Chapter 21: Personally Admitted, “I Don’t Like Fu Tingzhou”

When they were still two streets away from the Li household, Li Zhi stopped Fu Tingzhou from walking her any further.

Rumors were frightening. In this day and age when even TVs were rare and entertainment was scarce, if a girl or boy was seen walking closely with someone of the opposite sex, it would only take one person to see them for the gossip to spread across the whole street within half a day.

“This is far enough. Be careful on your way back. Goodbye.”

“Alright. Goodbye.” Fu Tingzhou’s voice was deep, pleasant, and soothing.

Worried something like yesterday might happen again, he watched her walk for a while. Once she turned the corner, he quietly followed behind.

Just as Li Zhi turned the corner and walked a few steps, she saw a figure leaning against the wall ahead.

The night was thick and dark, and he blended into the shadows like he was part of the night itself. A cigarette glowed intermittently between his fingers, casting smoke that swirled around his sharply defined profile.

His dark, cold eyes stared at Li Zhi with suppressed fury.

Li Zhi acted as though she didn’t see him and walked past quickly.

He crushed the cigarette underfoot and growled, “Li Zhi, what’s going on between you and him? We haven’t even broken off our engagement, and you’re already walking around with another man. Have you considered how I feel, being made a fool of?”

Li Zhi smirked coldly, “And what about you? Lin Xuewei lives in your house. You’ve been playing couple for who knows how long, and I haven’t said a word. Besides, we’re already ending this engagement. I have nothing to do with you anymore. You have no right to question who I’m with.”

His accusations didn’t anger her—instead, she felt an odd sense of satisfaction.

He could live with another woman, yet she couldn’t see another man?

“I’ve already explained, there’s nothing between me and Xuewei. Huanhuan’s father saved my life. I can’t just ignore her. Let’s hold another wedding, okay?”

“No need. I won’t marry you again.”

She quickened her pace, trying to run.

But he grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

Lu Yanzhi’s eyes darkened, his voice heavy with emotion. “You don’t want to marry me—who do you want to marry then? Fu Tingzhou? What’s your relationship with him?”

Li Zhi retorted, “And what does that have to do with you? In a few days, we’ll be nothing to each other.”

“Fu Tingzhou is a third-generation red—he became a regiment commander young not just because of his ability, but because of his background. His family definitely expects him to marry someone of equal status. For all you know, they’ve already picked someone out for him. And you? You didn’t even take the college entrance exam. You grew up in the countryside—you haven’t seen the world. You two are from different worlds.”

Li Zhi scoffed, “So in your eyes, I’m just that worthless? Fit to be a housewife and slave for your entire family? Do you know why I missed the exam and didn’t go to college? Because I was saving your mother’s life! I should’ve gone to take the exam and let her fend for herself. Then maybe I wouldn’t be mocked by you today.”

Lu Yanzhi tried to explain, “That’s not what I meant. I mean, you two aren’t a good match. He’s just playing with you—there’s no future. Cut ties with him and I’ll still marry you.”

Fu Tingzhou was about to step out and clarify that his marriage decisions were his own—and chase off this annoying guy—when he heard Li Zhi say:

“I don’t like him. But I still won’t marry you. Marry whoever you want.”

Best if he marries Lin Xuewei. A scumbag and a schemer—perfect match. Just don’t go ruining other people’s lives.

She had already decided not to fall in love before the college entrance exam.

Her future was more important than love.

Miss out on a bright future, and she’d regret it for life. Miss out on a potential romance? That she could live with.

Fu Tingzhou’s steps faltered. It felt like an invisible hand gripped his heart, the pain spreading through every inch of his body.

The light in his eyes dimmed. He lowered his gaze and forced a bitter smile.

The night suddenly felt icy, the wind biting cold.

He leaned against the wall, maintaining his usual noble posture. But in the shadows, his clenched fingers and white knuckles betrayed his inner turmoil.

Lu Yanzhi insisted, “Li Zhi, I won’t agree to the breakup. You used to love me so much—said you’d never marry anyone else. I made one mistake, and you’re giving me a death sentence?”

Li Zhi raised her voice sharply. “One mistake? You abandoned me at our wedding, left me to be mocked and ridiculed by the guests—and that’s just a small mistake in your eyes?

In your heart, I’m nothing. Your family and Lin Xuewei come before me—hell, even strangers come before me. If you won’t agree to break it off, I’ll go to the military and make them handle it. If you still care about your reputation, cooperate with me.”

“You’ve changed, Li Zhi. When did you become so stubborn?”

“You made me this way.” She struggled. “Let go of me.”
“I won’t. You’re still my fiancée.”

They tussled, her trying to escape, him trying to restrain.

He pinned both her hands to the wall. She tried to knee him in the groin.

But Lu Yanzhi, standing at 182cm and trained as a soldier, was much stronger than He Guangyao. He used his leg to block her knee.

Li Zhi cursed him. “Lu Yanzhi, are you sick? You ignored me before, and now you won’t let go when I try to end it!”

Lu Yanzhi didn’t know why he couldn’t let her go. The thought of her ending up with another man was suffocating.

Maybe it was just his possessiveness.

Fu Tingzhou, still hiding in the shadows licking his wounds, heard the struggle and realized something was wrong.

He was about to intervene when a tall figure rushed in from the other side, grabbed Lu Yanzhi by the shoulder, and threw him off.

“Fu—” Li Zhi thought it was Fu Tingzhou at first, but when she got a closer look, she corrected herself, “Second Brother, why are you here?”

Li Jingyou replied, “Just out for a walk.”

He’d seen Li Zhi getting blocked by Lu Yanzhi from the upstairs balcony earlier.

He also saw another man walk her back home before that.

Lu Yanzhi said, “Jingyou, I need to talk to Li Zhi.”

They had grown up in the same compound. Both 27 years old, both raised in the military district. They used to fight often but got along.

After the Li family moved out and one joined the military while the other became a police officer, their busy lives pulled them apart.

Li Jingyou’s tone was cold. “There’s nothing to talk about. You’re not good enough for my sister. The engagement is off.”

The groom made a huge mistake on the wedding day and never even apologized properly.

The Lu family clearly didn’t value this engagement.

He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, ready for a fight.

Lu Yanzhi frowned. “Jingyou, you’re Li Zhi’s brother. I don’t want to fight you.”

Li Jingyou replied firmly, “Then leave.”

Lu Yanzhi was still unwilling. “Li Zhi, I won’t break off the engagement. Give up on that idea.”

But his eyes flicked to the wall nearby—he’d clearly heard Li Zhi say she didn’t like Fu Tingzhou. Knowing Fu’s pride, that should crush his hopes tonight.

Li Zhi glared at him in disgust. “Lu Yanzhi, you don’t even like me—why do you insist on marrying me? Did I offend your ancestors in my past life? Is that why you want to ruin me?”

Lu Yanzhi clenched his jaw, frustration tightening his features. “Why do you think that? What if I said it’s because I like you?”

“Like me? You think I’m still as stupid as before? Second Brother, let’s go.” Li Zhi grabbed Li Jingyou and left.

After walking about ten meters away, she whispered, “Thank you, Second Brother.”

Li Jingyou said, “No need. I’m your brother and a police officer. If I can’t even protect my own sister, I don’t deserve this uniform. You’re still young. You don’t understand what love really is. Just focus on studying.”

After years of working in law enforcement, he’d handled countless love-related murder cases—most of the victims were women.

In several cases, the woman had sold herself to support her boyfriend, only for him to later think she was “unclean” and kill her in a drunken rage.

“When a man becomes infatuated, it can be shaken. But when a woman falls, it’s often irreversible.”

Love made people blind.

Li Zhi promised, “I’ll focus on studying and won’t let you down.”

“Good. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”