"Qin Zhaoyue, are you out of your mind?"
For the first time in their two-plus years of dating, Xiao Qiang scolded Qin Zhaoyue without a shred of mercy.
"Qin Zhaoyue, if you have found someone new, just tell me. Before we’ve even registered our marriage, I’ll grant you your freedom. Who you spend your birthday with or who you flirt with, I don't care. But if you want to have your cake and eat it too—or worse, if you intend to make a fool of me—I’m telling you, I’m not that magnanimous."
Xiao Qiang laid his thoughts out, cutting straight to the bone.
Qin Zhaoyue panicked at the words. "Honey, it’s really not how you’re imagining it. I don’t have anyone new. From start to finish, the only person I’ve ever loved is you. I’m not flirting with Chen Zihao. And I’ve never even thought about betraying you like that! You can’t just accuse me of such things!"
"Accuse you?" Xiao Qiang let out a scoff. "Qin Zhaoyue, look at those photos Chen Zihao took. Can you honestly say those were taken out of a sense of 'sibling' affection? Don't you think they were a bit too intimate? And what about your underwear? Did your 'little brother' take that off, too?"
Qin Zhaoyue was defenseless. She said, aggrieved, "Zihao said he was worried about getting my undergarments dirty, so I took them off myself..."
Xiao Qiang looked as if he were on the verge of tears. "Qin Zhaoyue, you really are stubborn. Are you only going to admit it once I catch you in the act? Even if you haven't technically cheated, I think there is a serious problem between us. I don't know if I’m just too narrow-minded or if you’re just too dense. Let me be clear: I cannot accept this relationship you have with Chen Zihao. If you want to be with me, you will block him on everything and never see him again."
Qin Zhaoyue froze. How could she possibly block her "little brother"?
"Xiao Qiang, what is this talk about cheating! I told you I haven't done anything wrong to you! You’re being way too petty. I’ve explained it so many times—there is nothing inappropriate between us. We are just siblings. Why are you being so aggressive?"
Perhaps realizing her tone was too sharp, she softened her voice immediately. "Honey, let’s go register our marriage tomorrow. Once we’re married, I’ll be yours completely. Then you won't have to waste your time imagining these baseless things. How about it?"
Xiao Qiang snorted, his voice dripping with disdain. Perhaps he had been eager to register their marriage before, but after today, he suddenly felt that maybe... the matter should be put on hold.
"Qin Zhaoyue, so you still refuse to cut ties with Chen Zihao? In that case, let’s hold off on the marriage registration for now."
Qin Zhaoyue’s temper flared instantly. "Xiao Qiang, are you threatening me with this?"
"It’s not about who is threatening whom. I just think there’s a major rift between us. We both need some time to cool off," Xiao Qiang said coldly.
"Fine! As you wish." Qin Zhaoyue pulled their wedding portrait, taken earlier that day, out of her bag and, right in front of Xiao Qiang, tore it to shreds.
Watching this, Xiao Qiang felt a sharp, stinging pain in his chest, as if pierced by needles.
After she finished, Qin Zhaoyue turned and walked out of the villa, driving away from the house.
This villa was property under her name, a coming-of-age gift from her father. After they graduated, they had both lived here. Initially, after the argument, Qin Zhaoyue had been somewhat apologetic. However, Xiao Qiang’s unrelenting stance had completely infuriated her; she was used to being the one in control. At work, everyone bowed and scraped to her, and at home, her parents doted on her—she had never been treated with such disrespect.
She decided then and there: she was going to find her "little brother" to talk. Talking to him always put her in a great mood. Then, she would spend the night at her aunt’s place.Heima Club.
Qin Zhaoyue lay on a massage table, dressed in the club’s shorts. Her long, shapely legs were exposed, and her feet, as translucent and smooth as fine jade, rested in Chen Zihao’s hands. Her ample breasts strained against her top, outlining an alluring curve.
Qin Zhaoyue wore a hydrating eye mask, while Chen Zihao made no effort to hide his greedy gaze, his eyes roaming wantonly over her porcelain-fine skin. Every so often, under the guise of asking her to lift her legs, he would steal peeks at the flashes of skin inadvertently revealed beneath her shorts.
*Qin Zhaoyue, one day, I will make you surrender to me beneath me...* Chen Zihao fantasized to himself.
"Sister, you don't seem to be in a good mood. Did your husband upset you again?"
At the mention of Xiao Qiang, Qin Zhaoyue’s anger flared up once more. She recounted the argument she had with him earlier that day to Chen Zihao.
"Oh? Is that why? I’m so sorry, Sister. I shouldn’t have tricked you into coming here to celebrate my birthday. If it weren't for me, you and your husband wouldn’t have had so many misunderstandings." Chen Zihao’s voice was filled with apology, and he put on a timid, bashful expression.
"Zihao, don't blame yourself for this. You’re my younger brother—what’s wrong with me spending your birthday with you? What difference does it make if we get the marriage certificate today or tomorrow? He’s just being petty, jealous even of his own brother-in-law. If he refuses to get the certificate, then I won’t go. Let’s see who gets anxious first!In Qin Zhaoyue’s mind, every time they had a conflict or an argument, Xiao Qiang would always docilely apologize the next day. She was certain this time would be no exception. She had already decided that when Xiao Qiang came to apologize tomorrow, she would not forgive him easily. Men being jealous—it was a disease that needed a cure.
Hearing this, a sly smirk of success curled on the corner of Chen Zihao’s mouth. "Sister, if you put it that way, my brother-in-law really is a bit too small-minded. If I were him, I would trust you one hundred percent. To love someone is to first give them freedom and total understanding, rather than relying on subjective imagination and assumptions to make groundless guesses about you. That really isn't right."
Using a hypothetical tone, Chen Zihao casually criticized Xiao Qiang’s behavior.
"Sigh! Brother Zihao, if your brother-in-law had even half of your magnanimity and tolerance, I wouldn’t be this angry!"
Hearing her words, Chen Zihao’s expression turned smug once again. He wanted to constantly reinforce the negative impression Qin Zhaoyue had of Xiao Qiang, and it looked like... he was succeeding. She had branded Xiao Qiang as lacking in magnanimity and tolerance.
Feeling immensely proud, Chen Zihao lifted one of Qin Zhaoyue’s fair, jade-like feet to his nose and took a deep, intoxicated breath, looking utterly enraptured.
***
Past 9:30 PM.
Qin Zhaoyue arrived at a high-end apartment in Haizhou.
As soon as she walked through the door, she saw a sexy woman wearing nothing but a purple lace thong and a matching deep-V bralette. The woman was 167 centimeters tall with top-tier beauty, and most importantly, her mannerisms were overflowing with charm—she was like a modern-day Daji.
This was none other than Qin Zhaoyue’s aunt, Li Qingcheng.
Qin Zhaoyue seemed used to her aunt dressing this way, but she still couldn't help but complain, "Aunt, do you have to dress so provocatively? Wouldn't it be better to just dress normally?"
"Little Yueyue! How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Auntie! I’m only thirty-two; calling me 'Aunt' makes me sound old! Every time you say 'Aunt,' I feel like I’ve turned into a puddle of blood! And this isn't 'provocative,' at most... it’s sexy!"