Volume One, Chapter 71: Shame

Chu Xingzhi shook his head in utter despair, unable to believe what he was seeing. Gripping Song Qingyu’s shoulders tightly, his eyes red with rage, he pressed her for answers. “Did you sleep with him? Did you two have sex already?”

A sharp slap was his only reply.

Song Qingyu was furious, especially remembering how Chu Xingzhi had drugged Pei Jingmo just to ruin him—she could not tolerate it any longer. “How much longer are you going to make a scene?”

Chu Xingzhi saw only those marks, marks that felt like knives stabbing his heart, leaving it battered and broken. “Just answer me first!”

Song Qingyu let out a cold laugh. “We’re husband and wife. Isn’t it normal for us to sleep together?”

Even though he’d suspected it, as long as Song Qingyu hadn’t left her room, as long as he hadn’t seen the marks on her neck or heard her admit it, Chu Xingzhi could still deceive himself. But now, all his hopes and prayers were completely shattered.

His Qingyu—she was someone else’s woman now.

He stared angrily at the culprit who had stolen the one he loved. If it had been someone stronger, he might have accepted it. But it was just an ordinary worker, with no power, no influence, no connections! How could he possibly resign himself to this?

“Fine! I’d like to see how long you two can last!” Chu Xingzhi spat out his venom and left. Song Qingyu watched his retreating figure and sighed heavily.

He was the one who cheated first, who betrayed her—so why couldn’t they part on good terms?

When Liu Mengyi learned of the incident, she apologized to Song Qingyu and Pei Jingmo; after all, it happened at their wedding, and they were understandably upset.

“Senior, it really has nothing to do with you two. If anything, I should apologize, since Chu Xingzhi came for me.”

“Ah, no one expected him to be so extreme. As long as you’re okay.”

Noticing the marks on Song Qingyu’s neck, Liu Mengyi took out a silk scarf and wrapped it around her, teasing softly in her ear, “Your husband’s quite vigorous—are you sure you can handle it?”

Song Qingyu was speechless.

How did the conversation suddenly turn so risqué?

Returning home, Song Qingyu locked herself in her room immediately.

After everything that happened today, she knew she wouldn’t want to see Pei Jingmo for at least three days. Or rather, she simply didn’t know how to face him.

Half an hour later, someone knocked at her door.

Song Qingyu closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, refusing to answer.

“Qingqing, I made you a bowl of tomato and egg noodles, with your favorite bamboo fungus and shrimp balls.”

Her stomach rumbled in protest at the mention of food.

Song Qingyu was exasperated.

She hadn’t eaten dinner, barely had anything for lunch, and after all that turmoil, she was starving.

Hold on! Missing one meal won’t kill me!

But Pei Jingmo’s noodles were simply too delicious, the fragrance wafting through the door cracks, tempting her endlessly.

Song Qingyu wrestled with herself for a long time.

Thinking that they would have to see each other again anyway, she might as well eat and enjoy it now. Resigned, she got out of bed and opened the door.

Outside, Pei Jingmo stood holding a bowl of noodles, his smile as gentle as spring.

Compared to the domineering man from this afternoon, it was as if he were a different person entirely.

Could he have a split personality?

“Eat while it’s hot; it won’t taste good once it cools.”

“…Alright.”

Her arms still sore from earlier, Song Qingyu couldn’t even hold her chopsticks properly, her hand trembling as she tried to pick up a noodle.

Her face flushed crimson, mortified and embarrassed.

Especially when she noticed Pei Jingmo watching her with a smile. Gritting her teeth, she put down the chopsticks and tried to stand. “I’m not eating.”

Pei Jingmo pressed her gently back into the chair, picked up the bowl, and took the chopsticks. “Let me feed you.”

“How can that be? I’m not a child—”

“If it weren’t for helping me, you wouldn’t be so weak you can’t even hold chopsticks. We’re husband and wife, we should help each other.”

At first glance, his words seemed reasonable, but the more she thought about it, the more off they felt.

Caught between shame and temptation, Song Qingyu chose to succumb to the allure of good food.

Pei Jingmo was attentive, offering a bite of noodles, then egg, then shrimp ball, ensuring a balanced meal.

Afraid she might burn herself, he blew softly on each bite before feeding her.

Song Qingyu had been able to feed herself since she was two; now, at her age, being fed made her face turn even redder.

She felt as if her life was moving backward.

Neither spoke, but the atmosphere was charged with a subtle intimacy. Unable to stand it, Song Qingyu stopped eating once she was half full.

Pei Jingmo took a soft tissue and wiped her mouth, his thumb gently touching the spot where her lip was bitten. “Does it hurt?”

“Just—”

Before she could finish, a breeze brushed against her lips. Song Qingyu stared at him in disbelief, never expecting Pei Jingmo to blow on her wound.

His lips were just the right shape and fullness; as Xie Liuzheng had said, he had the ideal mouth for kissing.

Her mind involuntarily recalled how he had kissed her, moved by the effects of the drug; her heart raced wildly, and she pushed him away abruptly.

“I’m going to sleep. Good night.”

Watching Song Qingyu flee, Pei Jingmo’s lips curled into a smile.

He pressed the thumb that had touched her lips to his own, kissing it as if he were kissing her, his eyes gleaming with excitement, like a beast sighting its prey.

“Qingqing, you can’t escape.”

Fortunately, in the days that followed, Song Qingyu was kept busy with work and foundation matters.

Being busy, she didn’t have time for embarrassment.

This time, the foundation chose to help a group of deaf-mute children.

Coincidentally, the technology company under Tianqi Group had just launched a navigation bracelet for the blind and a hearing aid.

Through Gu Yuandong, Song Qingyu was able to get them at an internal price and sent them to the Angel Welfare Home in the outskirts.

The children at Angel Welfare Home were all little angels abandoned by their families due to their disabilities, and seeing them made Song Qingyu’s heart ache.

As long as she could help them, she was happy.

After a busy day, seeing the children’s smiling faces, Song Qingyu felt everything was worthwhile.

“Miss Song, that girl seems to be watching you.”

A teacher beside her reminded her, and Song Qingyu turned to see a delicate, doll-like girl studying her.

The girl’s hair was black and shiny, with neat bangs and a perfectly tied ponytail.

She was dressed in designer clothes, pale and tender-skinned, hugging a pink rabbit, clearly not a child from the welfare home.

Song Qingyu pointed to herself. “Are you looking for me?”

Gu Chenxi nodded.

Song Qingyu smiled and approached. “Is there something you need?”

Gu Chenxi shook her head.

“You can talk, can’t you?”

Gu Chenxi nodded again.

Song Qingyu was puzzled; a girl who could speak, who sought her out for no reason—what was she after?

After that, wherever Song Qingyu went, Gu Chenxi followed, saying nothing, just quietly tagging along.

She wanted to help, but seemed unsure how.

When everyone began to leave, Song Qingyu noticed the girl was still there and softly asked, “Where’s your home? Do you want me to take you back?”

Gu Chenxi hugged her rabbit tightly and shook her head; she didn’t want to go home.

“What should we do then?”

“I want to go to your house, sister.”

Gu Chenxi’s voice was sweet and soft, making Song Qingyu’s heart melt.

“This… might not be a good idea. What if your parents come looking for you?”

Gu Chenxi lowered her eyes, looking very sad.

Song Qingyu could not bear to see a cute little sister so upset, and just then, a message from Pei Jingmo arrived.

“When will you be home? I’ve made dinner and am waiting for you.”

Song Qingyu thought for a moment and proposed to Gu Chenxi, “How about you come to my house for a bit? After dinner, I’ll take you home, okay?”

Gu Chenxi nodded.

Song Qingyu smiled and replied to Pei Jingmo, “Make dinner for one more tonight.”

“A guest?”

“Yes, a little beauty.”

Putting away her phone, Song Qingyu smiled at Gu Chenxi. “Let’s go.”

Gu Chenxi smiled back. “Mm.”

Worried someone might mistake her for a child trafficker, Song Qingyu asked her many questions along the way.

“What’s your name?”

“Chenxi.”

“Is it the ‘hope’ character?”

“It’s the ‘dawn’ character in ‘morning light’.”

“Wow, Chenxi is such a nice name. So where do you live?”

Gu Chenxi fell silent.

“How many people in your family?”

“Brother, dad, aunt…”

“So four with you?”

Chenxi shook her head and held up five fingers. “Five.”

“You have two brothers?”

Gu Chenxi nodded, her expression once again sad.

Song Qingyu dared not ask further.

Whenever Pei Jingmo was home, Song Qingyu preferred not to use her keys; she liked knocking and having him open the door.

It always felt more like home that way.

She knocked, and heard Pei Jingmo’s footsteps running to the door, sounding cheerful.

Seeing Gu Chenxi a little nervous, Song Qingyu put her arm around her shoulders and reassured her, “Don’t be afraid, my family is very nice.”

The door swung open, Pei Jingmo’s voice rang out, “Welcome ho—”

His smile and unfinished words vanished instantly the moment he saw Gu Chenxi.