Zhu Yurou froze on the spot. She hadn’t done anything wrong—so why was she being told to get out? She simply couldn’t understand.
Before she could process what had just been said, Bryce Shaw’s next words stunned her even more.
“Shengmei’s partnership with your company ends here. There will be no more collaborations with Feican in the future.”
Zhu Yurou staggered two steps backward. She stared at Bryce Shaw in disbelief, wondering if she had heard him wrong.
“President Shen, what do you mean by this?”
A layer of frost shrouded Bryce Shaw’s eyes. “Was I not clear enough, or do you need me to repeat it?”
“You know what canceling this partnership will do to both our companies, right?”
“And what of it?”
Zhu Yurou gaped at him, unable to believe he would so readily forsake the company’s interests for Li Qiuchi.
Bryce Shaw’s tone took a dark turn as he glared at her. “Everything you said today, you’d better keep it to yourself. If I ever hear a single rumor make it out of this room, I promise I won’t let it slide.”
Suddenly, Zhu Yurou laughed—a sharp, brittle sound that echoed through the hospital room. As she laughed, tears welled up in her eyes.
She had come today precisely to see if, after learning the truth, Bryce Shaw would still love Li Qiuchi so unconditionally.
Yet the result left her utterly disappointed.
“So you’d willingly throw away everything for a woman?” Zhu Yurou still hadn’t given up. In her world, there was no such thing as pure affection; no matter how deep, sentiment could never outweigh profit.
“Miss Zhu, I’ve already made myself perfectly clear. If you can’t understand, write it down and get someone to translate it for you when you’re back home.”
Bryce Shaw’s words fell over her like a bucket of ice water, dousing her from head to toe.
Li Qiuchi remained silent. From the moment she walked in, Bryce Shaw’s gaze had never once left her.
“Qiuqi, come here.” Bryce Shaw ignored Zhu Yurou, who was still standing there, his eyes soft as he looked at Li Qiuchi.
Obediently, Li Qiuchi walked over.
Zhu Yurou felt like a clown no one cared about—she could all but see the ugly, jealous expression twisting her own face.
“Did Miss Zhu really think I wouldn’t find out about all this? You thought you had to tell me yourself? Or did you forget who she belongs to?”
Bryce Shaw took Li Qiuchi’s hand, feeling the clammy sweat in her palm. He brought it to his lips and kissed it as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
His words rendered not only Zhu Yurou, but also Li Qiuchi speechless.
Li Qiuchi was a contract artist under the Shen family’s entertainment company. When she entered the industry, her background had been thoroughly checked—they never allowed their artists to have any sort of stain on their record.
She never imagined Bryce Shaw had known everything all along. So why would he still choose her?
Unbeknownst to her, Bryce Shaw had always protected her so carefully.
That was why, despite her bad reputation within the industry, no one ever dared to touch her—because she had Bryce Shaw behind her.
Zhu Yurou stared at him in shock. “So you knew all along?”
Bryce Shaw didn’t say a word; his expression said it all. He’d known everything, but none of it mattered—because Li Qiuchi was who she was, and he loved her, so he would protect her for a lifetime.
“President Shen, you’re truly devoted—I’m really enlightened today. Hah, so in the end, the real clown turned out to be me.”
With a bitter laugh, Zhu Yurou turned and walked out of the hospital room, utterly dejected.
Once she left, the room quieted. Bryce Shaw still held Li Qiuchi’s hand tightly, his palm sticky with nervous sweat.
At first, Li Qiuchi had been scared—scared Bryce Shaw would despise her after learning the truth, scared he would no longer want her. But somewhere along the way, her once-calm heart had begun to feel attachment, to long for someone she didn’t want to leave.
She tried to pull her hand from his, but he only gripped her tighter.
“Are you trying to run away again? Hide from me again?” Bryce Shaw’s tone was half-accusatory, but he couldn’t bear to be harsh. He was upset with her reluctance, but his heart ached even more for what she’d endured.
A cold droplet landed on the back of Bryce Shaw’s hand, and his whole body tensed.
Li Qiuchi looked up at him, tear tracks glistening on her cheeks. Only then did he realize—it was her tears that had fallen on his hand.
He immediately panicked. “I’m sorry, Qiuqi…this is my fault. I didn’t mean to make you cry…”
Usually so composed and decisive, Bryce Shaw now seemed completely lost. When he saw her crying, he looked like his entire world had come undone.
“Qiuqi, I was wrong, please don’t cry…” Fumbling, he didn’t even know what to do with his hands.
But Li Qiuchi wasn’t crying because of his reprimand. After everything he’d done to defend her today, all the burdens weighing on her heart seemed to loosen. To be so openly protected—she’d never felt anything like it. Never before had someone chosen her so resolutely.
The more Bryce Shaw tried to comfort her, the harder she cried. She buried her face against his chest, wiping all her tears on his shirt.
Bryce Shaw couldn’t help but find it a little funny. This woman—she was so adorable. He rarely got to see her like this, and it secretly made him quite happy.
“Bryce Shaw, why are you so good to me?” Li Qiuchi sobbed as she wiped her tears away.
She wasn’t one to cry easily, because she knew that others would only laugh at her pain. From childhood, she’d learned to be tough—she never let herself break unless someone really touched the deepest wounds in her heart.
After gently wiping the tears from her face, Bryce Shaw cupped her cheeks and gazed at her seriously.
“You’re my woman—who else would I treat well, if not you? No matter what anyone says, you’re the one I love most. I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”
Li Qiuchi wrapped her arms around his waist, listening to the strong beat of his heart. She held him even tighter.
“The day my father sold me off, he regretted it. When he saw me being dragged away, he went and gave the money back to them, and brought me home. But it doesn’t change the fact that he still sold me. I…I can’t forgive him.”
Thankfully, the uncle who bought her had been kind and hadn’t harmed her.
That memory weighed on her for years. No one could ever understand the despair of being dragged away while your own father just stood by, watching—doing nothing.
Even though he eventually brought her back, the fragile bond between father and daughter had already been severed.
Bryce Shaw just held her, quietly listening. He wrapped her in his arms, one hand gently patting her back, trying to comfort her.
“If only I’d met you a little earlier.” Knowing what she’d suffered, Bryce Shaw’s chest ached for her.
“It’s not too late, Bryce Shaw. I’m so glad to have you.” Li Qiuchi nestled into his embrace, and the two held each other tightly.
Li Qiuchi had never felt so light, so unburdened. Now, with someone she loved who loved her back, the emptiness in her heart had finally been filled up by Bryce Shaw.