Volume One, Chapter Eleven: To Hell With Whomever! She’s Done Serving Them!

“Sang Wan…”

On the other end of the phone, Lu Jin’nian’s voice was laced with anger. “What kind of daughter-in-law are you?”

If he hadn’t arrived early at the office and heard Yang Yan mention in passing that tomorrow was the old lady’s birthday while reporting the day’s agenda, Lu Jin’nian would almost have forgotten.

After sending Yang Yan away, the first thing that came to Lu Jin’nian’s mind was to call Sang Wan and hold her accountable.

He demanded angrily, “Did you forget what day tomorrow is?”

Sang Wan glanced at her phone and checked the calendar.

She remembered.

Tomorrow was her mother-in-law, Su Baohui’s, birthday.

Every year in the past, she would remind Lu Jin’nian a month in advance.

Then Lu Jin’nian would call Su Baohui to ask how she wanted to celebrate this year, or what gift she desired.

Just one phone call and Su Baohui would be overjoyed, showering him with praise as if he were the most filial son in the world.

It was as though Lu Jin’nian was the embodiment of filial piety.

Meanwhile, Sang Wan’s month of busyness would begin.

She would go shopping to pick out gifts, from jewelry to clothes, and the latest autumn and winter handbags and scarves.

She also had to prepare the birthday feast.

If the celebration was outside, Sang Wan had to find a private restaurant that was both elegant and understated yet luxurious enough to display their status, then send the options to Su Baohui for her to choose.

On the birthday itself, Sang Wan would start taking photos as soon as Su Baohui stepped out of the car and walked into the restaurant.

She would capture the refined garden scenery, the lavish banquet hall, every dish served, and the happy family portrait of Su Baohui holding Lu Xiao’mu, flanked by her son and daughter.

Then she would send the photos to Su Baohui so she could post them on her social media.

If the celebration was at home, Sang Wan would book a Michelin chef and team, arriving early at the villa to prepare the feast.

The photo session was just as indispensable.

From start to finish, Lu Jin’nian only needed to make one phone call.

But Sang Wan would be busy from the day she reminded Lu Jin’nian until Su Baohui’s birthday was over, and the carefully curated social media posts were all sent out.

Even so, Sang Wan never received a single word of praise.

She wasn’t even included in the family portraits.

This had always been the case in previous years.

But this year, after her illness and now with the divorce, Sang Wan wasn’t about to remind Lu Jin’nian or arrange any of it.

Her voice was cold and clear. “Lu Jin’nian, we’re already divorced.”

“Sang Wan!!”

Lu Jin’nian was clearly furious. “You haven’t collected the divorce certificate yet. You’re still Mrs. Lu. You still have obligations as a daughter-in-law! Or is it… you never intended to divorce, and you’re just using this tactic to force me to come pick you up?”

Sang Wan sighed, speechless. “You’re overthinking it.”

“In that case, fulfill your duty!”

Lu Jin’nian’s voice deepened. “Where are you? I’ll send a driver to pick you up.”

“No need. I’ll come over tomorrow at noon.”

With that, Sang Wan hung up.

She clicked into the job search website, browsed for any newly posted openings, and sent out another round of applications.

Ding!

A WeChat message popped up on her phone, from Lu Zhi’yi.

“Sang Wan, tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. Which restaurant did you book?”

Staring at that form of address in the chat box, Sang Wan’s gaze lingered.

She had been married to Lu Jin’nian for six years.

In all that time, it seemed Lu Zhi’yi had never called her ‘sister-in-law.’

Always, before others and behind their backs, she addressed her by name.

She used to think nothing of it, but now it struck her—was she simply oblivious, or should she pity herself for being so wretched all those years?

Su Baohui hated her.

Lu Zhi’yi didn’t like her either.

Had she survived these years because Lu Jin’nian once loved her enough?

Or was she just foolish, deceiving herself?

Sang Wan didn’t know.

Nor did she care to know anymore.

She went into WeChat and replied to Lu Zhi’yi, “I don’t know.”

The next second, her phone rang sharply.

She answered, and Lu Zhi’yi’s voice was as willful and arrogant as ever. “Sang Wan, what are you playing at? My mom’s birthday is tomorrow and you haven’t booked the restaurant yet?”

“She’s your mom, isn’t she? Why should I be the one arranging it every year?”

There was silence.

Lu Zhi’yi clearly hadn’t expected Sang Wan, usually so mild-mannered, to sound as though she’d swallowed dynamite today.

Stunned for a moment, Lu Zhi’yi raised her volume. “Sang Wan, don’t be so ungrateful! My mom is your mother-in-law. If you, as her daughter-in-law, don’t organize her birthday, who will?”

“Daughter-in-law? Ha…”

Sang Wan let out a cold laugh. “I’m just an outsider. I don’t think being grateful applies to me. Besides, I’ve already told your brother about the divorce. We’ll finalize it soon. Tomorrow, how and where your mom’s birthday is celebrated—work it out with your brother. It has nothing to do with me!”

She hung up decisively.

Sang Wan went into her contacts and added Lu Zhi’yi’s WeChat and phone number to the blacklist.

Lu Zhi’yi, shopping in the mall, was furious.

She tried calling back, but only got a busy signal.

Realizing Sang Wan had blocked her, Lu Zhi’yi immediately called Lu Jin’nian. “Brother, did Sang Wan lose her mind? The restaurant for Mom’s birthday hasn’t been arranged yet, and she’s talking about divorcing you. Did you two… have a fight?”

“No.”

Lu Jin’nian denied it flatly. “She’s just throwing a tantrum. Ignore her… Tomorrow, we’ll celebrate at home. I’ve already asked Yang Yan to contact the chef.”

Thinking of Sang Wan’s confident tone on the phone, Lu Zhi’yi asked, “Are you two really getting divorced?”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

Lu Jin’nian retorted, a cold smile on his lips. “If she’s divorced, what would she do?”

That was true.

Divorced, she’d lose the privilege of being Mrs. Lu.

Given Sang Wan’s situation, she probably couldn’t even support herself.

And there was Lu Xiao’mu.

That child she carried for ten months—could Sang Wan really bear to part with her?

“She really thinks she’s grown a backbone,” Lu Zhi’yi sneered.

Lu Jin’nian instructed, “Enough. Go keep Mom company early tomorrow… And about the divorce, don’t mention it to Mom. It won’t happen anyway, no need for her to worry.”

After hanging up, Lu Jin’nian transferred one million yuan to Sang Wan. “Go out this afternoon and pick a gift for Mom.”

After washing up, Sang Wan picked up her phone and saw Lu Jin’nian’s transfer.

She couldn’t help but curve her lips in a bitter smile.

She’d worked at the Lu Corporation for a year, nine to five, and even with a year-end bonus, it was only a mere hundred thousand.

Yet for Su Baohui’s birthday, Lu Jin’nian could send over a million without blinking.

A leaf hides the eye, but at least there’s a leaf.

She didn’t even need that leaf—she could deceive herself round and round.

Too foolish in the past.

Now, at last, she saw things clearly.

Birthday?

Let whoever wants to organize it organize it!

Gift?

Let whoever wants to buy it buy it!

Love whoever you want!

She wasn’t serving them anymore!

She rejected his transfer.

She didn’t even reply to his message.

Sang Wan tucked her phone away and headed to the mall.

She finally got the manicure she’d always wanted but never had time for.

Bought several new outfits, even picked two for Xu Yi’yi.

At dusk, Sang Wan enjoyed some street snacks, then returned to the hotel with bags full of her purchases.

In the back seat of the Mercedes parked at the hotel entrance, Lu Jin’nian’s gaze was mocking, his lips involuntarily curling.

He knew it!

She claimed the divorce and her mother-in-law’s birthday had nothing to do with her.

But what now?

She’d still bought a pile of gifts to please her.

Her mouth said no, but her actions said yes.

Originally, he’d come ready to quarrel, angry that Sang Wan would rather stay at a hotel than come home.

But at this moment, most of his anger dissipated.

Since Sang Wan was intent on creating a surprise,

He’d give her that opportunity.

Lu Jin’nian looked up at the driver. “Let’s go…”