Chapter 207

Zhu Yuan had once guessed that the past between Sheng Yu and Ning Huaiqing involved romantic feelings.

But Sheng Yu had clearly said that she was the only woman he had ever liked.

She believed him.

Yet, hearing Song Ci's words just now, she felt uncertain for a moment.

On the night of Lu Huaizhan's memorial birthday, Sheng Yu returned to the old mansion, seemingly because Sheng Hongyao was preparing to bring Shen Yijing into the Sheng Family, and during their argument, Sheng Yu touched upon the matter of his mother's passing.

Later, Sheng Yu had an episode and went to find her, forcing her into a sexual encounter; although he had a blackout afterward and didn't remember it, it was an indisputable fact.

She could feel that Sheng Yu had desires for her at that time.

She had once heard Qiao Mai say that when Sheng Yu had an episode, it was related to the desires he held in his heart during that period.

If he had an episode and a sexual encounter with Ning Huaiqing back then, did that mean that back then, he...

also had desires for her?

Zhu Yuan dared not delve deeper; even knowing that was three years ago, seeing the scene tonight where Ning Huaiqing hugged Sheng Yu and pulled him back to his senses made her heart feel as if it were being shredded by a knife.

She tugged at the corners of her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.

Song Ci sighed inwardly; if she had known it would be like this, she should have told Zhu Yuan about this matter before Sheng Yu proposed to her.

At least it wouldn't have been like tonight, suddenly dealing Zhu Yuan a heavy blow that was hard to accept.

"Be good, go take a shower and get some sleep."

After Zhu Yuan finished her shower and came out, Song Ci checked her ankle; sure enough, even though she had warned her to be careful not to let the sprained area touch water, it had still gotten wet.

Looking at her distraught appearance, Song Ci couldn't bear to be harsh; normally, she would have scolded her already.

Helping Zhu Yuan sit on the edge of the bed, she knelt on the floor to reapply ointment to her ankle.

Not long after, the room lights were turned off; Song Ci turned on a nightlight by the bedside and sighed as she looked at Zhu Yuan, who had her eyes closed.

It wasn't until she lifted the quilt to lie down that Zhu Yuan turned over, "Sister Ci, I want to be alone for a while."

"I'll stay with you." Song Ci sat on the edge of the bed.

Zhu Yuan gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I'm not that fragile."

"But you aren't that magnanimous either; if you want to vent, then vent, I'll be here to listen."

Song Ci was right.

She was not as magnanimous as she had imagined.

She used to comfort herself by saying that everyone has their own secrets; she kept things from Sheng Yu, and Sheng Yu kept things from her as well.

But only when she truly learned the truth did she hear the sound of her own heart breaking.

She kept her back to Song Ci, "My mind is a bit messy, I want to sort it out myself."

Song Ci stood by the bed for a while, "Then call me if you need anything; I'll be right outside."

"Mm."

Walking to the door, Song Ci gripped the handle and looked back at the arc of the quilt; Zhu Yuan had pulled the quilt up to cover her head.

She frowned, "Think of something happy; in another week, Brother Jingyao will be out of prison."

That proud son of heaven, that man of immense talent, had been the role model for all of them as children since they were young.

She remembered that when Zhu Jingyao was studying Genetic Engineering, it was said his research topics were very advanced and made huge contributions to the biological field; later, because Zhu Yuan said she wanted to see her brother build a rocket, Zhu Jingyao changed his major.

A man like him would be an elite talent in any industry, with a brilliant future ahead.

Yet he ended up in prison for protecting Zhu Yuan.

If he knew Zhu Yuan had suffered such a great grievance, how angry he would be.

Hearing Song Ci mention her brother, Zhu Yuan's eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion.

Her muffled voice came from under the quilt, "I know."

Song Ci closed the door and left.

Not a sound came from the room.

After burying her head in the quilt, Zhu Yuan forced herself to sleep, but her mind was a mess, and she felt completely dazed.

It was as if she were asleep, yet also trapped in an endless cycle of painful struggle.

She didn't know what time it was.

She kept her eyes closed, her eyelids burning, and a buzzing sound in her ears.

She didn't even notice when the room door was opened from the outside.

A warm hand reached into the quilt at the same time the side of the bed sank.

The sprained area of her ankle was carefully held and gently massaged.

Zhu Yuan opened her eyes as if waking from a dream, staring blankly at the man sitting on the edge of the bed.

Sheng Yu's dark eyes were as black as spilled ink; when he saw her unmasked, reddened eyes, his gaze faltered, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, yet he couldn't bear to grip her ankle with force, his fingers trembling in spasms.

"Did I wake you?" His voice was hoarse, as if rubbing against a gritty floor, carrying a hint of blood.

Zhu Yuan moved her lips, unable to say a single word.

The moment tears welled up in her eyes, Sheng Yu leaned over and pulled her into his arms almost instantly, his arms tightening around her, "I'm sorry, Yuanyuan, I'm sorry."

His body was so cold.

So cold it made one shiver.

Zhu Yuan forced her tears back, slowly raising her stiff hands to wrap them around him, and patted him lightly, "It's okay as long as you're alright."

Sheng Yu held her tightly, not letting go for a long time.

Time seemed to have frozen for the two of them.

Neither moved, as if they were encased in a glass dome, fearing that any movement would cause the glass to shatter into pieces.

But someone had to speak.

"Are you sleepy?" Zhu Yuan asked him in a low voice.

Sheng Yu's chin rubbed affectionately against her face, and a single word spilled from his throat: "Mm."

He took off his coat, lifted the quilt, and lay down beside her, skillfully pulling her into his embrace.

Zhu Yuan's face pressed against his chest, smelling the faint scent of tobacco on him.

He, who had not smoked for a long time, had started smoking again.

The moment she closed her eyes, Sheng Yu gently stroked her hair and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.

It felt like a long time had passed, so long that she was about to fall asleep, when she vaguely heard him say he had to go abroad on a business trip for a few days.

"Be good and wait for me to come back."

"Mm."

Zhu Yuan answered him in the darkness.

When Zhu Yuan woke up the next day, the other half of the bed was ice-cold.

Sheng Yu had been gone for a long time.

It was noon in London.

A plane from Jingdu City landed at the Airport.

Several black sedans sped out of the Airport.

Finally, they stopped in front of a secluded small building.

The car door opened, and Ning Huaiqing's thin figure stepped out.

She turned her head to look at Sheng Yu behind her.

The man was distant and indifferent, without a trace of warmth in his brows and eyes; his long black overcoat made him look even colder and more heartless.

She suppressed her bitterness, withdrew her gaze, walked to the entrance of the small building, and pressed the doorbell.

Before long, a woman's voice speaking in a pure British accent came from inside.

"Who are you looking for?"

A very light, milky voice repeated the woman's question.

Ning Huaiqing heard it and said with unconcealable emotion, "It's me."

Everyone outside heard the laughter of the aforementioned voice from the other side, followed by a milky voice laughing and calling out "Mommy."

Except for Ning Huaiqing, everyone looked at Sheng Yu, whose expression was as cold as frost.