Just Like Her Father.

Li Cheng arrived home later than usual, the clock already striking 11 PM.

As he stepped inside, the usual chorus of greetings from the maids and guards greeted him, but tonight, something felt off. He expected to see his beautiful wife, but instead, she was lounging in the living room, engrossed in a TV show.

"Why's she here?" he muttered under his breath. Even if she wanted to watch TV, it should have been in their bedroom. He glanced at his watch, noting her late hour of activity. Something wasn't right.

He approached her, his gaze softening as he saw her sitting there. "Oh, you're back! How was work today? Hope it wasn't too stressful?" she greeted, her voice a bit too cheery for the hour. He leaned in and placed a gentle peck on her forehead, then followed up with a light kiss on her lips. The way she pulled away subtly, her eyes not meeting his, raised a red flag.

"Why are you still awake? Is everything okay?" he asked, concern lacing his voice. As he sat beside her, she abruptly stood up causing him to look at her.

"I'm heading to your room. I think I'm feeling sleepy now. You can come when you're ready," she said, her words feeling alien to him. "Your room" instead of "our room"—a subtle but telling shift.

Li Cheng's suspicions were piqued. "Jinxin," he called, loosening his tie and brushing his hair back with a distracted hand. Jinxin appeared immediately, bowing in respect.

"Did anything unusual happen today?" he asked, his tone more serious than usual.

"No, sir. Nothing out of the ordinary," Jinxin replied, her eyes wide with apprehension.

"Are you sure?" he pressed, his calm demeanor masking an underlying intensity.

"Yes, sir. I'm certain. Nothing happened," she assured him, her voice trembling slightly.

"Alright, you may go," he said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand. As she walked away, he muttered to himself, "What the hell is wrong with her, or am I just imagining things?"

He headed towards their bedroom, finding Xiotan already in bed, her back turned to him and the duvet pulled up to her waist. He knew she wasn't truly asleep; her rigid posture spoke volumes. After a quick shower, he emerged in his nightwear and sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on her.

"Tan, what's wrong?" he asked softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her silence was deafening. "Did I offend you in any way? Did you not have enough money for shopping? You didn't even tell me how it went."

When she didn't respond, his voice took on a gentle plea. "Come on, Tan, please talk to me."

"Cheng'er, please, I'm trying to sleep. Don't disturb me. I told you everything is fine," she said, her voice a strained whisper as she adjusted the duvet to get more comfortable.

"Oh... okay. I'll believe you," he said, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment. "But you have to give me a kiss before I go to sleep." He pouted his lips like a child waiting for affection, but she remained unmoved.

"Are you already asleep?" he asked, but received no answer. "Oh, you are. That fast? I didn't know you'd fall asleep so quickly. Okay, good night." He placed a small, tender peck on her neck before lying down beside her, his heart heavy.

As soon as he closed his eyes, Xiotan's tears began to flow freely, soaking the pillow beneath her. The perfume of another woman clung to Li Cheng's clothes early—a stark, painful reminder of his infidelity. She felt a deep, stabbing pain, as though her heart was being wrenched apart. The thought of him being with someone else, someone so beneath her in every way, was unbearable.

Her tears were a mix of betrayal and self-reproach. She had allowed herself to believe in his change, only to be cruelly reminded of his true nature—deceptive and unfaithful, much like her father. The weight of her misplaced trust was suffocating. She wanted to scream, to express the hurt she felt, but all she could do was weep silently, feeling more isolated than ever.