There were still some design drawings at the studio, so Wen Yang went up to get them. Tao Li and the others had their own work and had been out all day. By 7 PM, Wen Yang’s assistant had already cleaned up the office and gone home.
At this moment, the studio was empty. Wen Yang turned on the lights, grabbed the design drawings, went downstairs, and took a car home. The road on Garden Street was under construction, and there was a section where traffic was congested.
Wen Yang flipped through the design drawings in her hands as she looked them over.
In a sedan on another road, Cheng Yanyu picked up Zheng Guili, and the car headed toward the Intercontinental Hotel, in the opposite direction of Wen Yang’s route home. The traffic flowed smoothly.
Soon, Wen Yang arrived at the house and went upstairs.
Aunt Zhong had left a note on the table. Wen Yang set down her laptop and design drawings and walked over to pick it up and read:
Yangyang, Mr. Fu will be drinking a little tonight. There’s a pot of hangover soup kept warm. Remind him to drink it when he comes back.
Also, I made you a bowl of blood bird’s nest. Don’t forget to eat it too.
The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.
— Hbsdt.
Gv psxl rskdv, Gwdv Hbsdt bye yzps pvyavle nyzzkdt bla “Zydtuydt.” Eld Zydt, yqvla alyekdt vbl dsvl, ealo y pxkzkdt qynl sd kv vs pbso pbl’e plld kv. Fbl vbld rwv vbl dsvl yoyu yde oldv kdvs vbl jkvnbld. Mos rsvp, sdl qsa lynb kvlx. Mbl ckae’p dlpv oyp lypu vs lyv, yde yqvla qkdkpbkdt kv, Eld Zydt vkle wr bla byka yde oldv vs pbsola.
Fbl nyxl swv sq vbl pbsola yaswde 9 s’nzsnj yde pyv sd vbl psqy oyvnbkdt y vwvsakyz.
Gv yaswde 9:50 VY—
Mbl essa srldle.
Eld Zydt blyae vbl pswde yde vwadle bla blye vs zssj.
Ww Dkdtgbsw bye alvwadle yde oyp nbydtkdt bkp pbslp yv vbl ldvaydnl. Tl oyp zsspldkdt bkp vkl. Eld Zydt zlydle sd vbl cynj sq vbl nbyka, zssjkdt yv bkx yde pyke, “Tye psxl eakdjp?”
Ww Dkdtgbsw zssjle wr yde alrzkle, “Kwpv y zkvvzl.”
Wen Yang said lazily, “Auntie left you some hangover soup.”
Advertisements“Didn’t drink much—no need for hangover soup.” He stepped inside with his loosened tie, ruffled her hair, and Wen Yang looked up at him. “What’s ‘not much’?” she asked.
Fu Xingzhou lowered his gaze to her. “About half a bottle.”
Wen Yang asked, “What kind of alcohol?”
“Vodka.”
Wen Yang widened her eyes. “Vodka? Half a bottle and you say it’s not much?”
Fu Xingzhou bent down and kissed her on the lips. “You can’t compare my alcohol tolerance to yours.”
Wen Yang let out a noise of protest and shot him a look.
Fu Xingzhou laughed and stood up. She was in her soft pajamas, and the smell of cigars from uncles and older men lingered on his collar. He didn’t like those smells. He told Wen Yang, “I’m going to take a shower.”
Wen Yang nodded.
He headed toward the master bedroom.
Wen Yang sat back on the sofa and continued watching the tutorial.
Her dad occasionally drank vodka. It had been gifted by someone. Wen Yang had tried it once but didn’t like it much. Yet the taste on Fu Xingzhou’s tongue just now was unexpectedly smooth and fragrant.
AdvertisementsShe actually thought it was quite nice.
The tutorial was sent by Yu Qing, related to architectural design. She had studied this in college, but it needed refreshing. Wen Yang propped her chin up as she watched. Hearing the bedroom door open, she turned to look. “Really not going to drink it?”
Fu Xingzhou was drying his hair, still damp from the shower. He said, “No need.”
He walked to the kitchen and turned off the heat under the pot of hangover soup.
Wen Yang said, “Alright then.”
Fu Xingzhou came out of the kitchen and walked over to the sofa. Seeing her watching the tutorial, he sat down next to her, tugged at her wrist, and Wen Yang naturally fell into his arms. She said, “I returned all this to the professor back then. Now I’m picking it up again.”
The screen was small and hard to see. Fu Xingzhou smoothed her hair and said, “Let’s go to the media room? I’ll watch with you.”
Wen Yang said, “Okay.”
Then she packed up her laptop and went with Fu Xingzhou into the media room. He turned on her computer and connected it to the projector. The lights in the media room went dark. They sat together on the soft sofa. Wen Yang nestled into Fu Xingzhou’s arms and watched the screen. She asked, “You won’t find it boring watching this with me?”
Fu Xingzhou’s voice was gentle: “I want to see what you studied in college.”
Wen Yang made a small sound in response.
Then she asked, “What did you study in college?”
AdvertisementsFu Xingzhou: “Economics, management, monetary policy, things like that.”
Wen Yang responded with an “Oh.”
The two of them watched. Fu Xingzhou was very patient. Occasionally, he checked his phone. Wen Yang was in his arms, jotting things down in a notebook. Sometimes she would tell him what kind of person her college professor was, how he taught, and how she had been worried about failing his class. Fu Xingzhou listened and looked down at her.
He could almost picture what she looked like during her college years.
But her entire college life was tied to Cheng Yanyu, so he didn’t ask more.
After they finished the tutorial—
It wasn’t too late. Fu Xingzhou picked up the remote and asked, “Sleepy?”
Wen Yang shook her head and looked up at him. “Let’s watch a movie?”
Fu Xingzhou’s lips curved. “I was thinking the same thing.”
Wen Yang’s eyes lit up with a smile.
Fu Xingzhou asked, “What do you want to watch?”
Wen Yang replied, “Titanic. I never finished it.”
Advertisements“Alright.”
Fu Xingzhou made a few adjustments and started playing the movie.
As the film began, the atmosphere and visuals gradually drew them in. Though it’s a romance movie, it’s not just about love. Last time she had only watched a third of it. Now, watching the full movie, she understood the story more deeply. What moved her the most was their encounter—poignant and intense. Wen Yang watched intently, her emotions rising and falling with the film. In the face of love, everything else felt small. She nestled in Fu Xingzhou’s arms and quietly watched the entire film. The final scene lingered for a long time.
Only then did Wen Yang speak, softly saying, “Rose will remember Jack for the rest of her life.”
Fu Xingzhou held her waist. “To be remembered for a lifetime—then love wasn’t in vain.”
Wen Yang was quiet.
She listened to the sound of his heartbeat.
So, in his words, Jack’s sacrifice was worth it.
–
After sending Zheng Guili back to the Intercontinental Hotel, Cheng Yanyu’s phone rang. It was a call from Yu Zhan, who said that the mortgage loan on the house had been fully paid off tonight, and the house was now officially back in Cheng Yanyu’s name.
Cheng Yanyu held his phone and gave a soft “Mm,” saying, “Got it.”
Yu Zhan added, “There seems to be an issue with the glass on the balcony. President Cheng, you should go take a look tomorrow. If it falls and hits someone, that’ll be a real problem.”
Cheng Yanyu agreed.
After hanging up, he glanced at his parents sitting in the suite’s living room. He didn’t pick Zheng Guili up immediately; instead, he waited for her to take a walk around the COCO park. Only then did he drive over.
Zheng Guili held the cup that Wen Yang had given her. When she saw him, her gaze was cold.
At this moment, she was again in a mood where she didn’t want to talk to him. She didn’t tell Cheng Yanyu that the cup was from Wen Yang—she just cherished the coffee cup.
Standing at the entrance, Cheng Yanyu said to his parents, “Dad, Mom, I’m heading back. You two rest early.”
Zheng Guili was extremely tired and in a bad mood. She didn’t respond.
Cheng Shan waved him off. “Drive safe.”
“Okay,” Cheng Yanyu replied.
He left, took the elevator downstairs. The moon hung high in the sky, obscured by clouds. After the divorce, he had lived at the company for a long time, only moving in with Li Man later.
Tonight, naturally, he could only choose to return to the company.
But halfway there, he remembered Yu Zhan’s words and simply turned around and drove to the Bay Residence community.
After exiting the elevator, everything felt familiar—the hallway, the front door, even the small doormat Wen Yang had bought. His steps paused. He held the key in his hand and stood still for a few seconds before walking forward and opening the door.
The house was uninhabited.
It wasn’t just empty; even the once-white walls had yellowed. The coffee table and sofa remained as they had been before she left—untouched. The kitchen island, once the most used area, was now cold and quiet, covered with a layer of dust.
Cheng Yanyu closed the door, placed the keys on the island, and walked to the balcony to inspect the glass panel.
When the place had been renovated, movable glass windows were installed for the plants on the balcony.
There was still a table and chair set on the balcony. A tablecloth covered the table—Wen Yang had often sat there watching her tablet, stargazing. But the light-colored tablecloth had darkened with age.
Leaves from the plants had fallen on the chair, now dried and withered.
Cheng Yanyu stepped forward and lifted the glass window. There was a slot on the side, and since it had already come loose, it came off easily, though dust scattered onto his arms.
He set the glass pane aside, leaning it against the table. Then he just stood on the balcony, unmoving.
He looked into the house.
No matter how clean it was, traces remained. For example, there was still one of Wen Yang’s hair ties next to the coffee table. She liked lighter colors, though she also bought black ones—thin, simple bands.
Back in college, when not using them, she’d wear them on her wrist. She’d sit in the library with a book covering her face, chatting quietly with Yu Qing.
That hand holding the book always had a thin elastic band around the wrist.
He’d often walk in and see her reading or talking with Yu Qing. Sometimes she’d lean over to see Yu Qing’s drawings, and the two would have small debates. When she looked up and saw him, she’d get a little shy.
After they got together—
Holding her hand, the hair tie would still be on her wrist. When she wanted to tie her hair, she’d just tug it off and gather her long hair into a bun in one swift motion.
She often called out from behind, “Cheng Yanyu, wait for me!”
Back then, he’d always stop, carrying a messenger bag, and wait.
She’d finish tying her hair and run up, then they’d hold hands and walk together.
Sometimes she’d lie on the sofa and call out, “Cheng Yanyu, bring me a hair tie!” He’d pause his work, go into the master bedroom, and fetch one for her. She’d take it, sit up, and tie her hair, eyes crinkling in a smile.
Then the scene shifted—
As if she was still there, carrying a plate, holding a pillow, curled up on the sofa, smiling as she drank milk tea, tending to the plants, watering them.
Talking to Yu Qing on voice call, pulling him to stargaze, holding a camera to take pictures—of the sky, of distant buildings. She’d sit back on the sofa editing photos, adding filters, glancing up to find a fallen hair tie.
She walked around the house, unpacking packages at the kitchen island, looking up to call out with a smile, “Husband…”
Cheng Yanyu snapped back to reality.
A sharp pain gripped his chest. He walked to the island, picked up his car keys, turned off the lights, and left the apartment. After going downstairs, he started the car and drove out of the neighborhood.
It was late at night.
Flowers had fallen on the roads of Nancheng, and traffic was still heavy.
Cheng Yanyu drove aimlessly, without a destination.
Eventually, he found himself pulling up outside Xu Xu’s apartment complex.
Ten minutes later, Xu Xu came downstairs, casually dressed in a hoodie and black pants, arms crossed, mocking, “What kind of wind blew you here?”
Cheng Yanyu asked, “Got a cigarette?”
Xu Xu looked at him for a few seconds, rummaged around, and pulled out a nearly empty pack, handing him the last one. No lighter, so she borrowed one from someone nearby. After lighting it, Cheng Yanyu choked on the smoke.
Xu Xu saw and said, “If you don’t know how to smoke, don’t force it.”
Cheng Yanyu held the cigarette between his fingers, leaning against the car but not throwing it away. Xu Xu looked at him and asked, “You don’t look so good. Aren’t your parents visiting Nancheng?”
Cheng Yanyu looked at her and said, “I broke it off with Li Man.”
Xu Xu was startled. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said.”
Xu Xu suddenly laughed. “A woman like her, and you managed to stick it out for a year? That’s impressive.”
Cheng Yanyu: “What kind of woman do you think she is?”
Xu Xu retorted, “What kind of woman do you think she is?”
Cheng Yanyu stayed silent.
Xu Xu pointed at him. “You know the answer. You just won’t admit it.”
“Cheng Yanyu, don’t you see? You’re the kind of person who keeps going down one path no matter what. Why were you attracted to her in the first place? I really don’t get it. Her methods were so obvious, and you couldn’t see through them. I’m not even criticizing her as a person—I’m just talking about her tactics. She just wanted to sleep with you. She never wanted a divorce. As for why she got divorced later—I don’t know. But on your end, once Wen Yang found out, divorce was inevitable.”
Cheng Yanyu felt another sharp pain in his heart.
He looked at Xu Xu and said, “I kept trying to pull myself back.”
Xu Xu sneered, “Did that work? You still cheated.”
Cheng Yanyu fell silent.
Xu Xu continued, “If we didn’t have such a good relationship back in Nan’an, and if you hadn’t helped me so much, I would’ve cut ties with you a long time ago.”
Cheng Yanyu looked at her.
Xu Xu said, “You wronged Wen Yang.”
“Six years, and to you, it was all just garbage.”
Cheng Yanyu shook his head. “No, it wasn’t like that. Even at the moment of divorce, I still loved her.”
“But I know I messed up. I couldn’t face her. She cried so hard. It was the first time I’d seen her cry like that—I was lost, like the sky had fallen.”
“You can call me cowardly, or fake, but that really was how I felt. I did love her. It’s just… it already happened.”
Xu Xu looked at him. “Then why did you still stay with her after the divorce?”
Cheng Yanyu said softly, “She divorced because of me. I remember her kindness too.”
Xu Xu asked, “What kindness?”
“Was her kindness better than Wen Yang’s?”
It wasn’t.
Not even close.
But so what? He couldn’t go back.
He could only move forward.
Sansukini: I can’t believe they’ve already been separated for a year. While the one who was wronged has moved on and is living happily in love and career, the one who cheated can’t seem to move on. Cheng Yanyu never took accountability for his actions. Even though he tried to set Wen Yang free and gave her a big part of their assets, he still went back to Li Man, deluding himself that everything is well. And now, he’s just hurting his parents in the process.
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A pitiful man. I don’t feel hate … Just disappointed. Such a good family and he destroyed everything and blindly tried to keep going on the wrong path. Don’t think you will be fully happy after cheating.