“No, I’m actually a failure,” Song Yunhua smiled bitterly. “I’m so unsuccessful that I need tactics to keep my own husband, and that woman easily made Yunzhi betray our eight-year marriage! In my life, I’ve never suffered such a blow and setback…”
“Sister,” Song Lirui was puzzled, “but didn’t you win your husband back?”
A bitter smile crossed Song Yunhua’s lips. “He’s back, but his heart is with someone else. This is the shame of my life, a shame I can never forget!”
Song Lirui shook her head. “Sister, you’re wrong to think like that! What man doesn’t stray? Perhaps my brother-in-law can’t completely forget that woman for now, but over time, his heart will naturally return. Besides, you’ve made such a big sacrifice for him; he wouldn’t dare to wrong you again.”
I never wanted children anyway!”
Song Lianyan sighed, “I never expected that brother-in-law couldn’t have children! But sister, why did you hide this from everyone? All these years, everyone thought you didn’t want children. The old folks of the Gu family might not have said anything openly, but they’ve been secretly dissatisfied with you. Why don’t you tell them about brother-in-law’s condition and save them from gossiping about you?”
Song Yunhua gave a bitter smile, “Tell them? Could they handle such a blow? What if something goes wrong? Wouldn’t I become the sinner of the Gu family?”
Song Lianyan said indignantly, “But this is too unfair to you…”
“As long as Yunzhi understands, I don’t care what others think!” Song Yunhua started the car, “Let’s go, don’t let your brother-in-law find out!”
The car sped away, splashing mud everywhere.
Of course, Gu Yunzhi couldn’t discover them. He forcibly suppressed his impulse to look back, walking away step by step amid Chu’e’s mournful cries, his heart shattering into pieces. A massive sadness struck his heart, causing him to bend over in pain.
In the pavilion, people were selling jade pendants, surrounded by a crowd of young men and women. Chu Yue approached and saw that various small pendants were engraved with different Chinese characters.
The saleswoman noticed her great interest and enthusiastically promoted, “Miss, you can choose a pendant engraved with your lover’s name – such a gift is very meaningful!”
Chu Yue looked around, her face somewhat disappointed. The saleswoman, puzzled, asked, “Miss, didn’t you find what you wanted? What character are you looking for? I’ll help you find it!”
“Forget it,” Chu Yue forced a smile and turned to leave. After walking a few steps, she turned back and softly uttered a word, “Yun!”
The saleswoman was stunned, then quickly responded, “Okay, I’ll help you find it!” She rummaged through the pendants, “Found it, look, Yun!”
“Thank you!” Chu Yue gratefully smiled, paid, carefully placed the pendant in her bag, and walked away.
Descending the mountain, she walked slowly, enjoying the scenery. Passing a small pavilion, a familiar surprised voice suddenly sounded: “Chu Chu?”
Chu Yue turned and saw Luo Xuan and Lin Lan. The greeting had come from Luo Xuan. “You two?” A faint smile crossed her lips, “Ah, Beijing is so small, you can run into acquaintances anywhere!”
“Indeed,” Lin Lan affectionately hooked her arm, “This season is when frost leaves are redder than February flowers. It would be a shame to miss it, so Luo Xuan squeezed out some time to accompany me to see the red leaves. Chu Chu, are you here alone?”
Chu Yue subtly freed herself from her grip, “I’m a lone wolf, not as lively as you two lovebirds!”
Lin Lan, unable to hook her arm, had a flash of annoyance in her eyes that quickly disappeared. She barely gave Luo Xuan a chance to speak, “Chu Chu, are you going down the mountain? Luo Xuan and I haven’t even reached the top yet…”
Chu Yue understood her intention, simply smiled and said, “Okay, you continue. I’m going down!”
“Yes, contact me when you’re free!” Lin Lan sweetly smiled, hooking her arm through Luo Xuan’s. Throughout the entire exchange, Luo Xuan hadn’t gotten a word in. Somewhat angry, he shook off her hand and went straight up the mountain.
Lin Lan coldly laughed and followed.
Returning from Fragrant Mountain, Chu Yue didn’t want to go home. She reached the neighborhood entrance, then turned back and got on the bus. That home was too cold and empty; she feared she would start overthinking, afraid she would remember the fragments of time Gu Yunzhi had spent in her home.
She went to a bar in Sanlitun to drink. She actually didn’t like drinking and had a poor tolerance. Growing up, she had only drunk three times: when her father died, when her mother died, and when she was humiliated by Song Liran.
Didn’t Cao Cao say, “How to dispel sorrow? Only through alcohol!” Ancient people said alcohol was a good thing – how could she not drown her sorrows? But why did the alcohol only make her heart feel more bitter? And why did she feel an urge to cry?
Someone gently sat beside her, taking away her wine glass, “Chu Chu, you can’t drink anymore!”
Chu Yue looked up, meeting Luo Xuan’s worried gaze, “Why are you here?”
Luo Xuan said in a low voice, “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Drinking like this will harm your health…”
“What’s the use of this body? It’s nothing more than a walking corpse!” Chu E suddenly began to cry softly. Luo Xuan was startled and at a loss, unsure how to help. After a moment of confusion, he finally remembered to pull out a tissue.
“Chu Chu, don’t cry, don’t cry…” He awkwardly wiped her tears. Chu E collapsed into his arms, letting her tears flow freely. Luo Xuan carefully wrapped his arms around her trembling shoulders, trying to comfort her.
This scene deeply pierced Lin Lan’s eyes, sitting in the corner. Ever since meeting Chu E at Xiangshan, Luo Xuan had been restless. As soon as they came down the mountain, he immediately found an excuse to leave. Lin Lan knew he was going to find Chu E. She couldn’t help but follow him, tracking him from Chu E’s doorstep to this bar in Sanlitun. Then, she witnessed this heart-wrenching scene.
How ridiculous! Luo Xuan had followed Chu E, and she had followed Luo Xuan!
Lin Lan’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. Seeing Luo Xuan use a gentleness he had never shown her to wipe Chu E’s tears, she burned with hatred.
These two dogs! Openly taking one path, but secretly taking another! I won’t let you off easy! Lin Lan glared, a cold light shooting from her eyes.
Chu E and Luo Xuan were completely unaware of the resentful eyes in the corner. After Chu E finished crying, she slowly straightened up from Luo Xuan’s embrace, “I’m sorry, Luo Xuan. I was so rude…”
“Are you feeling better?” Luo Xuan asked caringly.
She took a deep breath and smiled embarrassedly, “Much better, thank you!”
“Shall we go?” He looked around, “It’s too noisy here. Chu Chu, I’ll take you home. Get some rest, sleep it off, and everything will be fine!”
Chu E nodded silently. The two left the bar and got into Luo Xuan’s car.
Throughout the journey, Chu E remained silent, and Luo Xuan didn’t dare to speak, constantly glancing at her through the rearview mirror. He knew she had something on her mind, but she was unwilling to tell him. He sighed inwardly. He would never truly enter her heart!
Because it was the weekend, the supermarket was crowded. As Chu Yue walked into the noisy vegetable section, a woman rushed towards her and slapped her twice with loud “pa pa” sounds. Chu Yue was instantly stunned, seeing stars and sparks, tears welling up from the pain.
“Someone screamed, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. Chu Yue then realized the one slapping her was actually Lin Lan! She was both shocked and angry, “Lin Lan, what are you doing? Have you gone crazy?”
