxiao's expression was cold.

Zhou Qingpei withdrew her hand, which she had been holding up for quite some time; a flash of malice passed through her lowered eyes.

Mu Qingqing, eager to fuel the drama, continued, "Sister Qingpei, isn't he one of Mr. Shen's business partners? How could he not know you? Could it be that Mr. Shen is doing something inside, and this man is covering for him, deliberately not letting you in?"

It was outright sowing discord.

Zhou Qingpei could, of course, hear it clearly. "A-Rui is not that kind of person."

"That's not certain. All men are the same," Mu Qingqing feigned concern. "Sister Qingpei, you need to think carefully. Are you going in or not? If Mr. Shen really is fooling around with someone inside, you would be terribly heartbroken, wouldn't you?"

She had long disliked Zhou Qingpei!

An already-married woman discarded by someone else, not even divorced yet, stepping on others to climb up, pretending to be innocent, and flirting with the man that everyone, including herself, admired!

"Shut your mouth," Zhou Qingpei finally couldn't hold back her temper.

Mu Qingqing wanted to provoke her into making a mistake; Zhou Qingpei would not give her the satisfaction.

Ignoring Mu Qingqing, Zhou Qingpei turned to Shen Tingxiao. "So, sir, you mean that only if Jiang Yunzhu comes to pick him up will you let A-Rui leave?"

She disliked this feeling of being suppressed and just wanted to take Shen Ruizhang away as quickly as possible.

Shen Tingxiao looked at her but said nothing.

To Zhou Qingpei, his silence was tacit agreement.

She immediately pulled out her phone and called Jiang Yunzhu.

As soon as the call connected, she said, "The person discussing business with A-Rui doesn't know me, only you. You need to come pick him up."

Shen Tingxiao's eyes darkened slightly, his face growing even colder than before.

"I'm not going," Jiang Yunzhu replied, utterly firm.

Zhou Qingpei was stunned.

She hadn't expected the usually spineless Jiang Yunzhu to be so resolute today. She had no choice but to soften her tone. "A-Rui drank too much—he's suffering from alcohol poisoning. Please, come quickly!"

"If it's alcohol poisoning, go to the hospital," Jiang Yunzhu's voice was still flat and unemotional. "I'm not a doctor; I can't treat him."

Then she decisively hung up.

Hearing the call end, Zhou Qingpei gripped her phone tightly. She looked at Shen Tingxiao. "Sir, Jiang Yunzhu really can't come..."

"I see," Shen Tingxiao replied thoughtfully, a slight curve appearing at his lips.

At that moment, the door behind them opened, and Shen Ruizhang came out, looking a little downcast.

"A-Rui!" Zhou Qingpei exclaimed with surprise.

But Shen Ruizhang, skirting Shen Tingxiao, frowned when he saw her. "Why is it you?"

Zhou Qingpei was taken aback. "You didn't want to see me?"

"It's nothing," Shen Ruizhang replied, clearly irritated but unwilling to lose face in front of Shen Tingxiao. "Let's go."

He turned to Shen Tingxiao, "I'm leaving now."

"Take care. If there's a chance, introduce me to Jiang Yunzhu someday," Shen Tingxiao said languidly.

Zhou Qingpei stiffened.

So, the one making things difficult for her was a close friend of Shen Ruizhang. Was all this that young master's idea, or was it Shen Ruizhang's?

Shen Tingxiao returned to the private room, and the crowd at the door quickly dispersed.

A few minutes later, the door opened again and a young man strolled in from outside.

"I watched that little drama just now," the young man said, sitting opposite Shen Tingxiao. "Are you avenging Jiang Yunzhu?"

Shen Tingxiao poured himself a drink, clearly having no intention to answer.

Fortunately, the young man didn't need an answer.

"If you like Jiang Yunzhu, why not just go after him openly? Beijing is your territory. If you want someone, what's there to be afraid of? Money, resources—if that doesn't work, just take him by force. Tie him up, spend one night together, and I refuse to believe Jiang Yunzhu won't be moved."

Shen Tingxiao slammed his empty glass against the young man. "Don't let me hear such nonsense again."

"Alright, alright, Young Master Shen wants pure love, wants to respect Jiang Yunzhu," the young man laughed, picking up the empty glass and tossing it back to him. "Back to business—how long are you staying this time? When are you leaving? I’ll throw you a farewell party."

Shen Tingxiao's gaze grew somber, but a faint smile lingered at his lips. "Wait a little longer, I'm waiting for someone—to leave together."

...

Shen Ruizhang had indeed drunk a lot.

By the time he returned to the villa with Zhou Qingpei, he could barely hold himself up.

He collapsed onto the bed, one long leg dangling to the floor, his arm thrown over his eyes.

"A-Rui, let me clean you up before you sleep," Zhou Qingpei approached to unbutton his shirt.

But as soon as her hand touched him, Shen Ruizhang grabbed her wrist.

"Don't," his voice low and husky from the alcohol. "I'm tired."

Yet Zhou Qingpei did not pull her hand away. Keeping that posture, she leaned in slightly, as if to kiss his lips.

"A-Rui, you've had too much to drink. You must feel awful, don't you?"

Her other slender fingers traced down from his prominent Adam’s apple to his chest. "Do you want it? I can help you."

Shen Ruizhang's mind was a haze. When those soft lips brushed against his, the face of Jiang Yunzhu unexpectedly surfaced in his thoughts.

"Zhou Zhou..." he murmured.

Zhou Qingpei froze, her face darkening to the extreme. Staring at Shen Ruizhang, her voice hoarse, she asked, "A-Rui, who did you just call me?"

But Shen Ruizhang had already fallen asleep.

Zhou Qingpei’s eyes reddened. She stood up and, in a fit of fury, swept everything off the bedside table.

Jiang Yunzhu!

Once again, it was Jiang Yunzhu!

Why was she always in her way?

Forcing herself to calm down, Zhou Qingpei took a deep breath. She looked at the peacefully sleeping Shen Ruizhang, then went over and removed his shirt, took off her own clothes as well, slipped under the covers, and nestled against his chest. She snapped a photo and sent it to Jiang Yunzhu.

"I've already brought A-Rui home, don't worry," was the message.

Jiang Yunzhu only saw the message after returning home from school. She stared at her phone for a while, then got ready for bed.

The next morning, she rose early and gathered up all the things that Shen Ruizhang had once given her.

After listing them on a marketplace last time, many people had inquired.

Since they were of no use, she decided to sell them all at a low price.

As she carried the items downstairs, Shen Ruizhang was sitting at the dining table, holding a cup of soy milk and staring blankly. His gaze landed on the pink diamond tiara in her box, and his eyes abruptly reddened.

His voice was slightly hoarse. "You're selling all of it?"

"I only thought I liked them when I was young. Now that I've grown up, I see things clearly," Jiang Yunzhu replied coolly. "It's time to let go—keeping them is just a burden."

A dull ache pressed in Shen Ruizhang's chest, and his hand clenched tightly around the cup.