Chapter 502

Why didn't you tell me?

Before Huang Zhao Yi could finish speaking, she was interrupted—her mother walked out of the bedroom.

The mother, who had just sensed something unusual in the bedroom, grew serious at her daughter's words.

Seeing her mother appear out of nowhere, Huang Zhao Yi froze in shock.

She quickly stepped into the bedroom, glancing at the trash bin—lingerie, silk stockings, underwear, and a pile of tissues—then at the wrinkled sheets, then at the photo frame on the nightstand, clearly moved.

In that instant, she wanted to die.

For over thirty years, aside from refusing arranged dates, she had always been the perfect daughter.

Beautiful as a flower, independent and capable, she was her parents' pride.

As a result, she was pampered since childhood—spoiled until age twenty-seven, until she first refused to marry.

Now, the unsightly remnants of passion in the trash could shatter all the beautiful impressions she'd built in her mother's heart over the years.

But soon she tried to comfort herself.

After all, which young woman doesn't dream of love?

Which young woman, when faced with true love, could remain cold and reserved?

Which young woman, before the one she loves, doesn't strive to show her best, to please him?

Besides, both are adults, mutually willing—what's wrong with playing a little private game in the bedroom?

The problem is, her mother had exposed it all—leaving her utterly humiliated, unable to bear the shame.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on this—she was deeply frustrated.

Extremely frustrated.

She had waited, day after day, night after night, for Li Heng.

Finally, she had gotten a chance to meet her lover—only for her mother and older sister to show up unannounced.

Fine, let them come—but why didn't they warn her first?

She had no time to prepare, and they caught Li Heng red-handed.

Huang Zhao Yi seethed inwardly: Was her fate so thin? Was she just not meant for happiness?

Why else would her mother and older sister arrive at this exact moment?

Why else would they ruin her moment with Li Heng?

From last night to today had been the happiest, most joyful, most peaceful days of her life.

During this time, she realized that beyond his intense physical desire for her, Li Heng had also developed a thread of affection for her.

Two simple phrases—"Let it be natural," and "I've made you suffer"—shattered her defenses, brought her to tears.

Before, she had been nothing but his golden cage bird, his secret mistress, a vessel for his lust.

But through this encounter, through those two sentences, Huang Zhao Yi knew: she had risen.

This rise didn't mean marriage—it meant stepping from secret mistress into his heart.

Even if she still hovered at its edge, far behind Song Yu, Xiao Han, and Chen Zijin, even if she couldn't match Mai Sui or Yu Shuheng, her place in his heart had undergone a radical transformation.

He refused to let her take birth control pills, allowed her to carry his child—this went far beyond the role of a mere lover; she had become his woman.

Just being his woman seemed simple—but this step had cost her more than the first time she slept with him.

Li Heng was outstanding—not just brilliant, but also possessing exceptional physical appeal that naturally drew women to him.

Indeed, even the lowest-tier woman among his circle, like "Fudan Xiao Wang," stood far above ordinary people.

She was a rare gem, a woman most men could only dream of.

Yet there were many such women—Chen Zijin, Mai Sui, and even Wei Xiaozhu, who was close to him.

But there were quite a few others at Wang Xiao's level from Fudan—Chen Zijin, Mai Sui, and also Wei Xiaozhu, who was quite close to him.

As for Xiao Han, Song Yu, Zhou Shihe, and Yu Shuheng, she no longer even bothered to list them.

Ignoring family background, Xiao Han and Yu Shuheng's overall qualities were no worse than hers.

Song Yu and Zhou Shihe were so beautiful they left her breathless, filling her with envy.

True, Zhou Shihe was only his friend—but that only proved his charisma: he could attract a woman whose family was even more powerful than the Huangs, whose personal qualities surpassed hers.

And yet, these women—so many men could only dream of—were all entangled with him. This made Huang Zhao Yi, once so confident, begin to doubt herself.

It wasn't that she was weak or unworthy—it was that her rivals were too strong.

Her age was her fatal flaw, one she could never overcome.

And these were only the visible threats—how many more women lurked in the shadows, watching him?

How hard, then, was it for her, with her inferior starting point and enemies all around, to claw her way into the position of "his woman," to earn his recognition?

Only last night did Huang Zhao Yi feel truly alive—for the first time, her life had meaning, her blood ran warm, the air tasted sweet, and hope returned.

But at the peak of her happiness, at the very moment her relationship with him was transforming, her mother and sister arrived—unexpectedly, violently—casting a shadow over her and Li Heng's bond.

They introduced uncertainty, added dangerous variables.

Huang Zhao Yi, always self-reliant, now felt heartache so sharp she could barely breathe. She couldn't lose him—couldn't lose this pillar of her spirit—wouldn't become a hollow shell.

Thoughts flashed like lightning, countless worries racing through her mind. She took two deep breaths, calming her turbulent emotions, forcing reason to override feeling.

She knew now wasn't the time to sulk.

Taking two more deep breaths, Huang Zhao Yi turned and left the bedroom, glancing at the three silently facing off in the living room, then looked at Li Heng with profound apology.

"I can't cook for you today. Go ahead—I'll see you downstairs."

Li Heng glanced at Huang Mu, then at Huang Xuying, and stayed seated, his face filled with concern—clearly refusing to leave her side.

Seeing this, Huang Zhao Yi's heart warmed; the icy lake within her stirred with spring breeze.

For this alone, she'd love him three lifetimes over.

But she didn't want to burden him, didn't want him caught between them. Under her mother and sister's stares, she walked gracefully to Li Heng, bent down, kissed his lips, then his cheek.

Then, whispering in his ear: "Thank you. I can handle this. I'll contact you later."

His eyes asked: Can you really manage?

Her gaze answered: The secret's out. If you stay, they'll push harder—demand you marry me. Think of Xiao Han, Song Yu, Chen Zijin, Yu Shuheng—you can't afford to act on emotion. You must go.

They locked eyes for a moment. Finally, Huang Zhao Yi grabbed his wrist, pulled with all her strength, and rose, dragging him toward the stairwell.

She didn't look at her mother or sister.

As the two were about to leave, Huang Mu finally spoke from behind: "Stop!"

Huang Mu caught up, staring into Li Heng's eyes: "Little Li—I'll call you that for now. I'm Zhao Yi's mother. Since we've met, stay for a meal."

Neither side was foolish. Seeing her younger daughter acting so secretive, Huang Mu sensed something was off—perhaps not what she imagined. So before understanding fully, she wouldn't let Li Heng leave.

Hearing this, Li Heng stood still, unable to force his way out.

Just as he opened his mouth to reply, Huang Zhao Yi stomped her foot, clenched her teeth, turned back, and whispered into her mother's ear: "I'm just having an affair with him. Mom, let's talk privately."

The effect was immediate.

Huang Mu froze, struck like lightning. Her eyes darted between her daughter and Li Heng, then dimmed with fury.

Her daughter was having an affair. As mistress of the Huang household, with her dignity and upbringing, she couldn't confront Li Heng yet—not until she understood the full truth.

She instinctively felt that, given Zhao Yi's deep longing for Li Heng, given how desperately she'd once wanted him, Zhao Yi might have been the one to seduce him.

Huang Mu was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place, her eyes flickering angrily between her younger daughter and Li Heng, then gradually dimming.

He hadn't wanted to move—but Huang Zhao Yi half-hugged, half-pushed him down the stairs.

At the first-floor living room, he stopped, turned to her: "Don't say anything else. I'll wait down here."

One sentence silenced her completely.

Her eyes grew wet. "I'm afraid you'll only make things worse…"

Li Heng raised his hand to cut her off. "I know. But you're my woman."

"My woman." Those words shattered her restraint. She threw her arms around his neck, kissed his lips again and again, then smiled through tears: "I knew my fate wasn't that bad—I chose right. Let's make three rules: don't come up until I come down."

Understanding the mother-daughter trio needed privacy, Li Heng gently patted her hand. "Fine. I'll sit on the sofa. Won't go anywhere."

Huang Zhao Yi gazed at him deeply, a rare, delicate expression on her face, lips curved: "After we get through this, I'll take good care of you."

Her "take good care of you" referred to this morning's bedplay—especially that "up" word. She was deeply embarrassed, yet forced herself through every motion.

At this moment, saying that—Li Heng was torn between laughter and sorrow, but saw clearly her inner fragility: she feared their relationship would collapse.

Li Heng embraced her reassuringly, then sat on the sofa, picking up a newspaper: "Go on."

This wasn't the time for tender words. Huang Zhao Yi nodded, turned, and walked toward the stairs, returning to the second floor.

Her "careful service" referred to what had happened on the bed that morning, especially that word "on"—she was deeply embarrassed, yet still awkwardly pushed through the entire process.

To say this now, at this very moment, Li Heng was both exasperated and amused, yet he saw clearly her fragile heart: she feared their relationship would shatter.

As Huang Zhao Yi stepped out of the stairwell, the already suffocating atmosphere grew even heavier.

Huang Mu sat rigidly on the sofa, back straight, face dark, eyes locked on her younger daughter.

Beside her, Huang Xuying rubbed her mother's back in soothing circles, whispering calming words.

ps: First draft, will revise later. Requesting monthly votes!

(Also, a few more chapters may follow—minimum 10, 00 characters, I'll push hard…)

Huang Mu sat silently on the sofa, back straight, face dark, staring fixedly at her younger daughter.

Huang Xu, sitting beside her, kept stroking her mother's back in soothing circles, helping her catch her breath, while murmuring words of comfort to calm her down.

PS: Posted first, will revise later. Please support with monthly votes.

(There are still a few more chapters pending—minimum ten thousand words guaranteed, I'll push to write more…)

(End of chapter)