Volume 1, Chapter 8: You Are, After All, My Person

Before I turned seventeen, the relationship between us was more than friendship, but less than love. That hazy, ambiguous connection withered the moment I met Shen Yixiao.

"I have a faint memory of it—you were a hopeless romantic," Xu Zhengnan remarked in a dry tone. Even over the phone, I could feel my face burning. Back then, just like my parents, he had tried his best to dissuade me from being with Shen Yixiao, but I hadn't taken his words to heart; I had even said some very hurtful things to him. Thinking back on it now, I was no different from a fool. A sense of melancholy washed over me; it turned out the only impression he had left of me was that I was a foolish, lovesick girl. Last time at the hotel, he had handed me a pack of tissues and left. He clearly had nothing left to say to me, not even enough to warrant a catch-up.

Auntie Yang retorted, displeased, "What 'hopeless romantic'? Little Yue is doing just fine now. Didn't you watch that show? Shen Yixiao treats her very well. Don't be so sarcastic!"

Xu Zhengnan let out a scoff and said nothing more.

I tightened my grip on the phone. "Auntie Yang, I’ve been a bit busy lately, so I might not be able to make it, but I’ll come to see you when I have some free time."

"Oh, alright then. By the way, Little Yue, did you know your parents are coming back?" Auntie Yang asked.

My heart skipped a beat, and my emotions surged with overwhelming intensity. Regret, guilt, and pain washed over me like a tide, consuming my heart. Even my voice trembled as I spoke: "When... when are they coming back?"

In my previous life, I had lost almost all contact with my parents. I had poured my entire soul into Shen Yixiao, always fantasizing that once we made something of ourselves, I would go back to them and prove that our youthful impulsiveness hadn't been a mistake. But when I finally returned home carrying countless expensive gifts, the house had long been empty. I hadn't even asked the neighbors; I had simply turned and left in a hurry.

Auntie Yang pondered for a moment. "It seems... it seems to be in a week. They’ve been living abroad for several years now, and they suddenly called to tell me they were returning."

My heart hammered against my ribs, and images of my parents’ past affection for me flooded my mind. Shen Yixiao wasn't worth a single hair on their heads. I must have been blind to ever think that romance was more important than family.

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for telling me, Auntie Yang." After I hung up, I felt both joyful and terrified. Just as I was wondering whether I should go back to find my parents, Auntie Yang brought Su Ying over. Because of our close friendship, she had always been free to come and go as she pleased in my home.

As soon as Su Ying entered, she slumped onto the sofa, crestfallen. "Sigh."

"What's wrong?" I asked nonchalantly, just as I always had.

"That guy I met online? It didn't work out," Su Ying wailed. "Is it really that hard to find a man who is devoted and treats me well? Yueyue, can't you spare a bit of your good fortune for me?" She sounded like she was joking, but she meant every word. She always used Shen Yixiao as the standard for the men she dated, but she had never succeeded.

Before I could answer, Su Ying suddenly noticed the blue evening gown on the sofa. She snatched it up, her eyes filled with envy. "My god, is this your new dress? Damn, it’s so beautiful!"

"Yes, it’s for the company anniversary this weekend. Shen Yixiao had it custom-made for me six months ago," I said, smiling, not missing the jealousy and resentment flickering in her eyes.

She stroked the dress as if she couldn't bear to let go and made an unreasonable request: "Let me try it on for a selfie, just for vanity's sake. Come on, Yueyue, with our relationship, you wouldn't refuse me, would you?"

I had always been generous with Su Ying. However, until I secured my money and identification documents, I couldn't let her know my plans to leave; she would certainly tell Shen Yixiao. Before I could even agree, she had already taken the dress to the guest bedroom on the first floor, moving with practiced familiarity. I clenched my hands, forcing down the anger and disgust rising in my chest.

A few minutes later, Su Ying emerged. She was fuller than I was, and the dress wouldn't zip up at all. Yet, she refused to give up, sucking in her stomach until she finally forced the zipper closed.

"It's just okay, I guess. It seems just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's pretty," she said, spinning around in front of me to make a forced, biting remark before slinking back to take it off.

Once she had tried on the dress, Su Ying finally stated the purpose of her visit: she wanted to attend our company's anniversary party this year and hoped I could get her an invitation. I readily agreed; it wasn't a difficult favor to grant.

Su Ying happily hooked her arm through mine, projecting an air of intimacy. Shen Yixiao happened to see this scene as he walked in.

"Oh, look who it is—the big-shot CEO actually has time to come home?" Su Ying said loudly, trying to seize the initiative.

Sure enough, Shen Yixiao’s gaze went straight to her, and I could feel the excitement radiating from her expression. "I’m here to mooch off your cooking again. You don't mind, do you?"

Shen Yixiao looked at me, his gaze instantly softening. He walked over and pulled me into his arms, ignoring Su Ying entirely as he kissed my forehead. "Of course I don't mind. My wife's best friend is here for dinner—how could I possibly mind?"

I forced a smile, feeling nothing.

Su Ying shrieked, "Damn, we were classmates, you know. Is that all I am now—just your wife's best friend?"

Shen Yixiao raised an eyebrow, his smile charming. "And what else would you be?"

Su Ying wanted to retort, but as soon as she met his eyes, she bit her lip shyly and hummed, falling silent. I watched it all, finding it quite amusing.

Just then, my gaze fell on Shen Yixiao’s cuff. There was a lipstick stain on it.

"Yixiao, your clothes are dirty," I pointed to the spot, then stared intently at his face.

Both Shen Yixiao and Su Ying’s eyes landed on the lipstick stain. On the white cuff, right next to the gold button, the fiery red mark was blinding. I hadn't worn such a vibrant shade of lipstick in a very long time.

"Wife, this must have been an accidental smudge from Secretary Lu's lipstick. She occasionally comes in to hand me files while I'm working, and she must have brushed against the desk," Shen Yixiao explained, masking his momentary panic with a calm demeanor.

Secretary Lu. It was always Secretary Lu.

Shen Yixiao’s brilliance lay in the fact that he never rushed to distance himself from Lu Xiaoyun. He used their professional interactions to rationalize the occasional slip-ups—half-truth, half-lie—leaving me unable to judge the reality.

"I see. Is Secretary Lu seeing someone?" I asked deliberately. "She seems to enjoy dressing up more than before. It looks a lot like she has a boyfriend."

Su Ying listened from the side, her eyes fixed on me. There was amusement in her gaze, and mockery. She likely saw me as a fool kept in the dark, looking like a circus monkey—clueless and pathetic—which surely brought her great satisfaction.

She chimed in, "Definitely. A woman dresses for the one she loves. I just wonder what kind of boyfriend the beautiful Secretary Lu has found. Mr. Shen, since she’s your employee, shouldn't you be keeping an eye on things?"

What a choice of words: "Since she's your person." Both Shen Yixiao and I turned to look at her.