Chapter 19: Self-Inflicted Delusion (1/2)

“Ah—”

Zhang Qi let out a miserable scream.

Sheng Yize threw his dislocated arm aside, stepping firmly on the joint that had been dislocated, the fury in his body radiating like a storm.

Everyone present was startled by the sudden turn of events and rushed forward to try to stop it.

Chen Yi quickly moved forward, placing a hand on Sheng Yize’s shoulder, and seemingly unintentionally stepping on the back of Zhang Qi’s hand as it lay on the ground, grinding it hard.

“Hey, Brother Sheng, don’t get angry, it’s just a game, don’t take it seriously.” Chen Yi squatted down and patted Zhang Qi’s dislocated arm, his eyes filled with concern. “Brother Qi didn’t mean it, right?”

Zhang Qi couldn’t say a word due to the pain.

His teammates came over to mediate as well.

“Yes, yes, Master Sheng, Zhang Qi was just joking. Please forgive him this time.”

“Yeah, we’ve just had bad luck today. We lost, and Brother Qi was upset, that’s why he said you cheated. He’s just frustrated with losing, don’t take it personally.”

…

Sheng Yize gave them a cold glance.

The two men immediately shut their mouths.

Hao Jun, who had heard the commotion and rushed to the private room, saw Zhang Qi, who had been dislocated and was lying on the coffee table, and after understanding the situation, spat at him.

With a fake smile, he hurriedly pleaded for Zhang Qi: “Master Sheng, enough is enough, we’re all familiar with each other, don’t make things so ugly. For the sake of my birthday today, can you let him go?”

Sheng Yize looked at Hao Jun, his gaze briefly flicking over to Sang Sui, who was standing in the crowd.

Her face was pale, likely also startled by his actions.

Sheng Yize withdrew his foot and turned, sitting back down on the sofa.

Leaning back, crossing his legs, he closed his eyes.

Hao Jun waved his hand at the two men, “Go, go, hurry and take Zhang Qi to the hospital.”

The two men quickly realized what they had to do and helped Zhang Qi out of the private room.

After Zhang Qi left, everyone exchanged looks before dispersing.

Zou Jing glanced at Sang Sui, as if understanding something.

He approached her with a smile, “Master Sheng, I’ll pass on Sang Sui’s thanks to you!”

The man slowly opened his eyes, his cold gaze piercing as if freezing the air around him.

“What is your status, to speak on her behalf?”

“…”

Sheng Yize raised his gaze, locking eyes with Sang Sui for a moment.

She seemed to shy away, averting her eyes as she stood up and quickly walked out.

As he passed Sang Sui, his footsteps faltered for a moment.

Sang Sui, who had been worried, was about to speak, but the man had already turned his attention away, lifting his foot to leave the private room.

“Sheng Yize!”

Sang Sui quickly chased after him.

Zou Jing, both angry and speechless, muttered, “Chen Yi, did Master Sheng eat fireworks today?”

Chen Yi remained silent, casting a glance at him before also walking out.

Zou Jing chased after him, “Hey! What did I say wrong?!”

---

Sheng Yize seemed to not hear her voice, his steps never faltering.

Sang Sui quickened her pace to catch up, realizing that he had already reached the open-air balcony.

She paused for a moment, staring blankly at his back.

The balcony was large, curved around the entire wall of the floor.

There was a pavilion for resting, surrounded by flower pots and plants.

Even though it was early autumn, the flowers and plants hadn’t withered completely yet, still vibrant with color, lush and green, indicating that someone regularly tended to them.

Sheng Yize stood there with his back to her, both hands pressed against the guardrail, leaning forward.

His body radiated an aura of anger, but the night gradually drowned out the hostility, leaving only frustration, confusion, struggle, and pain…

She had heard Zou Jing’s words.

He had never denied Zou Jing’s insinuation that “he stood up for her,” nor did he admit that he had taught Zhang Qi a lesson under the guise of the game because of her.

Sang Sui looked at his back, her fingers tightening.

She took a deep breath and slowly approached.

Hearing her footsteps, the man turned his head, his gaze briefly meeting hers, a fleeting sense of self-consciousness crossing his eyes.

He turned his gaze away, looking out into the dazzling lights of the night.

“Thank you.”

She gathered her courage and finally spoke.

The man’s eyelids drooped, his eyes filled with mockery.

He turned to face her and sneered, “What are you thanking me for?”

Sang Sui’s face turned pale, “I…”

“You think I taught Zhang Qi a lesson for you?” Sheng Yize’s expression darkened. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

Sang Sui froze.

The words “self-inflicted delusion” struck her heart like a sharp knife.

Her eyes instantly turned red.

She forced a smile, trying to appear less embarrassed.

---

Chapter 19: Self-Inflicted Delusion (2/2)

“Sorry.”

But as the words left her mouth, the tears she had been holding back fell uncontrollably.

Sheng Yize’s gaze flickered, and he stiffly turned away, once again looking at the brilliant night sky.

Sang Sui wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Really, I was just deluding myself.”

After all, throughout the whole time, he never admitted it.

He had always disliked her, so how could she dare to assume…

That he was standing up for her?

She lifted her head to look at him. His lips were tightly pressed together, and his profile was rigid, more distant than ever.

Sang Sui forced a smile, pretending to be casual. “It’s fine. Zhang Qi got his lesson. I’m happy about that.”

“Because I’m happy, thank you.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

His fingers, gripping the guardrail tightly, tightened further as he watched her leave.

He was probably…

Really going crazy.

---

Chen Yi caught up, seeing Sang Sui leaving, and grabbed her arm.

Noticing her red eyes, he was taken aback. “You…”

Sang Sui quickly wiped her face, forcing a smile.

Chen Yi’s eyes showed concern, and he patted her shoulder. “Don’t cry. Brother Chen Yi will avenge you!”

Sang Sui shook her head. “It’s fine, I’ll go first.”

With that, she turned and left.

Chen Yi sighed and walked toward Sheng Yize.

The October night air was cool, the breeze brushing against his face with an icy sting.

Chen Yi stood beside Sheng Yize, his hands resting on the guardrail, his body leaning slightly, gazing at the brilliant and noisy lights in the distance.

He turned to look at Sheng Yize, who seemed very annoyed, cigarettes burning down to the tips of his fingers one after another.

The smoke swirled in the air, and the strong smell of tobacco filled the air, somewhat softening his irritation.

Lighting them and not smoking was such a waste.

After a moment, Chen Yi spoke, “Sheng Yize, stop deceiving yourself.”

Sheng Yize’s gaze faltered, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Chen Yi straightened up, turned to face him, and looked briefly at Sang Sui, who was sitting by herself, sighing.

“You know better than anyone why you taught Zhang Qi a lesson.”

Sheng Yize remained silent for a long time, averting his eyes. “She’s not worth me doing that.”

“But you still did it.”

“…”

Chen Yi turned his gaze to the distance.

“You keep saying you hate Sang Sui, that she’s annoying, that you don’t even want to see her.”

“But every time, you just can’t ignore her.”

“Last time on the yacht, that time with the autumn pear, and now with Zhang Qi.”

“Every time,” Chen Yi chuckled, “it’s all because of Sang Sui.”

Sheng Yize’s eyes darkened. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Sheng Yize, we’ve grown up together, I know you too well.”

Chen Yi laughed as he laid it out: “You don’t hate Sang Sui.”

“…”

---

When Lin Luoluo arrived, she found Sang Sui sitting on the ground with her knees hugged to her chest.

Her heart ached, and she hurried over. “Sui Sui…”

Sang Sui looked up, and Lin Luoluo immediately noticed her red eyes, realizing she had been crying.

Lin Luoluo glared angrily at Sheng Yize in the distance, muttering curses under her breath, “Let’s go.”

Sang Sui stood up unsteadily, seeing Sheng Yize and Chen Yi approaching.

She quickly averted her eyes and pretended to turn to leave.

“Sang Sui!” Chen Yi called.

Just as she was about to turn, she saw a man running towards them.

The man’s eyes were filled with anger, his fist raised, shouting angrily—

“Sheng Yize, go to hell!”

Sang Sui’s eyes widened—

“Watch out!”

A small figure suddenly lunged towards them.

The man’s fist came crashing down heavily.

Sheng Yize only felt the small figure in front of him collapse to the ground…