Volume One, Chapter 56: Former Lover or First Love

Sang Wan returned to the office at ten o’clock.

She had barely taken her seat, not yet turned on her computer, when Xiao Bai leaned over to relay a message, “The president’s office just called. They want you upstairs.”

Sang Wan took a sip of water and hurried upstairs.

Knock, knock!

“Come in!”

She pushed the door open and looked toward Lou Ye behind his desk. “President Lou, did you need something?”

Lou Ye glanced up, pausing for a moment.

She had called him earlier.

Now, she was asking if he needed her for something?

“Oh, about the design proposal for Plot No. 3…” He gestured for her to sit, then continued, “The project team started preparing several proposals for that plot before you arrived. I think your idea for a science museum is excellent. Put some effort into it, draft the design drawings, and when the project team meets, we’ll include your design for discussion.”

“Alright!” Sang Wan’s excitement was palpable—she had never dreamed of being given such an opportunity so soon after joining the company. “Thank you, President Lou!”

Lou Ye’s gaze lingered.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Sang Wan today.

Her mood seemed particularly bright.

Was it because she’d finally gotten divorced?

But she’d been calm about it in recent days; it didn’t make sense for her reaction to be so delayed.

Or was it because of the design?

His instincts told him this wasn’t the reason.

By the time evening rolled around and the workday ended, Lou Ye understood.

The sun was setting, and the golden light of dusk bathed a young man in a white shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, making him seem gilded in brilliance.

Sang Wan, her smile radiant as a flower, seemed unable to contain herself. She ran forward, calling out, “Fan!”

They looked as if they’d known each other for a long time.

An old flame?

Impossible!

When Lou Ye met her, she was already paired off with Lu Jinnian. And after she got married, she kept her distance from him and all other men.

There was no old lover.

Which meant this man must have come before Lu Jinnian.

Her first love?

Having just rid herself of a former husband, now a first love appeared?

Lou Ye felt an ache in his teeth.

His phone rang insistently as he watched Sang Wan climb into Ke Yifan’s car in the parking lot. Without taking his eyes off them, he answered, “Hello?”

“Brother…”

The Lu Corporation stocks that Jiang Huai had sold off that morning had made him a tidy profit—enough to live extravagantly for quite some time.

Jiang Huai’s voice was excited, “I’m inviting you to dinner at Lakeview Pavilion!”

“Not going.”

“Come on, brother… If you don’t, you’re sure to regret it, trust me!”

“I don’t.”

“…Your sister-in-law made a reservation for two. If she didn’t invite you, it must mean she’s meeting someone else. Your little brother has already given you the inside scoop. If you don’t come—”

“I’m coming!”

He didn’t utter the word “regret.”

He caught the steely determination in Lou Ye’s reply.

Jiang Huai hung up, satisfied, and instructed the host to leave the private room next to Sang Wan’s empty.

The brothers arrived one after the other.

When Lou Ye walked in, his expression was anything but pleasant. “How did you know she booked here?”

Lakeview Pavilion was Jiang Huai’s private restaurant.

The prices were high.

The atmosphere was superb.

It was always fully booked since opening; only regulars could get a table.

Jiang Huai grinned slyly, “Sister-in-law said she’d treat me to dinner, so I suggested several restaurants we frequent. At noon, the manager called to say a Miss Sang had made a reservation—so I guessed it was her.”

As he finished speaking, the staff’s polite voice sounded outside the door, “This way, gentlemen…”

Beyond the bamboo curtain, Sang Wan led, the man followed.

Lou Ye recognized Sang Wan’s shoes at a glance.

His gaze darkened.

“Fan, this is my first time at this restaurant, so I’m not sure if the food suits your taste.”

Through a screen, Sang Wan’s voice was gentle.

The man entering behind her had a steady tone, “In a place where every inch is precious, and the atmosphere is this good, the food can’t be bad!”

“Xiao Wan, after all these years, you haven’t changed much since school.”

“Really? I feel like I’ve aged a lot.”

“Aged? Ha…” The man laughed softly. “If you’re old, then I must be an old man already.”

Xiao Wan.

Old man!

They were certainly old acquaintances.

Lou Ye’s expression grew worse.

He shot Jiang Huai a glare and got up to leave.

“Brother…”

Jiang Huai hurried after him.

In the neighboring private room, Ke Yifan poured a cup of tea and handed it to Sang Wan. “Xiao Wan, do you remember what I promised you back then?”

“What?” Sang Wan was startled.

Ke Yifan spoke quietly, “I said that once you received your admission letter from Imperial University, I’d come back to congratulate you in person. Do you know why I never sought you out?”

Sang Wan remained silent.

Ke Yifan gave a bitter smile, “Actually, I did return. But at that time, someone was already by your side…”

“Fan!” Sang Wan interrupted, gripping her cup tightly. “Let’s not talk about the past, okay?”

“Alright, we won’t.” Ke Yifan’s face was full of apology.

Sang Wan spoke softly, “Fan, among all the students my mother taught, you were the most accomplished. As a child, I often fantasized how wonderful it would be if you were really my brother. When I grew up, I realized, just as Mom always said, you were the model child—truly blessed.”

In the vast Imperial City, apart from her mother and Xu Yiyi, Sang Wan had no other family.

Ke Yifan had been her childhood Fan.

Now, he had even saved her life.

But that was all.

“Fan, tonight’s dinner is my way of welcoming you back and thanking you for saving me.”

She raised her glass of water, her smile bright. “Let’s toast with tea instead of wine—welcome home! When you have time, I’ll invite you and your wife for a meal.”

Bitterness welled in Ke Yifan’s heart.

He had returned once, years ago.

But by then, Sang Wan was already with Lu Jinnian.

He was handsome and she was radiant—a perfect pair.

Ke Yifan could only nurse his wounded heart, return to Shanghai, and hope someday he’d have another chance.

He never imagined Sang Wan and Lu Jinnian would go from school uniforms to wedding gowns, finally tying the knot.

Over the years, he’d had so many chances to return to the capital, but whenever he thought of Sang Wan, he hesitated.

His heart was entirely devoted to his patients.

He never expected the next news of her to come from an emergency transfer order from the hospital.

It was two and a half hours from Shanghai to the capital; he had prayed countless times that it was just a coincidence of name.

But it was really her.

And now, with one word—wife—Sang Wan had clearly rejected him.

By the time dinner ended, it was almost eight.

Sang Wan called for the bill, but Ke Yifan stopped her with a smile, “You’ve called me ‘brother,’ how can I let you pay?”

“That won’t do. One thing has nothing to do with another!” Sang Wan refused.

The server entered, bowing respectfully. “Miss Sang, your bill has already been settled.”

Already paid?

Sang Wan was bewildered. “By whom?”

“Master Jiang.”

“Jiang Huai?”

“Yes.”

Sang Wan: …

She had promised to treat Jiang Huai to lunch on Saturday, but Saturday hadn’t come yet—and he’d already paid for tonight’s dinner.

As they walked out, Sang Wan called Jiang Huai.

“Big sister…”

The greeting came from both her phone and nearby.

Sang Wan looked up and saw Jiang Huai standing beneath a corridor pillar.