Volume One, Chapter Two: A Masterful Performance

This is the eternal pain shared between Shen Yixiao and me.

In my past life, I often fantasized that if we had a child together, there might be no betrayal between us.

Later, he placed the child he had with Lu Xiaoyun under my name, asking me to treat that child as the fruit of our union.

I tried my best to treat the child as my own, caring for him from the moment he was born until he could run and jump.

Yet, the child would secretly call Lu Xiaoyun “mom” behind my back and sneak into her bed at night to cuddle and sleep with her.

I saw Shen Yixiao taking the mother and son out for outings, glimpsed their joyful family photos, and slowly, the space in our home that belonged to me grew smaller. Gradually, I felt like a ghost in my own life.

“Wife, we can adopt a child. I love you. Whether or not we have kids, my love is for you. You are the most important person to me,” Shen Yixiao said, holding me tightly, his voice choked with emotion.

He lost both parents when he was young, raised only by his grandfather who passed away a few years ago. And now, I was the closest person to him.

If I were to leave, perhaps he would feel utterly lonely.

I knew that if I asked for a divorce now, he would never agree. I had only said that deliberately, testing his attitude.

“Come here.”

“I just feel sorry for you. You wouldn’t, because of this, go out and find another woman, then bring home a love child, would you?” I pushed Shen Yixiao aside and stared into his eyes.

A flicker of guilt flashed across his eyes. He avoided my gaze briefly but quickly regained his composure. “I wouldn’t. Don’t overthink it. How could I treat you like that?”

Looking into those familiar eyes, I was truly amazed by his acting skills.

Just an hour ago, he was in the first apartment we bought, indulging in passion with Lu Xiaoyun. Now, he could come and watch the anniversary fireworks with me, promising to love me forever.

I nodded. “Mm.”

I had nothing more to say. I could only watch helplessly as he rotted away before me.

A direct divorce wouldn’t work. I needed to take it slowly.

After staying on the terrace for a while, Shen Yixiao took my hand and led me downstairs. “Wife, you rest first. I’ll take a shower.”

He must be drenched in sweat after being with Lu Xiaoyun so fervently earlier; he wouldn’t feel comfortable without a proper wash.

Once he went to the bathroom, his phone rang.

It was Lu Xiaoyun.

I answered the call without a word.

“Mr. Shen, are you asleep?” Lu Xiaoyun’s voice was soft, nothing unusual.

“He’s showering,” I replied. “Secretary Lu, is there something late at night?”

Upon hearing my voice, Lu Xiaoyun smiled. “Madam, today is the anniversary of your marriage with Mr. Shen. He specially asked me to arrange a fireworks show for you. The show just ended.”

A sardonic smile tugged at my lips. “I saw it. Secretary Lu, you arranged it very well.”

There was a pause on the other end. After a few seconds, she continued, “I’m glad Madam is satisfied. I’ve reported everything. You can pass the message to Mr. Shen.”

I hung up immediately.

Lu Xiaoyun was always probing Shen Yixiao’s limits. In the last life, she constantly made her presence known in front of me.

Unfortunately, Shen Yixiao’s heart sided with me. In the end, she only made me discover their affair but failed to make us divorce.

Yet she still won in the end, moving in with her child into my home, gradually sidelining me until I became a mere ornament.

No sooner had I hung up the phone than Shen Yixiao emerged hastily, wrapped in a towel. He looked around desperately. I asked, “Are you looking for your phone?”

I held mine up, shaking it.

The moment he saw it in my hand, his expression changed drastically, as though I were holding a bomb. He quickly came over and snatched the phone back.

I explained voluntarily, “Secretary Lu called earlier to report work. I answered for you.”

At the mention of Lu Xiaoyun, Shen Yixiao’s tension deepened. He tested me, “Is that so? Secretary Lu is very responsible; she often handles work after hours and reports to me. She didn’t say anything else, did she?”

I smiled faintly. “No, just wishing us a happy wedding anniversary.”

Seeing my calm demeanor, Shen Yixiao breathed a sigh of relief, assuming I knew nothing.

He came over and hugged me, his chin brushing my hair softly. Tenderly, he said, “Wife, I owe my success today to you. Thank you.”

He grew emotional, lowering his head to kiss me. His large hands roamed over my body.

I pressed his hands down, feeling a wave of nausea.

Isn’t he tired? After being so wild with Lu Xiaoyun, he still has the energy to touch me.

Shen Yixiao looked puzzled. “Wife, what’s wrong?”

“I’m on medication lately. The doctor advised avoiding intimacy to prevent blood deficiency,” I found an excuse.

Since I learned I couldn’t get pregnant, I’d been seeking treatment desperately, hoping to conceive just one child.

Shen Yixiao thought the medicines were harmful and tried to stop me, but in the past six months, his passion with Lu Xiaoyun only grew stronger, and he paid less attention to me—so he didn’t interfere much with my medication.

Perhaps I was acting a little unusually tonight, making Shen Yixiao worry. He didn’t force me nor stop me from taking the medicine; instead, he carried me to bed and held me tightly as I rested.

He liked playing with my hair with his fingers while holding me close.

“Good night, wife.”

After a while, sleepiness overcame him. He mumbled his good night and fell asleep.

My phone buzzed. I opened it to find a message from my close friend Su Ying: “Tsk tsk, sister, you’re lucky again. Shen Yixiao really spared no expense. Tonight’s fireworks and drone show must’ve cost millions.”

Me: “Not asleep yet?”

Su Ying: “How could I? Just playing on my phone.”

I knew she couldn’t sleep because she was jealous.

In the last life, Su Ying knew about Shen Yixiao’s infidelity but still urged me to give him a chance. When Shen Yixiao went to meet Lu Xiaoyun secretly, she deliberately took me away so as not to disturb the two.

Because in her heart, I was unworthy of Shen Yixiao.

No matter how badly Shen Yixiao treated me, I should tolerate it. Becoming Mrs. Shen was my honor.

I once saw her attempt to seduce Shen Yixiao while he was drunk, only to be rejected.

Perhaps because she couldn’t have him, she harbored resentment. Outwardly she applauded our love, but behind my back, she wished for my marriage to fail and for me to be betrayed.

I didn’t reply to Su Ying, but she kept sending messages: “Your fireworks show made it to the trending searches again. Everyone says you’re lucky. Amazing.”

She sent several screenshots.

“People spend millions on a single anniversary fireworks show; I’ve struggled for decades without earning that much.”

“Rich people always end up together; the rest of us are just bystanders.”

“Is that blue moon supposed to represent Li Yue?”

“I suspect Mr. Shen is advertising some laundry detergent!”