Chapter 6.1

Behind her, the man’s angry roar thundered like lightning in pursuit. Cheng Yu quickened her escape, her heart pounding like a drum. She could even hear the whooshing sound of blood rushing through her entire body.

What was going on? What exactly had she heard?

Jian Lanxi had secretly loved Deng Ruofan. Out of jealousy, she had sent a text message to her, hinting that she should come to the company to catch him in an affair with another woman.

She had always found it strange—who had sent that text message? It turned out to be Jian Lanxi herself!

This was too absurd! She never imagined there was such a cause and effect between her and Jian Lanxi. Was that why her soul had taken over Jian Lanxi’s body?

Was this ultimately a good fate or a cursed one?

What should she do…

Cheng Yu’s whole body stiffened with cold, as if abandoned in a world of ice and snow, trembling in waves. Du Lingyun was waiting for her in the reception room. Seeing her rush in with a pale face, he could not help but freeze.

“What happened? Are you okay?” He asked with concern.

She shook her head, her mind in complete turmoil. “I, I am fine…”

She clearly was not.

Du Lingyun’s brows furrowed slightly. He knew his wife was lying but did not call her out on it. He simply walked over and gently pulled her trembling body into his arms.

After breakfast this morning, the family of three had gone out together. After dropping Yangyang off with the nanny, he had brought her to the company where she worked.

When she heard that she had been employed at this law firm, her expression immediately turned very ugly. She insisted on resigning right away.

The two were in the process of handling the resignation procedures when suddenly a female secretary came over and asked her to go, saying that a lawyer named Deng wanted to see her.

She had seemed terrified, hesitating for a long time before reluctantly following the secretary, telling him to wait in the reception room first.

He had not expected her to return looking like this.

Feeling her soft body still shaking uncontrollably even in his embrace, Du Lingyun felt both anxious and heartbroken. He softened his voice.

“Lanxi, what exactly happened?”

How could she explain? How could she describe this absurd and tragic everything?

Cheng Yu clenched her teeth, forcibly holding back the surging emotions in her heart. She felt so cold, so cold. Only by hugging this man tighter could she draw even a trace of warmth.

“Take, take me away, Du Lingyun. Take me away…”

Her weak, cat-like voice wrenched Du Lingyun’s chest painfully. Realizing she was truly frightened, a sudden anger rose in him, burning fiercely.

“Did that lawyer named Deng bully you? What did he ask you to do? I will go find him!”

With those words, he gently pushed his wife away, intending to stand up for her and demand justice.

“No! No!” Cheng Yu cried out in panic, hurriedly reaching out to pull him back. “Lingyun, let’s go. From now on, do not come back. I do not want to work here anymore…”

Du Lingyun turned to look at his wife. Her eyes were red, glistening with tears. The way she bit her lip made her look even more like a wronged little cat, shivering.

Seeing her like this, he could not bear to let her go even for a minute. He could only pull her back into his arms and comfort her gently.

“Okay, okay. We will resign right now. We will not come back anymore.”

“Then shall we leave now?”

Du Lingyun held Cheng Yu’s hand and told the female staff member who had been helping them with the resignation procedures earlier that his wife’s physical condition had not fully recovered. He asked for the relevant forms to take home and fill out, saying he would come back another day as her husband to handle the resignation process on her behalf.

The staff member felt it was a bit irregular, but seeing how gentle and polite he was, she nodded and agreed.

“Let’s go. We are heading home.” Du Lingyun put the forms into a document folder, turned to Cheng Yu with a smile, and was about to lead her away when a tall, upright man suddenly blocked their path.

Du Lingyun’s brows tightened. Cheng Yu’s reaction was to shrink even closer into his embrace.

Seeing her guarded expression, Du Lingyun guessed the man’s identity. His gaze became clear and sharp. “You are Attorney Deng?”

Deng Ruofan curled his lip. “And you are Nancy’s husband?”

The two men sized each other up. Both had to admit that in terms of appearance alone, they were evenly matched. In terms of presence, neither yielded to the other.

“My surname is Du. Du Lingyun.”

“Deng Ruofan.”

After exchanging names, the two continued their standoff, secretly assessing each other.

“I wonder what advice Attorney Deng has by blocking our way?” Du Lingyun asked calmly.

Deng Ruofan did not answer immediately. He glanced at Cheng Yu and saw her keeping her head down, not even looking at him. This made him even more frustrated.

Did she think that with her husband protecting her, he would not dare do anything to her?

He snorted coldly. “Mr. Du, I just kindly want to remind you of something.”

“Please speak.”

“A capable man should keep his wife in check and not let her go around causing trouble outside and disrupting other people’s lives.”

Hearing this, Du Lingyun narrowed his eyes. He could feel the soft little hand in his palm sweating coldly. He quietly squeezed it to comfort her.

“Attorney Deng, let me remind you of something as well.” His voice was calm. “A wife is not someone to be controlled. What a capable man should do for his wife is protect and cherish her.”

Cheng Yu trembled, her heart skipping a beat. She looked at the man beside her in disbelief.

Deng Ruofan noticed the surprise and affection she could not hide in her eyes. For some reason, he felt an odd discomfort in his heart.

“So, no matter what grudge you have with my wife, you are not allowed to provoke her again from now on. Do you understand?”

“You… do you even know what this woman has done!”

“No matter what she has done, she is my wife, the woman I should protect.”

Deng Ruofan was furious.

Du Lingyun could not be bothered to continue this verbal battle with a stranger. He lowered his head and smiled gently at Cheng Yu. “Let’s go.”

“Yes.” She tightened her grip on his hand and nodded obediently.

Watching the backs of the two as they left leaning on each other, Deng Ruofan’s face turned livid, a strange rage howling in his chest.

Du Lingyun personally opened the car door, letting Cheng Yu sit in the passenger seat before walking around to the driver’s side.

Seeing her sitting motionless, just biting her lip and staring straight ahead, clearly still in emotional turmoil, he said nothing. He leaned over and fastened her seatbelt for her.

She stared blankly at his considerate gesture.

He smiled gently at her. “Sit properly. We will pick up Yangyang first, then find a restaurant together for dinner, okay?”

She turned her head, her snow-white face toward him, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

He gazed at her tenderly. After a moment, his large hand softly stroked her cold cheek. “Do not be afraid. I am here. No one can hurt you, hmm?”

How could he be so gentle? Did he know… did he know that his wife had secretly loved another man?

Cheng Yu’s heart tightened. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and her nose stung with soreness.

Fool! What a fool… How could there be such a foolish yet wonderful man?

She could not help reaching out to hold his hand, pressing it tightly against her cheek.

“I am sorry.” She murmured softly.

“Why say sorry to me?”

Because of everything Jian Lanxi had done to him, because she had taken his wife’s place, because she was not the woman he truly loved…

A tear slid down. “You are so good.”

“I am your husband. Of course I have to be good to you!” He smiled, rubbing her head gently.

She choked slightly, unable to speak, and could only return a faint smile. The shallow smile was like a lake touched by autumn frost, reflecting a trace of faint sorrow.

He rubbed her head again, like coaxing a child, then fastened his own seatbelt and started the engine.

The car glided smoothly onto the road ahead. His driving was excellent—neither too fast nor too slow, calm and steady. She hardly felt any bumps.

Just like the man himself.

Cheng Yu thought blankly, her hands unconsciously smoothing her skirt.

Du Lingyun noticed it, but quickly withdrew his peripheral glance. His face, focused straight ahead, appeared very calm, completely hiding the surging waves in his heart.

There must be something between his wife and that man named Deng.

He actually wanted to ask clearly.

But he also understood that she, having lost her memory, might not know the full story. Moreover, she was clearly terrified now, curled up like a frightened little animal, looking so pitiful and fragile. He really did not want to pressure her further.

Calm down, Du Lingyun. This is nothing. You will have plenty of time later.

He warned himself repeatedly in his heart.

Some things could not be rushed. He was born with patience, and she was worth his waiting.

Thinking this, he smiled faintly, temporarily setting aside the tangled emotions, and focused only on driving.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the door of Zhou Liwen’s home and rang the doorbell.

Zhou Liwen opened the door. Seeing Du Lingyun at first glance, she immediately bloomed into a brilliant smile. “Lingyun brother, you are here!”

“Yes. Lanxi and I came to pick up Yangyang.” Du Lingyun emphasized deliberately.

Zhou Liwen’s expression changed. Only then did she notice the gentle and elegant woman standing behind him.

She pouted, a flash of disdain and jealousy in her eyes. “You came too.” Her tone was cold.

Cheng Yu ignored her obvious rejection and simply nodded at her.

Yangyang heard the noise at the door. Knowing both Daddy and Mommy had come to pick him up together, he happily rushed out like a little bird flapping its wings.

“Daddy, Mommy!”

Yangyang looked up and smiled at his father, but chose to throw himself into Cheng Yu’s arms.

Cheng Yu squatted down, hugged him, and kissed his cheek. “Yangyang, did you have a good day today?”

“Yes, yes, very good.” Yangyang smiled like a blooming flower.

“Daddy said we are going out to a restaurant for dinner today.”

“Great, great! Can I have fried shrimp and hamburger steak?”

“Yes, you can eat whatever you want.”

“Awesome!”

Zhou Liwen stood stiffly to the side, watching the interaction between mother and son. She suddenly felt like an outsider. What was the use of her loving Yangyang so much and being so good to the child? As soon as his mommy smiled at him, he completely forgot all the previous lessons!

Jian Lanxi, this woman was too good at pretending! Had she really lost her memory? Or was she plotting something?

Zhou Liwen gritted her teeth secretly. Her sharp gaze was like a knife, wishing she could slice this hypocritical woman into pieces. Had she forgotten what she once said to her? Was she not afraid of her exposing everything?

Cheng Yu was naturally not oblivious to Zhou Liwen’s hostility. After thinking for a moment, she decided to confront it directly. “Miss Zhou, there is something I think I should tell you first. I have decided to formally resign from my job. From now on, I will stay at home to accompany Yangyang, so…”

Zhou Liwen gasped sharply and interrupted harshly. “You mean you are firing me?”

Cheng Yu nodded silently.

Zhou Liwen glared at her fiercely, then turned to Du Lingyun. “Brother Yun, do you mean the same?” She looked at him pleadingly, her watery eyes shimmering, seeking support.

His response disappointed her. “Yes. Thank you for taking care of Yangyang these past six months. It just so happens that Weihao told me your graduate school entrance exam is coming up soon, so you can focus on preparing for it.”

He spoke gently, but to Zhou Liwen, it sounded extremely harsh. She knew falling for a married man was her own choice, but could he not be a little gentler toward her? Did he really not know how vile the woman he married was!

“Lingyun brother, I…” Zhou Liwen looked at Du Lingyun, her expression full of indescribable grievance and sadness. Tears faintly appeared in her eyes. “I have something I want to say to you privately.”

What could she possibly need to say privately?

Du Lingyun and Cheng Yu both became alert at the same time. They exchanged a glance. For some reason, Cheng Yu’s mind went blank. She directly stepped forward, blocking between Du Lingyun and Zhou Liwen.

“Miss Zhou, if you have something to say, we can set up a time another day. I will treat you to coffee.”

“You!” Zhou Liwen glared at her angrily.

“It’s settled then.”

With those words, Cheng Yu gave Zhou Liwen no chance to react. She took Yangyang’s hand with one of hers and linked her arm with Du Lingyun’s with the other, then turned and walked away.

Du Lingyun knew her action seemed a bit petty, but he did not object. He smiled faintly and let her pull him and the child away.

“Jian Lanxi!” Zhou Liwen’s sharp, indignant voice chased after them from behind.

Cheng Yu turned back, her face calm.

Zhou Liwen glared at her fiercely. Her face alternated between pale and flushed, changing unpredictably. Finally, her brows relaxed, and she revealed a charming smile.

“Since that is the case, let us make things clear. I will wait for you to treat me to coffee!”

Cheng Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Zhou Liwen’s malicious tone gave her an ominous premonition.

But she said nothing. No matter what, she could not lose her momentum in front of this woman who coveted Du Lingyun.

She nodded calmly and turned to leave.

Regarding the appointment the two women made right in front of him, Du Lingyun did not inquire, acting as if he had not heard it at all, completely unconcerned.

Instead, Cheng Yu felt somewhat uneasy seeing him show no reaction.

“Are you not curious at all about what Zhou Liwen wants to say?” She asked quietly.

He shook his head and looked at her with smiling starry eyes. “Did you not say it yourself? You will treat her to coffee and listen to her speak slowly.”

Cheng Yu stared at him in surprise, realizing this man truly did not care at all. “You are just going to trust me to handle something like this?” She muttered softly.

“You are my wife. Who is more qualified than you to handle it?”

Personally stepping in to drive away a rival trying to steal her husband was exactly what a wife should do. He glanced at her with a smile, his gaze sparkling.

She understood the meaning in his eyes and immediately felt a little embarrassed, her cheeks faintly heating up.

Do not be fooled by his usual refined gentlemanly appearance. Sometimes… he was really annoying.

She gave him a coquettish glare. The two tacitly skipped the topic. However, Cheng Yu had not expected that he would not even ask about Deng Ruofan. She did not believe he was not curious or did not mind at all.

Yet during dinner, he remained very cheerful the whole time, chatting and laughing with both her and Yangyang. When he noticed she was distracted, he even proactively told a few clumsy jokes to cheer her up.

The more nonchalant he acted, the more restless she felt. Scenes of him confronting Deng Ruofan at the law firm replayed over and over in her mind.

At that time, despite Deng Ruofan’s provocative words, he had still firmly stood by her side, supporting and protecting her.

I am here. No one can hurt you.

That was what he said. Whenever she recalled his endlessly tolerant tone from that moment, she could not help feeling heartbroken.

She felt it necessary to explain clearly. The things Jian Lanxi had done before were already exhausting enough for him. She did not want to plant another thorn in his heart.

It would hurt him. Even if he would not utter a single groan, the pain was pain, real and undeniably there.