Mr. Liang, you mustn't covet other people's fiancées!

Liang Chaoxu slowly opened his eyes and saw that Wen Li was still fast asleep. He released her hand, tucked her in, and got up to leave the ward.

He turned on his phone, and a screen of missed calls popped up, mostly from his mother.

Liang Chaoxu cleared his throat and dialed back.

The phone was answered after only two rings, and Qin Youya's furious voice boomed from the receiver: "Liang Chaoxu, get your ass back here right now!"

"I'll come back when Wen Li wakes up." Liang Chaoxu covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lightly twice.

Liang Yun, on the other end of the line, took the phone from his wife and said angrily, "Whether she's awake or not is none of your business. Get back here right now."

Liang Chaoxu turned to look into the ward. Wen Li had just turned over, seemingly about to wake up. He pursed his lips and said, "I'll be there in a bit."

After hanging up the call, Liang Chaoxu turned around, went back to the ward, picked up the key from the bedside table, and left the hospital.

Liangyuan Mansion

As soon as Liang Chaoxu got out of the car, Uncle Wu rushed up to him anxiously: "Sir, Madam and Master..."

"I know, Uncle Wu, you can go ahead and get busy." Liang Chaoxu said calmly as he strode toward the main house.

As soon as they entered the door, both parents asked in unison, "What exactly do you want?"

Liang Chaoxu calmly took off his coat and handed it to a servant beside him. Then, he sat down in a chair with an air of composure and replied slowly, "It's obvious that I like Wen Li."

Qin Youya's eyes widened instantly: "What did you say?"

"I said, I like Wen Li," Liang Chaoxu said earnestly again.

Qin Youya finally realized what was happening, her voice changing: "Wen Li was Song Yu's fiancée, and you are Song Yu's uncle. This is against all moral principles."

Liang Chaoxu's face remained expressionless: "Song Yu and I are not related by blood, so what kind of immoral act is this?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liang Yun, his face dark with rage, said, "It won't be long before the whole city is abuzz with the news of you carrying another woman away in front of your fiancée. Where do you think you are putting the reputation of the Liang and He families?"

"He Yanxi and I are not engaged, so where did this fiancée come from?" Liang Chaoxu turned his head to look at his father. "Besides, our two families are not lacking in means to handle public opinion."

Qin Youya was a little excited: "But you and Xixi are getting engaged soon!"

"We will not get engaged," Liang Chaoxu said with absolute certainty.

After those words were spoken, the main room fell silent for a few seconds.

Qin Youya clutched her chest, glancing at Liang Chaoxu and then at Liang Yun, her expression shifting.

Liang Yun stared at his son, his eyes as deep as a still pond, and remained silent for a long time.

When He Yanxi arrived at the Liang family home with her parents, Liang Chaoxu was just taking a coat from a servant, clearly preparing to leave.

Hearing the noise at the door, he looked up, stopped in his tracks, and stood still.

When He Yanxi entered, she didn't greet them with a smile as usual. Instead, she bowed slightly to Liang Yun and Qin Youya, a complex sense of guilt on her face: "Uncle Liang, Aunt Qin, I'm sorry."

Qin Youya and Liang Yun exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.

Qin Youya stood up and walked over, tentatively asking, "Xixi, what are you saying again? Why are you apologizing like this?"

He Yanxi pursed her lips, glanced quickly at Liang Chaoxu, then looked away, her voice clear: "Actually, I lied to you."

Liang Yun's brows slowly furrowed, and the doubt on Qin Youya's face gradually solidified.

He Yanxi took a deep breath: "I have someone I like, but I'm afraid my parents won't approve. That's why I had Liang Chaoxu act in this play with me. It's all fake from beginning to end."

She paused here, her chest heaving slightly, her gaze fixed on the ground, her intertwined fingertips already turning white.

"I just wanted to keep this a secret until things settled down before telling my parents the truth. I'm sorry for lying to you for so long."

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and even the occasional gust of wind outside the window sounded exceptionally clear.

After an unknown amount of time, Liang Yun said in a deep voice, "In that case, the marriage alliance between our two families shall be called off."

"I'll handle the public opinion issue. I'm leaving now." With that, Liang Chaoxu quickly left the main house.

Wen Li went straight to the company after leaving the hospital.

The data for the resort project isn't finished yet, and with the holidays coming up, I need to hurry.

Tian Miao looked at the rash on her face that hadn't completely subsided, her eyes filled with heartache: "How could you be so careless? Does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt, it's just a little itchy." Wen Li smiled, her gaze sweeping over the director's office. Seeing the door wide open, she casually asked, "Did Vice President Jiang go back to his own office?"

"No," Tian Miao shook her head. "Vice President Jiang didn't come at all this morning."

Wen Li's heart sank: "He didn't come?"

Last night, when Liang Chaoxu took her away from Jingchen Hall to the hospital, she seemed to see Jiang You's car through the rear window while she was in a daze.

The black sedan followed closely behind, its headlights blindingly bright in the night, chasing her for several blocks. Later, she felt dizzy and her consciousness became intermittent; after that, she remembered nothing at all.

Could something have happened?

Wen Li thought for a moment, then picked up her phone and sent Jiang You a message. After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply, she got up and went to the stairwell.

The phone rang for more than ten seconds before it was answered.

Wen Li quickly asked, "Senior, are you alright?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then came Madam Jiang's voice, cold and devoid of emotion: "Wen Li, were all the things you told me last night lies?"

Wen Li stood rooted to the spot, her fingers gripping her phone tightening unconsciously. She pursed her lips, and after a moment replied, "No."

"Then don't bother Jiang You anymore." The other end of the phone was empty, but the sound of Mrs. Jiang's high heels came through, each step feeling like it was pounding on Wen Li's heart.

She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, the person on the other end continued, their tone laced with undisguised sarcasm.

"You're young, but you're quite capable. You're seeing my son while also getting entangled with the Liang family's only son, with whom you're engaged. Wen Li, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Wen Li gripped her phone, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled before speaking: "Mrs. Jiang, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, his phone was suddenly snatched from his side.

She was stunned and turned to look. Liang Chaoxu had arrived at some point and was standing next to her, holding her phone to his ear, his voice cold and deep.

"Aunt Jiang, don't put all the blame on Wen Li. She clearly rejected Jiang You and me, but we two insisted on pestering her."

Madam Jiang paused for a moment, then asked, "Ah Xu, what did you say?"

"If Aunt Jiang doesn't believe me, she can ask Jiang You herself." After saying that, Liang Chaoxu hung up the phone and looked down at Wen Li.

She met his gaze and reached for her phone: "Thank you."

Liang Chaoxu didn't let go, his gaze lingering on her face and neck, his brows furrowing slightly: "The rash hasn't completely faded yet, why are you in such a hurry to be discharged?"

"Go to work to earn money."