Morning sunlight, warm and gentle, filtered through the thick blackout curtains of the Jiuxi Bay master bedroom.
Yu Sheng opened her eyes, shook her head to temporarily cast aside the tangled thoughts, and got up to wash.
When she pushed open the bedroom door, her steps froze.
From the direction of the dining room came faint noises. Under the warm yellow light, Shen Yunmian was already sitting there. She wore loose home clothes, her complexion still pale from illness, her long hair casually down, softening her usual sharpness.
On the dining table were several delicate breakfast dishes, still steaming.
Hearing the movement, Shen Yunmian immediately raised her head, her gaze magnetically fixed on Yu Sheng, lips moving as if to speak, finally producing a tentative, cautious: "You're awake?"
Yu Sheng walked over, her gaze sweeping over the table—translucent shrimp dumplings, tender black bean chicken feet, perfectly cooked century egg and lean pork congee, and even a plate of red rice sausages she'd recently liked.
Every dish exactly to her taste.
Surprised, she subconsciously assumed the housekeeper had returned: "Aunt Yang came early?"
Shen Yunmian shook her head lightly, explaining, "No. I asked Secretary Li to get them from 'Yue Pin Xuan.' They were just delivered."
'Yue Pin Xuan' was Yu Sheng's favorite Cantonese dim sum place. She had mentioned it occasionally before, but Shen Yunmian either was busy or didn't want to wait in line, so rarely went with her.
Yu Sheng didn't comment, pulling out a chair to sit.
The porcelain bowl was smooth and warm. The congee grains had burst open perfectly, releasing a fragrant aroma.
Shen Yunmian didn't touch her own portion, only quietly observing Yu Sheng's subtle expressions, speaking softly: "Is… it to your taste?"
Thinking of how Shen Yunmian had finally agreed to the divorce yesterday and even offered generous terms, Yu Sheng's resistance temporarily softened.
She picked up a spoon, scooped a bite, and tasted it. The temperature was just right, the flavor perfect.
"Not bad," she said plainly, the usual edge gone. "Let's eat."
"Okay." Shen Yunmian's eyes briefly glimmered, as if rewarded, before picking up her own chopsticks.
For a while, the atmosphere was unexpectedly peaceful.
They ate breakfast in silence, the only sound the slight clinking of bowls and chopsticks.
Shen Yunmian tried a few times to make conversation, eventually asking dryly, "Did you… sleep well last night?"
"Not bad," Yu Sheng replied without looking up.
After a moment, Shen Yunmian cautiously said, "The weather today… seems nice."
"Mm."
Undeterred, Shen Yunmian seemed to take comfort in simply speaking to Yu Sheng, no matter how trivial.
She even dared to use the communal chopsticks to place a shrimp dumpling on Yu Sheng's plate: "Here… try this."
Yu Sheng hesitated for a moment as she saw it land on her plate, then finally picked it up to eat.
Shen Yunmian watched quietly, a barely perceptible smile tugging at her lips, then lowered her head to sip her congee, finding the plain white porridge seemed slightly sweet.
However, this brief calm was shattered.
Yu Sheng wiped her mouth with a napkin, her tone as casual as discussing the weather: "I'll find time in the next few days to contact a moving company, pack up my things, and move them to my pre-marriage apartment."
Clang!
Shen Yunmian dropped her spoon into the bowl, the sound harsh.
Warm porridge splashed on the back of her hand, but she didn't notice. She shot her head up, her complexion instantly drained, paler than before, lips trembling, wanting to speak, but no sound came out.
Her usually cold, self-contained eyes now looked like shattered glass, full of panic and helplessness.
She greedily lingered on every trace of Yu Sheng in the house, every item seemingly marked by their shared life. Giving Jiuxi Bay to Yu Sheng was easy, but selfishly, she desperately wanted to keep this shell full of memories, as if keeping the objects meant keeping a chance for Yu Sheng to return.
But what right did she have to stop her? She had agreed to the divorce.
Finally, she lowered her head deeply, mechanically picked up the spoon again, and shoved a large mouthful of congee into her mouth, swallowing without taste, as if it could block the bitter, rising despair in her throat.
Yu Sheng, seeing Shen Yunmian's sudden change and trembling shoulders, didn't continue that provoking topic.
The dining room fell into a suffocating silence. The breakfast ended quietly, abruptly.
Putting down the utensils, Shen Yunmian seemed to try to suppress her emotions, but the redness in her eyes betrayed everything.
She picked up the suit jacket draped over the chair, still showing weakness in her movements. Seemingly casually, she suggested, her voice with a subtle tension: "Shall we go to the company together? It's on the way anyway."
Yu Sheng, picking up her handbag, shook her head: "No. I'm not going today. I promised my mom I'd go out with her, get some fresh air."
Shen Yunmian froze mid-motion.
Yu Sheng's mother… that blonde woman, Sophia… wasn't she already with them?
In an instant, a sharp mix of jealousy and panic twisted tightly around her heart, almost suffocating her.
The words of questioning and stopping almost burst out of her mouth.
But at that moment, Yu Sheng's words from yesterday—filled with irritation and exhaustion—suddenly crashed into her mind:
"Can you stop haunting me like a ghost?"
"I'm begging you, Shen Yunmian, can you just let me go?"
Like a bucket of ice water poured over her head, Shen Yunmian instantly calmed down. She couldn't push Yu Sheng any further away.
She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, using the sting to force herself to stay composed. After taking several deep breaths, she barely managed to suppress the surging emotions.
Yet when she spoke, her voice still inevitably carried an unhidden bitterness: "You… you just got out of the hospital. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. Don't go too far, and don't… stay out too long. Get some rest."
How could Yu Sheng not understand the meaning behind her words?
Her face showed little expression as she gave a noncommittal response, "Mm."
After that, she didn't linger. She picked up her bag, changed her shoes, and decisively opened the door and walked out.
The sound of the door closing struck heavily against Shen Yunmian's empty chest.
Still holding her coat, Shen Yunmian remained frozen in place for a long time before finally collapsing back onto the cold dining chair, as if all her strength had been drained away.
A massive sense of loss and the fear of being abandoned surged over her like a tide.
How could she possibly have the mind to go to the company?
Numbly, she took out her phone and called Secretary Li. Her voice was hoarse. "Hello, Secretary Li… postpone all of today's schedule. Send any urgent documents to my email… I'll be working from home."
—
On the other side, the mountain trail in the suburbs was lush and green, the air fresh and pleasant.
Wen Jing looked at her daughter walking beside her. Although her complexion was better than when she was in the hospital, there was still a faint trace of fatigue lingering in her brows, making Wen Jing feel a pang of heartache. "Sheng Sheng, look at how nice it is here—quiet, and the air is so clean."
"Listen to Mom. Once things here are settled, come abroad with me, alright?"
Yu Sheng was a little surprised by her mother's persistence and silently thought about how to persuade her.
Wen Jing gently stroked the back of her daughter's hand and continued softly, "That mess of the Yu Corporation—we don't want it anymore. Money, whether more or less, is just worldly possessions. I only want you to be happy and healthy. It doesn't matter if our standard of living drops a bit. As long as we're together, that's better than anything."
Dale, standing nearby, also spoke gently, "Yes, Sheng Sheng. If you're willing to come to Country F, I'd be happy to introduce you to some good job opportunities. With your abilities, you can completely start over. There's no need to trap yourself here."
Yu Sheng looped her arm through her mother's and rested her head lightly on her shoulder, just like when she was little. "Mom, Aunt Dale, thank you. But really, you don't need to worry about me anymore."
She lifted her head and looked toward the distant mountains layered under the sunlight. Her voice was calm, yet carried a sense of relief: "Shen Yunmian has already agreed to the divorce. Just yesterday."
"What?" Wen Jing's eyes widened in shock, clearly unable to believe the sudden news.
Yu Sheng nodded again in confirmation.
Only then did Wen Jing let out a long sigh of relief, her previously tense shoulders finally relaxing. "Really? That's good, that's good… Now I can finally feel at ease."
Dale also revealed a gratified smile. Sophia, who had been obediently following behind, immediately cheered and bounced in front of Yu Sheng, her bright blue eyes sparkling. "The trouble's gone! Does that mean I don't have to go back so soon and can stay a few more days to have fun?"
Dale instantly put on a stern face and scolded lightly, "Sophia! Don't push your luck. You've already caused Sheng Sheng a lot of trouble!"
"It's okay, Aunt Dale." Seeing Sophia's face fall instantly, her pitiful yet silent expression made Yu Sheng smile a little. She stepped in to ease the situation. "She's quite well-behaved. Let her stay a few more days. I'm not very busy lately anyway, so I have some free time to show her around."
"Yay! Thank you so much, Sheng! You're the best person in the world!" Sophia immediately brightened, hugging Yu Sheng's arm, her radiant smile infectious.
Looking at her, Yu Sheng couldn't help but curve her lips slightly.
—
In the empty and cold villa, Shen Yunmian sat alone behind the large desk in the study.
The laptop screen glowed, filled with dense reports and documents, yet her gaze remained unfocused, fixed somewhere in the void.
After barely finishing a few urgent emails, her attention began to scatter uncontrollably.
Where had they gone now?
That Sophia… would she take the opportunity to cling to Sheng Sheng?
Would she link arms with her?
Would she say something amusing to make Sheng Sheng laugh?
All kinds of chaotic guesses and images churned uncontrollably in her mind, tangling together like an ever-tightening ball of thread, squeezing her heart with waves of pain.
Irritated, she stood up and began pacing back and forth in the study.
Countless times she picked up her phone, her fingertip hovering over Yu Sheng's number, longing to hear her voice—yet reason stopped her again and again from this futile action.
Just as she was about to be driven mad by this hopeless waiting, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind—she needed an excuse. A reasonable excuse that wouldn't provoke Yu Sheng's annoyance.
Right—the divorce agreement!
She quickly found the draft agreement the lawyer had sent to her email that morning. In the message box, she carefully considered her wording, deleting and rewriting over and over, until in the end she left only one trembling sentence: "The lawyer drafted an initial version. Take a look and see if there's anything you want to modify or add?"
Her finger hovered over the send button. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then pressed it decisively.
The message was sent successfully.
She immediately collapsed onto the sofa as if drained of all strength, her heart pounding like a drum.
One minute, two minutes, five minutes… The screen dimmed again and again, only to be lit up quickly by her.
The chat remained stuck on the message she had sent, with no reply. All kinds of guesses gnawed at her heart like ants.
She quickly picked up her phone, found the draft divorce agreement the lawyer had sent, and forwarded it to Yu Sheng.
Her added note was written with extreme caution, afraid of revealing any inappropriate emotion: "The lawyer drafted an initial version. Take a look and see if there's anything you want to modify?"
After the message was sent, she gripped her phone tightly, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.
Time passed second by second, yet the screen remained dark and silent, making the stillness all the more agonizing.
For a moment, Shen Yunmian couldn't tell which was more painful—waiting for a reply, or personally pushing forward the divorce.
—
As dusk settled, a coolness gradually spread through the mountains.
Yu Sheng and the others made their way down the mountain, their bodies tired but relaxed, and found a well-reviewed local restaurant.
After ordering, Yu Sheng finally had time to take out her phone while waiting for the dishes.
On the screen, Shen Yunmian's message from the afternoon stood out clearly.
She opened the attachment. The dozens-of-pages-long draft divorce agreement came into view. She had only intended to skim it casually, but her gaze froze upon reaching the property division section.
All of Shen Yunmian's real estate, private equity funds, stock options—even part of her highly liquid shares in the Shen Group… everything was listed clearly, with astonishing value.
When Shen Yunmian had made the verbal promise yesterday, Yu Sheng had been surprised, but hadn't fully taken it seriously.
Now, seeing it written in black and white in a legally binding document, the impact was entirely different.
Yu Sheng's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, her fingers unconsciously scrolling on the screen.
Wen Jing noticed something off about her daughter's expression and leaned over with concern. "Sheng Sheng, what's wrong? Why does your face look so bad?" She instinctively thought the worst, her tone filled with familiar worry. "Did Shen Yunmian do something again? Did she bully you?"
"No, Mom, look at this." Yu Sheng handed over the phone, pointing at the long list of assets.
Wen Jing took it, initially still a bit angry as she muttered, "I knew she wouldn't make it so easy…," but as she read on, her voice grew quieter, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"This…" Wen Jing's voice trembled slightly, "Has Shen Yunmian gone mad? How could she offer these terms? This is almost her entire fortune!"
Yu Sheng stared at the screen with a complicated expression and shook her head. "I also think it's unbelievable. This isn't normal."
After a moment of thought, her tone returned to calmness. "When I go back, I need to talk to her properly again. What belongs to me, I won't refuse out of false modesty; but what shouldn't be mine, I won't be greedy for either."
Seeing her daughter's rational attitude, Wen Jing felt relieved, though she couldn't help but feel puzzled by Shen Yunmian's unusual behavior. She murmured, "This… I didn't expect. She's being quite generous this time."
Yu Sheng only curled her lips into a bitter smile.
Generous? She was more afraid that something unknown lay behind it.
Lowering her head, she sent Shen Yunmian a brief reply: "Saw the agreement. We'll talk when I get back."
After sending it, she immediately switched her phone to silent mode and placed it face down on the table.
"Come on, the dishes are here. Let's eat first." She picked up her chopsticks, calling to her mother and Aunt Dale, then smiled at the curious Sophia. "Try this—it's a local specialty."
—
In the villa at Jiuxi Bay, the lights were brightly lit, yet they couldn't dispel the cold emptiness filling the rooms.
Shen Yunmian sat on the sofa like a statue, her eyes fixed on the short, almost cold reply on the screen.
"I have seen the agreement. We'll talk when I get back."
She had waited the entire afternoon—waited until her heart burned with anxiety, waited until her thoughts ran wild—only to receive such a businesslike sentence devoid of any emotion.
Just moments ago, unable to hold back any longer, she had called Su Qingyu under the pretense of asking about a detail in a cooperation project.
Su Qingyu reported work as usual, and only at the end casually mentioned, "President Yu took leave today and didn't come to the company."
She hadn't gone to the company all day…
Then where was she now?
Was she still with Sophia?
Had they been together from day to night—did they have other plans?
A sour, restless heat flared up again, burning through her insides like fire.
She kept warning herself: Shen Yunmian, calm down! Stop being suspicious, stop doing things that make her hate you!
She abruptly stood up, walked into the study, and forced herself to immerse in work.
Only when dealing with complicated data and clauses could her chaotic, restless heart find a moment of numbness.
However, the moment she finished the last document and closed the laptop, all her thoughts surged back uncontrollably.
She looked up at the clock on the wall. The hands pointed squarely at nine at night.
Outside, the night had deepened, and Yu Sheng still hadn't returned.
She could no longer sit still, pacing back and forth in the living room like a trapped beast, nearly wearing a path into the carpet.
Each tick of the second hand struck against her taut nerves.
When the clock finally pointed to ten, all of Shen Yunmian's self-control completely collapsed.
With trembling hands, she picked up her phone and dialed Yu Sheng's number.
Listening to the monotonous ringing tone, her heart pounded so fast it felt like it would burst out of her chest.
The call connected.
But the voice that came through was crisp, cheerful, and carried a distinct foreign accent: "Hello?"
It was Sophia!
Shen Yunmian felt a loud "boom" in her head, as if something had exploded, leaving her mind blank.
All her blood seemed to rush to her head.
"Where is Yu Sheng?" Her voice was tightly restrained to the extreme, sounding unusually cold and sharp.
"Oh, you're looking for Sheng?" Sophia's Chinese was halting. "She's taking a shower."
A shower?
At ten at night, Yu Sheng was showering—and Sophia was the one answering the phone?!
Countless terrible thoughts slithered into her mind like venomous snakes, gnawing at her sanity.
"Where are you?" Shen Yunmian's voice rose uncontrollably, edged with a sharpness even she didn't notice. "Why are you in her place? Why are you holding her phone while she's showering?"
A barrage of questions crashed over, and Sophia on the other end was clearly frightened by the harsh tone, hurriedly explaining with grievance, "We… are at Sheng's home. My clothes got wet… Sheng let me stay here… I'm in the living room, the phone rang, so I answered…"
The more she tried to explain, the more confused her words became.
The words "stay here" instantly pushed Shen Yunmian's panic to its peak.
She could almost hear her reason snapping, her voice trembling from suppressed anger, "Have Yu Sheng come out! Tell her to call me back!"
Without waiting for Sophia to say anything else, she abruptly hung up.
The phone slipped from her sweat-damp hand and fell onto the soft carpet with a dull thud.
Shen Yunmian gasped heavily, her chest rising and falling violently, her head splitting with pain, her wound faintly aching.
A powerful impulse urged her to go to Jingshui Bay apartment right now.
She paced frantically in the living room, grabbed her car keys, walked to the door—then remembered the embarrassment of being kicked when she had gone abroad to find Yu Sheng not long ago. In the end, she turned back and hurled the keys onto the sofa.
She had to trust Sheng Sheng. Sheng Sheng wasn't that kind of person.
Time seemed endlessly stretched, every second unbearable.
—
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