Chapter 3: “We’re Over” — The Broken Engagement
Inside the private room, all eyes were fixed on the black coat. The atmosphere had gone stiff, heavy with unspoken tension.
Only Zhong Mingyue broke the silence with a soft smile.
“I was actually worried that on a rainy day, Sister wouldn’t have anyone to pick her up and would get soaked. Looks like I was overthinking.”
“Excuse me.”
Zhou Boyu suddenly stood up. His face had turned cold as he turned and left the room.
“Brother Boyu?” Zhong Mingyue quickly followed after him.
Zhong Shuning almost laughed.
So who exactly was supposed to be the angry one here?
Her adoptive father Zhong Zhaoqing pointed to a seat. “Sit. Since they’ve stepped out, your mother and I need to talk to you.”
She sat down without a word.
“Shuning,” Liu Hui’an began gently, “your engagement to Boyu was arranged between our two families. We know you weren’t willing at the time, and we do feel a little sorry toward you.”
“Mom… what is this about all of a sudden?” Zhong Shuning already had a bad feeling.
“You can’t keep delaying your life like this. Why don’t you take the initiative and break off the engagement?”
She lowered her gaze and said nothing.
“You should be able to see it,” Liu Hui’an continued. “Mingyue likes him very much. She’s suffered a lot out there all these years. You’ve lived comfortably in our home, and we never mistreated you. We sent you to learn dance. We’ve done everything we could.”
Then, her tone shifted slightly.
“Besides… you don’t lack suitors, and you don’t even like Boyu. Why not just fulfill your sister’s wish?”
Her eyes drifted to the coat hanging nearby.
It was clearly expensive.
Zhong Shuning pressed her lips together. “Mom… how do you know I don’t like him?”
“You think we’re asking for your opinion?” Zhong Zhaoqing cut in sharply.
“To be honest, Boyu was the one who liked you first. The Zhou family only reluctantly agreed to the engagement. They’ve never thought highly of you. Even if you marry in, you won’t have a good life.”
“Then why do I have to be the one to break it off?” she asked quietly.
The room fell silent.
The answer was obvious.
Because Zhou Boyu liked her.
Which meant he would never be the one to end the engagement.
And if Zhong Mingyue got too close to him, she would inevitably be seen as the “homewrecker.”
So Zhong Shuning had to be the one to step aside cleanly.
“Why are you asking so many questions? Just do as you’re told!” Zhong Zhaoqing snapped. “What, you think you can defy us now after all these years?”
“Don’t forget—everything you have was given by us.”
“I can give it to you… and I can take it all away.”
“Zhaoqing,” Liu Hui’an frowned. “Don’t talk to the child like that. Shuning has always been sensible.”
“I’m just telling her the truth,” he said coldly. “There’s no such thing as real love. Even if you do marry into the Zhou family, without our support, do you think they’ll treat you well? Do you think Boyu can protect you forever just because he likes you right now?”
His voice softened slightly, as if offering reason.
“In the future, we’ll give you a generous dowry. Even if a man can’t be relied on, you’ll still live comfortably for the rest of your life.”
“The most important thing in life is knowing when to be content.”
Soft pressure. Hard pressure. Together.
They were telling her the same thing:
Don’t be greedy.
“Shuning,” Liu Hui’an added, “you’re a sensible child. You know what decision to make.”
A faint, cold smile formed in Zhong Shuning’s heart.
Sensible.
Yes. That was what they always called her.
Ever since Zhong Mingyue returned, everything had changed. As if afraid their biological daughter would feel wronged, their attitude toward her had turned colder and sharper by the day.
She stood up.
“I’m going out for a moment.”
“Stop right there! You must break off this engagement—” Zhong Zhaoqing shouted after her.
But she didn’t stop.
Outside the room, the air felt slightly less suffocating, though the rain and her aching leg made her head spin.
She sneezed twice, her vision blurring slightly as she steadied herself against the wall.
Then she saw them.
Around the corner—
Zhou Boyu stood with Zhong Mingyue.
Mingyue tilted her face up toward him, eyes soft and shy, full of unmistakable affection.
Zhou Boyu had already noticed Zhong Shuning.
But he didn’t step back.
Instead, he reached out and gently ruffled Zhong Mingyue’s hair, his expression indulgent.
Warm. Familiar. Natural.
Something inside Zhong Shuning tightened.
Then—
Zhong Mingyue suddenly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.
Right on the lips.
She blushed deeply, immediately pulling away, then turned and saw Zhong Shuning standing there.
“Sis…” she stammered, flustered. “Don’t misunderstand, I and Brother Boyu—”
“I saw it clearly. There’s nothing to misunderstand.”
Zhong Mingyue rushed forward in panic. “Sis, it’s really not what you think—”
Her face was burning red, but she couldn’t even come up with a proper explanation.
“Then what is it?” Zhong Shuning asked calmly.
“Just… just—”
She bit her lip, almost crying from embarrassment.
Zhong Shuning almost laughed.
How ironic.
The one being wronged was standing here acting like the guilty party, while she—the adopted daughter—looked like the villain in everyone’s eyes.
“Enough,” Zhou Boyu finally stepped in. He frowned at Zhong Shuning. “Why are you being so aggressive?”
“What exactly did I do?” she asked evenly.
“Mingyue was just thanking me for taking care of her.”
Zhong Shuning let out a soft laugh. “Since when does thanking someone require kissing them?”
“Enough,” Zhou Boyu said impatiently. “Are you done yet?”
His tone turned colder.
“I can’t even touch you when we were engaged, but now you’re making a scene over something like this?”
There was resentment in his eyes.
Then he added, almost mockingly:
“What? You already found someone else? Is there another man behind my back?”
“Watch your words,” Zhong Shuning said quietly, her voice tight.
“Am I wrong?” He sneered. “Then tell me—whose coat is that? Don’t tell me it belongs to some parent from your dance studio.”
A pause.
Then she said clearly:
“It’s He Wenli’s.”
The name landed like a stone.
He Wenli.
Even his father might not be qualified to meet that man easily.
Someone like him… would give her a coat?
Zhou Boyu suddenly laughed, sharp and mocking.
“Zhong Shuning, at least lie convincingly.”
“You think a man like that would even spare you a glance?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
(End of Chapter 3)
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