Arriving in Ulaanbaatar.
Cheng Yanyu, carrying a backpack and holding his luggage, called home. The person who answered was Cheng Shan.
Cheng Shan asked, “Have you arrived?”
Cheng Yanyu nodded, “Just got here.”
He was silent for a moment. “How’s Mom?”
“She’s in the yard.”
“Is she taking her medicine on time?”
“Yes. I plan to take her to Zhou City for some relaxation in a couple of days. You be careful over there 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.
“Xjyu.”
Gqvla y qlo plnsdep sq pkzldnl, Ubldt Fbyd pyke, “Eld Zydt yde vbyv Ya. Ww byhl yzalyeu bye vblka oleekdt. Mbl obszl hkzzytl kp vyzjkdt ycswv kv. Zswa xsx byp ynnlrvle kv. Xdnl usw nsxl cynj, lhlauvbkdt okzz cl qkdl.”
“Yx.”
Ubldt Zyduw alrzkle.
Tl yzps oydvle vs ynnsxrydu Hbldt Qwkzk cynj vs Lyd’yd, cwv bkp hlau ralpldnl oyp vbl pswanl sq bla osaaklp. Ubldt Fbyd vsze bkx vs ts swv yde vyjl y oyzj, yde vbyv bl oswze pvyu okvb Hbldt Qwkzk bkxplzq.
Tl vawpvle bkp qyvbla.
Gqvla bydtkdt wr, Ubldt Zyduw rwzzle bkp pwkvnypl vs vbl bsvlz vs alpv. Oyazu vbl dlmv xsadkdt, bl vssj y cwp blyekdt vsoyae vbl Qsck Plplav. Mbl olyvbla oyp pvkzz tsse cwv tayewyzzu oyaxkdt wr. Mbkp oyp y rsrwzya vkxl qsa vswakpvp, yde vbl cwp oyp dskpu okvb nbyvvla. Tl yefwpvle bkp nyxlay yde nbydtle vbl zldp. Pwakdt bkp vball ulyap kd nszzltl, bl yde Eld Zydt bye tsdl sd xydu vakrp. Eld Zydt wpwyzzu bydezle vbl nyxlay plvvkdtp yde nbspl vbl zldplp, obkzl bl blzrle nyaau vbl cyt yde xswdv zldplp. Tl jdlo y zkvvzl ycswv nyxlayp, xspvzu clnywpl sq Eld Zydt.
Tl pokvnble zldplp yde vlpvle vbl qsnwp.
Outside the bus window, the scenery stretched wide and vast. Many passengers exclaimed at the view. Cheng Yanyu silently held his camera, focusing and taking a few shots along the way.
They arrived at the destination.
The bus had a tour guide who led a small group off the bus, while independent travelers dispersed to explore on their own. Cheng Yanyu slung his backpack over his shoulder, got off, and followed the guide with the group.
The temperature gradually rose, and the bright sun shone down, revealing the beautiful landscape clearly.
Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff is one of the scenic spots in the Gobi Desert.
The scenery was beautiful and required hiking. Most people came in pairs or groups of friends with a tour group. Cheng Yanyu ended up walking with a few independent hikers. They were all well-equipped for hiking, and Cheng Yanyu’s gear was similar. It looked like a team, though no one actually knew each other.
The weather grew hotter and hotter.
Some girls began to struggle but didn’t want to take off their scarves or hats. The sun was fierce and could cause sunburns. Some couples were there, and the girls were whining, eager to leave.
One hiker, seeing this, said, “Really want to smoke.”
Everyone was close enough to hear. Another looked at him and said, “Go ahead, the ground is so hot you’ll feel your fingertips burning. Experience lighting your cigarette from your fingertips.”
Everyone laughed.
They teased him: “Bro, did you come hiking because of a breakup?”
The teased guy said, “Yeah, a cliff-diving breakup. Seeing those guys with girlfriends just reminds me of that scumbag girl.”
Everyone laughed again.
Cheng Yanyu didn’t laugh. He walked silently with the crowd. A few quickly passed the couples, and the whiny girl’s voice passed by his side, sounding a lot like Wen Yang calling him.
But he knew it was just an illusion.
A few years ago, at a photography exhibition,
Wen Yang saw a series of photos from the Gobi Desert. She pointed and said, “My next travel goal is here, Cheng Yanyu.”
He agreed.
He also longed for the scenery of the northwest.
But now, he was the only one here.
The hike around Tsagaan Suvarga Cliff took about two hours. He took many photos. Everyone was exhausted from the heat. At the supply station, the recently heartbroken guy lit a cigarette and handed one to Cheng Yanyu. Cheng Yanyu hadn’t brought any, so he accepted it and thanked him. The guy said, “I can tell you don’t get out much.”
Cheng Yanyu lit the cigarette and replied with a bite, “Yeah, not often.”
“I can tell at a glance — you look like an office worker.”
Cheng Yanyu smiled, “Not really, I’m often on site. I see the sun too.”
“Oh, so more office time than not.” The guy was a photographer and a hiking enthusiast. Smoking, he got melancholy again: “My ex was a scummy office worker, all delicate and spoiled when she talked. But I just liked her.”
Cheng Yanyu looked out over the yellow sand and didn’t reply.
On the third day, still hiking the desert, Cheng Yanyu met the group again. They didn’t greet each other but instinctively walked together. They climbed the highest dune. Everyone’s gear was professional and black. Cheng Yanyu took a sip of water and saw on the adjacent dune a girl in an apricot-colored long dress climbing up, spreading her arms for a friend to take a photo, smiling brightly.
He paused for two seconds, looking that way. Then when he saw the girl’s face, he averted his gaze. The guy looked at him and said, “Like that type?”
Cheng Yanyu smiled but didn’t reply.
The guy studied for a moment and said, “Came with a bestie, probably single. Getting her number wouldn’t be hard.”
Cheng Yanyu glanced at him, lightly asking, “Forgot your ex already?”
The guy was stunned but quickly said, “No, I’m just giving you advice.”
Cheng Yanyu drank his water, “No need.”
The guy looked at him.
He was the quietest in the group, rarely spoke, but never refused a cigarette. His photography skills weren’t great but he treasured his camera. He wore an expensive watch and had good gear; his family was probably well-off, but he definitely had a story. Everyone else had shared bits of their stories, but he was still only called Xiao Cheng, with no other details known.
“Drinks tonight?”
The guy patted Cheng Yanyu’s shoulder.
Cheng Yanyu agreed.
But that night, the drinks backfired. Late at night, Cheng Yanyu’s stomach ailment flared up. The medicine he brought didn’t help. He endured the pain and went downstairs to call a car to a nearby hospital, but he fainted in the hotel lobby.
When he woke up,
The smell of medicine surrounded him. Many people with stomach issues were hospitalized. Cheng Yanyu saw a needle in his hand and an IV drip on his head. He lay back on the bed. The guy came in holding some steamed buns and said, “Xiao Cheng, you’re awake? Ah, shouldn’t have asked you to drink. The doctor said you nearly had a stomach perforation and needed surgery.”
Cheng Yanyu looked at him and said, “It’s okay. I haven’t perforated yet.”
“You’re optimistic.”
Cheng Yanyu smiled.
The guy handed him a steamed bun and said, “I checked around, no light food except this bun. The doctor said you can only eat bland for now, so just eat this, alright?”
Cheng Yanyu reached out and took the steamed bun.
Actually, he wasn’t supposed to eat it, at least not for now, but he still said thank you.
After the guy delivered the bun, he had to leave to continue his journey. Cheng Yanyu stayed alone in the hospital room, the bun on the table. He took a sip of water. In the room next door was another guy with stomach trouble. His girlfriend came in, carrying some porridge and placed it beside his bed. She said it was really hard to buy the porridge, but she finally got it.
The guy weakly said, “Thanks, baby, for the trouble.”
Cheng Yanyu drank his water again.
He stared at the ceiling.
His stomach still ached faintly. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
If he could,
he wished to go back to the past.
—
South City.
Mengbai Jewelry.
Li Man walked into the studio wearing high heels. Several designers were huddled around a tablet, and even the sales assistants gathered close. The store had no customers at the moment. Seeing them whispering, Li Man asked, “What are you all looking at?”
The group was caught off guard and startled. They quickly came back to themselves. One of the more vocal designers cautiously said, “We’re looking at Bilan’s designs. Since Mrs. Fu wore them at her wedding, Bilan’s business has been booming.”
The designer looked down as she spoke.
She wanted to learn.
The three words “Mrs. Fu” made Li Man’s nerves twitch. She looked at them and said, “What’s the point of just looking? Can you design something like that yourselves?”
After saying this, she walked to the office. “Everyone, get back to work. Sales assistants, contact the clients — contact them more times.”
The sales assistants lowered their heads and quietly replied.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to contact clients — it was that no one wanted to pay attention to them. This industry was all about stepping on others and flattering those above. New brands popped up like mushrooms after rain. Bilan’s work had always been better than theirs, and after Mrs. Fu’s wedding, the whole circle shifted. Everyone rushed to book Bilan, and Bilan had the capacity to handle the influx of wealth.
Suddenly, all the customers they’d lost over the years returned, just like Muse, which also successfully captured this flood of riches. The whole circle was already booking Muse for next year’s wedding planning.
This wedding was just the start of future growth.
Mengbai had almost made it to the top three in recent years. For a long time, the designers and sales assistants felt their status had risen — they walked with confidence outside.
Since Director Li’s divorce, things had declined somewhat but not too noticeably — until now, when it was clear they were hitting rock bottom. Everyone who had enjoyed their high status found it hard to accept the current reality. The designers at least thought to study others’ design ideas, hoping to learn and maybe create a hit. They were eager to turn things around.
But Director Li’s words crushed them.
Everyone was resentful but dared not talk back. Two earlier examples taught them not to take risks. They had to endure and inevitably started resenting Li Man.
The office door closed.
Li Man sat down at her desk. The ledger lay on the table. She glanced at it, then suddenly snapped it shut. She picked up her phone but couldn’t find anyone to talk to.
Qin Mu’s profile was still there, but they hadn’t messaged each other for a long time. The past prosperity and liveliness were gone, replaced by silence.
Her earliest friends gradually lost contact after she became Mrs. Fu and entered a new social circle. Li Man clenched her teeth, stuffed the ledger into her bag, stood up, and left.
She drove all the way home.
When she opened the door, Wen Yuexian was on the sofa feeding minced beef to their German shepherd. She glanced briefly at Li Man’s return, then looked away. Li Man sat on the sofa and stared at Wen Yuexian.
“The store’s about to lay people off. What should I do?”
Wen Yuexian hadn’t left the house in a long time. She had reined in all her sharpness and left some good impressions outside, so her daughter wouldn’t be burdened.
She said slowly, “Do you know who invested in Bilan’s new round of financing?”
Li Man asked, “Who?”
“Fu Xingzhou.” Wen Yuexian’s tone was flat. “Why do you think he invested in Bilan?”
Li Man’s heart tightened painfully. She clenched her fists hard.
Wen Yuexian said calmly, “It’s time you face reality. If he wants to move against you, just a finger is enough.”
Li Man gritted her teeth.
“For those three years, I have a clear conscience.”
Wen Yuexian listened and then slammed a bowl on the table with a bang. She turned to look at her daughter. “You still don’t realize your mistake? Fine, you can leave this house now.”
Li Man said nothing and didn’t get up.
She was still proud, but the experiences of recent days had crushed her deeply. Unlike before, she didn’t stand up and leave; instead, she stared at her mother.
Wen Yuexian looked at her helplessly and sighed. “Now, you need someone to protect you.”
“Who can protect me?”
Wen Yuexian was silent for a few seconds, then said, “You know Zhong Long, right?”
Li Man’s heart skipped a beat.
Wen Yuexian looked at her and said, “Yesterday he called me. He still likes you. He admires your character and ambition. He needs a partner now — he’s tired of playing around and wants to get married. You should think about it.”
Li Man immediately gritted her teeth. “He’s fifteen years older than me. Fifteen years! What am I supposed to think about?”
Wen Yuexian looked into her eyes. “Qin Mu’s husband is thirteen years older. If she can, why can’t you?”
Li Man tightened her fingers and stared back.
Wen Yuexian stared at her and said, “You can also choose not to. It’s simple — accept reality. Layoffs will happen. Bow your head if you must. Tail between your legs, start over.”
“Your choice.”
That meant her luxurious lifestyle would have to be drastically cut back. If she gave up struggling, she’d return to square one. But if she accepted the surname Zhong, at least she could keep her current lifestyle.
Li Man clenched her phone tightly, utterly lost.
Wen Yuexian picked up a glass of water and took a slow sip, then said deliberately, “I recently read a book, Li Man. Mom hasn’t read as much as you have, but from reading, I’ve understood a truth.”
“That is, ‘He who doesn’t plan far ahead will have worries nearby.’”
“And, ‘An arrogant army is bound to be defeated.’”
“That’s talking about you.”
Wen Yuexian looked straight at Li Man.
Li Man’s heart jumped sharply under her mother’s gaze, catching the sharpness in her eyes.
“Think carefully about this,”
Wen Yuexian said.
—
Nancheng
Hua Residence
Fu Xingzhou was in his study. Jiang Yue was reporting on work and, after finishing, handed over some documents. After a moment’s thought, he quietly told Fu Xingzhou about the recent situation at Mengbai Studio.
Fu Xingzhou held a pen and signed the documents, listening and giving a faint “hmm.”
At that moment,
a voice came from the balcony outside the door. Wen Yang called out, “Fu Xingzhou, my foot cramps.”
Fu Xingzhou put down the pen and went to the balcony. Jiang Yue followed anxiously; there was a baby in the lady’s belly. Wen Yang’s white dress trailed on the floor. She was looking at some drafts when suddenly her foot cramped. She couldn’t bend down and instinctively called Fu Xingzhou. He squatted beside her foot, held her ankle, and gently rubbed with his palm. Wen Yang took a soft breath.
Her voice softened a bit: “I’ve been cramping a lot lately.”
Fu Xingzhou gave a short “hmm” and gently said, “Let’s go for a walk after dinner.”
Wen Yang replied, “Can we go to the park next door?”
Fu Xingzhou smiled and said, “Sure.”
She gave a gentle wink and a smile. She was tired of strolling around the community; the park next door had people playing chess—she could go watch.
The wind blew, lifting the hem of her dress slightly. Her belly was already showing a bit.
Sansukini: I feel kinda sad for Cheng Yanyu. A moment’s temptation turned into deep regrets. Meanwhile, Li Man’s mom’s so pragmatic. She’ll probably win a palace fight if she’s in a harem. She’s not really scheming, but she knows how to bend. One more chapter left and I still haven’t figured out how to purchase the chapters in jjwxc. It’s because I can’t register an account, I always gets stucked in the verification page because I never recieve any emails. And my WeChat won’t work either.
Thanks for visiting. If you like this story, then I’m shamelessly asking you to visit NovelUpdates and give a 5⭐ review. (人❛ᴗ❛)♪тнайк чоц♪(❛ᴗ❛*人)
You can also check out my other translations Here
Registration on Chinese Platforms is very hard sometimes. Thank you for everything so far 💕
There she goes again. The very reason she is in ehr situation rn is because she accepted the contract marriage with FXZ because she is greedy. There she goes again, just because she can’t bare to give up her luxurious lifestyle. I seriously dont want to bother with her anymore. Meanwhile, yeah I do feel bad for CYY, but no matter how much he regrets it, there’s no coming back. I hope for him to just move on and stop looking back, dude.
Li Man’s mom is also scheming but she is smart enough to know when she has to yield. Li Man is too full of herself..to entitled, too arrogant..hence she won’t go far.
She’s angry for being alone and only has plastic sisters?
But isn’t she the one pushing away everyone who are sincere cos she looks down on them just because she got rich over night by marrying a rich man?
She looked down and cut contact with all her previous friends cos she thought they were too far beneath her.
She looked down Cheng Yuyan and his parent who could be sincere with her and still willing to give her a chance.
Does she think she’s a Miss Universe or what? Thinking she could still get a man at FXZ’s calibre after being divorced because of cheating? Which man and noble family will be that stupid?
She should be lucky to find that mr. Zhong still willing to marry her legally.
She’s also too full of herself that she ignored Fu’s warning more than once. Her downfall is just what she asked for after disgusting Wen Yan again and again.
She would have been fine if she had repented and started a new life peacefully with Cheng Yuyan.
But she’s too arrogant for that…so her defeat is well deserved.