Chapter Forty-Four: Decision

Shen Qingli brushed back her hair and spoke coolly, “Sorry, I can’t help you.”

Father Shen shouted anxiously, “Qingli, you promised me! When you came, you clearly said you would help me!”

Shen Qingli glanced at the wound on Shen Jingrong’s forehead, her tone mocking, “You can blame your precious daughter for that. She angered A-Jin. Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn’t.”

Father Shen stared at Shen Jingrong, a sense of dread rising within him. His voice trembled as he asked, “What did you do?”

Shen Jingrong would never admit it. Meeting Father Shen’s almost murderous gaze, she grew afraid. Realizing all this was her own doing, she collapsed to the ground in panic.

Shen Qingli watched her dejection with a cold laugh. “She lured A-Jin to the old Lu family mansion, stripped herself naked, drugged him, and then shamelessly tried to seduce him! Tell me, do you think A-Jin will ever forgive you?”

Though her words exposed Shen Jingrong’s actions, Shen Qingli’s eyes were fixed firmly on Father Shen.

Hearing this, Father Shen’s rage could no longer be contained. He had worked so hard to secure this last chance with Shen Qingli, only to have that idiot Shen Jingrong ruin it!

He broke free from those restraining him, lunged at Shen Jingrong, and delivered a resounding slap.

His finger shook as he pointed at her, his voice harsh and loud, “You fool! Shameless wretch, you’ve ruined me! After all my affection, you bring nothing but disaster!”

Tears streamed down Shen Jingrong’s face as she stared at her father. She had never imagined the man who once doted on her would say such things.

The prosecutor nearby, having had enough of this wealthy family’s drama, raised an arm. “Take them away!”

Father Shen understood there was no forgiveness left in Xie Jinchuan. He stopped resisting and left, dejected, under escort.

Only Shen Jingrong, tearful and distraught, and Shen Qingli, standing aside, remained in the hall.

Shen Jingrong’s gaze fixed on Shen Qingli. Remembering her father’s scolding and Xie Jinchuan’s contempt, she placed all the blame on Shen Qingli.

If not for her, Xie Jinchuan would have married her, the Shen family wouldn’t have fallen—it was all her fault!

She struggled to her feet and lunged at Shen Qingli, intent on striking her.

Watching Shen Jingrong act like a madwoman, Shen Qingli merely raised her brows and caught her wrist with ease, leaning in to whisper mockingly, “Look at yourself, an omen of misfortune.”

Hearing those words, Shen Jingrong flew into a greater frenzy, tried to pull her hand back, and screamed, “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

Shen Qingli flung her aside, sending her crashing to the floor. She sneered, “Look at you, like a stray dog. You want to kill me? By all means, try.”

Writhing in pain, Shen Jingrong spotted a fruit knife on the table, grabbed it, and charged at Shen Qingli.

Shen Qingli neither dodged nor flinched, but called silently upon the system.

“Strength Pill!”

[Alright, Host.]

Cai Cai redeemed it without hesitation.

After using the item, Shen Qingli’s grip on Shen Jingrong’s wrist was unbreakable. Shen Jingrong felt a sharp pain and involuntarily let go—the fruit knife dropped to the ground.

Turning her hand, Shen Qingli slapped her hard, leaving Shen Jingrong’s face swollen.

She pushed Shen Jingrong back to the floor, looking down from above. “You try to take everything from me, but what are you, really!”

Shen Jingrong’s mind was foggy, her strength spent—she could no longer resist.

Ignoring her, Shen Qingli picked up her bag and left the Shen residence.

Not long after she stepped outside, a furious scream echoed from the hall behind her.

She smiled contentedly, headed for her car, and drove home.

By the time she arrived, the sky was growing dim. She unlocked the door, set her bag down in the entryway, and was greeted by the rich aroma of chicken soup.

Xie Jinchuan, wearing a pink apron that hardly suited his usual demeanor, poked his head out from the kitchen. The coldness he usually wore was softened by a faint smile. “You’re back? I made you some soup—it’ll be ready soon!”

With that, he disappeared back into the kitchen to finish preparing the meal.

Suppressing the complicated emotions in her eyes, Shen Qingli changed her shoes.

She slipped on her slippers and sat on the sofa, watching the silhouette bustling in the kitchen. She suddenly wanted to rush over and ask him if he was only pretending, if all this warmth was just a trap, luring her step by step to surrender her life for the power of the Flower Goddess.

She opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to ask.

She wasn’t sure if she was simply afraid or something else entirely.

It felt as if her heart had split into two little selves.

One urged her to trust Xie Jinchuan—he was so good to her, so gentle!

The other warned her not to believe him, that it was all a lie—he only wanted her life!

Clutching her head in pain, Shen Qingli was at a loss.

A warm hand took hers.

She looked up to see Xie Jinchuan’s beautiful phoenix eyes filled with worry. “Ali, what’s wrong? Does your head hurt?”

She bit her lip, gazing into his eyes, and saw nothing but genuine concern.

She shook her head, not wanting to look any longer.

She simply couldn’t believe this man wanted her dead.

The love in his eyes was so clear—could someone really pretend so well?

Yet the way he’d approached her had been odd, and the affection he showed her was always tinged with something strange. She couldn’t help but be suspicious.

Noticing her low spirits, Xie Jinchuan’s voice softened, coaxing her like a child, “Ali, I made your favorite ribs. Let’s eat, alright?”

He led her to the dining table. It was clear he’d poured his heart into the meal—every dish was a feast for the senses.

As she sat, she watched Xie Jinchuan, still in his pink apron, serve her rice.

She decided to test him first. If it turned out to be as her mother warned, then she would simply run.

Though she’d thought of killing him earlier when she first learned the truth at the Shen residence, facing those gentle eyes now, she simply couldn’t do it.

If her mother was right, then she’d just escape as far as she could.

After dinner, Shen Qingli excused herself, saying she was tired, and retreated to her room.

Noticing the fatigue between her brows, Xie Jinchuan said nothing, simply handed her a cup of hot water and reminded her to rest well.

He was uneasy about the mess Shen Jingrong had caused, worried it had truly upset Shen Qingli. So he gave her space to rest without protest.