Volume 1 Chapter 13 Separation

Both women were rushed to the hospital. Although Song Nanyi had inhaled a significant amount of water, her physical constitution was excellent, and after being resuscitated, she suffered no lasting complications.

Pei Yin came to visit her, her eyes rimmed with red. "How did this even happen? Why were you drowning? If you can't swim, stay away from the water. You really are enough to worry anyone."

"It was an accident," she replied with a bitter smile.

Pei Yin’s voice choked with a mixture of sorrow and rage. "That Huo Shixu is truly a piece of work. He isn't even here to take care of you; he's off keeping that mistress company. Divorce him—divorce him right now. He’s really gotten too full of himself."

"He loves Su Yu'an now," Song Nanyi said with a weak smile. "We were going to divorce anyway, so there's no point in fussing over it."

It wasn't that Pei Yin wanted to fuss. It was that Huo Shixu was being an absolute bully. Song Nanyi was lucky this time; she hadn't drowned. If she had, he wouldn't have had to lift a finger to become a widower and remarry. She couldn't swallow this injustice on Song Nanyi's behalf.

"Has he agreed to the divorce yet?"

Song Nanyi shook her head. "Not yet."

"What exactly does he want? Playing around behind your back while keeping his legal wife on a string—he doesn't have a shred of decency in him."

Song Nanyi’s eyes dimmed. In her previous life, he had abandoned her on the delivery table. In this life, when faced with the choice, he had chosen to save Su Yu'an first. The heartache of two lifetimes had shattered her completely. This man was beyond saving.

"Pei Yin, please have Lawyer Lian draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible. And also..." Given the current situation, a peaceful divorce with Huo Shixu was impossible. "...have her draft the divorce petition and the division of assets as well. I need to be prepared for a long battle."

"I'll tell her. Just focus on recovering your health," Pei Yin said, her heart aching for her friend.

Song Nanyi often felt guilty toward Pei Yin. Before she married, Pei Yin had warned her that Huo Shixu was not worth marrying. Song Nanyi had cut her off for three years because of it. "Pei Yin, do you still blame me?"

"Blame you for what? For being terminally love-struck?" As her best friend, Pei Yin had warned her many times that Huo Shixu was not a good man, but she hadn't listened. Now that she had suffered for it, how could she bear to blame her? "Learning this lesson might not be a bad thing. At least you still have a chance to make a different choice in the future."

As a clear-headed friend, she hoped more than anything that Song Nanyi wouldn't be coaxed back by a few words from Huo Shixu.

"Nanyi, are you truly determined this time? Or is there still room for reconciliation between you two?"

"Between us..." Song Nanyi understood what Pei Yin was worried about. "...there is no possibility left. The marriage must end; it's just that the process probably won't be smooth."

Song Nanyi's firm attitude put Pei Yin's heart at ease. "Then rest assured. I will definitely help you, and so will Lian Peng. We will work on this together."

Song Nanyi nodded. To emerge from the darkness, one must first find the courage to face the sunlight.

She knew this would not be easy. Without love, the trap of affection is broken; without affection, the entire scheme is shattered. Her heart was already dead.

After Pei Yin left, Song Nanyi took a short nap. When she woke up, Huo Shixu was sitting by her bedside, watching her intently.

"Awake?"

Song Nanyi propped herself up to sit. "Yes."

"Why did you push Yu'an into the pool?"

There was no emotion in his eyes, no concern for her condition—only an aggressive interrogation.

Song Nanyi gave a faint, mocking laugh. "Which eye saw me push her into the pool? Did she tell you that?"

"I've seen the security footage. Right and wrong are clear at a glance."

"I think you might as well throw your eyes away," Song Nanyi retorted without hesitation.

It had gone from a time when she could do no wrong in his eyes, to now, where no matter what happened, it was always her fault. Huo Shixu was no longer the man he once was. Song Nanyi felt nothing but profound disappointment.

"Tell me why! Nanyi, tell me, why can't you tolerate a poor, defenseless girl? She never got in your way. She is so humble, so considerate, so sensible—why must you target her at every turn?"

It seemed that ever since Su Yu'an appeared, the question he asked her most was "Why?"

Why was she not sensible? Why was she not magnanimous? Why was she not kind? Why did she have to be so petty?

Song Nanyi didn't know what kind of answer Huo Shixu wanted. She had clearly been turning a blind eye to everything. She clearly didn't care what they did together anymore. Yet, he was still pushing her like this.

Song Nanyi lowered her lashes, hiding the brokenness and sorrow in her eyes. Since her heart had died, she didn't feel as much pain as she had in her past life. She only felt sorry for herself, for being so blind as to choose such a man in the first place.

"Huo Shixu, if you care about Su Yu'an so much, why don't you just marry her?" Her eyes were filled with mockery.

Huo Shixu’s ink-black eyes glared at her in anger. "Song Nanyi, what exactly do you mean by that?"

"I've looked into it. Before a divorce is finalized, we can start with a separation. Huo Shixu, let's spend some time apart." Song Nanyi didn't want to keep arguing like this. In her previous life, she and Huo Shixu had fought far too much. She had hoped to avoid repeating that cycle in this life, but it seemed she hadn't escaped it after all.

"You take good care of your Yu'an. Once I'm discharged, I will move out."

She wasn't asking for his permission; she was simply informing him. She knew he wouldn't accept her arrangements. With nowhere to vent his anger, Huo Shixu kicked over the trash can by the bedside as he stormed out.

During her seven days in the hospital, Huo Shixu never came to visit her again.

Pei Yin came to pick her up when she was discharged.

"Pei Yin, I want to separate from Huo Shixu, but I don't want my parents to worry. Can I stay at your place for a while?" Song Nanyi actually didn't want to trouble her. "Once I find a suitable apartment, I'll move out."

Pei Yin glanced at her and picked up her bags. "What apartment? Just stay at my place, just like in the old days."

"Won't that be too much trouble?" Song Nanyi followed her with small steps. "I can pay rent."

"Sure. One hundred million a month, provided you can afford it."

Song Nanyi took Pei Yin's arm and shook her head with a smile. "I can't afford that. I really can't."

"Then just behave and stay," she said, affectionately pinching the tip of her nose.

...

When Huo Shixu brought Su Yu'an home, only Sister Lu was there, dozing in a chair. He coughed, and she finally realized someone had entered. "Sir, you're back."

"Where is the Madam?"

"Madam? Isn't she... in the hospital?"

Song Nanyi hadn't returned? Had she gone to her parents' house? Based on what he knew of her, if she had gone home, the Song family would have already called to demand an explanation.

She hadn't gone to her parents', and she hadn't come home. Where did she go?

Huo Shixu pulled out his phone and dialed Song Nanyi's number. She didn't answer.

"Brother Shixu, is Sister Nanyi angry? It's all my fault. I'm so weak, and you're always running around for me, ignoring her. Sister Nanyi must have misunderstood. Let me go and explain it to her." Su Yu'an wore an expression of deep self-reproach.

The man kept his face stern. "You go rest. I'm going out."

Huo Shixu got into his car and drove away.