Chapter 14: What’s This? Secretly in Love with Me?

“You!”

Mu Chenbei’s self-perceived deep affection was met only with a light, mocking retort from Yu Ling, instantly igniting his shame and anger.

Yu Ling raised an eyebrow. “What did I say?”

Though she spoke in a question, she offered Mu Chenbei no chance to answer.

“Have I not treated you well, Mu Chenbei? We’ve been together for a year, and I thought I was a decent girlfriend. I supported you in everything you did. When you struggled financially, I often dipped into my own pocket to help you. Even now, during the low point of my career when I’m barely making ends meet, I still scrimp and save to give you money.”

“Yu Ling, you…”

Mu Chenbei’s face flushed with frustration and dryness of mouth. He desperately wanted to cut Yu Ling off, to end this unfriendly confrontation in the early hours.

But Yu Ling remained unfazed, speaking deliberately, as though determined to voice every grievance accumulated over the past year.

“You live far from the office with your roommates; every day you wake early to catch the subway, enduring the exhausting, crowded commute. I gave you my own place to make life easier for you, and yet you cheated on me, bringing your mistress home. How can you face me after that?”

At this point, Yu Ling felt an urge to overturn the table, to tear off Mu Chenbei’s hypocritical, infuriating mask.

She was acutely aware that her emotions were spiraling out of control.

Though her emotions ran wild, her reason remained intact.

Chu Ming was recording; she could not resort to violence.

Yet her emotions sought an outlet, and she scanned the room for something to vent on.

A glance caught her eye and stabbed at her heart.

On the bedside table stood an exquisite vase holding lisianthus flowers, now wilting. The leaves drooped, the petals were misshapen, and through the glass, she could see yellowed leaves floating on the water’s surface.

A sudden sting welled up in Yu Ling’s eyes, and tears escaped uncontrollably.

Lisianthus was her favorite flower.

She had bought this bouquet only three days ago.

That day, she had received a cooperation invitation and, excitedly, dressed in her favorite dress, applied her favorite makeup, and went shopping. She met a charming little girl helping her mother sell flowers.

The girl wore braids, her large, bright eyes sparkling, and her smile was soft and endearing.

Though Yu Ling was not fond of children, she was drawn to that smile.

Coincidentally, the lisianthus on the stall was in full bloom, lush and vibrant, so Yu Ling bought a bouquet.

She carried it back to Springview Garden with great care and affection.

Then she cleaned her room thoroughly, found a beautiful vase, and arranged the flowers inside.

After observing them closely for a long time, she reluctantly left.

But how much neglect did it take for these blooming flowers to wither in just three days, ending a year’s awaited bloom?

Lisianthus was an easy flower to care for—delicate yet resilient, just like its symbolic meaning.

Suddenly, Yu Ling felt as if those yellowing leaves had materialized inside her heart, shattering into coarse dust.

If they were already dead, they should not continue to exist.

Yu Ling stepped forward.

Curled up on the bed, Lin Mianmian, who was contacting the system, was startled. She thought Yu Ling was about to hit her and hastily scooted backward on her bottom.

Yu Ling cast a cold glance at her. Seeing the fear on Lin Mianmian’s face stirred a sense of satisfaction within her.

Ignoring Lin Mianmian’s terrified gaze, Yu Ling walked straight toward her.

Lin Mianmian kept moving backward while trying to contact the system, but the system that was supposed to alter her fate gave no response.

Damn it!

She cursed inwardly. Seeing Yu Ling raise her hand, she closed her eyes.

She told herself, “Take it. Maybe this slap will earn Gu Tingchuan’s pity.”

Thinking of that man gave Lin Mianmian unexpected confidence.

He was so powerful; he could handle anything.

She closed her eyes tightly and counted down silently.

Five, four, three, two…

In the next moment, a piercing sound exploded beside her ear, causing Lin Mianmian to cover her ears and scream.

Her voice was already sharp and thin; the scream was like a physical assault, capable of piercing eardrums at high decibels.

Yu Ling, having just smashed the vase, felt a surge of satisfaction. She sneered at Lin Mianmian and shouted impatiently, “Stop screaming. Shut up.”

The slap Lin Mianmian had anticipated never came, and no pain followed. Yu Ling’s shout made her nervously open her eyes, only to meet a pair of cold, mocking eyes.

Yu Ling’s gaze was filled with glaring ridicule and contempt. What of her system? She was still a worthless loser.

Lin Mianmian was furious, but without the system’s response, she dared not confront Yu Ling and could only glare back fiercely.

“You can glare all you want, but it won’t change the fact that you’re the mistress.”

Yu Ling gently stroked the drooping lisianthus leaves without sparing Lin Mianmian a glance. Her tone was calm and flat, stating the fact.

It was the numbness after great sorrow, a complete loss of hope and feeling.

Her demeanor and words panicked Mu Chenbei. At that moment, he realized Yu Ling no longer loved him.

This realization unsettled him. He still needed Yu Ling. Without her, he had nothing—he’d return to the bitter days of renting and commuting by subway.

The thought gave him a splitting headache he couldn’t bear.

He had to win Yu Ling back.

“Lingling,” Mu Chenbei knelt down before her. “Lingling, I love you. Please believe me, will you?”

To move her, he even forced tears that didn’t exist to well up.

“Oh? Love me?”

Yu Ling didn’t even look up. She gazed tenderly at the flowers on the bedside table. Though removed from the vase, the stems still dripped water.

She pulled the flowers out and placed them on the table. Only the vase and its water were shattered.

It was a somewhat absurd gesture, but she refused to see the flowers she had painstakingly cared for being violently smashed after wilting.

“I love you, of course I do. I love you the most,” Mu Chenbei hurriedly replied.

Chu Ming, hiding behind Xiao Zhang, secretly wiped sweat from her brow on Yu Ling’s behalf. She feared Yu Ling might fall for Mu Chenbei’s lies again.

Her phone, still recording, was clenched tightly in her hand.

Fortunately, what she feared did not happen.

“Enough. Stop pretending.”

Yu Ling had no interest in discussing this boring, false topic any longer; she didn’t even bother to glance at Mu Chenbei.

She turned her gaze to Lin Mianmian on the bed and smiled teasingly. “You just love my things so much? You steal my resources, and now you want my boyfriend too? What, are you secretly in love with me?”

Lin Mianmian was momentarily stunned before scowling fiercely at Yu Ling. “In love with you? What kind of dream are you having? I wish you would just die right now.”