Xiao Zai’s way of addressing her now always switches between “Louise” and “sister.”

Shang Xinglu knew that when he called her “sister,” it was more of an act.

But she couldn’t refuse the way Xiao Zai was behaving.

His thoughts were indeed a bit complicated, but his sadness was real.

Shang Xinglu sighed.

She opened her arms and actively hugged Xiao Zai.

The surrounding temperature was low, but the young man’s chest was warm.

This was the first time Shang Xinglu had hugged a man other than Lin Heng and Shang Xingyu.

It felt… very different.

Xiao Zai didn’t have the minty, woody scent that Lin Heng carried.

Instead, he smelled more like a soap-like fragrance, one that gave off a strangely pure impression.

Shang Xinglu was initially a bit unaccustomed to it, but she gradually became quiet.

She thought she heard a faint sound, a sob.

Shang Xinglu sighed again.

She reached up and patted Xiao Zai’s head.

She didn’t know how to comfort him; this was all she could do.

At that moment, Xiao Zai suddenly felt a hand pressing on his shoulder, pulling him in, and it was forceful.

Xiao Zai turned his head to look.

— It was Lin Heng.

He didn’t know why Lin Heng had come, and he didn’t have the chance to think about it because Lin Heng, with his cold face and sculpted features, exuded an overwhelming chill.

Lin Heng didn’t speak and didn’t let go.

Xiao Zai raised an eyebrow.

The hand on his shoulder tightened, causing pain.

Xiao Zai released Shang Xinglu but didn’t let go of her. His hand loosely circled her shoulder.

Without saying a word, Lin Heng directly pulled Shang Xinglu toward himself.

Xiao Zai was quick, and he grabbed Shang Xinglu’s other hand.

The two of them each held one side. Though neither of them spoke, they were locked in a silent standoff.

Shang Xinglu: “……”

She glanced to the left.

Then to the right…

Shang Xinglu: “…………”

An invisible, silent struggle unfolded between the two, and Shang Xinglu was caught right in the middle of it, feeling the chill on the left and the heat on the right. She tolerated it for a while, but eventually, she couldn’t take it anymore.

She forcefully separated their hands.

“Enough,” Shang Xinglu said.

In reality, with her small strength, she couldn’t have separated their hands.

…She actually didn’t manage to separate them.

Shang Xinglu felt extremely embarrassed. After all, she was trying to act like a queen, but it just looked… so awkward!

These two men, they really weren’t giving her any face!!!

She first glared at Lin Heng. “Why are you pulling me? Who gave you the right to do that?”

Lin Heng, angry at her question, almost snapped back that he had every right to pull her, to remarry right then and there!

Then Shang Xinglu yelled at Xiao Zai, “And you too! Why are you pulling me? Who gave you the right?”

Xiao Zai was also angry.

But he was slightly better than Lin Heng. He knew he shouldn’t be angry.

He could only… take it slowly.

Xiao Zai softened first and released his grip.

Shang Xinglu tried to pull away from Lin Heng again, but Lin Heng refused to let go.

Shang Xinglu: “?!”

No, this wasn’t right.

She looked at Lin Heng.

Behind his glasses, his usually expressionless phoenix eyes were like a deep winter pond, covered with floating ice shards.

Shang Xinglu: “…………”

This wasn’t the script!!!

Lin Heng remained silent and simply yanked Shang Xinglu’s hand, pulling her into his car.

With a thud, the car door slammed shut.

At this serious moment, Shang Xinglu was… looking down, texting.

To Shang Xingyu.

There were many exclamation marks, saying: “I’ve been kidnapped by Lin Heng!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Before she could type “Help me!!!!!!!!!!”, Shang Xingyu replied: “Ex-brother-in-law? Finally made his move. I called him before I came, just in case Xiao Zai tried to play the sympathy card—could you still refuse?”

Shang Xinglu: “……”

So the traitor was here!!!

Shang Xinglu didn’t understand why Lin Heng was here, but Xiao Zai did.

Louise’s unexpected expression earlier couldn’t have been her calling Lin Heng, so the only remaining possibility was Shang Xingyu.

Xiao Zai walked to the car and saw Shang Xingyu getting out.

Xiao Zai smiled mockingly and asked, “What’s your problem with me? Pulling me down at a critical moment.”

Shang Xingyu’s expression was serious.

He said, “Xiao Zai, I’ve never lied to you, so I’ll be direct. You’re not right for my sister. You think too much. She’s not someone who can care for your thoughts. You may think she’s good now, but you might not think so later.”

Xiao Zai stepped forward and responded, “That’s Louise’s decision, not yours.”

“Right, it’s her decision. Just not now. She’s always been considerate of you, you know that.”

“…”

“Are you ashamed?” Shang Xingyu asked.

Xiao Zai looked at Shang Xingyu with an unexpectedly sharp gaze.

Ashamed?

How could he not feel embarrassed?

He, who had been so desperate to earn her affection, even if it was just sympathy, why should he feel embarrassed about it?

However, Shang Xingyu’s gaze was so straightforward, at times even a bit like Shang Xinglu’s.

Xiao Zai suddenly turned his face away, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

---

When Lin Heng’s car left the cemetery, Shang Xinglu, who was sitting in the back, curled up like a hamster, trembling in the seat.

Wuwuwu, now Mr. Lin is so scary.

She silently mourned for her poor bottom for a second…

But the next second, her face flushed red.

What a joke!

I could never be this… bold Shang Xinglu!!!

Shang Xinglu cleared her throat and said, “You can let go now, it hurts. Do you want to break my hand or something?”

Lin Heng let go immediately.

Indeed, there was a red mark around her wrist.

Lin Heng noticed the men’s suit on her and frowned, “Take off your clothes.”

Shang Xinglu: “??!!”

You’re a domineering CEO, but you can’t be this unreasonable!!!

Shang Xinglu quickly responded, “Why don’t you take off your clothes first?!”

Before she finished speaking, Lin Heng had already started taking off his jacket.

Shang Xinglu: “????!!”

Mr. Lin?!

This is the car! Can you please show some restraint!!!

Shang Xinglu quickly pressed his hand down.

“No, no, no, don’t take it off, just talk, please?!”

At this point, Lin Heng had already removed his jacket and tossed it to Shang Xinglu.

“What were you thinking? You’re cold, right? Put it on.”

Shang Xinglu: “……… Oh… I see.”

She didn’t take it, though. Instead, she said, “This one I’m wearing is Shang Xingyu’s. Didn’t you notice that Xiao Zai didn’t take off his jacket?”

Lin Heng: “……”

He had been too focused on his jealousy to even notice whether Xiao Zai had taken off his jacket.

Seeing Lin Heng’s awkward expression, Shang Xinglu hurriedly added, “His father just passed away.”

Lin Heng immediately regained his composure, his face turning back to a poker face. “I know.”

Shang Xinglu added, “And it’s broad daylight, still at the cemetery, what could they possibly do?”

What did she mean by “nothing”?

They were hugging so tightly, and she was calling it “nothing”?

Lin Heng’s poker face turned even colder as he said, “Or do you want something else to happen?”

Shang Xinglu found it strange. Lin Heng seemed especially agitated today.

To be honest, even if she had 120 brains and 120 courage, she still couldn’t imagine what Lin Heng looked like now.

In Shang Xinglu’s memory, Lin Heng was either aloof and polite or serious, ignoring everyone around him.

She stole a glance at him.

His profile was perfectly sculpted, but the furrowed brow seemed to suggest the storm was about to hit.

But… was it just because he had comforted Xiao Zai? What kind of grudge did he have with Xiao Zai?

Shang Xinglu suddenly realized that Lin Heng… might be… jealous?

Lin Heng… was jealous because of her?

Even though the scenery outside the car was cloudy and drizzly, Shang Xinglu couldn’t help but feel excited inside.

Unstoppable joy.

Uncontrollable happiness.

She giggled quietly, not daring to laugh out loud, afraid it would seem too smug and annoying, so she lowered her head.

Her hair slipped over her face, hiding her expression. After a long silence, Lin Heng immediately looked over, gently lifting her wrist and rubbing it.

“Does it hurt a lot?” Lin Heng asked.

Shang Xinglu rubbed her face—her smile was frozen, and she pretended to act all serious as she said, “Yeah… it hurts, all your fault.”

Soft kisses fell gently on her wrist.

Shang Xinglu instantly felt a wave of goosebumps rise, rippling like a wave.

She hurriedly pulled her hand away.

Lin Heng didn’t force her. “Sorry.”

Shang Xinglu: “…………”

Lin Heng spoke honestly: “Just now, I was jealous.”

At this moment, Shang Xinglu, with her head lowered, extended her hand again, muttering, “If you kiss me again, it’s fine.”

Lin Heng chuckled softly.

The low sound of his laughter echoed in the enclosed space. For some reason, Shang Xinglu’s ears turned bright red.

The kiss started from her wrist, moving upward, and amidst the tingling sensation, Lin Heng kissed her lips.

This wasn’t their first kiss, but this kiss felt different.

Shang Xinglu couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was different.

She just felt a gradually rising emotion in her heart, like an orange soda filling up a cup, with the bubbles of joy bursting amidst the sweet, sour fragrance.

When the kiss ended, Lin Heng didn’t let go of her.

Lin Heng asked, “Does it still hurt?”

Shang Xinglu: “…… It doesn’t hurt anymore. I was lying. But the choice is in my hands. If you pull me like that again, I’ll really be angry.”

Lin Heng remained silent.

The choice…

Clearly, it was because of his concession that she had the “choice.”

Mr. Lin was a little exhausted.

But Lin Heng, ever the obedient one, asked, “What about tomorrow? Should we have dinner together?”

At this moment, Shang Xinglu smiled sweetly, then rejected him.

“I’m afraid not, I’m having dinner with Yin Yao tomorrow.”

Lin Heng: “The day after?”

Shang Xinglu: “The day after, I’m meeting Shen Wang. And the day after that, Shi Rui and the others are throwing a party. So, well, Mr. Lin, what do you think…”

Lin Heng: “…………”

His face was expressionless.

“I think you should just cancel all your appointments with them.”