Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: The Ridiculous Defense

After selecting the necklace, I drove to the place Meng Zicheng had mentioned. It was a private club I had visited once a couple of years ago. I simply gave Shen Yixiao’s name for verification and was admitted without issue.

Feigning casual interest, I asked a staff member, “By the way, which room is he in?”

“Mr. Shen is in room eight,” the staff replied without suspicion.

I nodded and headed toward room eight.

Meng Zicheng was already inside. I watched him push open the door, then slowly close it behind him, sealing off the world within.

Standing at the threshold, I placed my hand gently against the thick door, then pushed it open just enough to create a narrow gap, silently.

“Sorry, sorry, Mr. Shen, I lost control… sob sob…” The voice of Lu Xiaoyun, filled with grievance and fear, drifted out.

I couldn’t see what was happening inside, only listened quietly.

“Xiao Ge, don’t be angry. Secretary Lu surely didn’t mean it,” Meng Zicheng’s voice came, acting as peacemaker.

Shen Yixiao scolded angrily, “Didn’t mean it? She dared to tell your sister-in-law that she has a boyfriend who cherishes her, treats her like a little princess. She even took the initiative to call Li Yue!”

His fury was evident, tinged with disgust.

Lu Xiaoyun sniffled softly, silent.

Then Liang Feng spoke, “Secretary Lu, what’s your mindset? Trying to replace Li Yue?”

At those words, an eerie silence fell over the room. Even my palms broke into a cold sweat, slick and clammy. My heart slowed its beat, waiting for the reply.

Before Lu Xiaoyun could answer, Shen Yixiao sneered coldly, “Ha! Keep dreaming.”

That contempt shattered her. Her voice suddenly rose with defiance, “Mr. Shen, I admit I love you, willing to be your warm-bed secretary. But you don’t have to despise my feelings. I’m no match for your wife, but then why did you come to me?!”

“Then don’t climb into my bed while I’m drunk!” Shen Yixiao shouted. Glass shattered. The atmosphere inside grew tense and hostile.

Should I feel moved?

I had weathered storms with this man, yet he maintained his mistress while firmly upholding my dignity as the original wife before her.

I could not fathom Shen Yixiao—his contradictory dance between Lu Xiaoyun and me drained him.

Meng Zicheng intervened again, “Stop arguing. Speak properly. Secretary Lu, admit your mistake sincerely and don’t repeat it.”

Liang Feng added, “Yes, Li Yue’s importance to him isn’t something you can compare to. When he was at his lowest, it was Li Yue who supported him through. Moreover, she once took a blow for him, even giving up having children. Are you willing to pay such a price?”

I clenched my fingers slowly. This was something I wanted to keep from Lu Xiaoyun, yet Liang Feng blurted it out.

Lu Xiaoyun stubbornly shot back, “I never had the chance to take a blow for Mr. Shen, but I can bear his child!”

“Even if the child is raised by you and madam, and he doesn’t acknowledge me as the mother, wouldn’t you want a child of your own?” she pressed.

Shen Yixiao fell silent.

I couldn’t breathe and loosened my grip. After the door closed, I turned and left, humiliation and fury coursing through every nerve. I wanted to kill that pair of illicit lovers.

The price of my infertility had become a part of their adulterous affair. It was truly laughable.

I stormed out of the club, driving home as fast as I could, fearing I might lose control and expose them foolishly.

Just after arriving, Aunt Yang called again. I calmed myself before answering.

“Xiaoyue, your parents came back early; they’ll be home tomorrow. I wanted to tell you. Parents only want what’s best. Things were tense before, but now it’s been a while. You should take the initiative to make peace. Besides, you’re so happy now with Shen Yixiao—it proves your choice was right. Your parents will surely forgive you,” Aunt Yang advised earnestly.

She was a close friend of my mother’s; they cared deeply for each other’s families.

When I severed ties with my family years ago, she searched everywhere to find me, hoping to bring me back.

I had always been grateful but felt too ashamed to reach out.

I replied with guilt, “Alright, Aunt Yang, I understand. Thank you for telling me.”

“Good child. Auntie just hopes you can reconcile. I’ve watched you grow—you’re like a daughter to me,” she said with emotion.

We chatted about childhood memories, lost in nostalgia, when Xu Zhengnan’s voice interrupted, “Talking to Li Yue again?”

Hearing his voice now made me inexplicably nervous, embarrassed, afraid he’d see through my predicament.

Even through the phone, I was uneasy.

On Aunt Yang’s end, I heard whispers I couldn’t make out, followed by a slight movement of her phone.

Suddenly, Xu Zhengnan’s previously distant voice came clearly over the line, “Hello?”

“Wife, I’m home.” At that moment, Shen Yixiao’s voice rang from the doorway.

There was a brief two-second silence on Xu Zhengnan’s side. Just as I was about to speak, he decisively hung up.

I stared blankly at my phone. Aunt Yang must have forced him to say a few words. Hearing Shen Yixiao’s voice gave him the perfect excuse to end the call.

Shen Yixiao pushed the door open, holding a bouquet of fiery red roses, his eyes full of deep remorse.

“Do you like them? Red roses.”

I looked at the flowers he offered and thought back to when we first got together—he couldn’t afford real roses then, so he bought a few plastic ones and placed them in a vase.

I loved them. When he gave me fresh roses, I cherished their lively passion. When he gave me plastic ones, I joked they would never wither, eternal and enduring.

Back then, I loved him no matter what. I was willing to risk everything for him because he was worth it.

I accepted the flowers, giving a faint smile. “Thank you, I really like them.”

In truth, now they seemed like a mere drop of blood in a vast wound.

Shen Yixiao sat down, holding my hand, eyes brimming with guilt.

“Wife, I’ve put Secretary Lu on leave for about half a month. Even though the rumors were false, I don’t want you to be upset.”

I smiled faintly, saying nothing.

He cautiously pulled me into his arms, his breathing slow and heavy.

The next morning, as Shen Yixiao prepared to leave for work, I called out to him.

“Yixiao, I want to travel abroad for a while. Have you seen my ID card and passport?”

I asked casually.

A flicker of caution passed over his eyes. “Why the sudden urge to travel? Honey, wait until I’m done with these few busy days, then I’ll take you.”

“I’m just bored and want some fresh air. I looked for my ID and passport but can’t find them. Maybe I lost them?” I replied.