A Marriage in Name Only? My Stepbrother Won't Let Me Go

After Chen Shujing left the Capital City, his mind was still a mess. He kept thinking of Xue Xingyao’s tear-filled eyes.

That was the feature she shared most with Xiaoxiao.

Every time he remembered, Chen Shujing’s heart ached a little more.

He couldn’t quite tell if his heart ached for those eyes or for Xue Xingyao herself.

A suffocating pressure built in his chest, his emotions adrift. Chen Shujing was miserable.

At his most impulsive, he considered turning back to the Capital City. He would stop meddling in the Shen family’s affairs and just stay by Xue Xingyao’s side.

But Xue Xingyao wanted a divorce, and her attitude was firm. This made him shrink back.

He didn’t want to see Xue Xingyao at a time like this, afraid she would keep bringing up that one word.

’I should just let her calm down for a bit.’

’Once she understands the situation, she’ll know what the best choice is.’

Chen Shujing forced himself to be cruel for once and ordered his men to withdraw their support for Xue Xingyao.

Once she hit a wall at every turn, she would naturally understand just how important the status of the Chen Family’s Heir’s wife truly was.

His attendant asked hesitantly, "The mistress is all alone and helpless in the Capital City. If you do this, aren’t you afraid she will come to resent you?"

Chen Shujing was silent for a long time. "That’s still better than a divorce."

The attendant grew even more confused. "You care about Miss Shen. What difference does it make whether you get a divorce or not?"

’Why use such a hurtful method against the Heir’s wife?’ the attendant added silently.

’How could it not make a difference?’

Chen Shujing thought to himself that in this life, he would only marry one woman. He wouldn’t take concubines, nor would he have a confidante on the side.

His days married to Ah Yao had been very pleasant.

He didn’t want to end this relationship.

Perhaps angered by Xue Xingyao bringing up divorce, Chen Shujing blurted out thoughtlessly, "Marrying a second wife is a lot of trouble."

The Chen Family was large and influential; it needed a matriarch to manage the household and continue the family line.

If one Heir’s wife was gone, a second one would take her place.

The attendant believed Chen Shujing’s explanation.

He thought silently, ’No wonder the Heir’s wife wants a divorce. Any woman with a bit of pride couldn’t stand this kind of grievance.’

Chen Shujing wanted Xue Xingyao to face reality, yet he was also afraid she would do something foolish if left completely alone.

So, he sent people to protect her in secret.

He told himself this would be the only time in his life he would force Ah Yao’s hand.

’In the future, we’ll live a good life together.’

’There will be no more Shen Mingji, and as for Xiaoxiao... I’ll try my best not to think about her either.’

’Let the past stay in the past. I can’t fail Xue Xingyao in the here and now.’

Since Chen Shujing couldn’t stop worrying about Xue Xingyao, his only option was to ride hard and fast to deal with Shen Mingji’s matter.

It was only then that he realized.

Shen Mingji was in Jiangnan.

Originally, Shen Mingji was supposed to go to the Border for training, but there was conflict there at the time, so Chen Shujing had disagreed.

He had sent him to Jiangnan instead.

Jiangnan was a key area for coastal defense, so Shen Mingji could get the same kind of training there.

Chen Shujing thought, ’Thankfully, Ah Yao returned to the Capital City. Otherwise, if she ran into Shen Mingji in Jiangnan, she might have been even more furious.’

’I’ll keep them from meeting in the future.’

’With time, she’ll naturally forget her unpleasantness with the Shen family.’

Chen Shujing rode with all speed to Jiangnan, only to learn upon arrival that Shen Mingji had nearly lost his life.

He was too desperate to prove himself so he could go back and destroy those people in the Shen family. When boarding ships for close combat with sea bandits, he charged to the front as if he had a death wish.

He killed many sea bandits but was stabbed several times himself.

The most dangerous wound was very close to his heart.

If not for timely medical treatment, he really would have kicked the bucket.

"What are you doing here?"

Shen Mingji was lying down and recuperating. He had worn a nonchalant expression, but his face suddenly changed when he saw Chen Shujing appear.

He instinctively tried to sit up.

Chen Shujing snapped, "Just lie still! Do you have a death wish?"

Shen Mingji lay back down. "What does it matter to you if I live or die? Stop meddling in my business and get the hell out!"

After spending some time training in the military camp, Shen Mingji’s skin had darkened, and his speech had become coarse.

Anyone who didn’t know his background would never believe he was a Noble Son.

"Looks like you’re not going to die," Chen Shujing remarked.

The mere sight of him irritated Shen Mingji.

"I heard something happened to the Xue Family. Why aren’t you by her side? What are you doing here with me? Are you out of your mind, or are you trying to make people hate my sister and me?"

If he were in Xue Xingyao’s shoes, he would hate everyone in the Shen family to death.

’He wouldn’t care if others were innocent—if they made him miserable, he would hate them!’

Chen Shujing sighed. "Still the same childish temper."

Shen Mingji frowned. "Get out, and don’t come back."

Chen Shujing said, "Ah Yao knows right from wrong. You don’t need to assume the worst of her."

"Her knowing right from wrong is a reason for you to meddle?"

Shen Mingji didn’t know what kind of person Xue Xingyao was, but he was a man, and he naturally understood a man’s heart.

Chen Shujing was already married, but he couldn’t let go of his sister.

If he had only kept it to his thoughts, it would have been one thing, but he had to go and do something so inappropriate.

In Shen Mingji’s heart, his sister was the moon in the sky, without a single blemish on her.

He absolutely couldn’t let Chen Shujing ruin his sister’s reputation.

In the past, it was Chen Shujing who disciplined Shen Mingji.

Now the tables had turned, and Shen Mingji was lecturing him.

Chen Shujing felt a strange sense of gratification. "Sending you to the army camp for training was the right decision. You’ve matured a lot."

Shen Mingji snorted. "It’s not like I’m an idiot."

’That Miss Xue seems decent enough. I shouldn’t cause trouble for her.’

Shen Mingji stressed again, "From now on, stay out of my business. I’ll walk my own path."

He had said similar words before.

At the time, Chen Shujing hadn’t paid it any mind, but now he was considering it seriously.

"If you run into an obstacle you can’t overcome, I will still help you."

Shen Mingji wanted to roll his eyes. "Isn’t your real brother-in-law still rotting in a jail cell? You come here to play the good Samaritan? Are you sick in the head?"

For every one thing Chen Shujing said, Shen Mingji had ten retorts, choking him into silence.

"I came to see if you were dead or alive, not to interfere in your affairs."

"Ah Ji, you must avoid arrogance and impatience. Live well, and go back to the Shen family to take back everything that belongs to you and Xiaoxiao."

Leaving these words behind, Chen Shujing left the infirmary.

Shen Mingji opened his mouth, but in the end, nothing came out.

’My position is awkward. It’s better to keep my distance from Brother Chen.’

Shen Mingji lay flat on the hospital bed, the image of Xue Xingyao’s lively face appearing in his mind.

’She seems like a good person.’

’Even though her family is in trouble, she’s more than good enough for Chen Shujing.’

’My sister is gone, but Miss Xue is a living person. I hope she and Chen Shujing can live a good life together.’

’They’re both good people.’

...

Now that he was in Jiangnan, Chen Shujing couldn’t avoid going to see Pei Yan.

Even though the man had said he wanted to cut off all ties with him.

He had to ask what Xue Xingyao had said and done during her time in Jiangnan.

Why was His Highness so certain that he would be abandoned by Ah Yao?

’If... if Ah Yao’s anger doesn’t subside, should I do something to cheer her up?’

It was the first time Chen Shujing had experienced such a situation. He felt suffocated and desperately needed someone to vent to.

After thinking it over, he realized that only His Highness was in the same boat.

His Highness had been in Jiangnan for so long and still hadn’t managed to make Miss Mei have a change of heart.

And he himself was about to be divorced by his wife.

For a moment, Chen Shujing couldn’t tell who was more pathetic, himself or Pei Yan.

When he heard that Chen Shujing was requesting an audience, Pei Yan refused to see him without a second thought.

"Tell him to get lost! And stop trying to bring me down with him!"