Volume One, Chapter 51: You... It's Not Your First Time?

"Of course." Lou Ye replied lazily, "Wasn't I obvious enough?"

There was a moment of silence from Qin Baichuan on the other end. "Alright, I got it!"

Beep.

Beep beep.

Lou Ye paused, took the phone away, and confirmed once again that the other party had hung up without asking anything.

He had been prepared for someone to ask if he'd lost his mind.

He was ready with answers in case anyone tried to persuade him with family backgrounds or all sorts of nonsense about incompatibility.

But there was nothing.

It was as if... as long as he was determined, as long as he had made up his mind, that was enough!

Quietly gazing out into the dark night beyond the window, Lou Ye curled his lips in a smile.

He picked up his phone again and replied to Sang Wan's message.

[Yes, I think they're nice people too!]

Sang Wan was a bit overwhelmed.

Lou Ye was replying to her.

Xu Yiyi was complaining about another interminable meeting in the department, and about a persistent suitor she couldn't shake off.

Lin Qiyue asked what marriage felt like, and interviewed her about her feelings on the first day of being divorced.

And then there was Jiang Huai.

She had merely mentioned she was free after work on weekdays, and weekends too, depending on his schedule.

Jiang Huai sent over his itinerary for nearly half a month. [Sis, I'm free during any time that's not circled. Oh, and take out Friday dinner every week—I have to go back to the old house to fulfill my filial duties.]

Sang Wan: ...

She really wanted to ask Lou Ye whether this Young Master Jiang was always so familiar with everyone, or if he was simply experiencing a new side of life after being accidentally targeted by 2S.

Was he secretly plotting something mischievous? Was there some scheme in the works?

Thinking it over, she went ahead and asked.

Lou Ye replied quickly, [He’s just an idiot! Nothing wrong with him except that. If you feel like talking, talk. If not, just leave him alone. It’s fine.]

[Got it.]

After replying, Sang Wan arranged to have lunch with Jiang Huai next Saturday.

She also reminded him, [Don’t forget to collect your red envelope, don’t forget your vaccine!]

Jiang Huai agreed.

But more than an hour passed, and even after Sang Wan finished her nightly routine, he still hadn’t accepted her transfer.

Exiting the chat, Sang Wan stared blankly for quite some time.

On nights before, ever since she started coaxing someone to sleep, her phone was always on silent.

Because she stayed home all the time, she had no friends, no colleagues, her phone was as quiet as a decorative piece.

If it rang during the day, it was either the property manager or a food delivery.

And then there were all sorts of alarms.

But today, with WeChat notifications endlessly chiming, and over an hour gone in conversation, it was almost unprecedented.

Truly, a woman needs to work.

She put her phone aside, still wide awake.

Turning off the main lights and switching on a small orange lamp, Sang Wan pulled a large sheet of white paper from her drawer, took out her toolkit, and leaned over her desk to write and sketch.

Night breezes drifted in, stirring the wisps of hair on her forehead.

Her calm eyes shone like stars.

...

On the large bed in the Lu family villa, Lin Chaochao was a little nervous.

From joining the Lu Corporation’s secretarial department to being noticed by Lu Jinnian, it had taken her more than half a year.

Her best friend had advised her to give up, saying that the rich men in the capital’s elite families were shrewd, and marriage was always about interests.

Sang Wan had been with Lu Jinnian since their university days. Even if love faded, Lu Jinnian would still give Sang Wan basic respect, letting her be Mrs. Lu for a lifetime.

Love had become kinship, forming the strongest, most unbreakable wall.

Even if Lin Chaochao rose in status, she’d only end up as someone kept, better off finding another target.

Better than ending up with nothing.

When Sang Wan gave a kidney to Lu Jinnian, even Lin Chaochao herself began to waver.

She hadn’t expected such a turn.

The sound of rushing water stopped, and thinking about what was about to happen, Lin Chaochao’s heart raced wildly.

After tonight, she would have her rightful place!

From tomorrow, she could appear in the secretarial department arm-in-arm with Lu Jinnian.

Yang Yan, whose eyes were always on top of her head, would never dare order her around again.

No one else would dare gossip either.

By the weekend, she’d bring Lu Jinnian back to her family and slap Lin Qiyue’s face hard.

She’d show her parents that even coming from a small city, with no prestigious university, no big-company experience, she could still rely on herself to become someone important!

Buzz!

The bathroom door slid open, and Lin Chaochao quickly shut her eyes.

“Chaochao, don’t be afraid...”

He could feel the girl trembling slightly, and Lu Jinnian felt an inexplicable satisfaction.

Had he known Sang Wan misunderstood him so deeply, so wrongly, he might as well have made it happen sooner.

Why wait so long for her sake?

And she never appreciated it.

Tonight’s dinner was a feast with Lin Chaochao.

The sky restaurant atop the Imperial View Tower.

Outside the window was the most beautiful night view of the capital.

In front of him was Lin Chaochao, smiling like a flower.

All of it was supposed to belong to Sang Wan.

She didn’t cherish it!

“Jinnian... Jinnian...”

Her whimpers grew.

Blood began to boil.

Lu Jinnian coaxed gently, like the most patient hunter in the world.

When it was all over, Lu Jinnian got up and went to the bathroom.

Lin Chaochao was stunned.

He had been wild just moments ago.

Now he was cold and indifferent.

Lin Chaochao almost thought something was wrong.

But clearly nothing was.

So then...

Thinking of how busy he’d been all day—rushing to the civil affairs bureau early for a divorce, meeting partners in the morning, several meetings in the afternoon.

He’d taken her shopping in the evening, then to a candlelit dinner.

And just now...

He must be exhausted!

Besides, this was home.

Their home, and they could do as they pleased.

Wild if they wanted, cold if they wanted.

Wasn’t that what home meant?

She and he had a long future ahead!

In just a moment, Lin Chaochao had soothed herself.

When the water stopped, she got up, picked up her nightgown, and put it on.

The door opened, one in, one out.

“Chaochao...”

As she passed, Lu Jinnian raised a hand against the door, glanced at her, “You... weren’t a virgin?”

Lin Chaochao’s gaze momentarily froze.

Lu Jinnian already knew the answer.

He withdrew his hand, the door closed.

Lu Jinnian turned away, silent.

The dark bedroom was filled with a heady scent.

Before him were Lin Chaochao’s anxious eyes.

In his mind was Sang Wan’s trembling voice, teary and broken, “Jin... Jinnian...”

That had been Sang Wan’s first time.

And his first time.

Back then, he and Sang Wan had only each other.

Su Baohui did not approve of him marrying Sang Wan, forbade him from working at the family company, even cut off his credit card.

He wasn’t even allowed to acknowledge his Lu family identity publicly.

But love was enough.

That night, Sang Wan was in pain, her whole body trembling.

Yet her tearful eyes shone brightly, like the stars outside the window.

Even dinner that day was just an ordinary takeaway meal.

But that night, he and Sang Wan had felt incomparable happiness.

Tonight, with Lin Chaochao, he looked down on the capital’s most beautiful night view, dined on the most lavish and romantic candlelit meal.

A sudden pain pricked his chest.

As if a needle had pierced it.

Lu Jinnian couldn’t understand.

They had loved each other so much.

How had it come to this?

The water stopped, Lu Jinnian turned, closed his eyes.

When Lin Chaochao returned to the bed, Lu Jinnian had his back to her.

Thinking about his question just now.

In the darkness, watching his silhouette.

Lin Chaochao’s eyes reddened with grievance.