Four Years Ago, Her Husband Cheated on Her Body - Chapter 28.1

The cold autumn wind silently lifted the curtains, blowing into the empty hospital room.

In the darkness, Zhu Nanyu stood leaning against the wall by the window, his phone screen casting an eerie glow on his face. He zoomed in on the photos he had received—zooming in further and further—repeatedly scrutinizing the funeral scene and his own face in the black-and-white portrait.

There are countless funerals in the world, but very few people ever witness their own.

Zhu Nanyu felt a flicker of internal conflict; he needed the biting wind to keep himself calm.

Before this, he had suspected that Jia Qiao might have discovered his true identity, which would explain the sudden shift in his attitude. Otherwise, with a personality like Jia Qiao’s, why would he ever agree to play some “stand-in” game?

But if Jia Qiao truly knew, even if he didn’t rush to the hospital to perform a “physical exorcism” on him immediately, he would have at least halted this absurd funeral that defied all logic.

Yet, Jia Qiao had done nothing of the sort. He proceeded with the funeral arrangements step by step, showing a level of detail that could even be called meticulous.

A cemetery with a tranquil environment. Ecuadorian white roses still glistening with dew.

Guests who weren’t even invited to their wedding had all received invitations to attend Zhu Nanyu’s funeral.

It seems I really am going to ‘die.’

In everyone’s perception, it was complete, final, and the coffin was about to be sealed.

During his missions, Zhu Nanyu had “died” many times. He didn’t actually care about death itself. He even felt that he might as well go along with it—letting all his wealth and status pass to Jia Qiao, so that from now on, his “Jiao Jiao” would never have to cater to anyone ever again.

But…

Zhu Nanyu was afraid of “dying” in Jia Qiao’s heart.

To be discarded by the one you love is far more terrifying than death itself.

“Forget it.”

Zhu Nanyu rubbed the space between his brows, forcing himself to stop his meaningless internal friction. No matter what decision Jia Qiao made, Zhu Nanyu’s resolve never wavered.

Even if his wife truly believed he was dead, Zhu Nanyu would find a thousand ways to shamelessly, persistently, and disgracefully seduce him back. Even if Jia Qiao refused to give him a title, he was willing to be a hidden lover who could never see the light of day.

If Jia Qiao wouldn’t accept “Zhu Nanyu” again, then even if he had to change his identity a hundred or a thousand times, he would always find a way to win Jia Qiao over again.

However, deep in his heart, a faint, bitter sorrow surfaced—one he was reluctant to admit. He had always wishfully speculated that Jia Qiao liked him—even if only a little, even if Jia Qiao himself was unaware of it. To him, that emotion was precious beyond measure.

According to Jia Qiao’s logic, after tomorrow, all of his ties and karma with the person known as “Zhu Nanyu” would vanish along with the funeral.

“…”

Zhu Nanyu exited the photo gallery and returned to the chat box, looking at the message Jia Qiao had sent.

Jia Qiao: Mm, looking forward to the funeral tomorrow.

A few short words, so calm they were unnerving.

After confirming the various procedures with Mumu, Jia Qiao proposed two changes:

“Move the guests’ seating further away from the tombstone.”

“Also, during the funeral tomorrow, there is no need for staff members on the grounds.”

“Okay, but… Mr. Jia Qiao, may I ask why?” Mumu was extremely confused.

Moving the guests back was understandable; Jia Qiao never liked noise anyway. If anyone started crying—sincerely or otherwise—in front of the grave, Jia Qiao would surely find them annoying and a disturbance to the peace.

But for such a grand funeral to have no staff on-site? Was the “fragile and unable to care for himself” Jia Qiao supposed to complete the entire process alone?

Jia Qiao replied indifferently, “Because I don’t want others getting too close to it.”

“Ah, I see…” Mumu automatically interpreted “it” as Zhu Nanyu’s spirit tablet and funeral portrait. She glanced in that direction, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

Throughout the entire preparation phase, Jia Qiao had remained detached, appearing as if he didn’t care much. It had made Mumu truly believe the rumors—that he had married Zhu Nanyu purely for money and had little affection for him.

Who would have thought? In the end, Jia Qiao was showing a possessiveness over his husband that wouldn’t even allow others to touch his tombstone!

Mumu screamed internally: He loves him so much! Do you hear that? He loves him so much!!!

“Understood. I will arrange everything exactly as you requested.” Mumu hesitated for a few seconds before offering a small comfort. “Mr. Jia Qiao, the dead cannot return to life. Please accept my condolences.”

“Mm.” Jia Qiao didn’t look particularly mournful. His gaze fell on the tombstone surrounded by white roses as he gave a faint command. “If there’s nothing else, you can leave with the others. Let me stay here by myself.”

“…Alright, I’ll take my leave then.” Mumu looked at Jia Qiao’s lonely, fragile-looking silhouette. She felt her heart ache and almost wanted to storm the gates of hell to ask King Yama where Zhu Nanyu had reincarnated—why leave Jia Qiao all alone!

Hearing the footsteps behind him grow distant until they vanished completely, Jia Qiao finally moved his legs at a leisurely pace. He walked toward the tombstone surrounded by white roses, his gaze slowly scanning the surroundings.

This funeral was grand and elaborate with many segments, one of which was the final farewell. Because after Zhu Nanyu’s car accident, search teams and local villagers had searched for four full years without finding a single trace of him.

In a normal farewell ceremony, the deceased would be dressed in fine clothes, their appearance tidied, and then placed in a coffin while friends and family watched the lid being closed.

Zhu Nanyu’s coffin, however, was empty. When Mumu had asked for instructions earlier, Jia Qiao’s answer was simply to seal it.

Therefore, in front of the tombstone sat a solid wood coffin, tightly sealed, containing only a few items of clothing.

Jia Qiao walked to the side of the coffin and knocked on it with his knuckles several times, judging the thickness and internal space by the sound.

“It should be… about right,” Jia Qiao murmured. After thinking seriously for two minutes, he gave a small nod. “Yes, this will do.”

October 14th, the day of Zhu Nanyu’s funeral.

A fine, misty rain drifted over the city under a heavy, dark layer of clouds.

With two full hours remaining before the start of the funeral, Zhao Ming arrived near the cemetery. As soon as he got out of his car, he jogged toward the guest registration desk and handed the staff a thick red envelope.

“Miss, this is my gift for Chairman Zhu. Since the envelope can’t hold much, there’s a card inside. The PIN is written on the inner flap.” Having said that, he pulled out a thinner red envelope from his pocket and forced it into the registrar’s hand. “This is for your drinks. Please put in a good word for me with Chairman Jia later. Beg him to give me one more chance! From now on, if there’s an order from Qianhe, I’ll go through fire and water without hesitation!”

Zhao Ming was the owner of a raw material supply company and had received much support from Zhu Nanyu in the past.

However, his generosity today wasn’t out of gratitude for Zhu Nanyu’s mentorship. It was because a while ago, when Qianhe was competing with Rui Ke for a project, Zhao Ming chose Rui Ke for the sake of profit. Consequently, Rui Ke collapsed, and Zhao Ming’s stockpiled materials had no buyer.

He had gone to Qianhe several times to plead his case, but Jia Qiao was either out or “unavailable.” Just as he was in despair, he received the invitation to Zhu Nanyu’s funeral—it was like a literal lifeline.

He had dressed in his most formal attire and practiced his “crying scene” all night, determined to kneel long and hard before Zhu Nanyu’s grave, weeping until his face was a mess of snot and tears. With so many guests as witnesses and such a generous gift, Jia Qiao would surely have to give him some face and bury the hatchet.

Zhao Ming’s plan was perfectly calculated, but to his surprise, the registrar pushed both envelopes back. She said with a smile, “Mr. Jia Qiao gave instructions that no gifts will be accepted today.”

“I…” Zhao Ming was stunned. He stammered, “Since when does a funeral happen without gifts? I just want to thank Chairman Zhu for his kindness. Please, just help me out here.”

“I really can’t,” the registrar said awkwardly. “Mr. Jia Qiao said that if we encounter uncooperative guests, we are to have security escort them out.”

Terrified of being kicked out early, Zhao Ming had no choice but to gloomily take back the envelopes. He thought to himself: They say the entire A-City elite and the media are coming today. Based on his past closeness with Jia Qiao and his social standing, he would surely be relegated to the back. If he wanted to catch Jia Qiao’s attention, he really had to rely on his carefully prepared crying performance!

As Zhao Ming walked forward, he rehearsed his lines.

‘Chairman Zhu, how am I supposed to live now that you’re gone—?!’

‘Our years of friendship can’t just end like this!’

‘Chairman Zhu, please appear in a dream to persuade Chairman Jia. That last time was just a moment of confusion on my part; when have we ever had a rift?’

“Sir, we’ve arrived.” The staff member leading the way stopped Zhao Ming, who was lost in thought.

“Huh?” Zhao Ming snapped out of it and looked up at the tombstone surrounded by flowers. He estimated the distance to be at least forty or fifty meters.

Even if his status was low or his relationship with Jia Qiao was poor, he shouldn’t be placed this far back, right? By the time he finished crying his way to the tombstone, Jia Qiao might not be moved, but his tear ducts would definitely be dry.

“Excuse me, let me ask something,” Zhao Ming called out to the staff member in confusion. “How many people were invited today? Am I… in the very last row?”

The staff member gave a subtle, complicated expression and shook her head. “No, you are in the first row.”

To be honest, she was also very confused. Yesterday, when confirming the seating chart, Mumu had followed the usual custom: close friends and family in the front, and the further the relationship, the further back the seat.

When Jia Qiao got the list, he only said three words: “Reverse the order.”

Mumu had pondered this for a long time before coming up with an explanation. Jia Qiao must be worried that Zhu Nanyu’s relatives would be too heartbroken seeing the tombstone. Standing in the back, where they could only see the backs of others, would make them feel less sad.

Ah, as expected of Jia Qiao!!!

When Zhao Ming heard he was in the first row, his emotions swung from disbelief to realization, and finally to pure ecstasy! Even though Chairman Jia appeared distant on the surface, he had placed Zhao Ming in such a vital position—he must have been looking for a chance to break the ice all along. As long as he showed enough sincerity at the grave, their relationship would return to the way it was!