Chapter 175: If You Love Him, Do Not Cause Him Pain

Guests in the grand hall mingled, raising glasses and clinking them in celebration.

As the eldest son of Zhou Yanshi, Zhou Xingzheng should have been busy settling the guests.

Finding the noise overwhelming, Zhou Yanshi had chosen to retire early.

It was then that he caught sight of Shen Xian descending the stairs and stopped him.

In Shen Xian, he saw the future of traditional culture.

Shen Xian not only possessed a profound mastery of classical poetry, but his vocal delivery was also extraordinary.

Moreover, according to information received, Shen Xian appeared to be acquainted with the Postman, and the piece "Huangmei Opera" was written by the Postman himself.

Therefore, in Zhou Yanshi's view, the combination of the Postman and Shen Xian would be an unbeatable, ultimate move!

Zhou Xingjian quickly arranged a private dining room, and the four of them entered together, later inviting Xu Zijian as well.

Shen Xian sent a message to Peach Baby: "I have a business luncheon this noon. You go back to the hotel first, and I will treat you to dinner tomorrow."

Although Peach Baby was deeply disappointed, she still replied: "Don't drink too much."

Back at the hotel, she casually ordered takeout, and soon fell into a spiral of overthinking.

Why did he suddenly have a business engagement?

Who was it with?

Was it Zhou Wan?

Would the two of them rekindle their old romance?

As her thoughts drifted, her eyes filled with sorrow.

He was wonderful; he was worthy of anyone.

And Zhou Wan was equally stunning, beautiful, and talented. No man could possibly resist her advance.

Compared to her, she herself held no advantages whatsoever.

Sigh.

Peach Baby let out a soft sigh, resting her fair cheek in one hand as she watched the flowing traffic outside the window.

The Zhou Residence.

Zhou Wan's eyes were red and swollen. She had lost track of Shen Xian again; the moment she came downstairs, he was already gone.

Her aunts and uncles were taking Qingqing out into the courtyard to enjoy the sun.

Her mother, An Yuxia, brought over a bowl of chicken soup and placed it before Zhou Wan: "You didn't eat lunch. Have some chicken soup."

Zhou Wan shook her head: "I have no appetite."

An Yuxia casually pulled over a stool, sat down in front of Zhou Wan, and looked straight into her eyes: "You refuse to give up because you hold a trump card that can crush any woman, don't you?"

An Yuxia's gaze was piercing, seemingly capable of penetrating straight to the depths of Zhou Wan's soul.

Zhou Wan panicked inwardly: "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Her mother glanced toward the door. In the courtyard, Qingqing was giggling merrily: "A daughter is never a mystery to her mother. I've known your temperament since you were a child. Given your personality, you wouldn't have had Qingqing for no reason."

"You only surrender yourself to a man you truly love."

"You have loved this person for three years, and that person is Shen Xian, isn't it?"

By the end of her sentence, An Yuxia's gaze had turned exceptionally sharp, and her expression grew stern, carrying the oppressive weight of someone accustomed to absolute authority.

Zhou Wan raised her head and met An Yuxia's eyes.

"Qingqing is Shen Xian's child, but Shen Xian has no idea!"

"Three years ago, you loved Shen Xian and you were intimate, only Shen Xian didn't know. Later, you became pregnant, and around the same time, Shen Xian entered a new relationship. Furious, you took Qingqing away and never told Shen Xian a word of it."

"But recently, Shen Xian must have moved on from his past relationship, which is why the two of you have gravitated back together!"

"Am I right?" An Yuxia asked.

Zhou Wan felt a chill in her heart. Her mother had not investigated Shen Xian at all throughout this, yet she had deduced the truth with terrifying accuracy!

"No one knows you better than I do." Seeing Zhou Wan's shocked expression, An Yuxia spoke in a calm tone.

Zhou Wan silently nodded.

An Yuxia's gaze drifted back to Qingqing in the courtyard: "You are hesitating whether or not to tell him that Qingqing is his biological daughter, believing this will be your ultimate trump card against Shen Xian."

Zhou Wan remained silent, for An Yuxia was entirely correct.

"Never entertain such a thought." A mocking expression crept onto An Yuxia's face.

Foolish women always imagine they can use children to bind a man. What is the point of that?

Zhou Wan asked in a daze: "Why?"

Why couldn't she tell Shen Xian that Qingqing was his daughter?

An Yuxia said: "You love Shen Xian, don't you?"

Zhou Wan nodded once more.

An Yuxia continued: "When you bring Qingqing into the open, you indeed hold a trump card that can defeat anyone, including Shen Xian."

"However, have you ever considered that the moment Shen Xian learns Qingqing is his daughter, the person who will be happiest is him, but the person who will suffer the most will also be him?"

"If you love him, do not cause him pain!"

Zhou Wan froze, her mind buzzing with a dull roar.

Her mother was right.

When she played this trump card, who would suffer the most?

Without a doubt, it would be Shen Xian!

He would treat Qingqing wonderfully, yet he would still refuse to be with her!

"He will believe that you are using the child to threaten him, to trap him, and it will only make him despise you even more," An Yuxia stated.

Zhou Wan felt as though she had been struck by lightning.

She had originally believed that Qingqing was her greatest leverage, but upon careful reflection, her mother's words made absolute sense. Once revealed, it would instead trigger the greatest crisis!

"Therefore, do not tell him. Let things develop naturally." An Yuxia harbored other plans.

That young man surnamed Meng possessed an exceptional family background; his father was about to run for president in Thailand, and his mother's family commanded a vast commercial empire in South Korea. Crucially, Meng Yanzhou harbored deep, unwavering affection for Zhou Wan.

First, pry Shen Xian and Zhou Wan apart. With Peach Baby supporting Shen Xian on one end, and Meng Yanzhou pursuing Zhou Wan on the other, time would eventually sever the ties between the two entirely.

An Yuxia was exceptionally clever. She navigated political waters with ruthless skill and possessed her own unique methods for managing women.

Just as Mo Wei had once held a trump card capable of defeating her.

Mo Wei had also been pregnant back then. An Yuxia had sought her out and delivered only a single sentence: "Yes, you hold the trump card to defeat me, but the moment you play that card, the person who will suffer the most is still Zhou Xingjian. If you love him, do not cause him pain."

The tactic was identical to the one used today.

No one understood better than her how to break the spirit of a hopelessly romantic woman.

"Think carefully on what I've said. If you love him, do not cause him pain." With those words, An Yuxia walked out of the room.

Though it appeared she was acting in Zhou Wan's best interest, in reality, it was a fatal blow.

Zhou Wan stared blankly, watching Qingqing in the courtyard, lost in a daze.

What should she do? What should she do?

Zhou Wan felt as though her brain had turned into a lump of tangled paste, an absolute mess.

She pulled out her phone, wanting to call Ning Cai, only to suddenly remember that Ning Cai could also be considered her rival in love.

After a moment of hesitation, she dialed Ye Yuning instead: "Yuning..."

The moment she spoke, she choked back a sob.

Ye Yuning was startled: "What's wrong? Today is your grandfather's ninetieth birthday. Did something go wrong?"

Zhou Wan sniffled: "I... and Shen Xian seem to have no hope left."

Ye Yuning immediately let out a breath of relief: "Is that all? A woman pursuing a man is as easy as piercing a layer of gauze. Shen Xian is simply unsatisfied with your past attitude toward him. So, you need to change yourself—become gentle and obedient, and let him see your changes through concrete actions."

"You're so pretty, and a big star to boot. It's hard for any man not to love that."

"Keep your chin up, I'm rooting for you!"

Zhou Wan added: "But there's another girl by his side now. She's very gentle and extremely pretty."

"So what? Even married couples get divorced, and people buried together still get their graves relocated. Cheer up! Starting today, I am officially the head of the Pro-Wan faction. I've got your back!"

"Shen Xian is a good man. Go for it!"

Ye Yuning's voice was bright and cheerful.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Wan's gaze gradually grew resolute.

Qingqing toddled into the room, babbling: "I want Daddy! Where's Daddy?"

Zhou Wan stroked her little head: "Mommy will definitely bring Daddy back. Mommy will never let him get lost again."

Qingqing nodded vigorously: "Mmhmm, mmhmm!"

In the private dining room, Zhou Yanshi looked at Shen Xian with a beaming smile.

Shen Xian maintained impeccable manners, standing up to toast Zhou Yanshi: "Elder Zhou, today is your ninetieth birthday. I wish you a very happy birthday, and I offer this cup to you."

Zhou Yanshi laughed heartily: "Very well."

After the toast, Zhou Xingjian looked at Shen Xian, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "The Huangmei Opera production was written by the Postman. Are you close with the Postman?"

Shen Xian nodded: "We're close. Why do you ask?"

Zhou Xingjian said, "Then go back and tell the Postman to promote traditional culture more and not waste his talent."

Zhou Xingjian had no idea that the person sitting right before him was the very same Postman who had threatened to dig up his ancestral graves.

Nor did Shen Xian know that the Zhou Xingjian before him was the online handle "Purple Qi Coming from the East" who had cursed him as a complete idiot.

Xu Zijian stood up and toasted Shen Xian: "Xiao Shen, do you know that February second next year, the Double Ninth Dragon-Raising-Its-Head festival, will feature the ultimate showdown between stage plays and traditional opera?"

Shen Xian shook his head: "I didn't know."

Xu Zijian explained, "On February second next year, five major traditional opera genres will face off against five major foreign theater troupes. If we win, the prize pool will be a full ten million!"

"The prize money is composed of three million from the Plum Blossom Award, one million in government matching funds, five million pooled together by various theater troupes, and one million in public donations."

How... much?

Ten million?

*Hiss.*

Shen Xian drew in a sharp breath. That was an incredibly generous prize purse.

"If we win, the subsequent profits will be even more terrifying—tours, endorsements, and the like will all yield massive returns." Xu Zijian glanced sideways at Zhou Xingzheng and Zhou Xingjian.

What good was all that empty talk of yours?

Telling him to promote traditional culture without providing any financial incentive was useless!

This kid wouldn't lift a finger unless he saw money.

So cut the crap and hand over the cash.

Xu Zijian continued, "However, foreign stage plays have a wider audience and a larger fan base. It won't be easy for domestic genres to win, especially since they have two trump-card productions. Even with you and the Postman joining forces, I feel it's still going to be an evenly matched battle."

Shen Xian stood up and raised his glass: "Evenly matched? How is that possible? What I want is absolute, crushing dominance!"

"Just watch me!"

Shen Xian raised his glass and drained it in a single gulp.