And so, Qiu Liuyue gradually sank deeper into her delusions, unwilling to extricate herself. She became blinded by her identity as a transmigrator, her heart corrupted by the immediate gains before her. Slowly, she grew arrogant and self-deceptive, losing sight of reality.
Qiu Liuyue believed she was surrounded by countless outstanding male characters, steadfastly searching for her destined male lead. She was convinced that these exceptional men would eventually become her devoted followers, willing to sacrifice everything for her without hesitation.
Yet, Qiu Liuyue failed to realize that as she changed, the once-attracted, outstanding young men around her had already begun to drift away. The remarkable men she later encountered did not, as she imagined, willingly offer everything for her sake.
Take Lin Jiarui, for example. Initially, he might have genuinely been drawn to Qiu Liuyue and strived to build a happy future with her. But upon learning that her heart belonged to someone else, after a brief moment of disappointment, he let go of those feelings, turned the page, and moved on with his life.
There was never the scenario Qiu Liuyue envisioned—where men would willingly share her with others, remain by her side, and sacrifice everything for her. It was all just her wishful thinking.
If Qiu Liuyue continued down this path of self-deception, refusing to wake up, even if there had once been a destined soulmate for her, would that person still fall deeply in love with the now-deluded and corrupted version of her? Would their fated trajectory remain unchanged?
As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The so-called “destined soulmate” drawn to this version of Qiu Liuyue—were his feelings genuine? Was he truly the one meant to walk hand in hand with her through life?
Among the crowd gathered below Baihualou, a man with a concealed face, an unreadable expression, and a somewhat gloomy demeanor—yet dressed in attire that betrayed his noble lineage—whispered to his subordinate, “Are you certain this is the place?”
The subordinate replied with absolute confidence, “No mistake, young master. After thorough investigation and cross-referencing, we’ve confirmed that the new owner of Baihualou is the same person behind Qimiaowu and other establishments.”
Qiu Liuyue didn’t want others to know she owned a brothel. Having lived in this world for so long, she had learned to protect her reputation and image. Thus, she intended to keep Baihualou as a hidden business asset, a trump card, while Qimiaowu and other shops served as her public-facing ventures. One in the light, one in the shadows—a perfect balance.
Yet, Qiu Liuyue’s methods were still somewhat immature. Despite her transmigrator’s knowledge and advantages, she couldn’t compare to the seasoned veterans who had operated in this field for years. Though the information hadn’t spread widely, those with power and influence knew the connection between Baihualou and Qimiaowu.
Qiu Liuyue, the mysterious owner of Qimiaowu, had already caught the attention of these shrewd figures. Once funds moved and Baihualou took action, those with the means quickly pieced together the truth.
For instance, the gloomy man and Chi Huai were among those who knew.
Though Chi Huai had been preoccupied lately with his upcoming wedding and deepening his bond with You Qi, he hadn’t neglected business entirely. When You Qi expressed interest in visiting Baihualou, Chi Huai immediately ordered his subordinates to gather detailed information on the establishment. With his sharp mind and years of experience, Chi Huai easily uncovered the secrets Baihualou sought to hide.
After reviewing the findings, Chi Huai sighed. Once brimming with confidence about building a bright future with You Qi, he now found his certainty wavering inexplicably.
Though he hadn’t noticed anything amiss at first, after spending time together—and given that You Qi hadn’t gone out of his way to hide things—Chi Huai, being perceptive, had begun to sense something off. At this point, he almost wished he weren’t so sharp. Sometimes, ignorance could be bliss.
But it was too late now. The seed of doubt had been planted. Chi Huai could pretend ignorance in front of You Qi, but the thorn in his heart remained. He could either let it fester or confront the issue head-on and pull it out.
Normally decisive and brave, Chi Huai found himself unusually hesitant and conflicted in this matter.
You Qi, though focused on his work, had also been keeping an eye on Chi Huai. How could he not notice Chi Huai’s current turmoil? With a sigh, You Qi thought, *So this day has finally come.*
He had always known Chi Huai was sharp and observant. He never believed he could keep secrets for long, nor did he particularly want to. Thus, Chi Huai’s discovery didn’t surprise him—it felt almost inevitable. After all, this was Chi Huai!
As for how to proceed now that Chi Huai had caught wind of things… Frankly, You Qi had no intention of hiding the truth. In a marriage, too many secrets could harm the relationship. Trust and honesty were essential, weren’t they?
You Qi stroked his chin, considering. *Now’s the perfect opportunity. Since Ah Huai has already noticed, I might as well come clean and nip any potential issues in the bud. Yes, that’s the way to go!*
While Chi Huai was still wrestling with his thoughts, You Qi had already cast aside his reservations, ready to lay everything bare. In his overconfident heart, You Qi was inexplicably certain that even after learning the truth—his identity, his past—Chi Huai’s feelings for him wouldn’t change.
Others might call this wishful thinking, even arrogance. After all, how deep could their bond be in such a short time? But You Qi was brimming with confidence.
Though his conviction might seem reckless to outsiders, You Qi chose to follow his instincts. And so, while others might see this as impulsive, You Qi marched straight to Chi Huai to confess.
Without preamble, You Qi boldly pulled Chi Huai into his arms, shedding all pretense of fragility or delicacy. His demeanor was bold and unrestrained. “Ah Huai~ I have a little secret to share~”
This “unconventional” You Qi startled Chi Huai slightly, but admittedly, this version of him felt far more fitting.
Before, Chi Huai had always sensed an odd dissonance when looking at You Qi. Now, that feeling vanished, replaced by a thought: *This is how it should be! The person I love, my partner, is exactly like this!*
Snapping back to reality, Chi Huai blushed as he realized he was being held by You Qi. He squirmed slightly, feigning annoyance. “If you have something to say, say it! Stop being so handsy! And don’t think you can just sweep everything under the rug after coming clean. You’ve got to earn my forgiveness first!”
Chi Huai: *Hmph! Did you think I’d just roll over after being kept in the dark? Dream on! I have my pride too!*
Chi Huai believed he was being stern and authoritative, but to You Qi, he resembled nothing more than an adorable, sulky kitten refusing belly rubs. The sight made You Qi’s heart flutter, itching to scoop him up, ruffle his soft fur, and bury his face in that fluffy belly.
Of course, You Qi knew if he didn’t get serious now, his beloved might bolt. So, suppressing his mischievous thoughts, he adopted a solemn tone and began his confession.
What followed left Chi Huai reeling. The revelations were so explosive that for a moment, he feared he’d learned too much—enough to shorten his lifespan. Thankfully, You Qi quickly soothed him, calming his racing heart.
It turned out You Qi’s identity had never been simple. He was the leader of a covert faction directly under the Emperor’s command—a force few knew existed.
Though this faction operated in the shadows, its influence was formidable. As its leader, You Qi was one of the Emperor’s most trusted confidants.
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