Volume One, Chapter One: Betrayed?

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For three years since their flash marriage, Shen Zhi had always been carefully protected.

It was not until the day her husband returned from overseas that she realized she had been wearing a green hat for three years.

She had joyfully prepared He Yunshen’s favorite dishes, eagerly anticipating the moment he would walk through the door, surprised and delighted.

But just as everything was finished, a web pop-up appeared.

She took off her apron, nestled comfortably on the sofa, and leisurely scrolled through her phone, perusing the usual, trivial celebrity gossip.

Then, a headline shot to the top: “#Shocking! Business prodigy He Yunshen has an illegitimate child.”

With trembling fingers, Shen Zhi clicked on it...

In the video, at the airport exit, He Yunshen stood there in a crisp black suit, his flawless features composed with a refined, gentle smile.

Beside him stood a graceful woman, and a little boy about two or three years old.

“Daddy, I want a hug!”

He Yunshen’s eyes curved with affection as he squatted down to scoop the child into his arms, one hand protectively wrapped around the woman’s shoulders, leaving together in a glow of happiness.

Shen Zhi felt as if struck by lightning.

That was a radiant smile of joy she had never seen on He Yunshen’s face in all their three years of marriage.

Not like when he was with her, always reserved and composed.

Three years ago, He Yunshen was a finance student at MIT, now a newly returned star who had just been named “Most Influential Person in Business 2023”.

He had returned to the country as discreetly as possible, but an enthusiastic netizen still managed to capture the airport scene and post it online.

Shen Zhi had always followed his news from afar. This time, she’d learned of his return through the internet as well.

She had planned to surprise him with a candlelit dinner, only to receive this earth-shattering “surprise” first!

But soon, the video was taken down, and she could no longer find it.

Back when He Yunshen had chosen a flash marriage before leaving the country, he had departed hastily the very next day.

She had been uncertain, but He Yunshen had soothed all her worries, fulfilling every promise and more.

In public, He Yunshen had always been the perfect, gentle, doting husband.

Everyone said he adored Shen Zhi to distraction.

She sat numbly at the dining table, scenes from the past flickering through her mind, all suddenly seeming like a cruel joke.

She had loved He Yunshen for ten years, waited three years for him.

Once, she had thought her devotion had finally been rewarded—she had encountered her beloved youth again at university and had married him after graduation, just as she had dreamed.

Now, all of it was a silent mockery.

Creak—

At midnight, the living room door was slowly pushed open, and a tall silhouette elongated across the floor.

Moonlight slanted through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows that just enveloped the side of his face, his bearing dignified, his features exquisite but unreadable.

He Yunshen switched on the light and, catching sight of Shen Zhi sitting in a daze, was slightly surprised. His gaze flicked instinctively to the cold dishes on the table before he calmly approached her.

“Still up? Were you waiting for me?”

He seemed not to have expected her to wait for him, or to have prepared a candlelit dinner.

She tried to force a delighted smile, but it came out strained.

Noticing her odd mood, He Yunshen explained mildly, “The trip was decided last minute. I wanted to surprise you.”

Was it really last minute, or was he afraid she’d catch him with his lover and child?

As He Yunshen’s hand reached for her face, she instinctively drew back.

“You didn’t eat properly again, did you? Everything’s cold.”

He changed the topic, offering no extra explanation—he never did, for Shen Zhi believed every word he said without question.

He never mentioned it, and she pretended not to know.

“So, where’s my surprise?”

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Shen Zhi looked up, smiling gracefully as she opened her hands, expecting a gift.

He Yunshen paused, then bent down with a smile. “There wasn’t enough time—I forgot this time.”

In the past, for every meeting, whether planned or spontaneous, he would always prepare her a gift.

“Actually, I already knew you’d be back today. I just wanted to hear you say it first.”

She buried her face in his embrace with a playful reproach, but her smile had vanished.

Shen Zhi never pressed He Yunshen about things he didn’t want to discuss.

She had always been understanding, always knew where to draw the line. But this time, she could not bring herself to smile as if nothing had happened.

“Next time, I promise.”

He Yunshen’s gaze shifted to the food on the table, and then he slipped off his suit jacket, stepped into the kitchen, donned an apron, and began cooking with practiced ease.

Watching this familiar, warm scene, Shen Zhi’s heart thawed a little.

He Yunshen had had a hard life—his father died young, and his mother raised him alone, working tirelessly.

He had shouldered the family’s burdens from an early age.

He was skilled at caring for people, and an excellent cook as well.

His calm composure was something Shen Zhi had long grown used to.

Since their marriage, He Yunshen was always gentle in public, but kept a cool reserve in private.

He rarely spoke words of love, maintaining a close yet distant intimacy with her.

She had always thought it was simply his nature, different from other couples, but she had never minded.

Before long, the familiar, delicious food was set before her.

Seeing him as gentle as always, Shen Zhi felt her mood ease, and she sat down to eat.

“Mmm! Not bad! Your cooking has improved again!”

“These years abroad…”

He Yunshen smiled faintly, but his hand, midway with the chopsticks, suddenly froze, his gaze going hollow, as if lost in memories.

The next instant, he recovered his calm smile, picked up a piece of meat, and offered it to her lips.

“From now on, you’ll get to eat your husband’s cooking every day. Happy?”

“Mm.”

But his moment of hesitation deepened Shen Zhi’s unease.

For a moment, she glimpsed once more the gentle husband of old.

He didn’t seem to be pretending.

But then, what had happened at the airport?

“I heard from a friend that you arrived this morning,” Shen Zhi mentioned casually, giving him a chance to explain.

After all, she hadn’t seen the woman’s face clearly in the video—maybe it was all just a misunderstanding.

He Yunshen paused, then nodded. “Yes.”

“Did you come back alone?” Shen Zhi propped her chin on her hand, studying his deep eyes with a teasing smile.

“Yes.” He Yunshen’s face showed not a ripple, calm and flawless, making no mention of the woman and child at his side.

Shen Zhi smiled but did not press further, though her doubts only grew.

After a moment, He Yunshen added lightly, “I ran into an old friend on the plane. We happened to be headed in the same direction, so I gave her a ride.”

An old friend, or a lover?

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“That’s nice,” Shen Zhi said quietly, her heart sinking to its depths.

In the past, he would never have bothered to explain if the matter or person was unimportant.

Yet even knowing it was a lie, Shen Zhi was unwilling to expose it without proof.

...

“Did you miss me?”

After dinner, as soon as He Yunshen entered the bedroom, he hugged her gently from behind, his body warm as he pulled her close, his voice tender and intoxicating.

The next moment, he swept her onto the bed, deftly unbuttoning her clothes as he pressed her down.

Her body recoiled instinctively, and she tried to resist, “Yunshen…”

He ignored her, continuing to kiss her.

Finally, breathless, he managed to murmur, “Don’t talk.”

And kissed her deeply again.

On their wedding night, He Yunshen had been just as passionate, but Shen Zhi’s period had arrived and they missed their consummation.

Every meeting after that, he was always in a rush, coming and going in haste.

Never again was there that same fervor.

These three years, aside from material things, all he could give her was his meticulous daily care.

Gradually, she had grown used to it.

“Honey, no…” Shen Zhi was no doll—she loved him.

She had waited three years for this moment, and her body’s instincts left her dizzy with longing.

But now, she had to refuse.

“I’m not feeling well…”

“What, your period?” He Yunshen’s voice turned cold, a shadow passing through his eyes. There was a deeper meaning there, and Shen Zhi caught it.

She forced a smile. “No, I just ate something bad.”

“Are you alright? Want me to take you to the hospital?” He Yunshen sat up calmly, picked up his shirt and draped it over his shoulders, his voice gentle.

“It’s fine, I’ve already taken medicine.”

He knew her stomach was always delicate and did not press further.

“Go to sleep. I’ll take a shower.”

Seeing her wooden expression, He Yunshen kissed her gently on the forehead, then turned toward the bathroom.

Ding!

Just as he turned, Shen Zhi clearly heard a faint notification sound from his phone.

He Yunshen picked up his phone and went into the bathroom.

He didn’t notice, though, that his Bluetooth earpiece on the nightstand was still flashing with a pale light.

“Are you asleep? Don’t make noise…”

“Daddy, I miss you!”