CHAPTER 243: 222: AH-CHE HAS SOMEONE HE LIKES, I’VE MET THEM ONCE

Wen Renche took a heavy sip of red wine, his gaze shifting as a dazzling glint caught his eye.

Following the source of that light, his brows arched ambiguously upon realizing it was the necklace adorning the front of Ruan Yuan’s dress.

He tilted his head, his eyes landing on her elegant, swan-like neck. "Ah-Shi, why aren’t you wearing the necklace I gave you?"

Yu Zhi blinked her eyes. "What necklace?"

Shi Wei, who had been resting with his eyes shut, tensed visibly at her response. His thick lashes even trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Realizing this was bad news, he heard that warm, jade-like voice at his ear: "The gift I got for you earlier. I entrusted Mr. Shi to give it to you."

"??" Yu Zhi glanced at the man beside her.

Before she could even ask, Shi Wei, who clearly couldn’t feign ignorance anymore, lifted his head.

Leaning back with an easy grace, he casually rested an arm along the back of her seat, his expression one of feigned contemplation.

As if recalling something, he looked to Wen Renche with a sudden realization, his gaze tinged with an apologetic light. "I was too busy during that time; it must’ve slipped my mind and been left in the car."

Wen Renche wasn’t surprised by this excuse.

Though brief, he didn’t miss the flash of darkness that passed through Shi Wei’s eyes, and for some reason, it made him feel a strange sense of balance.

"Mr. Shi is busy with work; that’s perfectly understandable." Wen Renche smiled magnanimously.

The tear mole beneath his gold-framed glasses caught the light, glimmering seductively.

Yet, Wen Renche’s apparent indifference caused Shi Wei a peculiar sense of blockage, like an unspoken emotion stuck in his throat.

Taking a deep breath, Shi Wei affectionately ruffled the top of Yu Zhi’s hair. "Zhizhi, be good. I’ll give it to you as soon as we’re home."

"Alright," Yu Zhi responded without much thought.

She didn’t even notice the undercurrent of rivalry brewing between the two men beneath their amicable facades.

She turned to Wen Renche. "Ah-Che, are you staying in your downtown apartment tonight?"

"Yes. Ming Fu already had someone clean it." He only had two properties in the Imperial City.

Originally, he’d considered spending some time at Rose Manor in the outer rings on this visit back.

But in the end, it was simply too far from her.

Yu Zhi nodded, then asked, "When will you start handling the company’s affairs?"

"Probably in the next day or two."

"That’s great. You two can discuss the molybdenum mining collaboration then."

Wen Renche chuckled softly and said no more.

Shi Wei similarly didn’t want to touch on the topic either.

A seasoned businessman, this was the first time personal emotions made him reconsider allowing Xing Ye to enter the molybdenum mining market.

"Ah-Shi, I haven’t heard you sing in ages." Wen Renche acted as if Shi Wei weren’t even there.

He searched the karaoke machine for her favorite song and handed her the microphone.

Yu Zhi smiled helplessly and took it without hesitation.

As soon as the prelude began, her heavenly voice filled the air, captivating everyone present.

Her unblinking eyes fixed on the lyrics on the screen.

The interplay of cool white and soft yellow lights illuminated her flawless features.

Shimmering glints of light twinkled in her eyes.

And simultaneously, they fell into the hearts of the two men beside her, disturbing their calm like ripples on a tranquil lake.

**

It was late at night.

The master bedroom on the second floor of the Shi Family mansion was still lit.

The man, reeking of alcohol, yanked off his tie, leaving his pale skin partially exposed beneath his partly open shirt.

His short hair was disheveled, and the corners of his eyes were tinted with a faint red hue. His thin, blush-colored lips still bore a hint of crystalline sheen.

Were it not for the clarity in his almond-shaped eyes, one could easily mistake him for someone who had been wronged or bullied.

"Pat, pat—"

The girl approached, wearing a sleep dress that barely reached her knees and a pair of blue star-patterned slippers.

With each step, the hem of her dress swung lightly, as if stirring something in the man’s heart.

Yu Zhi sat on the edge of the bed and handed him a warm cup of yogurt she was holding. "Shi Wei, drink this before you sleep."

Her voice, clear yet gentle, was like a stream tapping against rocks, gradually soothing Shi Wei’s restless mind.

He glanced up at her, his piercing gaze roaming from her eyes to her lips.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. "Zhizhi, feed me."

Sighing, Yu Zhi leaned closer, holding the cup to his lips, moving with deliberate slowness to avoid choking him.

Once the yogurt was finished and she prepared to leave with the empty cup, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Shi Wei took the cup, casually set it on the bedside table, and pulled her to his side with a single motion.

He gently stroked her cheek, his lashes lowered. Against the light, his eyes held an inescapable, murky longing.

"Zhizhi, how many times have you sung for him before?"

Though his gestures were tender, his voice carried a suppressed intensity, growing heavier with each word.

In an instant, Yu Zhi realized who he meant by "him."

After a brief silence, she answered truthfully: "Two or three times."

"You’ve never sung for me." Shi Wei’s finger paused, his dark eyes like ink, thick and consuming, striking an unsettling chord.

Yet no matter how pained he felt, he didn’t allow her to see his emotions. He didn’t want to show her this side of himself.

This side of him, frightening and possessive.

"Tonight was our first time at a KTV." Yu Zhi sensed his jealousy and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her chin tilted upward, her lips pressing lightly against his. "Shi Wei, Ah-Che is different. He doesn’t like me."

The air grew still for a moment.

Shi Wei’s hand tightened on her waist. "Are you sure?"

Although he hadn’t yet detected any particular affection in Wen Renche’s eyes, his unease remained.

It was as if this man had appeared solely to take his girl away.

"Yes, Ah-Che has someone he likes. I even met her once." Yu Zhi gently patted his back.

Though the grip around her waist was so tight it hurt, she made no noise or attempt to push him away.

She understood his possessiveness, knew he disliked others coveting her. And strangely, she didn’t resent it.

On the contrary, whenever he was upset, her only thought was how to cheer him up. Never did the thought of leaving him cross her mind.

"Alright." Shi Wei seemed a bit reassured but couldn’t help pressing her with the question that weighed on his heart.

He rested his forehead against hers, warm breath brushing against her face. "Zhizhi, will you ever leave me?"

"Never." Yu Zhi didn’t hesitate.

Thinking he was still worried about the same thing, she patiently explained once more: "My body is already gone. There’s no way back for me."

Shi Wei chuckled at her serious tone, and the suffocating weight in his heart seemed to lift in an instant.

He teased her, "Zhizhi, are you a fairy?"