Volume One, Chapter Four: The World’s Affairs Were Originally Serene; Yet Greed, Anger, Ignorance, and Resentment Continually Stir Trouble

At that time, Jiang Shishi had just resigned from a government position in Nan’an County and joined a large private company in Guangnan City as the executive secretary to the president.

She threw herself into her work with exceptional dedication, arriving early and leaving late every day, diligent and responsible in every way.

Within just half a year, she participated in a professional skills competition and won first prize.

She had thought that with such efforts and achievements, her path to promotion and salary increases would be smooth and assured.

What she never expected was that her hard work and success would not lead to a promotion but instead bring new troubles.

Her immediate superior began repeatedly making inappropriate demands of her. When she refused, she faced constant harassment and obstacles.

For a young woman living alone in a strange city, suddenly confronting such a situation naturally plunged her into despair.

During her darkest moments, Fang Yi was always by her side, making her feel familiar, warm, and reliable.

Moreover, since they met, their souls seemed perfectly attuned.

Especially after she confided in Fang Yi about her ordeal, he immediately suggested she leave the company, took charge of arranging everything for her, and together they planned their future lives.

For a girl who had grown up with little family warmth, it was impossible not to be moved.

It was precisely this unexpected warmth that made her decide to cast aside societal conventions and moral constraints to let this love come to fruition.

“Let’s be together—just for one month.”

A month was just right—travel together, experience life together, then give each other the most intense love and the most sincere affection… and then part completely.

This was the best solution she could think of—resolving regrets without hurting anyone or destroying anyone’s family.

The idea of holding a simple wedding for just the two of them was Fang Yi’s.

He even chose the hotel himself—an understated yet luxurious place, elegant without being ostentatious, tasteful and distinctive.

He wanted to give her only the best he could find.

The scene inside the bridal chamber was dazzlingly beautiful.

Fine wine, roses, diamond rings… everything seemed to outshine the neon lights outside the window.

Yet none of this caught Fang Yi’s attention; his gaze was fixed solely on the beauty before him.

Jiang Shishi met his eyes and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Fang Yi stared at her for a long moment before speaking again. “You know, when we first met, I thought you were someone sent by others at great expense to test me.”

Jiang Shishi smiled. “Who would go to the trouble of bribing someone just to plant a spy around you?”

Fang Yi withdrew his gaze and smiled, then said evasively, “Human nature can’t withstand tests.”

Receiving no clear answer, Jiang Shishi didn’t press further.

She then asked, “What about now? Do you still suspect me?”

“If I did, why would I treat you so well?” Fang Yi replied.

“That’s true,” Jiang Shishi said, moving closer and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Fang Yi pressed his cheek against her forehead and continued, “You know, when I first met you, I thought you were very smart—clear-headed, with impeccable logic. I wondered if you had AI implanted in your brain. Later, as I got to know you better, I realized it’s because you’ve often been isolated and unsupported, your heart losing its original warmth. It’s like how you can be attracted to me but not love me enough. Your rich emotions are almost entirely covered by reason—you’re brilliant but arrogant, lonely and sensitive.”

Perhaps because they had long regarded each other as kindred spirits, he could read her quickly just as she could read him.

“Fang Yi, actually, from the moment we met, neither of us had the right to speak of love anymore,” she said. “But even if it’s love or not, so what? Does it matter? What significance does it hold?”

Fang Yi paused briefly before saying, “Love is significance.”

Looking at him, she felt a subtle stirring of emotion.

She had never told him that from the instant their eyes met, she began to fear separation…

Perhaps such a beautiful encounter made one anxious to lose what they had not yet possessed.

At that time, she did not know that Fang Yi was already married.

Fang Yi once asked her how she would describe everything between them.

She had thought for a moment and said, “The mortal world is originally peaceful; it’s greed, anger, ignorance, and resentment that cause endless troubles.”

Fang Yi’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

She knew what he wanted to hear.

But she refused to say it.

…

Then Fang Yi lifted her up entirely, carried her to the bed, pinned her down, and looked into her eyes: “I don’t know what kind of spell you put on me to trap me like this, but I think… you’re more beautiful than all the others.”

Jiang Shishi’s heart skipped a beat. “Who are ‘the others’?”

Fang Yi looked earnestly into her eyes. “You’re more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever met… none of them had what I’m looking for in their eyes.”

With that, he slowly bent down and kissed her…

However, just as their lips met, Fang Yi’s phone suddenly rang.

Such a precious moment, yet he had to answer?

The ringtone stopped, then rang again, stopped and rang once more…

“Better take it,” Jiang Shishi interrupted his movement.

Fang Yi reluctantly got up, glanced lazily at the screen, frowned, and then answered the call.

The moment he picked up, his expression changed drastically. “What? This… how is that possible? When did this happen? Ah… impossible... impossible!”

The last “impossible” was nearly a shout.

After hanging up, he stood barefoot in place, as if frozen by an unseen force.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Shishi sensed something was wrong and sat up from the bed.

Fang Yi stood as if deaf, his hand holding the phone trembling slightly…

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Shishi got off the bed, walked behind him, and gently wrapped her arms around his waist without saying a word.

About half a minute later, Fang Yi slowly turned around and embraced her.

Just as Jiang Shishi was about to ask more, Fang Yi suddenly lifted her again, carrying her back to the bed…

What followed was an intense night of passion.

He looked at her with eyes filled with swirling desire, profound tenderness, primal aggression and possessiveness… and something else indescribable.

This was their first time together, but it was very different from what Jiang Shishi had imagined.

Only after it was over did Fang Yi speak, his voice low and heavy: “Something’s come up. I have to go back.”