Volume One, Chapter Three: Dreaming of Your Infidelity

Su Ying: So, how do you feel now? Looking at these comments, aren’t you even happier?

I gave a cold smile and replied, “Yes, being with him is the greatest happiness.”

Seeing my response, Su Ying probably ground her back teeth to pieces.

She had secretly admired Shen Yixiao for many years, but he only paid attention to her because she was my close friend. Whenever she saw me flaunting my love, she would become insanely jealous.

She thought I didn’t know, but I had long been aware. I truly regarded her as a sister and didn’t want to turn against her over a man.

Su Ying: Yeah, seeing you happy makes me feel at ease. If you two could have a child, it would be perfect.

She knew well that I couldn’t have children, yet she kept bringing it up subtly, with a tone of pity that tore open my wounds.

Seeing the word “child” made my heart ache again. I touched the scar on my lower abdomen. Was it worth it?

For Shen Yixiao, I had paid such a heavy price, yet he betrayed me.

I continued to reply: “It’s indeed a pity not to have a child, but Yixiao said his greatest love is me, with or without a child, nothing will change.”

Su Ying: Heh, sure.

I put down my phone and closed my eyes to sleep. Su Ying probably wouldn’t reply again; if she did, she’d only embarrass herself.

When I woke up, Shen Yixiao was already dressed. As he adjusted his cuffs, he spoke gently to me, “Why not sleep a little longer? Sweetheart, you need plenty of rest.”

He used to be a late riser, staying in bed to cuddle with me. But since he got involved with Lu Xiaoyun, he started going to the office earlier and earlier.

I knew he was eager to meet his mistress.

They must have had countless secret rendezvous in the office, which even had a resting room. It used to have just a sofa and a tea table, but later they added a large bed and a bathroom.

Shen Yixiao’s excuse was that sometimes he was too tired at noon and wanted to shower and nap there.

Ridiculous—I actually believed him until he confessed to the affair with Lu Xiaoyun. Then I realized that was their battlefield.

“I couldn’t sleep; I had a nightmare,” I sat up, looking listless.

“What kind of nightmare?” Shen Yixiao bent down and stroked my head.

I answered, “I dreamed you cheated on me—with that Secretary Lu.”

Upon hearing this, his expression changed drastically, as if he had seen a ghost.

Fortunately, his mental resilience was strong, and he quickly recovered, smiling, “Honey, why are you overthinking everything now? Even in your dreams? How could I have any problems with Secretary Lu? If you really don’t trust her, I can fire her today and hire a male secretary instead. You wouldn’t think I’m gay, would you?”

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone, ready to call Lu Xiaoyun.

I got up and grabbed his hand to stop him. “It was just a dream. Don’t actually fire her, or the whole company will know I’m a jealous woman.”

Even if she were fired, he’d find another way to hide his affair—just a different place.

Better it’s under my nose, so I can see everything clearly.

“I knew you’d believe me and trust our relationship,” Shen Yixiao said sincerely, planting a kiss on my forehead. “I’m off to work. You can check up on me anytime.”

After watching him leave, I got up, changed clothes, tidied myself, and went out.

I drove to a villa district on the outskirts. This area was full of old mansions, once inhabited by the wealthy and noble. It was where I was born.

I had lived a life of luxury since childhood; my parents were a university professor and a high school teacher, a well-educated family.

Until I met Shen Yixiao and turned into a little troublemaker for him, my parents eventually gave up on me and severed ties.

Since then, I never returned.

My mother secretly sought me out, urging me to break up with Shen Yixiao and return home to apologize to my father. They promised to send me abroad for study. Even if I couldn’t graduate high school or get into college here, they’d secure my future.

When Shen Yixiao found out, he left me a suicide note and went alone to the seaside.

At that time, I saw his extreme act as proof of his deep love. I refused my mother and made a bet that Shen Yixiao and I would succeed and be happy.

Later, my parents went abroad, truly abandoning me without remorse.

I arrived at the doorstep of my former home, looking up at the worn and peeling walls. Scenes of our family of three living happily flickered in my mind, and tears streamed down my face.

“Xiaoyue? Is that you?”

Suddenly, a surprised voice sounded behind me. I quickly wiped my tears and turned around.

“Aunt Yang?” I said in disbelief.

Our families had been neighbors. Years had passed; fine lines now marked her eyes and brows, and streaks of gray touched her temples.

My mother and Aunt Yang used to be very close. I often followed her to play at Aunt Yang’s house.

“It’s been so long! Come, have a meal at my place. Just today, Zhengnan returned from abroad. Do you remember? You two used to do homework together and play badminton…” Aunt Yang’s enthusiasm was the same as before. She grabbed my hand and led me toward her home, chatting away.

Xu Zhengnan?

Hearing that name again felt like a lifetime ago.

Before Shen Yixiao, Xu Zhengnan and I were childhood sweethearts, growing up together. He was my first crush.

Later, when I got together with Shen Yixiao, he tried to stop me, but I ignored him. Eventually, he blocked all my contacts and never reached out again.

I only heard of Xu Zhengnan occasionally through old classmates. He got into the top university, went abroad, and was pursuing a scholarly path step by step.

I should have walked toward a bright future with him, but instead, I ended up on a completely different path.

Thinking about it, I truly lost all my relatives and friends for Shen Yixiao.

Those left around me were all hypocrites.

At Aunt Yang’s doorstep, I suddenly felt timid and stopped, unwilling to go in.

“What’s wrong? Come on in!” Aunt Yang urged.

I shook my head. “Aunt Yang, I’ll visit another time. I have something to do today—”

Before I finished, her phone rang. She answered.

“Not coming back today? A gathering?”

“I already bought the ingredients!”

“Alright, alright. I was going to say I met someone today—”

Her words trailed off as the other end hung up.

I guessed it was Xu Zhengnan.