Chapter Forty-Four: Arriving Just in Time

Zhou Meiniang gazed out at the vast, beautiful land before her. Yet, in the end, none of it would ever truly belong to her. She had been blessed with striking beauty, but it had only become a burden she could not cast off. Her father had named her after the first empress in history, hoping she might one day rule as that legendary sovereign did, commanding respect from all quarters. But in the end, she had not even garnered a fraction of that woman's attention or glory.

Looking down from the mountain, Zhou Meiniang pressed her crimson lips together. If she were to leap now, it would all be over, wouldn't it? From that moment on, the world would never again know a woman called Zhou Meiniang. All her troubles would be solved, once and for all.

But just as she steeled herself to jump, she suddenly spotted a figure halfway up the slope, drenched in sweat, scrambling upward with desperate speed, shouting her name again and again.

Shen Guodong!

The sight of him left Zhou Meiniang utterly astonished. How could he possibly be here? It was unimaginable—so shocking she almost couldn't comprehend it.

Why would Shen Guodong appear in this place?

Zhou Meiniang had thought her resolve was firm, that she was ready to leave this world behind. But with the arrival of that man, everything suddenly seemed less certain. Her slender body trembled, tears unwittingly streaming down her cheeks. Seeing Shen Guodong's anxious face made her feel, perhaps for the first time in a long while, that life in this world was still worth living.

In the end, Zhou Meiniang could not bring herself to do it. She waited for a while, and at last, Shen Guodong, gasping for breath, reached her side. His labored panting and flushed face were almost comically endearing.

"Sister Zhou, don't do anything foolish," he pleaded, winded, hands braced on his knees, his face etched with worry. Seeing that she was unharmed, he finally allowed himself to relax.

"How did you know I was here?" Zhou Meiniang asked curiously. If Shen Guodong hadn't come, she really might have ended her life right then and there. But now, looking back, she realized how much better it was to be alive. After all, without life, nothing else mattered.

"I guessed," Shen Guodong admitted, still shaken. "Whenever you were down before, you always said you wanted to come see Zijin Mountain. Luckily, you didn't do anything rash!"

"What could I possibly do? I just came to clear my mind, like before. But since you're here, stay and enjoy the view with me," Zhou Meiniang said, her fox-like eyes casting a meaningful glance at Shen Guodong before she turned back to the scenery.

He nodded slightly and sat beside her, watching as she perched on the grass, her pointed chin resting on her knees. From where he sat, a flash of white caught his eye, making him avert his gaze at once, not daring to linger. Even the most self-disciplined man would struggle in such circumstances.

He reminded himself constantly: Zhou Meiniang was married! And he had Liu Yueru in his own life.

"Guodong," Zhou Meiniang suddenly called out.

Her tender voice carried with it a captivating fragrance, making Shen Guodong's mind waver. It was as if invisible fingers were plucking at his heartstrings. Yet after all he had endured, his self-control remained strong. He turned to look at her—and saw a face of striking allure, capable of toppling kingdoms and enchanting all who beheld it.

His heart pounded furiously in his chest!

True, Shen Guodong had known Zhou Meiniang in his previous life, but he had never experienced anything like this. Back then, she had always seemed like an older sister. But now, this feeling—like the fluttering heartbeats of first love—how had it come to be?

A sudden laugh escaped from Zhou Meiniang, unable to suppress it any longer. The sight of Shen Guodong's discomfort struck her as both touching and amusing. Her laughter, muffled behind her hand, seemed to set the mountaintop ablaze.

He felt his mouth go dry. With such a breathtaking beauty at his side, Shen Guodong struggled to keep himself in check. Once, he had looked down on those ancient kings who lost themselves to beauty, neglecting their kingdoms. But now, he found himself understanding, just a little, how they must have felt.

With a companion like this, who could spare a thought for ruling the world?

"What are you laughing at?" Shen Guodong asked, curiosity piqued.

"It's nothing." Zhou Meiniang smiled, turning her gaze back to the distant landscape.

Shen Guodong was at a loss for words, uncertain of what to say or do. After a long silence, she spoke again. "Do you know? If you hadn't come today, I might not have found the courage to go on living. Perhaps right now, I'd be a corpse at the foot of Zijin Mountain, my soul wandering this world."

Her words squeezed at Shen Guodong's heart. He stared at her in shock.

"Why? Isn't life worth living? Why would you end your life because of a worthless man? If you really can't go on, just get a divorce. Why bother caring about what others think? Even in ancient times, people divorced—how much more so now!

"Isn't living alone perfectly fine? If Wang Weihua dares lay a hand on you again, tell me. I guarantee I'll make him behave himself!"

Shen Guodong's voice was unyielding, his attitude suddenly turning cold and sharp, as if nothing in the world could stop him.

Seeing this resolute man before her, Zhou Meiniang was stunned, then gazed at Shen Guodong.

"Is it really possible?" Divorce! She had never even considered it before, but now Shen Guodong's words had awakened something in her. He was right—why not divorce?

She had no reason to care about public opinion. She'd only become trapped because she was too stubborn, too caught up in her own thoughts. Maybe for people in this era, divorce was deeply shameful. But so what?

"Why not? What's shameful about divorce? It just means two people can't go on together, that's all. Just live your own life.

"People scorn poverty, not divorce. As long as you have money, even if people gossip behind your back, no one will dare say a word to your face," Shen Guodong replied.

"Do you really believe that?" Zhou Meiniang asked incredulously. It was hard to imagine such words coming from a man in this male-dominated era. In the future, perhaps, it would be nothing out of the ordinary, but now, it was shocking—almost unbelievable.

In that moment, Zhou Meiniang felt that every inch of Shen Guodong shimmered with an irresistible charm.