Having already been abandoned by the Second Miss, would I now be abandoned by my wife of two years? I even hoped the Second Miss would never return. I would rather bury her in my heart than be divorced by my wife. Even if the Second Miss wanted him back after a divorce, he didn’t want to be cast aside by his wife. What he once pursued as happiness suddenly seemed unimportant; he only wanted to stay by his wife’s side. That day he realized his wife had truly changed and had unconsciously become important to him. In that moment of panic, he discovered many things in his heart had gradually changed.

That year, Yun Mei overheard a conversation between Jin Mo and ‘Jin Yu’ about exchanging the Jin family and himself for Xu Yi. Afterward, Jin Mo went to the Yun family, and though Yun Mei didn’t know what she said to his mother, in the end, she forced him onto the wedding sedan.

The gong and drum sounds were deafening, firecrackers exploding, with mocking laughter. He entered the sedan, tears flowing beneath the bright red veil. Despair tormented him. The bright red wedding dress he had long imagined now buried his love and offered him another choice.

Perhaps at that moment, his heart had given up on Jin Yu, abandoned through despair. His feelings for Jin Mo were just a persistent obsession.

A faint smile appeared on Yun Mei’s face, revealing a happiness he hadn’t experienced in years. “None of that matters anymore. I want to start over with my wife. I will love him wholeheartedly and live well together.” His wife was willing to take him away; everything might still be possible. This time, he wouldn’t lose his happiness again.

Soft winter sunlight filtered through a gentle breeze.

At this moment, Jin Mo wore a serious expression with a barely perceptible smile. “Xu Yi and the Jin family, how will you choose?”

Jin Yu smiled casually, unfazed by the question. “My choice, you already know.”

Suddenly, a voice emerged beside them, startling both. Xiao Lian appeared from behind the pavilion, angrily glaring at Jin Mo. “Don’t you dare make Jin Yu leave; she is the head of the Jin family…”

Xiao Lian’s anger caused his delicate face to furrow, and his reproachful gaze made Jin Mo pause.

Jin Yu said to Xiao Lian, “What are you doing here?”

“I’m…” Xiao Lian looked at Jin Yu, then pursed his lips and glanced sideways, “None of your business. This person is bullying you, and I won’t let you suffer.”

Jin Yu, amused, replied, “That’s enough, let’s go.”

“No, that person…” Xiao Lian started, but Jin Yu ignored him, lifting him around the waist and leaving.

Xiao Lian quickly hugged Jin Yu’s neck, his small face rubbing against her earlobe as he looked back, shouting at Jin Mo, “Don’t bully… ah… don’t spank my bottom… it hurts! I’m helping you… woo… don’t pinch…”

Jin Mo watched them leave, standing blankly. A complex emotion flickered in her eyes, reminiscent of the look Xu Yi had for Jin Yu. She bitterly smiled, realizing this feeling toward a child was just jealousy and envy.

Perhaps she had lost something again, unable to grasp what she wanted.

That year, Jin Mo heard that ‘Jin Yu’ had invited Xu Yi to the Jin residence. An ominous feeling prompted her to rush back, only to see Xu Yi emerging from ‘Jin Yu’s’ room, disheveled, with swollen lips and tear-stained cheeks.

Walking unsteadily, Xu Yi’s expression revealed pain, unease, and a hint of hidden happiness. As he nearly fell, Hua Yan quickly supported him, straightening his clothes and hair, and wiping away his tears.

Jin Mo, with her hand suspended in mid-air, withdrew it, emotions churning in her eyes. She knew ‘Jin Yu’ had taken Xu Yi’s innocence. That day, she had fought with ‘Jin Yu’, a family member she had always valued.

Jin Mo loved Xu Yi and didn’t want to be bound by Jin family business, so she had made an agreement, with Cloud Mei being the only sacrifice. Even after being rejected by Xu Yi, she never regretted it. During that time, she resolved to find a cure for ‘Jin Yu’s’ poison, thinking that upon her return, Xu Yi would forget ‘Jin Yu’ and marry her. However, when she returned, everything was beyond her expectations. Those tracking her vanished after entering Shi Li Town.

Jin Mo casually picked up a flower petal, feeling a mix of emotions. She had known Cloud Mei would suffer after being sacrificed but hadn’t anticipated feeling this heartache—as if being torn apart. She had always believed she could have Xu Yi, and even when he loved ‘Jin Yu’, she had remained merely dejected.

But hearing Xu Yi would marry ‘Jin Yu’, she began to despair, realizing she had been wrong. Xu Yi could no longer be controlled, and her despair grew, feeling powerless. Had Cloud Mei suffered this way all these years?

Jin Mo lowered her eyes and walked away, glad that Cloud Mei could be with her elder sister and that the poison was healing.

He knew he had been staring at the baby in Suxi’s belly for a long time. Jinyu laughed and said, “Okay, but you can’t lead the baby astray.”

Xiaolian shook his head repeatedly, “No, no, the baby won’t learn bad things from me.”

Jinyu was still worried, knowing Xiaolian had secretly learned ways men treat clients in the beauty house and had even tried to “seduce” women. She had sent people to protect him; otherwise, something could have happened. Looking helplessly at Xiaolian, she left the beauty house, hoping his bad habits would fade. “I wanted to leave here early, so don’t tell anyone about today’s conversation.”

Xiaolian, puzzled, nodded, “You must be good to my brother, and… you must give me a gift.” He had always wanted a gift.

Jinyu was stunned, “What do you want?”

Jinyu sighed as Xiaolian pouted, “I’ll owe it first and tell you when I think of something.”

“As you wish,” Jinyu replied helplessly.

After sending Xiaolian away, Jinyu noticed Jinmo was gone. Initially unaware of Jinmo’s feelings for Xu Yi, Jinyu learned through her investigation that Jinmo had reached out to Xu Yi via Huayan, whom she had positioned beside him.

Jinyu recognized that Jinmo was not only interested in Xu Yi but was also trying to probe into her. She had meticulously covered her tracks, relocating key individuals from the chaotic environment, allowing Jinmo to investigate as she pleased.

As she lifted her gaze to the sky, sunshine enveloped her, warming her heart. This time, she would truly obtain happiness.

#

Jinyu took Xu Yi out, where he wore a veil while they sat together in an inn’s side room.

Pouring a cup of tea for Xu Yi, she noticed a blush on his face, and he shyly remarked, “These things don’t need Miss Jinyu to do personally. I can call Huayan to come in.”

“It’s fine. We’ll be husband and wife soon, so I’ll naturally take care of you,” Jinyu smiled casually, feeding Xu Yi.

Xu Yi nervously clutched his handkerchief, eating small bites with a subtle smile that was beautiful and radiant. Though living in darkness, being with the person he loved made everything worthwhile.

Jinyu wiped Xu Yi’s red lips with a handkerchief. Xu Yi lowered his head shyly, his face burning, long eyelashes fluttering like small fans, his eyes filled with a happy, bashful expression.

Xu Yi’s eyes filled with tears as he smiled and nodded, “I’ll go with you…” Previously, he had refused to leave because of his unwillingness, but now, with someone he never dared to dream would take him away from the Xu family and marry him, he would listen to her and believe in her.

Jinyu kissed Xu Yi’s lips, and he leaned into her embrace, breathing softly. Confused, he asked, “Is what they said true? Are you no longer the master of the Jinyu family?”

“Yes,” Jinyu responded, stroking his gradually reddening cheek.

“Why?” Xu Yi tried to lift his head, but then realized his eyes were completely dark, and he hesitated to let her see.