Volume One, Chapter 8: Worthy of the Emperor Himself

In terms of appearance, Sang Wan was the radiant belle of the campus, while Lou Ye was the aloof campus heartthrob; either could have easily helmed the Beauty Association. Yet, by the time Lou Ye earned his title, Sang Wan’s glory as the campus belle had already faded. The reigning belle alongside Lou Ye that year was a Foreign Languages major, a girl with fair skin, striking beauty, and impossibly long legs.

When it came to grades, Sang Wan was the top student in the Architecture department, but Lou Ye claimed first place as well, boasting, it was rumored, a golden résumé from an overseas architecture academy. As for family background, the Sang family... best not discussed. Marrying Lu Jinnian was already considered Sang Wan aiming high; the Lou family was on another level altogether.

But love isn’t a marketplace where you weigh every condition to see if they match.

“I don’t care...” Xu Yiyi threw her arms around Sang Wan, patting her back. “In my heart, you’re the best—you’re worthy of the king of heaven himself!”

Sang Wan was moved to tears. “So, are you willing to take me in?”

Xu Yiyi: !!!

With feelings like this, there’s no room for melodrama.

Xu Yiyi’s faculty dorm was a one-bedroom apartment, with a bed just wide enough for two. After their showers, they lay there past ten o’clock. In the darkness, Xu Yiyi held Sang Wan’s arm and sighed softly, “It feels like I’ve gone back to those days. It’s wonderful...”

Back then, Sang Wan was the cool, breathtaking campus belle and top scholar. Xu Yiyi was the duckling from the countryside, making everyone in the lecture hall laugh with her accented English. One shone brilliantly; the other was earthy to the core.

The boys said she smelled like a pigpen; the girls dismissed her as hopelessly unfashionable. No one paid her any attention—except Sang Wan. Sang Wan didn’t mind her imperfect Mandarin, nor her patched old clothes. Early mornings, they’d go to the pavilion to read English, Sang Wan painstakingly coaching her through every phoneme and word. At night, they’d visit the library, Sang Wan teaching her how to use a computer, how to write applications for poverty grants and work-study programs.

Her first-ever mobile phone was bought with money earned from work-study; Sang Wan helped her pick it out on Xianyu. Even the phone card was handled together at the telecom office. Everyone watched, waiting for her to be humiliated, for Sang Wan to step on her and laugh mercilessly. Yet, the expected drama never unfolded.

She watched Sang Wan grow ever more outstanding. And she, step by step, transformed her rustic English into a fluent, polished British accent. After an open lecture, even the school leaders asked if she’d studied abroad in England.

Who would have guessed that, once upon a time, she’d trudged out of a mountain village with a nylon bag striped in red and blue?

She owed most of her success to Sang Wan.

“Darling, out with the old, in with the new...” Drowsy with sleep, Xu Yiyi mumbled, “You’re so wonderful—things can only get better!”

Absolutely!

Although Sang Wan felt lost, unsure how to take that first step, she firmly believed her life would keep improving.

If she’s not afraid of death, what difficulty in this world could defeat her? She was a distinguished graduate of Imperial University’s Architecture department, with a year’s experience at the Lu Corporation. It might not amount to much, and she’d spent six years as a full-time homemaker, but her expectations weren’t high—finding work as an assistant architect shouldn’t be too difficult. Even if the salary was low, it would at least support her.

First, find a job.

Then, rent an apartment.

Day by day, things would get better.

With a rough direction in mind, Sang Wan tucked Xu Yiyi in, turned over, and closed her eyes.

Buzz.

Her phone vibrated beneath the pillow.

Sang Wan took it out, just in time to see a message from Lou Ye.

[Senior, thank you for your gift!]

She stared at the message for several seconds, torn between replying and not replying. In the end, she succumbed to the power of 19,999.

Cufflinks at that price probably didn’t even deserve a spot in Lou Ye’s wardrobe. Not to mention, he’d already canceled his engagement. And the receipt was in her hands. If he refused, she could return them—the clerk might agree. You never know.

Glancing at the sleeping Xu Yiyi, Sang Wan dimmed her phone screen and replied to Lou Ye.

[I saw the news. You called off your engagement?]

[Yes.]

Yes? What did that mean?

Unable to shamelessly ask for the gift back, Sang Wan tried to be as tactful as possible: [Next time you get engaged, I’ll send you another gift!]

She’d spelled it out—surely he’d understand?

Her phone lit up.

Lou Ye messaged again.

[I really like the gift. Thank you, Senior! I’ll treat you to dinner sometime.]

???

So he accepted it?

The screen brightened, then dimmed, until it finally went dark. Only then did Sang Wan come back to herself. Her heart ached, and she regretted her choice. If only she’d picked a less expensive gift at lunch! Serves her right—trying to impress others beyond her means!

Seething, Sang Wan drifted into a deep sleep.

Having waited a long time for Sang Wan’s reply, when someone leaned over to check his phone, Lou Ye quickly pressed it off and stood up. “You guys have fun, I’m leaving!”

“Come on, Lou, you just got here!”

“This party’s in your honor—celebrating your return to singlehood. How can the main guest leave?”

“Are you off to meet someone special?”

“Bro, what kind of beauty made you cancel your engagement to Miss Shao? Bring her out someday so we can greet our future sister-in-law!”

“Get lost!”

Their laughter faded behind the closed doors as Lou Ye cursed and turned away. He hadn’t gone far when he stopped abruptly, glancing back to see Lu Jinnian in the private room, surrounded by friends.

“Bro, is your wife really going to divorce you?”

“Divorce? Ha...” Lou Jinnian leaned back on the sofa, unconcerned. “It’s just because I’ve been busy lately and haven’t paid much attention to her... Women, what can you expect?”

No job, no house. Having lived as Mrs. Lu in comfort for years, Sang Wan was completely out of touch with society. Without him, what could she do?

“Just wait and see…” He swirled his glass, watching the deep brown whisky. “When she’s spent what little money she has, she’ll come back obediently.”

“You can’t spoil women!”

“Exactly… She’s had it easy, living a pampered life at home. Why stir things up?”

“I bet it won’t take three days before she comes crawling back. After so many years as Mrs. Lu, she can’t handle the hardships out there…”

“And there’s the child, too…”

Infuriated, Lou Ye gripped the door handle, overhearing someone mention Lu Xiaomu. His anger paused.

He thought of Lu Xiaomu.

He thought of the cooling-off period.

Suddenly, he let go and headed for the bar. “Send two bottles of Lafite to Room 4… And add forty percent to their bill tonight.”

The Ferrari roared as Lou Ye strode into his office, spotting the palm-sized black gift box on the desk. The obsidian cufflinks inside glowed with a deep, enchanting light under the lamp.

Lou Ye’s expression softened.

In his ears, Lu Jinnian’s words echoed: “She’ll come back obediently.”

In his mind, Sang Wan’s gentle figure choosing a gift lingered.

Lou Ye dialed, “Send an invitation for the East City land bidding to the Lu Corporation—have Director Qin deliver it personally.”