RITM - 46

Chapter 46: The Fifteen-Sided Mirror - Awakening (3)

She suddenly found it hard to breathe. Originally, she intended to put both photos back, but realizing she had been staring blankly for so long, it would be hard to hide, so she quickly stuffed the rose specimen and the second photo back into the wallet. Holding only the childhood photo, she said, “Oh, isn’t this our childhood photo? You actually kept it.”

Without changing his expression, He Yingze took back the wallet: “Last time, a partner asked for childhood photos of childhood sweethearts, and I saw this one and used it.”

His speed at lying and his adaptability could easily make it into the Guinness World Records. She leaned over to examine the photo and smiled: “Wasn’t I so cute when I was little?”

“Baozi (steamed bun).”

“Every time I see my childhood photos, I think this little girl was so adorable. No wonder everyone used to like taking care of me. If I saw such a cute kid, I’d want to treat her kindly too.”

After gushing over the photo for a while, she noticed He Yingze had fallen silent. Glancing back at him, she saw him looking at her with an inscrutable gaze. Realizing the distance between them, every nerve in her body tensed up, but she still shot him a glare: “Are you thinking I’ve grown ugly? It’s fine—even if I do, my daughter will still be this cute.”

“Don’t worry—your daughter will definitely be prettier than this.”

If someone else had said this, Luo Wei would have dismissed it as flattery, but He Yingze never flattered anyone without reason. Curious, she asked: “Huh? How do you know?”

“Because daughters always look like their fathers.”

“Xiao Ying, what are you implying? How do you know the child’s father will be better-looking than me?”

He didn’t respond, only ruffled her hair, put away the wallet, and went upstairs. But after he left, she felt even more unsettled than before. Reflecting on their conversation and the two photos, she inexplicably felt both a flutter in her heart and a pang of sadness.

What did it mean for a man to keep a woman’s photo in his wallet? He had already explicitly rejected her.

Now, she couldn’t have his love, nor could she escape the prison of her unrequited feelings.

He said her child would definitely be prettier than her. But was it still possible for her to get married and have children?

Noticing Chang Feng and Lu Xiren again, she found their jaws dropped so wide they could fit an egg. Lu Xiren exclaimed in shock: “This isn’t called dating? Well, this is practically married life…”

Luo Wei’s cheeks flushed as she said, “He’s just very controlling.”

Thinking about her weight, she angrily crumpled a napkin into a ball and threw it at his retreating back.

“Luo Wei…” Lu Xiren beckoned her over with a wave of his hand. When she leaned closer, he whispered, “I think… Sixth Brother might already… you know.”

“I don’t know.” She shot back, “Since you understand him so well, why don’t you two get together?”

“…” Lu Xiren stared at her for a moment before saying, “I still prefer Miss Yellow Rose.”

Chang Feng, however, stepped between them and said solemnly, “Actually, Miss Luo, for your own good, you should keep some distance from Sixth Brother.”

“Of course I know that,” she replied quickly, her tone light, but she clearly heard a “thud” in her heart. “He’s not single anymore.”

“No. A girlfriend isn’t such a big deal. Even if he’s married, as long as he wants to play around, he can.”

Feeling something was off, Luo Wei studied Chang Feng carefully. He looked at her, hesitated for more than ten seconds, then told her about what happened when He Yingze returned to Nandao.

It turned out that He Yingze didn’t just have a famous father—his mother was no ordinary woman either. She and Zhou Jinru were both crowned Miss Gongzhou in the same beauty pageant. However, while Zhou Jinru took first place, his mother, Wu Saiyu, came in fourth. Though their rankings were only three places apart, the two women walked vastly different paths in life. Zhou Jinru married Xie Mao and lived the luxurious life of a wealthy housewife, while Wu Saiyu followed He Yan. Without a formal title or status, she accompanied him on a tumultuous journey filled with hardships.

Even though He Yan already had two concubines at the time, Wu Saiyu still chose to stay by his side during his lowest moments. His already fiery temper often flared up under stress, but she remained steadfast, never complaining, and devotedly cared for him and managed his daily life. In the first year after the pageant, Wu Saiyu became pregnant. He Yan, highly valued by his father, spent most of his time traveling with him, leaving her alone for weeks at a time. Weak as she was, she was also fiercely independent, refusing to voice any grievances. After ten months of pregnancy, He Yan still couldn’t spare much time, and even news of her difficult labor reached him through others. The doctors did everything they could but ultimately presented them with an impossible choice: save the mother or the child. He Yan chose to save the mother. But Wu Saiyu insisted on saving the child, declaring that if the child didn’t survive, she would take her own life immediately afterward. Knowing her stubborn nature—he knew she was gentle on the surface but resolute to the core—he finally relented, threatening the doctors to save both mother and child. In the end, however, the mother couldn’t be saved. Enraged, He Yan personally shot the doctor through the skull.

He Yingze grew up under the care of nannies. He resembled his mother in appearance but inherited his father’s temperament. Before middle school, he had never experienced paternal love, and maternal affection felt as distant as a fairy tale. The He family in Gongzhou was a patriarchal group, so normal female guidance was absent from He Yingze’s life. Learning about his mother’s story during his rebellious teenage years further distorted his views on women and love. Fifteen years ago, after He Yan’s death, He Yingze essentially grew up like a child raised by enemies. His older brothers took him to casinos and black markets more often than other kids went to amusement parks. Instead of growing up with peers, he was surrounded by armed bodyguards.

Thirteen years ago, as a middle school student, he could already discuss topics like firearms, ammunition, arms smuggling, and hidden blades without hesitation. When one of his father’s friends boasted, “This dagger is so sharp because it was honed on human flesh,” and laughed while slapping his thigh, He Yingze could find the humor and smirk faintly. Eleven years ago, as a high school freshman, he lost his virginity to a seductive 28-year-old woman arranged by his family. Nine years ago, he began making waves in the financial world, showcasing remarkable business acumen. Around this time, Su Jianian won first place in an international piano competition and rose to fame, while Luo Wei had already lost contact with him. Seven years ago, He Yingze suffered from depression, dropped out of university, and spent a year taking antidepressants. That same year, Luo Wei was busy preparing for her college entrance exams. By the end of the year, Chang Feng began encouraging He Yingze to focus on business. Five years ago, He Yingze struck gold—literally—and earned his family’s trust. By this point, his lifestyle wasn’t too different from now, though he hadn’t yet reached the extravagant scale of today. Meanwhile, Luo Wei was just starting her first college romance. Two years ago, He Yingze became a leading figure in the jewelry industry and took over Zhenji Wangcheng from his fourth brother.

Upon reflection, Luo Wei wasn’t sure whether the He family’s parenting methods could be considered successful. But every time she thought about all the hardships he had endured, she wanted to embrace him. Finally, Chang Feng said, “Now do you understand? A man like Sixth Brother won’t waste too much time on any one woman.”

“I don’t care whether he’s willing to waste time on me,” Luo Wei smiled, surprised that she didn’t feel sad. “I just want to treat him well and hope he lives a good life.”

She wasn’t naive about relationships and understood perfectly what the rapid escalation of romantic tension meant after that night. She also knew men and women were different. Once a woman fell in love, she would fantasize daily about marrying the person and growing old together. Men, on the other hand, experienced two types of love: marital love, similar to a woman’s, and passionate love. Both types could be equally intense, and sometimes the latter burned even brighter—but it was fleeting, lasting anywhere from several years to just one night. Therefore, even with a real girlfriend in the picture, He Yingze likely wouldn’t reject a brief passionate affair with her. For a moment, her head spun, and she thought that whatever might happen in the future, she should just let things unfold naturally. But in the end, reason painfully triumphed over emotion. She had already suffered enough in this relationship and didn’t want to endure more pain. If she continued with him, she would lose not only love but also her dignity and reputation.

From that day on, she no longer got as close to He Yingze as before.

That afternoon, after class ended, Xiao Lajiao and a few classmates walked out of the university gates. She had planned to buy some books, but her attention was immediately drawn by the crowd gathered nearby. Following the gazes of the teachers and students, a scene completely at odds with the academic atmosphere unfolded: sycamore leaves drifted down, painting the fragrant autumn air with hues of yellow and orange. A bright yellow sports car was parked at the school entrance. The car’s chassis was so low it almost touched the ground, its shape resembling a flounder—exactly the kind of flashy vehicle that would draw crowds for photos in any small city. But what truly caught everyone’s eyes was the man leaning casually against the front of the car. He wore a navy-blue suit, his French-style curly hair giving him an air of European classical elegance, though the shiny silver thread embroidered on his black tie betrayed his flamboyant personality. In his arms, he held a bouquet of golden yellow roses, and on the ground, rose petals formed the silhouette of a woman’s profile alongside a message: To My Miss Yellow Rose.

The students around her were stunned, whispering among themselves about which campus beauty had caught the eye of such a suitor. Xiao Lajiao froze like a statue. She tried to pull her friends along and run away, but then she heard Lu Xiren’s loud shout from behind: “Yufei, I’m here!”

“Wow, Yu—Yufei, that guy seems to be calling you?” Her friend stopped in her tracks, tugging urgently at her sleeve. With no time to explain, Xiao Lajiao could only bury her head and sprint forward. When she realized Lu Xiren wasn’t calling out again, she sighed in relief and continued jogging, hoping to disappear quietly into the crowd.

But the roar of an exhaust pipe thundered through the air, and the sports car screeched to a halt just a short distance ahead of her. Lu Xiren stepped out of the car, still holding the flowers. It was too late for Xiao Lajiao to escape—she had already become the unwilling focal point of this embarrassing spectacle. Mentally, she called upon Guanyin, Jesus, Shakyamuni, and Allah in rapid succession, but none of them came to her rescue. Steeling herself, she could only face Lu Xiren as he approached her. He smiled gently, careful not to startle her, and said softly, “Hi, Miss Su.”

“What do you want?” she asked helplessly. What on earth was this man doing? She had only delivered packages to him a few times, and now he was making a scene at her school. Damn it, hadn’t Shun Tong Express promised to keep employee information confidential?

“Since you’ve already discovered my identity, I won’t struggle anymore. Go on a date with me, my dear Miss Yellow Rose. I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”

His voice was soft, but loud enough for the surrounding crowd to hear. Cheers erupted, mixed with sighs of admiration from a few girls. Xiao Lajiao felt even more mortified. She didn’t care how flashy or romantic his appearance was—she only knew he was infamous as a playboy, and this confession was as careless and chaotic as expected.

After waiting in vain for an answer, Lu Xiren tilted his head, looking at her with feigned innocence: “Yufei, what’s your answer?”

“Say yes! Say yes!” A few students shouted enthusiastically. Xiao Lajiao’s classmates huddled together, their eyes sparkling as they watched the scene unfold. Even without alcohol, they were intoxicated by this wealthy and romantic prince charming. They couldn’t wait for their good friend to burst into tears and fall straight into his arms, so they could live vicariously through her daily soap opera.

But all Xiao Lajiao could think about was how to escape this awkward situation. Lu Xiren pinched her chin lightly, smirking arrogantly, and delivered his final blow: “I’m an excellent catch. As long as you’re with me, you’ll never have to work another day in your life.”

Seeing her face turn as red as a ripe tomato, his lips curled into a confident smirk. Just as he prepared to press further, he suddenly heard her let out a sharp cry and leap up. A wave of excruciating pain hit him below the belt. To borrow a phrase from Haruki Murakami, it felt like “the world had come to an end.” His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Within seconds, he collapsed to his knees, clutching himself in agony.