Chapter 29: What Should You Do If the One You Love Is Not Your Lover?

“The old madam wants to see me?” She looked at her husband, her eyes full of yearning. Luo Minglang came over and gently embraced her. “How could you come without telling me?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, noticing Shen Yue’s hostility toward her, so she held him tighter and kissed his cheek. “I didn’t want you to worry, so I didn’t say anything.”

“Go on in, the old madam is waiting for you.”

“Alright.” She affectionately stroked his face, a sweet and uninhibited smile lighting up her features. Glancing at Shen Yue, she then put her hand on the doorknob. With a face full of loathing, Shen Yue said, “Miss Zhang, my grandmother is ill now, very fragile. I hope you’ll mind your words and show her some respect.”

“Miss Shen, when it comes to respecting others, perhaps you need more lessons than I do.” With a wicked smile, she pushed open the door, locked it behind her, and immediately heard the old madam’s trembling voice from within, “You’ve come!”

There was a kind of magic in the old madam’s voice; the moment it touched her ears, her heart quivered, and a surge of emotion rose from her scalp to her toes. She turned slowly, her eyes already brimming with tears as she looked at the old madam, and step by step, she approached her, tears falling one after another.

Shen Hanqing’s emotions were drawn in as she watched, for Zhang Guoguo’s attitude confirmed all her suspicions. When Zhang Guoguo knelt before her, she grabbed her hand excitedly, choking on her words, “You’re Linyue, aren’t you? What was written in that letter, the story I once told you about souls swapping bodies—it’s true, isn’t it?”

Zhang Guoguo held the old madam’s hand tightly, burying her head where their hands joined, nodding, weeping bitterly, sorrowfully, but with restraint. The old madam continued, “So you really are my little Linyue. Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me, so I didn’t dare. And I never found the right moment. After all, the soul of the dead residing in someone else’s body—it’s too far-fetched.”

“I believe you, I do. But what I can’t understand is, why were you so foolish back then? Why did you have to end your life? If you hadn’t, things might have turned out differently. All this time, I was trying to save you, always investigating An Ruier. Why couldn’t you have waited a little longer?”

She looked up at the old madam, her disappointment clear. “Later, I thought I was foolish too. Why should I die for someone else’s sake? But there’s no medicine for regret in this world. Now that I’ve been reborn in Zhang Guoguo’s body, I’ll live well for her.”

“Does Luo Minglang know about this?” Shen Hanqing asked, a trace of worry in her voice. “You must protect yourself. Luo Minglang is not someone easy to deal with.”

“I know, so I’ve always been very careful. Granny, you don’t need to worry about this. As long as he treats me well, I’ll never betray him.”

“And what about the An family? How do you plan to handle them?”

“I have my own way. Granny, as for Uncle’s matter, I truly can’t control it.”

“I don’t blame you. This is your uncle’s fault. Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to settle this. I’ve already lost your parents; I can’t lose you too.” She stroked Zhang Guoguo’s cheek, finally showing relief. “Living well means more than anything. To love and be loved is the greatest blessing.”

“Yes, yes.” She nodded vigorously, feeling the old madam’s gentle hands wiping away her tears, and managed a small smile. “Granny, you must get well soon. Then I can take you on a road trip, just like you always wanted to visit Mount Tai. When you’re better, I’ll take you there.”

“I’m too old to run around now. I have no great hopes left, only that you’ll be well. Now that you’re Zhang Guoguo, be her well. Treat Luo Minglang and the Zhang family kindly. After all, you now occupy the body of their daughter-in-law and daughter—be grateful. As for the grudge between the Zhangs and the Shens, stay out of it. If you interfere, it’ll only arouse suspicion. Leave it to me.”

Their conversation fell among the lilies on the nightstand, every word drifting clearly to Tao Deli at the doorway. When he finished listening, he was at a complete loss, his face troubled as he looked at Luo Minglang.

In all his ten years with Luo Minglang, this was the first time he felt so conflicted. He knew how deeply Luo Minglang loved Zhang Guoguo, and could already foresee the blow this news would deal him. But love is a complicated thing; an outsider has no right to interfere. As a subordinate, it was his duty to report everything accurately.

His heart was a tangled mess. Life, he thought, is full of surprises. The lilies he sent today were only meant to monitor the Shen family’s attitude toward Zhang Guoguo and their next move. He never expected that Zhang Guoguo—or rather, the body of Zhang Guoguo housing the soul of Shen Linyue—would become entangled in all this.

Luo Minglang noticed Tao Deli’s distracted look and realized he must have overheard something he shouldn’t have. Because Shen Yue was watching him intently, he kept up his cold demeanor, lips pressed tight. Only when Zhang Guoguo emerged with reddened eyes did he immediately step forward, holding her, comforting her, “Why are you crying?”

“It’s nothing, just some old memories. I couldn’t help myself.”

Seeing this, Shen Yue quickly entered the sickroom.

Tao Deli recovered his usual composure and approached, saying, “Sir, Madam, the car is waiting downstairs.”

“Let’s go.” Luo Minglang naturally took his wife’s hand, opening the car door for her, and brought her home.

Perhaps the release of so many emotions had left Zhang Guoguo exhausted. She went to her room to rest, while Luo Minglang, with work to handle, went to the study and called Bei Yiming, the CEO of Huabei Technologies, who had already arrived in Davos for their meeting.

Luo Minglang and Bei Yiming were friends, and Luo was also his largest shareholder. Bei Yiming’s success came through entrepreneurship; unlike Luo Minglang, he didn’t have the advantage of a powerful family. Every step was hard-won, but during that difficult period, he met Luo Minglang and received his support and investment. Only then could he bring Huabei to its current status as one of the world’s most prominent technology companies.

They had agreed to meet in Davos. After hanging up the video call, Tao Deli, still treading on eggshells, placed a recording on Luo Minglang’s desk and said nervously, “Sir, this is the conversation between Madam and Old Madam Shen at the hospital.”

“Why were you listening to Madam’s conversation?” Luo Minglang looked up, his pale eyes fixed on the device, his handsome face cold, as if reproaching Tao Deli for overstepping his bounds.

Even as her husband, he had never spied on Zhang Guoguo’s private matters, simply because she disliked it.

Tao Deli lowered his head, a touch aggrieved. “Sir, I suggest you listen. The content may be hard to accept, but I believe you have the right to know. It concerns your future safety and Madam’s true identity.”

He was never one to mince words, but knowing how much Luo Minglang loved Zhang Guoguo, he realized that unless he spoke plainly, Luo Minglang would never listen to the recording.

His words succeeded in drawing Luo Minglang’s attention. Luo picked up the recorder, rolling it between his fingers, his gaze flicking to Tao Deli. “Leave us.”

“Yes, sir.”

Luo Minglang was silent; several heavy sighs sounded in the quiet study. The switch on the black recorder was less than a centimeter from his finger, yet he couldn’t bring himself to press it. He didn’t want to hear anything that might harm his wife. Though she had changed, become someone unfamiliar, she loved him even more now.

Perhaps it was fear of shattering this peace that kept him from pressing the button. Instead, he set the recorder down and walked to the balcony, gazing at the white roses they had planted together just the week before, recalling all the moments they had shared. What he felt was happiness.

A knot formed in his heart. If the person you love is not truly your beloved, what should you do?

He looked back at the pen on the desk and slowly walked toward it.