Knock, knock, knock.
“Xiaoshu, your dad and the others are back,” Pei Lanhua said as she knocked on the door.
Rong Shu didn’t think much of it. She set down the photo album, got up, and left her room. When she saw the two men coming in, she called out happily, “Dad, Brother.”
Pei Yu and Rong Qingwen looked over at Rong Shu.
“Xiaoshu, I brought you a gift. Come see if you like it,” Pei Yu said.
Rong Shu hurried over, delighted. “What is it?”
Pei Yu set the many bags he was carrying on the coffee table.
He took out a branded jewelry box and handed it to her. “Open it and see.”
Rong Shu took it eagerly. Inside was an exquisitely crafted gold bracelet. “Thank you, Brother. I love it.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Pei Yu reached out and affectionately ruffled Rong Shu’s hair.
Pei Yu had also bought Pei Lanhua a gold bracelet that suited her. He had brought them each a set of skincare products, tea and liquor for Rong Qingwen, and local specialties as well.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Only when she was home did Rong Shu feel truly at ease.
“Xiaoshu, when are you due?” Pei Yu asked with concern.
With her belly so big, she did look as though she were in the late stages of pregnancy.
“Two more months until my due date,” Rong Shu said.
“I’m sure Xiaoshu is having a girl,” Pei Lanhua said with a smile.
Rong Shu nodded. “She is a girl.”
“Did you find out the baby’s sex?” Rong Qingwen asked.
Pei Lanhua realized what he meant and grew tense too.
“Yes, but Old Madam Sheng cares a great deal about this child.”
Rong Qingwen let out a breath of relief. “That’s good. As long as you have the child, you and Tingchen will eventually work things out.”
Rong Shu lowered her eyes, her heart suddenly heavy. She didn’t know how to tell them that Sheng Tingchen had already brought up divorce.
But there was no way she could keep it from them. Besides, she had decided to move out of Qianshuiwan and come home.
Never mind.
She would wait until after dinner to tell them.
Pei Lanhua prepared a lavish dinner.
Pei Yu had recently started a technology company with a friend. When they were setting it up two years ago, Rong Qingwen had given Pei Yu start-up capital without hesitation. The company was now doing very well, focusing mainly on AI. Pei Yu had traveled this time to negotiate a partnership, and the talks had gone smoothly.
Rong Qingwen, meanwhile, was dealing with the sale of his company.
The betrothal gifts from the Sheng family had given the company a chance to catch its breath, but with the business climate now poor, transforming the company had proved extremely difficult. It simply wasn’t viable anymore.
He was getting older and no longer had the energy he once did. He was very optimistic about Pei Yu’s company, which would begin its financing round at the end of the year. So he planned to sell his own company and invest all the proceeds in Pei Yu’s.
He also shared some good news: Rong Qingwen was planning to register his marriage to Pei Lanhua.
Pei Lanhua’s eyes grew red.
After years at his side, she had finally gotten an answer. Rong Shu had no objections. She knew her father had held back from marrying Pei Lanhua because, deep down, he still thought of her mother.
She had never understood why her father, such a good man, had been left by her mother, who divorced him and walked away.
But that no longer mattered.
On such a happy day, she couldn’t bring herself to ruin the mood.
Still, in the end, she spoke up. “Dad, Auntie Pei, Brother… Sheng Tingchen is going to divorce me.”
The words fell.
The dining room fell abruptly silent. Everyone’s expression grew grave, especially Rong Qingwen’s. He lowered his head, his face tense.
The outcome had seemed inevitable; they just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
The Rong and Sheng families had become in-laws, but there had been no wedding ceremony—only a marriage registration. In the past six months or so, the families had had no contact.
Sheng Tingchen had never once set foot in the Rong Family Home. The Sheng family had sent no gifts for the Dragon Boat Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival, either. Whenever Rong Shu went home alone, Rong Qingwen and Pei Lanhua prepared holiday gifts for her to take to the Sheng family.
When she delivered them, Old Madam Sheng accepted them politely, but Rong Shu knew she gave them all to the servants at the Sheng Family Old Residence.
Shen Yurong, on the other hand, had a servant throw them straight into the trash in front of Rong Shu, telling her not to have her family send such low-class things again.
Sheng Tingchen had warned her not to do things that were pointless.
In a marriage so unequal, it had only been a matter of time before they went their separate ways.
Rong Shu pressed her lips together, then continued. “But we’ll wait until the baby is born. I’ve also promised Professor Jiang that I’ll go to Stanford University for further study next February.”
Pei Yu was the first to break the silence. “It’s good that you’re going to study. You’re so capable, Xiaoshu. You shouldn’t be trapped in a marriage. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”
Rong Shu smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Brother.”
Rong Qingwen sighed. The sigh held endless helplessness and guilt. “If it’s divorce, then divorce. This is all my fault. Ordinary people like us really aren’t in the same league as a powerful family like the Shengs.”
Rong Shu’s eyes reddened. Suddenly, the pain she had endured lately didn’t seem like much. She had her family’s support; they would always be there for her. There was no obstacle they couldn’t overcome.
Seeing this, Pei Lanhua grabbed a tissue and hurried to dab at Rong Shu’s reddened eyes, comforting her.
In the end, the family enjoyed dinner together.
Meanwhile, in the South Suburban No. 1 Villa District, the villas had been there for more than twenty years. It was an old wealthy neighborhood, and its facilities had grown worn with age.
A Bentley slowly pulled up in front of the gate of Villa No. 12—the villa the Rong family had sold.
The window lowered slowly, revealing a handsome, perfectly sculpted profile. He looked toward the villa, where every light was on.
The warm yellow streetlight reflected in his eyes, but his expression was unmistakably conflicted and desolate.
He looked away and lit a cigarette.
Just then, his phone vibrated. He picked it up and answered, his voice gentle. “What is it, Qingyue?”
An Qingyue’s coquettish voice came through. “Brother, when are you getting here? I’m starving, and Tingchen won’t let me eat first.”
A low, indulgent voice sounded from the other end of the call. “Who was it who asked me to remind her to watch what she eats? And now she’s blaming me?”
An Qingyue huffed.
“If you’re hungry, eat first. I’ll be there soon.”
After hanging up, Su Qingzhi stubbed out his cigarette and took one last look out the window. Then he rolled it up and drove away from the villa.