Mu Chengzhu turned his thoughts and said to Cheng Lie, "I ca to Beijing to look for Shi Fei."
He knew that Cheng Lie must be different from the past now. He would investigate him, delve into his background, and confirm whether what he claid was true.
Cheng Lie’s eyes narrowed slightly. He fixed his gaze on Mu Chengzhu, trying to see through his thoughts.
Mu Chengzhu stared back at him.
Two n, neither yielding, as if this exchange of glances would determine their very survival.
Mu Chengzhu felt victory within his grasp.
"You know, Shi Fei and I share a secret."
The word "secret" was like a stone, crashing against Cheng Lie’s chest.
Cheng Lie recalled that day when Yun Shifei interacted with Mu Chengzhu. She hadn’t shown the disgust toward him that Cheng Lie had expected.
Mu Chengzhu had even promised her to keep the secret between the two of them.
What kind of secret existed between them? Cheng Lie pondered this for a long ti without finding any clue.
"Cheng Lie, in the past, you occupied a heavy place in her heart, but the future might not be the sa."
Mu Chengzhu observed Cheng Lie’s expression closely, knowing he had bet correctly.
When it ca to Yun Shifei, Cheng Lie really lacked confidence.
He thought, whatever their secret was, Yun Shifei would never reveal it to Cheng Lie. Cheng Lie was nothing more than an outsider to them.
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Cheng Lie suddenly let out a mocking laugh.
His deep, dark eyes carried a cold light—a suffocating, overwhelming intensity that left no place to hide.
"Mu Chengzhu, you think you have what it takes?"
His tone was icy and arrogant, as if he didn’t believe a word Mu Chengzhu said.
This young man was utterly different from what he’d imagined, Mu Chengzhu thought to himself.
His mood shifted from initial relaxation to growing tension.
"I haven’t placed you in my sights at all."
Cheng Lie thought he really didn’t need to take Mu Chengzhu seriously. Was the bond between him and Yun Shifei so fragile that a re secret could sever it?
The young Cheng Lie was exceedingly wild and reckless, completely unlike the obedient, pitiable deanor he displayed in Yun Shifei’s presence.
Mu Chengzhu had never imagined that this was the real Cheng Lie. So arrogant, so cold and dark, as if everything was under his control.
Even though Mu Chengzhu possessed mories from his past life, facing this Cheng Lie still filled him with inexplicable dread.
He had to admit—Cheng Lie was... truly skilled at hiding his true self.
No wonder he was able to bring down the entire Cheng Family. Without a touch of enactnt and scheming, how could that even be possible?
After Mu Chengzhu left, Cheng Lie remained alone in the private room. He poured himself a glass of wine and drank it.
One glass wasn’t enough, he had another.
He felt a certain emptiness inside.
They say drinking helps to drown sorrow. Should he try getting drunk?
But he had an unusually high tolerance for alcohol. Even after finishing off an entire bottle, he rely felt a bit of warmth on his cheeks—no intoxication whatsoever.
At that mont, the door to the private room opened.
A woman walked in, looking at Cheng Lie shyly and timidly.
"Mr. Cheng, may I share a drink with you?"
Qin Chi Jin often ca to their establishnt. The last two tis, Qin Yumo had brought Cheng Lie along. It was the first ti Fourth Master had so voluntarily brought a guest here, so she had taken special note of Cheng Lie.
She knew he was no ordinary man.
Having heard he was here alone today, she hesitated for a while before deciding to make an entrance.
Cheng Lie lifted his eyes and looked at the woman before him. She gazed at him with an enchanting, helpless allure and wore a tight-fitting dress—impervious to the cold weather.
Seeing that Cheng Lie said nothing, she stepped closer and picked up the bottle of red wine nearby.
"Mr. Cheng, drinking alone is so dull—why don’t I keep you company?"
With that, she moved to pour Cheng Lie another glass.
Her body drew near, and Cheng Lie caught the scent she carried.
It was an overpowering perfu—a manufactured, worldly fragrance that made him feel the urge to vomit.
"Get out." He spat out coldly.
The woman hesitated, still leaning toward him.
Cheng Lie kicked the table, "Get out!"
He repeated sharply.
The woman froze for a mont. "Mr. Cheng..."
She wanted to say sothing, but Cheng Lie’s piercing gaze stopped her.
Even after so much alcohol, his eyes remained sharp and crystal-clear, filled with cold brilliance that left her speechless. Silently, she set the wine bottle down and exited the room.
This man—he was terrifying, truly the way her peers had described him: uninterested in won.
If that was the case, what was he doing in a venue like this? He must have so kind of problem!
The private room again had only Cheng Lie left in it.
Cheng Lie sat for a while longer before pulling out his phone to make a call.
He found himself thinking of Yun Shifei.
That woman’s close proximity earlier had stirred disgust in him.
He didn’t enjoy physical contact from other won—except from her.
The phone rang a few tis without an answer. Undeterred, Cheng Lie kept dialing.
Eventually, the other side gave in to his persistence and picked up.
"What do you want?" Yun Shifei’s voice ca through. Lately, her tone was increasingly impatient with him.
Cheng Lie, nonetheless, wasn’t angered. He chuckled lightly, "Shi Fei..."
"Hmm? What’s wrong?" Her voice, despite the intentional froideur, retained its soft sweetness—it was a tone that always made him feel at ease.
"Shi Fei." Cheng Lie called her na again.
Yun Shifei frowned.
She had been in the middle of working on an English exam. Cheng Lie’s interruption forced her to lay down her pen and pause her task. Irritated, she asked, "Where are you, Cheng Lie?"
She had a vague sense that sothing was off about him.
Cheng Lie had drunk so alcohol. Though he wasn’t heavily intoxicated, he still found himself yearning for her presence.
"I drank so wine, and my head feels a bit dizzy."
"You’ve been drinking? Where are you now?" Yun Shifei’s tone imdiately beca anxious.
Hearing the concern in her voice, Cheng Lie’s lips curved into a smile. He knew—she still cared about him. The mont she heard he was drunk, her worry spilled out.
After thinking for a mont, Cheng Lie told her the venue na.
Yun Shifei frowned, "Why would you go there?"
The last ti she had t Qin Yumo there, it had been at this very venue—a haven for wealthy n and scantily-clad won. She couldn’t stand the place.
"I ca with my boss to have a few drinks," Cheng Lie lied with effortless composure.
If Zhao Pan overheard his words at this mont, he would definitely jump in to correct him, accusing Cheng Lie of fabricating lies.
After all, anyone could be insulted, except Fourth Master.
Yun Shifei frowned hard, her impression of the Qin Family worsening further.
Involuntarily, she thought about what Qin Yumo had told her that day.
Cheng Lie was nothing more than a dog to the Qin Family. Once his utility was exhausted, they would retaliate against him.
Qin Yumo gave off the sense of being soone troubleso. Thinking of him, Yun Shifei felt another wave of worry about Cheng Lie.
"Where exactly are you? Is there anyone around you?"
"They... I sent them all away. I’m alone outside enjoying the breeze; I plan to hail a cab ho soon."
Reviews
All reviews (0)