Zang Ling sneered and immediately tore off her disguise. “Take a good look—see who I am.”

Yuan Haolang shot to his feet in shock. “Zang Ling?! What are you doing here?!”

He looked over at Yan Wenshu and gritted his teeth. “Well then, I see how it is. This was a setup, wasn’t it? Yan Wenshu, you sly bastard. You’re pretty cunning, huh? You had Zang Ling eavesdropping the whole time, didn’t you? Whatever it is you came for, forget about getting it now.”

“And what exactly is it that he wanted?” Zang Ling asked with a smile. “Yan Wenshu had no idea I was here. You think everyone’s as disgusting as you?”

Yuan Haolang’s eyes turned sinister. “Say that again.”

Zang Ling didn’t even flinch. She slowed her speech deliberately and said, “I said you’re disgusting. Can’t understand plain speech?”

Seeing the increasing coldness in his eyes, she didn’t waver for a second. “What? Planning to hit me? Go ahead, try it.”

The two stared each other down for a long time. In the end, Yuan Haolang unwillingly lowered the hand he’d raised. Zang Ling cast him a cold glance, then turned and pulled Yan Wenshu away with her.

“I’m sorry about today,” Zang Ling said. “I promised I’d let you go alone, but I followed you and eavesdropped on your conversation…” She looked up at Yan Wenshu. “I’m really sorry.”

Yan Wenshu gently shook his head. “I know you were worried about me.”

He glanced back at Yuan Haolang, whose expression was dark and uncertain, then turned back, concerned. “Is it really okay for us to just leave like this?”

“It’s fine.”

Compared to her earlier coldness, Zang Ling now seemed much softer. She explained, “He has to pay for his disgusting words. I won’t let him off so easily.”

Seeing that Yan Wenshu was hesitating to speak, she said firmly, “I know you’re a kind-hearted person, but this time Yuan Haolang must be taught a lesson.”

“What did he use to threaten you? Tell me the truth.”

Yan Wenshu pursed his lips and said, “He said… My mother left behind a relic. He’ll only tell me where it is if I break up with you.”

Zang Ling replied, “I’ll investigate that. Once I have any leads, I’ll let you know. As for Yuan Haolang, just ignore him.”

“Thank you…”

“It’s nothing,” Zang Ling said sincerely. “Really. If you ever run into trouble, you can come to me. I want to help you.”

Yan Wenshu looked at her for a moment before replying, “Okay.”

But there were still some things he couldn’t say.

He lowered his head, falling silent.

After a while, not hearing him speak, Zang Ling turned her head slightly to sneak a look. Seeing the look on his face, she couldn’t help but ask, “Yan Wenshu, is there still something bothering you?”

“I was just thinking…” Yan Wenshu said softly, “Yuan Haolang wasn’t entirely wrong. There’s a huge gap between our family backgrounds. To outsiders, you and Yuan Haolang seem more compatible. I don’t deserve you. Sooner or later… we’ll break up.”

Zang Ling abruptly stopped walking, frowning as she stared at him.

“Wh-What’s wrong…?”

Zang Ling said seriously, “You’re feeling insecure, aren’t you?”

Yan Wenshu avoided her gaze. “No, I’m not…”

“I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Zang Ling, however, felt more and more convinced that he was jealous. Then it clicked—her eyes lit up. “I get it now.”

She grabbed both his hands and held them tightly, looking up at him earnestly. “Then let’s get engaged!”

“Once we’re engaged, you’ll be my fiancé. No one will question our relationship anymore. When people look at me, they’ll see you—and not that mad man.”

Her eyes were bright and clear. Yan Wenshu was momentarily stunned, then turned his head slightly. “That’s not a good idea. If you get engaged to someone like me, Tianhai’s stock might drop. I’m of no use to you.”

“How could you think that? Don’t listen to Yuan Haolang’s crap.” Zang Ling frowned. “If I were marrying for profit, I wouldn’t have come near you in the first place, let alone confessed to you.”

“I’m serious, Yan Wenshu.”

She added with frustration, “Do you still not believe me?”

“It’s not that.” Yan Wenshu suddenly turned to look at her. “You’re a goddess in the eyes of the public—and in mine too.”

Zang Ling’s face flushed. “You’re embarrassing me with that compliment.”

She said that, but the smile tugging at the corners of her lips couldn’t be suppressed.

Yan Wenshu smiled gently too, but then said, “You’re so amazing, and yet I have nothing to offer except my looks…”

Zang Ling understood what he meant and frowned slightly. “You’re amazing in my eyes too. It’s not just your looks that attract me—it’s you, as a person.”

“Yan Wenshu, were you emotionally manipulated or something before? Where are these ridiculous thoughts coming from?”

Yan Wenshu paused for a moment. “No. These are just my own thoughts.”

“Then stop putting yourself down,” Zang Ling said earnestly. “You have to believe that you’re the best. Be confident!”

“But the engagement… maybe not…”

The more he resisted, the more determined Zang Ling became. “Then it’s settled—we’re getting engaged! So, when should we set the date?”

“May? June? Or even earlier?”

Looking at her expectant expression, Yan Wenshu smiled. Even though things were going according to plan, deep down… he didn’t feel happy.

It felt like… everything they have now, was something he stole.