Volume One, Chapter 12: There’s No Real Feeling Between Her and Me

She had too many mysteries in her heart that she wanted to unravel.

“You shouldn’t show your emotions in front of Dad.”

In a secluded corner, He Yunshen’s voice was low and restrained. Zhou Qin sobbed and turned around, collapsing into his arms and crying.

Shen Zhi was startled and immediately hid, like a thief eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Yunshen, I can’t hold it in, I really can’t. I thought I could be strong, but the moment I saw Dad, hearing him say those things about me, about my mother... my heart felt like it was being cut by knives.”

“If you want to leave a good impression on Dad, it’s best this kind of situation doesn’t happen again.”

He Yunshen stood straight, letting Zhou Qin lean on him. It seemed this wasn’t the first time; they had grown accustomed to it.

Their conversation sounded normal enough, yet their closeness was undeniable.

Though Shen Zhi felt a pang of displeasure, thinking about Zhou Qin’s background and suffering, she could only smile bitterly.

If she were He Yunshen, perhaps she wouldn’t have the heart to push Zhou Qin away either.

She turned to leave, convincing herself it was just ordinary sibling comfort.

“Yunshen, you’re all I have now. You’ll stay by my side, won’t you?”

Hearing this, Shen Zhi’s legs felt as if filled with lead, and she involuntarily stopped again.

“What you said in the car today—I don’t ever want to hear that again. Don’t say it wasn’t on purpose!”

He Yunshen’s tone was heavy, barely holding back anger, yet he never pushed Zhou Qin away.

“I just feel heartbroken. I’m so jealous—why is it that she, who came later, can have all your love?”

Zhou Qin lifted her tearful eyes to ask.

“Yunshen, tell me, do you really love her? Or did you marry her in spite because I left without a word?”

He Yunshen was silent for a long moment, his hands resting on Zhou Qin’s arms. Looking into her tear-filled eyes, he expressionlessly stepped aside.

Coldly distancing himself, he said, “There’s no real feeling between her and me...”

Shen Zhi felt as if she had fallen into an ice pit.

Her whole body trembled slightly.

She never expected that what she took as genuine love was just a casual “no feelings” in He Yunshen’s heart.

Then what was her sincere devotion all these years?

What were all those tender promises from He Yunshen worth?

Standing in the shadow of the corridor, Shen Zhi gazed blankly at the blurred figures, her heart aching unbearably.

...

“Shen Zhi, will you marry me?”

“Are you sure the one you want to marry is me? Won’t you regret it?”

“Silly girl, no one else but you.”

That day, He Yunshen was so gentle, so sincere, so deeply affectionate that Shen Zhi truly believed she was loved.

At the civil affairs bureau, like all lovers in the throes of romance, they pledged their vows, promising each other heartfelt love.

Looking at the young man she had longed for day and night, Shen Zhi was grateful he wasn’t marrying her out of childhood obligation.

She never mentioned the past to He Yunshen, firmly believing that their union was destiny.

Even after so many years, the right people would find each other.

Though married and living apart, she never doubted He Yunshen’s feelings for her.

Even when she saw him protect other women, she clung to a thread of hope, thinking it was a misunderstanding.

But now, she felt as if her years of devotion were nothing but a one-woman show no one cared about.

In He Yunshen’s world, she was merely an insignificant backdrop.

Tears welled in her eyes, refusing to fall. She bit her lip hard, hiding every trace of vulnerability.

Until everything around blurred, she leaned against the wall, gently stroking its cold surface, as if trying to soothe wounds torn open by lies.

Dragging her weary body, she wandered back to the hall, unwilling to listen further.

“But later I realized I was wrong. I always thought marrying her was out of helplessness, that she was just the best choice at the time. But that’s not true...”

He Yunshen spoke to himself, his gaze deep as if staring through time at his former self.

Zhou Qin was surprised, seemingly not expecting such words.

“You mean you’ve already fallen for her?”

He Yunshen didn’t answer, but in his heart, the answer was clear.

“Maybe... I didn’t understand before...”

“Yunshen, I had this child for you. Besides you two, I have nothing left.”

Zhou Qin interrupted, clutching him tightly from behind, tears soaking into the dark fabric of his suit, leaving streaks.

“If that’s the case, don’t say these things anymore. We should both forget the past.”

“No! I can’t forget. How could I forget the beautiful times we shared? You can’t forget either, can you?”

Zhou Qin cried more passionately.

He Yunshen forcefully pried her fingers apart, breaking free coldly.

“It ended the moment you chose someone else and went abroad.”

“I was forced, I didn’t want to trouble you, and I couldn’t face everything, so I chose to run away. Yunshen, you know, from beginning to end, you were the only one I ever loved.”

Back then, Zhou Qin had acted out of spite, getting involved with another man and trying to trap He Yunshen into fatherhood while he was drunk.

When He Yunshen decided to take responsibility, she vanished quietly and went abroad with another man.

“But my wife is only Shen Zhi.”

The implication was clear: she held no hope, urged to give up her illusions.

“I don’t need status, just don’t leave me.”

Zhou Qin misunderstood his meaning. He Yunshen frowned but didn’t want to be too harsh.

He knew Zhou Qin’s temperament; especially now, he couldn’t provoke her further.

“It’s time to go back. Don’t keep Dad waiting.”

With that, he turned and left slowly, leaving Zhou Qin standing in the wind, reaching out as if to grasp something—only to find empty air.

Back in the hall, Zhou Ting had already calmed Zhou Teng’s mood; his previously tense face had softened.

Zhou Qin kept her head down, silent as though awaiting an unspoken verdict.

“Since you’re back, live well.”

For Zhou Teng to say that meant he was beginning to accept his daughter.

But Zhou Qin couldn’t understand; she thought the old man was telling her to leave.

“Dad!”

The sudden shout shocked everyone present.

Zhou Qin had such audacity.

“Who allowed you to call me that?”

Zhou Teng flew into a rage, his bony hands gripping the wheelchair so tightly it creaked, nearly breaking.

“Dad, am I wrong to call you that? I’m your biological daughter. Whether you recognize me or not, that is an indisputable fact!”

Zhou Qin cried out as if releasing all her frustration, then turned and ran.

He Yunshen wanted to chase after her but realized Shen Zhi had vanished.

Zhou Teng was so furious he vomited blood on the spot. He Yunshen had no time to search for Shen Zhi and hurried to tend to him.

“Dad, are you alright? Quick, call a doctor!”

Shen Zhi had already excused herself early from Zhou Teng, citing company matters. He Yunshen hadn’t noticed because he was busy with Zhou Qin.

Originally, she had planned to take a few days off, but now it seemed unnecessary.

He Yunshen was unworthy of such deep love from her.

From now on, she would live for herself, no longer shedding tears or wasting herself on someone undeserving.

“Madam, Chairman Zhou asked me to escort you—”

“No need. I’ll go back on my own.”

Shen Zhi strode out of the villa boldly and flagged down a taxi by the roadside.

After driving a while, she suddenly snapped back to reality. How could there be taxis roaming in front of such an estate?

She looked up, and through the rearview mirror, their eyes met—a pair of familiar bright eyes.