Fatal Desire

Chapter 37 What did I do to offend you?

Zhao Yansen had always indulged her. Back then, Song Xi thought he would definitely agree, but after waiting for a while, he forcefully distanced himself from her.

"Didn't you say you were dizzy?" Zhao Yansen grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the sofa. "Sit here quietly."

He did not answer her question about whether he could stop finding her a sister-in-law.

Song Xi was disappointed, but she was not one to give up easily. After the doctor finished the examination, she drank a small bottle of medicine, ran upstairs, and stood in front of Zhao Yansen's door.

She glanced around furtively to make sure no one was watching before raising her hand to knock on the door while muttering to herself.

"Brother, open the door, it's me, your sister-in-law."

The voice was actually very soft, so soft that only she could hear it. But the moment she finished speaking, the door opened from the inside.

Therefore, the young Song Xi firmly believed that Zhao Yansen had also tacitly agreed.

However, he never promised her that he wouldn't marry other women.

Thinking about this, Song Xi felt a little more annoyed.

She was like Snow White in a fairy tale, and Zhao Yansen, as her stepmother, was like a poisoned apple that would kill her.

It wasn't that she couldn't understand; she had known this day would come—

He'll get married eventually.

I can understand it, but it still hurts.

Looking at the starry sky on the ceiling, Song Xi rubbed the safety amulet around her neck, feeling even more depressed. She tossed and turned for several hours but still couldn't fall asleep. She got up, changed her clothes, and went downstairs to go out.

Unexpectedly, they bumped into Zhao Yansen, who had just returned, in the living room.

He raised his long fingers, loosened his tie, and subtly observed Song Xi, who was still awake late at night. Her long hair was simply tied up with a silk scarf, and her bright face had a touch of languor.

She seemed to have been crying; her eyes were bright and clear, brimming with vitality, which suddenly aroused a destructive urge in one.

—Press her down and gradually approach her; she will be unable to hold back her tears.

Zhao Yansen paused slightly with his fingers hooked on the tie, then casually pulled it off.

Song Xi's princess-like temperament, which he had spoiled her with, had dissipated considerably over the past four years. Therefore, even though she didn't want to see him, she still stopped and obediently greeted him, "Brother."

Zhao Yansen looked at the girl who had been smiling in the morning, but whose expression had suddenly changed. He called out to her as she was about to brush past him.

"stop."

Song Xi paused, but without turning around, he said with his back to him, "What is it?"

His voice was cold, polite yet distant.

"Going out?" Zhao Yansen asked.

"Hmm." Song Xi didn't want to say more.

Zhao Yansen walked over to her, stood in front of her, studied her expression, and asked, "Why are your eyes red?"

"It was just blown by the wind on the balcony, it'll be back to normal in a little while," Song Xi said without changing her expression.

Zhao Yansen's eyes were dark and deep. His gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds before he spoke in a low voice, "What have I done to offend you?"

"No." Song Xi said in a flat tone, "Whatever happens to you, brother, is none of my business. I can't control you. Now that I'm an adult, you shouldn't interfere with me either."

Like a rebellious teenager, stubborn and headstrong.

But strangely, she remained calm, no longer the impulsive and naive girl she once was.

Zhao Yansen recalled what Zhou Ji'an had said: "She's grown up. If you can't figure her out, it's best not to ask. Asking too much will only annoy people."

He glanced at the time; it was already past 1 a.m. She was fully armed, clearly indicating she had no intention of returning.

"where to."

Song Xi didn't want to tell him. Anyway, he hadn't cared about her for four years while she was abroad, so it was her decision to come back. There was no need to say where she planned to go now.

"I'm leaving now." Song Xi had to process the overwhelming emotions that were rising within her. She couldn't say that she didn't want him to get married. What did it matter whether she liked it or not? He would get married eventually anyway.

It will happen either this year or next year.

A younger sister will always be a younger sister; she can never become a sister-in-law.

Zhao Yansen's tall figure blocked her way. He looked down at her, but Song Xi turned her face away, not letting him see.

She remained calm and composed: "Brother, move aside, I need to go out."

Zhao Yansen could clearly sense that Song Xi had changed a lot since returning to China.

In the past, she treated him with the clinginess and tantrums of a woman towards a man, or the respect of a junior towards an elder, mixed with a bit of resentment, so she occasionally dared to talk back to him.

Now, she keeps her distance, sometimes coming up to him with a bright smile and calling him "brother," and sometimes treating him like he's invisible, completely ignoring him.

It was as if he was someone she could do without.

"Song Xi." Zhao Yansen called her name, his cool voice carrying a hint of solemnity.

Song Xi gripped her bag tightly, then looked up and met his gaze without flinching. A sweet smile touched her cherry lips.

"Brother, you must be very tired after a long day. Go home and rest early. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

Her smile was as beautiful as ever, yet it stung his eyes, and Zhao Yansen was taken aback.

Taking the opportunity, Song Xi stepped away from him, her departure so resolute.

It's hard to describe that feeling.

The dull pain of abandonment, just like it had four years ago, struck him again, making him feel unusually flustered and uneasy.

Zhao Yansen took out his phone and made a call. The call connected after only a few rings.

He gave a concise and to-the-point command: "Follow the young lady."

Protecting her safety and keeping an eye on where she goes doesn't need to be explicitly stated; the other party already knows: "Yes."

Qin Fanghao was filming out of town, so Song Xi didn't disturb her and went straight to the laboratory building.

Over the years, when she couldn't sleep or was haunted by the past, she would do other things to force herself to detach from the pain.

Once she put on her lab coat and goggles, the world was shut out from her, and those moments that had once clung to her like vines, making it hard for her to breathe, gradually faded away.

Song Xi did not move and still lived in the courtyard house. She could even greet Zhao Yansen with a smile when she saw him, without any flaws.

A week before attending the Meng family wedding, someone delivered a custom-made suit to my door; it was all arranged by Zhao Yansen.

Song Xi did not refuse.

He could handle her temper tantrums, but no matter what he did—whether expressionless or cold—she would smile at him brightly and call out in a sweet voice, "Brother."

It looks normal, but it's actually strange.

After the Huasong Group board meeting concluded, Zhao Yansen returned to his office and leaned back in his chair, casually twirling his phone between his long, slender fingers.

"Mr. Zhao, is something troubling you?" Jiang Liangqun closed the signed document, trying to help the young master of the Zhao family.

Zhao Yansen remained silent.

A moment later, just when Jiang Liangqun thought he wouldn't speak, Zhao Yansen opened his eyes: "How old is your daughter?"

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Jiang Liangqun replied, "I'll be 23 this May."

"Has anything unusual happened recently?"

Jiang Liangqun thought for a moment and said, "She is currently a graduate student. Since she got a boyfriend, she has been coming home less often. Even when she does come home, she is always holding her phone and smiling to herself. Girls grow up and leave home."

In the dim light, Zhao Yansen's knuckles twitched slightly as he held his phone.

She has another boyfriend?

(End of this chapter)