Chapter 18

Right now at the dining table, my husband Suhang and Li Yunzhou-who looked so much like Bai Zifan-were busy trading business flattery and talking up their future cooperation.

Even while he talked, Suhang still didn’t forget to take care of me, picking dishes into my bowl, carefully removing fish bones.

My head was full of Bai Zifan-the him covered in engine oil, focused on fixing cars; the him who wanted to get into Imperial Capital Renmin University; the him burning with fever in that cheap motel. All of them surged at me from every corner of my memory…

My head felt woozy and swollen. I wanted to run, but I had no choice except to grit my teeth and endure.

Out of nowhere, Li Yunzhou shifted the topic to me. “Miss Li, you play the piano very well. I had the good fortune to hear it last time-unforgettable, even now.”

My heart clenched, and I trembled a little.

Suhang said that Lili had learned piano since she was a child and that she was teaching piano now.

“No wonder.” His gaze was meaningful.

How ridiculous. The one who should be hiding in the shadows was now looking me over like a hunter sizing up prey, measuring me inch by inch with his eyes. Why should I be afraid of him? If he were really Bai Zifan, he should be the one afraid of me!

I stood up, pretending to raise my glass in a toast, but I deliberately tilted the red wine, spilling it over the cuff of Li Yunzhou’s right sleeve.

“Oh no, I’m so sorry, Manager Li…”

He calmly took the towel the waiter handed over. “It’s fine.”

He only dabbed at it lightly, refusing to roll up the soaked sleeve.

I stared him down, full of momentum. “That must be really uncomfortable. I’ll have someone bring you a fresh shirt right away.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

He saw right through me and smiled at me as he slowly rolled up his sleeve with those long fingers, revealing the winding scar on his arm, like a centipede coiled on his tanned skin.

I recognized it. It was the scar from that car accident-the one that took seven stitches.

Bai Zifan.

I ground my teeth.

He, however, met my gaze with complete composure. From the start, he’d never intended to hide his identity from me. Every move he made was smooth and effortless, as if he was utterly certain I wouldn’t dare expose him in front of my husband.

He had my dark past in his hands.

He’d been a con artist before, and he was still a con artist now. I had no idea how he’d forged his identity and transformed himself into some corporate executive.

When the meal ended, President Cai and Suhang walked ahead, chatting enthusiastically.

Without a sound, Bai Zifan dropped back to my side, his tone dripping with mockery. “Congratulations. Your dad really picked you a great son-in-law.”

I met his eyes. “Yeah, my dad has a great eye for people.”

He lowered his voice. “Great eye, I’m not so sure. But when it comes to picking up garbage, he’s top-tier.”

I replied softly, “Bai Zifan, you don’t even qualify as garbage. You’re more like a maggot in the sewer.”

He actually laughed-and laughed like he was genuinely amused.

Suhang turned back. “What are you two talking about?”

“Miss Li and I really hit it off,” he said smoothly. “Feels like we’re old friends who haven’t seen each other in years.”

Just then we reached the steps. Suhang held his hand out to me; I took it as he helped me up. I quickened my pace and walked ahead of Bai Zifan.

In that instant, I caught the sharpness in his eyes. He only curled his lips into a smile, with a hint of disdain in it.