On a freezing winter midnight, snowflakes drifted down from the sky as Joanna crouched on the riverside steps, her tear-filled eyes gazing at the distant Ferris wheel.
Once upon a time, Yu Dongen had stood in this very spot, swearing the most beautiful vows in the name of God. He had promised, *"No matter how time changes, no matter poverty or illness, I will take care of you—for life."*
Heh... Yet just five hours ago, their marriage had come to an end. His cold indifference was a far cry from the man he once was. Even now, the image of Yu Dongen sneering at her while embracing his new lover was seared into her mind. *"Joanna, your family's bankrupt. You're nothing but a fallen phoenix now—worse than a chicken. Look at your pathetic state. I’d be embarrassed to call you my wife. For old times' sake, do me a favor and get out of my way. Sign the papers and leave—don’t ruin my fun."*
She must have been the world’s biggest fool. Even knowing her husband was cheating, she had stayed silent, tolerating his mistress in a desperate bid to win him back. She had even meticulously planned a candlelit dinner for their third anniversary—only to have him bring his lover to their hotel suite and throw her out.
She had never imagined their love would end like this. She had lost everything—her love, her dignity—utterly defeated.
She had been sitting by the river for five hours now, two empty beer bottles beside her. Passersby eyed her like she was insane, probably assuming she was about to jump. Thirty days ago, she had been the heiress of the Qiao conglomerate in Haicheng, the esteemed wife of the CEO of Imperial Group. Thirty days later, she was a woman cast out by her husband, humiliated and stripped of everything.
Behind her trembling, thinly clad figure, three black cars had been following her since she left the hotel—for over five hours now.
In the backseat of the middle car, a pair of icy eyes watched her without a trace of warmth. The assistant in the passenger seat kept glancing at the rearview mirror, trying to gauge his boss’s mood, but the man’s expression remained unreadable.
The assistant found it bizarre. The CEO had skipped an important meeting just to tail this woman. *Who the hell is she?*
Just as he was speculating, a deep voice cut through the silence. *"Yuanlang, leave the car. Everyone else, withdraw."*
*"Sir—"* Assistant Fu Yuanlang hesitated, but before he could finish, Han Chengrui had already pushed the door open and strode toward the figure by the river.
As he walked, he shrugged off his black coat. Stopping just a step away from Joanna, he tossed it over her.
Her vision suddenly darkened as something draped over her head. Startled, she yanked the fabric away—a man’s black coat. Blinking in confusion, she stood and turned to find a tall, broad-shouldered man in a tailored black suit standing behind her, his handsome features sharp and unreadable.
For a moment, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. She rubbed them hard, but the face before her remained—one she faintly recognized.
*"H-Han... Mr. Han?"* she stammered, unsure if she had the right man.
Han Chengrui lifted his deep-set eyes, glancing at the Ferris wheel across from them with a faint smile. "What's wrong? Has three years made me unrecognizable?"
Hearing this, Qiao Anna was certain she hadn’t mistaken him. She forced a smile and said, "What a coincidence, Mr. Han. Fancy meeting you here!" Three years ago, before their engagement, their families had dined together—the first and last time she had seen Han Chengrui.
Freeing one hand, Anna distractedly brushed back her wind-tousled hair, trying not to look too disheveled.
"Not a coincidence. I made a detour just to pass by." His stern gaze paired with an ice-cold joke made Anna feel like a scolded child awaiting punishment. Clutching the coat in her arms, she hesitated before finally handing it back to him.
The biting wind made her shiver uncontrollably. Her nose was nearly dripping from the cold, and the alcohol from the beer was starting to take effect, making her steps unsteady. She swayed precariously, as if the next gust might knock her over.
"Put the coat on. Get in the car." Taking in her pitiful state, the man tossed the words over his shoulder before striding toward his parked car. He opened the door, slid into the driver’s seat, and waited. About a minute later, Anna finally shuffled toward the vehicle, her face pale from the cold, snowflakes clinging to her clothes—which she still hadn’t put on, instead hugging them to her chest.
The man pressed his lips together slightly, a flicker of resignation passing through his cool eyes as he turned up the car’s heater.
Anna opened the back door and slipped inside, too embarrassed to meet Han Chengrui’s gaze, afraid he’d see her in such a sorry state.
She knew a little about him—the late-born son of the Han family patriarch, also the younger brother of Yu Dong’en’s mother. Not only was his background impeccable, but his capabilities were beyond question. Due to family infighting, his relationship with Yu Dong’en’s mother was strained. Anna had only met him once before, so they were hardly acquainted. Now, of all times, to run into him in her current state—it was beyond awkward.
Silence filled the car as they drove. Just as Anna was about to say something to break the tension, the car came to a stop. Assuming they’d reached her home, she smiled and said, "Thank you for the ride, Mr. Han."
But the moment she pushed the door open, she realized something was off—this wasn’t the Yu residence. It was a hotel parking lot.
Before she could process it, Han Chengrui had already stepped out. Snowflakes had begun to drift down, and Fu Yuanlang, who had been waiting nearby, hurried over with an umbrella, handing it to him.
Han Chengrui took it and walked toward Anna. She managed a weak smile. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now. I won’t disturb your rest, Mr. Han."
Instead of responding, he suddenly closed the distance between them. Instinctively, Anna stepped back—only to lose her footing. As she teetered backward, a strong arm swiftly wrapped around her waist, pulling her upright. Their faces were now mere inches apart; the slightest tilt of her head would bring their lips together.
Anna swallowed hard. Though still slightly drunk, she knew Han Chengrui had no improper intentions. In her mind, he was Yu Dong’en’s uncle—a composed, responsible man, nothing like those frivolous types.
Han Chengrui, for his part, had only meant to steady her. Once she regained her balance, he withdrew his hand, his cool gaze locking onto hers. "I don’t like you marrying Yu Dong’en."
*Don’t like her marrying Yu Dong’en?*
*Hah.* Back when the Qiao family had power and influence, this union had been met with nothing but blessings. What now? With her family’s decline, had she lost all value as a marriage prospect? Was she no longer even worth basic respect? If she remembered correctly, it was Han Chengrui himself who had gifted her the engagement dress back then.
