Chapter 6 They are childhood sweethearts

Qiao Zhiyi didn't care anymore. She got out of bed, tidied her hair a little, and slightly adjusted her neckline.

Shi Jingzhou walked to the door and looked back, but Qiao Zhiyi didn't understand why.

"Are you satisfied?" His deep voice carried a teasing tone.

"What?" She was completely at a loss.

Shi Jingzhou, with his hands in his pockets, gave her a piercing look, "Weren't you sneaking a peek just now?"

Qiao Zhiyi's breath hitched, and she swallowed, her face warming slightly under his gaze.

When had she sneaked a look?

"You're overthinking it." Qiao Zhiyi hurriedly moved away from him, but he caught her wrist.

With a slight tug, she crashed into his chest.

She exclaimed, "What are you doing?"

This man, could he keep his hands to himself?

"I'm asking you, are you satisfied?" He pinned her against the wall, caging her in his arms, very assertive, very insistent.

Qiao Zhiyi's gaze darted away, "Mr. Shi..."

"I prefer you call me husband."

"..."

Qiao Zhiyi grew even more nervous. Could he not get so close to her?

Knowing well she was dissatisfied with this marriage, he insisted on playing the role of a husband to the hilt.

"Speak!"

Qiao Zhiyi thought he was a lunatic.

Wanting to defy him but afraid of provoking his madness.

Under his pressure, she nodded, "Satisfied." It wasn't against her will.

Undeniably, his physique was really impressive.

If that fake face was real, coupled with his great body, he would indeed be a sight to behold.

Shi Jingzhou was very pleased with her answer. His eyes held a smile, "Since you're satisfied, I'll let you try tonight."

Qiao Zhiyi's face heated up suddenly; she had never expected him to come up with such a line.

"You said, if I cooperated with you, you wouldn't touch me."

She hadn't forgotten those words.

Shi Jingzhou led her by the hand, pulling her towards the door, "Yeah, I won't touch you tonight."

Qiao Zhiyi: "..."

Downstairs, Madam Shi was chatting with a young woman dressed in branded clothes, who was listening attentively, turning to give Madam Shi her full attention.

Shi Lanting saw them coming down, "Brother's here."

The others looked over, and their gazes landed on Qiao Zhiyi, becoming complicated.

To them, Qiao Zhiyi's annoyed and embarrassed look came off as flirty and coquettish.

In broad daylight, the two dressed in pajamas, brimming with the intimacy of lovers, no need to see what they were doing behind closed doors.

"Little Yi, come here!" Madam Shi called affectionately.

Qiao Zhiyi hesitated about whether to go over or not.

Her clothes were really not suitable for meeting people.

"Mom is calling you." Shi Jingzhou nudged her gently, his voice not too loud but not too soft either, "You're already a daughter-in-law of the Shi Family. There's no need to stick to me."

Qiao Zhiyi: "..."

Stick to him?

Could he have some shame?

She approached Madam Shi, thinking about how to address her appropriately when Madam Shi already took her hand, showing off the beautiful jade bracelet, "Seeing how affectionate you are with Jingzhou, I feel relieved. I'm just waiting to hold my grandson."

Qiao Zhiyi smiled insincerely.

"Let me introduce you, this is Bai Yue." Madam Shi affectionately took Qiao Zhiyi's hand, turning to the delicate woman beside her.

Bai Yue's gaze swept over the jade bracelet on Qiao Zhiyi's wrist, hiding the surge of emotion, she smiled and nodded.

"She's still your childhood sweetheart," Shi Lanting blurted out coldly.

Shi Jingzhou glanced at Shi Lanting, who appeared bored with the world unless it was in disarray.

"Lanting, watch your manners," Madam Shi scolded Shi Lanting, then gently addressed Bai Yue, "Why didn't Park Bom come with you? You've been married for half a year now, any good news yet?"

Madam Shi glanced at Bai Yue's stomach.

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Bai Yue's delicate face, "He went on a business trip a few days ago. We don't plan on having a baby for the time being."

"Sister Bai Yue, stop lying. Where did Park Bom go on a business trip? I saw him at a nightclub with a model yesterday. Brother, you have to stand up for Sister Bai Yue. Even if you have a wife now, you can't neglect Sister Bai Yue."

Qiao Zhiyi quietly positioned herself as if she were invisible.

In her mind, she could already imagine this melodramatic scenario: his childhood sweetheart had married someone else half a year ago, which is why he proposed to marry Qiao Zhihuan back then.

Qiao Zhihuan was nothing but a substitute for that woman.

And she, Qiao Zhiyi, was the backup for Qiao Zhihuan.

Fortunately, Qiao Zhiyi's phone rang at just the right moment.

She held her phone and sheepishly said to them, "I need to step out to take a call."

"Wait a moment." Shi Jingzhou stood to grab a coat hanging on the rack—it was his.

He draped it over her shoulders, "Don't catch a cold."

Qiao Zhiyi didn't expose his insincerity and nodded slightly, "Thank you."

She walked far away, finally escaping the eerie atmosphere. Having dealt with the real estate agent, she didn't return.

The advantage of a house with extensive grounds is that it feels like a park, great for whiling away time.

The vast rose garden, meticulously tended and managed by the gardeners, bloomed with flowers of every color and even had a gate with a swing inside—very beautiful. It would be quite romantic for proposals, embraces, kisses here.

Qiao Zhiyi closed the door behind her, transforming the space into a true secret garden of woven flowers.

She sat on the swing, gently swaying, inhaling the light fragrance of the flowers, enjoying the peace.

"Jingzhou, are you doing this on purpose?"

Qiao Zhiyi immediately came to a halt when she heard the voice.

Vaguely, she could see two silhouettes ahead. Now caught in a dilemma, she remained still, just hoping not to be discovered by the people outside.

"Doing what on purpose?" the deep male voice was neither cold nor warm.

"I didn't want to marry Park Bom half a year ago. You know about my feelings for you." Bai Yue stated urgently. "This past half-year, I never let Park Bom touch me, always thinking that one day, I would leave him and start over..."

"Start over what? Be with me?" Shi Jingzhou interrupted her, saying mercilessly, "I'm already married."

Bai Yue bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, "Do you love her? How long can you stay with someone you don't love? Jingzhou, stop lying to yourself."

"This has nothing to do with you."

"How can it not? You've always been in my heart!" Bai Yue's eyes brimmed with tears, stirring empathy from anyone who saw.

Qiao Zhiyi felt a pang of pity while listening.

Such a deeply affectionate woman.

She had once asked Shi Jingzhou if it really didn't matter to him whom he married. Now it seemed that his answer wasn't truthful.

Because it wasn't the person he wanted to marry, he claimed it didn't matter.

Clearly, he made a hasty decision to spite this woman.

"Me in your heart?" Shi Jingzhou scoffed, "Wasn't my face something that disgusted you?"

"Jingzhou…"

"Once you've made a choice, don't look back."

"You don't love that woman, why settle? Does she not despise you?" Bai Yue took a deep breath, "Do you need to find a woman just to spite me? To get revenge on me?"

Qiao Zhiyi pursed her lips, where was she not despising him? She despised him too.

But what could she do?

She, who had thrown herself at him to be his wife, was hooked willingly; he wouldn't let go, and she couldn't escape.

Now, how much she wished Bai Yue could whisk Shi Jingzhou away.

Considering the current situation, it wasn't impossible, and her mood lifted at the thought.

Unintentionally, her foot swung out, accidentally kicking the flowers beside the swing.