The next morning, sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains into the bedroom as Yu Sheng woke on time.
She rose as usual, washed up, and changed into her work attire. When she opened the bedroom door, the living room was unusually quiet—no smell of food, no sign of Shen Yunmian on the sofa.
Yu Sheng frowned slightly and walked to the dining area. The table was empty. She picked up her phone and called Aunt Yang.
"Aunt Yang, why wasn't breakfast prepared this morning?"
On the other end, Aunt Yang's voice sounded apologetic and cautious. "Oh dear, Miss Yu, I'm so sorry! I got a notice from Miss last night saying something came up at the old house and asked me to come back to help for a few days. I thought… I thought Miss would've told you. Didn't she tell you?"
Yu Sheng held the phone, her tone calm and flat. "Oh, it's fine. Go ahead with your work."
After hanging up, Yu Sheng cast a strange look at the tightly closed bedroom door. Sent Aunt Yang away? What was Shen Yunmian planning this time?
She didn't bother to think further. She went out to have breakfast and then drove to the company.
All morning, Yu Sheng and Su Qingyu were immersed in intense work.
The Smart Community project in the northern district had entered a critical stage in its collaboration with Academician Li's team. Various details needed finalizing, and the financing plan required further refinement. The busy workload made her temporarily forget the small incident from the morning.
Until around ten, when her office door was suddenly knocked on.
Su Qingyu entered with Secretary Li, who looked anxious.
"President Yu, sorry to interrupt!" Secretary Li's forehead was damp with sweat, her voice urgent. "Do you know where President Shen is? There's a very important cross-border M&A video conference this morning, but she hasn't shown up, her phone is off, and even the landline at home isn't being answered! This is very unusual—President Shen is never like this! I'm worried… could something have happened?"
Yu Sheng's fingers paused on the keyboard, her heart giving an inexplicable jolt. The image of that tightly shut door flashed through her mind.
"Her phone isn't off?" Yu Sheng confirmed, her tone still calm.
"No! We can't reach her at all!" Secretary Li was on the verge of tears.
As if to confirm it herself, Yu Sheng immediately picked up her phone and dialed Shen Yunmian's number.
After a long ringing, no one answered.
Yu Sheng frowned. Shen Yunmian might resort to emotional tactics, but she would never joke about a critical business meeting.
"I'll go back and check," Yu Sheng decided immediately, grabbing her car keys and standing up. "Qingyu, you take over the meeting here."
"Understood, President Yu." Su Qingyu nodded, a trace of concern flashing in her eyes.
Yu Sheng rushed back to Jiuxi Bay. The villa was eerily silent.
She first knocked on Shen Yunmian's bedroom door—no response. She knocked harder—still nothing.
She dialed Shen Yunmian's phone again. This time, through the heavy door, she could faintly hear the vibration of the phone inside!
The call went through, but no one answered!
Given Shen Yunmian's personality, she would never ignore calls out of spite. Yu Sheng's heart sank.
Without hesitation, she immediately contacted the neighborhood security.
A few minutes later, two bodyguards with professional tools arrived in a hurry.
"The person inside might be in trouble. Open the door!" Yu Sheng said, her voice carrying a tension she herself didn't notice.
"Yes!"
The bodyguards acted quickly. After a few muffled sounds, the lock was broken.
Yu Sheng pushed the door open—
A wave of stifling heat rushed out.
The bedroom curtains were tightly drawn, the light dim. On the large bed, Shen Yunmian was curled up, her cheeks flushed with an abnormal redness, lips dry and cracked, her breathing rapid and heavy—she had clearly lost consciousness.
Yu Sheng quickly walked to the bedside and reached out to touch her forehead—burning hot to the touch!
At that moment, as if sensing something, Shen Yunmian, eyes closed, unconsciously reached out and suddenly grabbed Yu Sheng's approaching arm, pressing her scorching cheek against it as a hoarse, indistinct murmur escaped her lips:
"Sheng Sheng… cold… don't go…"
The voice was fragile, filled with complete dependence and pleading, like a fine needle that caught Yu Sheng off guard and pricked her.
But in the next second, Yu Sheng forcefully pulled her hand back, a wave of inexplicable irritation and annoyance surging in her chest.
What a way to make trouble for nothing! Turning herself into this state—what exactly is she trying to do?
"Why are you still standing there? Take her to the hospital!" Yu Sheng turned to the bodyguards behind her, her tone returning to its usual composure, though tinged with a faint, barely noticeable anger.
No one dared delay. Working together, they lifted the semi-conscious Shen Yunmian and rushed her to the best private hospital in the city.
At the hospital, everything became a flurry of activity.
Registration, emergency treatment, examinations, IV drips… Yu Sheng calmly handled everything throughout, until Shen Yunmian was transferred into a VIP ward and her condition stabilized. The doctor said it was just a severe cold causing a high fever, and she needed to stay for observation for two days.
Yu Sheng stood at the doorway of the ward, looking at Shen Yunmian lying inside, pale and fragile, completely lacking her usual cold arrogance. She pressed her lips together, then instructed Secretary Li, who had rushed over, "Take good care of her. Contact me if anything happens," before turning and leaving the hospital without the slightest hesitation.
Back at the company, Su Qingyu stepped forward with concern. "President Yu, how is President Shen?"
Yu Sheng didn't stop walking, heading straight to her office, her tone indifferent as if speaking about a stranger:
"She won't die."
Su Qingyu tactfully said nothing more and shifted the topic back to work.
Inside the ward.
When Shen Yunmian woke up, it was already afternoon.
The pungent smell of disinfectant made her frown. As she opened her eyes, she saw a stark white ceiling, and sitting by the bed was her grandmother, her expression stern.
She instinctively looked around, but the ward was empty—there was no sign of the person she had subconsciously been hoping to see.
Disappointment surged up like a tide, instantly drowning her. Her throat was dry and painful as she struggled to speak, her voice hoarse: "Grandma… why are you here?"
Madam Shen looked her over and let out a heavy sigh, her tone carrying unquestionable authority and deep disappointment:
"Yunmian, look at yourself! What do you look like? Since when has the heir of the Shen family become so emotional, so fragile? Just because of Yu Sheng, you've worked yourself into the hospital? You've truly disappointed me!"
Shen Yunmian lowered her gaze, hiding the emotions in her eyes, and said calmly, "It has nothing to do with her. I was just careless."
"Nothing to do with her?" Madam Shen's voice rose. "Yu Sheng already told me! You slept on the living room sofa all night and caught a chill, ending up with a fever! I don't want to interfere too much in your relationship, but you can't forget your identity! You are the head of the Shen family—how many eyes are watching you? Neglecting the company's interests for personal feelings—is that what an heir should do?"
Shen Yunmian pressed her pale lips together and remained silent.
Seeing her unmoved, Madam Shen grew even more irritated and continued lecturing—about prioritizing the bigger picture, not letting emotions cloud judgment, and how Yu Sheng managing the Yu Group independently would eventually slip out of control.
Shen Yunmian, who had been silent the entire time, finally couldn't endure it anymore and said in a low voice, "Grandma, a true head of the Shen family leads the Shen Group to greater heights with her own ability, not by scheming to seize the little inheritance her wife has left. Since you entrusted the Shen Group to me, you should trust my capability instead of interfering so much in my decisions."
By the end, her tone was uncharacteristically disrespectful, almost directly confronting Madam Shen.
"Fine, fine, your wings have grown strong. This old woman can't control you anymore."
Madam Shen, after all, was old. Though angry, she didn't want to completely fall out with the granddaughter she had personally raised as heir. In the end, she could only sigh helplessly, stand up, and leave the ward.
Not long after her grandmother left, Secretary Li arrived with Shen Yunmian's personal laptop.
"President Shen, are you feeling better? Here is the laptop you need, along with some urgent documents." Secretary Li set everything down, cautiously observing Shen Yunmian's expression.
"Mm." Shen Yunmian responded, taking the laptop but not opening it immediately. After a brief hesitation, she asked as if casually, "Is everything fine at the company? President Yu… is she busy?"
What she truly wanted to ask was, "Why didn't she come?" but her pride wouldn't allow it.
Secretary Li immediately understood the implication and stammered, "The acquisition meeting has been postponed for three days. As for President Yu… she seems quite busy with project matters, so maybe… maybe she's occupied…"
Such a tactful answer.
How could Shen Yunmian not understand the meaning behind it? Busy was just an excuse. Not caring, not paying attention—that was the truth.
She forced a faint, bitter smile. "I see. You can go back. Contact me if anything comes up at the company."
"Yes, President Shen, please rest well." Secretary Li, as if granted amnesty, quickly left the ward.
The door closed softly, and the room fell into complete silence, broken only by the steady beeping of medical equipment.
Shen Yunmian leaned against the headboard, the dim glow of the laptop screen casting light over her bloodless face. She no longer needed to hide it—overwhelming disappointment and sorrow surged like an icy tide, instantly swallowing her whole.
She had thought that at least…at least when she was sick, Yu Sheng would feel even a trace of concern. Even just to come and see her once out of responsibility.
But there was nothing.
Her wife truly didn't care anymore.
That realization was like a blade coated in ice, stabbing viciously into her heart, making it hard to breathe.
She couldn't remember how long it had been—ever since childhood, Shen Yunmian rarely cried.
But now, tears welled up without warning, quickly blurring her vision, catching her completely off guard. Stubbornly, she tilted her head back, trying to force the tears back, but the warm liquid still slipped from the corners of her eyes, soaking into her hair.
She raised the hand without the IV and pressed the back of it tightly against her eyes, trying to conceal this loss of control and humiliation.
She had lost—lost completely.
Not only had she lost her marriage, but even the last shred of her pitiful dignity and hope had been crushed to pieces by reality.
For the rest of the day, Shen Yunmian lay on the hospital bed, restless.
She forced herself to handle emails and review documents, yet her gaze kept drifting to the silent phone screen, hoping it would light up, hoping that familiar name would appear.
Even a cold, indifferent message would have been enough.
But there was nothing.
The phone lay silent like a cold stone.
—
T/N: If you're enjoying this translation, feel free to check out my Patreon. If you're unable to support financially, you can still subscribe for free and receive chapters two hours earlier, along with updates and announcements. Paid tiers offer early access and daily chapters.
Thank you so much for reading!
patreon.com/Baenz