The hospital corridor was spacious and brightly lit, carrying the sharp scent of disinfectant.
Following the directions she had been given, Wen Wan found Room 308, only to discover two armed guards standing outside. A sign reading “No Visitors Allowed” hung on the door.
“Comrade, I’m here to deliver a letter,” Wen Wan told the nurse on duty, taking out the envelope.
The nurse accepted it and said in a businesslike tone, “Leave it here. It will be passed along.”
Wen Wan hesitated.
“Doesn’t it need a signature?”
“No.” The nurse remained indifferent. “You may leave now.”
Wen Wan turned and walked away, her mind filled with questions.
She had not even caught a glimpse of “Commander Li,” let alone gathered any useful information.
Leaving the hospital, she headed directly to her parents’ home.
According to the events of her previous life, the Xu family might already have reported the Wen family. Once the official orders came down, her entire family would be sent away for political reeducation. The Wen family had been among the first to suffer.
She had to warn her brothers so they could prepare in advance.
And she also needed to divorce Xu Mingzhe.
As Wen Wan stepped out of the car, she saw Wen Lin walking out of the front gate.
Dressed in a sharp suit, he looked as though he was heading somewhere.
“Brother!”
Wen Wan hurried over.
Wen Lin turned around, surprise lighting up his handsome face.
“Wanwan? What brings you home all of a sudden?”
He glanced behind her.
“Mingzhe didn’t come with you?”
Lowering her voice, Wen Wan said, “Brother, I need to talk to you about something important.”
Wen Lin immediately understood.
Putting an arm around her shoulders, he guided her back into the courtyard.
“Come to my study.”
Wen Lin’s study was elegant yet modern. Contemporary oil paintings hung on the walls, while books from both China and abroad filled the shelves.
After closing the door, the relaxed expression vanished from his face.
“What happened?”
Wen Wan told him about delivering the letter to the hospital.
Wen Lin shook his head.
“I’ve heard rumors recently that the authorities are preparing to crack down on illegal economic activities. But as for this Commander Li, I’ve never heard of him.”
“Brother,” Wen Wan interrupted, “I had a nightmare last night.”
Wen Lin guided her to a chair.
“What did you dream about?”
“I dreamed…” She carefully chose her words. “Xu Mingzhe reported our family for colluding with foreign forces. Our home was confiscated. We were all sent away. Father suffered a heart attack and died on the journey. You couldn’t bear the blow and lost your mind. Second Brother was driven to hang himself.”
Her voice grew softer and softer.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around her teacup.
Wen Lin frowned and took her cold hands into his.
“Confiscation? Reeducation? Silly girl. Dreams are always the opposite of reality.”
“But this one felt so real.”
She looked up at him, anxiety filling her eyes.
“I dreamed that Xu Mingzhe had been involved with a woman named Lin Xiaoman for years. Together they transferred both our families’ assets. They even had a child.”
“Lin Xiaoman?”
A sharp look flashed through Wen Lin’s eyes.
“That pockmarked girl who sat beside you in high school?”
Wen Wan nodded.
“Brother, I can’t shake this feeling.”
Wen Lin’s expression turned serious.
“Wanwan, don’t go back to the Xu family for now. Stay here for a few days.”
He paused.
“Tomorrow I’ll check the accounts at our factory and see if anything unusual turns up.”
Wen Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Her eldest brother often appeared carefree, but when it truly mattered, he never failed.
If he investigated the books, he would definitely uncover the schemes Xu Mingzhe had been carrying out.
“There’s something else.”
Wen Wan hesitated.
“I want a divorce.”
“What?”
Wen Lin nearly jumped out of his chair.
“Did he mistreat you?”
Wen Wan shook her head.
“I’m just tired of this marriage.”
She couldn’t tell her brother about the insults and humiliation she had endured from Xu Mingzhe’s family.
If she did, he would march straight over to confront them, ruining her plans.
Wen Lin stared at her for a long moment before sighing.
“Fine. I’ll always support your decision.”
His eyes darkened.
“And if he really has a child with another woman, I’ll break his legs myself.”
That night, Wen Wan lay awake in bed.
For some reason, her thoughts drifted back to the incident earlier that day.
The unexpected kiss.
Heat crept into her ears.
She raised a hand and lightly touched her lips.
The burning sensation seemed to linger there.
Shaking her head, she forced herself to sleep.
The next morning, loud knocking woke her up.
“Wanwan, get up!”
Wen Lin’s voice came from outside.
“Your brother is taking you shopping!”
Rubbing her eyes, Wen Wan opened the door.
Wen Lin stood there in casual clothes, twirling a set of car keys and smiling brightly.
“This early?”
“Early?” He flicked her forehead. “It’s already nine o’clock!”
“Hurry and get dressed. We’re going to Nanjing Road. I’m buying you some new clothes.”
An hour later, dressed in a pale-yellow dress, Wen Wan followed her brother through the bustling streets of Nanjing Road.
The weather was beautiful.
Shops lined both sides of the avenue.
Crowds filled the sidewalks.
The lively scene left her momentarily dazed.
At this point in her previous life, she had been trapped in the Xu household, enduring endless torment from Zhang Cuihua and Xu Mingli.
After marriage, she had rarely been allowed to enjoy simple outings like this.
“What are you daydreaming about?”
Wen Lin slung an arm around her shoulders.
“Come on. Let’s check out the department store first. I heard they just received a shipment of imported fabrics.”
As they approached the entrance, a fashionable young woman walked toward them.
She appeared to be about the same age as Wen Wan.
Her hair was styled in fashionable waves.
Bright lipstick colored her lips.
A perfectly tailored qipao accentuated her figure.
Wen Wan’s fingers tightened around her handbag.
Even if the woman were reduced to ashes, she would still recognize that face.
Lin Xiaoman.
The woman who had run away with Xu Mingzhe and stolen their money.
The woman who had indirectly destroyed her family.
A flash of jealousy crossed Lin Xiaoman’s eyes before she plastered on a fake smile.
“Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Xu. Long time no see.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “Mrs. Xu,” her tone dripping with provocation.
Lin Xiaoman came from an ordinary family.
Back in school, she had been Wen Wan’s desk mate.
She was frequently bullied, and Wen Wan had always stood up for her.
They had once been inseparable friends.
Later, Wen Wan went abroad to study.
After returning home, she married Xu Mingzhe.
Though she had run into Lin Xiaoman a few times afterward, things were no longer the same.
In her previous life, Wen Wan had never paid much attention to the seemingly insignificant woman.
This time, she would not allow such betrayal to go unanswered.
Suppressing her anger, Wen Wan forced a smile.
“Comrade Lin works at the department store? Perfect. I’d like to buy a few things.”
“What a coincidence. I’m on duty today.”
Calculation flashed through Lin Xiaoman’s eyes.
“What would Mrs. Xu like to buy?”
“Imported wool yarn. British-made.”
Wen Wan intentionally chose something difficult.
She knew such items were usually unavailable.
As expected, Lin Xiaoman looked uncomfortable.
“We’re currently out of stock.”
“What about Swiss chocolates?”
“Sold out.”
“French perfume?”
Sweat began to form on Lin Xiaoman’s forehead.
“You need approval from management for that.”
Wen Wan let out a cold laugh.
“So everything requires approval. Why bother opening the store at all?”
She deliberately raised her voice.
“Or is Comrade Lin simply refusing to sell to me?”
Several nearby customers had already started paying attention.
Lin Xiaoman’s face shifted between pale and flushed.
“You misunderstand, Mrs. Xu. Those products are simply in short supply.”
“Really?”
Wen Wan pulled out a stack of foreign-exchange certificates from her handbag.
“I have foreign-exchange coupons. Is that still not enough?”
Lin Xiaoman’s eyes lit up.
On the black market, foreign-exchange certificates could be traded for several times their face value in cash.
But she quickly suppressed her greed.
“Rules are rules.”
Wen Wan turned toward Wen Lin.
“Brother, let’s shop at the Overseas Chinese Store across the street instead.”
She cast a meaningful glance at Lin Xiaoman.
“I’ve heard the staff there actually know how to treat customers.”
Then she smiled faintly.
“Unlike some people who look down on others.”