Volume One, Chapter 47: What Is He So Troubled About?

Sang Wan’s weekend was filled with purpose.

On Saturday, she indulged in a rare lie-in. When she finally opened her eyes, she could still hear Granny Wan downstairs in the courtyard, beating dust from the bedding.

Sang Wan pushed open the window.

Granny Wan looked up at her with a cheerful squint, “Xiao Sang, the weather’s lovely today. You should take your quilts and pillows up to the roof to air them out…”

“Alright!” Sang Wan replied, still bleary-eyed, hugging her bedding as she made her way upstairs.

Somewhere, someone was keeping pigeons, and a flock of white doves swept overhead, tracing graceful arcs across the impossibly blue sky.

The weather was almost absurdly perfect.

At noon, she had lunch with Lin Qiyue. Over the meal, she learned about the relationship between Lin Qiyue and Lin Chaochao.

Once again, Sang Wan was certain—the two of them were not at all alike.

She had just bid Lin Qiyue goodbye and stepped out of the elevator when she received a call from Xu Yiyi.

Xu Yiyi’s voice was mysterious, “Come to Imperial University. I’ll be waiting for you at the subway entrance.”

No matter how Sang Wan pressed her, Xu Yiyi only repeated, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

After two subway transfers, Sang Wan emerged from the station and spotted Xu Yiyi at once.

Xu Yiyi was beaming, “Guess what wonderful thing has happened to the two of us?”

Did they win five million in the lottery?

But Xu Yiyi never played, insisting she wasn’t that lucky.

Did she receive a promotion?

But that had nothing to do with Sang Wan.

Her gaze flickered over Xu Yiyi’s sparkling eyes, and Sang Wan ventured, “Did the department assign you a new apartment?”

!!!

The surprise turned to exasperation. Xu Yiyi grumbled, “You’re too sharp! It’s a crime you’re not making a fortune as a fortune-teller!”

With no connections or background, Xu Yiyi had gotten to where she was purely on merit.

Most of her colleagues of the same age had already become associate professors or even full professors years ago. Only she remained a lecturer, squeezed into a “pigeon coop” of a single teachers’ dormitory with the newly hired female teachers.

“Thanks to you, our distinguished graduate and successful entrepreneur, Mr. Lou, happened to glance my way in the crowd…”

Linking arms with Sang Wan as they walked to the new place, Xu Yiyi laughed, “And just like that, I ascended to the heavens.”

Wasn’t it just too much of a coincidence?

Those five glowing words shone clear in Xu Yiyi’s eyes, with an extra-large, bold, and flashing question mark.

Sang Wan recalled the news alert on her phone: Lou Ye had appeared at Imperial University and, as in previous years, donated two hundred million to the university’s research lab.

Sang Wan was skeptical. “It’s just a coincidence…”

Heh.

Xu Yiyi pushed open the door, “Do you believe that?”

A two-bedroom, one living room staff apartment.

A benefit reserved for professors.

But she was still only a lecturer.

“Director Feng from the logistics department came to see me himself. He said it wasn’t until someone reported it and Auntie Wang checked the rooms that he realized I’ve been living in the single dorm for six years. All his oversight.”

“My title isn’t high enough, but my seniority sure is…” Xu Yiyi continued with exaggerated flair, “And, as luck would have it, all the one-bedroom apartments are full. Only two- and three-bedrooms remain, so they gave me a two-bedroom. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll stop being single. Planning ahead, you see!”

“Darling!” Xu Yiyi threw Sang Wan a flirtatious wink, “A woman’s intuition tells me I’ll definitely make associate professor this year!”

Sang Wan: …

Xu Yiyi rambled on, “When I do get my promotion, I swear I’ll splash out and treat you to a top-notch gigolo, just to prove girlfriends are a thousand times more reliable than men!”

First of all, Sang Wan had already known that for a long time.

Secondly, what on earth did proving girlfriend reliability have to do with gigolos?!

Sang Wan couldn’t help but laugh.

The single dormitory wasn’t far from the staff family housing. Xu Yiyi didn’t have much to move. She’d gotten the keys at noon yesterday and cleaned up before moving in.

By evening, the inaugural meal in her new home began with the cheerful clatter of pots and pans as the two of them cooked together.

By the time Sang Wan returned to her attic, it was already the following evening.

Perhaps because she had slept so late in the morning, she felt fully rested—or maybe it was the thoughts weighing on her mind that kept her awake.

She gazed at the faint glow of fireflies on the vines outside her window, her thoughts a chaotic tangle, and she didn’t even realize when she finally drifted off.

Her sleep was dreamless.

At the sound of her alarm, Sang Wan opened her eyes, suddenly wide awake.

…

In the president’s office at Lu Corporation, Lu Jinnian stared out at the blue sky and drifting clouds, an inexplicable frustration churning inside him.

He couldn’t even say what exactly was bothering him.

The company was progressing steadily.

Life couldn’t be smoother.

But somewhere along the way, problems began piling up, each more vexing than the last.

At this moment, his agitation reached its peak.

Looking down at the flow of cars along the city’s main thoroughfares, he forced himself to calm down bit by bit.

Lu Jinnian remembered now.

It all started when Sang Wan asked for a divorce.

Even during her illness, both the company and home had run like clockwork.

But Sang Wan wasn’t satisfied; she started stirring up trouble as soon as she got home.

First, she’d created a scene in front of friends and family at his mother’s birthday banquet.

Then she’d shown up at the kindergarten, causing gossip about him, Chaochao, and their son.

Most infuriating of all, she’d actually taken a job at the Lou Corporation.

Using her position there, she’d gotten Gu Qian to go after Su Baohui.

One thing after another.

None of it was like the gentle, virtuous woman she used to be.

Lu Jinnian despised the feeling that things were slipping out of his control.

Two conflicting voices echoed in his mind.

One was harsh and ruthless: All she has to threaten you with is this marriage! It’s her only bargaining chip! Since she’s pushing you, just give her what she wants—let’s see how she handles the consequences!

The other was more restrained: What’s the point? In the end, won’t the Lu Corporation suffer? For the sake of the company and the bigger picture, be the bigger man—take a step back and all will be well!

He could focus on his work.

She could resume the role of the perfect wife and mother.

He’d handle matters outside, she’d manage things at home—the company would thrive and the family would be harmonious. Wasn’t that ideal?

Besides, nothing had ever happened between him and Lin Chaochao.

Even if it had, in this grand and powerful capital, with all these directors and presidents, who wasn’t more of a philanderer than he?

He hadn’t cheated, hadn’t kept a mistress.

He’d merely been a little ambiguous with Lin Chaochao—what was so intolerable about that?

“Have the driver pick up Madam at the alley entrance in ten minutes.”

Yang Yan knocked and entered. Lu Jinnian seemed to have finally made up his mind. “She loves the morning tea at Hibiscus Garden—book a table and have the driver take her there.”

Yang Yan looked up.

Just then, Lu Jinnian’s phone rang.

Seeing Sang Wan’s name on the screen, a flicker of delight passed through Lu Jinnian’s eyes.

He knew it.

It would always be like this!

Except for the years he’d pursued her and the two years after their confession, he’d been the one doing the coaxing.

After that, it was always she who made amends.

Knowing how picky he was, she’d cook his favorite dishes even when heavily pregnant.

Knowing about his stomach troubles, she’d keep his medicine within reach by the bed.

Year after year, every quarrel.

Every silent standoff.

It was always she who apologized first, or offered a way to reconcile.

This time would be no different!

The anger that had been festering in his chest for months began to melt away.

Lu Jinnian answered the call, “Wanwan…”

His face darkened instantly.