Chapter 4 — The Engagement

By evening, Shen Xie had returned to the Shen residence.

The moment she stepped through the entrance, the familiar scent of sandalwood reached her.

She stopped.

For years, she had considered this place suffocating.

Too many rules.

Too many expectations.

Too many people watching her.

Now, standing beneath the familiar chandelier, she realized how foolish she had been.

A servant approached.

“Miss Shen, Master Shen is waiting for you in the study.”

Her grandfather.

Shen Xie nodded.

“I'll go now.”

She walked upstairs.

The study door was open.

Shen Zhenyuan sat behind his desk, reading a document.

He looked up.

His sharp eyes immediately noticed her expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Shen Xie smiled.

“Can't I look at my grandfather?”

“You haven't visited in twelve days.”

Her smile faded slightly.

Twelve days.

She remembered.

In her first life, those twelve days had been spent planning her future with Hao Zeyu.

She had ignored her family for a man who would eventually kill her.

“I was wrong.”

Shen Zhenyuan raised an eyebrow.

“You're admitting it?”

“Yes.”

That surprised him.

Before he could respond, the door opened.

Shen Jinghua entered with Luo Meiying.

Her mother immediately noticed her red eyes.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

Luo Meiying looked unconvinced.

Shen Xie walked toward her.

Then, without warning, she hugged her mother.

Luo Meiying froze.

Shen Jinghua looked equally surprised.

“What happened to you today?”

Shen Xie closed her eyes.

“I just wanted to hug you.”

Her mother slowly wrapped her arms around her.

For a few seconds, Shen Xie allowed herself to simply stand there.

Alive.

Safe.

Home.

Then her grandfather cleared his throat.

“If you're finished, we have something to discuss.”

Shen Xie pulled away.

“What is it?”

Shen Zhenyuan looked at her.

“Your engagement.”

The warmth disappeared from her expression.

Hao Zeyu.

Of course.

In her previous life, this conversation had been completely different.

Her grandfather had warned her.

Her brother had objected.

She had defended Hao Zeyu.

She had accused her family of looking down on him.

This time, she simply asked,

“What about it?”

Shen Zhenyuan studied her carefully.

“Do you still intend to marry him?”

Shen Xie was silent.

Then she smiled.

“Grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“If I say no, will you be disappointed?”

The old man's expression changed.

“No.”

One word.

Firm.

Certain.

Shen Xie looked down.

Something inside her chest loosened.

She had spent years believing that choosing her family meant losing Hao Zeyu.

She finally understood.

Her family had never asked her to choose.

She had simply believed it wrong all along.

“I won't marry him.”

Silence filled the room.

Shen Jinghua stared at her.

Luo Meiying's eyes widened.

Even Shen Zhenyuan seemed surprised.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

Her voice was calm.

“I don't want him anymore.”

Shen Zhenyuan leaned back.

For the first time that evening, a faint smile appeared on his face.

“Good.”

Shen Xie looked at him.

“That's all?”

“What else should I say?”

She almost laughed.

This was her grandfather.

Never sentimental.

Never dramatic.

But she knew what that single word meant.

He was happy.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

She looked down.

Another message.

This time from an unfamiliar number.

“Miss Shen, you may want to reconsider breaking your engagement. Some doors, once closed, cannot be opened again.”

Her smile disappeared.

She stared at the screen.

Someone already knew.

Someone was watching her.

Shen Xie slowly deleted the message.

Then she looked toward the dark window.

Her second life had barely begun.

And then again—

someone was trying to change her choices.

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