Chapter 37: Two Confessions

Later that day, Liang Jinshang heard the blare of police sirens from all directions and the chaotic stampede of footsteps, but she no longer had the energy to care. She had been terrified by her own inner demons. If Shang Yucheng hadn’t stopped her in time, she didn’t even dare to imagine what might have happened. Although Shang Yucheng hadn’t acted to save her, but rather to save Gong Xueyuan.

Two days later, on what was supposed to be their wedding day, the eagerly watching public finally received a joint statement from the Shang and Gong families. It claimed the video had been released by a business competitor who hacked Nantai Construction’s official account—the woman in the footage, they said, was not Gong Xueyuan, but merely someone who looked like her. The two families declared their intent to pursue legal action against what they called malicious competition. They stopped just short of naming Hu Zhinan outright.

In the days that followed, Qincheng Construction’s losses mounted into the billions, and rumors swirled that they planned to seek damages from Hu Zhinan. Then, Shang Yucheng himself appeared at a press conference, announcing that Gong Xueyuan’s mental health had suffered due to online abuse and the wedding would be postponed for six months.

Anyone with eyes could see that the woman in the video was indeed Gong Xueyuan, but public attention was swiftly diverted by the rarely seen young heir of the Shang family. His striking looks stunned the crowd—these days, people’s values seemed to be led by appearances. Online influencers began to praise their “fairy-tale romance” with one voice. Any search for Gong Xueyuan’s name now only brought up hashtags like #GongXueyuanSavedTheGalaxyInHerPastLife.

“Ha! Saved the galaxy in her last life!” Le Quan laughed in Liang Jinshang’s office half a month later as they discussed the affair. “If you ask me, it was more like the old man of the Gong family wiped out her entire family in his past life! You have no idea how much of a mess this has been for her father—he’s really taken the fall this time!”

Le Quan explained in detail how the Gong family, desperate to restore Gong Xueyuan’s reputation and needing the Shang family’s cooperation, had been forced to cede their most valuable business sectors. What was once a win-win partnership had become a one-sided feast for the Shang family; it was now uncertain whether the Gongs would even get a taste of the leftovers.

“Shang Yucheng is terrifying! Who doesn’t know he released that video himself? They even matched the phone model! He sacrificed his reputation and made a fortune! And that reputation is worth a lot—now everyone online is swooning over his looks and devotion. Just wait, within six months he’ll find some beautiful excuse and break off the engagement.”

Liang Jinshang paused her work at her computer mouse. “You really seem to dislike this Shang Yucheng.”

Le Quan pouted, “If not for him, Si Rong wouldn’t have had to marry all the way off in America…”

“What did you say?” Liang Jinshang was adjusting parameters and asked offhandedly.

“Never mind, you don’t know her.”

Liang Jinshang nodded and didn’t pursue it further. Of course she knew Si Rong—she’d been her senior in college, from the same department.

Back in sophomore year, Liang Jinshang and Si Rong had been in the same design group under a shared professor. More than that, she had once overheard Shang Yucheng confessing his feelings to Si Rong.

This young man, so proud and untouchable, had confessed to Si Rong not once but twice. At that time, Shang Yucheng was not yet the deep and inscrutable person he was now. His youthful, handsome face had swept through the hearts of every girl on campus. The fervor of adolescence and his determined pursuit had made Si Rong’s name famous throughout the university, and brightened the youth of every bystander.

Except for Liang Jinshang. She had only cared about studying as hard as she could.

…

Le Quan watched Liang Jinshang working nonstop and couldn’t help but tease, “Why are you working so hard? Are you like those guys in our department, saving up a dowry for your future wife?”

She was referring to the young men in their department. Ever since Liang Jinshang and Le Quan had joined, the others had been restless—especially since Liang Jinshang looked so innocent and ethereal, earning her the nickname “Little Fairy.” There was no shortage of suitors.

She often worked overtime, and the number of people willing to stay late had increased as well. Their excuse was that working overtime was just saving up for a wife.

“More like saving up for a husband!” Le Quan suddenly remembered, “Next week’s architectural forum in Province A—ever since you were selected, those guys have been practically fighting for the chance to go. Please don’t go alone and come back with someone new!”

Liang Jinshang nudged her.

“Fine, come back with someone if you must, but not two!” Le Quan joked.

Liang Jinshang forced a smile, “Maybe I’ll bring a ghost back for you.”

…

The provincial summit was held in Jincheng, but the venue was a nearby undeveloped small town, requiring a few days away from home. Last time, Liang Xizhou had already been hospitalized by Chao Jingyu. When Liang Jinshang told her mother about the trip, she didn’t ask for details.

Her mother rarely questioned her decisions—or perhaps, she simply ignored them. That day, Liang Jinshang returned home battered after being beaten by Liang Xizhou, and her mother hadn’t asked anything. In the past, when Liang Xizhou had hurt her even more seriously, Liang Jinshang had considered it atonement; her mother had seemed to silently agree.

…

The first evening of the summit was marked by a grand banquet. The food in the upscale hotel was excellent. Liang Jinshang had the palate of a child—she loved sweets and fried foods, and accidentally overate, so she went outside to walk it off.

The scenery outside, in contrast to the hotel’s lavish interiors, was tranquil and serene. She strolled along the lakeside to a winding corridor and saw a few colleagues from her company chatting and smoking.

Not in the mood for greetings, she meant to take another path, but when she overheard the subject of their conversation, she stopped at a distance.

“This summit is such a big deal—think of the stories we’ll have to tell! Even the big shot himself showed up!”

“Big shot? All I saw was a flash of green light!”

“Did you see that video last time? Damn, what a body—so hot, practically begging for it. Shang Yucheng’s just a useless rich kid, probably couldn’t handle a woman like that. No wonder his wife looks for action elsewhere…”

As their talk grew more vulgar, Liang Jinshang decided she’d heard enough and turned to leave. Suddenly, her gaze caught a glint of red beneath a laurel tree by the lake.

A tall figure stood there, cigarette between his fingers. Under the light, his features were sharply defined, almost frightening in their intensity.

God—it was Shang Yucheng! How long had he been standing there listening?

Liang Jinshang hesitated, but since these colleagues had always treated her well at work, she turned around and walked back.

“Hey, someone’s coming!”

“Looks like the Little Fairy… stop talking, stop talking!”

“Oh, Liang! What brings you out here? We just finished smoking—maybe don’t come too close.”

Liang Jinshang smiled and greeted them, “I think a committee member is about to give a speech—who’s in charge of taking photos?”

“That’s me! I’ll head back to the hall!” The most talkative one rushed off, and the rest, at a loss for words in front of the “Little Fairy,” soon dispersed.

Liang Jinshang glanced back casually—the spot beneath the laurel was now empty; Shang Yucheng was gone.

Relieved, she began to stroll along the lakeside corridor, but after just a few steps, someone suddenly grabbed her from behind.

“Ah—!” Her surprised cry was muffled by a hand that smelled of tobacco.