There are still five minutes until the hero escapes from marriage.

When Wen Zhao returned to her bedroom, it was already half an hour later. She took a shower and changed into a comfortable nightgown.

When Gu Xianting came to find her, she was about to rest.

“ZhaoZhao…” He started to speak, but his gaze froze when it fell on her collarbone. His pupils constricted suddenly.

Wen Zhao’s skin was very fair, and even a slight mark was quite noticeable.

On her collarbone, there was a small red mark.

Gu Xianting, being a mature man with memories accumulated from several worlds, knew very well what that mark was!

Wen Zhao seemed to sense his gaze. She touched her collarbone, feeling a slight sting, and then the memories related to the mark came rushing back.

She clicked her tongue and silently cursed, “Dog thing.”

“It’s late. If you came to find me, is there something you need?” She asked, showing no signs of nervousness or unease.

Gu Xianting’s hand clenched tightly. How could she be so nonchalant?

“ZhaoZhao, what happened below your neck?” He asked, regretting it immediately. He knew he shouldn’t have asked and should have looked away, but he couldn’t help but be concerned.

However, after his initial regret, he began to feel justified. After all, he was Gu Xianting!

He was her childhood sweetheart, her husband. If he saw strange marks on his wife’s body, wasn’t it his right to ask?

“Oh, it might be a mosquito bite,” Wen Zhao said.

His anger surged almost uncontrollably. Was that such a flimsy excuse?

“Really? We should have the servants clean up the mosquitoes,” he managed a forced smile, trying to contain his emotions. What else could he do?

He had tried to confront her in the afternoon but ended up giving in.

It seemed that he had a natural fear of her, instinctively shrinking back in her presence.

“Yes, I’ll make sure of that tomorrow,” she said. “But you haven’t said why you came to see me.”

“Actually, I just received an invitation and wanted to ask if you’d like to go with me,” he said, forcing himself not to look at her neck. He told himself in his mind that he didn’t care about her; she could do whatever she wanted with whoever she wanted.

“Tomorrow? I seem to be busy,” she said.

His face stiffened. “But I asked your secretary earlier, and she said you had no other plans tomorrow.”

“Oh, it was a last-minute decision,” she suddenly smiled. “The butler finally agreed to stay and work for me.”

Gu Xianting’s heart tightened. “So?”

“The butler is a rare talent. For such talent, I must show enough sincerity,” she looked at him and said. “Therefore, tomorrow, to show my sincerity in keeping the talent, I will personally take him to buy new clothes. After all, I brought him here very abruptly, as you know.”

Gu Xianting: What a farce!

Moreover, who has a butler who leaves such ambiguous marks on their body?

Wen Zhao, you’re blatantly raising a pretty boy in front of me!

“Yes, I understand.” His inner turmoil was storming, but his face remained composed. He only showed a look of dejection, sadness, and restraint. “As long as ZhaoZhao is happy, I’ll support whatever you do.”

“Really?” Wen Zhao’s expression became somewhat suspicious. “You will support everything I do?”

He closed his eyes, steeling himself. “Yes, I made you suffer for five years. You should make me suffer for the same amount of time; it’s only fair.”

She was satisfied. “Well, it’s getting late. You should go rest.”

“Alright, good night.” His eyes were full of deep affection as he reluctantly exited the bedroom, waiting for her to call him back.

Wen Zhao coldly laughed inwardly. It was rather amusing. When she used to irritate him, she forced him to sleep with her, but now that she no longer needed him, he was the one reluctant to part.

He never got the call back from her.

Wen Zhao mercilessly closed the door and maintained a smile until it was completely shut.

“Butler!” he muttered the words through gritted teeth.

As he was now fully immersed in the persona of Gu Xianting, he felt a surge of anger and frustration akin to being betrayed by a loved one.

He couldn’t confront Wen Zhao or settle scores with her.

Because those five years were real, and she had suffered!

He had wronged her, and his guilt made him lack the confidence to confront her.

But if he couldn’t deal with her, couldn’t he at least deal with a butler?

Gu Xianting, filled with rage, stormed into the butler’s bedroom.

The bedroom was lit with a warm, soft light. In that light, he saw the butler with his collar wide open and visible marks on his chest.

The man who used to always present himself impeccably and modestly now looked like a debauched gentleman!

His gaze fell on his lips, and he exploded with anger. He maneuvered his wheelchair to the bedside and slapped the butler hard, his eyes red with fury, looking as though he had caught his spouse in an affair.

The butler slowly lifted his hand to touch his slapped face, and suddenly, he grinned at Gu Xianting and mouthed a word.

Loser.

Gu Xianting’s mind exploded with rage, losing all sense of reason. He raised his hand to slap him again, but this time, his hand was stopped midway, and he was lifted out of the wheelchair.

The butler punched him hard in the abdomen.

The force nearly crushed his internal organs, and Gu Xianting’s face turned pale from the pain. The butler then threw him back into the wheelchair.

He looked at Gu Xianting with disdain and contempt, like a victor looking down on a useless fool.

“Sir, I’m merely defending myself,” he said, wiping a bit of blood from his mouth, smiling maliciously. “Why are you bothering me in the middle of the night?”

“Shut up! You deserve to die!” Gu Xianting covered his abdomen, his face covered in cold sweat, glaring at him. “How dare you! How dare you!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the butler said, deliberately pulling his already open collar further apart.

Now, Gu Xianting could see even more clearly the scratches and bite marks on his chest!

Before, Gu Xianting had been angry and a bit pleased when Wen Zhao insisted on keeping the butler despite the danger. He thought her actions were only to provoke him, that she still loved him. 

But now!

The sight before him was like a bucket of cold water poured over him.

She wasn’t just pretending; she was genuinely involved with this man, and it had already happened!

How could she do this to me?

His mind was filled with such questions. His rationality told him he wasn’t truly Gu Xianting, and it didn’t matter what Wen Zhao did with others. But right now, he couldn’t stay rational!

“Don’t you know she is my wife?” He asked angrily.

The butler sneered, as if he had said something laughable. “Sir, isn’t it common in wealthy families for people to play around separately?”

“Why are you so concerned?”

“Did you forget that a month ago, you eloped with Miss Su?” His eyes were full of disdain. “You don’t remember? Well, you shouldn’t forget why your legs are broken.”

“What do you know!” Gu Xianting shouted angrily. “That’s a matter between me and ZhaoZhao!”

The butler touched his face. “Why are you blaming me? The BOSS didn’t even touch Miss Su; she only acted out against you. If you think about it, shouldn’t you not trouble me?”

He appeared troubled. “Oh, you used such force, there will surely be marks on my face. What do you think BOSS will say when she sees them?”

Gu Xianting initially didn’t understand what he meant.

But when he saw the imprint of the slap quickly forming on the butler’s face, his expression changed. “You did this on purpose!”

The butler had clearly been able to avoid the slap but hadn’t.

“Sir, I really dislike being slapped,” he said with a cold gaze. His eyes seemed like those of a lifeless doll. “I’m troubled; I’ll report to the BOSS that her husband seems to dislike me.”

“You!” Gu Xianting, furious, tried to punch him again.

The butler grabbed his wrist, looking provocative. “Do you want to hit me? Do it here, and make sure to leave a mark. How do you think BOSS will react?”

“You’re truly despicable!” Gu Xianting yanked his hand away, glaring at him with hatred.

The butler shook the chains on his left wrist. “How could I be? I never wanted to leave the island; BOSS forced me to come here. I’ve been trying to escape, but see.”

The chains made a crisp sound. “I can’t escape. Or, sir, could you help me? Help me get out of here, and I will be grateful to you.”

Gu Xianting felt a surge of frustration and anger, unable to contain himself.

He was nearly driven mad; he couldn’t remember how he had left that room!

The next day, while he was still in a deep sleep, he was abruptly awoken by a sharp pain on his cheek.

He groggily touched his face, turned his head, and saw Wen Zhao standing by the bed, having just slapped him, with her hand still raised, clearly ready to give him another one.

His mind went blank, unable to comprehend what was happening. But soon, he saw the butler standing behind her, dressed in a high-end suit, who, upon noticing his gaze, displayed a provocative smile.

The memories of the previous day rushed back in an instant. Gu Xianting’s pupils contracted in disbelief as he looked at Wen Zhao. “ZhaoZhao, you… hit me for him?”

“Xianting,” her voice was cold, “how could you do something to my butler?”

“He’s just a butler. I’m your husband. Are you going to hold me accountable for a butler?” he found it absurd.

He couldn’t understand how she could be so brazen!

Even during the five years when he was with Su Mengyao, he never behaved so openly; he would at least tell some lies.

“Otherwise?” she smiled. “Didn’t you do the same to me when you were trying to get justice for Su Mengyao?”

His heart tightened, and his gaze flickered, but he quickly adjusted himself. After all, the persona he was playing now was the one who had finally woken up and reclaimed his body after five years, the childhood lover.

Yes, he was not the one who betrayed her. He did not need to feel guilty or anxious!

“ZhaoZhao, I…” He tried to reason with her.

“I know what you want to say,” she interrupted. “I’ve changed my mind. You need to experience what I went through before we can really turn the page.”

“ZhaoZhao!” he reached out to grab her hand. “Does it have to be this way?”

She gave him a bright and gentle smile, which made him momentarily dazed. In his fragmented memories, she had always looked at him with such expressions during her youth.

“Yes, it has to be this way,” she said in the softest tone but with the cruelest words. “Or you can find another way to remove that thorn in my heart. That’s your problem to solve.”

She withdrew her hand and slowly walked towards the butler. “Until you find a solution, I won’t stop. You know, this also pains me because I love you. You should understand that feeling well, having someone you love deeply but having to stay with someone else.”

Gu Xianting closed his eyes in anguish.

“Yes, that’s the expression, the real expression of pain. This is the true empathy,” her voice was gentle but enough for him to hear. “This is punishment, Xianting. How could you, knowing what kind of harm I suffered, so easily let go of the woman who hurt me?”

She then turned to the butler, looked at the fading mark of the slap on his face, and gently touched it. “Does it still hurt? I’ve avenged you.”

The butler took her hand and pulled it down. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Thank you, BOSS.”

“Good, then let’s go,” she said, holding his hand and walking out of Gu Xianting’s room.

Gu Xianting watched her back, his hand pressed against his chest, feeling an inexplicable pain in that spot.

He looked at her, hoping she would turn around and tell him it was all just a prank, that she wouldn’t be so blatantly partial to another man.

But no, she never looked back.

In the luxurious car, which was extremely smooth and almost imperceptible in its movement, Wen Zhao sat across from the butler.

His expression was cold and distant, quite different from his demeanor in front of Gu Xianting.

Last night, Wen Zhao had forced him to sign an unequal treaty, making him stay in Li City and act as a tool to provoke Gu Xianting.

If he hadn’t agreed, the marks on his body wouldn’t have been limited to just the three-inch area around his navel. He could only guess what else might have happened.

The luxury car stopped outside a high-end shopping mall. With the area cleared, the mall was very quiet. The mall manager was already waiting at the entrance, beside the clean red carpet.

Wen Zhao got out of the car, and the manager approached her, ready to speak, followed closely by the butler.

“Hello, Ms. Wen. I’m Xiao Li, the staff member assigned to assist you today. Just let me know if you need anything,” Xiao Li, a man in his thirties, said with a friendly and non-obsequious smile.

“Today, I need to get a new outfit for this gentleman,” Wen Zhao said while walking into the mall.

Xiao Li glanced back at the butler. “Understood.”

Xiao Li had many questions, but he was a professional and didn’t ask unnecessary questions.

The wedding between Wen Zhao and Gu Xianting had only been over for a little over a month, and recently, Gu Xianting had been exposed for his marital infidelity. Their couple’s press conference had also just happened.

In the world of high society, true love seems to be a lie, all deceitful.

After all, if Gu Xianting could have true love, why couldn’t she have a satisfying little white face?

Xiao Li was experienced in his field. As he passed a mirror, he looked at his own reflection and sighed.

No wonder people can live off this kind of soft rice; even though he considered himself a bit handsome, he was no match.

His business level was rather basic. After observing the butler for a while, he skillfully led him and Wen Zhao to select items.

Wen Zhao sat on the sofa, watching him try on outfit after outfit. His face remained expressionless throughout, exuding an aura that made the sales staff hesitant to speak.

“I’ll take all of these,” she waved her hand, nearly emptying the entire rack.

“BOSS, I don’t need so many,” the butler finally spoke, unable to endure it anymore.

“I thought I brought a mute out today,” she smiled lightly, “Don’t worry about saving money for me. I might never spend all of my money in this lifetime.”

The butler: Am I here to save you money?

“Moreover, you are now my person. Whatever I give you, you should accept obediently,” she said. “I won’t take these back in the future.”

The butler couldn’t be bothered to argue further.

After a spree of shopping, the bodyguards were loaded down with bags of purchases.

“Alright, let’s head back,” Wen Zhao, looking tired of this shopping spree for a pretty face, took the elevator down.

However, as they passed by the watch display, she stopped again. Her gaze fell on the butler’s wrist, remembering that there was a surveillance footage of him entering a pawn shop.

She walked up to the counter. “Show me the most expensive watch you have.”

“Certainly, please wait a moment!” The sales clerk quickly retrieved a watch from the safe, “This was handcrafted by Italian master David over three and a half years, and there is only one in the world.”

She took a look at the watch. “Hand it over.”

The butler extended his hand, like a soulless, voice-controlled AI.

She put the watch on his wrist, somewhat satisfied. “That’s it. We’ll take this one.”

The staff responsible for credit card payments stepped forward.

The butler looked at the watch on his wrist, a watch worth 6.71 million, which Wen Zhao had bought as if it were a simple drink.

He gave a hint of a sarcastic smile, wondering if the master would be enraged.

He seemed to be a bit looking forward to it.

Gu Xianting had managed to recover from the previous inexplicable emotions.

He felt he couldn’t go on like this. He could sense something was very wrong; he seemed to be becoming unstable. He clearly knew he was not Gu Xianting, he was merely playing the role of Gu Xianting!

In previous worlds, he had always handled things this way. The difference was that in those worlds, he had not awakened his consciousness. He would take over the original person’s role and wouldn’t be aware of the difference between himself and the original.

He had a bad premonition. He needed to leave this world as soon as possible and return to his own world.

He closed his eyes and began to recall the deep and warm feelings he shared with Su Mengyao in previous worlds.

He told himself that he was here for her, and she was his steadfast choice. As he entered the original’s body, he was the master of the body. He absolutely could not let the original influence him!