No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

Pei Zhan didn't see it that way when Jiang Hua said that. She seemed to be throwing a tantrum, but she was very cold to him. At home, they were like two complete strangers. Even if they passed by the same corridor, they might not greet each other.

The wedding photo by the bedside had been re-hung without Jiang Hua's knowledge at some point. The room was now filled with her and Pei Zhan's belongings. The only thing that remained unchanged was that the room was always imbued with Jiang Hua's presence.

Pei Zhan's ordinary clothes all carried her scent.

"Aren't you busy today?" she asked perfunctorily, though it was just a token question.

Pei Zhan: "Not in a hurry."

Jiang Hua's gaze remained indifferent as she looked at him. Not knowing what to say, she simply nodded. Overnight, they had become strangers. "Oh, okay, do as you please. I'm going to read a book for a while."

Jiang Hua broke free from his hand, took the book, and walked out of the room. She found a chair on the quiet balcony and lay down. Flowers were planted on the balcony, and sunlight shone down. Half of Jiang Hua's body was in the sunlight, and the other half was in the shade. The maid brought her a glass of her favorite juice.

"gentlemen."

Pei Zhan waved his hand, and the servant understood and turned to leave.

Jiang Hua ignored him, pretending not to hear, and disregarded his persistent actions. She held her phone in her hand; Shen Yebai had just sent her a message.

She is replying.

Shen Yebai: Are you free? I bought two tickets.

Jiang Hua didn't know how to reply, so she typed a few words and then deleted them.

Pei Zhan saw her chat interface.

"Let's talk?" A figure landed beside him.

Jiang Hua put her phone aside, picked up the glass of watermelon juice, and took a sip through the straw. Pei Zhan tested the glass with his finger; it was room temperature. She couldn't drink anything too cold, so she needed to strictly control her diet. She was like a rose covered in thorns, but made of glass; if not properly cared for, she would shatter at any moment.

"What would you like to talk to me about, sir?"

"I've arranged a new place for your studio. I've had it renovated at Shengxing Group, and it will be much larger than the Jiang Group studio you were in before."

Shengxing Group is one of the Huo family's businesses. Now that Jiang Group has been handed over to Ji Liangchuan, Pei Zhan will naturally not stay in Jiang Group, but will go where he belongs.

"You don't need to worry about my affairs. My studio represents the Jiang family and will definitely remain with the Jiang Group. Just mind your own business."

"I'll leave the Jiang family to you."

Jiang Hua lay on the chair, holding a book in her hand, but didn't look at him. Her hair was long, and strands fell to the ground. Pei Zhan picked them up and gently held them in his hand. "Hua Hua, I have indeed been very busy lately and haven't had much time to spend with you. Apart from our identities, we are still the same as before, nothing has changed."

“You are my wife, and also the matriarch of the Huo family. If you don't want to see anyone from the Huo family, they won't come knocking on your door to bother you, nor do you need to be bound by the Huo family's rules. You are still you…”

Indeed, she lived a very peaceful life. The troubles and rules she expected never came knocking. Jiang Hua stayed at home most of the time, rarely venturing out. Apart from her friend Bao'er, almost no one came over, and she didn't need to deal with those awkward interpersonal relationships. She continued to do things her own way.

She didn't know why Pei Zhan was saying these things to her out of the blue.

In Pei Zhan's view, Jiang Hua was still angry because he had concealed his identity.

Actually, Jiang Hua was initially shocked and a little angry that he had kept this a secret. But after thinking it over, she realized it wasn't so bad after all.

It's really quite strange, though. Her mother's marriage to Huo Tingshan didn't happen, but her marriage to Pei Zhan did. It's so dramatic.

“Even if your Huo family wants to control me, you can’t control me. I remember Huo Tingshan mentioned that you have a fiancée abroad, right? Your fiancée’s family should be on par with your Huo family in terms of strength. Don’t they have any objections?” Jiang Hua spread her hands on her chest, as if she had thought of something. She gave him a rare look. “Your mother and I are also incompatible. If she knew that I had become the matriarch of the Huo family, aren’t you afraid that she would be so angry that she would faint?”

“Pei Zhan…you only like me because I’m pretty and have a good body. I’ll get old one day too.”

"Aren't you afraid of regretting doing so many unnecessary things for me in the future?"

"You might as well take things one step at a time and find someone who is a good match for you."

"I remember your mother was quite keen to set you up with Song Qingran, so why don't you two give it another try?"

Jiang Hua watched as the sharpness in his eyes gradually gathered, and the surrounding coldness also invaded her, making her feel somewhat oppressed. If Bao'er were here, she probably wouldn't dare to speak if she saw him like this.

But Jiang Hua wasn't afraid of him at all.

"Huo Tingshan's character might just be a reflection of you in the future. Now I finally understand why my mother ran away back then. If I could run away, I would have done so long ago."

If that's the case, Jiang Hua frowned deeply. "Is your Huo family a jinx to our Jiang family?"

"Why is there nothing good happening at all?"

Before Jiang Hua could finish speaking, Pei Zhan suddenly leaned down and sealed her with his soft lips, silencing her wild thoughts. After a brief kiss, Pei Zhan pressed his forehead against hers, his voice becoming deep, "Don't run away."

"I have never had anyone else but you."

"Zhou Xu is not, Song Qingran is not, and he has no fiancée."

"I only have you."

Something suddenly exploded in Jiang Hua's mind. She frowned and slowly tried to distance herself from him, but he pressed down on the back of her neck, as if he didn't want her to run away. "If there's anything you want to say, you can tell me. I don't want... you to avoid me again and again."

"I'll tell you anything as long as you ask."

"I don't want to know. It'll only bring trouble if I do." Jiang Hua said coldly, glancing to the side. Despite being so close, it was as if another high wall had been erected between them, isolating her from the outside.

"Do you still remember that prenuptial agreement?"

If he's caught cheating, Pei Zhan will be left with nothing.

"It has always worked..."

"Who would believe you? You're nothing but a liar, a complete fraud. You would give up such a huge Huo family business and hand it all over to me?"

Jiang Hua pressed her finger against his heart, "I never thought I held a significant place in your heart."

"If one day I have to leave the capital with you, would you... be willing to give up everything, all your power and influence, and live a normal life with me?"

Jiang Hua had never looked at him so intently before. In those deep, dark eyes, she had never found the true answers about him.

No one can see through him, not even in two lifetimes…

Jiang Hua was completely unaware of him, and neither of them understood the other. Apart from their mutual descent into oblivion, their relationship had nothing to do with love.

What he gave her was something Jiang Hua couldn't grasp. What she wanted was very simple: something she could hold onto. She didn't like this vague, uncertain feeling of gain and loss.

Just what she wanted was exactly what Ji Liangchuan could give her; there was no need for suspicion or deception.

Being by Ji Liangchuan's side, she could always sense that things had settled down and a final verdict could be reached, and that life was very simple.

Everything about him is like a black hole; once you step into it, you will get lost, you will be afraid, and you will lose your direction.

Whether in the past life or now...

That's how it is.

She never understood him.

He was surrounded by lies.

He is the one in power, like a creator, able to gather everyone together just to set a stage for her and create a drama, so that everyone will lie to her because of his manipulation.

Jiang Hua didn't know why she asked him that question. After she asked it, there was a few seconds of silence between them. Those few seconds felt like an eternity to her.

"...I was just using an analogy, just saying it casually, you don't need to take it to heart."

He kept saying that he inherited the Huo family for her sake, but now she's asking him to give up everything and live a normal life with her. He's been climbing up the ladder so hard to seize power from Huo Tingshan, all for this day.

Perhaps her words sounded absurd to him, which is why he couldn't respond.

In his deep, dark eyes, it was as if a layer of ink was spreading and impossible to dissipate. Pei Zhan gently stroked the long hair at the back of her head, "Huahua..."

"Some things are not as simple as you think."

"Give me some time, okay?"

Just then, an untimely voice rang out from the side.

Kagel: "Master, Madam, the designer has arrived."

Pei Zhancai remembered the matter of the Huo family's old mansion being renovated. He slowly stood up and said, "Let him wait."

"Yes, Master." Kagel sensed the unusual atmosphere between the two and withdrew on his own.

Jiang Hua put down her book and stood up. "I told you you don't need to overthink it. I was just saying it casually."

"Anyway, you wouldn't understand me."

The moment Jiang Hua walked past him, Pei Zhan grabbed her wrist. His sharp gaze softened into a gentle look, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. His tone seemed to carry a hint of helplessness, yet Pei Zhan was full of patience for her.

The shadows on the ground intertwined, and the tall figure almost enveloped her.

"Huahua...how am I supposed to understand if you don't tell me?"

Kagel stood outside the door and heard two people inside talking, which sounded like they were arguing but weren't.

Jiang Hua: "You keep saying you love me? If you really loved me, you wouldn't need me to say it."

"I get to say everything."

"You should understand even if I don't say it."

Pei Zhan tilted his head, his brows furrowing as if he were pondering some age-old question. "What does Madam mean?"

Jiang Hua forcefully shook off his hand, "Why do you ask me everything? What's the point of telling me?"

"I didn't mean anything by it."

Pei Zhan raised an eyebrow slightly: "Really boring?"

Jiang Hua: "It's pointless! Talking to you is especially pointless for you."

Pei Zhan: "Huahua, that's not what I meant."

Jiang Hua's tone was impatient, and she raised it a few notches, "That's what you mean!"

Pei Zhan: "Okay, that's what I meant. Don't be angry anymore, okay?"

"Fine! Now it's no fun talking to me, is it?"

"Then go find someone you're interested in." Jiang Hua picked up the cushion in her hand and threw it hard at him. She picked up her phone, turned around, and walked out the door.

While Kagel was still in a state of confusion, he silently memorized the conversation he had just heard, intending to find his Chinese teacher to interpret it when he had time. He couldn't understand what it meant at all!

Kagel: "Madam, what exactly do you mean?"

Upon seeing Jiang Hua emerge, he said, "Madam, Mr. Qiao is still waiting for you downstairs."

Jiang Hua held onto the stair railing and went downstairs. "Tell him to get lost. I don't want to see him."

Pei Zhan followed her all the way to the master bedroom. Jiang Hua opened the wardrobe and rummaged through it for clothes, seemingly heading somewhere. He reached out, but Jiang Hua brushed his hand away, saying, "Don't touch me!"

“Huahua…”

"Don't talk to me right now." Jiang Hua was choosing clothes in the closet.

Seeing her out-of-control behavior, Pei Zhan slowly spoke, "Xia He is just my birth mother, nothing more. As for Song Qingran, apart from that time at the Pei family's old house, I have had no other contact with her."

"Xu Zhoulan's mother was the adopted daughter of the Huo family. Xu Zhoulan is her illegitimate son with Huo Tingshan. Huo Tingshan had deep feelings for Huo Qianxue and felt guilty about Huo Qianxue's death, which is why he tolerated and condoned everything she did. Before me, he laid many dangers. The bombs in the Huo family were all his doing."

"The reason Song Qingran knew everything was because Xia He was ambushed and seriously injured, and was hospitalized. Song Qingran overheard all the threatening words Xu Zhoulan said to Xia He at the hospital, which is why she rushed to the Huo family and stopped us from getting into the car."

"Xu Zhoulan's ambition is the position of family head, including you. If I do nothing, everything will become even more out of control."

Jiang Hua took a dress out of the closet and threw it on the bed. When she turned to look at him, the two began to clash.

“You never know where our real problem lies.”

"That's why I feel that being with you is a waste of time."

"I don't want to know about the Huo family's affairs; they're meaningless to me."

"There's no point in us arguing."

Jiang Hua always felt a sense of powerlessness towards him, as if she couldn't muster any energy. If she continued talking, he would only become impatient and think that she was crazy, always overthinking and having all sorts of nonsense.

That's fine, take it one day at a time. When Pei Zhan gets impatient with her and proposes a divorce, she'll sign the papers.

In the end, it was only a matter of time before he fell in love with Song Qingran.

In his eyes, she had a bad temper, was unreasonable, did things without thinking, and was good for nothing except being pretty.

She also couldn't learn to compromise with him.

Pei Zhan, a proud man, needs a virtuous wife like Song Qingran, who is obedient to him and gentle in listening to his every word.

Clearly, Jiang Hua is not that kind of person.

As time goes by, when she reaches her thirties and gets old, he will probably let go.

"You're only after me because I'm pretty, just like your bastard father."

"You don't love me at all."