You're my wife, don't doubt it!

Xiao Yao: "..."

Zhang Zhengkai: "The video of you two dancing together has spread all over the internet. Now her parents know, everyone knows—actually, even without that video, I always knew she was with you, but I just couldn't find any evidence and couldn't do anything about it for the time being."

“Alright, Lao Zhang,” Xiao Yao sighed, “then I’ll apologize to you. I don’t dislike you as a person, and I genuinely want to be friends with you, but when it comes to feelings, there’s no way around it.”

“So I don’t blame you, I understand you,” Zhang Zhengkai sighed. “If I were you, I would have done the same.”

"Yes, thank you for understanding."

“However, we can’t be friends after all,” Zhang Zhengkai sighed.

“…Hmm,” Xiao Yao said.

“You stole my wife, but you also saved me, so we’re even this time,” Zhang Zhengkai continued. “I was in a bad mood a while ago, but I’ve been in a good mood these past few days; you were in a very good mood a while ago, but you’ve been a little unhappy these past few days, so we’re even again.”

“Ha,” Xiao Yao said.

"Well then, unless there's something absolutely necessary, we'll meet again in the martial world?" Zhang Zhengkai was about to end the conversation.

"Wait," Xiao Yao gripped the receiver tightly, as if to prevent the other party from unilaterally hanging up: "Tell me, where is she?"

Zhang Zhengkai sounded somewhat confused: "She's at home, where else could she be? On the far side of the moon?"

"Where does she live?" Xiao Yao blurted out.

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Zhengkai was silent for a short while, which made Xiao Yao think he had hung up. But then Zhang Zhengkai's smug laughter came through the receiver.

After laughing for a while, he said excitedly, "You didn't even ask 'which home,' but 'where is your home?' It seems that Xiao Shenjie doesn't consider you a friend at all."

"..."

Zhang Zhengkai seemed to have started talking again: "Let me guess, are you afraid to ask her, or did you ask her but she wouldn't tell you?"

"No, it's just that I never wanted her to tell me."

"Keep making things up, I love listening." Zhang Zhengkai's voice still betrayed his barely suppressed laughter.

"You said Shen Jie doesn't consider me a friend, but does she consider you a friend?"

"Hmph, don't even mention the address, I know exactly how to get to her house, how to get home, how many people are in her family, how many acres of land they own, and how many cows they have."

“Keep making this up, I love listening,” Xiao Yao said.

"You! ... Don't try to provoke me. I'm not a three-year-old. I won't fall for that. Don't try to get anything out of me."

“I always thought you were an upright and noble knight, someone who would choose fair and square competition. I just want to have an open and honest talk with her father—”

“Che,” Zhang Zhengkai sneered on the other end of the phone, “When Lancelot cuckolded King Arthur, was it also open and aboveboard?”

"Which of us is Lancelot, and who is King Arthur?" Xiao Yao wondered to himself.

“I won’t tell you where she lives,” Zhang Zhengkai said. “Besides, even if you knew, it wouldn’t change anything.”

“Yes, I can’t change anything,” Xiao Yao said. “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you can’t imagine the joy of saying no.” Zhang Zhengkai’s tone became eager: “Do you have any other requests that I need to refuse?”

"Zhang Zhengkai, listen to me." Xiao Yao took a long breath.

Zhang Zhengkai did not speak, nor did he hang up the phone.

"Are you really prepared to marry her—are you really prepared to force her to marry you?" Xiao Yao asked.

“I don’t like using the word ‘force.’ I know she will eventually face reality—you simply don’t understand, but she will. Marriage is never just a matter between two people; for us, it’s not just about two families, but about millions of people,” Zhang Zhengkai said. “However, if saying this makes you happier, then my answer is, of course.”

“Even if she is no longer…so pure?” Xiao Yao blurted out.

After saying this, Xiao Yao silently apologized to Shen Jie in his heart.

You'll forgive me, right? You know I only said that on purpose to discourage Zhang Zhengkai.

"Xiao Yao, I'm warning you!..." Zhang Zhengkai was instantly enraged, like a little lion.

“This is a fact, a fact that you can’t change no matter how angry you get,” Xiao Yao told Zhang Zhengkai. “With your looks, knowledge, character, family background, and your talent, you have many good choices, choices that are no less than hers, or even better than hers.”

Zhang Zhengkai: "..."

"Whether you look at your reputation from the outside world or from your own inner resentment, there's no need for you to keep her hanging on." Xiao Yao advised in as sincere a tone as possible: "A real man knows when to let go."

“You’d better not bring this up again,” Zhang Zhengkai warned Xiao Yao angrily, “otherwise, I really might want to find someone to kill you.”

Hire someone to kill me? Who are you trying to scare? It's a shame this phone doesn't have a recording function.

"So, you're really going to swallow your pride and suffer in silence?" Xiao Yao retorted sarcastically. "Young Master Zhang's love is indeed great, resilient, loyal, and deeply moving."

“Don’t give me that crap,” Zhang Zhengkai sneered. “You know very well that she’s still the original product—you couldn’t get anything out of her, you know that yourself. You can lie to me, but there’s no need to lie to yourself.”

"Huh?" Xiao Yao didn't react for a moment: "How did you know?"

“At your request, I refuse to answer this question—whether it’s because my little Shen Jie has principles and a bottom line, or you’re not good enough, it doesn’t matter anymore,” Zhang Zhengkai said. “Don’t nag me here, Xiao Yao. I’ll return your words to you: A real man knows when to let go.”

After saying this, Zhang Zhengkai let go and hung up the phone with a "snap".

After the other end of the phone hung up, Xiao Yao remained seated on the small stool, still in the same position as when he was on the phone, sitting there like a "thinker," lost in thought for a long time.

About a minute later, he put his phone down and placed it back next to the gas stove.

Xiao Yao felt very satisfied.

Although the phone call failed to find out "where Shen Jie is," and on the surface it seemed like a major setback, Xiao Yao didn't care at all.

What he cared about was that he had obtained a lot of crucial information from Zhang Zhengkai as intelligence.

This is much better than being completely blind before.

First, we have confirmed a previous hypothesis: Shen Jie's disappearance was not of her own volition, but rather at the behest of her parents. Second, Shen Jie is currently out of danger; barring any unforeseen circumstances, she is 99% confined to her home.

Of course, what's unsettling is Zhang Zhengkai's relentless pressure.

Since he has the confidence to do this, he must have the support of both families.

Undoubtedly, this is a formidable challenge.

Zhang Zhengkai said, "I know she will eventually face reality," which means that, so far, Shen Jie has not "faced reality."

Of course, this is to be expected in such a short time.

However, Xiao Yao, you need to hurry.

Shen Jie's father grounded her, which he was perfectly capable of doing, and in this country, Shen Jie, as a minor, seemed to have no way to resist.

However, her father would never tie her up and send her to Young Master Zhang's bed.

Firstly, he is, after all, his biological father, not his stepfather, even if he owns a magnificent palace.

Secondly, this is Shanghai, a city governed by the rule of law. No matter what, Zhang Zhengkai's father is a "public figure." If they were to actually commit such illegal and criminal acts—openly committing such illegal and criminal acts—it would undoubtedly give their enemies an opportunity to attack their weaknesses and provide leverage.

This enemy includes Zhang's political rivals, Shen's business competitors, and myself, in my humble opinion.

In any case, Shen Jie should be safe for the time being, but she is being pressured.

The only thing that really annoyed Xiao Yao was Zhang Zhengkai's boast that "Xiao Shen Jie is still the original product; you couldn't take anything from her."

Xiao Yao wasn't bothered by the disrespectful wording towards women, but rather by how he knew.

First, we'll rule out one that's been personally verified.

"One likely possibility is that Zhang Zhengkai tricked you into revealing information." The little man in the white shirt tapped the blackboard with a pointer.

"First of all, when you told him that Shen Jie was no longer 'pure,' his first reaction was to become angry and embarrassed, and he jumped up."

This shows that he still had many doubts about it.

Therefore, "you couldn't get anything out of her" could be a cliché.

"And when you blurt out, 'How did you know?' it's like giving him a reassurance."

After the little man in white finished speaking, he made a gesture as if he had finished his speech.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, your explanation misses the point." The little man in red started writing and drawing on the ground with a pitchfork.

"The video of you and Shen Jie dancing went viral online, and it even reached the ears of District Chief Zhang."

"So, District Chief Zhang called Shen Jie's father and said, 'Old Shen, your daughter ran away from home earlier, and when she came back, you told me she was just hanging out in hostels and internet cafes.'"

"That's what Shen Jie's father would say."

"Then, District Chief Zhang would further say: 'But there are some rumors circulating online that your daughter has actually been with a boy all this time. So... how about we just leave the marriage arrangement as it is, so it won't affect the past relationship between our two families.'"

"At this point, Shen Jie's father would humbly, weakly, pitifully, and helplessly plead: 'District Chief, please investigate! Rumors stop with the wise. The two young people only met occasionally, went out to play together, and danced together. What does that prove? If District Chief Zhang is not confident in my daughter's innocence, he can send a trusted female doctor under his command to examine her, and the truth will be revealed.'"

“That must be it.” The little man in the red clothes drew a capital “BINGO” next to his conclusion with a steel fork.

Therefore, Xiao Yao also wrote his conclusion in the air:

Already read it, bullshit.

……

Does this mean she really is still the "original" woman?

Damn it, Xiao Yao, how can you be so useless? You can't even unpack a package properly!

……

Xiao Yao thought to himself that after Shen Jie had gone through so much trouble, District Chief Zhang should have lost interest in the matter.

The reason why they agreed to Shen's father's proposal was probably because Zhang Zhengkai himself cried, made a scene, and threatened suicide.