Volume One, Chapter Four: She Is Timid

Song Nanyi nodded calmly.

What she cared about was not how much of Huo Shixu’s fortune she could claim, but whether he would agree to a clean, unambiguous divorce.

The two Song and Huo families were intertwined through numerous interconnected companies, with mutual shares tangled in complicated interests. Even if he had a new lover, he might not be willing to sever ties with her recklessly.

To untangle these matters properly would require legal assistance.

“Lian Peng, please draft a reasonable property division plan as soon as possible, without harming the Song family’s interests. The sooner, the better,” she said with urgency.

Lian Peng sensed her desperation.

Such divorces were common among the upper class; they weren’t difficult, but they did take time.

“Understood.”

Pei Yin couldn’t help but protest, “You’re being too generous. He betrayed your marriage and should pay a price. You don’t have to make him lose everything, but he should feel the sting—a lesson learned. Your leniency will only pave the way for his happy life with that mistress.”

Song Nanyi understood the reasoning.

Before a man who did not love her, whether she wept bitterly or begged weakly, all she would gain was humiliation.

In her past life, she had done this too many times.

Yet Huo Shixu still loved Su Yuan, loved her so deeply he seemed willing to give his life for her.

Compared to the suffocation she endured then, now she thought more about escape.

“I just want to get divorced quickly.”

Pei Yin didn’t know what had happened to Song Nanyi recently. She only looked at her with confused, sympathetic eyes.

After a long moment, she said, “Lian Peng, just follow Nanyi’s wishes. No matter what, scoundrels like him will get their comeuppance sooner or later.”

They left the law firm.

Pei Yin invited Song Nanyi out for a drink, but she declined. She had more important things to attend to.

“Pei Yin, another day, okay?”

Pei Yin didn’t press, patting her arm gently. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. It’ll turn out fine.”

Song Nanyi nodded. She knew that.

She went to the hospital and registered at the obstetrics and gynecology department.

She did not want the tragedy of her past life to repeat. The first thing was to confirm whether she was pregnant.

“When was your last menstrual period?” the doctor asked.

“On the 18th of last month,” Song Nanyi replied.

“When was your last sexual activity?”

“The day before yesterday.”

“Let’s do a blood test first,” the doctor said, handing her a form.

The results came quickly—negative. She exhaled in relief. “Not pregnant.”

The doctor took the form back, cautioning her, “A negative test now doesn’t guarantee you’re not pregnant. The intercourse two days ago wasn’t during your safe period, and even safe periods aren’t entirely reliable. If you don’t want to conceive, you can take emergency contraception within 72 hours.”

“Please prescribe the medication for me,” she said.

…

Outside the hospital, her phone rang. It was Huo Shixu.

“Hello?”

“Nanyi, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

Song Nanyi guessed it was about Su Yuan. Otherwise, Huo Shixu wouldn’t have used such a conciliatory tone and the word “discuss.”

“What is it?”

“Yuan’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. I want to throw her a grand birthday party. What do you think?”

There was an undercurrent of barely concealed excitement and longing in Huo Shixu’s voice.

Song Nanyi remained silent.

He seemed to realize something. “Yuan doesn’t really have any family left and has been reluctant to celebrate her birthday. It was my insistence to hold one for her—to lift her spirits and help alleviate her condition. We’re doing a good deed and should show more compassion, don’t you think?”

Song Nanyi felt a bitter pang in her chest.

Compassion?

Before she could reply, Su Yuan’s voice came through the phone, soft and delicate, as if clinging to Huo Shixu’s neck coquettishly.

“Brother Shixu, I don’t need a birthday party. Please don’t trouble Sister Nanyi.”

Song Nanyi closed her eyes. “Alright.”

“Then I’ll bring Yuan over to see you later. You can discuss with her and try to make it a perfect birthday she will cherish. It will be a good deed for us all.”

“Okay.”

In Song Nanyi’s studio, Huo Shixu personally brought Su Yuan.

The girl wore a white dress trimmed with lace; pearls and rhinestones adorned the waistband, exquisitely crafted.

Song Nanyi had seen the dress in a magazine.

It was probably a gift from Huo Shixu, given its expensive price.

“Sister Nanyi,” Su Yuan looked up timidly, but the smile on her lips betrayed the happiness of being cherished. “Actually, a simple birthday celebration is fine. I don’t have any special requests. You and Brother Shixu have already been very good to me.”

Song Nanyi studied the girl, whose flushed face betrayed either nervousness or guilt, but her own expression remained calm.

In her past life, her impression of Su Yuan was much the same.

The girl rarely spoke, and whatever she said was always met with moist eyes looking back at her.

That fragile vulnerability was often the spark for fights between Song Nanyi and Huo Shixu.

She had been hysterical in front of Su Yuan.

And desperate to salvage the marriage in front of Huo Shixu, disregarding her own dignity and pride.

She had completely forgotten that she was no longer the one in Huo Shixu’s heart, nor was he the man who had once cared for her through painful nights with warm red sugar water.

“If you truly have no demands, then I’ll prepare the birthday as if it were my own,” Song Nanyi said lightly.

“I’ll follow your lead, sister.”

Huo Shixu gently patted Su Yuan’s back and spoke softly, “Wait in the car for me. I need to talk to Nanyi for a moment.”

“Okay.”

After Su Yuan left, Huo Shixu’s face darkened.

“Yuan is young, timid, and has anxiety. When you talk to her in the future, try to soften your tone.”

He was reprimanding her, though she had done nothing.

At that moment, Song Nanyi felt a chill in her heart.

Perhaps sensing his tone had been too harsh, Huo Shixu softened, “I’m not blaming you. She’s a patient. We should be more tolerant. Don’t overthink it.”

“Huo Shixu, have you fallen in love with her?”

She had not intended to expose him so soon.

In fact, after her rebirth, she had no plans to reveal this.

But his impatience was so blatant, as if he had already forgotten that she was still his wife.

“Huo Shixu, if you love someone else, we can get a divorce.”

Huo Shixu’s eyes flickered, surprised by how calmly she spoke.

“What else would you say besides divorce?” he asked, his brow furrowed in frustration as he looked at her delicate face. “Can’t we just live our lives quietly? Always bringing up these things—don’t you think it hurts our marriage? No one can keep indulging you.”

In her past life, Song Nanyi had argued for divorce the most during their fights.

Each time, she forgave him only after his kneeling apologies.

When had things changed?

The moment Huo Shixu fell for Su Yuan, he no longer cared if she truly wanted a divorce.

“Enough of this. Don’t let your mind wander,” Huo Shixu said, seeing her silence. “Work hard to prepare Yuan’s birthday party. I’m heading back now.”

…