Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Qiao Lian stood outside the door quietly, listening to the conversation that was going on inside the room.

They were probably halfway through their discussion, and it wasn’t a happy one.

Just when she had arrived, she heard Shen Liangchuan speaking in a suppressed cold tone, “… Song Yuanxi!” His voice sounded tense.

Although Song Yuanxi’s voice was trembling, she spoke stubbornly, “Brother Liangchuan, what did I do wrong? She’s not fit to be part of the team!”

“Whether she’s fit or not, it’s not for you to decide!”

Song Yuanxi laughed derisively and snapped back, “Then who has the say? You? Brother Liangchuan, have you fallen in love with her?”

Shen Liangchuan kept silent and did not answer her.

Song Yuanxi gave a bitter laugh that was at the same time chilling. “Brother Liangchuan, indeed, you have fallen for her. This is a joke… How could you fall in love with her? And be so protective towards her? She does not deserve it! And I will set her up so that she cannot remain in the Shen Family! I want her to—”

“Enough!” Shen Liangchuan cut her off sharply. “I warned you after the last incident.”

Song Yuanxi continued boldly, “So what?”

“How are you going to punish me?” her voice choked with emotions. “Are you going to send me away again? Or are you going to cut off my bank account? Or call the police and throw me in jail?”

She continued, “Brother Liangchuan, you may have forgotten all that had happened eight years ago, but I haven’t!”

She took a step forward and asked forcefully, “Tell me, have I done anything wrong?”

She shook her head and took a step back. Without waiting for Shen Liangchuan’s answer, she continued to speak. “No, I did nothing wrong. You’re the one in the wrong. You forgot your initial intention… you forgot that it was a fake marriage!”

The words ‘fake marriage’ were like knives piercing viciously through Qiao Lian’s heart.

Finding it increasingly difficult to stomach the conversation, Qiao Lian, who was still standing outside the room, turned pale and retreated.

She widened her eyes as she heard Song Yuanxi continue, “Brother Liangchuan, there’s one thing I can be sure of. Unless you put me behind bars, as long as I’m here, I will not allow you two to be happy together!”

“This is not the first and it won’t be the last! I will make sure you have no peace!”

She said these vicious words boldly.

And after speaking, sobbing could be heard.

Then, silence. No one spoke for a while.

The silence along the hotel corridor was deafening and choking.

She had no idea how much time passed before she heard Shen Liangchuan finally speak again, “As long as I’m around, I won’t allow anyone to harm her!”

Having said this, he walked to the room door.

Reflexively, Qiao Lian retreated into the stairwell next to the room. Through the glass panel on the door, she could see Shen Liangchuan.

His normally calm expression was replaced by a look of exhaustion. He looked as though there was a tonne of rocks tied to his feet and every step was unbearably heavy.

Qiao Lian’s heart ached to look upon such a sorrowful Shen Liangchuan.

He walked towards the lift like a lost soul.

She watched his back view disappear before she stepped out from behind the door and stood before Room 1218.

Pushing the door open, she entered the room.

Song Yuanxi’s eyes were bloodshot and her gaze was still trained on the room door. When she saw Qiao Lian enter, she was stunned for a moment.

Suddenly, as though realizing something, her gaze deepened.

Qiao Lian spoke before Song Yuanxi could say anything, “Song Yuanxi, who exactly are you?”

The expression on Song Yuanxi’s face told Qiao Lian that the monster was about to rear its ugly head. Song Yuanxi laughed derisively as she said, “You wish to know who I am? Good, I’ll tell you the answer right now!”