Chapter 49: Everyone Could See How Much He Cared for Her

Wen Ying could not quite describe her current mood. It was not so much disappointment as it was sheer irony.

Yet, upon reflection, it made sense.

How could Lu Jinchuan bear to deny the woman he truly loved a proper title?

Zhou Yu pulled Wen Ying along until they reached the parking area by the entrance.

Wen Ying swiftly pulled her hand away from his grip and asked coldly, "Is there something you wanted to say?"

Zhou Yu leaned against the car door. In truth, he knew Wen Ying was furious right now. The people who had stabbed her in the back were her father, her husband, her stepsister, and perhaps... even he should be counted among them?

However.

He knew that in Wen Ying's heart, he stood above all of them. Whatever he said, Wen Ying would ultimately listen.

"You know very well that Lu Jinchuan would never have anything serious with Luo Yi," Zhou Yu lit a cigarette. "Everyone can see how much he cares about Su Nian."

Wen Ying paused.

Everyone thought so, indeed.

"As for Luo Yi, she is my sister when all is said and done. I cannot just stand by and do nothing." Zhou Yu's brows were relaxed, but his gaze fixed on her was serious.

Originally, Wen Ying felt she could brush off today's events with indifference.

Yet, it had to be this very remark from Zhou Yu.

The person he was choosing to protect turned out to be Zhou Luoyi.

He knew clearly that Zhou Luoyi and her mother had stolen everything that belonged to her, robbing her of her home, her mother, and subjecting her to endless hardship—all of which Zhou Yu had witnessed with his own eyes.

More than once in the past, his eyes had turned red with heartache for her.

He had sworn to gain absolute authority and shield her from any harm.

Yet today, Zhou Yu could utter such words with complete composure.

"Your 'standing by and doing nothing' simply means that while knowing I am the one suffering the grievance, you choose to protect Zhou Luoyi and expect me to take a step back for the sake of peace?" Wen Ying let out a soft laugh, a sharp pain piercing her heart as she looked at him. "You are the very last person qualified to lecture me like this."

Back then, she had risked half her life to save him.

Did he simply act as though that never happened?

Not one for pointless arguments, Wen Ying turned to leave.

A trace of annoyance flashed across Zhou Yu's unruly brows. He snuffed out his cigarette and said, "Let's grab a meal together sometime. How about this weekend?"

He knew full well that Wen Ying was still in the heat of anger, but this was just a little girl's temper. If he took her out to dinner and chatted with her, she would get over it completely.

Wen Ying took a deep breath, about to refuse, "No—"

"Forget it, I have plans this weekend. I'll contact you later," Zhou Yu suddenly remembered that he was supposed to go see a ball game with Jiang Qian over the weekend.

He would be accompanying Jiang Qian.

That day was out of the question.

Only, he had no intention of explaining to Wen Ying that he would be accompanying Jiang Qian.

Wen Ying would only throw a tantrum.

It would become troublesome.

"Don't bother." Sensing Zhou Yu's hesitation, Wen Ying hadn't wanted to have dinner with him anyway. It was completely inappropriate now.

Whether viewed as an elder brother figure, or as someone she had once nearly shared a romantic future with.

Watching Wen Ying wrap her coat tightly around herself and walk away, Zhou Yu frowned. He couldn't shake the feeling that Wen Ying had changed.

He had occupied the entirety of Wen Ying's adolescence; he was one of the most important people in her life, and even her first stirrings of romantic affection had been for him. He knew how much weight he carried in her heart.

Back then, basking in his pampering, Wen Ying had been bright and cheerful. She would harbor a sense of possessiveness toward him and mind whenever other women were around.

Today, regarding the incident with Zhou Luoyi, she must have been jealous of his leaning toward Zhou Luoyi, which explained her coldness.

That made complete sense.

Perhaps she hadn't changed at all; she was simply resorting to familiar tactics.

The more she cared, the stronger her reaction.

Having sorted out his logic, Zhou Yu rubbed his brow, having no intention of intervening further.

He wanted to make Wen Ying understand one thing.

He did not belong to her alone.

It was time for her to grow up.

_

Shen Jiaxiao had not suffered any real losses, save for being scratched on the arm by Zhou Luoyi during a moment of careless pushing and shoving.

In her own words, she had viciously dug her freshly manicured nails into the inner side of Zhou Luoyi's arm several times.

Enough to leave the other person howling in pain and turning bruised for a week.

At that, Wen Ying finally managed a smile.

As for Lu Jinchuan, she no longer paid him any attention.

She had entrusted the maintenance staff to drive her car back from where it had been parked at the marital home.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would never go back there again.

Her uncle's birthday was approaching. A full month in advance, Wen Ying had already bought him a gift, but before leaving, she gave it another thought.

She made a trip to the shopping mall.

Along the way, she prepared a gift for her uncle on behalf of Lu Jinchuan as well, before finally heading back to her maternal grandmother's house.