After Teasing the Heroine and Running Away, I Was Forced into Love - Chapter 41

“Come on, Grandpa’s as tough as nails!”

He Shanjian had a secret buried deep in his heart, but… he knew he couldn’t keep it hidden much longer. A few days ago, his assistant had called him.

The assistant reported that just as the surveillance footage was being deleted, He Roushuang’s personal assistant had arrived in the nick of time to stop it.

The timing of his arrival was suspiciously perfect, like a grand eunuch rushing to the execution grounds with an imperial decree, halting the executioner’s blade at the last moment.

His fingers clenched tightly, He Shanjian felt a gnawing guilt he couldn’t shake. He wondered if the footage showing his deliberate delay in getting medical help had already reached his father’s hands.

Of course, he was terrified.

At that moment, He Shanjian finally understood the feelings of Li Shimin and Liu Ju, both princes forced into rebellion.

“Let’s not dwell on these messy family matters. I came out with you guys today to clear my head, so why are we even talking about this?”

The mere thought of it made him irritable, so He Shanjian chose to avoid the topic altogether.

“Alright, let’s change the subject.”

“Shanjian, did you hear?”

“Xu Wangjin is apparently coming back to the country. Rumor has it her mother faked an illness to trick her into meeting with the sons of several major corporations.”

The moment He Shanjian heard Xu Wangjin’s name, his mind exploded like a collapsing mountain, leaving him momentarily unable to think.

“Really?!”

The reason he’d been instantly drawn to Shi Qing at the bar was because she looked so much like Wangjin, giving him a disorienting sense that she was still by his side.

Many of his friends had urged him to go find Xu Wangjin.

“Plane tickets are nothing compared to your love! Go after her boldly! If Xu Wangjin slaps you, just lick it off…”

Though their advice was terrible, He Shanjian had to admit he’d considered it.

But alas…

She wouldn’t see him, and she didn’t love him.

He Roushuang naturally received news of Xu Wangjin’s return to the country. In the novel, this was a crucial plot twist.

However… the progression felt far too rapid.

This development was supposed to occur after at least a hundred chapters. Why was it happening now?

He Roushuang was utterly perplexed, but she couldn’t really complain. After all, she herself had been flirting with the Female Lead, so plot deviations were to be expected.

Thanks to He Roushuang’s deliberate yet subtle efforts to get closer, they had already established a basic rapport.

Therefore, He Roushuang took the initiative to suggest meeting in person the day after tomorrow.

“Sure, I’d love to get to know you better,” Xu Wangjin replied in a gentle voice, sounding like a kind and approachable language arts teacher.

Xu Wangjin rarely sent voice messages.

Ugh!

He Roushuang finally breathed a sigh of relief. Persistence in maintaining contact with people could indeed yield the desired results.

Once she solidified her relationship with Xu Wangjin, she could ensure the latter stayed far away from the Male Lead in the future.

Hahaha! I’ve snatched away the two most important women in He Shanjian’s life. Let’s see how he handles that!

He Roushuang’s heart burst with fireworks at the mere thought. But her elation didn’t last long.

Shi Qing emerged from the bathroom, having made two trips to the hospital that day—one to her mother’s hospital and another to Sister He’s father’s hospital. She felt like she’d been pickled in the disinfectant smell.

As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom, she saw He Roushuang holding her phone, laughing uncontrollably like a kitten exposing its belly to its owner and purring softly.

What could possibly make He Roushuang so happy?

Intrigued, Shi Qing approached cautiously.

It seemed both women were hiding secret, unspeakable thoughts from each other. Sensing Shi Qing’s approach, He Roushuang instinctively wanted to flee.

But then she thought, I haven’t done anything behind her back anyway!

Mingming was the most upright person she knew, and keeping secrets only bred misunderstandings. He Roushuang smiled and handed her phone over.

She refused to let their relationship devolve into the endless misunderstandings that plagued the male and female leads in the original novel. Direct communication, open and honest, was the safest and most reliable approach.

Shi Qing seemed surprised by He Roushuang’s generosity.

Compelled by some inexplicable impulse, she reached out and took the phone.

She successfully saw their chat history. It was just a casual gathering with a close friend…

Looks like my paranoia got the better of me.

Hmph…

Shi Qing inwardly scoffed at herself. Where did I even get the nerve to suspect my Gold Master?

Even if her Gold Master were seeing someone else, from Shi Qing’s perspective as a mistress—the lowest rung on the social ladder in this society—what right did she have to act like a jealous lover?

No wonder He Wenzhi had said, “You’ll only truly accept her after you’ve been together for a long time.”

There was a reason for that.

“I was chatting with a close friend. She’s back in the country, but her schedule is packed. I can’t see her until the day after tomorrow.”

Shi Qing was about to hand He Roushuang her phone back when she suddenly noticed something strange. The profile picture looked vaguely familiar, but it was too small to make out clearly at first glance.

When she tapped to enlarge it, Shi Qing’s heart plummeted into an abyss. She recognized the person in the photo—she had seen him before, in that slightly ajar drawer.

“Is this… him?” Shi Qing’s voice trembled slightly. He Roushuang nodded.

“Yes, my brother’s first love.”

He Roushuang assumed this explanation would be clear enough, but Shi Qing simply placed the phone on the table with a sharp clack.

“My phone…”

He Roushuang had only been wealthy for a few months and still cared about her new phone. After all, the more expensive the phone, the more fragile it tended to be.

“Is she really He Shanjian’s first love?”

“Or… the person my sister likes?”

He Roushuang felt trapped in the narrow space between the sofa cushions, her head pressed against the armrest as she watched Shi Qing lean over her from above.

Shi Qing’s long black hair obscured the light from the crystal chandelier, leaving only a pair of melancholic eyes visible.

“Shi Qing…”

He Roushuang’s heart pounded so hard she felt it might burst from her chest. Then realization struck: Wait… I’m supposed to be the domineering CEO! How did the innocent female lead end up rubbing me into the ground?!

“I wanted to believe you at first, Sister, but… you seemed so happy chatting with her. It made me think it was just an excuse. Maybe you and your brother both like the same person?”

“So I’m just a fake, fought over and tossed around, right?”

Shi Qing’s words grew increasingly sharp. The old Shi Qing would never have dared such an impudent and foolish act—lashing out at her boss, her Gold Master.

He Roushuang was momentarily speechless. How could she prove her innocence to make Shi Qing believe her? No matter how she looked at it, the distance between her and the white moonlight was undeniably ambiguous.

If I were in her shoes, I wouldn’t believe it either.

“No, you’re not a fake.”

Regardless of the choice, the immediate priority was to soothe this wounded cat.