Chapter 048: The King Falls as the Sky Turns Cold (15)

Wang Jingye felt a pang in his chest; his precious daughter now had a boyfriend, and that boyfriend turned out to be the very apprentice he had so recently taken in. He truly regretted his decision—he should never have accepted him as a disciple.

He recalled what Huangfu Shang had said the first time they met, glanced at the two sitting across from him, surrounded by a haze of pink bubbles, and let out a long sigh, saying nothing more.

Well, whatever. Little Shang had a decent character, and his daughter liked him. Fine, just let it be.

The three of them shared a harmonious meal.

Wang Jingye fixed his gaze on Huangfu Shang. “If you ever treat Xiaoya badly, I’ll be the first to come after you.”

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Shang knew his master had tacitly approved his relationship with the one he loved. Grinning, he patted his chest in assurance. “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll treat Sister Xiaoya well, I promise.”

“...Who’s your dad?!” Wang Jingye glared at him. This kid was always quick to take advantage.

“You and Xiaoya aren’t married yet—call me Master!”

“Oh,” Huangfu Shang replied dejectedly, but then immediately perked up. “So, when do you plan to marry Sister Xiaoya to me?”

“When you’re twenty-two, we’ll talk.”

That was a heavy blow.

More than a year still to wait—such a long time.

Still, Wang Jingye had already accepted their relationship.

Le Yixian and Huangfu Shang showered their coworkers and passersby with public displays of affection every day.

They spent their days blissfully in love. One day, as Le Yixian was out and about, she was stopped by someone.

With a cold, domineering air, Huangfu Lie stood before her. “Wang Xiaoya, we need to talk.”

At a café across from the Alice Hotel, Huangfu Lie maintained his persona as an imperious CEO, ordering a black coffee. When it arrived, he took a sip, his brow furrowing deeply, and then stopped altogether.

“I’ll give you five million. Leave Shang,” he said.

Le Yixian truly hadn’t expected to encounter such a clichéd scene. Wasn’t this the kind of plot twist reserved for female leads? She was merely a minor supporting character in this story.

Five million—a staggering sum.

Gazing at the man before her, his face radiating disdain as if willing her to take the money and leave, she felt a surge of annoyance.

She looked at Huangfu Lie and asked, “Five million? Where is it?”

“You’ll get the money once you leave Shang.”

“I don’t see the money. Why should I believe you?”

“I can transfer it to you via Z-Pay or X-Messenger,” Huangfu Lie replied, thinking these two apps were truly convenient—no need to carry cash around.

Le Yixian looked at him as if he were an idiot. “President Huangfu, don’t you know? The daily transfer limit on Z-Pay and X-Messenger is fifty thousand.”

The moment she said this, the atmosphere froze.

“One question—will you leave Shang or not?” Huangfu Lie stared at her coldly.

“I love him. I could never leave him.”

“Love?” Huangfu Lie’s expression twisted into a sneer. “Don’t think I don’t know. You’ve been using him.”

“???”

“You’ve been in love with me since high school, and now you’re using Shang’s feelings for you as a way to get closer to me. Isn’t that disgusting?”

Instead of getting angry, Le Yixian laughed. She looked at the man before her and shot back, “Me? In love with you? Don’t be absurd. Who hasn’t had a few lousy crushes in their youth?”

Huangfu Lie choked on her words. Lousy? Was she talking about him?

He had always had things go his way since childhood and couldn’t tolerate such disrespect. He slammed the table so hard everything on it bounced and landed with a crisp clang. “You’ve been pestering me all this time, and now you’re using Shang. I’m warning you—if you don’t leave him, your family can look forward to bankruptcy.”

“Wang Xiaoya, you don’t even try to deny it. Everyone in S City knows how obsessed you are with me, so much so you can’t let go. How could you possibly like Shang? You just find him gullible and easy to use. If you ever hurt him, I’ll be the first to come after you.”

A sharp clatter rang through the café, drawing their attention. They both looked up.

Huangfu Shang had appeared in a booth nearby, no one knew when. His face was ashen, revealing he hadn’t heard the entire conversation.

“Xiaoya… Sister Xiaoya, is my brother the one you like?” Huangfu Shang stared at the two with a lost and helpless expression.

“Nonsense. You’re the one I love,” Le Yixian practically leapt to her feet, rushing to his side to grab his hand, only to have it violently shaken off.

“I knew it,” Huangfu Shang’s voice trembled. “You’ve always looked past me at someone else. Why would you ever like me?”

What on earth? When did I ever look past you? You’ve always been the one I’ve seen.

Le Yixian tried to explain, but Huangfu Shang’s face was set in a look that said he didn’t want to hear another word. He turned and dashed out of the café, her heart constricting as she hurried after him.

“Shang, let me explain!”

“I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear anything.” Huangfu Shang felt lost and miserable, unable even to cry.

“There’s nothing between me and your brother. The one I love has always been you!” Le Yixian shouted.

Huangfu Shang stared at her in a daze. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly. “The one I love has always been you—only you. No one else.”

“But… haven’t you always liked my brother?” Huangfu Shang sniffed.

He had heard rumors while working at the corporation—how the heiress of the Alice Hotel had long been infatuated with his cousin, her love unrequited, her longing bordering on obsession. When he found out the woman he loved was Miss Wang, he was overjoyed, but then anxiety crept in.

She likes my cousin? But she says she loves me.

Just now, he’d heard his cousin’s words clearly—she was only using him to get closer.

“I told you—I only love you,” Le Yixian said, enunciating each word.

Huangfu Shang looked at her for a long time, then a faint smile curled his lips. “I know. You only love me.”

And with that, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

No matter what, as long as you say you love me, that’s enough.

I only want you. Truly, only you.

As for his cousin…

From an angle Le Yixian couldn’t see, a cold glint flashed in Huangfu Shang’s eyes.

That kiss shattered all of Le Yixian’s expectations. She felt as if Huangfu Shang wanted to devour her whole.

When it ended, her legs went weak, and Huangfu Shang steadied her by the waist, his face once again shy and bashful. “Sister Xiaoya, I love you so much.”

“I know,” Le Yixian breathed a sigh of relief and patted his head. “I love you too.”

“Mhm, I know,” Huangfu Shang nodded.

Le Yixian looked at him again, afraid he’d overthink, and added, “There really is nothing between me and your cousin. Not even the tiniest bit.”

“Mhm. I know.”