Chapter 3: Will You Marry Me?

“Zhou Yu!”

The woman’s joyful voice shattered Wen Ying’s thoughts. She brushed past Wen Ying’s side and leapt straight into Zhou Yu’s broad arms. Zhou Yu instinctively caught her, allowing her to cling to him.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you? If you don’t come out soon, my dad will tie me up and marry me off!”

Zhou Yu’s gaze fixed on her face as he returned her passionate kiss, a smile playing on his lips. “In such a hurry? How about I have your driver pull over later, and I send your dad a special gift…”

The woman pouted but clung to him stubbornly. “Are you bad or not? My dad wants me to bring you home to meet him. He even said he’d throw a welcome party for you…”

Wen Ying’s footsteps froze where she stood, staring blankly at the scene. A wave of belated awkwardness and helplessness washed over her.

The Zhou Yu who was once gentle, attentive, and centered entirely on her seemed now like a distant dream from over a decade ago.

Her stomach began to ache faintly.

The pain felt like a blade piercing through time, stabbing her all over again.

—“Yingying, I don’t want to be registered under the Zhou family. I don’t want to truly become your brother.”

—“When you grow up, marry me, alright?”

The tender voice echoed in her mind, and Wen Ying momentarily lost herself.

“Watch out!”

A sharp shout broke through her daze. Turning her head, Wen Ying saw a motorcycle speeding toward her, Zhou Yu, and the woman.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yu stepped back, holding the woman tightly, shielding her securely.

Wen Ying had to scramble away on her own, covering her face in panic and twisting her ankle.

---

“You?” Zhou Yu looked at her, his eyes deep, mixed with scrutiny and panic.

“I’m fine…”

Wen Ying turned and ran before tears could fall.

The woman asked curiously, “Who was that?”

Zhou Yu was stunned for a moment, then gently pinched the woman’s chin and kissed her. “Someone I seem to know.”

Someone he knows…

Someone he spent years with, once dreamed of marrying?

Wen Ying retreated to the car, pressing her aching abdomen against the steering wheel, gasping for breath. Cold sweat coated her skin, unsure whether the soreness in her heart or the pain from her illness was more overwhelming.

The sharp ringtone cut through her thoughts.

She glanced at the screen—it was Zhao Ke calling…

---

At Lansheng.

After receiving the documents Wen Ying sent, Zhao Ke furrowed his brow.

They worked in the same company—what was Wen Ying up to?

Was she resorting to such tricks to get the president’s attention since she was barred from the president’s office?

How childish.

Zhao Ke frowned and headed straight to the PR department.

---

But he was told Wen Ying hadn’t come to the office today.

With a busy day and his brow tightening further, Zhao Ke called Wen Ying.

“Manager Wen, whatever game you’re playing at, come back to the company immediately.”

Wen Ying lowered her gaze. It had to be about Lu Jinchuan—she must have looked at the divorce papers and was ready to discuss the divorce.

That was the only possibility she could think of.

Without hesitation, she changed course and headed straight to Lansheng.

Seeing Wen Ying rush over, Zhao Ke was convinced she was incorrigible—trying to get special treatment to catch Lu’s eye. The sneer on his face was barely contained.

“Where is he?” Wen Ying’s face was grim.

She still needed to pick up medicine from the hospital. She was still considering conservative treatment, but once she started, it would be impossible to hide it from her grandmother and uncle.

“This is the company. Does President Lu really need to come down personally to see Manager Wen?” Zhao Ke said matter-of-factly. “President Lu has something for you to handle.”

“Is it about the div—”

“Last night, at Miss Su’s birthday celebration, some negative comments were made, questioning Miss Su’s rise by stealing another’s love. Miss Su is no ordinary person; she is about to become the spokesperson for Lansheng’s key project. The project cannot suffer controversy, and Miss Su’s reputation must remain untarnished.”

“President Lu specifically named Manager Wen to handle this matter, to clear Miss Su’s name and quell the public outcry!”