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As Xie Shuo spoke, Ye An was left completely stunned. She couldn’t believe that these words had come from him… even though he learned it from her. 

Seeing her dumbfounded expression, Xie Shuo unexpectedly found it quite cute. All the melancholy he had felt in recent days seemed to dissipate in an instant as if he was restored to his original self. 

He tugged at the corner of his lips, revealing a rare hint of a smile. “You changed your mind once before. Now, I’m changing my mind once too. This is what you call being even.”

Ye An: “…….”

Ye An finally understood what it meant to shoot oneself in the foot. For a moment, she was left speechless. 

If he refused to sign the divorce papers, her signature alone would be meaningless. 

Seeing her stunned, Xie Shuo reached out and gently grabbed her wrist, pulling her to sit beside him. Looking into her eyes, he said gently, “I know I neglected you before. Since you don’t believe me, let’s start over. I’ll prove it to you.”

Ye An looked up and met his gaze, her image reflecting in his eyes. 

His deep, gentle voice echoed in her ears: a tenderness she had never quite experienced before. She hadn’t even had time to react when he suddenly placed a blue velvet jewelry box into her palm.

“I brought back a gift for you from my business trip. Open it and see if you like it.”

Reason told her to stay composed, but her hands couldn’t resist opening the box.

A beautifully exquisite necklace lay before her, radiating a silver glow. The sapphires shimmered like the enchanting moonlight of the deep sea, instantly captivating her sight.

It’s so beautiful….

Although Eldest Young Master Xie had a temper and was a bit of an alpha man, he did have an aesthetic eye for things.

But, what’s going on with him today?

Has someone suddenly opened his eyes to something?

Ye An couldn’t help but feel a bit silly deep down and scolded herself. Come on, Ye An, be more rational. How can you be so shallow, swayed by a necklace?

Not receiving a response, a rare hint of nervousness appeared on Xie Shuo’s face. He wrapped his arms around her waist, afraid that she might suddenly toss the necklace aside and leave.

“Like it?”

Ye An looked up, locking eyes with him, and her heart skipped a beat.

Memories of their first meeting flashed through her mind — it was a cold, raining spring night, his handsome appearance solemn. She couldn’t deny that she had remembered it for many years.

She parted her lips, and she was tempted to give in, but when she recalled his previous indifference, she felt a lingering resentment and believed that she shouldn’t forgive him so easily.

After a moment’s pause, she glanced at the necklace in her hand and said, “Is a necklace supposed to be proof? What do you take me for?”

Did he really think she was after his money?

Seeing her attitude soften, Xie Shuo tightened his grip on her hand and said, “How would you like me to prove it?”

He was close, and his voice was low, making Ye An weak all over. She almost couldn’t resist. Pulling her hand away, she said while avoiding his gaze, “This is your own business. Do you really need me to teach you?”

Looking at her side profile, Xie Shuo’s voice became even softer, “Let’s not sign the divorce agreement for now then. Wait until I prove it to you.”

Ye An pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Okay, we don’t have to divorce for now, but we need to live separately.” 

Until this moment, she couldn’t be entirely sure if he was saying these things because he was used to her taking care of him or if there was a genuine affection behind his words. She didn’t know the depth of his feelings.

If they were going to start over, it’d be better for them to separate for some time. 

She wanted to see how he intended to prove himself. 

Frowning, Xie Shuo was somewhat reluctant. However, he also understood that this was already a significant compromise on her part. In all matters, it was essential to proceed gradually and avoid rushing, especially given her reservations. 

In the end, the two of them reached an agreement: they wouldn’t sign the divorce agreement immediately but would live separately for a period. They would assess their situation afterward. 

“This is a condo near your recording studio. During this time, you can live there.”

Regarding her living arrangements during their separation, Xie Shuo gave her a set of keys directly.

“…….”

Living separately yet still living in your condo, what kind of separation was that?

Ye An refused staunchly, “No need. I have my own place.”

Her current savings allowed her to easily purchase a condo if necessary. 

Holding her hand, Xie Shuo stuffed the keys into her palm. “If you stay somewhere else, it’s hard to explain to Dad and Grandfather.”

Right… Ye An suddenly remembered this crucial issue. If she moved out, it would definitely raise questions from both Xie Baiyan and Grandfather Xie.  

“How are you planning to explain this to them?” she asked. 

Looking at her, Xie Shuo said, “I’ll move out with you. They won’t come looking to see where I’m living.”

After their marriage, they could’ve moved out together, but they had been staying at the family home because of Xie Shuo’s blindness. 

Ye An understood his intention and hesitated for a moment before reluctantly accepting the keys. 

This was a matter between the two of them. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, it had nothing to do with outsiders, and keeping it a secret for now would save her the trouble of dealing with irksome matters.

……

On the day of the move, Xie Shuo was glum throughout as if someone owed him a considerable debt. 

Ye An couldn’t help but want to laugh. Recently, he had been on frequent business trips, so whether they formally separated or not didn’t make much difference. They rarely saw each other anyway. Even if they shared a bed, it was just a matter of greeting each other in the morning and at night.

Xie Shuo insisted on accompanying her to the condo, and Ye An couldn’t refuse, so she just let him do as he pleased. 

After everything was settled, it was already around 6 pm.

Dusk painted the sky with vibrant hues, and the afterglow shone through the glass windows. Drinking a sip of water, Ye An was thinking of just eating something randomly to fill her stomach when she suddenly heard Xie Shuo say, “Where would you like to go for dinner?”

He just so happened to be standing by the window, his figure tall and framed by the radiant light, making his features appear somewhat blurred in the backlight.

He seemed to be pretty free today as he didn’t even go to the office, spending the entire day with her. Ye An knew how to be grateful, so she didn’t refuse his invitation and said, “Anywhere’s fine, you decide.”

Xie Shuo’s expression finally softened a bit, instructing someone to reserve a private room at a nearby Chinese restaurant. 

The restaurant had an elegant ambiance, with separators blocking diners from each other. Exquisite and gorgeous wall lamps adorned the walls, casting a gentle glow like moonlight on the two of them.

Since Xie Shuo regained his sight, this was the first time they had dined at a place like this. The shadows of trees danced outside the window, and a subtle floral fragrance wafted in the breeze, creating the perfect setting.

“What time do you finish work tomorrow?” Xie Shuo suddenly asked while they were halfway through their meal.

Ye An looked up, her eyes reflecting the lamplight. “Not sure, probably around 10.”

Xie Shuo frowned. “Why is it always so late every time?”

Ye An replied, “It’s not always like this. After I finish dubbing this drama, I plan to take a break.”

Xie Shuo’s gaze shifted slightly. “Where are you planning to go during your break?”

Holding her spoon, Ye An took a sip of soup, and said lightheartedly, “I’m going back home to visit my mom. I told her so during the New Year.”

Xie Shuo glanced at her, as if he had something to say but held it back.

After dinner, Xie Shuo sent Ye An back to the entrance of the condo building. 

The moon was clear, and the night breeze gently rustled. Ye An stopped in front of the building before turning around and saying, “Just here is fine.”

Xie Shuo stood tall and composed with his hands in his pockets. Looking at her under the moonlight, he said gently, “I’ll wait until you’re inside.”

It was such a simple phrase, yet it added a hint of ambiguity into the air as if a cat’s claw was scratching at her heart. 

Ye An suddenly felt a bit ill at ease, and her heart raced for a moment. 

At her age, she still hadn’t properly dated before, but tonight, she suddenly felt like a young, inexperienced girl going out on her first date.

Pursing her lips, she glanced at him and said nothing further. She turned around and walked toward the building, her slender figure gradually disappearing into the light and shadows. 

Once her figure was completely out of sight, Xie Shuo turned around and left. 

The next day, Ye An threw herself back into work, dubbing for the lead actress in a drama.

This time, the dubbing was not done at the studio but in a designated recording studio by the production team. 

She worked tirelessly until ten at night, her throat dry and parched. She felt dizzy and exhausted, her mind filled with the hysterical lines from earlier, and had long forgotten about dating or whatnot.

The staff members left one after another. She unscrewed the lid of her thermos and drank a few sips. Along with the others, she headed toward the elevator.

The hallway was dimly lit, and after a short while, the elevator doors opened. Inside stood a tall, slim young man in a blue coat. He looked vaguely familiar. 

Ye An didn’t pay much attention, engrossed in her phone. Seeing that he had pressed the same floor as her, she continued scrolling through her Weibo and interacting with her fans.

Suddenly, a voice next to her sounded strangely familiar…. “Ye An?”

Looking up, Ye An saw a somewhat familiar face and almost blurted out the cutting remark, “Who are you?”

Her memory was never the best. After scrutinizing his face, she finally recognized him. He was her senior from college, Jiang Yuhe. 

“Long time no see.”

Confirming it was her, Jiang Yuhe smiled. 

“Long time no see.”

Ye An managed to squeeze a smile, feeling slightly awkward. 

During college, Jiang Yuhe had pursued her relentlessly for a while, but she had bluntly rejected him. She wasn’t sure if he still held a grudge.

“I didn’t expect to run into you here. Are you here for dubbing?”

Ye An smiled politely. “Yeah.”

Jiang Yuhe looked at her from head to toe, breath taken. “It’s been a few years, and you’ve become even more beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

It was a talk devoid of any meaning. Ye An remained polite but wondered why the elevator was so slow internally. 

“Why so polite? We were at least schoolmates. You wouldn’t still remember what happened back then, would you?”

Perhaps guessing that she was awkward, Jiang Yuhe joked playfully.

Seeing that he had long turned the page on that chapter, Ye An responded with a laugh. 

“It’s rare that we bump into each other. How about finding a place to sit and chat?”

Jiang Yuhe said with a smile, “I didn’t see you at our last class reunion either.”

The red numbers above the elevator changed, and it finally stopped on the first floor. 

The elevator doors opened, and Ye An let out a sigh of relief. She smiled slightly, “It’s getting late, not the best time to. I’ll head home first.”

Without saying much more to him, she headed out while holding her bag. 

As she stepped out of the office building, the night breeze, carrying a touch of wetness, greeted her. The lights of the city were visible in the distance. 

Outside, it unexpectedly started to rain, a fine and gentle drizzle that slanted across her shoulders. Ye An had forgotten to bring an umbrella, and she had also declined the bodyguard that Xie Shuo had arranged for her. Thus, she could only stand under the roof and call for a taxi on her phone. 

Beneath the night sky, rain was everywhere. Jiang Yuhe followed her outside and held the umbrella over her head.

Looking at her stunning side profile, he suddenly said, “It’s already so late. It’s not safe for you to take a taxi home. My car is just parked over there. How about I give you a ride?”

Ye An looked up and smiled. “It’s alright, you can go ahead.”

From a distance, she looked like she was tilting her chin up, joking around with half of her face bathed in the play of light and shadow, radiating brilliantly. 

Jiang Yuhe took out his phone, wanting to exchange contact information, but Ye An’s patience had already run out. She turned around to check if her taxi had arrived. 

Who knew that when she turned around, she saw Xie Shuo standing not far away, holding an umbrella with a soured expression. 

The night was chilly, and the man’s figure was tall and slender. He gazed at her fervently, and above his head, it seemed like a green cloud was floating.*

green – the color green in Chinese is associated with cheating, so when someone says someone’s wearing a green hat or something, it means that they are being cheated on

Ye An: “?”

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Hearing the noise, Zhong Fu came out of his room, and as soon as he saw the situation, he quickly approached and asked, “President Xie, are you okay?”

Xie Shuo was pale, and it took him a while to regain his composure. He calmed down and instructed, “Pack up our things. We need to return immediately.”

Zhong Fu recognized the seriousness of the situation and didn’t waste any time. He rushed to pack their belongings, preparing to rush to the airport. 

The night sky stretched wide, with the city lights illuminating below and the river winding through the landscape. 

When the plane landed, it was just past midnight. After leaving the airport and getting into the car, Xie Shuo leaned back in his seat and said softly, “Go directly to Professor Cen’s place. Don’t alert anyone else.”

Zhong Fu drove the car, his expression grave.

When they arrived at Cen Qingyan’s research lab, it was already around 3 am. However, he was not present, and only his staff was there. 

Zhong Fu made a call to inform him of the situation and asked him to come as soon as possible.

Cen Qingyan was fast asleep, but when he received the call, he quickly changed his clothes and rushed out.

Xie Shuo sat by the window in the hospital room, quietly waiting. The night seemed endless, and he wasn’t sure if he would ever see the morning rays of dawn again.

All was quiet and still. Amid the boundless darkness, he heard the sound of the wind rustling through the branches and the soft rustle of falling leaves, both surprisingly clear. 

In a daze, he suddenly felt like he had returned to a distant past, and faintly, the familiar and gentle voice of a woman echoed in his ears…

I heard the echo, from the valleys and the heart

Open to the lonely soul of sickle harvesting

Repeat outrightly, but also repeat the well-being of

Eventually swaying in the desert oasis

I believe I am

Born as the bright summer flowers

Do not withered undefeated fiery demon rule

Heart rate and breathing to bear the load of the cumbersome

Bored.

He clenched his fingers tightly and subconsciously uttered, “Ye An?”

Unfortunately, there was no response. 

He came back to his senses and realized: Right, she’s not here.

Moreover, it’s very likely that she won’t be in the future either.

During the week he was away on a business trip, she didn’t make a single call to him as if she had completely forgotten his existence. 

This realization made a slight ache in his chest. Xie Shuo looked down, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his pale face, making him look like a statue.

Around 4 am, Cen Qingyan finally arrived, hastily donning his white coat and conducting a thorough examination. 

After finishing the examination, his expression turned sour, and immediately lectured him, regardless of whether he was a Young Master or President Xie, with a stern tone, “What did I remind you of before you left last time?

How many times have I told you? You just regained your sight. You can’t overuse your eyes. You should limit it to eight hours a day, take your medication on time, and rest as scheduled. Did my words go in one ear and out the other?

Do you still want your sight?”

Xie Shuo remained silent, listening quietly. 

After lashing out for a bit, Cen Qingyan calmed down and said, “It’s caused by overexertion. We’ll do acupuncture later, and I’ll prescribe some medicine. You need to rest here for a few days; don’t go anywhere.”

After a pause, he added, “It’s not too serious, don’t overthink. Relax.”

Xie Shuo wasn’t sure if he was comforting himself or not; his face remained expressionless. 

After a while, Zhong Fu helped him back to the hospital room. After pouring a glass of warm water, he asked, “President Xie, would you like some water?”

Xie Shuo didn’t respond. After a moment of quiet, he asked, “How’s the Madam been recently?”

Surprised by his sudden question, Zhong Fu was taken aback for a sec before quickly taking out his phone to check the latest updates about Ye An. 

“Madam has been busy with work lately and hasn’t encountered any troubles…”

Hearing this, Xie Shuo fell silent once more. 

Without him, she was still thriving, her career flourishing. 

After a moment, Zhong Fu cautiously asked while still holding his phone, “Should I give Madam a call?”

Xie Shuo paused for a moment before shaking his head. “No need.”

Seeing that he didn’t look so well, Zhong Fu didn’t press any further and fell into silence. 

Over the next two days, Xie Shuo remained at the research lab. However, this time, the familiar voice that used to read, chat, and cheer him up was noticeably absent, leaving him in silence. 

He sat alone in the hospital room, alone throughout the afternoon. 

In the past, having someone by his side made it bearable; now every minute and every second felt like an eternity. 

Initially, Cen Qingyan arranged for a nurse to take care of him, but he couldn’t stand it for even an hour and asked her to leave.

In the silence of the night, he woke up on the hospital bed and instinctively reached out to his side, but there was nothing there. 

The bed was devoid of any warmth, rather it was bone-chilling. 

He lay there, eyes open, staring into the pitch-black darkness, sleepless throughout the night. 

By the third morning, there was still no improvement in Xie Yan’s sight. After sitting in the hospital room for so long, he finally pulled out his phone and dialed Ye An’s number.

When Ye An received the call, she was just about to enter the recording studio. Seeing the incoming call on her phone, she was shocked. 

It was the first time he had called her during his long business trip. 

After a moment, she answered the call. 

Not a sound could be heard from the other end of the line.

“Hello?” she asked, puzzled. 

Upon hearing her familiar voice, his fingers twitched. He looked down and asked, “Where are you?”

Confused by his question, she replied, “At the studio!”

There was another moment of silence on the phone. 

“What’s wrong?” Ye An gently asked, feeling that something was off. “Do you need something?”

After contemplating for a while, Xie Shuo finally spoke, “I need to delay my return for some time.”

Ye An: “?”

Is he reporting his itinerary to her?

Did the sun rise from the west?

Ye An felt perplexed and didn’t know how to respond for a moment. They were in the process of discussing their divorce, so she couldn’t just playfully say, “Why are you gone for so long? Come back immediately!” That would be too presumptuous. 

After hesitating for a while, she replied dryly, “Oh. Is there anything else? I have to enter the studio soon. If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”

After waiting for a few seconds and hearing no response, she hung up the call and hurriedly entered the recording studio. 

The familiar voice faded away, and a cool breeze brushed by. Sitting by the window, Xie Shuo gazed into the voidness and once again fell into silence. 

Zhong Fu knocked on the door and entered. Seeing him in this state, he called out softly, “President Xie?”

Hearing the sound, Xie Shuo knew it was time for his medication change. He slowly got up, his figure looking somewhat desolate. 

Xie Shuo stayed at the research lab for a week, and fortunately, the worst-case scenario didn’t occur. On the sixth day in the afternoon, his eyes regained their sight. 

Cen Qingyan sternly instructed him for a long time before letting him leave. 

On the way home, Xie Shuo leaned back into his seat, lost in thought for a while. Suddenly, he asked Zhong Fu, “Have you ever coaxed your wife before?”

Ah?

Zhong Fu was taken aback. 

Xie Shuo tilted his head and saw Zhong Fu’s puzzled expression before rubbing his temples. “I forgot; you don’t have a wife.”

Zhong Fu: …… That hit right where it hurts.

“Go check if there’s any jewelry auction tonight,” Xie Shuo added after a while. 

Although the task was very sudden, as an all-knowing senior executive assistant, Zhong Fu quickly provided an answer, “There’s a jewelry auction tonight over at Bright Gem. Would you like me to arrange it for you?”

Linking his hands, Xie Shuo pondered for a moment before saying, “En, go ahead.”

Back at home, it was 5 pm. Ye An was still in the recording studio, and there was no telling when she would be back. After dinner, Xie Shuo went to the auction with Zhong Fu. 

The hall was brightly lit, and the jewelry displayed in the glass showcases shimmered and sparkled. As soon as Xie Shuo entered, he ran into Jiang Shiyan.

Jiang Shiyan had come to pick out a birthday gift for an elder in his family. When he saw Xie Shuo, he scanned him from head to toe and asked in surprise, “Aren’t you married now? Why didn’t you bring your wife to a place like this?”

Xie Shuo glanced at him but didn’t respond. 

Jiang Shiyan seemed to have figured something out and raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. “Don’t tell me you had a fight with your wife, and you’re here to buy a gift to make up?”

Xie Shuo: “…….”

“Not saying anything? I guess I hit the mark then?”

Jiang Shiyan shook his head and rejoiced in his misfortune. “Who would have thought, even you would have a day like this.”

Catching a glimpse of his expression, Xie Shuo remained indifferent and couldn’t be bothered with him. 

In front of the display counter, a staff quickly began to display the base price, and the voices of bids from the audience echoed one after another. 

Ultimately, Xie Shuo won a sapphire necklace of the latest style, leaving the auction with Jiang Shiyan.

“Don’t blame me if I don’t remind you, but just giving a gift isn’t enough. You need to say a few sweet words to coax her. Women love to hear sweet words.”

As they walked, Jiang Shiyan didn’t forget to impart his wisdom. 

Xie Shuo turned to look at him. 

Jiang Shiyan: “Now is not the time to be concerned about your pride. Think about it, what’s more important, your wife or your pride?”

Xie Shuo stayed silent.

“Do as you see fit.”

Jiang Shiyan patted his shoulder and teased, “If your wife really runs away one day, feel free to come have a drink with me.”

Under the night sky, with countless lights lit, Xie Shuo got into the car. He absentmindedly caressed the velvet box with his long and slender fingers. 

When he returned home, the bedroom was empty, and Ye An still hadn’t come back.

He checked the time; it was nearly midnight. Frowning, he picked up his phone and called her. 

When she heard her phone buzzing, Ye An had just finished dubbing her last lines in the recording studio and just came out.  

Seeing his call, she paused for a moment. His calls had been quite frequent these few days. 

“Hello?”

His deep and hoarse voice came through the phone, “Why haven’t you come home yet?”

“Just got off work… Are you back?”

“En.”

It was early spring, and the night was cool. Ye An pulled her coat closer and said, “Go to bed first. I’ll be back soon.”

After reminding her to “be careful on the road,” Xie Shuo hung up the call. 

Her car was parked by the trees. After Ye An got inside the car, she held her phone in a daze for a while before leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. 

As she closed her eyes, Ye An couldn’t help but think that they were probably the most friendly couple among all those on the brink of divorce. 

When she arrived home, Xie Shuo had already taken a shower and was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window in his robe, his figure imposing. 

After several days of intense work, Ye An was exhausted. Her throat was horse, and after she greeted him, she went to the bathroom to take a shower.

When she came out of the shower, Xie Shuo was still standing in the same spot. Ye An’s eyelids were heavy, and she yawned as she walked toward the bed. “Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

Looking at how exhausted she was and barely able to keep her eyes open, Xie Shuo swallowed the words he had on the tip of his tongue and glanced at the coffee table nearby before walking over to the bed. 

On the coffee table, the blue velvet box sat there quietly, softly illuminated by the room’s soft lighting. 

Once in bed, Ye An fell asleep immediately, not engaging in any further conversation with him. Xie Shuo turned to the side, gazing at her for a moment before he pulled her into his arms, holding her hand under the blanket.  

Ye An vaguely sensed his actions but was too exhausted to open her eyes, so he let him do as he pleased.

The next day, Ye An slept in until the sun was high up in the sky. Since she had completed work yesterday night, she didn’t have to go to the recording studio today.

The spring sunshine was warm and inviting. She sat up, wrapped in her blanket, and glanced at the empty space beside her. If it weren’t for Xie Shuo’s coat hanging on the nearby clothes rack, she would’ve doubted whether last night had been a dream or a hallucination.

After sitting for a while, she got out of bed, freshened up, and changed into some loungewear.

Having changed her clothes, she didn’t rush downstairs. Instead, she sat at the edge of the bed and opened the drawer of her nightstand.

Inside, there were divorce papers that she had asked a lawyer to draft up a few days ago.

While Xie Shuo was away, she had calmed down and thought a lot. She couldn’t keep this situation unclear any longer. Delaying it further would be detrimental to both of them.

Taking out the divorce papers, she skimmed it over once again.

Before they got married, they had signed a prenup. At that time, the Xie family was afraid that she might change her mind after marriage, so they had established a clause in advance: in the event of a divorce, she would leave with nothing.

With this clause in place, the divorce papers became much simpler as there were no asset disputes to resolve.

Overall, she hadn’t really lost out in this marriage. The growth of the studio, her current fame, and her network were all somewhat related to Xie Shuo.

Ye An drifted as she stared at the divorce papers for a while before heading downstairs. 

In the dining room, Xie Shuo had already finished breakfast. On the table, there was a porcelain vase with a few pink roses. 

“Morning.”

Ye An greeted him and took a seat at the dining table. She couldn’t help but feel weird, thinking about the conversation they were going to have later. 

After finishing his breakfast, Xie Shuo didn’t get up to leave. Instead, he sat quietly across from her, looking at her.

Ye An felt a bit uneasy under his gaze. He was acting somewhat strangely today. In the past, he would just leave after breakfast, never waiting for her.

However, she didn’t want to ask directly, so she just lowered her head and quietly sipped her porridge, her long eyelashes fluttering up and down. 

After breakfast, they went upstairs. After hesitating for a moment, Ye An finally said, “I have something for you.”

They exchanged a glance before she walked over to her nightstand and opened the drawer. 

Xie Shuo watched her slender figure as she retrieved something from the drawer. He also took out a deep blue velvet box from a nearby drawer and sat on the sofa, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 

Ye An took the divorce papers from the drawer and went toward him. She handed them to him in a spurt of energy. “This is the divorce agreement I had my lawyer draft up. Take a look at it. If you don’t have any objections, we can sign it.”

“……”

Playing with the velvet box in his hand, Xie Shuo froze upon hearing that. His smiling expression instantly turned cold. 

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Ye An handed them toward him again, forcing a smile. “Take a look first. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, we can discuss it.”

Never before had he found her smile so piercing. He remained silent, his expression growing colder as he didn’t accept the divorce papers.

Ye An realized she hadn’t brought a pen and said, “Wait a sec, let me go get a pen.”

She turned around, and just as she was about to take a step, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. 

Holding her wrist, Xie Shuo looked up and said, “Can we not divorce?”

Ye An turned around, slightly taken aback. “But didn’t we agree…”

Xie Shuo interrupted her insipidly, “I don’t want to divorce.”

Ye An was taken aback again and recalled their candid conversation that day, feeling a headache. “Didn’t we make everything clear that day? You’re just used to me, used to my care. That’s not love. If it was someone else, it would be the same…”

“No.”

Xie Shuo gazed into her eyes, his grip on her wrist tightening. 

He once thought she was just a dispensable presence in his life, but during this while, he found himself thinking of her whenever he rested. 

Especially this time when he had suddenly lost his sight again. 

These few days of being plunged into darkness again and sitting alone in the empty hospital room, he reflected on many things. He finally understood that he couldn’t live without her, and there was no one who could replace her. 

Ye An was taken aback. Meeting his gaze, his expression earnest. 

A stone seemed to drop into the depths of her heart, causing ripples. Ye An moved her fingertips and pursed her lips tightly before saying after a moment’s pause, “Then, let me ask you this. Since I asked for a divorce last year until now, how many times have you shown care for me?”

She deliberately distanced herself because she constantly reminded herself not to wade in mud and water. If he really did like her and wanted to salvage their relationship, why did he still have this attitude all the while?

During this time, it wasn’t that she hadn’t hoped at all.

“If this is your way of showing your love, I can’t convince myself to believe it.”

He was accustomed, but not to her care. He was accustomed to her taking the initiative. 

Seeing that he had nothing to say, Ye An no longer hesitated. She pulled her hand away from his grip, turned around, and went to grab a pen. 

Taking the pen and turning back, she placed the divorce agreement on the coffee table. Her slender fingers held the pen tightly with her fingertips turning white from the pressure. After hesitating, she gritted her teeth and signed her name.

The sunlight bathed her in a soft glow, accentuating the features of her side profile. As he watched her, Xie Shuo’s eyes darkened.

After signing her name, Ye An placed the pen on the agreement and moved aside, saying, “Sign it; we had already agreed on this.”

She tried to keep her back straight and clenched her hands, concealing the suffocating discomfort in her heart. 

Xie Shuo remained still for a moment, his expression inscrutable as if contemplating something. Just as Ye An was about to urge him, he suddenly leaned back, unfastened the cufflink on his shirt with his slender fingers, and looked up at her before uttering a familiar phrase…

“I recall you saying that verbal agreements don’t count. Well, I’ve changed my mind now.”

The man leaned against the sofa, his demeanor and attitude entirely unlike his usual self, exuding an unprecedented sense of shamelessness. 

Ye An: …….?

It had only been a few days that they’d been apart. Did you get possessed by a spirit? 

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After all, the Xie family was not ordinary. Marriage and divorce involve many matters. Thinking about Xie Baiyan and Grandfather Xie, Ye An hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, “Okay.”  

After that, the entire room fell into silence, and the atmosphere became stifling. 

Xie Shuo stood still for a few seconds before striding out of the room.

Sitting on the sofa, Ye An watched his receding figure with a hint of sadness fleeting in her eyes.

A few days later, Xie Baiyan was discharged from the hospital, and Ye An finally breathed a sigh of relief, no longer needing to visit and take care of him at the hospital every day.

With some free time on her hands, she returned to the studio, planning to ask Xiang Quan to arrange a few projects for her so she could make a comeback in her career.

Little did she know that as soon as she entered the studio, everyone respectfully greeted her with, “Hello, Madam.”

Ye An: “…….”

Are y’all messing with me?

Everyone laughed and joked, diligently serving her tea and water. Some even gathered around for gossip. In an instant, it felt like she had returned to the past, to the time before she got married.

Upon learning that she wanted to take on some projects, Xiang Quan raised an eyebrow and couldn’t help but jest, “You’ve married into affluence, became the CEO’s wife, and yet you’re not enjoying the bliss at home. Why do you still wanna work?”

Ye An placed her purse on the table before glancing at him. “If you can’t secure projects for me, just say so. We can save ourselves the trouble of keeping this studio running. It might as well shut down early.”

Xiang Quan observed her expression and felt that her mood wasn’t quite good today. He then quickly went to fetch some scripts for her.

Up until Chinese New Year, Ye An was constantly in the recording studio, going early in the morning and returning late at night. She kept herself so busy that she resembled a spinning top, with no time to ponder over other matters.

Xie Shuo was equally swamped with work. Although he wished to ease the tension between them, he simply couldn’t find the opportunity to do so.

In the blink of an eye, it was already Chinese New Year. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Ye An accompanied Xie Shuo to his grandfather’s place for a family dinner.

After the car parked in the yard, Ye An got out of the car. Just as she was about to walk ahead, Xie Shuo suddenly stopped and glanced at her meaningfully. 

Ye An: “?”

Puzzled, Ye An only understood when she saw his lifted elbow before moving closer and linking her arm with his.  

The two of them walked along the gravel path, giving off the appearance of a loving couple.

Being close, she could smell his familiar, clean scent and couldn’t help but glance at his side profile. A myriad of emotions once again surged within her.

With Xie Shuo’s recovery, Grandfather Xie was overjoyed, and his spirits had greatly improved. Sitting in the living room, he was surrounded by numerous family members of the younger generation, a smile lighting up his face.

Ye And and Xie Shuo went over to greet him, and they ended up engaged in conversation for quite a while… Naturally, the topic still circled around the matter of having children.

Ye An maintained a smile on her face while thinking: We’re about to get divorced and still talking about having children? Might as well give birth to air!

The residence was filled with guests, and laughter echoed through the air. After dinner, Ye An suddenly received a call from Xia Jin.

The surroundings were loud, making it difficult for her to hear clearly, so she walked out to the courtyard while holding her phone.

“An An, are you coming back for the New Year this year?” Xia Jin asked.

Ye An hesitated for a few seconds before replying, “I’ve just taken on a few projects, so I’ll be busy after the New Year. I might not be able to go back. Once I’m done next month, I’ll return and stay for a while.”

By next month, her situation with Xie Shuo should be settled, and she wanted to take a long vacation to readjust.

On the other end of the phone, Xia Jin wanted to ask about her situation with Xie Shuo, but she couldn’t bring herself to inquire. After all, she hadn’t given him a warm reception during her last visit.

“Alright, take care of yourself and don’t only focus on work…”

In the living room, Xie Shuo set down the teacup in his hand and turned around, only to find Ye An absent.

When he was blind, she had always been by his side without fail, rarely leaving him alone.

Xie Shuo stroked the rim of the white porcelain teacup. After a moment, he got up and headed upstairs.

Upstairs, there was a small room specifically dedicated to wine storage, with mahogany cabinets exuding an antique and vintage charm.

He hadn’t even gotten near when he saw Xie Yuran holding a bottle of wine, standing at the doorway and looking slightly tipsy.

“Bro, wanna have a drink?”

Xie Shuo didn’t reply, walking straight over and entering the room with him.

The two of them sat down by the small table near the window, each pouring a glass of wine.

Xie Shuo raised his glass with his elbow resting on the table.

He looked at Xie Yuran and asked insipidly, “Is there something you want to say?”

Taking a sip of wine, Xie Yuran laughed, “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a drink like this. I remember back in high school, there was a time when the two of us sneaked out to drink until midnight. We nearly got into a fight with someone and ended up being caught by Uncle. We got scolded pretty badly…”

Xie Shuo reminisced about the past as well, and a gentle expression appeared on his face.

When they were kids, their relationship was pretty close. Xie Yuran always liked to follow behind his elder brother. Occasionally, when he got into trouble, he didn’t dare to tell anyone besides asking him for help to clean up the mess.

As they grew older and Xie Shuo began to take over the family business, they also began to drift apart.

The reason was simple: to avoid suspicion. Given Xie Yuran’s identity, being raised under the care of Xie Baiyan, he naturally had to endure a fair amount of doubt, especially after Xie Shuo’s accident.

The scent of alcohol filled the air, and the feeling of drunkenness grew stronger.

Xie Shuo lightly clinked his glass against his and asked, “How’s everything going with your company lately?”

Xie Yuran had his own company and though it might not be on par with Junming Group, it was still counted as part of the Xie family’s business.

With a smile, Xie Shuo replied, “It’s been alright.”

The suspicions and estrangement that had lasted for nearly two years finally dissipated at this moment.

Outside the window, the night drew darker. Sparse stars adorned the dark blue canvas of the sky.

Xie Shuo gradually became more intoxicated, propping his temple with his hand, looking visibly vexed.

Xie Yuran asked, “Bro, is something bothering you?”

Xie Shuo looked up and swallowed the words that formed at his lips, feeling there was no need to bring it up.

Speaking to someone who didn’t even have a wife, there was no point in sharing his troubles.

Setting down his glass, he got up and said, “I’m going to check on your saozi*.”

saozi – literally means “sister-in-law”, a term used to address your older brother’s wife 

After finishing her call with Xia Jin, Ye An returned to the living room. Subconsciously, she looked around for Xie Shuo and went around in a circle, but his figure was nowhere to be seen.

Coincidentally, his two aunts noticed her alone and walked over eagerly, pulling her over to play mahjong. Ye An couldn’t refuse and thought that since Xie Shuo could see now, there shouldn’t be any problems, so she joined in and played a few rounds.

For some reason, Ye An’s luck was surprisingly bad tonight. She lost every round, and by the end, one of Xie Shuo’s aunts couldn’t help laughing. “Hey, hey, don’t be too excessive. If A’Shuo finds out that you’re all ganging up on his wife like this, be careful he comes to settle the score with you all!”

“I won’t win this round then…”

Laughter erupted from everyone, and Ye An could only smile—her anger erupting on the inside.

It wasn’t because she cared about the money since she wasn’t lacking it now, but losing continuously like this was damaging her self-esteem. No matter how good her temperament was, it had its limits.

Just as they were joking, a figure suddenly approached, carrying a faint scent of alcohol.

Looking up, Ye An saw Xie Shuo leaning against the side of her chair. His long legs were stretched out, his face slightly flushed, and his gaze wasn’t as focused as usual. It seemed he had drunk quite a lot.

Leaning in, his warm breath brushed against her neck as he asked hoarsely, “You lost?”

Catching a whiff of the alcohol on him, Ye An instinctively frowned. “Why did you drink so much?”

Xie Shuo didn’t respond, instead reaching out to pick up a card for her.

Beside them, Xie Shuo’s aunt teased, “See, I told you all that A’Shou will settle the score you guys.”

Hearing this, Ye An’s ears turned slightly warm. Her luck had been so poor that she didn’t feel like playing anymore. She got up and offered her seat, “Do you want to play? I’ll give you my spot.”

Xie Shuo placed his hand on her shoulder, guiding her back down. “Stay.”

As he spoke, he leaned near her with one hand on her shoulder and the other reaching for a tile on the table.

His hands were beautiful, with distinct knuckles, long and clean; even the act of picking up a tile seemed particularly pleasing to the eye. 

Since his arrival, the others at the table and the onlookers nearby had grown notably quieter. Evidently, Young Master Xie held a considerable amount of authority among his relatives.

After he took over, Ye An’s tiles this round were considerably better than before. She regained her confidence and stared at the table with anticipation, her eyes shining.

Seeing the tile which completed her winning hand being discarded onto the table across from her, Ye An smiled excitedly and was about to push her tiles down when Xie Yan’s tangmei* sitting in the seat before her pushed her tiles down excitedly and exclaimed, “Mahjong!*”

tangmei – a term to address a younger female cousin from the patriarchal line

Mahjong – Mahjong is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and it is played by four players. When you win, you declare “Mahjong”. To learn more, Google. 

Ye An: “……”

Xie Shuo: “……”

The north wind hurtled past, carrying with it swirling fallen leaves.

Tangmei felt a sudden chill behind her. 

Beside her, Xie Shuo’s aunt was first taken aback and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Others joined in, unable to hold back their amusement.

Xie Shuo’s handsome faced instantly turned sour.

Facing his soured expression, tangmei nervously started putting up her tiles one by one, saying, “Um… I can also… not Mahjong…”

Ye An was also taken aback for a moment before glancing at the brooding man above her and couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

That night, they didn’t stay at the ancestral home. On the way back, Ye An was still amused as she thought of the scene earlier.  

She had thought he would dominate the game and recover face for her, but she didn’t expect the tide to turn over.

It seemed that even Young Master Xie couldn’t dominate everyone all the time. 

Xie Shuo caught sight of the radiant smile on her face, and his tense expression gradually eased. It had been quite some time since he had seen her smile like that. 

With the alcohol up in his head, he felt a little drowsy. Leaning back in his seat, he closed his eyes.

It was silent inside the car, and the faint light illuminated his features. 

After musing over the scene from earlier, Ye An turned around and saw his long eyelashes. Her heart stirred slightly, and she couldn’t resist reaching out to touch them. 

However, midway through the motion, she remembered something, paused, and pulled her hand back. Her smile also faded. 

By the time they reached home, it had already turned midnight. 

As the new year arrived, fireworks bloomed in the night sky, bursting open in clusters. 

Xie Shuo was quite drunk. Ye An helped him upstairs, tidied up his clothes, and got his PJs ready to take a shower. 

While tidying up, she couldn’t help but frown. “You just recovered your vision, and you’re still on meds. You should drink less from now on. What if something happens again?”

Xie Shuo watched her with half-closed eyes from the side. Her familiar, subtle fragrance lingered in the air, and her figure fuzzy. 

Ye An finished tidying his clothes and turned around to help him up. Unexpectedly, he couldn’t maintain his balance, stumbled forward, and inadvertently pinned her against the closet.

The overhead light cast its glow, and she looked up in surprise. Her fair complexion was radiant, the brightness in her eyes concealed by shadows.

A burning breath of alcohol hit her as she leaned against the closet door. Meeting his heavily intoxicated gaze, her grip on the pajamas in her hand nearly faltered.

Xie Shuo pressed against her, his expression absent-minded, as if he was trying to make out something. After a moment’s pause, he lowered his head and kissed her.

In the stillness of the night, the only sound was the rhythm of their breaths. After a while. the weight on top of her finally lifted. Xie Shuo stood upright, swaying unsteadily as he made his way out.

Looking at his retreating figure, Ye An was dazed for a moment before following him.

The next day, it was the first day of Chinese New Year, and they spent the entire day wishing a happy new year or being wished one. By night, Ye An was exhausted. After taking a shower, she collapsed into bed and fell asleep. 

Suddenly, Xie Shuo asked her, “Are we going to your mother’s place tomorrow or to the Ye family’s?”

Ye An struggled to lift her eyelids and was absentminded for a moment before realizing the question. After some thought, she replied, “Let’s go to the Ye residence.”

Although she disliked Ye Yuan Nian and didn’t want to step foot into the Ye residence again, she couldn’t ignore the fact that their marriage had initially been made with his help. If they didn’t visit, he might come knocking at their door. 

After Ye An said that, she wearily closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Gazing at her serene sleeping face, a myriad of emotions flashed across Xie Shuo’s eyes. It took a while before he closed his eyes as well.

Early the next morning, they each held a gift box and went to the Ye residence.

When Ye Yuan Nian saw them, he became somewhat excited. His middle-aged, plump face was adorned with a wide grin. 

Ye An wasn’t particularly interested in putting on a show of father-daughter love, so after the New Year greetings, she quietly sat down and sipped her tea. However, Ye Yuan Nian’s attention today wasn’t on her but on Xie Shuo, talking to him incessantly.

Xie Shuo, who was usually so aloof and taciturn, surprisingly exhibited patience in responding to Ye Yuan Nian’s constant chatter. He even engaged in the conversation with a gentle tone from time to time. 

As the conversation continued, Ye An had drank a lot of tea and had to excuse herself to use the restroom. When she returned, she happened to overhear Ye Yuan Nian discussing an investment project with Xie Shuo. The gist of it was that he was hoping Xie Shuo could assist in some way.

Ye An’s expression turned cold, and she walked over to Xie Shuo, interrupting their conversation before he could respond. “My stomach’s not feeling well. How about we head home first?”

The words were directed at Xie Shuo, and he looked at her upon hearing them.

Ye Yuan Nian immediately asked with concern, “An An, what’s wrong? Do you have a stomachache?”

“It’s nothing, I probably just caught a chill last night.”

Ye An smiled and pulled Xie Shuo’s arm to stand up. “We’ll come to visit you another day.”

Ye Yuan Nian wanted to detain them, but seeing her like this, he dropped it and walked them to the door. 

Once they left the Ye residence, Ye An’s smile faded and she turned to Xie Shuo and asked, “Did he ask you to invest in his project?”

Xie Shuo didn’t deny it. “En, his project encountered some issues and needs additional funding.”

Ye An immediately declared, “You’re not allowed to help him!”

Xie Shuo looked at her, seeming somewhat surprised. 

Ye An’s tone turned cold and sarcastic. “I knew it. Once your vision was restored, he couldn’t wait to come and take advantage of the situation. He tasted it once, and now he wants a second helping?”

Xie Shuo remained silent. He was aware of the strained relationship between her and Ye Yuan Nian, but he hadn’t expected it to be this severe.

Seeing his silence, Ye An asked, “Do you think I’m too excessive?”

She turned her face away, gazing out of the car window, somewhat dazed, her voice softer.

“Some pains, once inflicted, can never be undone or compensated for. I’ve repaid what I owed him. Anything beyond that, I can’t give, nor do I want to.”

She had a rough idea of how much Ye Yuan Nian had gained through her marriage to the Xie family, although she hadn’t explicitly asked.

From that moment on, she had completely settled the score with him.

Xie Shuo looked at her fair side profile for a moment before reaching out to hold her hand, which was resting on her lap. “If you don’t want me to help, then I won’t help.”

Ye An’s eyelashes fluttered, and she glanced down at the hand he was holding, feeling a bit strange inside. 

She moved her fingers, thinking about pulling her hand away, but after hesitating for a couple of seconds, she ultimately let him hold it.

She glanced at him and thought to herself, once the divorce was finalized, even if Ye Yuan Nian wanted to leech off of him, he wouldn’t have the chance.

The Spring Festival quickly came to an end, and after the holiday, Ye An returned to her busy life in the recording studio, working long hours and often coming home late. 

The dubbing show she was part of before the New Year had aired during the Spring Festival, and it was well-received. Thanks to her performance on the show, her fan base had once again grown, and she gained several new followers on Weibo.

During the airing of the show, she even trended once on social media, and her identity as the wife of Junming Group’s CEO was dug up once again, generating a lot of buzz. 

During her breaks, Ye An would look at the flood of DMs and comments on Weibo, as well as the confessions in her fan club. She couldn’t help but think, Unlucky in love, lucky in work. Things don’t seem so bad.

As for Xie Shuo, he appeared to be even busier than her. After the holiday, he headed straight to Haicheng for a business trip.

With that, he was gone for a whole week.

At 4:30 pm, the sunlight cast a warm glow among the towering skyscrapers, creating a colorful reflection on the glass walls. 

After finishing his last meeting, Xie Shuo returned to the hotel and sat by the French window, closing his eyes to rest.

Zhong Fu brewed a cup of coffee and placed it on the nearby coffee table.

Leaning back against the sofa with his eyes still closed, Xie Shuo asked, “Have you booked the flight?”

Zhong Fu replied, “Yes, I’ve booked it for 9:30 pm.”

Xie Shuo uttered an “en” before continuing to rest with his eyes closed.

Seeing this, Zhong Fu didn’t disturb him and went over to the adjacent room.

The sun slowly moved westward. Xie Shuo rested for a while when he suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his eyes, even a hint of pain.

He instinctively propped his forehead with his hand, opened his eyes, and was greeted by a blurry darkness. Initially, it was just a small spot, but it gradually spread, eventually covering everything in a pitch-black void, as if night had suddenly descended. 

A hint of panic appeared on Xie Shuo’s usually composed face. He tried to widen his eyes, but the world before him remained shrouded in obscurity, and he couldn’t see anything.

After his vision had been restored, he did occasionally experience fleeting moments of shadows passing before his eyes. However, they were usually brief, and with a short break and rest for his eyes, they would disappear. He had never encountered a situation as severe as this before.

He closed his eyes again, attempting to calm himself. 

After approximately ten minutes, he opened them once more… The black haze had not dissipated; he could only faintly discern a feeble glimmer of light.

Long-forgotten fear surged within him. The pain in his eyes grew more intense. In a state of panic, he reached out his hand and found the edge of the coffee table. His pale and slender fingers gripped onto it. The veins on the back of his hand became prominent, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.  

Suddenly, his hand accidentally brushed against the cup of coffee on the table. The cup toppled over and crashed onto the floor with a loud noise. The spilled coffee ran down the edge of the table, dripping steadily to the floor…

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Xie Shuo avoided her gaze and remained silent, evidently admitting it.

Ye An looked at him, and her anger that had been building up for over a month suddenly exploded. “You didn’t want a divorce, so you deliberately lied to me?

Did you find it amusing to have me fooled every day like a fool?

Do you even know how I…”

As she was about to say, “worried about you,” the words caught in her throat, and she swallowed them back.

He hadn’t expected her to still remember this matter. Xie Shuo felt a bit troubled, hesitated, and then had to relent and admit his mistake, “I was wrong in this matter. At that time, I was busy dealing with company matters and didn’t think it through…”

At that time, he had subconsciously wanted to avoid the topic of divorce, so he had kept it from her. Later, as he got busier dealing with Zhang Junfeng’s matter, he didn’t want to divert his attention to this matter, so he continued to keep it a secret.

Originally, he had planned to confess to her once things settled down a bit. However, he hadn’t expected the truth to come earlier than planned, and in such a tense situation at that.

Ye An pursed her lips, clearly not appeased by this explanation.

“What can I do to subside your anger?”

After a while, Xie Shuo asked.

Having hardly ever comforted a woman in his life, the Eldest Young Master wasn’t sure how to go about it.

“…….”

Hearing his not-so-sincere apologetic tone, Ye An’s was even more angry.

He thinks just saying sorry would calm me down?

For over a month, there was no explanation. If she hadn’t brought it up today, did he think this matter was already forgotten?

Ye An was so angered by him that she had a headache, so she could only console herself…

Forget it, with his straightforward personality, if he didn’t have good looks and a privileged background, he’d probably be single for life. She shouldn’t expect him to become more understanding suddenly. 

After a while, she managed to calm her anger and looked out the window. Her tone softened as she continued, “You just said that you think things are fine as they are, but I don’t feel the same way…” She turned around, her gaze fixed on his face for a moment before she continued, “I’ve seriously considered it many times over this past month. I still think it’s better for us to stick to our agreement and get a divorce.”

Xie Shuo hadn’t expected her to be so resolute in her stance. After all, she had always been attached to him in the past. He frowned and asked her the same question she had asked him earlier, “Why?”

Ye An gazed at him. The man before her had a stern expression, and his deep, black irises had regained their vigor, reminiscent of the past. 

She smiled. “Because I don’t want a marriage of convenience, and you no longer need someone to take care of you.”

Seeing her smiling, Xie Shuo frowned even deeper. “You think this is a marriage of convenience?”

Ye An tilted her head slightly. “Isn’t it?”

Meeting her gaze, Xie Shuo felt vexed. He had thought her care and attention were signs of affection, but now it seemed that they were just compromises.

Suddenly, he didn’t want to continue the conversation with her. He got up from the sofa. “You’re upset right now; it’s not a good time to discuss this. Let’s talk when you’ve calmed down.”

“Xie Shuo!”

Ye An raised her voice to stop him.

Xie Shuo halted, his aura turning cold, and his expression turning sour.

“I’m very calm right now, and I’m not acting out of anger.”

The room went silent for a moment before Ye An’s voice broke it once again.

“Haven’t you always been curious about why I agreed to marry you in the first place?”

There were certain things she hadn’t intended to say, but as things have reached this stage, she had no choice but to be completely transparent with him.

Xie Shuo looked up, a flicker of interest flashing across his eyes.

Ye An said slowly, “Actually, this marriage, in the beginning, was initiated by me. I approached Ye Yuan Nian and hinted at him to offer it.”

She looked at him and smiled.

“Five years ago, we met once. You’ve probably forgotten about it, right?”

Seeing his stunned expression, memories flooded her mind at that moment. 

……

Ye An had always felt that her childhood and teenage years were like a screenplay straight out of a melodramatic romance novel. 

Just a few years of living a carefree life as a little princess, there was a sudden crash—her parents got divorced.

In the beginning, she had naively hoped that her father would come to find her and her mother someday. But she never expected that she’d hear the news of Ye Yuan Nian’s remarriage instead.

As she grew a little older and finally adjusted to a single-parent life with just her mother, and as she prepared to study hard, pursue her dreams, and become a pillar of the country, reality dealt her another heavy blow.

The year when Xia Jin was diagnosed with a tumor, she was 16 years old and had just started her sophomore year of high school.

Due to the need for long-term treatment, Xia Jin couldn’t take care of her anymore. Against her wishes, Xia Jin sent her back to the Ye family.

As a teenager, she was impulsive and resolute in her actions, full of thorns from head to toe. After arriving at the Ye family, she would frequently talk back to Ye Yuan Nian and argue with Ye Man. Eventually, she started living at school and refused to come home.

When she finally turned 18, legally an adult, and got into university, she was finally independent. She completely cut ties with the Ye family and ceased all contact.

At that time, Xia Jin’s illness hadn’t been cured yet, and the family savings had dwindled. She had to take on the burden of expensive medical bills and find various part-time jobs to earn money.

She was beautiful, had a talent for dubbing and singing, and was considered a prominent figure on campus.

Once, she participated in making a short film with her classmates that went a little viral online. This caught the attention of a director who invited her to join the entertainment industry, even offering a high remuneration. 

She was enamored by the rosy prospects and high remuneration that the director presented, and without any hesitation, she signed the contract. She was so naive that she didn’t even seek help to review the terms or have someone verify them for her.

A few days after signing the contract, she was taken to a private club to meet with two investors.

At that time, there was also another girl with her. The director told her that they just needed to accompany the investors for drinks. Although she hesitated, she eventually agreed after considering the medical expenses for Xia Jin’s treatment and having someone else there.

At first, it really was just accompanying them for drinks, enduring some inappropriate behavior, but the investor she was with, CEO Cheng, got drunk and suddenly went crazy. He grabbed her by the hair and tried to push her onto the sofa.

The overhead lights flickered as she struggled desperately. She was slapped several times and almost lost consciousness. In the midst of the chaos, she managed to kick him when he wasn’t expecting it and finally escaped through the door.

That night, it was drizzling on a chilly spring day.

In the dim and long corridor, with her injured foot, she stumbled and fled. But after only a few steps, she ran into someone and found herself in their embrace.

A clean and refreshing unfamiliar scent brushed against her nose, like the first snow of winter. Startled, she looked up and met the gaze of a young and stern face, remaining stunned for a moment.

That year, Xie Shuo was only 22 and in the prime of his youth, untouched by his later tribulations. His eyes were neither murky nor dispirited, excluding an air of affluence and elegance.  

He helped her up, showing a slight frown at her disheveled appearance.

Just at that moment, CEO Cheng, who reeked of alcohol, came chasing after her, cursing loudly.

Ye An couldn’t help but tremble, instinctively grabbing onto the young man’s arm in front of her. The expensive-looking fabric of his suit got wrinkled from her grip, and it even got dirty. 

“S-save me…”

Her voice trembled.

Xie Shuo glanced at her pale and slender fingers. Immediately, Ye An shrunk back and withdrew her hand, her cheeks swollen and her lips smeared with bloodstains. Her beautiful eyes were watery, her face marked with tears that hadn’t dried yet, looking disheveled and pitiful.

CEO Cheng approached with unsteady steps, but when he saw someone blocking his way, he halted and looked at her before turning to face Xie Shuo. He squinted his eyes into slits, smirking. “Trying to play the hero and save the damsel in distress?”

Behind Xie Shuo, his assistant Zhong Fu was also present. Seeing the situation, Zhong Fu stepped forward and handed over a business card, offering a polite greeting.

CEO Cheng squinted as he looked at the business card, and within a second, his expression changed into a smile. “So it was CEO Xie…”

He glanced back at Ye An with a hint of reluctance before saying drunkenly, “CEO Xie, this was someone I brought along. You see…”

The implication was clear. They were all business people, and it wasn’t worth quarreling over a stranger.

Hearing this, Ye An tightly grabbed onto Xie Shuo’s sleeve with despair written all over her eyes as if she was drowning and clutching at a final straw.

Glancing at her once again, Xie Shuo noticed the teardrops glistening in her clear eyes. He paused for a moment before turning around to say, “She’s just a young girl. Since she’s unwilling, why should CEO Cheng insist? Could CEO Cheng consider it as a favor to me?”

After saying that, without waiting for a response, he quietly instructed his assistant, “Zhong Fu, escort her out.”

Ye An looked at him, her grip loosening as she struggled to believe it — had he truly helped her?

He, however, didn’t look at her again and continued talking with CEO Cheng.

Walking out with Zhong Fu, Ye An couldn’t help but turn back and take a look. The man stood tall and noble under the light, radiating brilliance.  

Zhong Fu escorted her safely outside of the private club and nodded at her before turning back to go inside.

The night was dark, and the rain continued to fall, pitter-pattering, but lighter than before.

Ye An gazed at the rain falling from the sky, lost in thought for a moment before walking along the street without any particular destination in mind.

She was wearing a white dress, her long hair scattered behind her back. The shoulders of the dress had been torn, and her feet were bare. Her fair and tender feet stepped on the damp ground, the water seeping between her toes. 

She didn’t know where to go, feeling utterly lost. In the end, she found herself sitting on a bench by the street. 

The drizzling spring rain fell gently on her, dampening her hair and dress, and sending a chill deep into her bones.

She sat there in a daze, gazing at the bustling street before her. The lights were vibrant, and cars passed by, splashing water droplets in their wake.

For a brief moment, a surge of resentment welled up within her.

She hated everyone. She hated Xia Jin for burdening her with so much, she hated Ye Yuan Nian for abandoning her and her mother, and she hated fate for refusing to show her even a shred of kindness.

Things that others could easily have, she could only dream of.

A passerby with an umbrella walked by and seeing her like this, kindly asked, “Miss, are you okay? Do you need me to call the police for you?”

Ye An shook her head.

The passerby left, and she gazed at the vehicles passing by on the street. Thoughts of Xia Jin’s medical expenses and the penalty of the contract she would have to pay crossed her mind. Suddenly, a thought emerged… she wanted to end it all, to put an end to everything.

Ending it all would mean she wouldn’t have to face anything anymore.

After all, no one really cared about her.

She got up from the bench, barefoot, and slowly walked to the edge of the road. The drizzle fell on her body, and her dress clung to her skin, sending a bone-chilling cold through her.

Cars were passing by, and some splashes of water hit her bare ankles. As she walked to the edge of the road, just as she was about to step onto the pedestrian crossing, a black sedan suddenly came to a stop right in front of her.

The car window rolled down, revealing a handsome face illuminated by a warm light. His deep eyes, high nose, lips, and clean jawline all came into view.

He asked her insipidly, “Where’s your home? I’ll take you back.”

Ye An was taken aback, looking at him dazedly.

Perhaps because she just experienced that unpleasant and distressing situation, she suddenly had a feeling that he might have ulterior motives toward her too.

But she didn’t refuse. After being taken aback for a few seconds, she bent down and got into the car.

If it was destined to be inevitable, then so be it. There wouldn’t be a difference, no?

Anyhow, it couldn’t be any worse.

After getting into the car, she gave the address of her campus. He instructed the chauffeur to change routes, and noticing her feet were bare, he handed her a pair of spare slippers and a towel.

The slippers were clean, and she slid her icy feet into them. Glancing at him, her feet arched slightly due to nervousness. 

After drying her hair and face, she hugged her arms and shivered. Seeing this, he handed her a blanket.

She reached out to take it and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the watch on his wrist — a brand from Germany, quite valuable. 

Wrapped in the blanket, the chill that had been clinging to her body began to dissipate, and she felt much warmer. Her emotions also began to settle down.

He didn’t speak to her and didn’t pay her much attention either. He took out a document and placed it on his lap, his slender and fair fingers flipping through it with a focused expression.

She couldn’t help herself and stole a glance at him while gripping the blanket tightly. She saw his side profile, cold and stern, attractive to the point it made her heart race.

It was as if a cluster of flowers quietly blossomed in her heart. She withdrew her gaze, but after a few seconds, she couldn’t resist stealing another glance.

The streetlights kept flashing past the car window. After some time, a sudden, earth-shattering growl echoed through the silence, very clear and distinct.

She stiffened and instinctively looked up, happening to meet his sidelong gaze. In his pitch-black eyes, his gaze was cool and clear, much like the rain outside the car window.

The rumbling in her stomach continued, indicating her predicament.

She clenched her fingers, embarrassed to the point that her cheeks and ears were burning. She wished she could find a hole to hide in and disappear completely. 

Embarrassed, she looked down, not daring to look at him again. Just when she was feeling vexed, a slender hand extended toward her, holding a piece of cake between its fingers. The cake was neatly placed in a small box as if it were taken from a soiree or banquet.

She was once again taken aback, raising her gaze to look at him. After half a day of hesitation, she reached out and took the cake from his hand.

It was a strawberry cake, with pink flowers sprinkled over the cream. It had a delicate sweetness without being overly rich.

Taking a bite, she suddenly felt her eyes welling up with tears.

She remembered when she was a child, back when Xia Jin and Ye Yuan Nian were still together, and she was still their little princess. There would be someone preparing such a cake on her every birthday.

But that was a long time ago, and reminiscing it now, those memories seem so faded and distant.

Now, this slight warmth came from a stranger whom she didn’t even know.

She slowly scooped the cake into her mouth, one spoonful at a time, tears falling like beads off a broken string.

She turned to look out the window, unable to hold back her tears.

Meanwhile, he seemed to understand that she didn’t want to show her vulnerability and embarrassment in front of others. He glanced at her and then averted his gaze, not attempting to console her.

When they arrived outside the campus, the rain had mostly stopped, but the air was still damp with moisture carried by the wind, brushing against one’s cheeks.

She got out of the car and turned around, looking at him through the window.

He sat inside the car, giving a slight nod and a barely noticeable curve at the corner of his lips in acknowledgment. It seemed like he was signaling something, and then he instructed the chauffeur to turn around.

From beginning to end, he hadn’t even asked her name, let alone shown any intentions or thoughts toward her.

A true sense of a noble and benevolent character.

Watching his car fade into the distance, Ye An stood for a long time in the chilly wind. It felt as if she was in a dream, and she even forgot to thank him before he left.

That night, she stayed awake, thinking through many things and deciding not to complicate things for herself anymore.

She went back to the Ye family and asked Ye Yuan Nian for a sum of money, settling the breach of contract penalty and the medical expenses for Xia Jin, returning to her normal life.

It was over half a year later that she learned of his name and identity by stumbling upon an interview of him by chance one day.

Under the spotlight of the media, the young man appeared confident and radiant, capturing everyone’s attention.

Later on, she began to follow his updates and news, and every time she heard his name, she couldn’t help but pause for a moment.

Did she like him?….

At 18, it was the ripe age when girls yearned for love, and he entered her life in such a way. At her darkest moment, he brought light and hope to her.

To say that she was not moved would be untrue.

But it was only this and nothing more. He was an unattainable God’s favored one, and to him, she was just a girl he had helped in passing, like a stray cat or dog on the roadside.

So she never imagined their paths would cross again, until… news of his car accident and resulting blindness spread.

When she heard the news, she was shocked, unwilling to believe, and refusing to accept it.

How could someone as good as him end up with such a fate?

Later, after much hesitation, she couldn’t resist her lingering thoughts. She went to find Ye Yuan Nian to inquire about the truth of the news. Upon learning that the Xie family was looking for a political marriage, she manipulated Ye Yuan Nian into arranging this marriage.

……

Listening to Ye An’s recounting of the past, Xie Shuo also began to recall his memories.

No wonder he sometimes felt that she looked familiar as if he had seen her somewhere before.

They indeed did have some interaction before. His reasons for helping her were actually quite simple. Firstly, that club was under the Xie Group, and if something were to happen, it wouldn’t reflect well on them. Secondly, she was just a teenager at the time, looking disheveled and pitiable. As a grown man, he couldn’t simply turn a blind eye to someone in distress.

As for driving her home, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

That night, as he left the club and his car traveled through the streets, he saw the girl sitting forlornly in the rain, looking disheveled through the car window.

Later, she got up and started walking toward the middle of the road, her steps unsteady, her figure frail. He sensed a hint of despair from her, and his heart couldn’t bear it. Thinking that helping her was just a small effort, he stopped the car and called out to her.

He never imagined that a thoughtless action from many years ago would be remembered by her for so long.

Ye An looked at him and said softly, “I agreed to marry you just to repay the favor from back then. Now that your vision is restored, I achieved my goal and can leave now.”

From this, many things were explained. Why she would take care of him attentively, tolerate his cold words and remarks.

However, even with everything explained, Xie Shuo felt even more vexed, frowning deeply. 

After a long while, he sat down beside her and said, “Even if that’s the reason behind it all, there’s no need for a divorce.”

With him stalling and not willing to relent, Ye An couldn’t help but tease a bit with a smirk. Looking into his eyes, she said in a playful tone, “Our marriage was originally a political one without any feelings involved. Why are you so adamant about not getting divorced? If you keep this up, I might misunderstand and think you’ve fallen for me.”

Xie Shuo just felt that her smile was so dazzling. He pursed his lips together, neither confirming nor denying it.

His reaction surprised Ye An. She had thought he might mock her for being presumptuous, considering he had always treated her with disdain.

“You’ve really fallen for me?”

Leaning in closer to him, she smiled with mirth. Her fingers tightly gripped the edge of the bed, revealing her true emotions.

Xie Shuo didn’t deny it, perhaps thinking admitting his feelings was akin to slapping his own face. 

“You’re not saying anything, so I’ll take that as a yes.”

Leaning back and suppressing the turbulence in her heart, she sat back down and said lightly, “What you’re feeling isn’t ‘like’; it’s just that you’re used to having me around. If I were in your shoes, and someone took care of me for half a year when I couldn’t see, I’m sure I’d also grow accustomed and dependent.”

Xie Shuo looked at her once again.

Before he could retort, Ye An continued, “If you really liked me, how could you not even know if I’m angry or not?

In the past month, how many times have you cared for me?

Moreover, during our time together, when did you take the initiative and not me?”

Even after something as intimate as that happened, the very next morning, he could casually leave her behind and go about his work, without a word of comfort or concern afterward.

Some things could be brushed aside without dwelling on them too much, and she could remain calm and composed. However, the situation had changed now.

He had returned to his original life and self, no longer needing her.

“My parents divorced when I was a child, so I’ve never experienced a sense of family. Hence, I can’t bear to settle for a relationship or marriage.

If you had remained blind, we could’ve continued like this without any issues. But now that you can see and have other options, there’s no need to settle anymore…”

She looked at him and broke into a smile.

“Xie Shuo, you’re great. I’m sincerely happy that you can see again.

This marriage is my own choice, and I’ve never blamed you for it.”

She had a pair of beautiful eyes, clear and bright as if they could see through everything at a glance.

Gazing at those eyes, Xie Shuo was a bit dazed as he listened to her calm and candid words.

“You should be with the person you truly love, and I also want someone who truly loves me, without any other emotions mixed in, whether it’s gratitude or habit.

I don’t want you to regret someday, and I certainly don’t want to follow in my mother’s footsteps.”

Back then, when she married him with a heart full of courage, she didn’t have many expectations, and her feelings for him were just a passing thought. But now, she knew that she had fallen completely in love with him.

Feelings, once they took hold, could make a person insatiable, causing them to uncontrollably yearn for more.

In the past, she could tolerate his indifference and his lack of concern, but recently, she clearly felt her own greediness growing. She desired to possess him, longed for his response, and yearned for a reciprocated affection.

Rather than ending up disappointed, it was better to withdraw now while she was not fully entrenched.

What she least wanted to see was a day when they grew tired of each other, erasing even the initial gratitude and affection she had for him.

She smiled. “So, let’s get a divorce.”

That statement sounded in the room, with no other sound breaking the silence for a long time.

As the words left her mouth, a sharp pang struck Ye An’s heart, her fair and slender fingers clenched into a fist.

Looking at her, Xie Shuo wanted to say something, yet at that moment, he found himself at a loss for words.

Her denunciations were indeed accurate. All this time, he hadn’t really cared about her. In the beginning, he had even felt annoyance and disdain toward her, seeing her as shallow and vain. The occasional kind words he had for her were merely the result of his good mood, a slight indulgence toward her.

He had grown accustomed to her initiations and forgiving nature. That’s why, even when he had deceived her before and knew she would be angry, he hadn’t thought about appeasing her.

In his memories, no matter how terrible his actions were or how cold his attitude might be, after a day or two, she would naturally move past it on her own.

However, he hadn’t realized that all of this was based on his blindness. It was because he was down and out that she was willing to accommodate him in every way.

At this moment, no matter what he said, it seemed futile. It was clear that she had made up her mind to clarify things with him today.

Xie Shuo fell silent for a while and could only bring up his grandfather. “Divorce isn’t as simple as you think. Chinese New Year is almost here, and we still need to visit Grandfather. He’s old and can’t handle the shock.

This matter can wait until after the New Year. Let’s both calm down first and think some more about it.”

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9:30 am, at the headquarters of Junming Group.

The morning sun shone brightly through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the conference room. The long table was neatly arranged, and the major shareholders had taken their seats. The atmosphere was tense and serious.

Sitting at the front left side, Zhang Junfeng glanced at his watch and revealed a pleased expression.

In the midst of the solemn atmosphere, the meeting room’s door was suddenly pushed open, and a tall figure appeared at the doorway, surrounded by people.

The young man was dressed in a black suit, striding in with long strides. His face was grave and stern, his demeanor noble, and he seemed to have regained his former charisma.

“Apologies for being late.”

Xie Shuo strode confidently and unhindered to the front of the main seat. He scanned the room with a sharp gaze, clearly showing that he had his vision.

Zhang Junfeng’s complexion suddenly changed.

……

Ye An did not accompany him to the company, so she didn’t know the exact situation at the scene. However, she later learned that during the board meeting that day, Xie Shuo confronted Zhang Junfeng with evidence of embezzlement of funds, leaking trade secrets, and orchestrating a car accident with hired assistance. 

With multiple serious charges stacked against him, Zhang Junfeng was taken into custody by the police directly from the company. These charges were enough for him to face a significant prison sentence.

After the board meeting, Xie Shuo publicly announced that he had regained his sight and resumed his original position at the company. 

With this news, the internet once again buzzed with fervor. Many people commented on how Ye An had persevered through challenges and obstacles to finally see the light of day, even Shi Shuangshuang and Xiang Quan called to congratulate her.

However, Ye An didn’t feel much, just a slight sense of surrealness. 

After a year of absence, many matters had to be restarted from scratch. Coincidentally, it was also approaching the year-end, and Xie Shuo was busy to the point of exhaustion. He left early and returned late every day, and he even went on business trips for a few days sometimes. 

Often, in the middle of the night, Ye An would wake up and see him getting into bed, only to wake up in the morning and find him gone, let alone having a chance to talk to him.

As for Ye An, Xie Baiyan’s illness was still severe, and he had been hospitalized this whole time. As his daughter-in-law, she had to visit and care for him daily.

Thus, the two of them had almost no communication, and their relationship seemed to have stalled at a certain point, not progressing, and even showing signs of reverting to what it was before.

On this day, after returning home at three in the morning, Xie Shuo just took a shower and went straight to bed. When he woke up, it was already ten in the morning.

He glanced at the time, changed into a set of lounge clothes, and went to the study, planning to work from home for the day.

Ye An went to visit Xie Baiyan at the hospital early in the morning, so the mansion was unusually quiet.

The winter sunlight was warm and bright, casting a gentle glow by the window. Xie Shuo sat at his desk, his slender fingers flying over the keyboard as he typed on his laptop.

There was suddenly a knock on the door; he directly asked without looking up, “What’s the matter?”

Auntie Zhou opened the door and said, “Eldest Young Master, Miss Zhang is here.”

Xie Shuo’s fingers paused for a moment before getting up after a few seconds.

Downstairs in the living room, Zhang Muqing sat on the sofa, wearing a beige coat. Her long legs were at a Duchess slant while her black smooth hair fell over her shoulders. 

On the coffee table in front of her was a cup of steaming hot tea.

She gazed at the tea leaves floating in the cup with a somewhat absentminded look on her pale face. Her whole person seemed to be much more haggard than before.

The sound of footsteps echoed. Upon hearing it, she immediately turned around to see Xie Shuo walking toward her in a light gray wool sweater with a look of indifference.  

“A’Shuo.”

She called out pitifully.

Xie Shuo sat down diagonally across from her. Without waiting for her to say anything, he tossed a small jewelry box onto the coffee table and pushed it toward her.

It was the wedding congratulatory gift she had previously given him — a pair of brooches.

Zhang Muqing immediately turned pale.

“Your things, returned to their rightful owner. If you have any requests, there’s no need to speak.”

Xie Shuo leaned back on the sofa, his tone indifferent.

Zhang Muqing hadn’t expected him to show no sentiment at all. She clenched the fabric of her clothes tightly, and her eyes began to well up with tears.

“A’Shuo, can’t you consider our past friendship…”

Xie Shuo looked up, giving a cold glance that seemed capable of piercing through everything.

Meeting his gaze, Zhang Muqing felt her words caught in her throat. She had actually anticipated this outcome long before, but she had reached a dead end, unwilling to accept it, wanting to give it a try.

If he had truly cared for her, they wouldn’t have ended up like this. Zhang Junfeng wouldn’t have had such an ending, going so far as to trap and destroy him.

After a long while, Zhang Muqing pursed her lips and got up, grabbing the small jewelry box from the coffee table before walking out, her eyes tinged with red.

Once she left, Xie Shuo turned to Auntie Zhou and instructed, “In the future, if she comes again, you don’t need to let her in.”

Auntie Zhou nodded in acknowledgment.

4 PM. Hospital.

After inquiring about Xie Baiyan’s condition with his primary doctor, Ye An packed up her things and prepared to head home.

Just as she stepped out of the hospital, she bumped into Zhang Muqing at the entrance.

The two of them locked eyes, both coming to a halt.

Zhang Muqing had come to visit her adoptive mother. Since Zhang Junfeng’s incident, her adoptive mother’s health deteriorated, but she was about to be transferred to a general hospital. The reason she had met with Xie Shuo earlier this morning was for this matter.

Remembering Xie Shuo’s coldness earlier in the morning and now facing Ye An, Zhang Muqing’s deep-seeded resentment surged within her. She smirked and said, “So it’s Miss Ye. What a coincidence. When I met A’Shuo this morning, I even asked him about you.”

Her smile was meaningful, clearly implying that she and Xie Shuo had met earlier in the morning, hinting at something dubious.

However, Ye An didn’t pay her any mind at all. She couldn’t be bothered to spare even a glance at her and continued walking ahead.

“Don’t you want to know what we talked about?”

Surprised by her lack of reaction, Zhang Muqing added.

Ye An’s steps didn’t pause as if she hadn’t heard her words at all.

This wasn’t Romeo and Juliet. After all the outrageous things Zhang Junfeng had done, with Xie Shuo’s temperament, how could he possibly continue to have any involvement with his adoptive daughter?

Unless he had suddenly lost his mind or got possessed by someone else.

Seeing her dismissive attitude, Zhang Muqing grew even more resentful. She used to maintain a dignified front in front of others, but now that the Zhang family had fallen, she saw no need to hide anymore, tearing off her facade and said mockingly, “You just took advantage of the situation and got yourself a good chance. Do you really think he genuinely likes you?”

Finally, Ye An paused in her steps. Turning around, she smirked. “For all those years before me, how come you didn’t take advantage of the situation?”

Her words hit a sore spot, and Zhang Muqing’s expression instantly turned sour, infuriated to the point that she trembled with anger.

Since she was a teen, Zhang Junfeng had instructed her to get close to Xie Shuo and find a way to marry into the Xie family. However, no matter how hard she tried to please and hint, Xie Shuo’s attitude toward her remained cold and indifferent, unmoved. 

After her sarcastic remark, Ye An glanced at her and walked away without looking back, ignoring her. 

…….

Night fell early during the short days and long nights of winter. It was just a little after 4 pm, yet it was already sunset.

Sitting inside the car, Ye An gazed at the street outside, bathed in the warm glow of the sunset with Zhang Muqing’s words echoing in her ear…  

“You just took advantage of the situation and got yourself a good chance. Do you really think he genuinely likes you?”

A faint pang of pain transmitted from her heart as many memories flashed through her mind uncontrollably. 

Her eyes welled up, but she forcefully suppressed her emotions. Leaning against the seat, she slowly closed her eyes.

Outside the car window, the scenery blurred past as they continued onwards.

Ye An was still somewhat absentminded when she arrived in front of the mansion. She walked through the garden, entered the mansion to change her shoes, and coincidentally bumped into Xie Shuo in the living room. He was dressed in a black coat and seemed to be getting ready to leave.

Their gazes met, and Ye An paused for a moment, slightly taken aback.

Recently, their schedules had completely misaligned, and it had been a long time since they had crossed paths during the daytime like they did today.

Since he regained his vision, the time they had spent together was not even half of what they used to have.

“Did you go to the hospital?”

Xie Shuo halted and asked calmly.

Ye An nodded. “His condition has improved over the past two days. He should be able to be discharged before Chinese New Year.”

Xie Shuo had initially intended to go to the hospital, but at her words, he changed his mind and followed her back instead.

Ye An tossed her purse onto the sofa and sat down as well.

Her complexion seemed a bit poor. Xie Shuo sat down beside her and reached out to take her hand, holding it in his palm. “If you’re not feeling well, just rest at home. You don’t have to go to the hospital every day. There are people there taking care of things.”

She hadn’t expected him to worry about her. Ye An was taken aback for a moment before looking at him with a hint of suspicion. She wondered if he had done something to deceive her again. 

Xie Shuo’s expression was as normal, holding her soft fingers and lightly massaging them in his habitual manner.

Ye An’s fingers were cold from being outside, but with his gentle massaging, they quickly warmed up.

Seeing their hands intertwined, a myriad of emotions welled up within her. After a moment’s pause, she slowly withdrew her hand.

“Are you in a hurry to leave?”

She suddenly asked softly.

Xie Shuo clearly hadn’t anticipated her retracting her hand and seemed slightly taken aback.

“If you’re not in a hurry, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

Meeting her gaze, Xie Shuo had a slightly uneasy feeling. He asked, “What’s the matter?”

Auntie Zhou was still busy in the kitchen. Ye An glanced in that direction, then picked up her purse and got up. “Let’s talk in the room.”

With that, she turned around and headed upstairs.

Looking at her slender figure, Xie Shuo got up and followed after her.

As dusk settled, the sky was adorned with fiery clouds on the horizon. Ye An entered the bedroom and took a seat by the floor-to-ceiling window. Her hands rested on her lap, with the setting sun casting a radiant glow beside her, illuminating her fair and bright complexion.

Xie Shuo caught a glimpse of the serious expression on her face, and a faint sense of unease stirred within him.

Lately, she seemed a bit off. She had become quieter and less cheerful.

Ye An looked up at him.

It had been over a month since she found out that he had regained his vision. They had both been busy with various matters and hadn’t had a chance to sit down and talk properly.

But there were some things that did not just disappear if you ignored them.

Instead of dragging things out and avoiding them, it was better to address and resolve them sooner.

After a moment of deliberation, she tried to open the conversation in a casual and calm tone…

“Do you still remember our previous agreement?”

As Ye An’s words fell, the entire room suddenly fell into silence, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Xie Shuo remained silent, frowning.

Seeing his silence, Ye An thought he might not have understood, so she added, “I mean, once you regained your sight, we would get a divorce.”

Xie Shuo’s expression changed as if he was contemplating something. After a while, he finally said, “Do we really have to get divorced?”

Ye An was momentarily taken aback by his words. She had thought that since she was the one who had suggested the divorce, he would be relieved and readily agree.

After all, he had always been reluctant about this marriage.

“Didn’t we agree on this in the beginning? You…”

“What if I say I don’t want to get divorced?”

Xie Shuo suddenly looked up, interrupting her.

Ye An was once again taken aback.

She looked into his eyes, her emotions swirling within her. In a daze, many scenes from the past year flashed through her mind — from his initial indifference and mockery to his gradual familiarity and now…

Her fingers trembled slightly as she asked him, “Why?”

Without much thought, Xie Shuo said, “The way things are between us now, I don’t see anything wrong with it. There’s no need to go that far…”

His tone was flat, and his expression remained neutral as if he were discussing business with a partner.

Nothing wrong… Isn’t it just because you’ve gotten used to it?

Ye An felt like laughing. She paused for a moment, and suddenly, a thought crossed her mind that even she found hard to believe. “Don’t tell me you lied to me about your vision because you didn’t want to fulfill our agreement to divorce?”

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