He Yan stayed at the hotel for five days and only dared to return home on Sunday night. As she entered, Liang Yuanze was browsing the internet in the study. Hearing the sound, he emerged and leaned lazily against the doorframe, a slight smile on his handsome face. But his words carried a teasing tone, “Well, well... Look who finally decided to come home.”

She stood in the doorway without responding, her eyes slowly turning red.

Liang Yuanze was startled. Dropping his act, he rushed over and pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back and soothing her, “Shh... it’s alright, baby. It’s my fault. I was wrong.”

The familiar scent, the tender voice—these should have comforted He Yan. Yet they only intensified her sense of grievance, and tears spilled uncontrollably down her cheeks. Alarmed, Liang Yuanze wiped them gently with his thumb and asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Yan Yan? What happened?”

She wanted so badly to tell him everything, yet didn’t dare. Not because she feared he would find her dirty, but because she couldn’t bear to drag him into danger. No man could calmly accept his wife suffering such humiliation and violence—not even someone as gentle as Liang Yuanze. If he knew, what would he do? And what would that monster Fu Shenxing do in response?

He Yan couldn’t bear to imagine it. Just thinking about it sent chills down her spine. If she had been dragged into Fu Shenxing’s dark abyss, then she had to do everything in her power to keep Liang Yuanze in the light.

She smiled through her tears and wrapped her arms tightly around her husband’s neck, murmuring softly, “I missed you, Yuance. I just missed you... so much.”

He missed her too—terribly. First he had been away from home for over half a month, and then she had been gone another five days. More than twenty days apart—it was the longest separation they’d endured since meeting. He held her close, caressing and comforting her. His hand moved from her back, slowly drifting lower.

“You’ve lost weight,” he said with a frown.

She gave a sheepish chuckle. “Dieting.”

“Bullshit.” Liang Yuanze cursed under his breath, but he was already hastily unbuttoning her clothes.

They fumbled and tangled their way from the foyer toward the living room, barely making it to the sofa before collapsing onto it.

One was ablaze with passion, the other almost frenzied. Eventually, he had to hold her waist to steady her wild rhythm, panting as he tried to soothe her. “Slow down, baby... Don’t rush. Let’s take our time.” He changed positions, flipped her into his embrace, and kissed her gently.

Her face flushed crimson as she wept, pleading softly, “Kiss me, Yuance... Kiss me everywhere. Don’t leave a single spot untouched.”

She needed him to kiss her—to erase the vile traces left behind, to purify her soul.

They made love long into the night. The next morning, He Yan struggled to get out of bed, her waist aching and her steps unsteady, making Liang Yuanze laugh heartily. As he finished adjusting his tie and prepared to leave for work, he turned back and teased, “Can you even drive? Want me to take you to school?”

She’d forgotten all her grief in that moment. Snatching up a hair tie, she threw it at him, growling, “Get lost! Come back tonight and we’ll see who really wins!”

He grinned, walked over to the dining table, bent down, and kissed her deeply again. Smacking his lips afterward, he teased, “Today’s orange juice isn’t sweet enough. Let’s try a different brand next time.”

“Got it. Noted.” She replied solemnly, then added, “Come home early tonight—we’re having dinner at Mom and Dad’s.”

After sending Liang Yuanze off, He Yan drove to school. She first reported her return from leave, then met with her student leaders to organize the New Year’s gala. Someone mentioned that Xu Chengbo sang well, but the class monitor frowned and said, “He’s got a lot of part-time jobs and doesn’t seem interested in group events. He might not agree.”

He Yan nodded slowly, jotting down suggestions while defending Xu Chengbo, “Maybe he’s just too busy. Holding multiple jobs isn’t easy. How about this—tell him to stop by my office if he gets a chance. I’ll speak to him myself.”

The monitor agreed. By noon, Xu Chengbo came to find He Yan.

At the time, the office was empty. He Yan locked the door from the inside, then carefully dismantled both her phones and examined their internal structures. The two devices looked identical. After close scrutiny, she was almost certain that Fu Shenxing hadn’t installed a physical bug—he was likely using software for surveillance.

With a rough understanding of the situation, she quickly reassembled the phones and powered them back on. At that very moment, Xu Chengbo’s call came through. Startled, she relaxed only when she saw the familiar number and told him to come directly to her office.

Soon, he arrived, looking visibly uneasy. Eyes lowered, he asked, “Miss He, did you need to speak with me?”

He Yan, having gone through her recent trauma, had become extremely sensitive to people’s behavior—almost paranoid. She immediately picked up on his discomfort. While discussing the New Year’s event, she closely watched his expression, and then abruptly asked, “How did you get a job so far from campus?”

A flicker of panic crossed Xu Chengbo’s eyes—subtle, but not lost on her. She pressed further, “Was it because of what happened at Fu Corporation?”

After a brief pause, he replied, “Yes. I just didn’t want to interact with anyone from that company again.”

He Yan had always been suspicious of that incident. She studied him carefully and asked, “What exactly happened that day? Did you know that secretary beforehand?”

“No. She ordered food a few times, and I delivered it—that’s all. We barely knew each other. But that day, she suddenly started getting handsy with me. I panicked and ran out,” he said, looking a little embarrassed.

“You fled like a man escaping a battlefield,” He Yan said with a smile.

That drew a sheepish laugh from him, easing the tension.

She seized the moment and asked, “Did she know you were a student at our school?”

“I don’t think so. At least, I’m not sure,” he said. “Later, the company’s security office asked me which school I was from, and I gave them your contact info. Miss He, I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble.”

This was clearly a well-laid trap, step by step, with her as the ultimate target. Xu Chengbo had merely been bait. But where had Fu Shenxing found him? How had he orchestrated it?

He Yan smiled, concealing her unease. “Don’t worry. You’re my student—it’s only right you come to me if something’s wrong. It’s not a bother.”

After a pause, she asked nonchalantly, “Do any classmates know where you’re working now?”

“Quite a few, actually,” Xu Chengbo replied.

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“I sometimes post photos from work on my Moments feed,” he explained awkwardly. “So many people in class know I deliver food. I mean, I’m poor, and I have to work all sorts of jobs to make money... but I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of.”

He Yan felt genuinely moved. “Xu Chengbo, you’re doing great.”

And suddenly, clarity struck. Of course Fu Shenxing had looked into her class—just as she had searched for him online, he’d scoured her world through the internet. It was possible Xu Chengbo had simply been an unknowing pawn... or maybe he was just a really good actor.

He Yan decided not to press further for now. She didn’t want to raise suspicions. Smiling, she said, “Alright, then. You’re free to go. Oh, by the way—a professor in the Business Department is looking for a translator. It’s not too hard, and the pay is good. Interested?”

“Really? I can do that?” he asked, surprised.

“I think you can,” she replied. “How about I recommend you for a trial? Let’s see how it goes.”

Grateful, he thanked her again.

She waved him off with a grin. “Go on, get to class. Don’t waste your teacher’s time.”

He got up to leave but paused at the door. Turning back, he asked hesitantly, “Miss He... are things good between you and your husband?”

She blinked, caught off guard. “Huh?”

He looked nervous. “The girls in class say your husband’s really handsome. That you two started dating in high school and were together for ten years before getting married. Everyone envies you.”

She wasn’t sure why he was bringing this up, but nodded slowly. “That’s true.”

“I think it’s admirable,” he said, taking a deep breath like summoning courage. “These days, that kind of love is rare. It should be cherished.”

“Thank you.” She detected an undertone in his words. Her smile faded a little as she asked, “Are you trying to say something?”

Xu Chengbo met her gaze with the stubborn sincerity of a young man. “Miss He, I don’t think Mr. Fu is a good person.”

She froze for a second—then understood. He had misunderstood her relationship with Fu Shenxing.

But instead of feeling offended, she was strangely touched. This was a kind and principled young man.

After a moment of silence, she said quietly, “I don’t really know Mr. Fu. He’s Yu Jia’s cousin—he came to school once to help with her withdrawal paperwork. That’s how we met.”

“Yu Jia’s cousin?” Xu Chengbo looked surprised. “She has a cousin like that?”

Her thoughts stirred. “Do you know her well?”

If Fu Shenxing had used two of her students to get close to her, then Xu Chengbo might be an unwitting tool—but Yu Jia? She didn’t believe for a second that he was truly her cousin. How had he persuaded her to quit school? Through threats? Bribery?

If she could uncover the truth behind that, perhaps it could become evidence against him one day.

“Not really,” Xu Chengbo said, stepping back in.

Her disappointment was evident.

“But... I’ve seen her a couple of times while working. Once or twice,” he added hesitantly. “Miss He... I think she might’ve worked as a hostess somewhere. I’m not certain, and I didn’t want to gossip, but I did run into her.”

That was unexpected—yet, somehow, it made sense.

Xu Chengbo didn’t know what kind of man Fu Shenxing truly was. He added, “If she really had a cousin like Mr. Fu, why would she need to do something like that? He wouldn’t allow it.”

He Yan’s thoughts were in turmoil. She needed time alone to sort things out. And if Xu Chengbo had merely been used, she didn’t want to drag him further in.

Looking up at him, she said, “Let’s leave it at that. Just don’t tell anyone about this.”

“But Miss He—if he’s not really her cousin, and he pretended to be one just to process her paperwork, doesn’t that prove he’s not a good person?”

She knew that well. Fu Shenxing wasn’t just “not good”—he was scum. But she smiled and replied, “I’ll handle it. You focus on your studies.”

He hesitated, wanting to say more, but eventually closed his mouth and left.

The entire afternoon, He Yan was consumed by one question: how could she investigate Fu Shenxing without him noticing? The internet held too little information. She’d need to dig into his real life—but any move she made might be tracked by the very phone he was monitoring.

If she couldn’t act herself, was there anyone she could trust absolutely? Someone who wouldn’t raise his suspicions?

For now, she had no answer.

Just before she left work, Fu Shenxing called.

He said only one sentence:

“Miss He, accompany me to a social engagement tonight.”