“This was her exact wording?”
Zhuang Qiting lifted his eyelids, coldly glaring at his third brother. His dark and brooding eyes were sharp and piercing.
“What else? You think I’d make up a story to fool you, big brother?” Zhuang Qize sighed, twirling the Signet Ring on his finger, identical to Zhuang Qiting’s.
Recalling Li Yaru’s strange remarks, he felt something was off. So, for the past two days, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
As soon as Zhuang Qiting was free, he came straight over.
“Big Sister-in-law said it so plainly, said that you and her would part ways within a few months. Said you were just acting on a whim, and that she’s not some proper girlfriend. She told me to call other women ‘Big Sister-in-law,’ but not her. It made me feel awful hearing that.”
“It’s because your usual domineering style makes Big Sister-in-law feel like you’re just keeping her as a little mistress, big brother. You can’t keep this up; it will make her feel very insecure.” Zhuang Qize was talking when suddenly he gasped sharply, scrutinizing his eldest brother suspiciously. “Could it be…”
“You…”
Such a thing, if the family found out, would mean death.
The Zhuang Family had always been strict with their rules, especially regarding private matters.
They never tolerated mistresses, marital infidelity, or illegitimate children — all scandals that would ruin their reputation and family legacy.
One uncle in the past had kept a mistress, causing their aunt to suffer a miscarriage, for which their grandfather broke his leg.
He still limped slightly to this day. That was the only black sheep.
“Shut up, Aze.” Zhuang Qiting snapped coldly.
Zhuang Qize scratched his head, his peach blossom eyes dimming. “It’s not that I’m worried you’ll get your leg broken…”
Zhuang Qiting swallowed hard; his breath sank like a boulder plunging into a deep pool.
He rose and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, lighting a cigarette. His eagle-like, sharp eyes overlooked the bustling Victoria Harbour.
So this was her true intention.
No wonder she always looked restless, treating him like a goldmine, a boss, a sugar daddy, a bed partner — but never as her man, because she never planned for it to last.
She thought their relationship was a short-term transaction lasting just a few months.
Once the deal was done, she could return to rekindle things with her incompetent, spineless First Love.
Seems like his little girlfriend was playing a very clever game.
His assistant had already thoroughly investigated the small affections between Li Yaru and Fang Shi Zhuo — childhood sweethearts, pure First Love.
Zhuang Qiting smiled without emotion, exhaling a heavy cloud of smoke.
“Big brother, don’t take it lightly.” Zhuang Qize really couldn’t understand what his brother was thinking. To love Big Sister-in-law so much and still make such a mistake?
If you like a woman, you have to hold on tightly, letting nothing slip away. Zhuang Qize was only twenty years old, never involved in romantic affairs, but he knew this well.
This was probably the domineering and forceful trait engraved in the Zhuang bloodline when it came to love.
“Third brother, forget it. I’ll think it over carefully.” Zhuang Qiting flicked his hand, calmly dismissing him.
Zhuang Qize didn’t linger and stood up. “Then, big brother, think well about how you’re going to explain things to Big Sister-in-law.”
The air grew heavy with silence, the dense afternoon sun flooding the spacious office, casting a warm glow on Zhuang Qiting’s handsome face — yet beneath the warmth was a layer of coldness.
Zhuang Qiting stood for a long time, thinking deeply.
–
This was Li Yaru’s fourth time dozing off during her home tutoring session.
Today’s lesson was on Western banquet etiquette — how to seat guests, choose wines, set the tableware, even how to enjoy appetizers and main courses, how to hold wine glasses, which knives to use for cutting bread and which for fish.
Li Yaru summarized it as a complete mess, utterly useless, and a human torment.
Serena was a plump, kind-faced, elegant lady. A graduate of Nolande Academy, she had served as a butler to a member of the British royal family for five years.
She was well-versed in aristocratic etiquette, having published books and started a high-end housekeeping agency.
She was quite renowned in the circles, with many socialites and noble ladies from Hong Kong Island having received her training.
Her lessons were expensive and couldn’t be bought with just money. Now, Zhuang Qiting had hired her to give Li Yaru private one-on-one lessons. Every class ended with Li Yaru’s face contorted in frustration.
“Eleanor, Eleanor, Eleanor!!” Serena slammed the table seriously.
Li Yaru had just slipped into a light nap and was abruptly dragged awake, blinking dumbfoundedly at the impatient elegant lady.
“Serena…” She yawned, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, mumbling, “Sorry, I didn’t take a nap at noon. I’m really tired.”
“Eleanor, you don’t take me seriously every single class. I don’t know how to teach you anymore.”
Li Yaru yawned again, her voice cracking. “I do take you seriously, I do!” She widened her eyes.
Serena had no patience left. She’d never taught such a wild and undisciplined student! Every noble lady attending her class was well-behaved, no matter how important they were — she’d seen them all!
She put on her stern, well-maintained round face. “Eleanor, with your attitude, I have no choice but to report honestly to Mr. Zhuang.”
Ling sat up straight, eyes pleading at the teacher. “Please don’t tell him.”
She was doomed.
He was like a crazed hungry ghost — pressed her down, reprimanded twice quietly, then again beastly when she went to clean herself in the bathtub.
Zhuang Qiting’s eyes were stuck on another man. Li Yaru was baffled; she didn’t remember ever looking at other men.
“I’ve been eating cookies! When would I have time to look at others!” She panted, clutching the pillow tightly, shooting him a resentful glare.
“You can look at me.” Zhuang Qiting’s voice was low and fierce.
“I do look at you,” she argued.
“Little liar. Always lying. I told you, if your eyes linger on others, I will punish you.”
“Punish, punish, you just use any excuse to spank me and satisfy your perverted fetishes.”
Li Yaru was so angry she scrambled forward on all fours; no matter how comfortable it was, she wouldn’t endure it again.
With her fiery temper, if she weren’t subdued by his dominance, they’d have fought by now.
Zhuang Qiting dragged her back, not allowing her to escape, and blocked her again.
“This time I won’t bully you, baby.” He kissed her ear repeatedly. Her face buried in the pillow, unable to see the sinking desire and danger in his eyes.
Li Yaru thought he had a conscience and relaxed slightly, closing her eyes to enjoy it — until he grabbed her ankle, his fingers interlocking tightly, forming a bespoke spanking hand, clicking gently yet not too gently on her calf.
No Little Pixiu guarding, her pale skin made the spanking feel even more fitting.
After just three strikes, her vision blurred, a firework-like flash flickered, and she collapsed into his embrace.
……
“Please, Serena, don’t tell him. I promise I’ll be good and listen attentively in every class from now on, no interruptions, no daydreaming, no reading unrelated books, no snacks.” Li Yaru blushed just thinking about that night’s perverted punishment.
It had been fun, but she really couldn’t handle it — she was a proper person.
Serena said, “Miss Li, you know that every class you’re either disrupting, daydreaming, reading unrelated books, or eating snacks. Now, show me how you eat the appetizer bread properly.”
Li Yaru sighed, got up gracefully, walked to the dining table with legs crossed at the ankles, fingers pinching the napkin on her lap — all newly learned moves she dared not forget.
Her slender, delicate back straightened. She picked up the knife and fork and cut the appetizer bread elegantly.
“Wrong!” Serena interrupted, dismayed. “Appetizer bread must not be cut with knife and fork, Eleanor. I’ve told you many times. You’d embarrass yourself at a banquet acting like this.”
Only then did Li Yaru remember: the bread had to be torn by hand into small pieces, then buttered with a butter knife, eaten in small bites…
She hated these hypocritical, pretentious rules. She mumbled, “It’s already good that I don’t just bite it directly. The bread’s so small, I eat one piece at a time.”
“And butter doesn’t taste good with it. It should be paired with honey-glazed char siu.”
Serena took a deep breath, her head pounding. “Next class I will have a serious talk with Mr. Zhuang about your behavior!”
“……………”
“What does Mrs. Brown want to talk to me about?”
A rich, steady voice sounded at the dining room entrance. Li Yaru’s alarms went off all over her body. She spun around quickly and sure enough, there was Zhuang Qiting.
The man stood tall, dressed in a coffee-colored suit with a small checkered vest beneath. His slicked-back hair was neatly combed as if just back from a formal banquet.
“You’re here!” Li Yaru, fully aware that things were not in her favor, tried to act lively to coax the stubborn man.
She threw down the knife and fork and rushed over in three strides, jumping up to wrap her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much.” She coquetted.
Serena’s mouth twitched; she couldn’t bear to watch.
Zhuang Qiting’s icy expression softened a little, a gentle wave stirring in his heart. He reached up and ran his hand through Li Yaru’s glossy, shimmering hair. “Mrs. Brown is here, and you’re not even shy.”
Shy my foot. If she didn’t make a move to stir things up, Serena would have complained!
“I don’t want to continue class. Walk with me outside. I’m a little bored.”
“Alright.” Zhuang Qiting kissed her cheek, then turned to Serena. “Mrs. Brown, how about we end tonight’s class here and continue tomorrow?”
Serena had no choice, shook her head, and smoothed her elegant sleeveless dress. “Fine, we’ll continue tomorrow. Have a pleasant evening, sir and miss.”