Shen Huaishuang felt somewhat flattered.
She had been at the company for three years, always a background figure. Her daily routine consisted of printing documents, running errands, and cleaning. She, too, yearned to be appreciated and trusted by management. Regardless of why President Wang had suddenly changed his attitude toward her—even going so far as to offer to take her under his wing and mentor her—she was determined to cherish this opportunity and work hard.
"President Wang, I will learn everything I can from you."
A woman’s greatest reliance was not marrying a good man, but having a career of her own. No matter what changes life might bring, those would never be enough to bring her down.
The company successfully won the bid. President Wang granted Shen Huaishuang a half-day off. Having pulled two all-nighters to prepare the bid documents, she was exhausted and sleepy, yearning to go home and catch up on rest. With the weekend following immediately after, she could finally take a proper break.
Just as she arrived at Star Dream International and before she could even head upstairs, an unfamiliar number called. She answered.
Bai Yujie’s voice came through. "Huaishuang, I want to see you."
"Bai Yujie, please stop calling me. We have already broken up."
"Huaishuang, I still prefer you calling me Brother Yujie."
"Stop harassing me. I am a married woman now."
"Then get a divorce."
"You’re sick!"
She had never realized before that Bai Yujie could be so obsessive. "Bai Yujie, can we just end this like adults and move on?"
"No. I don’t accept you marrying another man."
"There is no future for us anymore."
"Who says so?"
"Do you really think your parents would agree to you marrying someone whose reputation has been ruined?"
Bai Yujie was silent for a moment. "Huaishuang, I truly can’t give you marriage, but who is to blame for that? It’s you. If you hadn’t done those things, how could we have hit these obstacles?"
Shen Huaishuang felt a sharp pain, as if pricked by a needle. "So, you’re blaming me for how things turned out between us?"
"Isn't it your fault?"
Shen Huaishuang took a deep breath, suppressing the dull ache in her chest. Breakups weren't the worst part; the worst part was making them look ugly. She didn't want to argue about this; she didn't want their three-year relationship to end in a mangled mess. It was all in the past.
"Bai Yujie, I don't want to discuss this. We are history now; talking about it is meaningless."
"Fine, we won’t talk about the past. Let’s talk about the future. Let’s start over."
Shen Huaishuang was speechless. "Bai Yujie, are you joking? I’m already married; it’s impossible for us to start over. And don't talk about me getting a divorce—even if I did, would you marry me? No! If that’s the case, why are you still hounding me?"
"Huaishuang, I want to tell you this in person. I’m waiting for you at Yuehu Village. Come see me."
Shen Huaishuang furrowed her brows. "What are you doing in Yuehu Village?"
"I’m here to see what kind of family you’ve married into." Bai Yujie glanced at the incredibly mundane rural courtyard. He sneered, "It’s dilapidated and old! A bulldozer could knock this down with a single push."
"Bai Yujie, I’m warning you—don’t do anything stupid."
Bai Yujie tapped the steering wheel and said, "I won't do anything, as long as you come to Yuehu Village to see me. It’s not easy to see you these days, you know; it’s taken quite a bit of effort."
He had gone to her company several times, but Shen Huaishuang had avoided him. Once she moved out of the Shen residence, he couldn't track down her current address. He had no choice but to come to Yuehu Village.
Shen Huaishuang’s eyes flared with anger. She gripped her phone tightly and said coldly, "I’ll be there soon. Just wait."
She hung up, hailed a taxi, and headed toward Yuehu Village. Located in the suburbs of Suzhou, it took an hour and a half to drive there. When she arrived, she saw Bai Yujie’s Maybach parked in front of Grandma Su’s house.
Bai Yujie rolled down the window. "Get in."
Shen Huaishuang gritted her teeth and reached for the back door, but Bai Yujie insisted, "Sit in the front."
She reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat. Bai Yujie started the engine and drove to an abandoned horse stable near the village. When the car stopped, Shen Huaishuang tried to open the door, only to find it locked. She glared at him in annoyance. "Open the door!"
Bai Yujie didn't move; he just looked at her with a pained expression. "Huaishuang, it’s only been a few days. Why are you so cold toward me? We used to love each other so much..."
He simply could not accept that Shen Huaishuang had betrayed him and married someone else. It had all happened so fast, catching him completely off guard.
Shen Huaishuang looked out the window and stayed silent. Honestly, it was hard to let go of three years of history. But so what? Given their situation, how could they possibly be together? She was clear-headed enough to know it was impossible. That was why she had made a clean break, accepted her grandmother’s proposal, and entered a new relationship—to sever any chance of a future with Bai Yujie.
She also knew that under the pressure of the Bai family, he would never marry her. She, Shen Huaishuang, wasn't more important than the inheritance rights of the Bai family. Bai Yujie was only pestering her because he was bitter—he felt she had betrayed him and insulted his male ego.
"Huaishuang, can’t you treat me like you used to? I love you so much, I can’t live without you."
Shen Huaishuang turned her head and asked calmly, "What about Shen Huaiyu?"
Bai Yujie frowned. "What does she have to do with this?"
"She is your fiancée now."
Bai Yujie thought for a moment before saying, "Huaishuang, you know my situation well. I can give you anything except marriage. Even if I marry Shen Huaiyu, she could never replace your position in my heart."
Shen Huaishuang laughed mockingly. "Bai Yujie, are you asking me to be your mistress, your secret lover?"
"Don't put it so harshly. You wouldn't be a mistress; you would be my true love. My heart will always belong to you."
"Ha! How absurd! Listen closely, Bai Yujie: I, Shen Huaishuang, will never be anyone’s mistress. Get that idea out of your head. I have a husband now, and I just want to live a quiet, simple life with him. Please, just let me go."
"What is so good about that country bumpkin?"
"I’ve already told you: he is handsome, he is physically fit, and he treats me well. You’d better not provoke me; be careful, or he might beat you up again."
Even without looking at him, she knew Bai Yujie was glaring at her fiercely.
"Open the door!"
"And if I don't?"
Shen Huaishuang turned to him, her almond eyes wide with fury. "Bai Yujie, let me out of this car."
Instead, Bai Yujie leaned over and pinned her against the seat, looming over her with a manic, gloomy look in his eyes. "Have you slept with him?"
Shen Huaishuang knew he meant Lu Zhengting. She struggled desperately. "Bai Yujie, let me go! Of course I’ve slept with my husband. We are a married couple; it’s normal to share a bed. Get away from me—don’t touch me!"
"How can you be so cruel? I waited for three years. You said you wanted to wait until marriage, and I respected that—I never touched you. Do you have any idea what I did for you..."
Bai Yujie didn't finish his sentence. Shen Huaishuang looked him straight in the eyes. "So, this must be fate. We were meant to be, but not for long."