Chapter 2

His head... was very heavy, his eyelids... were also very heavy. Shen Qingxin seemed to have to spend all her strength to be able to wake up from her deep sleep.

The moment she opened her eyes, her brain was still unable to function normally. She didn't know what had happened, let alone where she was. She didn't even have the strength to get up. She... what happened to her? Shen Qingxin asked herself silently.

Her mouth was so dry, so thirsty... The desire to drink water made her groan involuntarily.

"You... are awake?" A low male voice came from the dark corner.

She moved her head with difficulty, looking toward the source of the voice. She saw a man sitting in the dark corner, but the room was too dark, making her unable to see his appearance completely, only able to feel the cold aura emanating from him.

Who was he? She couldn't see him clearly, yet she felt his voice was very familiar. Where had she heard the same voice? In a dream? Or in reality? Her mind was in a mess, unable to sort out the correct answer; but there was an impulse in her heart. She knew she had to see him, she must, otherwise she would regret it.

"I..." She wanted to express her strong inner feelings with a dry throat when she saw the man walk out of the dark corner toward her.

As his face gradually exposed itself to the light, she found she couldn't breathe, her heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and her eyes couldn't move away from him, only able to follow his figure constantly. It was him! It was him! It was actually him!

She thought she would never see him again in this life, never expected that seeing him again would be so easy, as beautiful as a fairy tale. The moment she opened her eyes, he was already by her side...

She was so happy she couldn't speak, and in a daze, she thought she was still in a dream.

"Are you okay? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Being stared at by her with the most pure and loving eyes, Sima Langri was not a piece of wood; of course, he had feelings. His heart could be said to be excited to the point of wanting to hold her tightly in his arms and kiss her wildly, but he did nothing, only facing her with the cold attitude of treating a stranger.

No concern, no passion, only ruthlessness.

His attitude extinguished her full joy on the spot. She looked at him in surprise, her eyes quietly covered with grievances, not daring to speak out.

She... shouldn't be dreaming. His image in her dreams had always been kind and gentle. Such a cold and ruthless him would only appear in reality, so she could be very sure that she was awake. She lowered her eyes in great sadness and said nothing.

"Are you uncomfortable?" Damn it! Was the drug Sima She gave her too heavy? It actually made her still unable to speak from discomfort?

He wanted to kill Sima She! Along with this account, he and Sima She had plenty to settle.

"I'll have someone find a doctor." Regardless of the fact that it was past five in the morning, when she was uncomfortable, he had to make sure she got the best care.

"No need, I'm fine." She called out to stop him, not letting him go to the trouble of inviting a doctor. Why? Why was he always like this? Often, when she felt hurt, he would show rare concern. Could his attitude toward her be consistent? If he wanted to be cold to her, be cold to the end; if he wanted to care for her, keep caring for her. That way, she wouldn't be so anxious and lost in the whirlpool of love.

She wanted to pull herself out, and she had tried for a long, long time. Just when she had finally faded her feelings for him, she met him again, and it was at this moment that she completely understood that wanting to cut off her love for him was simply a fantasy. It was impossible. When she fell in love with him, she should have understood that with her stubborn personality, there was no turning back.

"Then..." He wanted to say he would send her back to the Shen Family, but he couldn't say it. He was still reluctant. He had guarded her for a night and still felt it wasn't enough. He really wanted to spend more time with her. One more minute, one more second.

The two looked at each other, silent. If time could stop here, it would be the most beautiful thing for them; but this was just a luxury, right? Time could never stand still because of them. When he kept charging forward, she was always the one left behind. Such a result would not change no matter how many years passed.

"You..."

"How did I get here?" She couldn't help but ask, wanting to chat with him more, even if it was just about trivial matters.

"Sima She sent you over. Are you still in contact with him?" Actually, what he really wanted to know was how often she was in contact with Sima She?

"Occasionally." After all, she and Sima She could be considered childhood sweethearts. No matter how weak the brotherly affection between Sima Langri and Sima She was, to her, She was always her friend, and she wouldn't become enemies with She because of this.

Sima Langri wanted to know how often "occasionally" meant. Once every six months? Once a month? Or once a week? He was insanely jealous. When he couldn't hear her clear voice, Sima She could actually talk to her often? But he didn't show his emotions, still pretending as usual that he was a man who wouldn't be jealous, pretending that he wouldn't be affected by women at all.

"You two are still fighting fiercely..." In the past, she would naively ask them to coexist peacefully. After a few years, she realized her request was a forced demand. It was impossible for them to be as happy as ordinary brothers. Sima Langri glanced at her and didn't answer. He wouldn't hypocritically lie to her that there were no knots or struggles between him and Sima She. She had seen everything between him and Sima She from beginning to end. They would fight fiercely until one side fell or withdrew.

"I don't think snatching and fighting is what you really want." She believed that his heart must also feel painful because of the constant fighting. After all, he was not a bloodthirsty person.

"You're wrong! The real me can abandon everything for power and fame. Have you forgotten?" He looked at her abruptly, his eyes shining with aggression and ambition.

"No! You are just controlled by your mother's requirements." She climbed up from the bed, unwilling to see him lie to her.

"You are too naive. It's not entirely because of my mother's requirements. Who doesn't love fame and power? When there is an opportunity to be high and mighty, why should I submit to others? Don't deceive yourself anymore. I am a greedy man. You should know that very clearly, right?" His large palm gently reached out to her soft cheek, stroking it and whispering.

He was greedy, greedy to get everything, and greedy to take her into his arms and make her his own. But he knew she shouldn't belong to him; she deserved better treatment, so he let her fly away without trapping her tightly. Should this be considered that he still had a little conscience, or that his feelings for her were too deep, and he couldn't bear for his evil self to pollute her purity?

"You have never been inferior to others. The Chilong Jade Lock cannot represent everything." She didn't understand. What would happen after he possessed the Chilong Jade Lock and could command the Sima Family? Would he be happier than he was now?

"It is a symbol of power and fame, and also a necessity for me to climb to a high place. Without it, I am nothing; and it's not just me who wants to get it. Don't forget, Sima She is also desperately wanting to get the Chilong Jade Lock, otherwise he wouldn't have sent you to me. From now on, you'd better have less contact with him, otherwise you will be used by him again and again." Talking about Sima She made him angry again.

They were half-brothers, and their mothers were competing for favor. His mother was the legal wife, decided by both parents, so there was no affection with his father. Originally, his mother didn't care too much; she just wanted to continue her life as a young mistress. But she never expected that Sima She's mother would appear halfway. Ever since Sima She's mother captured his father's heart, his mother became an eyesore in his father's eyes. His father wished his mother had never appeared. Consequently, he, born of the legal wife, was also an unlovable child in his father's eyes. His father gave all his love to Sima She and his mother.

He grew up every day in his mother's hatred for Sima She and his mother. He learned not to care about his half-brother. He understood deeply from his mother how Sima She and his mother snatched his father, and he understood even more that if this continued, he would be nothing in his father's eyes.

Although everyone told him that he was the true child of the Sima Family and Sima She was just a disgraceful illegitimate child, he didn't need to be afraid; but he knew that everyone's eyes would not always be on him. Once Sima She had a good performance, he would lose.

So he had to work day and night, not slacking off at all. He couldn't let everyone feel disappointed in him, especially his mother. His mother still relied on him to win back this breath.

While he was working hard, Sima She was also working hard, wanting himself and his mother to be recognized by everyone, not letting him be the only one to shine. So the two of them kept competing, waiting to see the other side raise the white flag and surrender.

Now the outcome was about to be decided. He wouldn't retreat no matter what. Besides, he still held at least half of the Chilong Jade Lock in his hand. No matter what, his chances of winning were much greater than Sima She's.

"She should know that sending me over wouldn't have any effect on you. Why would he still do that?" She didn't understand how the usually smart Sima She could make a wrong decision.

"Perhaps... it should be said that his estimation was wrong." Sima Langri pondered for a while and answered.

"Bingxin also helped him." After waking up for a while, her brain could finally function normally. She remembered that after returning home, Bingxin first asked her to change into this Indian-style outfit, saying she wanted to see if it looked good on her, to understand how it would feel if she wore it herself. Immediately after, Bingxin gave her a glass of juice. After she drank it, she had no impression of what happened next. She really didn't understand what Bingxin was thinking. Why did she want to help Sima She?

"Bingxin and Sima She got together?" No wonder Qingxin was so easily deceived by Sima She. It turned out that Bingxin was helping from the middle.

However, what made him suspicious was why Shen Bingxin wanted to wade into this muddy water? What kind of trick was she playing? Before, he could focus on dealing with Sima She, but with Shen Bingxin added, things became much trickier. He had to be more careful and observant. Nothing good would come from those two getting together.

"Hmm, but I don't understand why she would do that." Regarding the Sima brothers' struggle for the Chilong Jade Lock, she and Bingxin had long had a tacit understanding not to join or help either side. But now Bingxin suddenly started helping Sima She, which made her unable to figure it out.

Although she and Bingxin were twin sisters, understanding Bingxin's thoughts was still difficult for her.

"Perhaps she thinks the situation is not chaotic enough and wants to make it even more chaotic." For the playful Bingxin, this was the only reason Sima Langri could use to explain why she did so.

"Bingxin is playful, but she has a sense of propriety in her actions." Shen Qingxin couldn't help but speak up for her sister, not wanting Sima Langri to think of Bingxin as too bad. Sima Langri's reaction was just a shrug. He didn't want to argue with Qingxin about Bingxin's affairs. He knew very well whether Bingxin was good or bad, and he didn't need to force Qingxin, who loved her sister dearly, to face the facts.

"It's dawn. I'll send you back!" The rising sun reminded him of what he should do. He couldn't waste time with her like this. What should be given up still had to be given up, and he shouldn't be reluctant to part.

Shen Qingxin gazed at him, listening to his emotionless words, her heart aching suddenly. When she cared, he still didn't care at all.

Did he know that she was still the same as before, just wanting to watch him silently and follow behind him? Could heaven let him suddenly forget the existence of the Chilong Jade Lock, and have only her in his eyes and heart?

Was her request too much? Too greedy?

But she was just that greedy. Can't she be greedy once?

Her eyes, full of tenderness, were filled with begging. Sima Langri forced himself to look away and not look at her. He was afraid! Afraid that after looking, he would forget his responsibilities, abandon his disguise, and keep her. He couldn't keep her, he couldn't! He had too many things to do. He couldn't fail his mother's expectations before she died because of her, he couldn't!

He had to be ruthless and just be a heartless and emotionless person!

"Let's go." Abandoning all emotions, he said in a low voice without any expression.

"You are always like this..." He always couldn't see her longing, couldn't hear her craving, treating her as if she were nothing, charging forward on his own; his attitude told her again that proposing to break off the engagement was the right decision, because his heart had never been given to her, and his heart had always only had the Chilong Jade Lock.

He didn't love her, didn't like her. He had already given all his love to the Chilong Jade Lock.

What was there to fight for?! What else could she force? No matter how hard she tried to love him and give for him, she couldn't beat that stone. Forget it, forget it...

"What?" He looked at her in confusion, guessing what she hadn't finished saying.

"Nothing. Aren't you going to send me home? Let's go." She shook her head and didn't mention it again. She didn't want to add to his troubles. He had too many things to worry about, why should she make him worry even more?

Seeing that she didn't want to say, he didn't force her. Besides, not knowing was far better than knowing. At least he wouldn't have a burden in his heart.

Without a burden, he wouldn't think of her again, wouldn't think of her again...

※№※

The fact that Shen Qingxin was sent back to the Shen Family was a big blow to the Shen Family. They never expected that Sima Langri would throw the fat meat that had reached his mouth back so heavily.

Should this be said that Sima Langri was the reincarnation of a man who could resist the temptation of a woman sitting on his lap? Or that he didn't know what was good for him?

Shen's father was furious, believing that Sima Langri was a man who didn't know what was good for him. He had sent a beautiful daughter to his door, and Sima Langri actually dared to play the trick of returning the goods on him. It was simply damnation!

Shen's mother felt sad for her daughter's experience of being ignored, and couldn't stop wiping her tears with a handkerchief; her poor daughter! A person only had one heart, how could it be trampled and hurt again and again?

But in order to clear their relationship with this matter, they still sent Bingxin to probe Qingxin's tone, saying that they wouldn't let Qingxin know that they instructed Bingxin to cooperate with Sima She, otherwise Qingxin would definitely blame them for not helping Sima Langri, but instead helping Sima She.

Shen Bingxin was ordered to go to Shen Qingxin's room to find out what was going on. She had just stepped into Qingxin's room, and before she could say a word, the other party spoke first.

"Why did you help Sima She?" Shen Qingxin looked at her with great sorrow.

"Who said I was helping Sima She? My main purpose was to help you, Sister." Bingxin didn't think she was helping Sima She. Although Sima She could indeed benefit from it, she was wholeheartedly thinking about her sister's happiness. As for how Sima She and Sima Langri planned to fight fiercely, it had nothing to do with her.

"Help me? How so?" Shen Qingxin didn't believe it. No matter how she looked at it, she still felt that her sister and Sima She were on the same side. Shen Qingxin felt a little suffocated and a little irritable, and all of this was because she was worried about Sima Langri; she couldn't figure out how he could retreat unscathed when so many people were his enemies?

"Because I know you still think of Sima Langri in your heart."

Who in the Shen Family didn't know that Qingxin loved Sima Langri to death, but just didn't say it! Otherwise, Qingxin wouldn't have exiled herself in Europe after the engagement was broken, under the pretext of seeking inspiration for jewelry design, when in fact she was afraid of being triggered by the scenery if she stayed in Taiwan.

Her parents originally thought that Qingxin would adjust herself after wandering around outside and return in a good mood, but when they didn't see her return to the country for a long time, they realized the seriousness of the situation and specifically sent her out to trick her back. This time, no matter what, they wouldn't allow Sima Langri to stay out of it again. They had to make him put Qingxin in his heart.

"I..." She wanted to deny it hypocritically, but the facts were so obvious, why should she deceive herself? She could only lower her head in pain.

"Sister, you can't be at a disadvantage anymore. Think about it, with Sima Langri's current thinking, even if you wait for him at home obediently for a lifetime, he will take it for granted, because you love him! But do you intend to be a resentful woman for a lifetime? No! It should be said, an abandoned woman! Although on the surface it was you who didn't want him, it was you who proposed to break off the engagement, but the fact is that you couldn't stand that he didn't have you in his eyes, only the Chilong Jade Lock, right?"

Heh! Heh! According to her observations over the years, Sima Langri also had feelings for Qingxin, but currently, the importance of the Chilong Jade Lock to him was greater, so he couldn't put all his focus on Qingxin. They had to find a way to turn the tide.

"Oh... you are right." She sighed longly. With her introverted personality, she would always be at a disadvantage. She couldn't change Sima Langri's view of her.

An abandoned woman! Bingxin's description of her was truly too appropriate.

"You should change yourself so that Sima Langri will look at you with new eyes." Heh! Heh! Sima Langri, wait to receive the move!

"Change? I have always been like this, how can I change?" She looked at herself from head to toe, completely without room for change.

"Of course there is a way! Otherwise, why would I make this suggestion? Sister, you have to make yourself more lively and active. It's best to attend some important evening parties with me or Dad and the others. That way, you will become completely different from now. Your circle of friends will become larger, and you will be more confident!"

Shen Bingxin began to use her silver tongue to incite her. Once Qingxin appeared in front of the public, Sima Langri would know what he had lost and would know how to cherish it better.

Hmph, hmph! She didn't believe this method would be useless. After all, the daughters of the Shen Family were all very charming. If Sima Langri didn't know how to cherish them, there were plenty of men who knew the goods.

"I..." Shen Qingxin hesitated, not knowing whether to accept her sister's suggestion.

"Sister, do you want Sima Langri to think of you as an abandoned woman he doesn't want for a lifetime? You can't hide in your ivory tower and feel sorry for yourself. You should come out and see the world, let Sima Langri know that you can live very well without him, and that you are very popular." Shen Bingxin waved her arms exaggeratedly to strengthen her persuasion.

"Is that really good?" Her personality was not like Bingxin's. She was more conservative and introverted. Asking her to talk to everyone generously was not a simple matter for her.

"Of course it's good. Sister, do you think I would harm you?" In an instant, Shen Bingxin changed her face, looking at her pitifully, as if she would cry immediately if Qingxin said something she didn't like.

"How could you harm me? Silly." Shen Qingxin laughed and poked her sister's head with her finger.

That's right, Bingxin was right. She should change. She couldn't stay in her ivory tower for a lifetime. She had long understood that Sima Langri wouldn't turn back to find her. What was she still waiting for? How long did she want to wait?

How long would a person's life be? Would her life be as long as others? These were not things she would know. It was time for her to break out.

Saying she wanted to break out, she should feel relaxed and happy, but she just couldn't laugh, her heart heavy.

"That's it!" Shen Bingxin took the opportunity to lean into her arms and act like a spoiled child. Haha! Mission accomplished, she knew that as long as she stepped in, there was nothing she couldn't do!

At this moment, she had already drawn a beautiful blueprint in her heart. This time, it was no longer the sister waiting bitterly behind Sima Langri, but Sima Langri waiting bitterly behind the sister.

Feeling her silence and knowing her inner thoughts, Shen Bingxin raised her head and smiled.

"Sister, just wait and see how Sima Langri pursues you!" She smiled slyly.

"What?" Shen Qingxin was stunned. Didn't Bingxin mean for her to give up on Sima Langri? Why did she suddenly say that?

"Heh, of course I don't want you to give up on Sima Langri, but we have to change our approach. We want him to face your existence squarely and no longer ignore you. Do you understand what I mean?" Qingxin loved Sima Langri so much that she knew clearly that it was impossible for Qingxin to give up, so she thought of trying a different method.

Since Sima Langri had been loved by the women of their Shen Family, naturally he couldn't be allowed to ignore it. He had to respond properly to this pure young girl's heart!

"Understand." Hearing Bingxin say she wanted Sima Langri to face her squarely made her heart jump excitedly. If she really changed, how would Sima Langri look at her? Like? Hate? Or have no feelings at all?

She was so afraid, so afraid that the result after her efforts wouldn't be what she wanted. But if she didn't even dare to try and gave up easily, she would have nothing. Would that be what she wanted? No! She had to be strong, she had to have courage, she couldn't shrink into her shell anymore, she had to take the initiative! After some psychological construction, Shen Qingxin's courage doubled, and she was no longer afraid.

"That's more like a woman of our Shen Family!" Seeing that she had made up her mind and no longer had a hesitant expression, Shen Bingxin patted her back boldly.

Heh! Heh! There was a good show to watch! Sima Langri wouldn't be able to be carefree for much longer.

"You should rest well." Seeing Qingxin fall into deep thought, Bingxin didn't want to disturb her, threw down a word, and made a glorious exit, going downstairs to report her battle achievements to her parents.

Shen Qingxin didn't pay attention to what Bingxin was saying to her at all. She just stared at the distance, at the woman who appeared in the mirror of the dressing table. She looked at the woman in the mirror seriously, strictly picking out the shortcomings.

Long hair down to the waist, acceptable.

Crimson lips, acceptable.

Slender figure, acceptable.

Gentle personality, not likable.

Soft and shy eyes, oh—no! The biggest failure.

That's right, her whole body was ruined by these eyes. Clearly, she and Bingxin looked exactly the same, but no matter how she looked at Bingxin, she felt that Bingxin was much more lively than her. Was it personality-driven? Sigh! What could she do to make her eyes as full of life as Bingxin's, instead of being soft and weak as if they were filled with water like now?

Pouting her red lips slightly, she thought carefully.

Little did she know that the most beautiful part of her was her eyes, which seemed to hide a thousand words. Men who saw them all felt she was touching, wanting to guard her tightly in their arms, not giving the wind and rain of the outside world a chance to hurt her.

She sighed one after another, and finally buried her head in the pillow, thinking in her heart that only Bingxin could solve her problem. ===== CHAPTER 3 =====