After she left her father and kept her son, President Pei lost control and knelt down.

Pei Hansheng did not leave that night.

In Qiao Wan's usual bedroom, two people were locked in a passionate embrace on a single bed.

His chest wound was quite obvious; it had bled from the excessive exertion, and the freshly bandaged gauze was soaked through, which looked rather frightening.

Pei Hansheng knew she couldn't bear to see these things, so he covered her eyes.

Qiao Wan felt like the whole world was shaking from the retort.

"You're injured..."

Pei Hansheng turned her over, hands on her hips, and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry about it."

Qiao Wan grabbed his arm, pleading with him to stop.

After she cried and begged for a long time, Pei Hansheng finally felt satisfied and held her as they lay down on the bed: "What you did just now almost killed me. Where did you learn that trick, you vixen?"

Qiao Wan nestled in his arms, staring blankly into space.

Pei Hansheng was inexplicably annoyed and pinched her chin: "Does having more experience mean you've gained more expertise?"

Qiao Wan's eyes flickered slightly, and she slapped him across the face.

Pei Hansheng's expression suddenly turned ugly: "Would it kill you to say 'no'?"

Qiao Wan was tired and didn't want to argue with him: "Does this answer even matter? You're the one who's always having fun outside, what right do you have to judge me?"

Pei Hansheng sneered angrily: "Because I've supported you for four years, because I'm your man."

Qiao Wan turned her back, her coldness infuriating: "It won't be like that for long."

Pei Hansheng sat up, staring at her profile: "What did you say? Speak louder."

Qiao Wan closed her eyes briefly: "You're disturbing my sleep."

Bang!

Something fell to the ground and broke.

Qiao Wan sat up and saw that Pei Hansheng had smashed the music box ornament on her table.

Her eyes reddened. It was the only thing her biological parents had left her, which she had put in her schoolbag when she left the orphanage and kept with her for twenty years, taking it with her wherever she went.

"Pei Hansheng, this is my home! Get out! Get as far away as you can!"

Qiao Wan stood up, punched him repeatedly, and pushed him out.

Pei Hansheng's face hardened as he grabbed her hand and roared in a low voice, "The baby is sleeping, don't make a scene."

Qiao Wan was in tears, biting and pounding her fists, hitting Pei Hansheng's heart several times, causing him to frown deeply, and was then driven to the entrance hall.

Pei Hansheng looked down at her crying, his voice indifferent: "Qiao Wan, look at yourself now, what's the difference between you and someone who's gone mad!"

Qiao Wan's emotions surged up in an instant. She opened the door, pointed outside, and said, "Then get out of here! Go find Jiang Chunzhi, go find your Zhao Zhao. I'd rather not sleep with you!"

Pei Hansheng took a deep breath, his eyes freezing over.

"Zhao Zhao, you know everything. You investigated me quite thoroughly. What else do you know? Tell me, so you don't get jealous and angered to death."

His nonchalant demeanor stung Qiao Wan; she stared into his eyes, her gaze even colder than his.

"You only get jealous when you love someone. Pei Hansheng, do you think I still care about you now? Any random man who comes into my life is much better than you. What makes you think I'll be devoted to you?"

Pei Hansheng's forehead veins bulged as he slammed his fist against the door, his dark eyes churning with turbulent emotions.

"Then why will you still sleep with me?"

Qiao Wan smiled and said, "You delivered yourself to my door."

boom!

The door slammed shut. Pei Hansheng turned and walked into the corridor. If he didn't leave soon, he might strangle Qiao Wan to death.

Qiao Wan stood in the room, wiped away her tears, walked back to the bedroom, bent down to pick up the music box on the floor. The crystal flower in the middle was broken and pierced her hand, drawing blood.

She sucked on her wound, her emotions collapsing. She hugged her knees, buried her face in them, her thin shoulders trembling as she suppressed a sob.

No matter how harmonious things are in bed with Pei Hansheng, it doesn't change the fact that there's no love between them. If it doesn't end soon, they'll be stuck in a vicious cycle forever, wasting their lives. Cutting someone out of your heart feels like being pierced by a thousand arrows.

Outside the door, Pei Hansheng remained in the corridor, feeling inexplicably frustrated. He had thought that sleeping would solve the problem, but instead, the conflict had only deepened.

He was overwhelmed by a deep sense of powerlessness, as if no matter how hard he tried, he could not achieve the result he wanted, and his patience was about to be completely worn away.

Jiang Chunzhi called at that moment: "Hansheng, why aren't you at the hospital? Is your wound any better? I just heard about Qiao Wan's disappearance. Have you found her yet?"

Pei Hansheng remained silent, not wanting to discuss this troubling topic.

Jiang Chunzhi said with heartache on the other end of the phone, "Hansheng, your aunt called me last night. She cried and said she was very disappointed in you. She loves you very much. It's all Qiao Wan's fault. She ruined your life, your future, and your family. She doesn't deserve so much sacrifice from you."

"She really doesn't deserve my kindness." Pei Hansheng lowered his eyes, his mood extremely suppressed: "Being with her has always brought more pain than joy. I haven't had many happy days in the past few years."

Jiang Chunzhi sighed: "Hansheng, I'm here with your aunt. I took her shopping today to cheer her up. After a while, when she's calmed down, you should apologize to her. What mother in the world doesn't love her son? Don't get too upset."

"Thank you, Chunzhi."

Jiang Chunzhi fell silent, her voice tinged with bitterness: "Hansheng, you know what I want isn't this lukewarm thank you."

Pei Hansheng didn't respond, staring at the bright sky outside the window, his head throbbing.

"Hansheng, I'm sorry, I misspoke. You've already severed ties with me. It's my fault for not being able to just be your sister. Do you remember our promise from when we were little? I would only marry Pei Hansheng in this lifetime. You might think it was just childhood play, but it's a promise I'll keep for life. As long as you turn back, I'll always be there for you."

"Chunzhi." Pei Hansheng pinched the bridge of his nose. "If only Qiao Wan were half as good as you, she couldn't do it."

It will never be possible.

Jiang Chunzhi said in a gentle voice, "Hansheng, you're like holding a useless rope right now. Maybe she pulled you up once, but you don't need her anymore. The reason you're still unwilling to let go even though you're all hurt is because you've invested in it. Sooner or later, you'll be in so much pain that you won't be able to bear it anymore, and then you'll find that Qiao Wan is no longer the person you imagined."

Pei Hansheng stared blankly at the gloomy sky, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Hansheng, I'm going to have breakfast with Auntie now. Cheer up."

"it is good."

Pei Hansheng waited for Jiang Chunzhi to hang up the phone, listening to the mechanical dial tone, a deep weariness appearing on his face.

Jiang Chunzhi's call was on speakerphone, and Rong Wenying, who was right next to her, heard it all clearly.

"Hmph, he must have been turned away by Qiao Wan. If he doesn't get a divorce soon, he'll suffer a lot in the future."

Jiang Chunzhi smiled, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes.

"Auntie, you heard it too. Han Sheng said he's not happy with Qiao Wan. The reason he won't divorce her is because of his possessiveness and competitive spirit. Judging from his tone, he's almost at his breaking point."

Rong Wenying took Jiang Chunzhi's hand and felt more and more that she was generous and reasonable, the perfect daughter-in-law in her mind.

"Chunzhi, it's not that I'm saying this, but you're too lenient with Hansheng. If you had used any tricks, you would have married into our family and become my daughter-in-law long ago."

Jiang Chunzhi shook her head, her tone sad: "Auntie, it's because I love Hansheng. I respect his choices because I love him, instead of tormenting him and making him unhappy."