The Hidden Heiress Is a Secret Big Shot

Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Be Open and Honest, Reveal the Truth

Shen Boyi’s words carried a hint of self-mockery.

To Jin Qingzhou’s ears, they also brought a sharp pang.

Shen Boyi quickly restrained his emotions.

Years of navigating the world of business had made him adept at regulating his emotions, ensuring they were never easily revealed.

“Let’s go. It’s too cold outside. I’ll take you to get something to eat.”

Jin Qingzhou took a few quick steps to follow him.

“Can you give me a chance to explain?”

Shen Boyi turned his head slightly, his smile carrying a hint of clarity.

“Did I say no? Mr. Jin, are you always this domineering with your students? If you ask me, your talent is wasted studying art—you should have trained as a lawyer, just like my fourth brother.”

“…Why?”

“Your kind is exceptional at sentencing the accused to death without giving them a chance to speak.”

Shen Jishi was infamous in court for his relentless demeanor. And yet, every shred of evidence and material was always flawlessly presented, allowing him to effortlessly silence opposing defense attorneys.

Shen Boyi had witnessed this several times, noticing that whenever Shen Jishi appeared in court, the opposing party was practically left without an opportunity to speak…

Striding ahead, Shen Boyi’s long legs forced Jin Qingzhou to jog to match his pace.

Once he opened the car door and turned on the heater, Shen Boyi finally looked at the woman seated beside him.

“Go ahead—how does Mr. Jin plan to explain?”

On the way here, Jin Qingzhou had thought through exactly what she wanted to say. But now, sitting across from Shen Boyi, she found herself at a loss for words.

“Just now, who was that woman?”

Shen Boyi was so provoked he almost laughed out of frustration.

This is what she chose to focus on?

“Compared to her, shouldn’t you be more concerned about what we’re eating tonight? I’ve been starving all day, Mr. Jin.”

He hadn’t had much to eat since breakfast. After hurriedly grabbing a bite at the Shen Family estate, he had been busy at work all day.

For a CEO without any stomach issues, Shen Boyi was a rarity among his peers for being so healthy!

Still, a day of high-intensity work left him feeling undeniably hungry.

“Then let’s find a place to eat first.”

Starting the car, Shen Boyi commented offhandedly: “She’s my matchmaking partner, but she’ll soon become a match for my third or fourth brother.”

“Huh? Matchmaking partners can rotate?”

“I have no interest in her, and she has no interest in me. What she needs is the status of being part of the Shen Family.”

Jin Qingzhou felt stirred.

“Then, why did you reject her?”

Shen Boyi shot her an annoyed glance.

“I won’t dine alone with a woman I don’t like. And no matter whether it’s casual flirtation or putting on a show, to the other party, it’s harassment. I don’t need that.”

Most importantly, he didn’t want a certain woman—one who always lacked confidence when it came to matters like this—to misunderstand him.

Clearing his own name was already proving to be an uphill battle.

When it came to such risks, Shen Boyi couldn’t afford to gamble!

Jin Qingzhou clutched the bouquet in her hands. Waiting until the car reached the restaurant and Shen Boyi was about to get out, she finally spoke up.

“I… I once had a child. Yes, that’s right—I had a child.”

Shen Boyi’s hand on the car door suddenly withdrew, his gaze locking incredulously on Jin Qingzhou.

“What did you just say? A child? Where did the child come from?”

“A few years ago, on your birthday. But for certain reasons, the baby left me. As punishment for failing to protect the baby, I’ll never have another child in this lifetime. It’s fair.”

Fair? What kind of fairness was this?

“Why didn’t you tell me? Shouldering all of this on your own—you think that’s something admirable?”

Shen Boyi’s anger flared, but what outweighed it was guilt and heartache.

All these years, he had known nothing!

Jin Qingzhou smiled faintly, her face pale.

“It’s my problem. But I was very scared. In fact, that woman from the Shen Family who approached me earlier—that was just my excuse to leave.”

At the time, the entire world urged Jin Qingzhou to leave Shen Boyi.

Even her own mother insisted she wasn’t good enough for Shen Boyi!

Biological mothers could be envious of their own daughters. In Jin Qingzhou’s mother’s eyes, if she couldn’t have children in her lifetime, the Shen Family would never accept her!

Jin Qingzhou buried her face in her hands.

“That year, my mother attempted suicide. She didn’t succeed. But she used the attempt as a tool to force me to leave. I’m sorry—I didn’t choose you.”

As punishment, she would never have a child again!

Shen Boyi hadn’t realized how many hidden truths lay behind that incident.

Guilt, anguish, regret, and heartache all surged within his chest.

“I don’t actually place that much importance on family, but I’ve always been affected by it. My mother suffers from severe narcissistic personality disorder—her world revolves entirely around herself.”

Those with narcissistic personality disorder would never think they were in the wrong!

“I tried many times to sever ties with her, but she actually… actually picked up a knife and hurt Qianqian. I called the police.”

The events of recent days weighed heavily, leaving Jin Qingzhou struggling to breathe.

The words she spoke sounded light, but only she knew how heavy they truly were!

The moment her mother’s knife struck her younger sister Jin Qianqian, Jin Qingzhou had reached her breaking point!

All of this was just so Jin Qingzhou would marry an uneducated thug she despised. When Jin Qingzhou refused, that woman had gone to such lengths to harm Jin Qianqian!

“Isn’t it ridiculous? My family—where mothers aren’t like mothers, daughters aren’t like daughters, and fathers have already become a mound of dirt. Boyi… I really owe you nothing but apologies. It’s all my fault. I’m sorry.”

It could be said that the moment her mother discovered Jin Qingzhou was dating Shen Boyi, she completely unraveled!

No day passed without her flooding Jin Qingzhou’s phone with messages, urging her to break up with Shen Boyi and marry a man her mother could control.

On the day Jin Qingzhou was pushed down the stairs by her father’s mistress, resulting in the loss of her child, her mother had actually laughed!

She had said, “Now this is good. You won’t be dreaming of turning from a sparrow into a phoenix anymore!”

When Jin Qingzhou saw that short, unimpressive man presenting an absurd dowry at their doorstep, she felt nothing but disgust.

Yet her mother told her, “What are you trying to aim for? This is the best option for you. Do you actually think you’re worthy of Shen Boyi?”

“You’re unworthy! You’re just a wretch! And you still want to marry someone from the Shen Family? You better drop that idea fast!”

Those words were sharp knives, firmly embedded in Jin Qingzhou’s heart.

Shen Boyi took a deep breath.

He unbuckled his seatbelt, turned off the car’s interior light, and leaned over to embrace Jin Qingzhou.

The scent of cedar enveloped her. His strong, warm arms and solid frame sent waves of warmth through Jin Qingzhou’s long-frozen heart and body.

“I’m sorry.”

She heard Shen Boyi’s deep voice resonate by her ear.

“I failed to take care of you and the child. It was my arrogance—I assumed our emotions were balanced, and that I had provided you with enough sense of security. It was my ego that stopped me from seeking you when you left.”

The woman in his arms had grown much thinner compared to a few years ago. Holding her felt as though she could drift away like a feather at any moment.

Suppressing the emotions stirring within him, Shen Boyi pressed a comforting kiss to Jin Qingzhou’s forehead.

“You’ve been through so much—my Zhouzhou.”

Hearing Shen Boyi call her by the name reserved solely for her, Jin Qingzhou realized she wasn’t nearly as strong as she had imagined!

She collapsed onto Shen Boyi’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably!