Chapter Five: The Folly of a Love-Struck Mind

The man’s expression grew inscrutable.

His tall figure suddenly loomed over her, one hand pressed firmly against the dining table, his eyes as dark and deep as the night.

“Why would I poison you?”

Some words caught in her throat.

Su Mian wanted to promise that what happened when she was eighteen would remain her secret, never to be told to anyone, let alone the Qin family.

She would let that secret rot inside her, buried deep until her grave, even vowing never to appear before him again in this lifetime.

But how could a mother’s intentions escape a man’s scrutinizing gaze?

If she spoke up, it would seem like blackmail, a desperate attempt to gain favor by dragging up the past.

After much thought, she forced a faint smile.

“I was joking. You… you cooked the noodles so well. The future sister-in-law is truly blessed.”

She lowered her head to pick up her chopsticks, the atmosphere thick with awkward tension, as if the next moment would completely tear away the fragile veil of pretense.

And the aftermath of that revelation was something she felt unable to bear.

The man’s eyes darkened.

“You’re eager for me to get married?”

Su Mian’s heart skipped a beat again, unease creeping through her body, unsure where to place her hands or feet.

Was this a tacit test, a warning?

Flustered, she looked up, striving to appear calm.

“Of course I hope so. I’ll even bless you. Don’t worry.”

That should suffice.

A cold surge seemed to swell beneath his gaze; his sharp brows knitted slightly, and the pressure in the room thickened.

After a moment, his thin lips parted to say only two words.

“Eat.”

With that, he rose and left.

The sound of his footsteps faded at the elevator entrance, leaving silence behind.

Su Mian exhaled slowly and carefully.

There was a sense of relief, as if surviving a storm.

That matter, it seemed, was settled.

The steaming bowl of soup noodles tasted exquisite, warming her aching stomach and granting her a few hours of peaceful sleep.

She didn’t linger foolishly to eat breakfast with the Qin family. Setting an alarm, she hurriedly left before anyone else awoke.

No sooner had she returned to her apartment than her best friend, Wen Kening, called.

“Mian Mian, where are you? Were you with Qin Yunzheng last night? Did you stay together all night, or did he come home late?”

Mention of Qin Yunzheng barely stirred her emotions. Her voice was cool as she replied, “We broke up.”

A moment of silence followed on the other end. Wen Kening’s tone grew more anxious.

“Mian Mian, you already know?”

No one understood better than her how much Su Mian had sacrificed for Qin Yunzheng, which only fueled her anger now.

“That bastard was unbearable. When his legs were broken, he never left your side, threw tantrums if he couldn’t see you, never gave you an inch of privacy. Now that he’s healed, he’s abandoned you to chase after other women, posting scandalous photos on his private social media account late at night. It’s disgusting.”

Su Mian recalled the message Zhang Tao had sent her yesterday, and a pang of pain struck her heart.

“I’ve moved out of the Qin family home. For now, I’m staying at Luming Apartments. Can you help me keep an eye out for a quiet place?”

“Luming Apartments? Isn’t that a property from the Qin family? Why are you still looking for a place?”

Wen Kening suddenly understood.

“You’re cutting ties with the Qin family? Makes sense, since the engagement is off. You should settle the shares your father left behind. I’ll find you a lawyer, and we can meet to discuss.”

“Okay.”

Just as Su Mian was about to hang up, Wen Kening called out urgently.

“Mian Mian! Don’t go back! A man’s infidelity happens either once or countless times—he’s not worth forgiving.”

A sting rose in Su Mian’s nose.

Taking care of Qin Yunzheng hadn’t been easy at first.

She was often injured.

Wen Kening had warned her back then: a man who vents his anger on others, even resorts to violence, isn’t someone to entrust your heart to.

But Su Mian had firmly believed that Qin Yunzheng’s behavior was because of his disability, and once he recovered, he would love and protect her twice as much.

The truth proved that love blinded her judgment.

“I know. Don’t worry, I won’t look back.”

After ending the call, Su Mian began tidying her room.

Her hurried return yesterday had left things temporarily stuffed into the closet.

Other belongings were manageable, but the expensive jewelry and dresses required careful inventory and appraisal for future use.

She busied herself until well past two in the afternoon before having a late breakfast.

Casually opening social media, notifications from her special follow list flooded her screen.

Qin Yunzheng was pictured with Lin Qingqing, their faces nearly touching, smiling so radiantly it almost overflowed the screen.

The caption read: “A new beginning.”

A rose emoji followed.

On the open collar of the man’s black shirt, a smear of lipstick marked the fabric, evidence of intimate moments before the photo was taken.

Surprisingly, not a single comment was left beneath the post.

Probably everyone was still recovering from last night’s revelry.

Looking at the man’s smile in the photo, Su Mian’s lips curled slightly.

She had once loved deeply, but she could neither forgive graciously nor remain friends.

She reached out to remove the special follow and blocked the account.

As for Qin Yunzheng, she refreshed his page every five minutes, even during work hours, unable to stop herself.

Yet beneath the post, which only she and Wen Kening had access to, there was still no comment.

Even if Su Mian chose not to look, Wen Kening’s nosy nature wouldn’t let her miss it.

Seeing no reaction was clearly intentional.

“How long do you think you can hold out?”

He threw his newly changed phone onto the sofa in a fit of anger. But the phone rang the next moment.

He grabbed it immediately, but seeing the caller ID, his lifted spirits sank again.

It wasn’t Su Mian calling—it was Xu Yao.

Irritated, he answered.

“What is it?”

The other side was noisy; obviously, Xu Yao wasn’t alone.

“Old Qin, did Su Mian really give you a scene last night? I heard from Zhang Tao she’s determined to break up with you. You’re not serious, right? Otherwise, I’ll have Zhang Tao call her out tonight so you can sweet-talk her.”

Qin Yunzheng’s mood was already sour, and being teased by his good friend only deepened his annoyance at Su Mian’s stubbornness.

“Who wants to sweet-talk her! If it’s over, it’s over. Tell Zhang Tao to mind his own business!”

Xu Yao laughed heartily.

“I think he’s the one being nosy. Su Mian’s been glued to your side all these years, practically the ultimate clingy girlfriend. She won’t let you go. I bet she won’t last past tonight before begging you to forgive her.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the doorbell rang outside the villa.

Qin Yunzheng felt the heavy cloud of frustration that had weighed on his chest all night finally dissipate. Without waiting for the servant, he strode out.

A cold, confident smile played on his lips as he spoke softly into the still-open phone.

“No need to wait until tonight. She’s already here.”

Laughter erupted on the other end. Xu Yao shouted for him not to hang up, eager to witness firsthand how he would “discipline” a woman.

Still smarting from the breakup, Qin Yunzheng hesitated before ending the call. But as he opened the door, he found the milk delivery man looking bewildered while closing the milk box.

“Why the change in delivery today?” the man muttered, mounting his electric scooter and speeding away, the sound slapping against Qin Yunzheng’s face and causing the others on the call to suppress their laughter.

The servant followed close behind, equally stunned.

“Sir, are you going out?” he asked.

But Qin Yunzheng hadn’t even changed his clothes.

His face flushed crimson as he hung up, eyes darkening, and turned toward the living room.

Damn Su Mian.

He would never forgive her easily.

Crying and begging wouldn’t work.

Before he reached the living room, the doorbell rang again.

This time, he didn’t answer. Standing on the stone steps with his back turned, he waited until the footsteps stopped before turning his head with icy disdain.

“Su Mian, who gave you permission to come in… Mom?”

Qin Yunzheng’s mother, elegant and noble, now wore a frosty expression.

“Mian Mian really left last night?”

The villa had many servants; news was impossible to keep secret.

Qin Yunzheng remained silent, his face taut.

His mother had watched Su Mian grow up and understood well the depth of her feelings for her son.

Three years of tireless care was something few could endure.

If she hadn’t been brokenhearted, how could she have left home on her own son’s birthday night?

Thinking of the rumors, Qin Yunzheng’s mother’s anger flared as she twisted his arm.

“Fire that secretary Lin Qingqing immediately. I’m telling you, if you dare wrong Mian Mian, neither your father nor I will allow it. I’m calling Mian Mian now. When she returns, you will apologize properly.”