CHAPTER 221: CHAPTER 221: THE MOST PAINFUL

In Shen Jinci’s memory, this was Bian Yue’s most devastating emotional breakdown.

She was nearly shattered, unable to withstand any more stimuli.

Shen Jinci knew she was still drunk and it really wasn’t the right time to clarify everything.

He just frowned, looking at her, attempting to embrace her, but she resisted fiercely, crying endlessly.

She was truly heartbroken, crying and vomiting in his arms, saying, "Shen Jinci, you’re too terrifying, how could you watch me fall in love with you, yet tell me nothing..."

Shen Jinci wiped the liquor from the corner of her lips, silently letting her lean on him, disregarding the mess around.

When the car stopped at Shen Family Mansion, the driver opened the door and was startled by the scene in the backseat.

The driver saw Mr. Shen, usually a stickler for cleanliness, holding Bian Yue with a strong smell of alcohol all over him, seemingly oblivious, just patting the back of Bian Yue who had cried herself to sleep.

"Mr. Shen..." the driver exclaimed in surprise.

Shen Jinci looked at him, softly interrupting, "My wife is drunk, she shouldn’t catch a cold, get someone to bring out a blanket."

"Alright... alright!" the driver hurriedly responded, before leaving, he looked back at Shen Jinci with a mix of shock and hesitance.

Bian Yue was carried upstairs by Shen Jinci.

It was only when he laid the drunk girl on the bed that he noticed the stinging pain on his neck, understanding the driver’s hesitance.

Shen Jinci calmly touched his neck and felt a handful of blood.

Just now, Bian Yue, still in her drunken state, moved clumsily, probably touching him during their conflict.

Shen Jinci hadn’t had time to deal with it because Bian Yue mumbled in her sleep about being thirsty.

"Thirsty? I’ll get you some water," Shen Jinci said softly.

Bian Yue did not respond, still caught between wakefulness and sleep.

When Shen Jinci returned with water and fed it to her, she finally slept peacefully.

By the time Shen Jinci had taken care of Bian Yue, it was already the middle of the night.

He hadn’t had time to clean himself up, just changing his clothes before going downstairs to meet Shen Zhaoli, who had been waiting for a long time.

In the study, Shen Zhaoli, upon seeing Shen Jinci come in, asked concernedly, "How is it? Did Bian Yue sleep?"

Shen Jinci nodded.

Shen Zhaoli’s expression changed, pointing to Shen Jinci’s neck, his tone tense, "Why don’t you deal with that?"

The bloodstain on Shen Jinci’s neck was startling, the blood still fresh.

Shen Jinci calmly took the first aid kit, "It’s just a small wound, nothing serious."

"You’re also quite mad", Shen Zhaoli stepped closer to Shen Jinci, who was expressionlessly treating his wound, anxiously pacing back and forth, "Just talk, will you!"

"You’re quite noisy," Shen Jinci removed the bloody gauze, applied antihemorrhagic, his voice steady, "Bian Yue’s heartache, I will soothe it."

"How do you intend to soothe this?" Shen Zhaoli took a deep breath, frowning as he spoke, "Shen Jinci, you can’t be too presumptuous. Human emotions are not something you can control, and neither is Bian Yue."

"She just wants to know the truth. When she wakes up, I’ll tell her everything."

Shen Zhaoli was stunned on the spot, "What does Bian Yue know?"

"She thinks that when the Bian Family was involved in the incident, Lixing was also implicated. That’s why, under the influence of emotions, she made extreme decisions at the meeting," Shen Jinci paused, his voice tense and very soft, "She can’t withstand betrayal now."

Shen Zhaoli was somewhat prepared for the hidden truths of the past, but hearing Shen Jinci speak like that left him stunned, "Wasn’t it you? But at the time, you were already taking over Lixing. The Bian Family incident was sensational; didn’t you know?"

"This matter has nothing to do with me. I will explain it to Bian Yue," Shen Jinci frowned slightly, his eyes downcast, hiding the obscure emotions in his eyes.

Shen Zhaoli slowly shook his head, his expression complex, "Brother, even I wouldn’t believe what you said, do you think Bian Yue would believe it? And how is she to accept that her husband, you, are involved in the most painful part of her past? If I were Bian Yue, I would find it hard to forgive you too."

Shen Jinci did not answer; he stared at the blood-stained gauze in his hand, lost in thought...

When Bian Yue woke up, there was no one beside her.

Her eyes blinked dimly, and the phone beside her rang.

Bian Yue answered belatedly, hearing Bian Shu’s voice filled with fear, "Bian Yue, you need to come, An Shen came to find me."

Bian Yue’s headache was splitting, the effects of alcohol not entirely worn off, she pinched her forehead, flipped off the blankets, got out of bed, and urgently instructed, "Sister, don’t be scared, I’m coming to find you now."

"Hurry, Bian Yue, An Shen really came to find me, he’s just outside the door, I’m so scared..." Bian Shu’s voice was sensitive, carrying a neurotic delicacy.

Bian Yue didn’t have time to think further; she rushed out of the house.

This road, she used to walk with Shen Jinci, but now, Bian Yue walked alone, feeling an overwhelming sense of desolation.

She actually didn’t blame Shen Jinci’s neutral stance, nor did she mind his careful consideration of Lixing’s interests, seated in his position, any decision he made had sufficient reasons to support them.

However, Bian Yue couldn’t accept that Shen Jinci was keeping secrets from her, he had actually once taken action against the Bian Family.

No one knew, when she saw the evidence Lu Zhonian handed her, how desperate she felt.

Events Bian Yue never imagined unfolded gruesomely before her.

It was the Li Family, it was Shen Jinci, even the latter, who at that time, had almost all of Lixing’s decision-making power.

Everyone was just an onlooker to that tragedy, Bian Yue understood that back then, Shen Jinci didn’t know her, he shouldn’t have conceded anything for her.

But now, she was his wife, and he wouldn’t even tell her the truth. In Bian Yue’s heart, inevitably, there was a chilling disappointment.

She walked in the quiet of the night, step by step, never looking back...

Bian Shu squatted in the corner of the room, her eyes filled with terror, and upon seeing Bian Yue enter, she widened her eyes, staring fearfully behind her.

Bian Yue walked towards her, softly reassuring, "Sister, I’m here."

"Bian Yue, didn’t you see..." Bian Shu eyed the approaching Bian Yue, grabbed her hand, and whispered as she squatted in front of her, "An Shen... An Shen is right behind you."

"Sister, there’s no one behind me." Bian Yue pressed the light switch beside her, and the room instantly became much brighter.

Bian Yue pointed behind herself, earnestly saying, "See, there really isn’t anyone, right?"

"But... I saw An Shen, and your mom and dad, they’re all here..." Bian Shu said nervously.