Ye Qingfeng had no choice but to accept the cigarette. Shen Wuxiao, ever so considerate, even lit it for him.
“Mr. Ye, tell me… do you regret it?” Shen Wuxiao asked casually, blowing out a cloud of smoke.
Ye Qingfeng’s expression was blank. “Yes, I regret it. I regret letting my guard down and falling into your trap. Otherwise, who knows which of us would be standing here now.”
He didn’t sugarcoat anything.
There was no room for pretenses anymore. His feud with Shen Wuxiao would never end, so why bother pretending?
He was helpless today—after all, they were in Tuantuan’s ward. If it weren’t for that, he would have fought Shen Wuxiao to the death without hesitation.
“Exactly!” Shen Wuxiao leaned back against the windowsill. “Honestly, I admire you. You’ve made a name for yourself through your own efforts.”
“Unlike me… I’m just some spoiled rich kid who throws his weight around because of his background. If we were equals, who knows how things would’ve turned out?”
“Your background? Don’t sell yourself short,” Ye Qingfeng said coldly. “From the beginning till now, you’ve pushed me this far with nothing but your cruelty.”
Shen Wuxiao raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased. “That’s quite the compliment.”
He turned and pointed at Huang Luoyan, who stood silently to the side.
“So… what do you think about Huang Luoyan? You like her, don’t you?”
Ye Qingfeng’s heart clenched.
He couldn’t deny that he had feelings for her. She had been by Tuantuan’s side for five years, practically raising her like a mother. And yes, she was beautiful. He had once thought of giving Tuantuan a complete family.
But now wasn’t the time to admit it. If he did, Shen Wuxiao might humiliate her just to get at him.
He had already failed to protect Tuantuan—he couldn’t risk Huang Luoyan too.
“She helped take care of my daughter. That’s all. I’m just grateful.”
Shen Wuxiao nodded. “Is that so?”
Then he waved toward her. “Ms. Huang, could you come over here?”
Huang Luoyan, already on edge, froze slightly at his words. Her body tensed. She glanced nervously at Jiang Huaiyue, then at the sleeping Tuantuan, and finally walked toward the window.
When she arrived, Shen Wuxiao casually pulled her close to his side.
Then he looked down at her and said, “Ms. Huang, about the incident before—there was a misunderstanding. I had no ill intentions. Everything Lu Tao did, he did on his own.”
“Now that Lu Tao is dead, I assume you’re not still holding a grudge?”
Huang Luoyan had already pieced everything together the night before.
No wonder Shen Wuxiao never came to the hotel that night, even though she waited from afternoon till morning. It was Lu Tao who had forced her there by threatening Tuantuan.
Shen Wuxiao never showed up.
Though she still feared him, she nodded slightly. “I understand.”
“I’m glad,” Shen Wuxiao said with a smile, then looked at Ye Qingfeng again.
“Mr. Ye, just now we were talking about your feelings toward Ms. Huang. Why don’t you clear things up in front of her?”
“If there’s something there, I’ll gladly play matchmaker.”
Huang Luoyan was stunned.
She had never thought about Ye Qingfeng that way. And she certainly didn’t feel anything romantic toward him.
Ye Qingfeng immediately became alert.
Shen Wuxiao was trying to trap him again. He was using Huang Luoyan to provoke and humiliate him.
But Ye Qingfeng wasn’t so easily fooled.
No matter what, he couldn’t let Huang Luoyan be dragged into this. He already felt guilty enough for what she’d gone through.
He forced a smile. “You’re joking. I have no feelings for Ms. Huang. I’m just grateful for how she’s cared for my daughter.”
“She was close friends with my late partner. That’s the only reason I left Tuantuan in her care. Nothing more.”
“Really?” Shen Wuxiao raised an eyebrow, pretending to be surprised. “That sounds a bit heartless.”
“It’s the truth,” Ye Qingfeng replied calmly. “I saw her crying at the funeral, but I had things to take care of. I couldn’t take Tuantuan with me, so I left her in Ms. Huang’s care. I owe her for that.”
“I’ll compensate her in the future. That’s all.”
As he spoke, he turned to look out the window.
Huang Luoyan stood there, her heart sinking.
Even though she had been willing to care for Tuantuan, hearing it put that way made her feel cheap—like she had been used.
She bit her lip, her chest tight.
Shen Wuxiao sighed. “Then I suppose I was wrong.”
“But since Mr. Ye only intends to ‘compensate’ this loyal woman… then allow me, Shen Wuxiao, to do so on your behalf!”
Without warning, Shen Wuxiao slipped his arm around Huang Luoyan’s waist.
“Ah—!” she gasped, stumbling into his arms. Her hands pressed against his chest instinctively.
Ye Qingfeng froze.
Everything happened too quickly.
Before Huang Luoyan could react, Shen Wuxiao had already pinched her chin, lifting her face toward his.
Looking at her stunned expression, he smirked.
“Ms. Huang, I clearly failed as a matchmaker. My apologies.”
Then, without hesitation, he lowered his head and kissed her on the lips.
“Mm—!”
Huang Luoyan’s eyes widened in shock. She struggled instinctively, but he held her firmly.
She didn’t dare bite him—who knew what Shen Wuxiao would do if he got angry?
As she tried to break free, he pulled her back in again. Their lips met again and again, hot and forceful.
“Mm… Ah…”
Her soft whimpers echoed through the room.
Ye Qingfeng stood frozen, witnessing every second of it.
He saw everything—how their lips locked, parted, and reconnected.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
The way Shen Wuxiao kissed her, how they occasionally pulled apart only to be drawn back together—the saliva threads still connecting them—was unbearable.
Bastard!
He finally found someone he cared about… only to be humiliated this way?
Bastard!
[Ding! Ye Qingfeng feels humiliated. Points +30,000]
[Ye Qingfeng feels like he’s been cuckolded. Points +30,000]
[Ye Qingfeng has murderous intent. Points +20,000]
Ye Qingfeng’s mind was about to snap.
No one could endure this.
His gaze darted toward Jiang Huaiyue, hoping to see her angry or jealous.
But she sat nearby, doing her nails, completely unfazed—as if nothing was happening.
That was even more outrageous!
Even worse, Huang Luoyan had seemingly given up. Her resistance grew weaker. She closed her eyes, as if surrendering.
Ye Qingfeng nearly exploded on the spot.
But just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Jiang Huaiyue immediately stood up, her eyes turning sharp. Her hand instinctively moved to her waist, ready to draw her sword.
Shen Wuxiao, still kissing, let out a sneer.
Ah, finally. The perfect excuse, the perfect setup.
According to Ye Qingfeng’s background, his backer was a deputy G-level boss. Although Shen Wuxiao had completely disrupted the plot, the man behind Ye Qingfeng hadn’t changed.
Cornered, desperate, and losing everything, Ye Qingfeng had no choice but to call for backup.
And that backup wasn’t from the Shen family.
Worse, the people backing them weren’t entirely “clean” either.
How laughable—to think they could rival the Shen family just because they had a few hidden aces.
But now that the perfect reason had arrived, Shen Wuxiao had no intention of wasting it.
Let the real show begin.