The hotel suite's heavy curtains shut out the neon lights of the city, leaving only the bedside lamp illuminating a small corner.
Yu Sheng leaned against the sofa, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold surface of the glass.
The water inside remained untouched.
Shen Yunmian's sudden change was like a stone thrown into still water.
It didn't create ripples of hope—only a restless unease.
This sudden "kindness" brought no joy.
Instead, it was like an overly clear mirror, reflecting the past version of herself who had once begged for love.
How ridiculous.
Since her rebirth, this was the first time she had so calmly reviewed this marriage.
Stripping away the filters of love and pain, analyzing it with almost cruel rationality.
Divorce… was inevitable.
This life was a second chance—she would never repeat the same mistakes, never trap herself again in that beautiful yet cold cage.
She wanted to breathe. She wanted to truly live for herself.
But hatred? Not really.
Shen Yunmian wasn't unforgivable.
She simply… didn't love her. Or didn't know how to love. Or didn't love her enough.
But none of that mattered anymore.
She had simply been too foolish before.
Thinking she could melt an iceberg with passion, expecting an equal response.
Looking back now, it was nothing but self-delusion.
Objectively speaking, if love were removed and she were judged as nothing more than a marriage partner—Shen Yunmian was nearly perfect.
Her capability was undeniable, decisive and unstoppable in the business world.
What Yu Sheng remembered most clearly was when her father had suddenly fallen critically ill.
The Yu family was falling apart internally, while enemies lurked outside. It was the darkest, most helpless time of her life.
It was Shen Yunmian who stabilized everything with ruthless efficiency, cut out the rot within the company, and fended off external threats.
During that time, she barely slept, shielding Yu Sheng behind her.
Back then, Shen Yunmian had said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Yu Sheng had almost believed that was love.
Only later did she understand—it was perhaps just Shen Yunmian's strong sense of responsibility and desire for control.
She couldn't tolerate anyone challenging what belonged to her, including her nominal wife.
Shen Yunmian had indeed protected her well, keeping her safe from all storms, like a flower in a greenhouse.
But that was never what Yu Sheng wanted.
What she longed for was warmth, emotional connection, the feeling of being cherished and valued.
And those things, Shen Yunmian couldn't give—or perhaps didn't want to.
Since what she wanted could never be given, and what Shen Yunmian offered she no longer desired, there was no reason for this relationship to continue.
If Shen Yunmian knew when to stop, they could part peacefully and preserve some dignity.
If she insisted on entangling further…
Yu Sheng's gaze turned cold.
Her fingers tightened slightly, the water in the glass rippling faintly.
Then she wouldn't mind tearing apart this superficial harmony herself—even if the process turned ugly.
This marriage—she would end it, no matter what.
In this life, she couldn't keep muddling through anymore.
Yu Sheng made up her mind to calmly talk with Shen Yunmian one more time. If the other party still refused—then she would have no choice but to prepare to file for divorce.
—
The next day, in the chairman's office of the Yu Group.
Sunlight streamed in through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. Yu Sheng had already returned to her usual calm and capable self, reviewing documents.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
Su Qingyu pushed the door open, dressed in a neat professional outfit, composed and self-assured.
"President Yu, you wanted to see me."
"Qingyu, you're here." Yu Sheng set down her pen and gestured for her to sit. "Have all the onboarding procedures been completed?"
"Everything went smoothly, thank you for your concern, President Yu." Su Qingyu sat down across from her, back straight.
"Good." Yu Sheng looked at her, her gaze carrying both scrutiny and a trace of expectation.
"In a bit, I'll personally show you around to get familiar with the environment. Then we'll hold a small high-level meeting to formally introduce you."
She paused, observing Su Qingyu's reaction.
"Some of the senior members on the board are rather conservative and may have doubts. Nervous?"
Hearing that, Su Qingyu's lips curved slightly into a calm, confident smile.
"Rest assured, President Yu. No problem."
Seeing the light in her eyes, Yu Sheng felt somewhat reassured.
"Good. That's exactly the confidence I want."
As she spoke, she pressed the internal call button. "Secretary Zhang, notify everyone—3 p.m. this afternoon, Conference Room One, an emergency board meeting. All directors must attend."
After giving the order, she stood up. "Let's go. I'll show you around first."
"Alright, President Yu." Su Qingyu stood and followed.
Yu Sheng personally led Su Qingyu through the office area, introducing each department. Along the way, countless curious and probing gazes followed them.
Su Qingyu handled it all with composure, neither humble nor arrogant.
Yu Sheng was very satisfied, and couldn't help but admit that Shen Yunmian really did have a sharp eye for talent.
That afternoon, the board meeting.
Yu Sheng personally led Su Qingyu into the conference room.
Several veteran members of the group were already waiting, their gazes carrying varying degrees of scrutiny and doubt.
"Everyone," Yu Sheng's voice was clear and steady, leaving no room for objection.
"This is Ms. Su Qingyu. Starting today, she will serve as my special assistant. She will fully represent me in handling a series of key projects and report directly to me."
"Her instructions are equivalent to mine. I hope everyone will cooperate fully."
As her words fell, the room went silent.
An older director surnamed Li, who had built the company alongside Yu Sheng's father, frowned and spoke.
"Chairwoman Yu, the authority of a special assistant is significant. Ms. Su is quite young, so perhaps—"
"Uncle Li," Yu Sheng interrupted with a smile, though her gaze allowed no rebuttal.
"I trust Assistant Su's capabilities. If you doubt someone, don't use them. If you use someone, don't doubt them. I've already made my decision."
Her gaze swept across the room, carrying a decisiveness they had never seen before.
The senior members exchanged glances. In the end, none spoke further, though their doubts remained.
After the meeting, Yu Sheng brought Su Qingyu back into the chairman's office.
The heavy door shut out the outside world.
Yu Sheng took several documents from the safe and placed them on the desk in front of Su Qingyu.
"Qingyu, these are the Yu Group's real financial reports from the past three years."
Her fingertip tapped one of them, her tone heavy. "Take a look… it looks impressive on the surface, but in reality, multiple areas rely on Shen Group's transfusion-style investments and guarantees."
She pushed over several more documents.
"And these are copies of key cooperation contracts between us and the Shen Group. The terms appear fair, but in reality, they deeply bind the core business of the Yu Group to Shen Group. If one suffers, both suffer."
She hid nothing, laying bare the weakness and hidden risks beneath the Yu Group's polished exterior.
"In other words, the Yu Group currently has no true independence. If the Shen Group withdraws its support, the Yu Group will fall into crisis almost instantly."
Su Qingyu carefully flipped through the documents. The more she read, the more serious her expression became.
She hadn't expected the situation to be this severe.
"So, my core objective is to gradually cut off these unhealthy dependencies and establish the Yu Group's own profit core and stable financing channels. I know this task is difficult—almost impossible."
Yu Sheng's tone was extremely solemn as she made her promise. "That's why I'll pay you three times the industry's highest standard salary. And once it's done, I will transfer ten percent of the Yu Group's shares to you."
Su Qingyu's head snapped up. A high salary was expected—but shares truly shocked her.
This meant going from an employee to someone holding assets, a leap across social class in one step.
The weight and sincerity of this promise far exceeded her expectations.
The room fell silent, filled only with the faint hum of the central air conditioning.
Su Qingyu looked at the determination and trust in Yu Sheng's eyes, then at the confidential documents on the desk that concerned the lifeblood of the Yu Group.
After a long moment, she took a deep breath and solemnly accepted the documents, her voice clear and firm.
"President Yu, I won't let you down."
—
President's office of the Shen Group.
Shen Yunmian stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, her expression dark enough to drip water.
The scene from that night outside Yu Sheng's apartment replayed uncontrollably in her mind.
Her rare initiative had been met with a cold closed door and blunt humiliation.
"President Shen, please leave."
That sentence was like a needle piercing her pride.
When had Shen Yunmian ever lowered herself like that? When had she ever been rejected so mercilessly?
Her pride and self-respect made it impossible for her to bow her head again so easily. The anger from being offended still smoldered in her chest.
But… she realized she couldn't stop thinking about Yu Sheng.
Or stop paying attention to everything about her.
She had people keep an eye on Yu Sheng's movements, yet the reports all said the same—everything was normal.
Going to work, getting off work, handling business… not even the slightest ripple from what had happened that night.
This realization made Shen Yunmian even more frustrated, as if she alone was trapped in that night's embarrassment and anger.
This loss of control felt terrible.
At the very least, she needed to ask what Yu Sheng had meant that night.
In the end, her pride lost to something stronger—an emotion she herself refused to examine too deeply.
She picked up her phone and found that familiar number.
After a moment's hesitation, she still dialed, deliberately returning her tone to its usual calm and detached professionalism.
"It's me."
"Regarding the follow-up on the cooperation project in the west district, there are some details we need to discuss in person."
"Three o'clock this afternoon, the café at the corner downstairs from the company. Is that convenient?"
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end. Just as Shen Yunmian thought Yu Sheng would make an excuse to refuse—Yu Sheng's voice came through, equally calm and businesslike.
"Okay. See you at three."
She agreed so readily?
Shen Yunmian held the phone, somewhat surprised, but soon frowned again.
That strictly businesslike attitude made her uncomfortable as well.
At three in the afternoon, at the café.
Shen Yunmian arrived first and chose a quiet seat.
She watched as Yu Sheng pushed the door open right on time, dressed in a sharp gray suit, her expression unreadable.
After sitting down across from her, Yu Sheng spoke directly, "President Shen, what's the issue with the project?"
No pleasantries. Straight to the point.
Shen Yunmian was momentarily choked by the attitude, the words she had prepared getting stuck in her throat.
She didn't even bother pretending anymore. "There's no problem with the project. I just want to talk to you properly. That night… what exactly did you mean?"
"Which night?" Yu Sheng raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, though her eyes carried unmistakable mockery.
Thinking of the humiliation from that drunken night, Shen Yunmian's expression darkened. "You know which night I mean. What did you take me for…" The rest of the words were too difficult to say, the embarrassment surging up again.
"Oh, that night."
Yu Sheng lightly stirred her coffee, her tone calm and indifferent. "I thought I made myself very clear. I only want to maintain the appearance of a marriage with you. I don't want any additional disturbances—especially that kind of disturbance. Besides, I currently don't have that kind of need."
Her words were like a slap across Shen Yunmian's face, burning hot.
It was as if she were subtly mocking—wasn't someone usually as frigid as ice, so why so impatient now?
"Yu Sheng!" Shen Yunmian lowered her voice. "Is this the only way we can talk to each other?"
"Then how should we talk?" Yu Sheng finally lifted her eyes to look at her directly.
Her gaze was cold, devoid of any warmth. "President Shen, I thought we had already reached a consensus—aside from business, it's best not to have any other entanglements."
Shen Yunmian's heart felt like it had been stabbed, a dull ache spreading.
Looking at Yu Sheng's completely detached demeanor, then thinking of that special assistant rumored to be close to her, a nameless anger mixed with an indescribable bitterness surged up. In a moment of impulse, she spoke without thinking.
"Yu Sheng, do you have to be like this? You don't talk to that assistant, Su Qingyu, with this kind of sarcasm."
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.
At those words, it sounded far too much like jealousy, far too unbecoming.
Yu Sheng paused for a moment, then seemed to hear something amusing. The mocking curve at the corner of her lips deepened.
"President Shen, what does she have to do with this?"
"The problem between us has always been about 'us'."
She set down her coffee spoon with a crisp clink.
Then, from her briefcase, she took out a thin document and pushed it in front of Shen Yunmian.
Her movements were calm, decisive, without a trace of hesitation.
On the cover page, the bold black words "Divorce Agreement" abruptly crashed into Shen Yunmian's sight.
Her pupils shrank sharply, the color draining from her face at a visible speed.
Her whole body froze in place, as if instantly sealed in ice.
"You…" she opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Her mind went blank, leaving only those few black words endlessly enlarging and spinning.
Yu Sheng's voice sounded again, terrifyingly calm.
"Shen Yunmian, this is the last time I'll properly talk to you about divorce."
"This is the draft agreement. I've consulted a lawyer—the property division fully follows our prenuptial agreement. I have no additional demands. I only want to resolve this as quickly and peacefully as possible."
"If you still refuse…" Yu Sheng paused slightly, as if stating a predetermined fact, "then I'll have no choice but to take legal action and file for divorce."
Shen Yunmian had never expected Yu Sheng to be this resolute. It shattered the calm façade she had carefully maintained, leaving her ears ringing and her emotions in turmoil.
For a moment, she was speechless. Her usually strategic mind blanked out.
Almost instinctively, she tried to grasp onto what she knew best—logic, interests, reality—to build a defense.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Yunmian forced herself to maintain her usual composed tone:
"Yu Sheng, do you know what you're saying? This isn't just a simple emotional issue between the two of us." Her speech quickened, as if piling on more points could cover her inner panic. "Shen Group and Yu Group are deeply intertwined, with multiple core projects connected and complex equity structures. If we suddenly announce a divorce, what kind of turmoil will it cause within both families? How will the market react? A stock fluctuation is almost inevitable—it could even trigger doubts and unnecessary speculation from partners."
Seeing Yu Sheng remain unmoved, not even lifting her gaze, she grew more anxious.
"And the media—they'll definitely sensationalize it. It'll be a significant blow to both our reputations and the two groups. And besides, you need the identity of 'Mrs. Shen' in the business world—it saves you a lot of trouble. Once you lose it—"
"Finished?" Yu Sheng finally spoke, cutting her off.
"Public opinion, stock prices, partners, family… I believe none of these have ever been unsolvable problems for you, Shen Yunmian. And I don't need the 'Mrs. Shen' identity, including all the so-called conveniences you mentioned." Yu Sheng precisely pierced through every layer of Shen Yunmian's defense. "So don't use these as excuses to delay the divorce."
The word "excuses" landed like a final verdict.
The color drained completely from Shen Yunmian's face, leaving her unable to utter a single word.
That cold, polished shell of a business elite shattered entirely. All her reasons became pale and ridiculous, as if they were only meant to hide a fear she herself didn't dare to acknowledge.
She was afraid of losing Yu Sheng—yet even more afraid to use "I still love you" as an excuse to keep her.
As if having that final emotion denied would mean her complete failure in this marriage.
Shen Yunmian abruptly stood up, nearly knocking over her chair in her haste, her knuckles turning white.
"I… I suddenly remembered I have an urgent meeting." Her voice lost all composure, filled with obvious panic and the urge to escape. "We'll talk about this… later!"
She fled almost in disarray, not even daring to look at Yu Sheng again.
Her retreating figure was stiff, her steps unsteady—none of her usual calm decisiveness remained.
—
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