Joining A Dating Show With Five Exes - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Wishing my Wife a Rebirth

Before Wangshu could take the revolver from Shen Lingxi’s hand, the captain who had just reprimanded her smiled at Shen Lingxi:

“Boss, I recall you posted a protection mission, not a cannon fodder mission for the battlefield.”

Staring at the revolver, his smile held a chill.

“The deposit given earlier doesn’t seem to be enough for a life.”

Shen Lingxi looked up to meet his gaze, ready to increase the stakes—

But her wrist was suddenly clasped by the person next to her.

“Enough.”

Cheng Shiyuan frowned at her: “What did you promise me before?”

“Shen Lingxi, all that talk about accumulating virtue was just to placate me, wasn’t it? You want to cause a death right in front of me?”

Seeing Cheng Shiyuan use her full name again, her expression once more became extremely grim.

Shen Lingxi thought of Cheng Shiyuan’s rare pleasantness today, which was completely different from the state of constant displeasure she had displayed over the past two days.

After a moment, she let out a soft sigh of relief.

She spoke to her in a gentler tone: “I just worry that these people will take the money and do nothing. What if you encounter danger…”

Cheng Shiyuan cut her off, expressionless:

“If you hadn’t brought me here, I’d still be perfectly fine filming the show back home. What danger could there be?”

Shen Lingxi’s gloved thumb stroked the wood of the old revolver’s butt.

Her eyes, like a black hole that could absorb all light, slowly blinked.

“Even back home, didn’t you still encounter an attack from an overly aggressive fan? You were filming an advertisement fine, yet someone nearly ruined your look and caused you harm.”

Shen Lingxi recalled the moment the tall, blonde man reached out.

Because he was wearing tactical gloves, it was completely unclear whether his palm held the scar from blocking the attack for Cheng Shiyuan before—

If the leader of this team had stopped him a little later, it would have been easier to judge.

But never mind.

When she bribed that ridiculous “troublemaker” sent by Ji Sheng back then, Shen Lingxi had only intended to test whether this newcomer, who was exceptionally placed into the show, could be compared to the other ex-lovers.

The result was satisfactory enough for her, but it inevitably brought the displeasure of facing yet another competitor.

Even if it was just a naive child who had just reached adulthood.

So, she curled her lips and said to Cheng Shiyuan: “Sometimes, don’t trust the people around you too much. Maybe some people deliberately want to create an opportunity for you to fall into danger, and then step forward to save you.”

Wangshu suddenly heard this slander and instinctively wanted to refute it.

As her lips moved, she suddenly saw her reflection in the captain’s sunglasses and forced herself to suppress her anger.

Cheng Shiyuan laughed.

What was this?

The formidable ruler of the Shen family in Hong Kong was now playing the “green tea” drama script in front of her, learning to spread poison, was she?

Did she want her to suspect that the assailant, who had not revealed the person who instigated him even under Xie Zhiqing’s persistent questioning, was actually arranged by Wangshu?

Cheng Shiyuan retorted Shen Lingxi’s words with an expressionless face: “Are you talking about yourself?”

You deliberately created this crisis of confinement for her, locked her on this island, and put her in danger of losing her freedom, then claimed it was all for the sake of curing her illness?

Shen Lingxi laughed aloud.

Her finger, through the glove, touched her lips, “Sharp-tongued Wife.”

Also the Wife who would become angry and embarrassed over poor technique in bed, biting her hard enough to hurt.

While Shen Lingxi said this, the weapon she had been toying with in her other hand was carelessly tossed aside, allowing others to take it.

Thus, she finally stopped tormenting these desperate mercenaries and turned to give a few instructions in Spanish before leading Cheng Shiyuan back toward the pristine white house.

This house held no special secrets. To ensure a constant good mood, it had windows on three sides, all of which could be opened at any time to view the sea outside.

As Cheng Shiyuan sat at the dinner table, her peripheral vision caught the tall, blonde figure in the patrolling team outside, who had been assigned to the location farthest from the house.

He was almost near the barren forest area.

The discerning captain, who understood his employer’s preferences and also knew how to value his subordinates, seemed to have sensed Shen Lingxi’s displeasure with the newcomer and was determined not to allow him any chance to approach the other mistress.

She briefly glanced outside, then turned back to see Shen Lingxi calmly cutting a steak across from her.

The knife and fork were clearly blunt, yet in her grasp, they seemed like sharp, cold instruments.

Even the well-done steak obediently revealed its texture, allowing her to carve it up.

Shen Lingxi cut one portion and swapped it with Cheng Shiyuan’s untouched, no-longer-steaming plate of steak.

Cheng Shiyuan hated her air of constant control, but she neither wanted to be carved up by her in bed again nor had the energy to torment her further. She suddenly declared:

“Actually, I only have 20 days left to live.”

‘Screeech—’

The serrated edge of the dinner knife scraped against the iron plate, producing a grating sound.

Shen Lingxi suddenly looked up at her, asking calmly: “Something this important, why are you only telling me now, Wife?”

Cheng Shiyuan rested her chin on her hand: “Because I was still thinking that if I could go back to the show, I might be able to use the pretext of dating to see twenty more days of different scenery. Now I’m stuck here.”

She said: “I suddenly feel that twenty days of such constraint is pointless, just barely clinging to life.”

Shen Lingxi stared at her unblinkingly.

Her eyes held a chilling intent.

“Is Wife hinting to me that in order to better watch over you, I should tie your hands and feet, remove your jaw, and take away all the tools in the room to prevent you from attempting to end your life, starting from today?”

Cheng Shiyuan kicked her under the table.

Muttering sullenly, she showed her annoyance, openly turning her head to look out the window, refusing to look at her anymore.

Shen Lingxi stabbed a piece of beef but didn’t eat it: “Are you picking a fight with me suddenly just so you have a good reason to look at the handsome man you praised earlier?”

Cheng Shiyuan turned back.

She met her gaze directly, even speaking sincerely: “After you tie me up, remember to blindfold me too. Lest my eyes also disobey you and make you angry again.”

Shen Lingxi suddenly let out a low laugh.

She got up from her seat, moved to the side next to Cheng Shiyuan, sat down again, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and picked up the cut steak from her plate, coaxing her as if reluctantly:

“Open your mouth. Eat your dinner first.”

One second she was speaking terrifying, threatening words with a frightening expression, yet now, she was like a doting parent who was helpless in the face of a mischievous child.

Cheng Shiyuan had to admit that although they hadn’t been separated long since their divorce, she could no longer figure out what Shen Lingxi was thinking.

She only vaguely sensed—

She didn’t seem to have the heart to truly confine her to that extent.

If the system’s prompt sound wasn’t as quiet as a mouse at the moment, she would almost think that Shen Lingxi genuinely loved her and thus couldn’t bear to imprison her.

For a second, Cheng Shiyuan wondered if Shen Lingxi was more suited for this life-extension system than she was.

Because Shen Lingxi truly had no heart and understood no love, but she could definitely manipulate everyone around her.

Perhaps her gaze lingered on the other person for too long, as after Shen Lingxi finished feeding her the steak, she smiled and asked her:

“Wife has been looking at me for so long, what are you thinking?”

Cheng Shiyuan moved her jaw, swallowing the beef in her mouth without tasting it.

Only then did she look at her again: “I’m thinking, since you don’t love me, why are you so obsessed with me?”

To this day, she still resented the meager 0.1 affection value Shen Lingxi contributed in that cold coffin.

Shen Lingxi picked up a clean wet towel and wiped away the tiny trace of residue on her lips.

“So, you think those others are in love with you?”

Cheng Shiyuan, who would have unhesitatingly excluded all those people from the “lover” category in the past, hesitated for a second now.

Then, she replied nonchalantly: “Their entanglement troubles me just as much. You are just more annoying.”

Shen Lingxi refolded the handkerchief and placed it aside.

Confirming that Cheng Shiyuan had no appetite for the meal, she put down the chopsticks and ate the remaining untouched portion herself.

Cheng Shiyuan thought she was pretending not to hear.

It wasn’t until she finished washing up and walked out of the bathroom, seeing the variety of “toys” displayed on the bed, that she remembered that Shen Lingxi was consistently petty and usually sought revenge on the spot.

“No, no, no…”

She struggled in every way as she was dragged over.

But in the end, she could only listen to the exaggerated clanging outside—she didn’t know if they were digging trenches or preparing for tunnel warfare against the thieves/robbers—and cried, begging Shen Lingxi for mercy on the bed.

“I’m going to break…”

Shen Lingxi listened to her tearful pleas, stroked her cheek, and spoke with immense intimacy:

“Since they trouble you so much—”

“How about I help you get rid of all these troublesome people?”

What was this?

Cheng Shiyuan thought through her tears, As long as those who love me most in the world are gone, then Shen Lingxi will be the one who loves me most?

She didn’t have time to praise Shen Lingxi’s unique solution. She couldn’t even manage a single “go away,” as a round, hollow jade ball with tiny bells inside was stuffed into her mouth.

The ball’s surface was carved with many winding, intricate patterns.

If she tried to close her mouth, her soft palate and tongue would rub against it, causing pain.

So, she could only hold it sourly, even feeling a trace of coolness running down the side of her cheek.

Shen Lingxi’s tone was regretful as she touched her wet lips: “It shouldn’t have been put in this mouth.”

“But, well, considering how hard your other mouth is working, I’ll let you off this once.”

Cheng Shiyuan desperately wanted to curse her.

She mumbled incoherently in her throat for a long time.

Only managing to make some pleasant, crisp bell sounds.

This even pleased Shen Lingxi: “My silent Wife is the cutest.”

Since she always angered her when she spoke, blocking her mouth this way was the most effective.

In short, by the time Shen Lingxi finished her frenzy in the middle of the night and removed the ball from Cheng Shiyuan’s mouth, her jaw was aching.

Even when Shen Lingxi reached out to examine her oral condition, the tip of her stubborn, once strong-willed tongue flopped out softly, allowing itself to be played with.

Later, her head dizzy, she fell asleep instantly.

In a daze.

She heard a very faint humming sound.

Cheng Shiyuan vaguely felt the light outside, but she didn’t want to open her eyes—

Until a sound like “Bang!”

Accompanied by the sound of a heavy object falling to the ground.

Then, a dense, swarm-like sound surrounded them.

A cool touch stroked her cheek. She knew it was Shen Lingxi.

“As expected, someone more annoying than a robber has arrived,” Shen Lingxi said calmly: “Wife complained yesterday that you were tired of the island’s scenery. How about we change locations?”

After asking, she sighed softly, with an unknown emotion.

“Having people deal with my company’s stock in the secondary market in the middle of the night, and then showing up so restlessly in the morning. You’ve certainly raised a few good dogs.”

Cheng Shiyuan suddenly recalled the familiar sound outside.

It must be.

Drones, a dense swarm of them.

She didn’t open her eyes, pretending not to know the situation. Because she hadn’t cried out last night, she could still speak normally today:

“I suddenly really like this small island.”

Shen Lingxi watched her, no longer pretending, clearly determined to separate from her and run to those people who seemed easier to deal with.

So, she chuckled: “Baby, if you can have the same understanding with me when I ask for your opinion, that would be very lucky. But if not…”

She didn’t finish the rest of her sentence.

Cheng Shiyuan reluctantly opened her eyes.

Then, like a landlord escaping in the old days, she was deliberately slow and meticulous, wanting to change into her prettiest dress and put on her finest jewelry, like a little princess preparing for an outing.

When Shen Lingxi narrowed her eyes in warning, she answered righteously:

“Didn’t you resent me for not accepting your jewelry at my family’s banquet before?”

“Now I’m willing to wear it. Everything from my hair to my nail polish color is according to your wishes. What more are you dissatisfied with?”

Shen Lingxi stood beside her, her finger tracing the sparkling ruby beneath her earlobe.

After a moment, she lowered her head.

“Since you love this island so much, and you love the gifts I gave you, how about we stay here forever?”

She seemed to have changed her mind.

But Cheng Shiyuan, who had always believed that delaying would bring rescue, heard a more terrifying meaning in her calm tone.

She couldn’t afford to gamble on the difference between Shen Lingxi’s madness and the bottom lines of those others, so she also changed her mind: “No, let’s go now.”

As she left, she saw the increasingly dense swarm of drones hovering in the distance, flying toward them.

It was only a matter of time before they approached the cottage and took control.

A hint of regret appeared in Cheng Shiyuan’s eyes.

When she turned back, she saw Wangshu, who had been strictly prevented by the captain from coming to the front.

The group moved quickly toward the dense forest. When climbing the slope, Shen Lingxi held her steadily, and someone was specifically following behind, ready to serve as a cushion for her.

Cheng Shiyuan had initially aimed for several spots where she could naturally fall, but had to give up because the mercenaries looked nervous the moment she made a move.

With every step closer to the helicopter at the end of the forest, Cheng Shiyuan’s heart sank further.

Until she suddenly heard a sharp whistling sound—

Shen Lingxi sensed something.

She suddenly pressed her head down, making her fall onto her.

When Cheng Shiyuan looked up in confusion, she saw a swarm of drones in self-destruct mode, crashing into the only helicopter like fearless moths.

“Boom!”

The propeller snapped, and the glass shell was covered in spiderweb-like cracks.

Flames burst out and scattered!

When Cheng Shiyuan was helped to her feet, she heard a very familiar voice coming from the sky behind them.

Transmitted through the amplification equipment, the slight distortion in the sound made Cheng Shiyuan detect a hint of panic in the usually steady tone:

“Shiyuan!”

She turned her head and saw another helicopter flying toward the island behind the drones.

Through the open cabin door, she saw Xie Zhiqing again.

Although only a few days had passed, she felt that Xie Zhiqing’s gaze had changed significantly.

The solid ice that could never be broken had long melted at a time Cheng Shiyuan didn’t know, to the extent that she could see the near-shattered tenderness in those eyes.

She instinctively smiled at Xie Zhiqing.

But her sight was suddenly blocked by Shen Lingxi, who had gotten up:

“Your favorite child doesn’t seem to love you that much. Did she intend to take you out with them in that last move?”

Cheng Shiyuan blinked, turning to look at her.

When she heard Shen Lingxi’s words, she felt no regret, for some unknown reason.

It was as if…

She knew she had obtained this precious chance at rebirth thanks to her reunion with Xie Zhiqing in the park.

If she hadn’t grabbed Xie Zhiqing as her life raft during the last moments of her life, Cheng Shiyuan would now only be silently watching Shen Lingxi hold a post-mortem wedding with her in hell.

So, she suddenly replied: “If I die by her hand, I have no complaints.”

Shen Lingxi’s palm fell, her index finger brushing her nose bridge: “What a pity.”

She said: “If you die, you can only share the grave with me.”

It was at this moment—

The weapons that emerged from the drones were all aimed at the people following Shen Lingxi.

The mercenary captain, who hadn’t received his payment for his life, very shrewdly put down his weapon and surrendered cleanly.

Only Wangshu was free in the trapped squad.

She ran toward Cheng Shiyuan: “Cheng-Cheng!”

“Stop. Moving.”

Shen Lingxi spoke calmly, freezing her in place.

But Wangshu wasn’t stopped by her words. She was controlled by a remote control Shen Lingxi pulled out of her pocket.

That was…

“You worked hard last night, burying the explosives for me overnight.” Shen Lingxi curved her lips, spinning the remote control on her finger: “If any of you take one more step closer, I’ll press the button.”

With her other hand, she leisurely twirled a strand of Cheng Shiyuan’s hair that hung by her temple.

“Although I really want my Wife to live, I absolutely cannot tolerate you leaving. I’m the closest to you right now—”

She encircled Cheng Shiyuan with one arm, asking intimately: “So when we go down, I’m the one who can be with you forever, right?”

Madwoman.

Madwoman, madwoman, madwoman.

Cheng Shiyuan had never imagined that Shen Lingxi would order these people to dig holes like construction workers, only to bury explosives.

If the helicopter to leave the island hadn’t been destroyed just now, Xie Zhiqing, who was chasing from the other side, and possibly Wangshu, who remained on the island, after the two of them left.

…They would all die here.

Her face was grim. At this moment, she no longer bothered to put on a good face: “No.”

She spoke: “Shen Lingxi, agreeing to marry you was the biggest regret of my life.”

Shen Lingxi clearly saw the disgust in her eyes.

At this moment, she let out a very soft laugh, “But I don’t regret it.”

“The three years I was married to you were the happiest time of my life.”

Obtained Shen Lingxi’s affection: 1

Cheng Shiyuan’s eyes shifted slightly.

But the next second, she heard a gunshot!

Shen Lingxi had suddenly drawn the revolver from yesterday, aiming at Wangshu, who was trying to circle around for an ambush.

The tall figure instantly fell to her knees.

Blood slowly seeped from the side of her knee!

Obtained Wangshu’s affection: 2

“Don’t!!” Cheng Shiyuan clutched Shen Lingxi’s wrist, screaming in terror to stop her, even stepping in front of the gun’s muzzle.

The next moment—

The infrared sights of several drones locked onto Shen Lingxi’s head.

“No, no, no—!”

While shielding the muzzle with her body, she was once again standing in front of Shen Lingxi.

She already knew of the pain Xia Zhiran suffered every night, tormented by the itching in her hands, from the system’s intermittent, bubbling reminders.

She even guessed the reason for Chen Chuxing’s complete absence: she must have a reason she couldn’t appear. Otherwise, if she had even an ounce of strength, she would come to meet her.

She clearly remembered Wangshu’s destitute appearance as she struggled to earn a living in her early days, often underfed and underdressed. And now, this newcomer, who had become a supermodel and was destined for success in the entertainment industry, might be crippled because of her.

Tears fell from her eyes.

This was the first time Xie Zhiqing had seen Cheng Shiyuan cry.

Cheng Shiyuan, who had always acted composed whenever she broke up with her or others, showed her sorrow so completely for the first time.

“Zhi-Zhi… don’t…” The person standing at the edge of the forest shook her head. Her peach blossom eyes, which always held a smile, were now filled with pleading light for the first time: “Don’t do that… I’m begging you…”

Xie Zhiqing had already lost too much for this perfectly planned, ideal future.

Cheng Shiyuan absolutely would not allow anyone to ruin her future.

—Not even herself.

Therefore, Xie Zhiqing absolutely could not become a killer because of her or Shen Lingxi.

Absolutely, absolutely not.

“I stayed here with her willingly…” Cheng Shiyuan said with difficulty, tasting the salt of her own tears, speaking one word at a time: “I’m sorry, I lied to you when I said I wanted to marry you that day.”

“I never loved you. I just liked playing with you; I thought it was fun. Go. Take Wangshu. Take her to get treatment, all of you leave.”

“Never appear in front of me again.”

Xie Zhiqing, sitting in the helicopter, closed her eyes.

She felt she was witnessing Cheng Shiyuan’s worst acting ever, crying because of her, yet still claiming not to love her.

However, even knowing it was false, her heart still suffered uncontrollably.

But this pain had become so intertwined with her life during this time that she was strangely addicted to it.

She slowly replied: “I like being played by you.”

She said, “Shiyuan, please be well. You can tease me however you want in the future, okay?”

Cheng Shiyuan shook her head forcefully, only doing her utmost to make her leave, and make Wangshu leave, too.

She had always thought this dating show was her game to freely unleash her charm and capture these infatuated people.

Yet, it was only when she saw them go to such lengths for her.

She suddenly realized her acting was excessive, that she always inadvertently tricked one sincere heart after another.

Shen Lingxi stood behind her, hearing the sound of her tears dropping onto the dust.

“Wife’s words are so sweet. I’m so touched.”

She said this in a sickly sweet tone, yet pulled Cheng Shiyuan resolutely toward the cliff edge: “Too bad. They’ve done such terrible things to my property. How could I let them live?”

The wind brought the scent of the ocean, vigorously billowing their clothes.

Cheng Shiyuan heard the terrifying sound of the waves crashing against the cliff.

Shen Lingxi turned to look at her, “My swimming skills are quite good. How about it? If you jump down with me, you won’t have to die here with them.”

She had made up her mind.

But this time, what stopped her was the simultaneous sound of Xie Zhiqing and Wangshu screaming: “Don’t jump—!”

“Don’t!! Cheng-Cheng!!”

The voice, which had been calm while trying to appease her, was now trembling: “Shen Lingxi! Shiyuan is not a strong swimmer. She’ll die from that height!”

“I’ll arrange a boat to come over, let—let you leave. You can press that button if you want. I’ll draft an agreement now, stating that this matter has nothing to do with you… All the drones can be destroyed here… The footage won’t be transmitted…”

“I’m begging you. Don’t take her to jump… It’s too high… She’ll die…”

Xie Zhiqing was practically kneeling by the cabin door: “She’s not well. She wants to live too much… Shen Lingxi, please, be merciful and let her go…”

Obtained Xie Zhiqing’s affection: 10

Cheng Shiyuan looked up in shock when she heard Xie Zhiqing’s trembling words.

She had always thought she had hidden it well enough.

It turned out that Xie Zhiqing had yielded, not wanting to touch her sensitive spots, and had been pretending not to know all along.

Had the secret she kept long been full of holes?

Cheng Shiyuan heard a sigh from the person behind her.

“Such profound words. I’m nearly moved.”

Shen Lingxi said this, but the hand holding the remote control remained firmly clasped.

Looking at Cheng Shiyuan, whose head was bowed as if she had lost all hope, she suddenly remembered the first time she saw this person, radiating a light so dazzling she was like the most beautiful pearl in this archipelago.

Perhaps Cheng Shiyuan no longer remembered.

The final destination of that cruise ship trip was these Pearl Islands.

“I… I’ll jump with you… Just don’t press it, okay?” Then, she heard Cheng Shiyuan’s hoarse plea.

It was as if Shen Lingxi was the obstacle preventing her from being with these deeply affectionate people—

How

Utterly heartbreaking.

Shen Lingxi smiled and shook her head, then suddenly said to her: “Wife, you refused to tell me what kind of affection would be enough for you these past few days.”

She sighed, “I had no choice but to take matters into my own hands.”

As her voice fell, she pressed the button in her hand without hesitation.

Cheng Shiyuan’s eyes widened in horror. She instinctively lunged at her, trying to stop her: “Don’t—!”

Shen Lingxi watched her, for the first time in days, desperately and sincerely rushing toward her.

A smile appeared on her lips, but just as Cheng Shiyuan was about to reach her embrace.

She fiercely pushed the person in the opposite direction. At the same time, she allowed herself to fall from the high cliff, drifting like a kite with a broken string, plunging into the dark, deep sea waves.

A very soft “Thud!”

The sound was completely swallowed by the violent explosion that suddenly erupted on the island behind them.

Cheng Shiyuan was pressed to the ground by Wangshu, who had lunged with her injured leg.

The ground of the small island shook. She even heard Xie Zhiqing screaming orders for the helicopter to land.

She closed her eyes, already satisfied with the time she had stolen.

She just didn’t know how to compensate those who had given her their love and made her feel indebted.

“Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Loud, continuous sounds rang out in her ears.

Yet, she heard the confused voices of the mercenaries who had already surrendered nearby.

Cheng Shiyuan opened her eyes in a daze.

In front of her, a magnificent firework display, surpassing the one in Hong Kong during the New Year, bloomed in the sky in a blaze of colors—

It even spelled out a sentence:

“Wishing my Wife a Rebirth”

Obtained Shen Lingxi’s affection: 20