Chapter 43: Choose One of Two

Zhao Kai walked briskly, his brow furrowed, the unease in his heart heavier than the storm clouds overhead.

He couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. Perhaps it was the guilt of hiding things from Fei’er, or maybe it was the sense that his involvement with Yan’er was simply wrong.

There was no way to have it both ways in life. He couldn’t pretend nothing had happened. That fleeting discomfort he’d felt earlier made him want to confess everything to Fei’er.

Raindrops pelted his face like hailstones. He tilted his head up for a moment, exhaled a heavy breath, and thought, enough—he was a man, and if he dared to act, he must dare to accept the consequences. If Fei’er resented him for this, felt it unfair, he would take her far away from all of this.

He could not betray two women at the same time.

With his mind made up, the gloom in Zhao Kai’s heart dissipated somewhat. He pushed open the door, but Fei’er was nowhere to be seen.

“Fei’er?”

Where was she? The rain outside was torrential; surely she couldn’t have gone out.

“Husband, I’m here.”

A soft, sweet voice came from the bathroom.

Zhao Kai pushed open the door and entered. The steam washed away his chill. Lin Fei’er was lazily propped on her elbows at the edge of the bath, gazing at him. “Husband, the rain is so heavy outside. Why don’t you join me for a bath?”

A bath?

Zhao Kai couldn’t tear his eyes from Fei’er’s lovely figure.

Yet remembering the urgent matter, he hurriedly shook his head. “No, Fei’er, I have something to—”

“Husband…” Lin Fei’er didn’t let him finish. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the bath.

Water splashed, soaking Zhao Kai entirely. He was about to get out, but Fei’er draped herself over his shoulders.

“Husband, we haven’t spent real time together in so long. Won’t you stay with me?”

Through the mist, her gaze was especially tender, and Zhao Kai’s heart melted.

“All right…”

Guilt made him hold Lin Fei’er close. She had already slipped off his clothes and tossed them aside. Fei’er lay on his chest, tracing slow circles with her fingertips.

“Husband, lately I’ve seen you getting close to Sister Yan’er. Did you fall for her?”

Zhao Kai’s throat tightened; he felt caught in an affair.

But after the initial anxiety, he steadied himself. Sooner or later, he’d have to speak. If he didn’t, he’d be betraying Fei’er and could never find peace.

Better to resolve it now.

“Actually I—”

“Husband, you don’t need to answer,” Lin Fei’er said, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “A man like you—any woman would love you. Sister Yan’er’s feelings are only natural. But… do you love her? If you do, I can share you with her. As long as you keep a place for me in your heart… that’s enough.”

Her words were heartbreakingly gentle, as if she were a woman always on the verge of being abandoned.

Zhao Kai thought of Fei’er’s tragic past, how she’d married him against all odds, how she’d stayed by his side through everything, knowing nothing, never leaving.

His guilt deepened, and he cursed himself inwardly.

“Fei’er, don’t worry. No one can ever take your place in my heart.”

Fei’er was the first woman to enter his heart. In this strange world, if not for her, he’d never have known the warmth of home.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Lin Fei’er nuzzled his cheek. “I knew it. Husband, you do care for me.”

Unable to help himself, Zhao Kai hugged her tighter, kissed her forehead, and, thinking of Yan’er’s confession and love, closed his eyes.

Let it be, then…

“Master… Master, are you there?” a maid called urgently.

“What is it?” Lin Fei’er asked.

Hearing Fei’er’s voice, the maid said nothing more; Zhao Kai knew it must be Huanpei, Yan’er’s attendant.

He stood up, but Fei’er clung to him. “Husband, the rain is so heavy. Don’t go out.”

“Be good… I’ll go see what’s wrong.”

Normally, a gentle word would settle Fei’er, but today her longing gaze clung to him, as if afraid something precious might slip away.

“Husband, I’m scared of the thunder. Can you stay with me a little longer?”

So she was frightened by the storm. Zhao Kai smiled. “How could I not stay with you? Wait for me, I’ll be right back.”

“All right.”

Zhao Kai rose, never noticing that somewhere in the room, a pair of eyes watched him in silence…

“What’s the matter?” Zhao Kai asked Huanpei after readying himself.

Huanpei looked anxious, almost in tears. “Master, have you seen the young lady?”

Huanpei knew about Zhao Kai and Yan’er.

Zhao Kai’s heart tightened. He frowned, “She’s not in her room?”

“No, I searched everywhere, but couldn’t find her. Master, where could she go in this rain?”

Outside, the rain poured down, and Yan’er was missing. Zhao Kai sensed something was wrong and instinctively rushed out, but after two steps, he stopped.

“Master, what’s the matter? Aren’t we going to look for the young lady?”

Zhao Kai shook his head, speaking gravely, “Yan’er won’t go far. Gather some trustworthy servants to search nearby, and do not let Old Master Zhao know.”

If word got out that the Zhao family’s young lady was missing, it would put Yan’er in even greater danger.

Besides, Yan’er’s sudden disappearance was suspicious. The Zhao family’s gambling house was full of his people, all familiar with Yan’er. It would be impossible for anyone to take her out.

Unless that person was from the Zhao family.

Huanpei was frantic, wanting to tell the master so everyone could look for her, but seeing Zhao Kai insist on keeping it quiet, she could only do as he said.

Lin Fei’er stepped out of the bath, drying her hair, feeling refreshed.

The journey home through the storm had chilled her and exhausted her.

She walked to the wardrobe and widened the half-open crack, revealing an exquisite beauty inside, drenched and bound.

“Sister Yan’er, did you hear? Husband said his heart belongs only to me.”

Zhao Yan’er looked at her, haggard and sorrowful, her body tied, her gaze full of pain.

Lin Fei’er’s expression flickered, unreadable. In the moment she acted, all the jealousy and hatred in her heart vanished. She didn’t know how she could bring herself to do it; she only watched as Yan’er, knocked unconscious, lay before her, wishing she could end things then and there.

Lin Fei’er was a kind-hearted girl, but no woman would willingly share her husband.

Especially when she had been deceived and witnessed such intimacy between Yan’er and her own husband. No matter how understanding, she could not endure such betrayal.

She brought the unconscious Yan’er here, hiding her away, forcing her to witness the tenderness between herself and her husband, to see firsthand how happy they were together.

She wanted Yan’er to know the agony of jealousy.

“Sister Yan’er, don’t blame me. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for falling in love with my husband.”