Fan Yu stared blankly at Qian Ran, his mind racing.
Had he misheard? Did Qian Ran just call that woman Zhou Yi?
Her figure bore an uncanny resemblance to his wife—same height, same build. Zhou Yi was also skilled at disguise; she had even frightened students in class once by wearing the face of an old woman.
Fan Yu's heart pounded in panic.
But he couldn't afford to confront Qian Ran right now. What if it's just a coincidence? After all, Qian Ran had so many women around him; it wasn't unusual for one to resemble Zhou Yi.
He kept trying to reassure himself.
Quickly downing his tea, Fan Yu could barely sit still. All he wanted now was to rush home and check if Zhou Yi was there.
"Fan Yu, would you like to stay for dinner?" Qian Ran asked with a polite smile.
"No, no, I won't impose. I'll see you tonight for dinner at my place," Fan Yu stammered, hastily heading for the door.
"Alright, take care!" Qian Ran said cheerfully as he closed the door behind him.
Once outside, Fan Yu practically sprinted back home.
"He seems to have noticed something," Qian Ran said, turning back.
At that moment, Zhou Yi pulled off her human-skin mask, revealing her true face.
"So what if he has? What can he do about it?" Zhou Yi replied with a mix of resignation and bitterness. Qian Ran had intentionally provoked Fan Yu, and while her husband wasn't stupid, he wouldn't normally suspect his wife of such betrayal. But once you connect the dots, the truth becomes glaringly obvious.
Fan Yu was no fool, and as a brilliant soul engineer, his observational skills were sharp.
"Don't worry. He needs me. And now I'm certain what kind of person he is," Qian Ran said, pinching Zhou Yi's cheek playfully.
"Well, I should head back. There's a surprise waiting for you tonight," Zhou Yi said with a playful glint in her eyes, sticking out her tongue flirtatiously.
"What surprise could you possibly have? I've already explored every inch of you," Qian Ran replied, genuinely curious. Zhou Yi had been utterly uninhibited with him; there wasn't a place he hadn't ventured.
"You'll see," Zhou Yi teased before leaving.
Back at home, Fan Yu's panic intensified as he realized Zhou Yi wasn't there. He rushed to her office—empty.
His face darkened, and he returned home in a daze, collapsing onto the bed.
For the first time in years, Fan Yu cried.
The memories flooded back: Zhou Yi's casual interactions with Qian Ran, which he had dismissed as normal teacher-student camaraderie. How long had this been going on? Was Zhou Yi already involved with Qian Ran back then?
Zhou Yi had even called Qian Ran "Master." In all their years together, she had never used such a submissive tone with him.
While Fan Yu spent endless hours in the lab, Zhou Yi had clearly found other ways to occupy her time.
When Zhou Yi returned, she immediately heard Fan Yu's sobbing.
Hearing the door open, Fan Yu sat up and saw her still wearing the clothes she had left Qian Ran's house in. That broke him further, and he cried even harder.
"It's a tragedy!"
"A grown man crying like a baby? What's there to cry about?" Zhou Yi said with a calm, unbothered demeanor. She felt no need to panic; after all, she wasn't the only one in this situation. Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier were in the same boat, all tied together by their shared secret.
"I can't believe you, Zhou Yi! How could you stoop so low? Qian Ran is still so young! How could you even—" Fan Yu's voice was filled with anger and disbelief.
Qian Ran was only a second-year student! Among the outer court's younger generation, he was still considered a junior.
Zhou Yi had always been so principled; how could she have done something so scandalous? Unless…
"Were you forced? Did Qian Ran threaten you? If there's something going on, tell me! I'll make it public if I have to. I'll get justice for you!" Fan Yu shouted, grasping at straws.
Zhou Yi looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Qian Ran is stronger than you, better than you, and yes, longer than you. I like Qian Ran—what's wrong with that?" Zhou Yi said, her tone sharp.
"And what exactly do you plan to do? Do you think you can touch Qian Ran? He has a hundred ways to kill you without leaving a trace. Do you really want to try?"
Fan Yu's heart sank.
"Let's be honest. Thanks to Qian Ran, many people in Shrek Academy are now under his influence. If he wanted to deal with you, it'd take just one word."
Zhou Yi's words were brutally straightforward.
As a senior figure in the Soul Tool Department, Fan Yu's direct superior was Xian Lin'er—who was also Qian Ran's woman. If Qian Ran decided to make Fan Yu's life difficult, it would be effortless.
Though Zhou Yi no longer had any romantic feelings for Fan Yu, she wasn't heartless. For the sake of their past relationship, she didn't want to push him into a corner.
"You know now. Do whatever you want—divorce me, pretend nothing happened, or maintain appearances. It's up to you. If you keep up the facade, I'll still be your dutiful wife in public," Zhou Yi said, her tone indifferent.
Fan Yu's anger surged, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.
If this had happened a decade ago, he might have confronted Zhou Yi and Qian Ran with everything he had, even risking his life to take them down.
But now?
Fan Yu wasn't the same man. He was a Rank 8 soul engineer, holding one of the highest positions in Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department. He had worked hard to build his reputation and had even glimpsed the possibility of becoming a Rank 9 soul engineer.
Would he throw it all away to confront Qian Ran?
No.
Fan Yu's fury simmered as he weighed the situation rationally.
Exposing the affair? He'd be dead before sunrise. He knew the Spirit Hall's power was far greater than it appeared. And what would be the point? All it would do is reveal his humiliation to the world, tarnishing his name and ability.
Why make myself suffer?
With a bitter chuckle, Fan Yu dismissed the idea of retaliation.
What's done is done. Qian Ran has already claimed what he wanted. Zhou Yi even calls him "Master." What's left?
Fan Yu knew he couldn't reveal the truth, nor could he simply endure it. Instead, he decided to make the best of the situation.
"You're right. Divorce is pointless. If we stay married, you'll have that 'wife glow.' It's probably more exciting for him that way," Fan Yu said with a wry smile, hating himself for the words even as he spoke them. How pathetic. But what choice do I have? I can't fight, can't expose it, can't even complain.
(End of Chapter)