Chapter 16: Xiao Heshuo’s Worries

Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo stood in the courtyard, coldly watching Xu Lecheng standing at the gate.

Xiao Heshuo’s gaze shifted to Yan Ziyue, clearly seeing the disgust and impatience on her face, her lips pressed into a flat line.

“Ziyue, can I have a word with you alone?” Xu Lecheng looked at Yan Ziyue gently, as if gazing upon the woman he loved most deeply.

Yan Ziyue felt utterly nauseated. She rubbed the goosebumps on her arm and said, “No.”

Her tone was sharp and cold. “Xu Lecheng, if you have something to say, say it in front of my husband. Don’t do things that make him misunderstand.”

In her past life, because of Xu Lecheng’s gaze and certain actions, she foolishly thought he truly cared for her, which led her to make many stupid mistakes.

This time, she saw clearly that there was no love in Xu Lecheng’s eyes—only calculation and contempt.

Xu Lecheng’s face showed hesitation and difficulty. “Ziyue, some things are not appropriate to say in front of your husband.”

Yan Ziyue was truly different now.

Before, she would never dare to treat him like this, nor be so kind to Xiao Heshuo.

Now, she deeply disliked Xu Lecheng, yet was so good to Xiao Heshuo.

How did it come to this?

Yan Ziyue chuckled softly.

Locking her arm through Xiao Heshuo’s, she coldly retorted to Xu Lecheng, “My husband knows everything about me.”

Her words pleased Xiao Heshuo.

The icy coldness in his handsome face softened slightly, and he reached out to stroke Yan Ziyue’s head.

Now, he was beginning to believe that Yan Ziyue really did not want to be with Xu Lecheng anymore.

But he wondered whether she would regret it later, or if she might seek Xu Lecheng out again.

Yan Ziyue nuzzled into his palm, her smile blooming like a flower. “Husband, don’t be fooled by Xu Lecheng. He just wants money and good things from me.”

“I’m not stupid anymore—I would never help him again.”

Xiao Heshuo bowed his head slightly. “I know.”

Hearing this, Yan Ziyue turned to hug his waist, acting coquettishly. “Husband, can you promise me two things?”

Xiao Heshuo seemed to guess what they were, feeling both excited and hesitant. “If it’s something normal, I can promise…”

“Just normal things!” Yan Ziyue cut him off, blinking. “Husband, please promise me first, okay?”

Before she finished, the irritating voice of Xu Lecheng rang out.

“Ziyue, did you forget what you said? That you wanted to be with me?”

Yan Ziyue hurried to explain, afraid Xiao Heshuo would misunderstand again. “Husband, I was stupid and confused before. I foolishly thought Xu Lecheng really cared about me.”

“Later, I found out that he had long been married to Zhang Qingqing.”

“Xu Lecheng’s kindness was just a ploy to get more money and good things from me. He also wanted to use me to take the blame for him and Zhang Qingqing.”

Xiao Heshuo pinched her cheek, a trace of pain in his dark eyes. “I know.”

Yan Ziyue’s smile deepened. “It’s enough that you believe me, husband!”

“Ziyue!” Xu Lecheng suddenly met Xiao Heshuo’s icy gaze, shuddering. “Xiao Heshuo, what are you going to do?”

He spoke in a threatening yet timid voice. “Hitting someone is against the law.”

His demeanor only increased Yan Ziyue’s disgust and made her despise her past self even more.

In her previous life, she had been far too blind and foolish, abandoning such a good husband to choose a worthless scoundrel like Xu Lecheng.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Xiao Heshuo’s mouth. He looked at Xu Lecheng with disdain. “Hit you?”

“That would dirty my hands.”

Xu Lecheng felt utterly humiliated.

He clenched his fists but dared not act.

He knew all too well how terrifying Xiao Heshuo was. If he dared to make a move, Xiao Heshuo would beat him until he begged for mercy.

Xiao Heshuo went on, “Xu Zhiqing, instead of wasting your time trying to drive a wedge between me and my wife, maybe you should think about whether you’ll have a good life in this village, or even if you can return.”

“You’re the one who reported me, aren’t you?” Xu Lecheng glared at him, still afraid to make a move.

If it weren’t for Xiao Heshuo’s report, the authorities wouldn’t know what he was up to here. His record wouldn’t have a mark, and he could have gone back.

Xiao Heshuo sneered. “Unlike you, who’s always scheming and using others.”

Xu Lecheng was sure it was him who reported him. “Xiao Heshuo, you’re so malicious!”

“Malicious? Who’s worse than you, Xu Lecheng?” Yan Ziyue sneered. “How many women did you use while you were a sent-down youth here? How many did you abandon?”

“You really have the nerve to call my husband malicious?”

In her past life, she stubbornly refused to believe Xu Lecheng had anything to do with those village girls. This time, she realized how foolish she had been.

Xu Lecheng did not think he had done anything wrong.

To him, being able to use those village girls was their honor.

“Ziyue, I know you misunderstand me. I can explain.”

He still needed Yan Ziyue’s money and help and could not afford to lose her yet.

But Yan Ziyue was very aware of his schemes.

She tugged Xiao Heshuo’s hand and pouted at him. “Husband, can you help me beat Xu Lecheng up?”

“All right.” Xiao Heshuo stepped toward Xu Lecheng.

Xu Lecheng took step after step backward, his face full of terror. “Don’t come near me, Xiao Heshuo!”

“If you dare hit me, I’ll report you to the police!”

Xiao Heshuo’s fist landed squarely on his face, his voice cold as ice. “Report me?”

“That’s fine. I was just about to tell the police all about how you harass people in the village and the bad things you’ve done.”

“Let’s see who gets caught.”

Xu Lecheng screamed miserably.

Clutching his bruised face, he ran off in a flash.

As he fled, he shouted, “I won’t let this go!”

Xiao Heshuo didn’t chase after him. He snorted coldly. “I’ll be waiting for you to regret that.”

“Husband, you’re amazing!” Yan Ziyue jumped over and hugged his waist.

A faint smile curved Xiao Heshuo’s thin lips as he turned to look at her. “You’re really this happy?”

Yan Ziyue nodded eagerly, “Of course.”

“My husband is so great and powerful. How could I not be happy?”

The curve of Xiao Heshuo’s lips deepened. “You’ve changed a lot.”

“After dying once, I woke up,” Yan Ziyue’s eyes gleamed coldly, but her tone remained steady. “After that hanging incident, I finally came to my senses.”

“I clearly understand one thing: whether it’s the Yan family or Xu Lecheng being good to me, it’s all based on my usefulness and being able to take the blame for them.”

Xiao Heshuo saw the seriousness in her and felt a stir in his heart, but he was still somewhat worried. “You…”

His words faltered, then he said, “It’s enough that you understand this.”

Yan Ziyue looked at him for a long moment, then said, “Husband, do you not believe what I’m saying? Do you think I’m lying to you?”