Zaobao hopped around the grass for a while, her ears perked upright as she turned her little head toward the main entrance.
After a moment she seemed a bit restless, barking in the direction of the door before glancing back at Cecilia Ye.
The main gate was half-blocked by a stone statue, only half-open, making it impossible to see anything from this side.
Cecilia Ye followed Zaobao’s gaze but saw nothing. Just as she was about to reassure her, Zaobao suddenly darted off, barking as she ran.
“Zaobao!” Cecilia Ye stood up with a helpless sigh. Last time Zaobao ran off, it had given her quite a scare. Even though they were in their own yard, she still couldn't help but worry.
Cecilia Ye didn’t dare to run—she simply quickened her steps. Thankfully, Zaobao was just ahead, as if deliberately waiting for her. She’d run a few steps, then stop and look back to check if Cecilia Ye was following.
It wasn’t until they reached the main door that Zaobao finally stopped.
The old house’s front gate was wooden—large and heavy. Right now, it hung ajar on its hinges. Cecilia Ye couldn’t see anyone outside and was about to peek through when she heard a voice she despised.
“Ah-Ye, why… why won’t you come hug me? I’m so scared. Are you worried your grandfather will see us?”
That single sentence made Cecilia Ye want to turn and leave instantly. She bent down, scooping Zaobao into her arms.
She took a step away, but then Fu Zhiyue’s voice cut in: “Vivian Belle, stop your little act, will you?”
…What’s happening here?
“Do you know why those people were let out of prison all those years ago?”
Fu Zhiyue’s tone was icy, even tinged with something truly frightening.
Cecilia Ye couldn’t help but come to a halt. Years ago, prison… Was this about what had happened between him and Vivian Belle?
“I was the one who let them out. As for whether you really got hurt back then because of me, you know that better than anyone.”
Fu Zhiyue gave a cold laugh. “I heard your father owed a massive debt. Debts paid by daughters in place of fathers—nothing unusual. Of course they came to you to settle it.”
“Do you know what happens to people who lie to me?”
“No, no, it’s all a misunderstanding, Ah-Ye! Let me explain, please! I… I didn’t know… they…”
Vivian Belle became completely incoherent, rambling and stammering. This time, she wasn’t acting—the tears streaming down her face were real.
So, Fu Zhiyue found out. She knew—she was finished. Fu Zhiyue sparing her life for now was already the greatest mercy.
But she had nearly succeeded! Fu Zhiyue had already publicly admitted—before everyone, before the media—that he was going to marry her. She was so close to becoming mistress of the Fu family—the most powerful household in all of Newbridge.
No. She couldn’t believe it would all end just like this.
Fu Zhiyue looked coldly down at the woman who had sunk onto the ground, a faint, ruthless smile curling at his lips. “Go back. Dirtying my own hands with you isn’t worth it. Someone else will deal with you.”
With that, he turned away indifferently, never sparing the sobbing woman another glance.
His tall figure strode back inside, Vivian Belle’s hoarse sobs echoing behind him.
Coming through the door, Fu Zhiyue spotted Cecilia Ye standing just behind it, and for a moment, his expression froze.
Cecilia Ye didn’t say a word; the shock was simply too much. Hugging Zaobao, she turned and walked back toward the old house.
How laughable, she thought. So everything had been a lie after all—Fu Zhiyue himself had been kept utterly in the dark.
And all these years, everything she’d suffered had just been the result of Vivian Belle’s deception.
It was just so absurd.
Cecilia Ye couldn’t even say how she felt. After a few steps, she stopped and let out a long breath.
Behind her, Fu Zhiyue walked at a steady pace, keeping several steps of distance. When she stopped, so did he—he didn’t try to bother her.
She’d always known Vivian Belle was two-faced, but she’d never imagined she could go this far. And though Fu Zhiyue was a victim too…
It no longer had anything to do with her.
Cecilia Ye pulled herself together and went back inside. It really was cold outside—she’d forgotten her gloves.
She put Zaobao down, fetched her scarf, and rubbed her frozen, reddened hands.
Grandfather and Grandmother were watching TV in the main hall. Seeing her, they turned to look.
“Cecilia, why did you go out? It’s freezing.”
“Mm. Uncle Liu brought Zaobao home, so I took her out for a bit.”
Someone took the coat she’d just shrugged off. She didn’t look back, assuming it was one of the staff.
“Zhiyue, where have you been?” Grandfather turned to Fu Zhiyue, who came in a step later.
“Nothing, just taking care of something.”
That chilly voice sounded behind her, and only then did Cecilia Ye realize it was Fu Zhiyue speaking.
She didn’t look at him, just walked straight inside and sat down next to Grandmother.
“Grandma Rivers, what are you watching?”
Grandmother took her hands, warming them between her own. “Next time you go out, wear gloves. It’s far too cold now.”
“It’s just a singing show,” Grandmother replied, “Come, keep me company for a bit.”
“Alright.” Cecilia Ye answered softly, sitting obediently by her grandmother’s side.
The TV was playing a lively music show, full of songs celebrating the New Year.
She kept her eyes on the screen, but her ears were trained on the door. Fu Zhiyue would probably go upstairs soon.
But then, footsteps approached, and his tall frame sat down in the armchair right next to her.
He lounged there, half-reclining, legs stretched out in front of him.
Cecilia Ye shot him a quick look out of the corner of her eye, and seeing him watching TV with a serious face, her own tense posture finally eased.
Whatever was on TV, Cecilia Ye soon stopped noticing. Her mind was caught up in everything that had just happened.
By now, the earlier shock had subsided. So what Fu Zhiyue had meant was that, back then, Vivian Belle hadn’t been hurt because of him, but because her father owed money. And those men who’d been arrested were released to bother Vivian Belle once more?
Thinking of all this, Cecilia Ye felt a chill run through her. So all these years, Fu Zhiyue’s feelings for her disappeared like smoke—as soon as the truth of Vivian Belle’s con was revealed…
Was that rationality, or just coldness?
Though it wasn’t Fu Zhiyue’s fault, anyone who’d been lied to for so long would be furious. And he hadn’t even dealt with Vivian Belle himself—he’d already shown mercy.
She felt no sympathy for Vivian Belle; if anything, Vivian Belle had only herself to blame.
Yet, for the first time, Cecilia Ye also sensed Fu Zhiyue’s cruelty…
The whole thing was hard to digest. She sat blankly, not taking in anything on TV.
“Grandma Rivers, I think I’ll go upstairs and rest for a bit.”
Afraid her grandparents would notice something was wrong, and not wanting to be in the same room with Fu Zhiyue, Cecilia Ye rose to go upstairs.
“Alright.” Grandmother patted her hand. “Go on, then.”
Cecilia Ye headed up, went straight to her room, and let out a sigh.
How ridiculous, she thought. If only all this had been uncovered earlier… If only it had come to light before Vivian Belle returned, or even back when it first happened.
Would everything have turned out differently? Would she and Fu Zhiyue not have ended up having to part ways?
Enough—there’s no point thinking about it anymore.
Whatever kindness Fu Zhiyue had shown her had nothing to do with love. At first, she’d been used to block other women from entering the Fu family, and later, it just became a habit for him to look after her.
Those feelings were always so fragile—easily destroyed, meaningless in the face of Vivian Belle.
The sky outside grew more and more overcast, a dull blue-grey casting a bleak air over everything.
Click. The door opened.
Cecilia Ye suddenly remembered that she hadn’t locked it.
Sure enough, the person who came in was Fu Zhiyue.