Chapter 29: Consumed by Jealousy

Zhou Chengwang stared at the dark hole in the window, feeling as if his heart, too, had become a bottomless abyss.

He had heard everything just now...

He had heard the man’s impatient panting, the woman’s coquettish moans, and the flirtatious whispers exchanged between the two.

So this was the truth, after all? Was it really like this?

Zhou Chengwang let out a cold laugh. It was the greatest mockery; he had trusted Zhao Kai so deeply, treated him as a brother, convinced himself Zhao Kai would never betray him or snatch away the woman he loved.

Yet what was the reality? Not only had Zhao Kai done what only a husband and wife should do with Miss Yan’er, he had reveled in it. If Zhou Chengwang hadn’t come to demand an explanation from her tonight, he might never have uncovered this truth.

He shouldn’t have thrown a stone at the window to stop them; he should have burst in and smashed Zhao Kai’s head instead.

Never before had Zhou Chengwang felt so betrayed. Zhao Kai knew full well how much he loved Miss Yan’er, yet still he refused to let her marry, forcibly keeping her by his side.

Worse still, he had taken advantage of her drunkenness to do such a thing.

He already had a wife—Fei’er, a beauty like a fairy—how could he...

A storm of anger, grief, and frustration flooded his mind. He would make Zhao Kai pay for this! He would show him what became of a traitor.

Lin Zhenting had been waiting for Zhou Chengwang. Sure enough, seeing the fury on the young man’s face, he grinned. “So, you know the truth now?”

“I do,” Zhou Chengwang replied, his face clouded. “I never thought he was that kind of man.”

“He’s always been that way. He stole my sister and left me with nothing, and now he’s reaching his wolfish claws toward your Miss Zhao. He deserves to die!”

“He does. I’ll make him pay.”

“Big words,” Lin Zhenting scoffed. “You’ve spent some time with Zhao Kai—you must know how cunning he is. If you want to bring him down, only overwhelming power will do.”

“That’s not a problem. If I want to gather men, it’s easily done.”

Zhou Chengwang now wore the bearing of the future heir of Erxian Manor. He had both power and influence—why shouldn’t he pit himself against Zhao Kai?

Hearing this, Lin Zhenting began to scrutinize the youth.

“Who are you?”

“You needn’t know who I am—just that I have the means to deal with Zhao Kai. Don’t you want him destroyed too? Why don’t we join forces?”

That was precisely what Lin Zhenting wanted. If this youth could steal the Zhao family’s casino assets and silver notes, he wouldn’t have to live in such humiliation any longer.

“It’s possible—but you’ll have to follow my orders, or you’ll never beat him.”

“Fine. My men are at your disposal.”

As long as he could have his revenge on Zhao Kai, nothing else mattered.

With that, he set off a firework, and within moments, nearly a hundred men had gathered around him.

Lin Zhenting was startled. Was this youth hiding his identity while staying by Zhao Kai’s side?

“I can’t move freely near Zhao Kai, but these men will obey you. We’ll coordinate inside and out, and see him completely ruined.”

For the sake of vengeance, Zhou Chengwang’s eyes were clouded by hatred.

With such a mysterious and formidable ally, Lin Zhenting was well pleased. As for the youth’s identity—time would tell...

“Good. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you win your beauty.”

The deceived youth seemed to grow up in an instant. Betrayal left a bitter taste. Having grown up at Erxian Manor, he was no stranger to decisive action—it only took the right stimulus for him to mature.

In secret, Zhou Chengwang allied with Lin Zhenting, but on the surface, he continued as usual, moving in Zhao Kai’s circle.

Ever since that reckless night with Zhao Yan’er, Zhao Kai had felt too ashamed to face her and went out of his way to avoid her.

Zhao Yan’er noticed this, and knowing it couldn’t go on, she told a lie.

“Brother, if you’re still blaming yourself for that night, then scold me all you want.”

Scold her? Zhao Kai was bewildered. Shouldn’t she be the one angry with him?

“Yan’er,” Zhao Kai said awkwardly, unable even to meet her gaze. “It was my fault. I was too impulsive and nearly ruined you…”

“No…” Zhao Yan’er blurted out, “Brother, you didn’t ruin me—you saved me.”

“What? Saved you?”

“Yes. Brother, the truth is, that night Lin Zhenting drugged me. It’s left lingering effects, and from time to time I… react. I’ve seen a physician, and he said I’d need someone to help me relieve it, or I could be in danger…”

What? Was it really that serious? So that night, he had actually saved her?

“I tried many ways, but in the end, I was too shy to tell anyone. When it flared up last time, I thought of you. Father entrusted me to your care—you wouldn’t let me come to harm, would you?”

Of course not. But this situation… almost seemed like a blessing for him.

Ahem… Zhao Kai shook off his improper thoughts and said with concern, “But this isn’t a long-term solution. You’re an unmarried girl—if word got out, it would ruin your reputation.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted me to stay at home a few more years? Besides, no one knows what happened between me and Lin Zhenting. If I marry someone and he discovers my illness, traces it back to that night, that would be far more damaging.”

That made sense, yet still wasn’t a solution.

“Brother, now that you know my secret, will you keep hiding from me?”

“Of course not. I only feel sorry for you.”

“Then… Brother, could you help me next time the poison takes effect…?”

Help her next time the poison flares up? Wouldn’t that mean…

Zhao Kai felt a rush of heat in his nose—was he about to have a nosebleed? Could such good fortune really fall to him?

“This isn’t really proper… We…”

For the first time, Zhao Kai was at a loss for words. Zhao Yan’er pressed him anxiously, “No, Brother, you’re exceptional—only with your help do I feel safe. I couldn’t trust any other man… And as an unmarried woman, I can’t just turn to anyone.”

Of course not! With her alluring figure, he couldn’t bear to let her fall into someone else’s hands.

No other man could be as self-restrained as he was.

“If you’re asking, then I can only agree,” Zhao Kai said, blushing.

Zhao Yan’er was overjoyed. “Don’t worry, Brother. This will be our secret—I’ll never tell Fei’er. Thank you for saving me.”

Zhao Yan’er’s words were deftly chosen; with just a few sentences, she turned their illicit affair into an act of salvation.

Zhao Kai’s heart pounded fiercely. Though it was a blessing, he had to admit he was greedy for Yan’er’s charms.

If he could help her detoxify, he was more than willing.

Of course, he would be careful not to cross the final line.

“What are you two talking about, looking so happy?”

Zhao Yan’er, still basking in the thought that she could draw close to Zhao Kai in the future, hadn’t even noticed someone had entered.