Chapter 11: So, Are You Going to Play Peacemaker Too?

“Huh?”

Pan Yun, with her outgoing personality, glanced at Zhang Qidong and instinctively let out a gasp. How could such a matter be twisted so blatantly?

But Zhang Qidong had laid out so much groundwork, speaking as if he were an expert in every field. Even if she didn’t fully agree deep down, Pan Yun could only express astonishment and, for a moment, actually entertain the possibility that such a situation might exist.

Song Yue reached out to lightly touch Xu Shujian, as if to say, “Aren’t you the one who holds grudges? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to say something?”

Xu Shujian gently pressed down on Song Yue’s hand. Song Yue didn’t withdraw it, and Xu Shujian felt the soft warmth of that touch.

Huang Liling looked at Zhang Qidong with visible grievance. “President Zhang! You can’t say things like that.”

Yu Hui seemed to gain confidence. “Whether passive or active, I admit this is my fault. But I sincerely apologize—not just words, but actions. Yet you just can’t move on. If I really didn’t like you, we wouldn’t have been married for six or seven years by now. Why is it that every time you act out, I’m the one who compromises?”

“You say you compromise? Think carefully—how many times have I been the one to give in? Like when I agonized over whether you preferred white or black. Have you ever truly considered how much that hurt me? Yesterday, you still said you liked white, but look at the clothes you’re wearing now—aren’t they black? Do you remember what I said? I like warm tones. Have you ever bought me clothes in warm colors? I bought some for you, but you said they were childish, that at over thirty, you couldn’t wear anything too bright. But is this really about brightness? Is this your idea of compromise? Or am I the one compromising?”

Huang Liling grew emotional, tears welling in her eyes. “You always say it’s my problem, so much so that I began to doubt whether it really was me. But these things do bother me. I thought I had forgotten my birthday, but every time I remember it, it just feels wrong—especially wrong.”

Yu Hui started rubbing his head, and after a while, he began to take off his clothes. “Alright, alright, I’ll change. Okay?”

He stripped off the black jacket and stood up, heading straight toward his bedroom.

The production crew grew a little concerned as someone approached.

Huang Liling covered her face, taking deep breaths.

Pan Yun immediately leaned over and gently patted her back.

“That’s just it—if he truly cared about being with me, why wouldn’t he put in a little effort to change? Every time he tries to soothe me, telling me I’m too sensitive, but he never pays attention to his own behavior. If he keeps this attitude, we’ll keep fighting over the same things. How can we keep living like this...”

These words came from Huang Liling, her face still covered.

Every adult has their dignity, but life strips away that mask.

Those thorns buried deep in the bones emerge, and no matter how fine the clothes, they can’t conceal the pain.

Lin Xiaoxian leaned against Zhang Qidong and whispered, “It’s all your fault. What kind of occasion is this, and you’re just saying whatever comes to mind?”

Zhang Qidong was unfazed. “What’s wrong with me? The old saying goes, ‘A clear official finds it hard to judge domestic affairs.’ I just want them to be well.”

From the bedroom came the sounds of rummaging. Zhang Qidong noticed someone from the crew approaching, thought for a moment, then stood and walked toward Yu Hui’s bedroom, signaling to the crew that he was going in.

---

Pan Yun wanted to speak several times but hesitated, sensing Huang Liling’s grievance but also wary of Yu Hui’s unstable mood. What if criticizing him made things worse?

After some thought, she turned her gaze to Chen Linye. She felt sure she and Chen Linye would never quarrel like this.

About five or six minutes later, Zhang Qidong and Yu Hui emerged. Yu Hui no longer wore the black jacket but had no other clothes on—only a beige scarf draped around his neck.

Seeing this, Huang Liling could no longer hold back. She turned away, tears silently streaming down.

After all that searching, there was no clothing Yu Hui had bought for her in the suitcase. The scarf, however, was something Huang Liling had seen on the way here and liked enough to buy for him.

“It’s okay, Liling. Since Yu Hui agreed to come on the show with you, he must have realized his mistakes. This is a good start. You should try to see it that way,” Zhang Qidong said with a smile, feeling as though he was easing the tension.

He glanced at Xu Shujian and Song Yue beside him, inwardly pleased. He believed that as long as he wished, persuading or reconciling the other two couples lay within his grasp.

But Huang Liling ignored him completely.

“Liling, if you can make a man this emotionally stirred, doesn’t that prove something? When I went in, he was breaking down too. He knows he has problems, but life has inertia—you can’t expect him to change those flaws overnight...” Zhang Qidong rambled on.

Song Yue gripped Xu Shujian’s sleeve tightly, clearly struggling to hold back.

Xu Shujian interrupted Zhang Qidong before she could speak. “Let’s all calm down. I just thought of a song. Ye Ge, can you hand me that guitar next to you?”

Chen Linye came back to himself and, without hesitation, handed over Yu Hui’s guitar.

Hearing Xu Shujian speak, Huang Liling turned her head.

Her heart was filled with endless grievance—not only at Yu Hui’s attitude but also that no one else seemed to speak up for her.

Zhang Qidong kept making excuses for Yu Hui. When Xu Shujian suddenly spoke, Huang Liling thought perhaps she would defend her. She recalled Xu Shujian promising to help her earlier that afternoon.

But Xu Shujian hugged the guitar and turned away.

So, you’re just going to smooth things over too?

Xu Shujian strummed a few chords casually, checked the tuning, and then began in earnest.

Song Yue watched Xu Shujian with a puzzled expression. She believed Old Xu’s heart was in the right place. The atmosphere was indeed tense, and Zhang Qidong’s greasy, self-important attitude made her almost want to curse him out.

Was he blind or deaf? Getting used to being in power? What, still trying to seize control now, hoping Yu Hui would be utterly devoted and recognize him as the boss?

No wonder the Zhang family business was declining, relying on a woman to turn things around. With managers like this, trouble was inevitable.

---

But was this really the time to ease the atmosphere with a song?

Gentle guitar notes began to fill the room. Everyone fell silent in thought, lost in their own reflections.

Xu Shujian’s voice rose once more.

“He doesn’t love me

When we hold hands, it feels so cold

When we hug, it’s never close enough

Oh—he doesn’t love me

When he speaks, he’s not sincere

When silent, he’s not attentive

...”

Just the first line made Huang Liling turn toward Xu Shujian again.

Those words slowly calmed her heart. It felt as if Xu Shujian wasn’t trying to smooth things over, nor was he like Zhang Qidong, blatantly taking sides. He seemed to be standing with her.

By the second and third lines, Huang Liling resonated deeply. The tears that had almost dried came rushing back, her nose tingling with emotion.

What were the others thinking?

Pan Yun and Chen Linye exchanged glances. Their immediate reaction: Is this really Xu Shujian?

The same Xu Shujian who had once fiercely performed aggressive, high-pitched songs on stage?

Could he really sound this beautiful when he slowed down?