Chapter Four: She Belongs to Me

She opened her eyes to find a woman standing before her, dressed in a light apricot-colored long dress, gentle and refined in appearance, as if she were a lady from a noble family. Shen Qingli recognized her; she was the daughter of the Luo family, an old aristocratic house, who had always liked Xie Jinchuan. Sadly, the affection was one-sided.

As Shen Qingli rose, she realized she was wrapped in a man’s coat. She casually took it off and set it aside, a gesture Luo Yu noticed, her palm tightening slightly.

“Miss Luo, are you here to see Third Uncle as well?” Shen Qingli blinked and asked.

This innocent demeanor stirred waves in Luo Yu’s heart, though her face was brimming with smiles. “Yes, Jinchuan has been sleeping poorly lately, so I came to bring him something.”

Just as she spoke, the office door opened.

Xie Jinchuan was not only strikingly handsome, but his restrained, ascetic aura was almost intoxicating.

“Third Uncle,” Shen Qingli called out softly, hurriedly opening the nourishing soup she had brought and handing it over.

“I’ll do it.” Luo Yu suddenly spoke up, elegantly reaching for the soup in Shen Qingli’s hands without asking for permission.

Fate often turns in an instant; with a sudden clatter, the porcelain bowl slipped and shattered on the ground.

A flicker of emotion crossed Shen Qingli’s eyes; in the next moment, she knelt to pick up the shards.

“Ah…” The sound was faint, but unmistakable.

Xie Jinchuan’s gaze darkened, as though something had crossed his mind, his face solemn as he crouched down.

Luo Yu’s hand was not only slicked with grease but also marked with a large red scald, her index finger sliced and bleeding.

Shen Qingli narrowed her eyes with a silent sigh—how skillful, she hadn’t even done anything, yet Luo Yu had managed to perform the entire act alone.

“I’m fine, Jinchuan,” Luo Yu’s voice was soft as she hid her hand behind her back.

Xie Jinchuan hesitated for a moment, then handed her a handkerchief. “Take care of it yourself.”

“All right.” She was obedient and demure, but as she looked at Shen Qingli, her eyes involuntarily reddened. “Miss Shen, I’m sorry. I was careless and ruined your hard work. I’ll compensate you however you wish.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingli’s gaze grew momentarily complicated; she hadn’t expected to encounter such a high-level manipulator so soon—a true challenge.

Luo Yu had said so much, Shen Qingli could hardly accept. She shook her head, her eyes full of concern and sympathy. “It’s nothing, just a bowl of soup. But Sister Luo, it must hurt—had I known, I wouldn’t have used a porcelain bowl.”

Shen Qingli pressed her lips, remorse in her eyes. Those eyes were so beautiful that the slightest hint of tears could soften anyone’s heart.

Luo Yu saw this and the warmth in her gaze dimmed.

“I’ll have my assistant take you to the hospital,” Xie Jinchuan said, and Luo Yu immediately sensed she was being dismissed, her nails digging into her palm.

She had always relied on her composure to stay close to him; she couldn’t refuse.

“Thank you, Jinchuan,” she said, her voice so tender that even Shen Qingli felt a little weak.

Once Luo Yu left, Shen Qingli’s expression fell, standing motionless.

Xie Jinchuan glanced at her and sat silently on the sofa.

Crystal tears spilled down her cheeks like broken pearls, reddening her nose and eyelids in no time.

“Why are you crying?” After a long pause, he finally spoke, a hint of resignation in his voice.

“Third Uncle…” Shen Qingli looked up, her doe eyes reddened and shimmering with tears.

“Come here.” His brows furrowed, feeling something collapse deep in his chest.

She clutched her sleeve and walked over, appearing so fragile she might shatter at any moment.

“Are you upset?”

Shen Qingli bit her lip, wanting to shake her head, but the tears surged even more fiercely. Before Xie Jinchuan could comfort her, she cautiously tugged at his coat. “Third Uncle, am I only trouble for you?”

He lowered his head, catching the faint fragrance at her neck, his Adam’s apple bobbing gently. “No.”

Joy blossomed in Shen Qingli’s eyes; just as she was about to probe the matter of breaking off the engagement, the office door suddenly swung open.

It was Lu Ziyi.

He froze at the scene, anger rising swiftly.

“So this is why you want to break off our engagement—you’ve set your sights elsewhere?” Lu Ziyi’s words were blunt, even disparaging Xie Jinchuan.

He had come at the old man’s request to find Xie Jinchuan, but never expected to see him with his fiancée.

Shen Qingli quickly wiped her tears and scrambled out of the man’s embrace.

She feigned fear, retreating a step, but then stood protectively in front of Xie Jinchuan, her voice choked. “You can say whatever you want about me, but you can’t insult Third Uncle.”

This provoked Lu Ziyi, his chest heaving. “Why not? You’re my fiancée. Do you plan to cheat on me before we’re even married?”

A typical, self-important man, Shen Qingli thought, rolling her eyes inwardly, nearly disgusted.

“You were the one who agreed to break off the engagement. I never said anything about you and Shen Jingrong. Why should you meddle in my freedom?” Shen Qingli frowned, her tear-stained beauty breathtaking. “Besides, Third Uncle is innocent. How can you slander him so carelessly?”

Lu Ziyi gritted his teeth and reached out to grab her, but Xie Jinchuan, who hadn’t spoken until now, caught his hand firmly.

“What are you trying to do?”

His voice was cold and commanding. “She’s mine now.”

Both Lu Ziyi and Shen Qingli were stunned; she had only intended to test the waters, never expecting such swift success.

[Ding—Congratulations, Host, you’ve gained twenty strategy points. Please remember to redeem your rewards.]

The sweet, fresh voice of Green Parsley echoed in her mind, delighting her.

“Third Uncle, what do you mean? She’s still my fiancée,” Lu Ziyi narrowed his eyes, anger boiling in his blood.

Xie Jinchuan’s voice was lazy yet chilling, his gaze intimidating. “From now on, she isn’t.”

The next day, Xie Jinchuan arrived at the Shen residence with a letter of annulment and an impressive array of betrothal gifts.

Father Shen was astonished—such a grand display, what was he planning?

Despite his surprise, he politely welcomed them in. As soon as they were seated, Xie Jinchuan pushed the annulment letter across the table.

“Lu wants to end his engagement to Qingli?” Father Shen was shocked.

Then Xie Jinchuan’s calm voice followed, “They’re not suited. I’m here to propose to Qingli.”

Father Shen’s jaw nearly dropped in disbelief—had the man gone mad?

“It would be best to settle the wedding date as well.”

Coming from such a cold, ascetic man, even Father Shen was taken aback, as was Shen Jingrong, who was secretly eavesdropping outside the door.

She gripped the door frame tightly—why should that wretch have all the benefits, just because she was an illegitimate child?

Hatred and jealousy tangled deeply in her heart, a dangerous glint appearing in her eyes.

In this Shen family, as long as she was here, that wretch would never have her way!

Shen Jingrong stopped listening and stormed off to find Shen Qingli, her mind set on confrontation.