Having thought this through, Huo Xu almost immediately realized who benefited from all this.

Only Pei Chuan.

Pei Chuan had married the woman he wanted to marry, and now he’d emerged completely clean.

Huo Xu devoted some attention to investigating Pei Chuan. The results nearly drove him mad with rage. At the time, he’d only thought that after Pei Chuan got out of prison, he was still disabled—what prospects could he possibly have? His first time underestimating an opponent in life, and he’d lost this catastrophically.

However, even after discovering the truth, Huo Xu couldn’t spare any energy to deal with him—he had too much trouble of his own.

That evening, Shao Yue came to lie beside him after bathing. Huo Xu shoved her away with one motion, his brows and eyes full of disgust.

No longer liking Shao Yue, he finally understood many things.

Back when he’d accidentally killed Huo Nanshan, it was because he’d seen Huo Nanshan pressing Shao Yue down on the bed. In his youthful hot-headedness, he’d struck out.

What had Huo Nanshan said at the time?

“Little bastard, can’t even control your own woman, yet you dare raise a hand against this young master!”

That single phrase “little bastard,” combined with Shao Yue’s tears at the time, had made Huo Xu strike. Later, when the two men were fighting, Shao Yue had helped Huo Xu by blocking a blow, getting a deep gash cut across her face. Huo Xu had seized the opportunity to end Huo Nanshan’s life.

Both had panicked then, hastily cleaning the scene before fleeing.

It was fortunate that C City was so remote, and that Huo Nanshan had been playing with his brother’s woman—he’d deliberately chosen an isolated location. After the scene was cleaned, not a trace of evidence remained, which was why Jiang Huaqiong had spent so many years searching for the killer.

Now, replaying Huo Nanshan’s final words in his mind, Huo Xu grew increasingly disgusted with Shao Yue.

Moreover, if not for Shao Yue, he wouldn’t be in this situation today.

Huo Xu knew perfectly well—what he’d always feared wasn’t any legal judgment. After all, if Shao Yue insisted that Huo Nanshan had tried to rape her, he could claim justifiable defense or excessive defense. But in Jiang Huaqiong’s eyes, there was only the person who’d killed her son. No matter what the law said, Jiang Huaqiong herself was a blade.

After being pushed away, the smile on Shao Yue’s face stiffened. She’d also figured things out recently—in Huo Xu’s heart now, she was nothing.

If he was heartless, she shouldn’t blame herself for being unrighteous. This man was obsessed with someone else’s wife, obsessed to the point of pain. Shao Yue found herself thinking crazily that it wouldn’t be a bad thing if Jiang Huaqiong killed Huo Xu. Who told these men to all be infatuated with Bei Yao?

Shao Yue thought to herself that she needed to leave, escape abroad, as far away as possible. She was still young and beautiful—she didn’t want to die.

In May, Jiang Huaqiong did something quite extreme—she sold all her Huo family shares to the Huo family’s mortal enemy.

She’d had her fun. Converting all the shares into a massive fortune, she was now ready to kick a dog when it’s down.

On the evening of May twenty-third, Shao Yue got into a taxi and quietly headed to the airport.

*

Pei Chuan learned of both these matters immediately—Jiang Huaqiong selling her shares as the largest shareholder, and Shao Yue’s escape.

Pei Chuan stopped going to B University. After notifying them, he drove to pick up Bei Yao from school.

Bei Yao was brought home in a daze: “What’s wrong?”

These matters were complicated, but he had to explain: “The Huo family has been very chaotic lately. I’m afraid they might retaliate against you. I went to request leave for you—let’s not go to school for now, alright?”

Bei Yao never troubled him over important matters. This young woman had a clear head, and immediately nodded.

He smiled and patted her head: “Such a good girl.”

However, they couldn’t possibly hire thugs to guard their home in B City. Pei Chuan was afraid that Huo Xu might struggle and harm Yaoyao before dying, so he moved up the honeymoon schedule.

Bei Yao was quite happy about this. Her period had passed, making travel convenient.

Pei Chuan had already chosen an island nation with her beforehand.

Growing up, Bei Yao had seen many scenes of beautiful, expansive snow, but had never once seen the ocean.

She was very happy, humming a soft song when they departed.

Pei Chuan was meticulous by nature. He’d prepared everything in advance, even buying her many beautiful dresses, little hats, and pretty scarves.

Bei Yao asked: “Will my parents be alright?”

Pei Chuan said: “They’ll be fine. Trust me.”

She nodded, knowing how capable this man was. Her large eyes were full of trust, melting the man’s heart into a puddle.

This time, Pei Chuan saw clearly—within two months at most, Huo Xu would fall into Jiang Huaqiong’s hands. As for Shao Yue, when Pei Chuan learned she’d fled, he immediately had someone quietly leak the information to Huo Xu.

When Pei Chuan held a grudge against someone, even after ten or twenty years, he would tear a piece of flesh from that person—just as he’d retaliated against Ding Wenxiang in elementary school. Shao Yue was also one of the culprits who’d nearly harmed Yaoyao. Pei Chuan wouldn’t let her live a good life.

As for Huo Xu—let him catch his own woman himself. By the time he caught Shao Yue, Pei Chuan and Bei Yao would be long gone.

They arrived at the island nation in the afternoon, with sunlight spilling across the golden beach.

Pei Chuan had taken honeymoon leave. With a long string of zeros in his bank account, he had people take the luggage to the hotel while he took Bei Yao for a walk on the beach.

Few could afford the private beach and luxury hotel. Waves kissed the shore as Bei Yao, extremely excited, took off her sandals to walk barefoot on the soft sand.

The endless ocean merged with the sky in a deep, beautiful blue. The air carried sea breezes with a scent different from their hometown city.

Pei Chuan carried Bei Yao’s shoes for her, watching as she took out sunscreen to apply.

That little face was so fair and tender it seemed water could be squeezed from it.

After applying it, Bei Yao happily came over: “Pei Chuan, let me put some on you.”

He glanced at her, thinking men didn’t worry about such things.

Yet he still lowered his head, letting her cool little hands touch his face. This young woman truly had skin like ice and jade—much cooler than his own temperature.

Her almond eyes were clear and bright as she carefully dabbed his forehead and cheeks.

Pei Chuan just watched her, letting her fuss. He remembered that Bei Yao’s period should have ended by now.

Bei Yao thought the ocean was too beautiful. When she saw broken shells, she couldn’t help picking them up to see if they made any sound.

She curiously watched the occasional crab too.

Pei Chuan, utterly unromantic man that he was, caught one for her when he saw she liked them. She nearly died laughing: “Why are you catching it? Let it go quickly.”

The crab waved its claws. Seeing she really didn’t want it, Pei Chuan released it back.

On the beach were occasional girls in bikinis and men in swim trunks. She tugged at Pei Chuan’s sleeve with her small hand: “I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

She’d become somewhat dependent on him, sensing this man was omnipotent. Her tone went soft and sweet, wanting a swimsuit, acting coquettishly toward him.

A sweet, delicate young woman—no one could resist.

He simply turned his head away.

Why did she always want to play in the water?

Pei Chuan paused before speaking: “Coming out of seawater, you’d be covered in salt. Not fun.” Actually it wasn’t that exaggerated—the waters here were clean, safety measures good. Quite a few thrill-seekers went in to play.

Bei Yao thought about that scenario and found it somewhat amusing: “Then I’ll go back and shower.”

“The seawater is deep—dangerous.”

“I’ll just play in the shallows. University taught swimming.”

Pei Chuan simply stopped talking.

Deep down, he was actually a bit male chauvinistic. He could give his pampered wife anything, indulging, cherishing, and loving her. But there were some things that would make him feel irritated and angry.

To this day, the most revealing outfit he’d seen Bei Yao wear was the ultra-short shorts she wore when visiting him in prison in the summer of 2012, and the white shirt of his she’d worn on their wedding night.

Wang Qiankun’s earlier words had made him furious. He was generous with money, but truly petty about this.

Growing up, Pei Chuan had endured every hardship. His personality was somewhat cold.

Yet he couldn’t voice these old-fashioned, possessive thoughts to her. Compared to today’s young women, Bei Yao was already shy and reserved. He didn’t want her unhappy, but the young woman was clearly already somewhat displeased.

Actually, during this period, Bei Yao had also been spoiled by him. Acting coquettishly toward Pei Chuan got her whatever she wanted.

His sudden silence and refusal—the abrupt contrast made her difficult to adjust.

However, she wasn’t angry with him, just displaying a young woman’s petulance.

He saw clearly and coaxed her softly: “What do you want for dinner? Seafood? Want crab?” Pei Chuan removed sand particles from her hair.

She said sullenly: “Don’t want any.”

“Then Chinese food? Stir-fried dishes?”

Being coaxed still made her happy. Even though Bei Yao wasn’t unreasonable, any woman would become somewhat pampered when indulged so submissively by Pei Chuan.

She kicked at the sand: “Don’t want that either.”

Pei Chuan smiled: “Then what do you want to eat?”

Bei Yao bit her lip: “Nothing. I have no appetite.”

She secretly glanced at him, just hoping Pei Chuan would relent and let her play in the water. There was even surfing at the beach—it looked so tempting.

However, what this man decided rarely wavered.

Seeing there really was no hope, Bei Yao sullenly punched his chest: “Liar. You said you’d give me anything.”

He smiled and grasped her small pink fist, bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

Being able to act spoiled was good. As long as she wasn’t ignoring him, everything was marital affection.

That evening they returned to the hotel to wash up thoroughly before going down for dinner.

The beachside lighting was arranged extremely luxuriously, flickering and shimmering. The night sea breeze carried tropical humidity and heat.

Naturally, Pei Chuan couldn’t actually believe her when she petulantly said she wouldn’t eat. Afraid Bei Yao wouldn’t be used to the local cuisine, he ordered a bit of everything.

There were various types of seafood among them.

Pei Chuan peeled them for her, then fed them to her mouth. She’d long forgotten her little temper from daytime, happily saying: “This crab isn’t good, but that shrimp is delicious.”

The young woman peeled one herself and fed him just as he’d fed her.

Bei Yao wasn’t the type to only receive others’ love. She had a scale in her heart for whoever treated her well, and she kept it there.

Being cared for and loved by her melted one’s heart completely.

Pei Chuan loved this feeling of having a home now. Being by her side was truly wonderful. He’d been able to leave back then because he’d never truly possessed her. But once you possess something, who would truly be willing to lose it? You’d only wish to grasp it tightly, staying together through eternity without separation.

There was also a bottle of fruit wine on the table. Pei Chuan opened it and asked if she wanted some.

Bei Yao’s eyes lit up: “May I drink it?”

Previously controlled by Zhao Zhilan, she’d had no opportunity before university. Later in university, though she’d had the chance, Bei Yao never dared drink alcohol outside. Her safety awareness was strong—one shouldn’t place oneself in danger to satisfy curiosity.

Her expectant expression was impossibly adorable. He smiled: “Mm, you can. The alcohol content isn’t high.”

Pei Chuan poured Bei Yao a glass. It was good wine, the type of fruit wine basically all girls would like—sweet, though with quite an aftertaste.

Pei Chuan didn’t care for sweets, so he just kept peeling the shrimp she said were delicious.

Bei Yao quickly finished one glass. She pushed her glass over. Pei Chuan’s movements paused. He wiped his fingers clean and poured her another glass.

The young woman’s large eyes were somewhat dazed, rippling with hazy, confused laughter. Her voice was sweet and soft: “Pei Chuan, tell me about things from when we were little. Zhou Grandma’s dog—did you let it out to bite Sister Shang?”

He calmly wiped her fingers too: “No.”

Bei Yao pouted: “Liar.”

He just smiled, his smile somewhat tender.

Bei Yao blinked: “You finally smile. You were stone-faced as a child.”

He knew she was drunk and said gently: “Talking nonsense.”

Bei Yao said: “Want you to hold me.”

“Come here.”

She walked over and sat on his lap.

Actually this put strain on him. Pei Chuan shifted back, letting her sit on his thigh so his calf stump wouldn’t bear pressure.

She softly wrapped her arms around his neck. Pei Chuan looked down at her.

“Yaoyao.”

“Mm?”

He rarely displayed typical male shortcomings, yet at this moment he whispered in her ear: “Call me husband.”

The night wind was warm and hot. Her breathing was also heated, only her exposed skin cool—touching it in the summer night felt especially comfortable.

He couldn’t see the ocean clearly at night, only the flickering lights and the impossibly soft bundle in his arms.

She called out crisply: “Husband.”

Being drunk made her so easy to coax. He really couldn’t help himself and kissed her lips: “Good Yaoyao.”

Though the temperature was much higher here at night, Pei Chuan was afraid she’d fall asleep outside, so he held her to carry her back.

Though Bei Yao was dazed, she still remembered one thing—her Pei Chuan’s leg wasn’t good. She’d gained weight where she should, wasn’t short—one hundred jin! Bei Yao refused to let him carry her and insisted on walking herself.

Pei Chuan gently touched her cheek. His young woman knew how to care for people.

She felt her feet were light and floating, as if stepping on clouds.

Pei Chuan held her hand, afraid she’d lose her way.

The hotel was very large and romantic. In his youth, Pei Chuan had wanted to give her a good life. But back then, a deep chasm separated them—he couldn’t cross it psychologically or physically.

For many years, he’d liked buying her pretty dresses, wanting to give her the best things, yet didn’t even deserve to have an identity.

Now, he’d finally gotten what he wished for.

Bei Yao lay on the bed. Pei Chuan touched her cheek: “Yaoyao?”

She answered softly: “Sleepy.”

“Do you still remember what we came here to do?”

“What did we come to do?” She asked reflexively with her eyes closed.

Pei Chuan answered in a low voice: “To spend our honeymoon.”

“Oh, to spend our honeymoon.”

He looked down at her sweet, innocent profile: “So, can you wait a bit before sleeping?”