Han Zhi strode over, pulled me up, and expertly rummaged through the TV cabinet drawer for the first aid kit.
I stared at him, puzzled. “How did you know I was hurt?”
He shot me a glare. “With how nosy and clumsy you are, how could I not know?”
“…”
His tone was like he’d swallowed gunpowder.
I shut my mouth.
Han Zhi didn’t say another word. He quickly disinfected and bandaged my finger, then silently cleaned up the rest of the mess before heading back to the bedroom.
So awkward.
Such a young master’s temper.
But honestly, this wasn’t all my fault. He’d insulted me behind my back, too.
And now the bank cards were snapped, the warning delivered…
Fine, I’ll admit it: that recording was AI-generated.
I sighed. After five minutes of stubbornness, I resigned myself to making peace.
Every day I swore I’d never give in, and every day I caved.
I carefully pushed open the bedroom door and saw Han Zhi lying on his side, facing away.
Softly, I tried, “Honey?”
No answer. He didn’t even move.
Asleep?
I crept closer and peeked his eyes were closed, but I couldn’t tell if he was really asleep.
I admit, I’m a bit shameless, so I put my finger under his nose to check if he was breathing.
Han Zhi opened his eyes, gritting his teeth. “Did you think I was dead?”
“…”
I sheepishly pulled my hand back. “Well, you didn’t answer when I called, so I got worried.”
He ignored me, rolled over, and turned his back again.
I bounced over him and lay down on the other side, but Han Zhi rolled his eyes and turned away once more.
I scooted closer, hugged his waist, and apologized, trying to sound cute.
“Honey...I was wrong. Don’t be mad, okay”
He brushed my hands away, got up, and left the bedroom.
I chased after him, apologizing the whole way.
“Honey I really was wrong, please talk to me
Honey? Han Zhi? …Boyfriend? …Sweetie?”
I thought I’d have to keep coaxing him, but suddenly he stopped.
“…Han Zhi?”
He didn’t move, but his shoulders were trembling. I looked down and saw his fists clenched tight.
I took another step, craning my neck to see his face. He reacted quickly, pushing my head aside so I couldn’t see.
“Are you crying?”
I hesitated, didn’t ask directly. Instead, I hugged him from behind and just stayed there, quiet.
This was the first time I’d ever made someone this upset, but somehow the scene felt familiar.
Han Zhi didn’t push me away this time. After a long while, I heard him say, “Lin Qing… I hate how much I love you.”
After that night, Han Zhi was awkward for days.
I acted like a model granddaughter, soothing him with a gentle voice, even as I silently cursed myself.
All those times I mocked “love-brained” people online turns out, I was one too.
I never asked Han Zhi or his mother about the “five years.”
I didn’t know how to bring it up, and besides, we had time it wasn’t urgent.
Our relationship returned to its usual pattern, but something was different.
Han Zhi still wore his sullen face, still cared in his own prickly way.
But maybe my attitude had changed, because now, for the first time, it felt like we were really dating.
Sometimes I still felt exhausted—not from coaxing Han Zhi, but from how naturally I’d accepted my role as the one always giving in to this young master.
I had to admit, our backgrounds were a bit like a streetwise girl and the young master she “kidnapped,” but honestly, I was the one who’d been set up.
Especially since Mrs. Han was behind it all.
That coworker who’d encouraged me to chase Han Zhi? She was Mrs. Han’s plant.
Mrs. Han wanted Han Zhi to think I was a gold-digger, willing to do anything for money.
And, well, it wasn’t entirely untrue but I was still the one who got played. Why was my status in the family so low?
It wasn’t fair.
I wanted to fight back.
I wanted to resist.
I wanted to....
“What’s this?”
I stared at the document in front of me: “Share Transfer Agreement” printed in bold at the top.
“Twenty-one percent of Han Group’s shares,” Han Zhi said, matter-of-fact.
I snapped out of my daze. “Wait, why are you giving this to me?”
“Sign it.”
“…”
His tone was as calm as if he were discussing dinner. After a long pause, I finally blurted, “Are you insane?”
Han Zhi rolled his eyes and snorted, “Fine, don’t want it.”
He made to snatch the contract back, but when I handed it back, his hand froze for a second before he growled, “I’ll just give it to the stray dogs in the neighborhood!”
“…”
Seeing I didn’t react, Han Zhi slammed the contract down.
“Lin Qing! Can’t you show a little ambition?
You’re always shouting about wanting money, and now that I’m giving it to you, you can’t even sign your name?”
I shook my head sincerely.
“No way. I’m afraid your family will chop me up.”
For a moment, I almost sympathized with Mrs. Han.
If my own kid was this love-crazy, I’d want to skin their partner too.
Han Zhi rolled his eyes again. “You’re underestimating them. They wouldn’t dare.”
I knew they wouldn’t, at least not openly. Otherwise, Han Zhi wouldn’t have the “breakup philanthropist” reputation.
They knew that even if I hadn’t chased Han Zhi, I’d end up on his side.
So they’d rather push me toward him, then let me beg for a breakup every day.
It was a double-edged sword ruining Han Zhi’s reputation and hurting him at the same time.
But Han Zhi still fell for me anyway.
Seeing I still didn’t budge, Han Zhi tried another tactic.
“Are you afraid to sign because you think you’ll betray me someday, so you feel guilty?”
“…”
I tried to hold back, but couldn’t help cursing:
“Are you stupid?”
It was the first time I’d cursed at him since our last big fight. Han Zhi froze, then his face flushed red.
“Lin Qing! Did you just call me stupid?”
I took a deep breath.
“Han Zhi, I know you like me, but you don’t have to do this. We’re only in our twenties.
Who knows what the future holds?
I don’t even remember what I did five years ago that made you fall for me.
But we’ve only really been together for a year, I”
He cut me off.
“It’s not a year.”
“What?”
Han Zhi stared at me for a long moment, then sighed. “…Nothing.”
He pushed the contract back to me.
“If you don’t want to sign now, just keep it. Sign it whenever you want. And I’m not being impulsive.”
He looked at me, unusually serious. “Because you really are worth it.”
Chapter 06
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