Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 59

Shen Zhibing couldn’t help but recall the trajectory of her heart over the past years. She endured all the hardships and difficulties, sometimes simply because of Lian Ao’s few words of care, making her unable to hold him accountable. She gave all her patience and expectations to the person who had taken root in her heart during her early youth, yet this youthful joy became a thorn, piercing her sincere heart into a festering wound.

It’s not worth it, truly not worth it.

At this moment, she suddenly understood what Qi Zheng meant by “not worth it” and the source of the detached indifference in Qi Zheng’s eyes. It must be the result of extreme heartbreak and disappointment leading to self-reflection, seeing the twisted and humble nature of her own giving in this relationship, feeling disgusted, remorseful, and even despising herself for having been so spineless.

Fortunately, it’s not too late to wake up now.

A faint sadness lingered on Shen Zhibing. She remained silent, and a flicker of smile appeared on Lian Ao’s face. Her not leaving immediately meant there was still room for maneuver. Lian Ao understood her; Shen Zhibing was always capable of enduring, possessing many times the perseverance and stamina of an ordinary person.

“Xiaobing, I was wrong before. I neglected your feelings and didn’t discuss many things with you beforehand.” Lian Ao used his usual gentle voice, tinged with a deliberate tone of remorse and frustration, lowering his eyes. “I overestimated my ability to control the situation, thinking I could handle everything and save you the worry.”

Having said that, he slowly raised his gaze, fixing her with the deeply affectionate look that Shen Zhibing had once been so captivated by: “I just couldn’t bear to see you work so hard.”

Shen Zhibing was drawn back to her thoughts by his words, the corners of her mouth still curved in a faint, cold, and highly sarcastic smile. These words used to be honey to her, but now they were just poison.

The degree to which she once loved was now the degree to which she hated. Shen Zhibing didn’t even want to look at Lian Ao anymore, let alone hear his so-called explanations.

He didn’t provide an answer when she was waiting for it, so there was no need for it now. Any affection and expectation have an expiration date.

“There’s no need to say any more. I no longer care what your thoughts are.” Shen Zhibing’s tone was calm, though speaking was slightly more effortful than usual, but not fragile or weak.

“You…”

Shen Zhibing met his gaze with coldness: “Some words, past their effective time, lose their meaning. We were happy and joyful once, so let’s preserve some dignity now.”

Shen Zhibing already knew the purpose of Lian Ao’s meeting with her today, so there was no point in staying. Her mood was still somewhat poor and needed time to calm down. In her heart, she missed Qi Zheng, wanting to find comfort in her habitually composed face.

Qi Zheng’s presence constantly reminded Shen Zhibing that as long as she remained steadfast, she too would one day be completely free. Her meeting with Lian Ao today confirmed her thought: she genuinely no longer felt that instinctive attraction to Lian Ao, and even felt a sense of annoyance.

It turned out that falling in love and falling out of love could both happen so quickly and so completely.

Shen Zhibing turned around absentmindedly and walked towards the door, only to be grabbed by the person who quickly stepped up behind her. Her arm was tightly held by a large hand, and before she could react, she was pulled into an embrace that she once longed for and lingered in.

However, when the once familiar warmth and scent enveloped her, Shen Zhibing only wanted to throw up.

She instinctively resisted and struggled, but Lian Ao had lost his usual composure and refused to let go.

“Lian Ao, let go!”

Lian Ao slightly panted: “Xiaobing, give me another chance. I know I was wrong, and I don’t want to lose you.”

The once arrogant Young Master Lian finally lowered himself; he was genuinely afraid that if Shen Zhibing left this time, they wouldn’t even have their former relationship left.

“I don’t want to repeat myself. When you chose to accept the family marriage alliance, you should have known the ending for us. Why say this now? Have you ever respected me?”

Lian Ao forcefully turned her around so she faced him. He was tall, and his body almost fully enveloped Shen Zhibing: “If you don’t like it, I’ll call off the engagement. I don’t want anything else, I only want you.”

With that, he actually tried to lean in to kiss her.

Shen Zhibing turned her face away without hesitation, starkly avoiding him.

It was too revolting and resistant; aside from old habits, Shen Zhibing’s heart was now completely unable to tolerate such closeness with Lian Ao.

She exerted all her strength, forcing out strongly: “My bodyguards are right outside the door. If you think you can finish everything within a minute, then you can try!”

The warning in her words was very clear, and Lian Ao indeed frowned.

Seeing his hesitation, Shen Zhibing took the opportunity to forcefully push him away, causing the tall and robust man to stagger and nearly fall.

She straightened her slightly messy hair: “If you dare to make such a move again, don’t blame me for being impolite. I’ll emphasize one more time, there is nothing between us anymore. If you continue to pester me, don’t blame me for not recalling our past relationship.”

Shen Zhibing slammed the door and left. Lian Ao vaguely saw a few dark figures flash past the door. He gave a bitter smile, realizing the relationship had indeed changed, and the treatment changed with it. In the past, Shen Zhibing went to great lengths to ditch her bodyguards for a secret meeting with him, afraid of being discovered.

Now, meeting in a hotel, she brought several people. Did she truly regard him as a wolf or a tiger?

Shen Zhibing still couldn’t fully calm down even after getting back into the car. The usually gentlemanly Lian Ao had almost tried to force himself on her, which she hadn’t anticipated. She was thoroughly disappointed in this person, and the filter from the past gradually shattered, making her feel that Lian Ao was no different from other young men of privileged families.

The once restrained and courteous gentleman, who claimed to be responsible for her, turned out to be nothing more than an ordinary man full of lies who would resort to coercion when cornered.

Heh, a trace of fire ignited in Shen Zhibing’s heart, turning the last vestiges of nostalgia into ash.

She gazed out the window. The scenes of her time with Lian Ao were already blurred, and the person she thought of was another.

Shen Zhibing herself found it incredible that when resisting Lian Ao, the image that surfaced in her mind was Qi Zheng—her sleeping face, her pursed lips that couldn’t respond to her.

“Drive faster,” Shen Zhibing urged. She suddenly had a strong desire to see her soon.

She wasn’t sure what she would do after seeing her, but she just wanted to see her, as if only that could make Shen Zhibing feel relaxed and secure.

**

Qi Zheng contentedly finished the small wontons and touched her still-flat stomach. Getting sick in a foreign country was indeed pitiful, but being able to eat the local flavor she had been craving filled the slight sadness caused by the illness in her heart.

Her head no longer hurt as much as before. She took a hot shower while the daylight was still good, which felt very comfortable. Although people always say not to take a shower when sick, the sticky, sweaty feeling was truly unbearable.

After showering, she saw that Yun Fei had called her twice and later sent messages asking how she was. Fortunately, not much time had passed, or Yun Fei might have directly used a room card to enter.

Qi Zheng was about to call her back when she heard a knock on the door.

“Secretary Yun, I was just about to call you.”

Yun Fei breathed a sigh of relief: “I saw you weren’t answering your phone or replying to messages, and I thought you might be feeling unwell again, so I decided to come and check.”

She examined her up and down, noting her good complexion and hair that seemed freshly blown dry: “Did you take a shower?”

“Yes, it was too uncomfortable.”

Yun Fei shook her head helplessly, with the look of someone watching a child: “You young people, you just don’t take care of your bodies.”

Qi Zheng smiled: “Secretary Yun, you’re not old. Why do you constantly act like we are of different generations? You are at most my older sister.”

Yun Fei was slightly older than Shen Zhibing, having passed thirty. She was inherently calm and gentle, and with years of professional experience, she was in the stage of alluring charm.

“With your compliment, I feel younger too. I guess I’m basking in your glory.”

Qi Zheng chatted casually with her for a bit, asking about the work progress. Yun Fei then forbade her from worrying about it any further, afraid she might feel compelled to start working.

“Thank you for bringing the small wontons today. They were especially delicious.”

The small wontons today were indeed brought up by Yun Fei from the hotel entrance. She happened to run into CEO Shen in the hallway. CEO Shen said she had something to say to Qi Zheng and would bring the wontons into the room herself.

“No need to thank me for that. If anything, I should thank you for letting me try the delicacy.”

Out of curiosity, Shen Zhibing had asked the restaurant to make two extra portions. Both she and Yun Fei were eager to know how appealing the small wontons that Qi Zheng missed so much while sick truly were.

As the two were talking, they didn’t notice someone approaching from the end of the hallway, until the person drew near, and they realized it was CEO Shen returning.

Shen Zhibing had only said she was going to meet someone today and hadn’t asked Yun Fei to follow. Although Yun Fei had her guesses, she wouldn’t pry since CEO Shen hadn’t offered the information.

Qi Zheng and Yun Fei simultaneously turned their heads, looking at the silent Shen Zhibing, who didn’t look well.

“CEO Shen, are you alright?”

Yun Fei understood Shen Zhibing, and not many people could affect her like this. It certainly wasn’t about business; CEO Shen rarely let business matters affect her so deeply. Could it be that he had really followed her here again?

Lian Ao was very popular among socialites, but Yun Fei had never liked him. Over the years, she had watched the resilient CEO Shen, by her side, repeatedly compromise and tolerate for the sake of this relationship. She had long been dissatisfied with Lian Ao.

Just when she finally saw CEO Shen wanting to break free from the past, even having her remove the vases in the office and replace some items related to Lian Ao, intending to make a clean break from the past.

Yet this man, thick-skinned and persistent, had chased her all the way to America? This tactic might work on ordinary girls, but for the determined Shen Zhibing, it was probably just laughable.

Yun Fei wasn’t worried that CEO Shen would waver, but being inevitably affected by his presence still made her feel sorry for CEO Shen.

Shen Zhibing still didn’t speak, just gently shaking her head.

Qi Zheng saw her gaze continuously fixed on herself and thought she, like Yun Fei, wanted to know about her condition, so she took the initiative to explain: “I’m much better now, CEO Shen. Thank you for your concern.”

She had just showered, carrying the faint clean scent of her body wash and a lingering warmth. Even from a slight distance, Shen Zhibing could sensitively and accurately capture the scent emanating from Qi Zheng in the air.

To be precise, it was temptation.

She was emitting a heat that tempted her, causing her fingers, which were hanging by her side, to unconsciously curl a few times.

Qi Zheng had changed into a clean shirt, but unlike at the company where it was always buttoned up to the very top, leaving only one button undone, at least three buttons were unfastened now. If she made any large movements, the scenery underneath would surely be different.

Shen Zhibing’s gaze slid from Qi Zheng’s fresh and smooth face, down her sleek and long neck, past her graceful collarbone, and then to the casually undone buttons, and the hidden view beneath the light blue shirt.