Chapter 157 Touching

She no longer had the energy to play the obedient daughter.

Xie Lingling's chest heaved with anger. She glared at her fiercely, then turned and walked towards the door.

——

After dinner, Song Zhiwei stood at the kitchen door for a long time.

Looking at the pile of dishes in the sink and listening to the sound of running water echoing in her ears, she finally mustered up the courage to speak to Yuan Peipei, who was wiping the table: "Mengxi, I'm going to talk to her next door for a bit."

Yuan Peipei didn't even look up, continuing to wipe the table with the rag in her hand.

"Okay, I'll wash the dishes."

She nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk out the door.

Sheng Tingzhou was wearing a black bathrobe.

As soon as the door opened, he leaned lazily against the door frame.

The dim light from the corridor lamp illuminated his profile, outlining his deep features.

"So you've finally decided to come find me?"

The words Xie Lingling had said that afternoon suddenly flashed into her mind.

Who in this circle doesn't know about the Chen and Sheng families?

The two families have been on good terms for generations and have had frequent business dealings.

Rumors of a secret marriage had already spread like wildfire throughout high society.

If they really do get married...

And what about him?

What is the relationship between him and her?

She looked up and her gaze fell on his face.

"I have something I want to ask you."

Sheng Tingzhou didn't ask any questions, but suddenly reached out and gently held her wrist with his slender fingers.

He gently pulled her into the living room, and the door closed silently behind him.

Finally, she raised her eyes, her voice trembling slightly.

"Are you and Chen Yun... getting married?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Tingzhou frowned and his expression darkened.

"Who made this up for you? Was it your uncle?"

He knows Zhou Yuze too well.

That man appeared refined and gentle on the surface, but in reality, he was deeply scheming.

"It wasn't him."

She shook her head, her eyelashes lowered, her voice calm.

“I haven’t contacted him at all in the past two days.”

Sheng Tingzhou stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his hands and gently cupped her face in his palms.

"Idiot, a man who can't even decide his own marriage deserves to stand here with you?"

Her eyelashes trembled, as if burned by those words.

"But this circle... is originally arranged by parents. Marriage is not something that can be done entirely at will."

She is indeed different.

But he was different.

He is the sole heir of the Sheng family, and his every move affects the family's interests.

After hearing this, he suddenly scoffed.

"Attorney Song, I remember your college graduation thesis was on 'Modern Views on Marriage and Love,' right? How come your mind is still stuck in the Qing Dynasty?"

He leaned down slightly, getting closer to her.

"The law clearly stipulates freedom of marriage! It's written into the constitution. You, a law master's graduate, haven't forgotten even this basic common sense?"

Yes, it's not the old society anymore.

But she couldn't help herself and whispered, "But Chen Yun... she's beautiful, from a good family, and she's well-mannered. The Sheng family will definitely like her. Aren't you... tempted? Aren't you going to consider it?"

Before he could finish speaking, his lips were already pressed down on hers.

His kiss was deep, as if he wanted to disrupt all her thoughts.

When he finally released her, she was both ashamed and angry, panting heavily.

"Can't you... just let me finish? It's always like this, so unreasonable!"

He chuckled softly, his chest heaving, and gently pressed his forehead against hers.

His voice was hoarse, with a hint of laughter, yet utterly serious.

"If you don't want to hear something, just shut your mouth and it's gone."

Song Zhiwei: "..."

She was speechless for a moment.

What does this have to do with anything?

Her mind was in complete chaos.

We were just arguing about Chen Yun, how did the topic suddenly shift to her?

She was completely taken aback, only feeling a bittersweet sensation in her chest.

Sheng Tingzhou reached out and pinched her cheek.

He raised the corner of his mouth and arched his eyebrows slightly, a casual smile on his face: "Besides, do you really think Chen Yun is good?"

He was still trying to put on a brave face, though his voice was a little hoarse.

"It's alright."

Sheng Tingzhou chuckled, his voice low and laced with sarcasm.

"Then you should hurry up and make an appointment with an ophthalmologist, and while you're at it, make an appointment with a psychologist. They need to fix your blind eyes and your warped values."

Song Zhiwei: "..."

Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't utter a single word.

It wasn't because I was angry, but because I was shocked.

Why would he say it so bluntly?

"I avoid people who use patients as leverage to blackmail their families like the plague; I wouldn't dare get involved with them."

"It's not surprising that someone with no moral compass will do anything."

Song Zhiwei was stunned for a moment before her mind finally caught on.

She looked up abruptly, her voice trembling slightly.

"You mean... she used the patient's life to force Jiang Yan to betray you?"

"Um."

Sheng Tingzhou only replied with one word.

No wonder Jiang Yan would do something like this.

She always thought that Jiang Yan was attracted by Chen Yun's charm or ideals.

But it turns out he was being coerced.

Standing on the edge of a cliff, one has no choice but to bow one's head.

Sheng Tingzhou spoke calmly.

“I’ve gathered all the evidence and I’m going to sue her. A person like that as a doctor will kill someone sooner or later.”

He knew what this meant.

Once exposed, Chen Yun's career may be over, and the hospital will be caught in a media storm.

But he didn't care.

He couldn't let someone who treated patients' lives as pawns continue to wear a white coat and stand in front of the operating table.

Song Zhiwei nodded silently.

She felt that this was the right way to do it.

If even this basic principle cannot be upheld, then what justice is there in this circle?

"So, Attorney Song, do you have any further questions?"

He suddenly changed his tone, with a hint of a smile.

Sheng Tingzhou had already reached out and gently pinched her chin with his slender fingers.

He tilted his head to look at her, so close they could almost feel each other's breath.

She hesitated for a moment, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

"I agreed to what you mentioned this morning."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

He paused, then his eyes lit up instantly.

He stared at her, his voice slightly tense.

"You agreed to move out with me?"

She had had enough of the Zhou family, and she had had enough of Xie Lingling.

Every day, the first thing I do when I open my eyes is wait for that woman to come knocking on my door and cause trouble.

She really didn't have the energy to deal with it anymore.

Sheng Tingzhou pulled her into his arms.

"How did you suddenly come to your senses?"

She leaned against him, listening to his strong heartbeat.

She twitched the corners of her mouth, half-seriously and half-jokingly.

"I was touched by what you just said."

Which sentence?

She had once suspected his relationship with Chen Yun.

But the moment he said those words, all my unease vanished.

"Which sentence? Tell me quickly."

He pinched her cheek.

Her face flushed red, and the tips of her ears turned a faint pink. She raised her hand and slapped him away.

"Let go!"

"I won't let go."

He smiled and shook his head, then lowered his head and gently brushed his nose against hers.

Finally, warm lips gently landed on her lips.

Not to be outdone, she reached out and pinched his face, raising an eyebrow.

"Let it go or not?"

His eyebrows curved, and a smile spread from the depths of his eyes.

"I won't let go. I'll stick with you for the rest of my life. You can't shake me off no matter what."

She pursed her lips, deliberately put on a stern face, and pretended to be impatient.

In the end, she was the one who let go first.

Seeing this, Sheng Tingzhou not only did not let go, but instead raised his other arm and firmly wrapped it around her waist.

His voice was low and languid.

"Moving tomorrow."