Chapter 29: The Chaebol Heir’s Canary — Proposal Part 3

Chu Yuan snapped, “A good dog doesn’t block the way.”

Jiang Qiunian was furious. “You want to fight again?”

“Bring it! Who’s afraid of you!”

They squared up, pheromones flaring wildly. Jiang Qiuyan tucked Shi Yu into her arms, her expression darkening.

“Fight at home if you must. Don’t waste our time.”

She had sacrificed precious intimate time with her kitten for this dinner, only to be made to watch two irrational alphas brawl? Jiang Qiuyan wanted to turn around and walk out, but with the elders present, she could only swallow her temper.

The two reluctant rivals sat down next to each other, with Jiang Qiuyan and Shi Yu across from them. Chu Qian sat alone on the other side, headphones on and playing a game, ignoring the chaos of the world.

She had wanted to sit next to Shi Yu, but the alpha beside her was terrifying, looking like she wanted to devour anyone who came close. To avoid being held a grudge against, Chu Qian chose to stay in her own world.

Once all the dishes were served, the two began tormenting each other again.

“Eat some ginger. It’ll drive out the cold.”

“Then you eat some garlic. It prevents illness.”

“Have some Sichuan pepper. Cure that temper.”

“Oh? And who’s the one who needs their temper cured? Eat this!”

Chu Yuan stuffed a whole chili pepper into Jiang Qiunian’s mouth, making her cough uncontrollably.

Shi Yu whispered, “We should have had Western food. They wouldn’t have been able to do this.”

“Not necessarily. They might just smear sauce all over each other’s faces.”

Jiang Qiuyan finished speaking and placed food in Shi Yu’s bowl. “Let’s ignore them. We’ll eat and leave.”

When the two slipped away, the elders were deep in pleasant conversation and too distracted to notice. They made it home easily.

They reeked of food. Shi Yu was about to shower when Jiang Qiuyan wrapped her arms around her from behind, lips brushing against her gland.

“Let me shower first, okay?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Qiuyan agreed verbally, but her arms remained locked tight around Shi Yu’s waist, her breath growing hotter by the second.

Shi Yu shivered at the warmth of that breath and shrank away. Jiang Qiuyan gripped her waist, the pressure only increasing.

“Don’t move. Let me hold you.”

Shi Yu’s heart skipped. She turned and leaned in to kiss her. Jiang Qiuyan caught her lips, her gaze deep and fathomless.

The short walk from the living room to the bathroom took them over ten minutes.

Steam swirled everywhere. Shi Yu’s vision blurred, white flashes dancing before her eyes. Jiang Qiuyan lifted her head from her chest, lips glistening.

“One more time. Just one more.”

Shi Yu didn’t even get a chance to speak before being pressed against the wall. The alpha behind her spoke in a low voice tinged with fevered excitement and jealousy.

“Arch your back a little more.”

…

She checked her scores in the early hours of the morning. The moment she saw the numbers, Shi Yu threw herself at Jiang Qiuyan and gave her a huge kiss.

“I can get into Ocean University!”

The kitten bounced excitedly across the bed. Jiang Qiuyan watched her with a smile. Once she tired herself out, Jiang Qiuyan pulled her into her arms, tucked the blanket over them, and went to sleep.

At the end of June, the school told everyone to come back for their application guidebooks and graduation photos. Shi Yu had muted the class group chat and didn’t see the message until afternoon.

She hurriedly changed clothes and set off, texting Jiang Qiuyan along the way to cancel their evening date. Their homeroom teacher wanted to have a get-together, and there was no telling when it would end. She couldn’t let Jiang Qiuyan wait for nothing.

To save time, she took a shortcut to school. At the corner, someone clamped a hand over her mouth and nose. Her consciousness faded almost instantly.

Voices arguing reached her ears. Then a splash of freezing water jolted Shi Yu awake. She looked around and found herself in an abandoned factory.

She recognized both people in front of her. One was Shi Huaixin. The other was the journalist who’d been kicked out of the news club before, someone she’d only met once.

Shi Yu never thought she’d see Shi Huaixin again in this lifetime. He looked far older than she remembered, unkempt and disheveled, with nothing of his former self left.

Seeing her awake, Shi Huaixin limped toward her on his walking cane. He hurried too fast and face-planted on the ground.

Shi Yu lowered her gaze, watching Shi Huaixin sprawled on the ground like a dog. An indescribable satisfaction welled up inside her.

His legs were ruined. The Pei family had abandoned him. This was his comeuppance.

Shi Huaixin struggled to his feet and spat at Shi Yu: “Was it you who told Yiyi to throw me out? Why are you such a bitch?”

If her hands weren’t bound, Shi Yu would have smashed his face in. She looked at Shi Huaixin with nothing but contempt.

Shi Huaixin wanted to hit her, but the moment his hand left the cane, he’d fall.

The journalist stepped forward and shoved Shi Huaixin aside. Shi Huaixin swayed twice and, true to form, toppled over.

The impact was loud enough that just hearing it made Shi Yu wince.

Shi Huaixin lay on the ground howling. The journalist walked up to Shi Yu and pressed a fruit knife against her throat.

“If it weren’t for Jiang Qiuyan, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. Since I can’t kill her, I’ll kill you instead. She treasures you so much; it’ll destroy her.”

With the cold blade pressed against her neck, Shi Yu was still afraid. But she forced herself to stay calm and studied the journalist before her.

Bloodshot eyes, unfocused gaze, sunken eye sockets, protruding cheekbones, and a thick stench of alcohol.

There was none of the desperate viciousness of a true fugitive. This looked more like drunken impulsiveness. Maybe she could use that to buy time.

Her phone had GPS tracking. Every time she went out, she sent her location to Jiang Qiuyan. She should be here soon.

“If you’re in trouble because of work, maybe I can help.”

“You? What can you do for me!”

The knife moved forward an inch. Shi Yu felt a sharp sting at her neck and warm liquid trickling down.

“You said it yourself. She treasures me. Whether you can get back into journalism is entirely up to a word from me.”

The journalist fell into thought. Shi Huaixin crawled over from the ground and grabbed his leg. “She’s lying to you! This little bitch is the best liar around. She’s definitely not being kind. Once she’s safe, she’ll turn us in. Kill her now!”

The journalist’s rage flared. He kicked Shi Huaixin with a backswing, sending him rolling across the floor.

“Why the fuck won’t you shut up?! I thought you had some brilliant plan, but you’re completely useless. You’ve wasted my damn time!”

The journalist grew more and more worked up, unleashing months of pent-up frustration on Shi Huaixin, punching and kicking him until the man lay motionless on the ground.

The journalist picked up the fruit knife from the ground and stared at Shi Yu with blood-red eyes.

“Now it’s your turn. I don’t want anything anymore. I just want you dead!”

The fruit knife plunged toward Shi Yu’s throat. She squeezed her eyes shut. But the expected pain never came. Instead, she fell into a warm embrace.

She opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Jiang Qiuyan’s face, filled with worry.

“You’re finally here. I thought I’d never see you again.”

Shi Yu smiled like someone who’d narrowly survived. But Jiang Qiuyan’s eyes reddened at the sight of her.

“I’m sorry. I came too late.”

Jiang Qiuyan pulled her into her arms. Her heartbeat was loud and chaotic, as if she were the one who had just cheated death.

Shi Yu felt her shoulder grow damp. “Are you crying?” she asked quietly.

Jiang Qiuyan didn’t answer. She pressed her hand against Shi Yu’s bleeding neck and told the bodyguards waiting behind her, “Don’t hold back. If they die, find somewhere to dispose of the bodies.”

The bodyguards sprang into action, grabbing the journalist who had just come to and landing blow after blow, every punch connecting with raw, brutal force.

Shi Huaixin, lying on the ground, heard the commotion. His swollen eyes fluttered open. Realizing something was terribly wrong, he immediately begged for mercy.

“Little Yu, you can’t do this to me. I’m your father. You have my blood in your veins…”

“Shut up!” Shi Yu cut him off. She pushed Jiang Qiuyan aside, strode up to him, and kicked him hard. “Never say that again, or I’ll kill you myself!”

Her emotions were so overwhelming she could barely stand. Jiang Qiuyan caught her before she fell, her own eyes stinging with heartache.

“It’s just the ramblings of a madman. Don’t take it to heart.”

Shi Yu rested her head against Jiang Qiuyan’s chest and said weakly, “Let’s go. I don’t want to see him.”

Jiang Qiuyan scooped her up in her arms and shot a look at Lu Tong behind them. Lu Tong understood. Once the two were outside, the iron door was shut behind them.

Shi Yu was shaken with a mix of shock and fury. That night she came down with a fever, her brow furrowed in her sleep as if she were in pain.

Jiang Qiuyan stayed by her side without ever leaving. Seeing tears slip from Shi Yu’s eyes, she couldn’t help the sting in her own nose. Her heart ached even more.

Shi Huaixin died. He passed away en route to the hospital.

The Pei family had collapsed. No one cared about the fate of a madman. His death passed in complete silence.

As for Pei Yiyi, ever since the Pei Corporation went bankrupt, she had been bedridden. She was later diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer, and her remaining days could be counted on one hand.

When Shi Yu heard the news, she froze for a moment. Then she felt a weight lift from her entire body, as if the shackles she’d worn for so long had finally disappeared.

A mechanical voice echoed in her mind. It was her long-lost system.

[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully saved yourself. The mission in this world is complete. Reward: one soul fragment.]

A white light flashed before Shi Yu’s eyes. A phantom resembling her flickered past and vanished into the depths of her consciousness.

The system was gone again. Shi Yu thought it over. Since there were no follow-up missions, she’d just keep living in this world. She still had plenty of unfinished business.

“Shi Yu, step closer! The brides are going to toss the bouquets!”

Shi Yu was pulled directly behind the two brides. She watched the bouquets arc through the air from their hands, landing squarely in her arms.

“?”

She stared blankly around. Everyone who had been competing for the bouquets had stepped back, watching her with mysterious smiles.

Jiang Qiuyan walked up to her holding the other bouquet and knelt on one knee. “Little Yu, will you marry me?”

A massive diamond ring glittered in the sunlight. Shi Yu blinked in shock, then broke into a brilliant smile.

“Proposing at someone else’s wedding, isn’t that a bit rude?”

“If I weren’t proposing, they couldn’t even be bothered to hold a wedding.”

Shi Yu glanced at the two brides pushing and shoving each other. She supposed that was true. The two had brawled over who got to wear the suit. In the end, the elders of both families compromised and let them both wear wedding gowns, which finally tamed their restless spirits.

Shi Yu held out her right hand. “Put it on for me.”

Jiang Qiuyan slid the ring onto her ring finger, then lifted her up and spun her around.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Shi Yu clung to her neck. “What question?”

“Do you like me?”

Shi Yu looked into those expectant eyes and couldn’t bear to let her down. She leaned in and kissed her lips.

“Jiang Qiuyan, I like you.”

Maybe more than you could ever imagine. But I won’t tell you that.

Cheers erupted around them. The confetti cannons the brides had dismissed showered the couple in color, wrapping them in a portrait of happiness.

How long will you love me?

As long as my heart beats.