Volume One Chapter 1: Mistake

Late at night.

Song Qingyu finished processing the final set of data when her phone, resting on the table, suddenly chimed with a new message. She picked it up and saw a photo sent by the other party—a man in a bathrobe, bearing a striking resemblance to Chu Xingzhi.

Just as she was about to tap on the photo for a closer look, it was withdrawn.

The act seemed almost deliberately suspicious.

She glanced at the sender’s username: Trapped on All Sides.

Song Qingyu frowned slightly. She recalled that this girl was an employee at Chu Xingzhi’s company, named Lin Tiange.

Previously, after a company team-building event where Chu Xingzhi had gotten drunk, it was Lin Tiange who had called her to pick him up.

Afterward, Lin Tiange had added her on WeChat, but they had never spoken.

A woman’s sixth sense sent a ripple of unease through her. She clicked on Lin Tiange’s profile picture and noticed a new post in her Moments.

“One last indulgence. When dawn comes, it’s goodbye.”

In the photo, Lin Tiange wore a lace bikini and was kissing a man. Though only his back was visible, Song Qingyu instantly recognized him as Chu Xingzhi.

For on the nape of his neck was a black mole, and around his wrist, he wore the string of Buddhist beads she had recently brought back for him from a temple.

Most damning of all was the background in the photo—

It was their new home, the one where they were about to be married.

Song Qingyu’s first reaction was denial.

Impossible!

She and Chu Xingzhi had been together since high school, growing from uniforms to wedding gowns. Chu Xingzhi loved her deeply; he would never betray her.

But the seed of suspicion had already been sown, and a dreadful premonition prickled her skin.

Indecision was not in Song Qingyu’s nature. If suspicion existed, it was better to confront it than to let it fester.

Without hesitation, she rushed to their new home.

She fervently hoped it was all a misunderstanding, but when she saw two entwined figures in the swimming pool, she was struck as if by lightning.

“Xingzhi, it’s our last night. Do whatever you want with me,” Lin Tiange moaned.

“I like how shameless and wild you are,” Chu Xingzhi replied.

In the pool, they moved with feverish passion, locked in a primal, almost animalistic embrace.

Song Qingyu felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her, dousing her from head to toe. Her heart froze.

“Aah—” Lin Tiange cried out, catching sight of Song Qingyu.

“Miss Song…”

Chu Xingzhi’s body went rigid. He turned to see Song Qingyu, her face pale as death, her eyes red and cold as she stared at him. His expression changed drastically.

He shoved Lin Tiange away and scrambled for his underwear, but had no idea where he’d tossed them.

Cursing under his breath, he hastily wrapped a bath towel around himself and stumbled toward Song Qingyu. “Qingyu, listen, I can expl—”

Slap!

Song Qingyu struck him across the face with all her might. “Explain? Explain what?”

Rage and the agony of betrayal tore at Song Qingyu. Her whole body trembled, her voice quivering.

“Explain why the man who’s supposed to be away on business is here?”

“Explain why the man who said he wanted to fall asleep in my arms is rolling around with another woman?”

“And right here, of all places!”

Song Qingyu was never athletic; the only exercise she ever enjoyed was swimming. Chu Xingzhi, wanting her to be more active, had specially installed a pool in their new villa.

The joy and sweetness when the pool was built was now replaced by a searing agony.

Tears welled in Song Qingyu’s eyes, her body weak and limp. She bit her lower lip so hard that she tasted blood, forcing herself to hold back her tears.

“Chu Xingzhi, you’ve destroyed everything we had.”

Panic-stricken, Chu Xingzhi looked at her, a hint of pleading in his voice. “Qingyu, I was wrong, I…”

“The wedding is off. From now on, you go your way, and I’ll go mine.”

Song Qingyu’s voice was icy and resolute.

She turned to leave. Chu Xingzhi, desperate, grabbed her from behind. “Qingyu, don’t make a scene. The wedding is in a month, the invitations have already been sent. You can’t just abandon me!”

“Let go!” Song Qingyu struggled furiously.

“I won’t. I’ll never let you go, not in this lifetime,” Chu Xingzhi clung to her with a death grip.

Disgusted to the point of nausea, Song Qingyu spotted a wine bottle on the table. Remembering that they had been drinking before their tryst, fury erupted within her. She seized the bottle and smashed it hard against Chu Xingzhi’s head.

“You make me sick, Chu Xingzhi!”

Song Qingyu stormed out in fury. Behind her, Lin Tiange’s panicked shriek echoed, “President Chu, are you alright?”

“Get out!” Chu Xingzhi roared, shoving Lin Tiange into the pool.

He reached up to his forehead, his hand coming away bloody.

“Damn it!”

Song Qingyu had driven there. As if fate was mocking her, rain began to pour in torrents.

She drove through the storm, tears streaming silently down her face as if her heart were being sliced open.

Just moments ago, she had been basking in the sweetness of Chu Xingzhi’s messages.

Now, her love, her trust, had been shattered to pieces.

Heaven one second, hell the next.

The car suddenly skidded. She spun the steering wheel frantically.

Bang—

The car veered off the road and slammed into a large tree.

Her head struck the steering wheel, and she thought she felt blood.

There was the acrid scent of gasoline—fuel was leaking. She needed to get out quickly, or the car would explode and she’d be doomed.

But she was dizzy, her limbs weak.

Help!

Someone save me!

Just before she lost consciousness, she heard the roar of a motorcycle approaching. Instinctively, she tried to call out, but no sound emerged.

Blood from her forehead blurred her vision.

Through the haze, she glimpsed a tall, lean man leap from his bike and race toward her.

The car door was wrenched open. Strong arms lifted her out, and she caught the clean scent of soap on his skin.

Bang—

The car exploded. She lost consciousness completely.

—

When Song Qingyu awoke again, her head throbbed violently and she felt nauseous.

“You’re finally awake.”

Looking at the nurse and the hospital room, the memories of that night came flooding back, tightening her chest with pain.

“Nurse, who brought me here?”

“A migrant worker. He’s just gone to pay your fees. Oh, here he comes.”

Song Qingyu looked up. The man wore a simple black T-shirt that clung to his well-built muscles, honed by years of hard work. His trousers were sturdy work pants, plain but practical.

He was tall, nearly six-foot-three, with a crew cut and a face of striking contours and deep-set features. A faint scar marked his forehead, but it did nothing to diminish his rugged handsomeness.

Perhaps because of his height, his presence was powerful—imposing, even intimidating.

Song Qingyu licked her lips. “Thank you for saving me.”

His gaze, deep and steady, fell on her pale, fragile face. His voice was low and resonant. “No need for thanks.”

Song Qingyu disliked owing others, but her wallet was empty. She picked up her phone and said to him, “How much was the treatment? I’ll transfer it to you.”

As soon as she unlocked her phone, she saw a barrage of missed calls and messages from Chu Xingzhi.

“Baby, I know I was wrong. I can’t live without you. Please, forgive me this once.”

“Baby, I’m only twenty-four. You have to let me make mistakes.”

“Qingyu, I love you. We’re getting married soon—don’t be willful, please?”

“Song Qingyu, I’m begging you. Can you really be so heartless?”

“Fine, Song Qingyu. Don’t blame me for what comes next!”

Song Qingyu’s chest tightened with anger. Furious, she blocked Chu Xingzhi’s number and WeChat.

“Sorry, what did you say your name was?” she asked.

He had already handed her his phone. Glancing at it, she saw it wasn’t a payment code but a QR code to add as a friend.

Remembering that he had saved her life, Song Qingyu added him on WeChat.

“Pei Jingmo,” he replied.