Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Fu Nanfeng’s Jealousy

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As Shen Zhi caught sight of Fu Nanfeng approaching, her hand, which was about to pull the car door, suddenly stiffened.

…

“You know I don’t drink,” Shen Zhi said firmly, clutching the car window. She never touched alcohol, except when she was in a bad mood.

Jiang Shan smirked mischievously. “Who said you had to drink tonight?”

Shen Zhi looked at her in surprise. “…”

“I’m taking you to meet someone today!” Shan Shan blurted out, without any hesitation despite Fu Nanfeng standing right there.

Fu Nanfeng smiled gently. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”

“Alright, alright, I know someone will be nervous. Come on, get out of the car and relax a bit. With me and Nanfeng here, what bad thing could happen?” Jiang Shan teased.

Seeing Shan Shan’s usual open and cheerful demeanor and Fu Nanfeng’s faint smile, Shen Zhi felt reassured and got out of the car.

She had never liked gatherings like this.

Shan Shan took her hand and led her toward the private room of the club.

“Don’t worry, it’s a get-together organized by a senior from school. They asked Nanfeng and me to bring you along for some fun.”

“Which senior?” Shen Zhi asked softly.

“You should know him. You’ll see when we get there!” Jiang Shan said as they reached the door upstairs.

When the door opened, several men were seated inside the room, none of whom Shen Zhi recognized.

After greeting and settling them in, another handsome man entered.

He was tall and long-legged, dressed in a white shirt, with a broad smile as he nodded and greeted everyone.

Then, naturally, he came to Shen Zhi’s side and spoke warmly, “Long time no see.”

“Qin, Senior Qin!” Shen Zhi was surprised; she hadn’t expected to run into him after all these years.

She had heard that he went abroad for further studies right after graduating from university.

Jiang Shan and Fu Nanfeng had no idea that during university, Qin had pursued Shen Zhi, but she had refused him, saying she didn’t want to date at the time.

Fu Nanfeng and the others also knew him.

Shan Shan joked without restraint, “Yeah, wonder who broke Senior Qin’s heart back then, so he went abroad without a word after graduation.”

Qin adjusted his glasses and chuckled lightly. “Don’t listen to her nonsense. It was just heavy academic pressure; I had no choice.”

Shan Shan, who had been sitting beside Shen Zhi, stood up to give him her seat.

“Since you know each other, you must have a lot to catch up on.”

With that, she moved to the other side of Fu Nanfeng, leaving Shen Zhi stuck in the middle, a rather awkward position.

Almost simultaneously, Qin and Fu Nanfeng asked, “Would you like some juice?”

Shen Zhi nodded at both, her eyes drifting towards Shan Shan for help.

But the girl gave no response—she just wanted Shen Zhi to get used to the outside world.

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“Senior, how have things been abroad all these years?”

With the juice not yet served, Shen Zhi awkwardly forced a conversation, while Fu Nanfeng remained silent but his expression gave away his feelings.

He had noticed Qin’s different attitude toward Shen Zhi the moment they arrived.

“Are you… concerned about me?” Qin tilted his head, eyes full of expectation. Asking such an ambiguous question in front of everyone made Shen Zhi smile awkwardly, unsure how to respond.

After all, she was married now. Even with close male friends, joking like that seemed inappropriate.

She felt a twinge of guilt, even though He Yunshen wasn’t around.

“She’s not concerned, right, Shen Zhi?” Fu Nanfeng stepped in to save her, and Shen Zhi smiled sheepishly.

Just then, the juice was brought over. Shen Zhi immediately took a glass and put the straw to her lips.

“That one seems to be mine,” Qin said affectionately.

“This one’s yours. Drink up!” Fu Nanfeng passed the other glass, originally his, to Qin with a tone laced with tension.

Qin remained calm, knowing that Fu Nanfeng had liked Shen Zhi since they were young.

But he also knew that Shen Zhi only regarded him as a good friend.

He, however, was different. From the start, he had approached Shen Zhi as a suitor, so he could be blatant about it.

Fu Nanfeng, on the other hand, could only suffer in silence.

Qin raised his glass lightly and said, “Thanks for yielding.”

Hearing this, Fu Nanfeng was somewhat annoyed and turned to Shen Zhi in a softer tone, suggesting they leave.

“You said you don’t like these kinds of gatherings. How about I take you home first?”

“Leaving just after arriving?” Qin’s friends teased, and Shen Zhi didn’t want to get up. She was indeed feeling uncomfortable.

Fu Nanfeng regretted bringing Shen Zhi along. He barely knew Qin, had assumed he was a gentleman, but now saw he could take advantage of situations.

Although he had liked Shen Zhi for years, he would never embarrass her in public.

Seeing this, Shan Shan understood the situation.

It seemed that Qin had arranged this gathering tonight specifically to see Shen Zhi and deliberately brought Fu Nanfeng along as company.

She suddenly felt displeased. She had known Qin for years but never knew his affection was for Shen Zhi.

He had kept it well hidden!

“Senior, Shen Zhi here is already married. Don’t scare her.”

Qin smiled broadly, his mood softening, and said gently, “You and Yunshen must be very happy, right? I saw online reports—they say he’s a devoted husband.”

Hearing this, Shen Zhi paused.

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Had He Yunshen’s reputation as a devoted husband really reached overseas?

Though he was somewhat of an internet celebrity, he had indeed cultivated this image externally.

Every time He Yunshen returned from abroad, he would appear in the media with her, showing a loving couple’s image.

She had once wholeheartedly believed it, but now hearing it again felt somewhat laughable and pointless.

“Just ordinary spouses,” she replied.

“Are you happy with him?” Qin's voice was clear and soft, yet in the noisy private room, Shen Zhi heard it distinctly.

She didn’t want to answer. Whether it was Fu Nanfeng or Qin, she didn’t wish to share her marital relationship with any other man.

Fu Nanfeng stood and nudged Shen Zhi toward his seat, then sat beside Qin and raised his glass.

“Senior, I toast you.”

Qin smiled and clinked glasses but didn’t press further.

Watching Fu Nanfeng’s assertiveness, Shen Zhi recalled how she used to think He Yunshen and Fu Nanfeng were similar—both reserved, steady, and not expressive.

But now, she realized they were completely different.

Fu Nanfeng’s feelings were open and honest, while He Yunshen…

She suddenly found him hard to understand.

He seemed like a man without a heart.

He believed he wouldn’t feel pain, so others wouldn’t either. In his mind, only Zhou Qin was weak, pitiful, and helpless. Only with her did He Yunshen lose control.

Originally, Shan Shan had planned to take Shen Zhi away early, but now she didn’t want to leave.

If He Yunshen could go out with someone else, why couldn’t she?

At this moment, she didn’t want to go home to an empty room and wait for a message or a caring word.

He had changed long ago.

Since this trip back, he seemed like a different person, as if his previous devoted-husband image was all a facade, and now she was seeing the true him.

The gathering lasted until nearly dawn, with Shan Shan even clamoring for a second round—just the three of them: herself, Shen Zhi, and Fu Nanfeng.

But Fu Nanfeng, considering Shen Zhi’s poor health and upcoming surgery, politely declined Shan Shan’s invitation.

“It’s late enough already. Better to go home and rest.”

Shan Shan saw through Shen Zhi’s hesitation and agreed, “Alright then, why don’t you come to my place tonight?”

She didn’t want Shen Zhi to face loneliness alone or witness that heart-wrenching scene.

Because before she came to pick Shen Zhi up, she had seen He Yunshen and Zhou Qin embracing.

Perhaps even now, they were still wrapped up in each other’s arms, sharing a tender night.

“Zhi Zhi, haven’t you considered anyone else? I think Fu Nanfeng is a pretty good match!”