Chapter 114: Do Not Want

During the few days Cheng Hui spent away with He Chuan, the atmosphere at the Cheng residence remained somber. Mrs. Cheng could not stop thinking about what had happened to her daughter; she felt unable to let go and kept urging Mr. Cheng to call the police, insisting that the rapist must be caught and that Cheng Hui could not be allowed to suffer in vain.

Mr. Cheng would try to placate her at first, but as time passed, Mrs. Cheng began to feel that he was merely brushing her off. Her emotions spiraled completely out of control, and she began to pick fights with him over the matter, dredging up old grievances and bickering endlessly.

"I see it now; you never really cared about us. After everything that’s happened to Huihui, you don’t even want to lift a finger, only caring about your own work. Do you even still want a daughter?"

Mr. Cheng did not want to argue and remained silent, which only infuriated Mrs. Cheng further, fueling her intensity. The housekeepers downstairs heard her voice echoing from the stairwell and quietly slipped away, not daring to go up and disturb them.

"If you don't feel sorry for Huihui, I do," Mrs. Cheng cried in despair. "If you won't take care of it, I will."

Mr. Cheng still did not respond, intending to let her vent until she calmed down enough to discuss the matter rationally.

That afternoon, Mrs. He and several other socialites invited Mrs. Cheng to play cards. Mrs. Cheng did not want to go; she hadn't even eaten lunch and was lying in her room. A housekeeper brought up a tray of food and pleaded earnestly, "Ma'am, you must eat something, or your body won't be able to hold up."

"Just leave it there."

"Ma'am, why don't you have a bit of soup..."

Mrs. Cheng, truly in no mood, waved her hand. "Just leave it there and get out. I want to be alone."

Over an hour later, Mrs. He arrived at the Cheng house in person. She had sensed Mrs. Cheng's lethargy over the phone earlier and, when told that Mrs. Cheng was feeling unwell, decided to visit with another socialite.

The housekeeper let them in and went upstairs to call Mrs. Cheng. When Mrs. Cheng came down, she looked haggard. Seeing Mrs. He, she remained composed and asked, "How is it you have time to come here today? Weren't you all going to play cards?"

Mrs. He replied, "It's no fun without you, so we thought we'd come to see how you are. You look so pale. What's wrong?"

Mrs. Cheng glanced at her briefly, then looked away, coughing slightly. "It's an old ailment. The air conditioning has been too cold these past few days, so I have a bit of a cold."

Mrs. He expressed concern, "You must take care of yourself. At our age, we can't be careless. Once you're better, we should all find time to get together and properly relax."

Mrs. Cheng smiled and asked the housekeeper to pour tea.

"By the way, why is it so quiet here today? Are the children not home?"

"My daughter went out to play, and my son is at work, so of course it’s quiet."

"Right, I remember your son is married. Now that he's married, you can have a grandchild. A house is much livelier with a child, and it wouldn't be so lonely. You’d have something to do, and if you didn't want to play cards with us, you could help look after your grandson."

Mrs. Cheng replied, "They just got married; they aren't in a hurry to have children. Besides, they are both busy with work."

"That’s where you’re wrong. Women these days should have children while they’re young; they recover faster. If you wait a few years, it’s much harder to deal with at an older age."

Mrs. Cheng’s expression darkened, and she uncomfortably steered the conversation elsewhere, unwilling to continue that topic.

As they chatted, if it had been any other day, Mrs. Cheng would have been happy to talk with Mrs. He. But today, she felt unwell and had no heart for entertaining them. Just as she was about to find an excuse to see them out, the sound of a car arrived outside. Soon, the housekeeper came in. "Ma'am, Cheng Hui is back."

It was not just Cheng Hui; He Chuan had come to drop her off. Mrs. Cheng asked the housekeeper to stay and host the guests, then hurried outside to see her daughter.

With Mrs. Cheng gone, the other socialite, who had been unable to get a word in, sent the housekeeper away to fetch some chrysanthemum tea and whispered to Mrs. He, "Why did you insist on bringing up children? Didn't you see Mrs. Cheng's face change?"

Mrs. He replied, "I meant well, with no ill intent. But I’m not wrong; having a child is better than being alone at home."

The socialite, not stupid, clearly sensed that Mrs. He had ulterior motives. Her expression turned cold. "If it weren't for you inviting me today saying you were short a player, I wouldn't have come. Don't call me next time you're short a player."

...

Seeing He Chuan, Mrs. Cheng’s expression was complex. She knew that Mrs. He and He Chuan had been at odds lately over the He family fortune. Since they were not blood-related, once interests were involved, even brothers could become enemies.

Cheng Hui noticed the unfamiliar car parked outside and asked if they had guests. Mrs. Cheng replied, "Yes, there are guests inside."

"Who? Why are they parking so messily?"

"Don't worry about that. How was the hot spring? Did you have a good time?"

A smile appeared on Cheng Hui's face, and she seemed less withdrawn. "It was okay. The air was good, mostly."

"Then tomorrow, let's go to the temple for a vegetarian meal. The air there is good too, and we can pray for amulets for you and your brother."

"What about Xinxin?"

"Oh, right, I forgot about Xin Gan. We'll get one for her, too. Will you go?" Mrs. Cheng spoke with a rare, gentle tone, her eyes filled with maternal affection.

Cheng Hui nodded reluctantly. She glanced at He Chuan, who was helping with her luggage, and felt a pang of guilt, quickly looking away for fear that her mother might notice something.

He Chuan, knowing she was afraid of her mother discovering their relationship, kept a respectful distance. "If you are going tomorrow, I have time and can drive you."

"That won't be necessary, He Chuan. I know you've been very busy lately. Thank you for taking Huihui out to clear her head; I appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Mrs. Cheng. Cheng Jiu and I are close, so his sister is naturally like a sister to me. It’s only right that I look after her."

He Chuan spoke with such earnestness and candor that no one could suspect him.

Cheng Hui tugged at Mrs. Cheng’s sleeve. "Alright, Mom, let's go inside. I'm tired of standing."

He Chuan carried her suitcase inside, where they naturally bumped into Mrs. He. Cheng Hui saw her and instinctively looked at He Chuan, worried about how his mother had suddenly appeared.

Mrs. Cheng patted Cheng Hui’s shoulder. "You must be tired. Go to your room and rest, and I'll call you down for dinner later."

Cheng Hui gave a cold "oh" and turned to He Chuan. "Could you please bring my suitcase up? Thank you, Brother He Chuan."

Mrs. Cheng smiled. "You child, always bothering He Chuan. You're too lazy. Don't mind her, He Chuan, she’s spoiled."

"It's fine, it’s only right."

...

Upstairs, away from the others, Cheng Hui reached out and took his hand, whispering, "Our family will definitely stand by you, don't worry."

He Chuan squeezed her hand back tightly. "When can we hold hands openly in front of your mother?"

Cheng Hui was silent; that was a difficult request. Fearing he might be upset, she said, "Give me some time."

"I'll wait. I've waited this long, so I'm not in a hurry."

Cheng Hui felt a wave of guilt; it seemed as though she had wronged him, yet it was true—his willingness to wait for her was rare. At the very least, he was truly patient and cared for her feelings.

...

Mrs. He had not expected to see He Chuan at the Cheng house. Earlier, Mrs. Cheng had said Cheng Hui was out playing, so why had she returned with He Chuan? Thinking back to what He Cheng had told her about the unusual relationship between the two, it seemed highly likely that something was indeed going on.

After sitting down, Mrs. He said jokingly, "I didn't realize He Chuan and Cheng Hui were so close. He seems very concerned about her."

Mrs. Cheng replied, "He Chuan is close with Cheng Jiu and has watched Huihui grow up since she was little. Isn't it normal for them to be close? This isn't something that started yesterday. Mrs. He, have you forgotten? Huihui used to run over to your house to play with He Chuan all the time."

"I haven't forgotten, but I feel that since He Chuan is a man and Huihui is still young, if they are too close, it might lead to gossip. Being close is one thing, but there should be boundaries between men and women, especially since He Chuan isn't her biological brother."

...

Mrs. Cheng smiled. "Mrs. He, have you forgotten? He Chuan bears the name He. Your baseless speculation about their relationship will only harm my daughter's reputation. Mrs. He, let’s not say such things again."

Though Mrs. Cheng was smiling, her words clearly indicated her displeasure. Mrs. He gave a meaningful look. "There is no smoke without fire. If you don't believe me, I have nothing more to say, but you might want to keep an eye on Cheng Hui’s movements."

...

When Xin Gan was not in her studio, a gift arrived. Her assistant, thinking it was a regular delivery, signed for it and placed it on her desk.

When Xin Gan returned and opened the gift, she was startled. It was an authentic painting by a modern master, of significant value. This was no simple gift. She asked her assistant who had sent it.

"I don't know," the assistant replied. "It was just a courier; I thought it was a regular package."

Xin Gan looked at the sender's phone number and dialed it. When the call connected, she heard a familiar voice—it was Zhou Ya.

"Did you receive the gift I sent?" Zhou Ya asked.

"You sent this?" Xin Gan asked, confused. "Why send me something so valuable?"

"Don't be so formal, Teacher Xin. Cheng Jiu and I are such good friends, and since you study painting, you must appreciate such things. It was a gift given to me, but I don't know how to appreciate it, so I thought it would be best for you."

Xin Gan felt a headache coming on. "Mr. Zhou, I appreciate the sentiment, but I cannot accept something without cause. Please take it back."

"Don't be so polite. It’s worthless in my hands, but you’re an expert. Rest assured, I have no other motives; I’m just sending a gift to a friend."

Xin Gan recalled Cheng Jiu mentioning Zhou Ya's request for a favor and grew more resolute. "I apologize, but I really cannot accept this. It is too valuable. Please give me an address, and I will send it back."

Zhou Ya, sensing her determination, chuckled. "I don't plan on taking back what I’ve given. If you don't want it, do as you please with it."

"I cannot accept this, Mr. Zhou. Please don't put me in a difficult position."

"Do as you wish, the gift has been sent," Zhou Ya said, hanging up.

That evening, Xin Gan waited for Cheng Jiu and brought him to the office to show him the painting. "I found this on my desk today. Zhou Ya sent it. I didn't know; my assistant signed for it."

Cheng Jiu frowned. "Is it expensive?" He didn't know much about art, but he could tell it wasn't cheap.

"Very expensive. I called him, but he refused to take it back."

Cheng Jiu understood Zhou Ya's intentions. "I'll take it back to him."

"Is it because he wants you to do something for him?" Xin Gan asked, concerned.

"Yes, he's been at it for a long time, but I've refused."

"I'll tell my assistant not to sign for random packages anymore," Xin Gan said.

"Don't worry," Cheng Jiu replied. "Your studio has surveillance. It can prove you didn't sign for it yourself, so it won't cause any major issues."

Xin Gan was afraid that if this were investigated, it would cause trouble for Cheng Jiu. The next morning, Cheng Jiu returned the painting to Zhou Ya and clarified the matter in person.

Despite the resolution, Xin Gan worried for days, fearing that Zhou Ya would try again. Cheng Jiu told her he had returned it and urged her not to worry, though he did not share the full details.

...

After wrapping up his tasks, Cheng Jiu met with He Chuan. He Chuan had been staying away from the Cheng house to let Cheng Hui stabilize. Cheng Hui had told him she felt her mother might know something and was watching her closely.

Cheng Jiu raised the topic of He Chuan and Cheng Hui. "What do you plan to do? Keep hiding it like this?"

He Chuan lit a cigarette. "Cheng Hui is afraid of her family finding out, so for now, we have to hide it. I can wait. Whether it’s until she graduates or whenever she is ready, I am prepared to step out."

He also had his own family mess to clean up first.

"What are you going to do?" Cheng Jiu asked, referring to the photos in Tang Huaihuai’s possession. He could not let Tang Huaihuai and Tang Que off the hook; Cheng Hui had been nearly destroyed by them.

"You're better off not knowing," He Chuan said. "I'll handle it."

"You have more than one problem right now," Cheng Jiu noted. "Can you handle it all?"

"Your position isn't suitable for certain actions, so I will do it. You just need to turn a blind eye. This may involve Xin Gan."

"I understand."

Both knew the purpose behind the leaked "romance" between He Cheng and Tang Huaihuai. He Chuan was not in a hurry; he wanted to resolve everything at once, which required careful preparation.

After He Cheng arranged for Tang Huaihuai’s housing, he eagerly demanded the photos. Tang Huaihuai gave them to him, saying, "He Chuan cares deeply for Cheng Hui. Threatening her reputation is more effective than anything else."

"What if he doesn't take the bait?"

"Believe me, he will. He loves her too much to let her be hurt. Besides, if these photos are exposed, do you think Cheng Hui can act like nothing happened? Women care deeply about their reputations, and she’s just a young, immature girl. It’s too easy to destroy her."

He Cheng smiled. "You know Cheng Hui well."

Tang Huaihuai leaned in, winding her finger around his shoulder. "Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"A compliment," He Cheng replied.

"Really?"

"Whatever you say." He Cheng pulled away calmly. "Stay here for now. I’ll arrange for more gossip to surface. It might be messy, so wear a mask when you go out."

Tang Huaihuai nodded. "Of course, I’ll listen to you, my big star."

Thus, He Cheng had a "non-celebrity" girlfriend, and Tang Huaihuai’s personal information was leaked online. She didn't mind; she even used the opportunity to post comments online, stirring the pot.

Mrs. He saw the news and immediately called He Cheng. "What’s going on?"

"Just what you see. I have a girlfriend."

"But isn't that the woman who was close to your brother?"

"She was, but she isn't anymore."

"She’s fickle, son. I'm afraid you're being deceived."

He Cheng sighed. "Enough. Don't worry about my affairs. Did you do what I asked?"

"Yes. I went to the Cheng house and saw He Chuan return with Cheng Hui. They had been out together, but Mrs. Cheng doesn't believe what I said about their relationship."

"If she doesn't believe it, say it more often so everyone in her circle knows about He Chuan and her daughter."

Mrs. He agreed, adding, "You also need to be careful of He Chuan. I'm worried about being discovered."

"Don't worry about me. I’m a public figure; he can't do anything to me."

Mrs. He added, "One more thing. He Chuan moved your father to another hospital despite my opposition. We need to go see how he is."

...

He Wei was paralyzed, his condition showing no improvement after a long time in the hospital. He Chuan had hired nurses to watch him around the clock. When Mrs. He arrived with the driver, the nurses blocked her path. She scolded them, using her status to intimidate them. "I am He Wei’s wife! You dare stop me? Who do you think you are?"

Unable to stop her, the nurses contacted He Chuan.

He Chuan rushed over. By the time he arrived, Mrs. He had already pushed into the room. He Wei was awake, his eyes opening to see her, then quickly closing again, as if he couldn't bear to look at her.

"We are husband and wife," Mrs. He said. "I came to see you out of kindness, and you don't even want to see me?"

He Wei remained silent, eyes shut.

"Don't pretend to be asleep. I know you're awake. You don't like the hospital I chose, so He Chuan moved you overnight. He’s quite capable, isn't he?" Mrs. He stared at the heart monitor, wishing the line would go flat. "Look at you, sleeping with the window open. It's cold at night. Be careful not to catch a cold, especially since you're already a wreck—hands and feet useless, only your brain still functioning. Why put yourself through this?"

He Chuan arrived, breathless. Seeing He Wei was alive and stable, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Mom, why are you here so late?"

Mrs. He turned and sneered. "We are married, so I naturally have to visit. But He Chuan, moving your father without my consent was unreasonable."

"I don't need to report to you to get my father proper care. I don't trust the hospital you chose."

"Are you saying I was trying to harm him?"

He Chuan looked at her coldly. "What do you think?"

Mrs. He didn't mince words. "You’re capable, but don't think you can restore his health. He’s a cripple, and you aren't a miracle worker." She started to leave, then stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot. You and that Cheng girl are together? I saw you drop her off. Does Mrs. Cheng know? If she found out you’d corrupted her daughter, do you think they’d still be so polite to you?"

He Chuan remained silent, his jaw tight. To Mrs. He, this looked like fear. "I will continue to visit. As long as I am not divorced, I have the right to see him."

...

Cheng Hui returned to school and heard that they had a new counselor—Tang Huaihuai was gone.

Classmates were curious about the sudden change. Cheng Hui said nothing, relieved that she would no longer have to see Tang Huaihuai.

That day, Tang Huaihuai arrived to handle her departure paperwork and encountered Cheng Hui in the academic building. Cheng Hui tried to walk past, but Tang Huaihuai called out, "Cheng Hui, care to chat?"

"Cheng Hui, don't you want to know what happened between me and your father?"

Cheng Hui stopped, her fists clenching as she turned to glare at her.

Tang Huaihuai smiled. "Follow me to somewhere quiet."

Cheng Hui followed her, desperate to know the truth. She remembered that nightmare—Tang Que taking her to his house, the glass of water, and waking up in bed with him, both naked. She had slapped him and fled.

As they walked on the track, Tang Huaihuai admired the view. "University life is wonderful. I don't want to leave, but I have no choice. If I don't go now, I won't be able to leave later, right, Cheng Hui?"

Cheng Hui stared at her. "Don't be smug, Tang Huaihuai. The heavens are watching."

"Are you saying bad deeds have consequences? Then why is your father still fine?"

Tang Huaihuai leaned in, pinching Cheng Hui’s cheek. "Such soft skin. No wonder He Chuan likes you. If I were a man, I’d like a seventeen-year-old girl too—not just for the skin, but because they’re easy to fool."

Cheng Hui slapped her hand away. "Don't touch me with your dirty hands."

"Such a temper. He Chuan doesn't like women who are too direct. He likes those who are open in bed. I wonder how far you’ve gone with him? Perhaps I could teach you how to please him."

"You’re disgusting," Cheng Hui retorted, though her words lacked the venom of Tang Huaihuai’s.

Tang Huaihuai stood straight, pulled down her collar to reveal a black tattoo on her collarbone—it was a series of initials. "I got this at eighteen—He Chuan’s name. You think we have