Volume One, Chapter Eight: Can't Take It Anymore?

"He Yunshen, you..."

Before Jiang Shanshan could finish her sentence, she saw Zhou Qin approaching with a tray of tea. The onlookers immediately grasped the situation.

"Director Shen didn't come to the office today, but Miss Jiang did. It seems a storm is brewing!"

"Who's to say otherwise! What exactly is Zhou Qin’s background that she could drive Director Shen away?"

"Didn't you hear yesterday? This Special Assistant Zhou calls President He 'brother'."

"Hmph, 'brother'? These days, young girls call every man 'brother' or 'honey'—ugh, disgusting."

The colleagues in the office area craned their necks, whispering among themselves. They were accustomed to Jiang Shanshan’s forthright personality, but the only thing that could make her storm into the General Manager's office was something related to Shen Zhi.

Zhou Qin walked over to Jiang Shanshan with a calm, swaying grace and elegantly offered the tea. "President He is out on urgent business. If there is anything you need help with, Miss Jiang, I can handle it on his behalf."

Shanshan curled her lips in contempt, her eyes scanning the woman before her with ill intent. "You? Based on what?"

Zhou Qin was no pushover. She had clashed with Shanshan head-on back in their university days. She knew that Shanshan had come to champion Shen Zhi’s cause once again.

"After all these years, Miss Jiang, you are still as sharp as ever. Your sister-in-law is truly lucky to have a friend like you!"

Zhou Qin retrieved the cup that Shanshan hadn't touched, set it aside, and casually opened her computer, asking if she needed any legal assistance.

Shanshan refused to coddle her. She leaned in, resting one hand on the desk, and eyed this shameless woman. "Others might not be aware, but your feelings for He Yunshen—all these years, even now that they are married, do you still feel bitter, Miss Zhou?"

Zhou Qin’s hands froze, and her eyes clouded with turmoil.

"If He Yunshen knew how the woman he always treated like a younger sister had plotted to ruin herself back then..."

"Stop it!"

Zhou Qin’s eyes brimmed with complex emotions. She glared at Jiang Shanshan, her trembling hands clenching into fists. She never expected that anyone else would know about what happened back then, let alone that this person would be Shen Zhi’s best friend.

"I had no intention of interfering in other people's business, but if someone continues to provoke me and harm my friend, don't blame me for being heartless. You had better watch yourself!"

With those words, Shanshan turned and left.

Back then, everyone assumed He Yunshen and Zhou Qin were a couple; few knew they were actually step-siblings. Jiang Shanshan had accidentally stumbled upon the schemes Zhou Qin was running behind the scenes. As long as Shen Zhi wasn't harmed, she had chosen not to be a busybody and expose her. But now, this woman had returned after disappearing for several years and had already driven Shen Zhi to run away from home.

She had come today partly to see what on earth He Yunshen was doing to hurt Shen Zhi so deeply, and partly to handle some business matters at her father's request. Seeing Zhou Qin was entirely unexpected.

After Jiang Shanshan left, Zhou Qin’s turbulent emotions took a long time to settle. She could only vent her burning rage on the cup of water on her desk. Looking back, she had gone to such lengths to trap He Yunshen, sacrificing her own reputation to do so. She had thought her plan was flawless, yet Jiang Shanshan knew.

However, judging by her tone, Shen Zhi likely still didn't know the truth. Besides, Shanshan probably lacked evidence. Even if she told He Yunshen, Zhou Qin could simply claim that Shanshan was framing her out of spite for her best friend.

She and He Yunshen shared no blood relation; they were meant to be a couple. If not for the sudden appearance of Shen Zhi, the woman known as Mrs. He today should have been her, Zhou Qin!

With this thought, the anger in Zhou Qin’s heart slowly began to subside. To protect the "happiness" she had fought so hard to obtain, she would never allow anyone to destroy this harmony! Never!

Meanwhile, as soon as He Yunshen left the office, he called the person who had sent him the photos.

"Where is she now?"

"Her? She left ages ago!"

"I see."

It turned out He Yunshen had received photos of Shen Zhi and Fu Nanfeng together at a café. Fu Nanfeng? Was she really that impatient!

Outwardly, He Yunshen remained calm, but inside, a fire of jealousy was burning. He hadn't expected Shen Zhi to be so eager to meet another man the moment she left home—especially a man who had pursued her for years. If it were anyone else, He Yunshen might not have paid it any mind, but Fu Nanfeng had been hovering around Shen Zhi since the day they met. Anyone with eyes could see how deeply Fu Nanfeng was in love with her.

He Yunshen believed Shen Zhi would never leave him, but that didn't mean he could tolerate other men around her. Especially when he saw her smiling so radiantly. It wasn't just about his mood; if the wrong people started gossiping, it would cause trouble for his family and his career.

With that in mind, he dialed Shen Zhi’s number.

*Beep... beep... beep...*

Seeing it was He Yunshen calling, Shen Zhi didn't want to answer. Since she had already left, she just wanted to give herself a quiet few days off and not think about those frustrating matters.

Once, twice...

Shen Zhi let the phone ring and ring, choosing to act as if she hadn't heard it. But the more she ignored him, the deeper He Yunshen’s suspicions grew. Accustomed to tracking Shen Zhi’s every move, he found this cold treatment difficult to accept. For years, even though they lived in different places, Shen Zhi had always reported her whereabouts and answered his calls; she had never been unreachable.

He thought he had full control over Shen Zhi, not realizing that three years could change many things. It wasn't just He Yunshen who was changing—Shen Zhi was growing too!

"Fine, very well, Shen Zhi. How dare you ignore my calls?"

He Yunshen kicked the stone steps in anger, followed immediately by a sharp, bone-deep pain. He quickly realized his loss of composure and gave a bitter laugh. "Shen Zhi, do you really think I care?"

He was in the habit of thinking that Shen Zhi only acted close to other men to get his attention. After all, it wasn't the first time she had done this. Back in university, whenever he grew close to other girls, a male companion would always appear by Shen Zhi’s side. He Yunshen subconsciously assumed she was just trying to compete with him.

He was used to pretending to be magnanimous and indifferent in front of her. To maintain his gentlemanly facade, he adjusted his mood and sent her a message. It was the candid photo, but the angle happened to show Fu Nanfeng with his hand on Shen Zhi’s arm as he closed a door for her.

He attached the text: "When you are out, do watch your words and actions. Don't forget that your identity is Mrs. He."

When Shen Zhi saw the message, she found it childish and ridiculous. She and Fu Nanfeng were long-time, dear friends. If a married couple didn't even have that much trust, then it was truly time to reconsider whether they were right for each other.

"President He, there is no need to worry. I have my own sense of propriety."

The implication was that He Yunshen was the one lacking propriety; he had defended Zhou Qin in front of the entire company!

So, he couldn't handle it now?

She suddenly felt a sense of vengeful satisfaction. Perhaps it was because she had always been too accommodating that He Yunshen thought he was a god in control of everything. But this feeling passed in an instant.

If a relationship required the stimulus of a third person to feel real, was there any point in keeping it alive?