In her seventh year of marriage, her husband brought a lover home openly, and their son insisted on finding a new mother.

Shen Shiyi's heart sank, leaving the father and son pair and heading for Haimashi City alone.

Initially, Shen Jingchuan thought that she was just being difficult. After all, they were passionately in love in their youth and even had a son together.

When others asked him about it, he merely said, "Shiyi is just jealous. She needs to cool off a bit to restore peace in the household."

But he had waited for her to "cool off" month after month, only to receive the news of Shen Shiyi's engagement in Hai Shi City.

"Master Fu, I've booked a ticket to Haimashi City for half a month from now. Please draft a divorce agreement for me as soon as possible."

Looking at the young woman who got out of the Cayenne that had once belonged to her, Shen Shiyi made her carefully considered decision on the phone.

After hanging up, she put on her coat and went downstairs.

The deafening electronic music echoed throughout the expensive mansion. The first-floor hall was crowded with people. Lin Wan, dressed in a black sequin spaghetti strap dress, sat on the sofa like a center of attraction.

Sitting next to Lin Wan were Shen Shiyi's husband, Shen Jingchuan, and her son, Shen Mingxuan, whom she'd risked her life to give birth to and had carefully raised to the age of seven.

But at the moment, they were gathered around an unrelated woman, looking every bit a harmonious family of three.

To say the woman was unrelated wouldn't be quite accurate. Lin Wan was a student whom she had previously sponsored.

Seeing that face, Shen Shiyi reminisced, when exactly had this woman started making her way into their home step by step.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Upon seeing Shen Shiyi coming down the stairs, everyone looked somewhat awkward, only making her feel more out of place.

Ajay, Shen Jingchuan's right-hand man, greeted Shen Shiyi sheepishly, "I didn’t know my sister-in-law was home, hope we didn't disturb you."

Anyone who was familiar with the Shen family knew that she had some hearing issues, and wore a cochlear implant in her left ear, hardly tolerating any noise in normal days.

Shen Jingchuan had not asked her if she was home before he brought people back.

She smiled in an appropriate way, "No problem."

Regarding the appearance of Shen Shiyi, Shen Jingchuan and Shen Mingxuan showed no reaction at all.

Only when Shen Shiyi stepped down the last step did Shen Jingchuan wave his hand to stop the music, "Little Wan is getting promoted today. We're celebrating for her."

When he was speaking, Shen Jingchuan's face was expressionless, and his tone did not sound like explanation, but more like blaming her for her ill-timed appearance.

Her son, Shen Mingxuan, was protecting Lin Wan as if facing a formidable enemy, "Auntie Little Wan is the star today, Mom, please don't be the party pooper. As you know, I hate party poopers the most. I wish you could be as fun and carefree as Auntie Little Wan."

Watching her carefully raised son behaving this way for another woman, ripples appeared in Shen Shiyi's heart, but soon they subsided. The turbulent days were long gone.

She forced a smile, her voice indifferent yet soft, "As long as you’re happy, and congratulations on Miss Lin’s promotion."

She would leave the city as soon as she finished her business here. And she didn't want either of them, the father and son.

Not wanting to join in the fun, Shen Shiyi walked past Lin Wan towards the kitchen behind her.

But Lin Wan clearly didn't want to let her go so easily. Holding a glass of red wine, she gracefully moved forward and approached her.

"Thanks, Miss Shen. If it weren’t for your recommendation to Hauton back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Mr. Shen initially planned on booking the top floor of Lijing for a grand celebration for me, but I thought it was too extravagant so we changed it to our home, I forgot that you don't like noise."

"Since it’s a happy occasion, why don’t you join us, Miss Shen? Xuanxuan always complaints to me that you only like quietness, but as a mother, you have to join in the fun with your child to understand what he really wants. Do you think what I said is true, Miss Shen?"

Lin Wan affectionately grasped onto Shen Shiyi, a radiant smile on her face, yet her words were filled with a sense of boasting and hidden barbs.

How could Shen Jingchuan not comprehend a woman's game of deception?

However, he didn't admonish Lin Wan.

For her awkward tricks, he merely doted on her and clapped his hands, saying, "Madam doesn't like noise, play some soothing music.”

The cellist understood swiftly, and the melody of Forest Song slowly permeated the room.

On the surface, Shen Jingchuan seemed to be respecting Shen Shiyi by doing so, but he hadn't considered her wishes at all, otherwise he wouldn't have brought so many people home for this drama.

Shen Mingxuan also became interested, he hopped off the sofa, "Mommy, you should stay and play too, Little Wan Auntie just said that she was going to teach me how to play poker."

Poker is indeed a popular form of entertainment for the people of the harbor city. But as the future heir to the Shen family, Shen Mingxuan isn't allowed to be exposed to these pastimes too early. This was the master's decision.

Hearing his words, Shen Shiyi instinctively turns to look at Shen Jingchuan. The man didn't utter a word, his eyes, whilst wearing a smile, kept landing on Lin Wan.

Since Shen Jingchuan doesn't feel that there's anything inappropriate, she was even less willing to say more.

Shen Shiyi really didn't want to play the silly game of pitting women against each other at this moment to satisfy these two men's strange desires. She brushed aside her hair from her left ear, revealing a clean earlobe, "Sorry but I can't hear you clearly without an earpiece."

Having said that, she yanked her hand free from Lin Wan's grasp.

With the force from Shen Shiyi, Lin Wan suddenly fell to the ground. The wine glass in her hand shattered, causing a few tiny cuts to appear on her arm from the splintered glass.

This scene startled the crowd, making Shen Shiyi the target of public condemnation.

Seeing Lin Wan injured, Shen Jingchuan immediately lost his composure. He rose from the couch in a swift motion, lifting Lin Wan, "Shen Shiyi, what are you doing? Even if you're unwilling to celebrate for Little Wan, there's no need to lay a hand on her. Your behavior just makes me sick!"

Shen Shiyi really didn’t expect that such a clumsy trick could make Shen Jingchuan lose control like this. Sometimes she really wanted to know, is it Shen Jingchuan loves Lin Wan too much, or does he think of her as too despicable?

Both of these answers are irrefutably ironic.

Shen Shiyi looked up at Shen Jingchuan: "The police station is open at all times. If needed, I can call the police. Instead of worrying about her like this, take her to the hospital. If you delay, the wound healing would be problematic."

Shen Shiyi's response was beyond Shen Jingchuan's expectation. However, upon seeing Lin Wan's pained expression, he didn't blow a fuse, but just took the person, quickly exited out the door, and got in the car.

Seeing this, Shen Mingxuan hurried to catch up with them. Before leaving, he glared fiercely at Shen Shiyi, "You're the worst Mommy in the world. I hate you!"

Hate? A bitterness welled up in Shen Shiyi's throat.

How is she not disgusted with everything at this moment?

Fortunately, she wouldn't have to endure it for much longer...

With the departure of the Shen father and son, the noisy hall immediately quieted down.

Shen Shiyi, with due propriety, gave everyone a modest smile: "Just a small accident, everyone can continue. Ah Jie, please entertain them."

Having said so, she went back to the kitchen like nothing had happened, found a beautifully packaged box in the corner, took it, and went back to her room through the crowd.

Inside the box was a cake.

Shen Shiyi has two birthdays, one is her birth date, and the other is the day the Shen Family adopted her.

She was abducted and sold to the city of Hongkong when she was five. There she met Shen Jingchuan, who, like her was abducted. Together as kids, they relied on each other to survive while under the human trafficker's control.

The Hongkong police later cracked the trafficking case, but did not find clues about her family.

Thus, under Shen Jingchuan's strong request, the Shen family adopted her, named her Shen Shiyi, symbolizing that she arrived at just the right time. Only she could tame the unruly Shen Jingchuan.

Since he was little, Shen Jingchuan adhered to the custom of celebrating her birthday twice a year.

But today, he forgot, he was too busy celebrating for another woman.

After hastily finishing the cake, Shen Shiyi silently took down the wedding photos and family portraits from the bedroom and put them into the shredder. Since she had decided to leave, there was nothing for her to cling onto.

After dealing with the photos, she packed her things and moved into the adjacent study room, leaving only the jewelry and other valuables that Shen Jingchuan had bought for her over the years.

For the next while, she really didn't want to see Shen Jingchuan's face every day.

This study room was something she insisted on keeping initially. She thought she could handle her work here, but she didn't expect to get entangled with her son Xuanxuan and family chores so much that she hardly used the study room in a year.

In the end, the study room became her temporary refuge before leaving the city.

Suppressing all her thoughts, she took a bath and lay in bed, tossing and turning, unknown till when she finally fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Shen Jingchuan came home alone.

Looking at the empty bedroom, he couldn't help but smirk sarcastically.

He knew Shen Shiyi was going to sulk with him, but he was no longer the young boy who would fall into chaos at the sight of her single drop of tear.

Shen Jingchuan pushed open the study room's door with a thud, but did not find the expected restless Shen Shiyi.

Shen Shiyi rubbed her drowsy eyes, "You're in the wrong room. The bedroom is next door."

A surge of nameless fury rose in Shen Jingchuan's heart. He strode to the side of the bed and grabbed Shen Shiyi's hand, "Are you so bothered by Xiao Wan's happiness that you have to make her uncomfortable in front of so many people?"

Shen Shiyi found it somewhat amusing. She’d merely went downstairs to fetch a cake, so how did this turn into shaming Lin Wan?

"Shen Jingchuan, today is not only a day when Lin Wan gets promoted..."

Caught off guard, it took Shen Jingchuan a moment before realizing that it was also Shen Shiyi’s birthday.

A wave of unease flitted across his heart, only to be swiftly subdued by rage stemming from Lin Wan being hurt. “Ah, so this is what you're upset about? If you want a gift, just go shopping. Lin Wan grew up in an orphanage. She never had a birthday like yours. What's wrong with giving her a little spotlight?"

"Don’t think that by switching rooms you can intimidate me. If you want to stay in the study room, you better stick to it. Moreover, remember to apologize to Lin Wan tomorrow, or I can’t vouch whether Mingxuan will hold a grudge against you."

Shen Jingchuan’s grip tightened until he saw Shen Shiyi’s face turning slightly pale. He then let go and stormed off.

Seeing his infuriated retreating figure, Shen Shiyi suddenly broke into a laugh.

A circlet of red marks was left on her wrist, a sight that bitingly ironic.

Had this happened before, Shen Shiyi would surely have been angry.

From the age of five until twenty-nine, she and Shen Jingchuan had enjoyed twenty-four years of new year fireworks at Victoria Harbor together.

At the age of eighteen when she first fell in love, Shen Jingchuan gently held her hand on a yacht, promising to protect her all his life.

Back then, the fireworks were dazzling, and she never thought that sincere affection could appear and disappear as transiently as they did.

Under the guidance of Shen’s family, she subsequently married Shen Jingchuan naturally and gave birth to their cherished son, Shen Mingxuan, at twenty-two.

When she was delivering, she had an amniotic fluid embolism, and it took an entire blood transfusion to barely save her life. Shen Jingchuan didn’t sleep for three whole days during that time, fearing that he’d lose her if he were to close his eyes. Only after her life was out of danger did Shen Jingchuan finally collapse into a sleep of exhaustion.

Once, while drunk, Shen Jingchuan confessed to her, “If I knew there would be such a risk, I’d rather you never had a child. This is the first time I, Shen Jingchuan, have tasted regret in life.”

But Shen Shiyi didn't feel regretful at all; Xuanyuan was the fruit of her love with Shen Jingchuan.

When he was three, Xuanyuan had said that he wanted to take care of and protect her with Shen Jingchuan when he grew up. How could she feel regret about having their unconditional love as a father and son?

But now, all of that has become a joke.

Noticing the ambiguity between Shen Jingchuan and Lin Wan, who wanted auntie Wan to become her mother, Shen Shiyi was already aware of it.

Lin Wan was the student she funded. As soon as Lin Wan graduated from university, she began working at Shen's Haoting Corporation.

At first, Shen Shiyi didn't take this matter seriously. Among the students she had sponsored, many worked at Haoting like Lin Wan.

It was not until Shen Jingchuan began coming home late frequently that she smelled Lin Wan's favorite gardenia perfume on him. It was then she realized that these two seemed to be a little too close.

After confirming Shen Jingchuan's infidelity, she fell apart, and for the first time, proposed a divorce.

Why should she leave room for caution when youthful passion can be discarded? As for the dog prepared to recognize any owner, why should she keep it?

However, Shen Jingchuan disagreed. He pinned her against the table in an ambiguous posture. But the words he spoke were chilling to the bone.

"Lin Wan doesn't threaten your position as Mrs. Shen. You are not a child anymore. Do you still believe in the love stories of princes and princesses from fairy tales? You grew up in the Shen's family. Even if we really divorce, where can you go?”

"Xuanyuan has been waiting for a heart transplant. On the eve of surgery, will you insist on your willfulness?

Because of their son, Shen Shiyi had no choice but to endure what felt like a fishbone lodged in her throat, unswallowable and unspittable, and continue to act as a loving couple with Shen Jingchuan.

But her tolerance was rewarded with a familiar photo in her beloved son's diary – a close-up photo of him with Shen Jingchuan and Lin Wan.

And the beautiful memories of the three of them that he had written about in his diary.

"Today, my dad introduced me to a lady named Lin Wan. Auntie Lin Wan is really fun. Not only did she play with me the whole day, she also took me to the night market. Unlike momma, who never lets me eat anything from the night market."

Shen Shi Yi remembered that day. When Shen Ming Xuan came back from the night market, he had a high fever for three days due to gastroenteritis. However, the father and son didn't tell her the truth, so Shen Shi Yi thought it was a rejection reaction and accompanied Shen Ming Xuan for three days.

Three days later, when Shen Ming Xuan's fever subsided, he had lost a considerable amount of weight.

"Auntie Lin Wan helped me skip the piano lessons I hated the most, and even bought me the latest gaming console. She said that whenever I want to play, I can go find her."

"Today is Aunt Lin Wan's birthday. I sneakily bought her a ruby brooch. I wonder if she will like it."

Shen Shi Yi had a memory of the ruby brooch. It was purchased by Shen Ming Xuan in secret. When the driver told her about it, she thought it was a gift he had prepared for her, his mother. Little did she expect it was actually a birthday gift for Lin Wan.

Despite being the child she fought so hard to bring into this world, Shen Ming Xuan only remembered Lin Wan's birthday. Shen Shi Yi did feel a failure as a mother.

At the end of the diary, the words she read struck her like a bolt from the blue: "Sometimes, I wish that Auntie Lin Wan could be my mom."

If both Shen Jing Chuan and Shen Ming Xuan liked Lin Wan so much, she didn't need them father and son in her life any longer.

Shen Jing Chuan thought she couldn't make it without the Shen family, and that made him overconfident.

But he forgot that she once was the top graduate of the Design Department of Hong Kong University. If not for marriage and children that forced her tethered to this confined world, she could have made a difference.

Shen Shi Yi had a rare peaceful sleep that night. Maybe it was because she had made up her mind to leave. Her sleep was dreamless until the break of day, when she was awoken by Shen Jing Chuan's call.

"Why didn't you pick up the phone? Do you know that Xuan Xuan is in the hospital?"

Even though she couldn't see Shen Jing Chuan's face, Shen Shi Yi could tell from the anger in his tone. She moved the phone a bit away, recalling that Shen Ming Xuan didn't seem to come home last night, and she could guess where he would be: "Didn't you leave him at Lin Wan's house last night? With Lin Wan there, what could go wrong?"

Shen Jing Chuan seemed surprised. When it comes to Ming Xuan, Shen Shi Yi usually wasn't this calm. She would generally react strongly to even a slight issue.

He stopped abruptly, his aura weakening slightly, "Little Wan doesn't know that Xuanxuan is allergic to mangoes..."

"Lin Wan doesn't know, but as his father, don't you know? Xuanxuan had an allergy test before, and mangoes are not a high-risk item. Since Lin Wan has already sent him to the hospital, I have nothing to worry about. Or should I say, you don't trust Lin Wan?"

Before the words even settled, Shen Shiyi hung up the phone.

Listening to the beeping sound from the phone, Shen Jingchuan's face was as calm as still water.

Xuanxuan was a child Shen Shiyi gave birth to, risking her own life. Because of congenital heart disease, Xuanxuan is more fragile than other children his age. For the sake of this child, Shen Shiyi had given up all her career opportunities, always being personally involved in everything.

But now that she heard Xuanxuan was hospitalized, she didn't seem to have any reaction at all.

Shen Jingchuan felt a vague sense of foreboding, but when he thought of how she had been resentful last night because he forgot her birthday, he set his unsettled heart aside.

Shen Shiyi was just still angry.

Having grown up with Shen Shiyi, he knew her character well. She truly loved him.

Back when they were kidnapped, Shen Shiyi had protected him even at the cost of her hearing in one ear, managing to endure her injuries until the police rescued them.

After so many years together, such an unbreakable emotional foundation couldn't be shaken by this.

Remembering the past, Shen Jingchuan felt much better. Most likely, Shen Shiyi was just angry with him and Xuanxuan because of Lin Wan. She couldn't leave him, nor their son, he was sure of that.

Shen Jingchuan turned off his phone screen and looked at his assistant beside him, "Have the mall downstairs send this season's new items from the showroom to our home, and pick a set of pink diamond jewelry to send back as well."

He was giving Shen Shiyi a way out, and just like entertaining a woman outside, he couldn't lose out at home.

He never thought it would reach an irreparable stage with her, as long as she could understand her place, and knew how to advance and retreat.

He was just playing truant in this marriage; it wasn't a big deal.

Besides, he wasn't the first to make a mistake.

In the afternoon, Shen Shiyi still went to the hospital.

After all, Shen Mingxuan was her son whom she had fought so hard to give birth to; it was necessary to visit him.

In the ward, Shen Mingxuan was holding a tablet, leaning comfortably against Lin Wan. Just by his complexion, Shen Shiyi didn't feel like he was a patient at all.

Seeing Shen Shiyi come in, Shen Mingxuan didn't even lift his head, but turned up the volume of the game silently.

Lin Wan chuckled provocatively and patted Shen Mingxuan's shoulder, "Xuanxuan, your mom is here to see you. You cannot be impolite. Have you forgotten how auntie Lin Wan used to teach you?”

As soon as Lin Wan spoke, Shen Mingxuan immediately put down his tablet, acting like a well-behaved child.

Lin Wan's deliberate action of reversing the roles entirely excluded Shen Shiyi.

She suddenly regretted it. Knowing Shen Mingxuan and Shen Jingchuan were both unfeeling, she shouldn't have bothered visiting him.

Shen Shiyi set down the chicken soup in her hand: “If there is nothing, I’ll leave now.”

Her attitude immediately infuriated Shen Mingxuan.

Without a reasonable explanation for his preference, Shen Mingxuan jumped off the hospital bed: "I don't want to drink your soup!”

Looking at his angry, flushed face, Shen Shiyi was momentarily at a loss for words.

Shen Mingxuan was weak. From the age of three, per the doctor's advice, she made all sorts of different nourishing soups for him each week. In order to get him to drink more, she was willing to spend a considerable amount of time adjusting the recipes. Even when she fell ill, she never stopped.

In her memory, Shen Mingxuan was still the boy who laughed merrily and said "Mommy's the best!" after drinking soup. How could he suddenly become this way?

Noticing Shen Mingxuan's anger, Lin Wan quickly picked up the thermos pot, "If Xuanxuan doesn't want to drink it, Miss Shen should take it back. It's natural for him to be a little grumpy when he’s not well."

"Don't worry, Xuanxuan just ate the fish soup I cooked. I won't let him go hungry."

Fish soup? Shen Shiyi's face turned slightly cold as she looked at the empty bowl on the table.

Shen Mingxuan disliked fish. Just getting a whiff of fish made him nauseous. To cater to him, Shen Shiyi, who loved fish the most, hadn't seen any fish dishes at her dining table for several years.

But today, he actually drank the fish soup Lin Wan made.

Shen Shiyi suddenly became curious. In the end, did Shen Mingxuan detest fish, or his own mother?

Seeing Shen Shiyi silent, Lin Wan pushed the thermos pot into her arms. Before she could react, Lin Wan let go.

The thermos pot fell straight on the floor, hot chicken soup splashed in all directions. Shen Shiyi backed away instinctively, narrowly avoiding getting scalded.

Lin Wan was the first to speak out: "Miss Shen, even if you don't want to take it back, there's no need to suddenly let go, right?"

Shen Mingxuan immediately blocked Lin Wan, like a little guard dog. "Don’t bully Aunt Lin. If you dare do this again, I'll ask Dad to divorce you!"

At the mention of the word 'divorce', a triumphant smile appeared on Lin Wan's face.

Shen Shiyi couldn't stand to see Lin Wan play the victim again, and she left the room.

However, Lin Wan wasn’t one to let up easily and stopped Shen Shiyi in the corridor.

"Seeing both Mr. Shen and Xuanxuan on my side, Miss Shen, it must be hard for you, isn't it? As a woman, you should learn to be sensible. Sometimes, stubbornly clinging onto the position of Madam Shen isn't a good thing."

"To tell you the truth, I knew Xuanxuan was allergic to mangoes, I just wanted to see whether Mr. Shen would blame me for such a trivial matter," Lin Wan confessed.

Shen Shiyi hadn't expected that Lin Wan would go as far as to use a child to test Shen Jingchuan's feelings.

She lost her calm for the first time in public and slapped Lin Wan across the face. "Do you know how serious an allergy could be? It could be life-threatening! A life is not a touchstone for your love!"

"What are you doing?!"

Shen Jingchuan's angry shout suddenly rose. He quickly advanced from the corridor, arriving just at the 'right time'.

"Xu’s mother told me you were in the hospital, I thought it was because you cared for Xuanxuan, but you were acting pompous behind my back!"

Immediately, Lin Wan covered her face, threw herself into Shen Jingchuan's arms and played the victim. "Mr. Shen, I'm deeply sorry about what happened to Xuanxuan, but I didn't do it on purpose. If Miss Shen is still not satisfied, I can resign today."

Shen Jingchuan patted Lin Wan in consolation, "The person who should say sorry is not you."

As he spoke, he turned a chilling gaze towards Shen Shiyi. "Have you just learned to be jealous after all these years with the Shen family? Apologize to Miss Wan."

He was actually asking her to apologize to the woman who'd almost gotten Xuanxuan killed?

"I could never apologize," Shen Shiyi gritted out through clenched teeth. "Do you even know why Xuanxuan has allergies..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Jingchuan interrupted. "Miss Wan already said it wasn't intentional, and Xuanxuan is fine now. What else do you want? Are you trying to make Lin Wan pay with her life?"

Even though she knew, Shen Jingchuan would always favor Lin Wan, Shen Shiyi's gradually cold heart still felt the last warmth being slowly replaced with stinging pain.

He really wasn't willing to give her a chance to explain.

Like a pitiful creature, Lin Wan raised her head in Shen Jingchuan's arms, "Let it go, Mr. Shen. Miss Shen is just worried and frantic, let's not scare Xuanxuan anymore."

As soon as Lin Wan spoke, Shen Jingchuan's expression instantly softened. "Alright, I'll listen to Xiao Wan."

His gentleness disappeared in an instant. In the face of Shen Shiyi, his words were still cold. "As for you? I suggest you take time to reflect on your recent behavior."

With that, he left, his arm wrapped around Lin Wan as they made their way back to the hospital room.

Watching their retreating figures, a wave of long-suppressed emotions welled up in Shen Shiyi. Mist filled her eyes, and with a feeling of grievance and sorrow, tears began to fall.

In that moment, all she wanted was a quick escape.

Just as she was about to exit the hospital's main door, she was nudged off the stairs by a sudden rush of people.

Caught off guard and tumbling from the six-step height, her arms and legs were scraped badly, bleeding profusely.

A passing young woman rushed over to help Shen Shiyi. "Let me take you to get treated."

Shen Shiyi shook her head. "No need, I'm fine."

The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony she felt inside.

In a daze, Shen Shiyi headed towards the parking lot, only to stumble into a warm embrace.

As she looked up, Fu Xingzhou's eyes met hers, filled with suppressed heartache.

"Is that how Shen Jingchuan looks after you?”

There was an evident anger in Fu Xingzhou's voice. He extended his arm to hold Shen Shiyi, but worried that his action would cause her discomfort, he borrowed a wheelchair instead and took her to the emergency department.

After giving Shen Shiyi basic treatment, the nurse advised, "Fortunately, your bones were not harmed. The wound is quite large, try not to engage in strenuous activities in the near future, and avoid getting the wound wet to prevent inflammation."

Shen Shiyi was somewhat dazed as if everything outside of her was separated by a layer of transparent glass. She nodded, "Thank you. And thank you, Brother Fu."

Shen Shiyi's tone was exhausted. The words that Fu Xingzhou had originally intended to say in the end became, "Let me take you home."

Sitting in Fu Xingzhou's car, Shen Shiyi's reason gradually returned. Looking at the man in a tailored suit at the driver's seat, she couldn't help but say, "You can go about your business, I can go home by myself."

Fu Xingzhou looked at Shen Shiyi and handed her the divorce agreement at his side, "I came to give this to you. Your phone is not getting through, Auntie Shen said you're at the hospital."

Only then did Shen Shiyi realize that she had indeed missed a few calls on her phone. She apologized, "I'm sorry, Brother Fu, I've been too busy lately."

Fu Xingzhou shook his head, "It's okay, just delivering some documents."

His gaze fell on Shen Shiyi's wound, but his thoughts were, luckily he had come.

Fu Xingzhou was Shen Shiyi's senior at Hong Kong University. Although their majors were different, both were members of the debate club.

At that time, Shen Shiyi had just enrolled in school, but Fu Xingzhou had already secured a place for graduate school at Renmin University, their interactions weren't many.

Later, Fu Xingzhou returned to Harbour City to work as a lawyer, and also brought Shen Shiyi news about her birth mother; thus, the two reconnected.

Shen Shiyi held it all in her heart. The two of them said nothing all the way to the front of the Shen family's house.

Upon sending Shen Shiyi into the house, Fu Xingzhou realized that the huge Shen mansion was unexpectedly empty.

As if seeing his confusion, Shen Shiyi explained, "Shen Jingchuan doesn’t like other people being at home, so Auntie and the others don't stay here at night."

Although Shen Shiyi spoke lightly, Fu Xingzhou felt somewhat complicated.

After settling down Shen Shiyi, he drove to a nearby shop.

Looking at the steamed grouper, seafood porridge, and full box of butterfly pastries on the table, Shen Shiyi sheepishly said, "Fu Shixiong, I've really caused you much trouble today. Once I've settled all my affairs, I will treat you to a grand meal."

Fu Xingzhou poured a glass of warm water for Shen Shiyi and said gently, "I'm holding you to that. There are still matters I need to handle at the law firm, so I'll head back first. If you encounter any issues, make sure to give me a call. If you are scared, I can ask Zhiqing to stay with you."

Fu Zhiqing is Fu Xingzhou's cousin, and also Shen Shiyi’s junior at school.

Shen Shiyi was surprised. She didn't expect that Fu Xingzhou still remembered that she was timid. Memories from their school days welled up in her heart, and she couldn't help but crack a smile.

"Don’t worry, Fu Shixiong, I am not a child anymore."

That timid version of her had long been killed by Shen Jingchuan.

After bidding farewell to Fu Xingzhou, Shen Shiyi sat on the sofa, eating her meal while perusing the divorce agreement.

She had no intentions of fighting over Shen Mingxuan, nor did she plan to split Shen Jingchuan’s wealth.

She was adopted and educated by the Shen family; she remembered their kindness.

Before she could finish reading the divorce agreement, there came the sound of the door opening from behind her.

As Shen Shiyi turned around, she saw Shen Jingchuan, whose face was so gloomy it could seemingly drip water.

Shen Shiyi asked with surprise, "What are you doing back here?"

Closing the door behind him, Shen Jingchuan strode over to Shen Shiyi, "Did Fu Xingzhou drop you off? Can't you, Shen Shiyi, even be apart from a man?"

"If it weren't for me coming back to retrieve some documents, I wouldn’t have known you have something going on with him too."

In a burst of anger, Shen Jingchuan tightly gripped her face, "First it was the student you sponsored, then Fu Xingzhou. How many other men are there that I don't know of?"

Shen Shiyi bit Shen Jingchuan's hand, releasing only when she tasted the metallic tang of blood. It was then when his firm grip on her hands finally loosened.

Her voice rough with strain, she said, "The charity work was handed over to me by mother. I only met that student once. I don't know why you are doubting me. If you don't trust me, hire a private investigator."

Shen Jingchuan sneered, "Persistent in folly, aren't you, Shen Shiyi? You think I don't have evidence? I had Xiaowan look into it ages ago!"

Upon hearing that Shen Jingchuan had Lin Wan investigate her, Shen Shiyi was shocked. Many things she couldn't understand started to thread together.

Only now, Shen Jingchuan noticed the divorce agreement on the couch. Smirking coldly, he said, "Big shot lawyer Fu usually handles criminal cases, but here he is drafting a divorce agreement for you. That mustn't have been cheap, huh? Or perhaps few meetings with him were enough to earn you these papers?"

"Shen Shiyi, you really are low."

Seeing Shen Jingchuan's pathetic and brutal look, Shen Shiyi felt a loss of strength. The always unconditionally trusting Shen Jingchuan in her memory was long gone. She's the only one left trapped in the prison of the past.

She felt as if each word from Shen Jingchuan turned into a sharp knife piercing her soul.

At this moment, she didn't have the strength to argue. She handed Shen Jingchuan a pen from the table saying, "Let's get a divorce, Shen Jingchuan. Consider it as a favor to me."

The coldness in Shen Shiyi’s eyes shocked Shen Jingchuan, but his rage quickly took control.

He dominated her with his body, pinning her beneath him and grabbing her wrist, "Since you're so willing to use yourself as a bargaining chip, why not see how far you can go before I sign the agreement?"

"After all, this is what you are best at."