Chapter 42: If We Cannot Part as Friends, Let Us At Least Part Without Regret

Lin Zhouye had left.

Lin Wanbai returned inside. Han Chen stood nearby, concern in his gaze, yet he didn't ask a single question. He was smart and tactful, fully aware of what she was up to. As an accessory, he had no right to probe. All he needed to do was stay by her side and play his part well.

Thus, in their daily life, apart from looking after her, he never spoke more than necessary. Such people made Lin Wanbai feel at ease; after all, everyone appreciated those who understood without words.

She settled back into her seat, grabbed a throw pillow to hug, and said, "That was my uncle, making a fuss over nothing."

Han Chen nodded. "Fu Juxing called you just now."

With that, he went to the kitchen to fetch her some fruit.

Lin Wanbai picked up her phone and glanced at it—both WeChat and regular calls. The WeChat messages were ordinary, greetings and reminders, as if he was still unaware of the situation. These days, she hadn't quarreled with him; barring emergencies, she would always pick up his calls.

They would chat a bit, recounting the day, all endless lies.

She called him back, and he picked up quickly.

"I was just taking a shower. Are you done with work?"

"Yeah, I'll be back in about three days. If there's anything you want, I can get it for you."

She thought for a moment. "Nothing comes to mind for now."

"I'll figure something out myself, then."

"Actually, you don't have to. I don't lack anything. There's no need to rush back either—your work is important. I know you're in a crucial period now, bound to be very busy. I've thought it over, I'm planning to learn the guzheng. I originally wanted to pursue a career, but couldn't decide what exactly—too many ideas crowding in, and I ended up doing nothing. Just the other day, I saw someone playing the guzheng on TV, so elegant, and I immediately decided that's what's right for me. There's no end to learning, after all."

She spoke at length, her tone gentle. Han Chen washed the grapes and placed them on a chair by her side.

She smiled at him—a silent thank you.

Han Chen sat with her for a while, then got up and went to the study.

Lin Wanbai chatted with Fu Juxing about the guzheng for quite some time. He responded well, and though the conversation was a bit stiff, it kept going.

After a sip of water, she paused and asked, "What about you? How are things over there? What did you do today?"

"Nothing besides work." His life had always been dull, seemingly devoid of entertainment; it was either work or resting in the hotel.

"You didn't go out for a drink, relax a little?"

"They went, but I didn't want to."

"Why? Don't push yourself so hard. You need to relax too. You should have confidence in your abilities—work and rest in balance."

"I know."

After that, both were silent for a while. Lin Wanbai spoke first, "You should rest early. I need to sleep too."

"Where are you staying these days?"

They almost spoke at the same time.

Lin Wanbai had forgotten—there was still Aunt Rong at home, Fu Juxing's trusted aide. She hadn't gone home lately, and Aunt Rong would certainly report to him. So, for him not to have noticed or be unaware was impossible.

He knew, had known all along, yet never questioned her, acting as if nothing had happened. She had thought he wouldn't ask at all.

Lin Wanbai smiled, "I'm in Pujiang, staying with my mom."

She lied deliberately.

There was a pause on the other end before he spoke, his tone calm, "Well, then I can rest assured."

"Yes, you just focus on your work in Harbor City. You don't need to worry about me. I'll fully support your career, be the woman behind a successful man. You must work hard—don't keep me waiting too long."

"Mm-hmm."

"Good night, then."

"Good night."

After hanging up, Lin Wanbai's ears were burning. She checked—nearly half an hour had passed. Quite a long call.

She put down her phone and began to eat grapes. They were especially sweet, but after a few she felt cloyed and washed them down with water.

Seeing the time, she prepared for bed.

After tidying up, she went to the study door, knocked, and peeked in. "I'm going to sleep now."

"Go ahead. I'll read a bit longer."

"Good night."

"Good night."

She backed out, closed the door for him, and returned to her room to rest.

For the next two days, Lin Wanbai was still as brazen as ever. This time, she didn't even bother with her disguise, taking off those black-rimmed glasses and openly appearing together with Han Chen.

No one said anything to their faces, but plenty of people gossiped about them in private.

Classmates and roommates close to Han Chen began revealing the oddities in his behavior over the past year, speculating that perhaps his family had run into trouble.

Coincidentally, Ji Xiaoxiao had taken leave during this period.

Feng Mei spread the word that she'd taken time off for an abortion.

Although it wasn't explicitly said for whom, Ji Xiaoxiao had a good reputation in the department, and she'd only ever dated Han Chen—whose child could it be if not his?

Many girls, upon hearing this, started calling Han Chen a scumbag. Some who were friendly with Ji Xiaoxiao would curse at Han Chen when passing him in the hallway.

Most were simply cursing him.

There was some talk about Lin Wanbai as well, but less so, because Han Chen would immediately curse back—fiercely.

People tend to bully those who are gentle and fear the aggressive; after a few confrontations, few dared to speak openly.

The matter caused quite a stir in the school, eventually drawing the administration's attention.

The rarely-seen homeroom teacher appeared, summoning Han Chen to the office. Inside, besides the teacher, was the head of the department.

They remained civil, since Han Chen had always been an outstanding student—one of the best on campus. Teachers naturally showed more leniency to exemplary students.

They believed that if he had done anything out of line, there must have been a reason.

The homeroom teacher asked him to sit, still mild in demeanor. "Han Chen, tell us—which of those rumors flying around the school are true, and which are false? Be honest with us. This is already affecting the school's reputation. Have you seen Weibo? There’s a lot of chatter—S University always prided itself on a strict environment, and now people are saying all sorts of things. You're a good student, fairly well-known here. We believe there must be reasons you can't speak of. As long as you tell us the truth, we'll help however we can."

The department head added, "That's right. I know your character. You don't seem the type to do such things. Besides, this concerns your future—you really need to treat this carefully." He paused, then asked, "Did something happen in your family?"

At the start of the year, Han Chen had borrowed money from the department head, looking rather desperate.

The department head trusted him—he asked for fifty thousand, he gave him fifty thousand.

Looking back, something must have happened.

Han Chen thought for a moment, then said, "My family did run into trouble. My parents’ business failed—they owed a lot of money. The two of them ran off together. When I went home for New Year’s, there was no one there, just creditors waiting for me. I can't find my parents, their phones are disconnected, and the creditors have all come after me, forcing me to pay back the debts, but I simply don't have that kind of money. Before leaving, my mother even took all the money I had."

The homeroom teacher slammed the table, indignant. "I knew it—he must have his reasons. Those parents are inhuman, running away and leaving you to fend for yourself. What kind of parents are there in this world!"

Han Chen remained calm; he had already made it through those dark days, and his resentment toward his parents had faded. He simply pretended he no longer had them.

When he was at home, besides handing over money, his parents had shown no affection.

To them, he was mostly a tool for showing off.

The words he heard most often were "must"—must come first, must do this and that.

He wasn't surprised they'd do such a thing. To them, profit was everything; children were just the icing on the cake. When disaster struck, who would care about anything else?

The department head and homeroom teacher both expressed their sympathy.

But after that, business had to be addressed.

The department head cleared his throat. "So what happened next? Those debts—how did you handle them?"

It was a question he already knew the answer to.

Han Chen looked up, meeting the department head’s gaze, and asked in return, "What do you think?"

There was one path that would solve everything fastest—everyone knew it—but it went against morals, against the core values of society. For teachers who believed in truth, kindness, and beauty, it was absolutely unacceptable.

One should rely on oneself; with grit and determination, any problem could be overcome.

That was a beautiful ideal. In reality, no matter how hard you grit your teeth, you can't get past certain hurdles—he had nothing, and he was still just a student. Even if he started working, with such a huge debt, unless he struck it rich overnight, he would never pay it off in this life.

Not to mention the interest was so high, he couldn't even pay that.

The homeroom teacher said quietly, "Even so, you shouldn't have gone that route. You're throwing your life away."

Han Chen smiled faintly. "Teacher, you must be joking. From the moment my parents left, my life was already ruined. Do you think those creditors would wait for me to grow up, little by little, and pay them back? They wouldn't. Even if they did, I doubt I could ever repay them."

"That money was lent to me by Miss Lin—without interest. She said I could pay her back when I have it."

The homeroom teacher’s frown relaxed at once. "So, there was nothing indecent between you two?"

"No."

Both teachers breathed a sigh of relief. "You should've said so earlier. You ought to clarify things publicly. Let that heiress speak up for you as well—she has the power to set things straight."

"I like her."

Their relief was short-lived, smiles freezing. "What did you say?"

"I still want to be with her."

"What? Say that again!"

"I want to be with her," he said, enunciating each word.

The department head slammed the table, about to scold him, but quickly restrained himself, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Fine, that's between you two. But right now, the internet says you're being kept, that you're a gigolo—you're bringing shame to our school, do you realize? We’re a century-old institution, and we've never had such a scandal. You only have one semester left—don't you want to graduate properly?"

As he spoke, the office door was knocked on, then opened from the outside.

Lin Wanbai entered.

She smiled, her gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Hello, teachers."

She was a person of some standing—even if the teachers had reservations about her character and didn't particularly like her, they were polite on the surface. They also wanted to protect their student.

Lin Wanbai closed the door, walked to Han Chen's side. "Why didn’t you tell me you were being called in by the teachers?"

He didn't look at her. "I can handle it."

She turned to the two teachers. "I'm sorry for causing unnecessary trouble for the school. I've already spoken to the principal; I will resolve this and ensure the school's reputation is not tarnished. Han Chen is an excellent person and will be a positive figure for S University. In the near future, he’ll bring honor to the school. So, please—stand by him without reservation."

The department head forced a smile. "You’re a lady of distinguished birth, educated to a higher standard than us teachers—no need for us to lecture you on ethics. Han Chen is an unfortunate young man; you've helped him, which speaks to your generosity and kindness. Since you see him as outstanding and destined for success, please don’t leave an indelible stain on his path."

Han Chen made as if to speak, but Lin Wanbai stopped him.

Still smiling, she was like the head of a family. "I've taken your advice to heart. Since I've chosen to help him, I'll see it through. I'm helping him because I see his potential. Rest assured, I would never let him be ruined by my hand—otherwise, my help would have been for nothing."

With the matter settled and the principal already spoken to, the teachers had nothing more to say.

Finally, the department head patted Han Chen's shoulder. "You're still young, with a long road ahead. Don't lose your head and do something you'll regret. Understand?"

Han Chen looked at him, silent for a moment, then nodded.

After that, the two of them left the administrative building.

Lin Wanbai had driven there herself, in a very ordinary, inconspicuous car—unbefitting her status. She handed the keys to Han Chen. "You drive."

After leaving campus, she got out at the second traffic light.

"Go home on your own, I need to visit my family."

Han Chen nodded, saying nothing, but as she was about to get out, he couldn't help but grab her hand. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She smiled.

He let go immediately.

She got out. Moments later, a black Mercedes pulled up beside her, the door opening from within—she got in, and the car sped off.

With things blown to this extent, there was no way Lin Zhaowei could remain unaware.

Now that he knew, he would certainly step in—he couldn’t just let her have her way.

...

Pujiang.

Lin Zhaowei finished a bowl of tobacco and set down his pipe. Lin Jingyu was there too, flipping through photos online, zooming in for a closer look at the young man. "He’s actually quite good-looking."

Lin Zhaowei shot her a look.

Lin Jingyu didn't need to look to feel his anger. She stuck out her tongue, put her phone down, and smiled. "I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding. Xiaobai isn't the type to do something so outrageous."

"Hmph, indeed. When she does make a move, it’s earth-shattering."

"Maybe she just had a falling out with Fu Juxing? It's not impossible."

"You're just like your daughter! Smart enough most of the time, but lose your head when it comes to men. As her mother, you don't just fail to advise her, you even indulge her. What am I supposed to do with you? What should I say?"

"You two are going to drive me to my grave," Lin Zhaowei fumed.

Lin Jingyu quickly moved closer, patting his back. "Xiaobai isn't even here yet, you’re already so worked up—it’s not worth it. At least wait until you've heard her side. I think she’s smarter than me, but when it comes to feelings, who can say? You wouldn’t understand."

Lin Zhaowei snorted.

"Didn’t I take after mom? Wasn't she just like this with you?"

He was taken aback, waved her away, but couldn’t come up with a retort.

Lin Jingyu giggled. "Actually, Dad, you're a romantic too. Mom’s been gone so many years, and you never remarried—always thinking of her. We inherited your best genes."

Just then, Lin Wanbai arrived.

Lin Jingyu hurried out to greet her, opening the car door as she arrived.

"Remember to watch your words—Grandpa’s angry."

"I know," Lin Wanbai replied, blinking.

Mother and daughter entered the house.

Lin Zhaowei cast a sidelong glance at them, face stern. "Lin Jingyu, go upstairs. I want to talk to Xiaobai alone."

"But I’m her mother—I want to know too!"

"Upstairs!"

His tone brooked no argument. Left with no choice, Lin Jingyu went upstairs.

Only grandfather and granddaughter remained in the living room. Lin Wanbai sat down beside him with a smile. He turned away with a grunt. "If you’re trying to test a man this way, you might as well just get divorced. What you’re doing is hurting yourself, do you understand? Reputation is important. Is it worth ruining yours just to test a man?"

Lin Wanbai straightened up, shook her head seriously, and replied firmly, "It’s not worth it."

Seeing her like this, Lin Zhaowei grew even more annoyed, but also more distressed. Why put herself through this, for a man?

She said, "Thank you for caring. I only did this after thinking it through."

"So you failed this time?"

"Then I’ll get divorced." She didn't hesitate.

This caught him off guard. "Don't just say that to placate me."

"No, I mean it. If after all this I still can't see what I need to, I’ll get divorced. I won't wrong myself."

Her resolve softened his anger somewhat. After watching her a while, he sighed. "Then I’ll wait and see. I hope you remember what you said—don't make excuses for yourself later."

"You really don't trust me?" she said, linking her arm through his and leaning in with a smile.

"What’s the deal with that young lad?"

"What young lad?"

"That student."

Lin Wanbai burst out laughing. "He’s in his twenties at least—how is he a young lad to you?"

"Hmph. Are you not ashamed toying with a student? If word gets out, I’ll lose all face."

"Not at all. I helped him, and it’s only fair he helps me in return. Besides, he’s smart and tactful."

"And just because he is, you can do this?"

She tutted, acting spoiled. "I know my limits."

"Limits? If you knew your limits, why all this trouble? You insist on making things hard for yourself—you just won’t listen to advice. Aren’t you bringing this on yourself?"

She laughed. "No, I don’t feel I’m suffering at all. I’m actually quite happy."

She looked genuinely cheerful. Thinking back, she realized she’d had more happy moments than not. How could she be unhappy after getting exactly what she wanted?

When she'd first married him, every morning she woke up smiling, the first sight of him making her feel as if she were in bloom, grinning uncontrollably. During that time, she smiled so much her face hurt.

That night, Lin Wanbai didn't go home. She called Han Chen to let him know.

An hour after dinner, Lin Jingyu dragged her to the gym for some yoga and a chat.

"When are you going to bring that young man over for dinner with me?"

"Why?"

"Just to see him."

Leaning against the wall, legs crossed on the yoga mat, Lin Wanbai said, "Alright, we can have dinner together in a few days."

"If I show up, does that count as meeting the family?"

"What do you think?"

Lin Jingyu turned to face her. "Where did you find him?"

"I met him back at Hui'an—he’d had a tough time, but seemed decent, so I helped him out. If he’s grateful, he’ll remember me in the future when he’s successful. If he turns out to be ungrateful, that’s fine too. I’ll just chalk it up as a good deed."

"Oh, our little Xiaobai really is a kind child." She reached out to stroke her face.

Lin Wanbai brushed her away in mock disgust. "You’re giving me goosebumps."

"But let me remind you, if you’re not interested in him, be clear about it. With your charm, he might fall for you in time. That could get messy."

"I will. He’s tactful—he’s a lot like Fu Juxing in some ways, so I’m not too worried."

Suddenly, Lin Jingyu fell silent, gazing at her. Lin Wanbai grew uncomfortable. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

She sighed. "No matter what, it always comes back to Fu Juxing. Maybe you owe him a debt of love from a past life, and now you’re here to repay it."

Lin Wanbai nodded solemnly. "I think so, too."

They chatted a while longer before Chen Songyuan came in. Lin Jingyu went to shower soon after.

Lin Wanbai was about to head to her room when Chen Songyuan called her over to talk—mostly about Han Chen.

She sat back down properly.

He asked, "Who is this Han Chen? Are you serious, or is this a joke?"

Chen Songyuan’s approach was stricter, yet he rarely interfered. Their relationship was relatively distant.

He was a live-in son-in-law; even though the family never treated him differently, he couldn’t help but be extra cautious, always striving to do everything perfectly, to avoid gossip.

He had to work twice as hard as anyone else, just to avoid criticism.

A man’s pride, after all, is strong.

Lin Yao’s appearance had created a barrier in Lin Wanbai’s heart; she often felt he was insincere.

But he was still her father, and when needed, he cared deeply. She still hoped for a harmonious, united family.

"He’s just… a good person."

Chen Songyuan frowned. "Do you even know what you’re saying?"

With a wry smile, she hugged his arm, acting spoiled. "Daddy, dearest Daddy, ever since I got home today, I’ve been getting scolded non-stop. Can’t you let me off? Can’t we talk about something else?"

"Xiaobai, I’m not scolding you. I just want you to remember you’re married. How can a married woman do such things? With all the gossip online, your name is being dragged through the mud. You’re a girl—your reputation matters, understand?"

"I know, I know."

"Do you not like Fu Juxing anymore? You went to so much trouble to marry him, and now you pull a stunt like this? What’s going on in that head of yours? Did he mistreat you?" He watched her carefully.

Lin Wanbai couldn’t be bothered to explain, leaning against him and pretending to sleep, listening to his nagging for a long time.

At last, as if giving up, he said, "Xiaobai, be honest—do you not like Fu Juxing anymore? Do you want a divorce?"

"Dad, I’ll handle it myself. Grandpa’s not interfering, so you don’t need to either."

"Grandpa is Grandpa, I’m me. I can’t just watch you go astray. If you want a divorce, do it quietly—why make such a scene and let people gossip?"

He was about to start nagging again.

By the time Lin Wanbai returned to her room, it was nearly eleven. Chen Songyuan seemed to be having a bout of middle-aged anxiety, talking endlessly and circling around the same points. In the end, it took Lin Jingyu to intervene, or they might have talked all night.

He was the only one in the family who urged reconciliation, not separation.

After her shower, Lin Wanbai sent Fu Juxing a goodnight text and went to sleep.

In their bedroom, Chen Songyuan still lay frowning on the bed. After a while, he tried to get up, but Lin Jingyu pulled him back. "Enough—let her deal with her own affairs. She’s grown up and knows what she’s doing."

"She went through so much to marry Fu Juxing, and now this—does she think it’s a game? You can’t just indulge her like this!"

Lin Jingyu laughed. "How can you, as her father, not understand her by now? Everything she does is still for Fu Juxing’s sake."

Chen Songyuan stopped, looked at her, then sat down again. "What do you mean?"

Lin Jingyu smiled and briefly explained.

...

Night.

A flight from Harbor City landed at North City International Airport.

Turning on his phone, Fu Juxing saw Lin Wanbai’s message pop up. She’d sent it just after his plane took off. He’d told her earlier he’d be flying back tonight.

Lei Sen was already waiting outside.

"Mr. Fu."

Fu Juxing handed over his luggage. They walked quickly to the car.

"What's the situation now?" Fu Juxing rubbed his forehead in the car.

Lei Sen replied, "Madam seems very serious. She went to Pujiang today, but returned to Chenxi by midnight."

"So, she’s at the Chenxi apartment?"

"Yes."

After a pause, Lei Sen asked, "Should we go to Chenxi now?"

Fu Juxing thought for a moment. "Go to Lvyuan."

"Alright."

...

Fu Juxing had been away on business just over a month, and returned home to find his wife had strayed.

The whole circle was abuzz. Everyone was watching Fu Juxing become a laughingstock—even after doing everything right, being the ultimate doting husband, he still couldn’t keep his wife’s heart.

Those who once thought Lin Wanbai was blind to marry him were now delighted—as long as it wasn’t him, any other man would suffice.

Even within the company, people gossiped behind his back.

Some pitied him. After all, it was Lin Wanbai who’d insisted on marrying him in the first place. Now, just a few years later, she was ready to abandon him—wasn’t that heartless?

What had Fu Juxing done wrong to be treated like this?

He’d been the perfect husband for three years—what more could Lin Wanbai want?

His long-cultivated image as the ideal husband still had its effect.

For a while, there was all manner of debate, but neither party responded, both carrying on as if nothing had happened.

Lin Wanbai still spent time with Han Chen. After Fu Juxing returned, he stayed at the company, seemingly focused on work.

One day, Lin Wanbai and Han Chen returned home and ran into Fu Juxing at the elevator. He'd just finished three days of overtime at the company.

Hearing the commotion, he turned and saw the two of them, hand in hand, approaching.

His gaze lingered on their joined hands before shifting to Lin Wanbai’s face.

She greeted him cheerfully, "What brings you here?"

"I just got off work—came straight from the office."

"Been busy?"

"Very. Haven’t been home since I got back—working overtime every day."

"No matter how busy, you should go home—Grandpa worries."

He nodded. "But I wanted to see you first."

"I'm fine. Of all people, you needn't worry about me."

The elevator dinged open.

The three of them hesitated briefly. Lin Wanbai was the most composed, tugging Han Chen’s hand. "Let’s go in."

They entered first, Fu Juxing following, standing to Lin Wanbai’s right.

In the small space, the three of them seemed cramped—the air awkward.

The security camera recorded the scene.

They exited on the same floor.

At the door, Lin Wanbai turned to Fu Juxing, considerately saying, "You should rest more. You look a bit worn out. Work is important, but so is your health. Don’t overdo it."

It was the concern of a good friend.

She was popular, with many friends, and treated everyone with the same propriety and warmth—hence her wide appeal.

Fu Juxing only looked at her, saying nothing, watching as she and Han Chen entered the apartment, the door closing in his face.

The next day, footage of the three of them in the elevator appeared online, but was swiftly deleted.

Paparazzi were watching closely. Chenxi’s security system was supposed to be tight, yet they still managed to get the footage—clearly, someone inside had helped.

For such a high-profile drama, public interest was high, with even more fervent discussion than celebrity gossip. People were endlessly curious about the lives of the wealthy.

Han Chen saw the video.

He woke up early every day, checking Weibo and the news.

The headline read, "Wife, husband, and lover in harmony—will they become a threesome?"

Within five minutes, the video was wiped from the internet.

By the time Lin Wanbai woke up, all was calm online.

It was the weekend, with nothing much to do. He’d had a tutoring job, but with the recent rumors, the family now doubted his character, paid him off, and let him go with a flimsy excuse.

He didn’t mention it to Lin Wanbai, heading out as usual in the afternoon.

After lunch, Han Chen told her about the video. "We should talk to the property management—how could someone just get in, and the footage was clearly from a security camera. If it was leaked, it had to be an inside job. That’s a serious breach."

Lin Wanbai nodded, seemingly unfazed. "I’ll ask about it this afternoon."

She seemed in low spirits, so Han Chen said no more. After lunch, he washed up, took a nap, and headed out.

Lin Wanbai had slept late, and after lunch, lounged on the sofa watching TV, not moving even as he left.

When he opened the door, she glanced over, paused as if thinking, then called out just as he was closing it, "Wait a minute!"

She hurried to her room for a jacket, grabbed her keys, and went out with him. "I’ll go down with you and ask property management about the video."

"Alright, I’ll go with you."

She glanced quickly at the neighboring apartment, then naturally took his arm, waiting for the elevator.

Behind her, it was silent; in her heart, it was as if a timer was ticking, threatening to stop at any moment.

They went downstairs and visited the property office, reporting the leaked footage.

Management claimed ignorance and needed to investigate.

They checked online—nothing could be found.

Lin Wanbai demanded to see the surveillance footage directly; she insisted, and management had to comply, taking her to the security room. She told Han Chen to go ahead; she would handle things.

He left without protest.

Watching the recordings, Lin Wanbai quickly identified footage of the security guard letting the paparazzi in and isolated that segment.

Management apologized and fired the guard responsible.

She didn’t pursue it further; they had shown the proper attitude.

Nevertheless, someone familiar with the situation posted photos online of Lin Wanbai and Han Chen confronting the property manager, claiming she had personally berated the manager and had him fired for Han Chen’s sake.

That day, Fu Juxing stayed home, asking Lei Sen to clear three days from his schedule—no work was to be arranged.

In his study, his computer displayed a month’s worth of records tracking Lin Wanbai and Han Chen—the places they’d been, things they’d done, every day accounted for.

There were photos, videos, each with notes. He scrutinized every detail, missing nothing.

Lin Wanbai seemed very serious.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Fu Juxing shut down the computer and went to answer.

Lin Wanbai stood at the door, arms crossed. Seeing him, she offered a faint smile. "You’re here."

Her smile was cordial, but not emotional.

She glanced inside. "I have something to discuss. Is this a good time?"

He stepped aside.

She hesitated. "Perhaps we should go outside?"

He didn’t move. "Given the current situation, that’s not a good idea. If you don’t want to come in, I can go to your place."

She looked at him for a moment, then turned away with a quiet laugh. "It’s nothing serious—we can talk here. I’ve thought it over. I think we should get a divorce; otherwise, the rumors will never die down. I don’t want Han Chen to be negatively affected—he hasn’t graduated yet, and this could ruin his future. We were in a proper relationship, but now look at what they’re saying—it’s not fair to him."

He was silent, eyes fixed on hers, then smiled faintly. "Don’t be ridiculous."

"I’m not." She smiled as well, just as calmly. "Fu Juxing, I’m really not making a scene. You should know me—when I like someone, no matter how many mountains or seas lie between us, I have the will to cross them and be together."

"You like him?"

She smiled. "What else could it be? You think I’m playing games? At first, maybe I was just having fun, but after spending time together, I found him wonderful, charming. I enjoy how I feel when I’m with him."

He stared at her, silent for a long time.

She was patient, meeting his gaze without flinching.

"I still have the divorce agreement from last time. I won’t change the terms. I’ll send it to your email—read it carefully before you refuse. Don’t rush to turn me down, alright?"

She was striving for an amicable parting.

Fu Juxing still gave no response. Lin Wanbai didn’t press for an answer. "That’s all I wanted to say. I’ll send you the agreement now—please let me know as soon as you’ve read it."

"I know it’s my fault—I insisted on marrying you, but couldn’t stay devoted. But feelings aren’t something you can control. Back then, I truly believed we’d grow old together, that I could love you for a lifetime. I’ve always been sincere in love."

"I’m sorry. If we can’t part happily, at least let’s part peacefully."