“Sir, yesterday Madam spent almost half the day with your brother, Zi Qiang, in his office at Zi Hospital,” one of the men began, his voice steady but his eyes betraying a hint of unease. “Later, she had lunch with Actor Zheng Bai and then went to her office to spend the evening with him. Zheng Bai has become quite influential and popular recently. He’s also very wealthy now.”
The man hesitated for a moment, as if weighing the weight of his next words before continuing. “We also found out that Madam and Zheng Bai have known each other since high school. He used to have a crush on her, and now… now they seem to be very close. Today, she’s even gone to meet him at his film shoot.”
The room seemed to grow colder with each word, the air thick with unspoken tension.
They placed a folder on his desk, filled with photos of Han Xue with both men. In the images, she looked comfortable, smiling in ways Haoran had never seen. The men, too, smiled warmly at her, clearly charmed.
The sight of those smiles ignited something dark in Haoran’s chest.
His eyes scanned the photos briefly, his expression unreadable, but the room grew colder, as though a sudden frost had settled over the space. The men exchanged nervous glances, the tension in the room becoming unbearable.
"Leave," Haoran commanded, his voice like ice.
They quickly excused themselves, retreating from the room as fast as they could without looking like they were fleeing.
Just as the door closed behind them, Shen Mu, Haoran’s longtime secretary and right-hand man, entered the office with a tray. "Sir, your coffee and the sales report for the month," Shen Mu said, setting the items down. His eyes darted to the photos on the desk, his heart sinking.
"Sir," Shen Mu began cautiously, "I don’t believe Madam would ever betray you. She’s not that kind of person."
Haoran’s gaze turned deadly, his voice sharp. "She’s married to me, not to you."
Shen Mu thought a thousand times before mustering the courage to speak, knowing this might be his last chance to save their marriage. His voice trembled, but he pressed on, desperate. “Sir, I've been around Madam throughout your entire marriage. I swear, she was genuinely happy to marry you. She was shy every time she looked at you… even when the Zi elders treated her coldly and berated you in front of her, she defended you politely. Sir, I really think she likes you.”
Haoran stared at him, the silence stretching like an eternity.
Shen Mu could feel the temperature drop even lower, fear creeping into his bones. It felt like his life was about to end then and there. He was on the verge of kneeling, begging for mercy from the man who now seemed more like an unforgiving king than his boss.
Then, Haoran finally spoke, his voice cold and distant.
"At one point, I thought the same. But it isn’t…”
Shen Mu’s heart pounded in his chest. “Sir… for one last time, why don’t you ask her yourself and find out?”
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Haoran’s irritation flared, memories of Han Xue with other men flashing through his mind. His temper snapped, and with a sharp glare, he spat, "Get out."
After four tense hours, the king-like boss finally emerged from his office.
Whether he had worked or simply brooded over the words of his men, no one could say for sure. But his aura was colder than ever, a palpable frost that seeped into the air around him. Fatigue clung to him, his hair ruffled, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, and with no coat to soften his appearance, he looked like a mafia king ready to set the whole city ablaze.
Everyone in the secretary’s office froze as he passed, their fear unmistakable. Shen Mu, wide-eyed and shocked, trailed behind him, unsure of what was to come.
In the elevator, Shen Mu shrank into the corner, barely managing to stammer, “S-Sir, where should I take you?”
The doors slid open, revealing employees bowing low, their eyes filled with dread as they shuddered under the weight of his cold, dark gaze. His expression was unreadable, and the tension in the air thickened, leaving everyone wondering: Who had dared to cross the king?
Shen Mu’s confusion only deepened as he followed closely, uncertain of where they were headed. Zi Haoran strode toward his Rolls-Royce Ghost, parked prominently at the entrance of Zi Softech HQ, with Shen Mu gesturing helplessly to those around him—he had no idea what the boss was planning.
And then, just before getting into the car, Haoran uttered the chilling order: “Villa Celeste.”
Shen Mu's pulse quickened.
Without hesitation, he slid into the driver's seat, motioning to the already waiting chauffeur to head home. The engine of the sleek, black Ghost roared to life, its imposing presence dominating the road. As the car cut through the city streets, every passerby turned to catch a glimpse, wondering which powerful man commanded such a vehicle, as it headed north toward Villa Celeste—Haoran’s home since his marriage to Han Xue.
The twenty-minute drive to Serenity Exclusive Estates felt like an eternity for Shen Mu. His hands gripped the wheel, tension thick in the air as he tried to keep his nerves in check. He could feel the weight of his boss's unspoken fury from the backseat, an energy that seemed to coil tighter with each passing second.
As they pulled into the estate, every staff member froze, bowing in reverence as they recognized the car. No one dared to look directly at Zi Haoran, the man they knew commanded both power and fear in equal measure. The car glided smoothly towards Villa Celeste, but just as it was about to turn into the garden driveway, Haoran’s voice cut through the silence.
“Stop.”
Shen Mu obeyed instantly, pulling the car to a halt. His eyes followed his boss's fixed gaze and immediately understood the reason for the order.
Han Xue’s Lexus LS 500 had just parked at the far end of the garden. Compared to the Ghost, her car looked modest—almost cheap. Haoran's eyes narrowed as he watched her step out of the driver’s seat, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. Why is she driving herself? he wondered, though the dark thoughts that followed only deepened his suspicions. Perhaps to enjoy her freedom… with her lovers.
Han Xue emerged in a striking wine-colored coat and pants set, the tailored fabric hugging her frame with a blend of professional elegance and fashionable edge. A black silk blouse was neatly tucked in, while her wrist bore a sophisticated Cartier watch with a matching wine strap. On her other hand, the only accessory was her plain wedding ring. Haoran’s eyes lingered there as he lowered the window to get a better look.
She walked toward the villa, her black heeled boots clicking against the stone path. She looked charming. The square earrings she wore gleamed in the evening light, giving her the appearance of a model stepping out of a high-end magazine. But what caught Haoran's attention most was her face—light makeup accentuating her features, yet her expression gave her away. She looked exhausted, distant. There was no trace of the vibrancy he once knew, only a quiet loneliness that seemed to seep from her weary eyes.
His heart trembled for a moment. Maybe… just maybe, she wasn’t indulging in secret affairs like he had thought.
As she disappeared from view, Haoran rolled the window up and, after a few heavy breaths, commanded, “Drive.”
When they arrived at the villa, the servants bowed low, asking if he wanted dinner. He merely hummed in response, his mind elsewhere. Han Xue was nowhere in sight as he strode toward his library, seeking the quiet to settle his turbulent thoughts.
Once inside, he pulled the photographs from his pocket—the images that had haunted him all day. They showed Han Xue with other men, and they had fueled his anger and suspicion. He tossed them onto the table, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. “Sir, dinner is ready,” a servant announced.
Haoran exhaled deeply, trying to clear his head. He stood, bracing himself as he walked to the dining area.
There she was—Han Xue, freshened up and now dressed in a simple pajama set that suited her skin tone perfectly. The casual outfit gave her an air of domestic warmth, almost as if she truly was the wife he once thought she was.
Haoran stared at her, unable to shake the unsettling mix of anger, doubt, and something else—something he couldn’t quite name.
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