Volume One, Chapter Seven: The Filth Behind

An hour later, Shen Yixiao and Lu Xiaoyun appeared together, one following the other. Both were neatly dressed, maintaining a steady distance, giving no sign of anything unusual. Shen Yixiao, with the demeanor of a superior, was explaining something to Lu Xiaoyun. Even if paparazzi had caught this moment, they wouldn’t have been able to detect any hint of intimacy from their words or actions.

He was a cautious man. After his indiscretion, the period of calm reflection brought out his performative side.

Once Shen Yixiao finished his explanation, he was about to leave, but Lu Xiaoyun stopped him. From my vantage point, I could perfectly see the elevator door leading to the parking garage. Standing just inside, Lu Xiaoyun’s eyes gleamed as she looked at Shen Yixiao. Suddenly, she opened her coat to reveal the seductive lingerie beneath.

Her pure and delicate image belied such a provocative and enticing gesture. Shen Yixiao strode back eagerly, unable to resist, and embraced the little temptress before him. They clung to each other, kissing passionately for a while, so engrossed that they paid no mind to the possibility of someone emerging from the elevator at any moment.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. I couldn’t deny the pain and resentment I felt at that moment. After all, I had given my youth, my future, everything to love Shen Yixiao.

And all he did was destroy me in the name of love.

After their entanglement lasted for about five minutes, they finally parted reluctantly.

Shen Yixiao glanced back repeatedly as he got into his car and drove away.

Lu Xiaoyun smiled with satisfaction and returned to the elevator.

I guessed that now they weren’t just meeting at the apartment—they were essentially living together. The furniture Shen Yixiao and I had bought together, the little trinkets filled with happy memories, were all now hers to enjoy.

Shen Yixiao hadn’t even noticed that the pair of little clay dolls—our precious tokens of love—were missing.

I pulled out a pack of cigarettes from the car, wanting to light one to ease my emotions, but in the end, I put it back. I decided to break every bad habit I had picked up from being with Shen Yixiao.

—

Back home, the housekeeper had already prepared dinner.

Shen Yixiao was upstairs taking a shower. I had no appetite, so I went straight upstairs.

After spending nearly an entire day with Lu Xiaoyun, he needed to wash off her scent. Sitting on the bed, listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, all I felt was a sharp discomfort.

“Wifey, you’re back. Auntie said you were out all morning—” Shen Yixiao emerged, speaking to me naturally.

His voice abruptly stopped. His gaze fixed tightly on my hair.

I raised my hand to touch my hair and asked deliberately, “How does it look? Pretty?”

When Shen Yixiao and I first met, I always wore long black hair. He loved that pure, innocent look. But we both changed, switching hairstyles again and again. He often longed for those days.

Later, I grew my black long hair again because I wanted to make him happy.

I became whatever version of myself he liked.

But we both knew we could never go back. He could see my shadow in Lu Xiaoyun, but he could no longer find the feelings he once had in me.

“Who told you to cut your hair?” Shen Yixiao strode over, angrily demanding.

“I did. Long hair is tiring to manage,” I replied with a faint smile. “Why are you so upset?”

His face darkened, eyes burning with anger. “I told you, you look best with black long hair. You know exactly what I like, so why would you cut it off?”

My smile slowly faded. I wanted to confront him, but I still needed to get money and the documents from him to leave.

“Yixiao, if you truly love someone, it doesn’t matter what she becomes. Even if there’s someone else who resembles her, no one can replace her,” I said, rising, my words layered with meaning.

Hearing me, Shen Yixiao perhaps felt guilty, and his anger vanished immediately. Was he thinking of Lu Xiaoyun?

He controlled his emotions and apologized, “Wifey, I’m sorry. I just can’t get used to your new style. No matter what, you are my greatest love, and that will never change.”

He came over and hugged me, his lips pressing against my ear as he murmured his apologies and love.

I stiffened all over, suppressing my inner resistance and disgust, then slowly wrapped my arms around his lean waist. His waist was devoid of any fat, with perfect abs and obliques, earning him the title of “Most Attractive Husband” on a show.

Lu Xiaoyun must have felt so happy holding him, right?

“Ugh!” I couldn’t hold back my nausea any longer. I pushed Shen Yixiao away and rushed into the bathroom.

Since my rebirth, my stomach had become very sensitive—emotional turmoil often triggered violent bouts of vomiting.

Shen Yixiao followed me in, his face full of concern as he crouched beside me, patting my back. “What’s wrong? Why are you vomiting so badly all of a sudden?”

After vomiting, I weakly got up. “It’s nothing, just some side effects from the medication I’ve been taking recently.”

He didn’t think much of it and started persuading me not to take any more random drugs.

Helping me out of the bathroom, he continued, “The company’s anniversary celebration is this weekend. You have to go—stay in good spirits.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

Shen Yixiao had a custom gown made for me, and the next day it was delivered to our home for a fitting. He knew my figure well—without asking, the size fit perfectly.

The dress was adorned with blue diamonds, dreamy and ethereal. The fringe at the hem delicately enhanced my calves, making it exceptionally captivating.

“Mrs. Shen, your husband is really thoughtful. This is our brand’s latest haute couture, reserved six months ago. We wanted to take your measurements, but he said no, saying he remembered your size perfectly,” the brand’s staff said enviously, praising Shen Yixiao.

I just smiled. The whole world praised him as the best man, and I was the luckiest woman.

“Mr. Shen also ordered a white evening gown for you, probably planning to surprise you personally. He wanted us to deliver this mermaid dress first,” she added.

After trying on the dress, the staff left.

I took off the gown and tossed it aside, feeling not a trace of joy or surprise.

Sitting on the sofa, lost in thought, my phone rang.

An unfamiliar number made me pause. When I answered, Aunt Yang’s warm voice came through. “Xiaoyue, it’s me, Aunt Yang. Last time I wanted you to stay for dinner, but you said you had plans and would come next time. I’ve been thinking about it. Would you like to come over these days?”

Before I left last time, Aunt Yang had insisted on keeping my number, but she hadn’t contacted me until now.

I hadn’t expected her to reach out first and was momentarily at a loss for words. “Aunt Yang, well…”

“Mom, who are you talking to?” Suddenly, Xu Zhengnan’s voice came from the other side.

Aunt Yang chuckled, “Xiaoyue, do you remember? Our old neighbor, the daughter of Uncle Li and Aunt Bai. She came back a few days ago, and I gave her my number.”

I held my breath, strangely curious about how Xu Zhengnan would respond.