“Sang Wan…” On the other end of the phone, Lu Jinnian’s voice bristled with anger. “What kind of daughter‑in‑law are you supposed to be?”
If Yang Yan hadn’t casually mentioned in his morning briefing that tomorrow was the old madam’s birthday, Lu Jinnian would have completely forgotten. The moment Yang left, his first thought was to call and lay blame.
Lu Jinnian’s furious demand: “Did you forget what tomorrow is?”
Sang Wan glanced at the calendar on her phone. She remembered. Tomorrow was her mother‑in‑law Su Baohui’s birthday.
Every year before, she would remind Lu Jinnian a month in advance. Then he would call Su Baohui to ask how she wanted to celebrate, or what gift she desired. One phone call, and Su Baohui would gush over him as if he were the most filial son in the world.
Meanwhile, Sang Wan’s toil stretched across an entire month. She had to scour malls for gifts—jewelry, clothes, the latest autumn‑winter handbags and silk scarves. She had to plan the birthday feast.
If the celebration was outside, she had to find a private restaurant with refined décor, discreet luxury, and enough prestige, then send the options to Su Baohui for approval.
On the day itself, Sang Wan had to photograph everything: the elegant garden views, the lavish banquet hall, every dish as it was served, Su Baohui cuddling Lu Xiaomu, the perfect family portrait with son and daughter at her side. Then she’d send the photos over so Su Baohui could post them on her social feed.
If the birthday was held at home, Sang Wan had to book a Michelin chef and team, arriving early at the villa to prepare the grand meal.
The photo-taking segment was just as indispensable.
From start to finish, all Lu Jinnian ever needed was to make a single phone call.
But Sang Wan had to start working from the day she reminded him and keep busy until Su Baohui’s birthday was over, until every carefully curated post had gone out on Moments. Even then, she never received a single word of praise. She wasn’t even included in the family portrait. It had always been this way in past years.
But this year—first illness, then divorce—how could Sang Wan possibly remember to remind Lu Jinnian, let alone arrange everything?
Her voice was cool: “Lu Jinnian, we’re already divorced!”
“Sang Wan!!!” Lu Jinnian was clearly angry. “Until we’ve collected the divorce certificate, you’re still Mrs. Lu. As my daughter-in-law, you still have duties to fulfill! Or is it… you never intended to divorce at all, and this is just some retreat-to-advance trick to force me to come fetch you?”
Sang Wan sighed, speechless. “You’re overthinking.”
“In that case, then fulfill your duties properly!” Lu Jinnian’s tone was heavy. “Where are you? I’ll send the driver to pick you up.”
“No need. I’ll come over tomorrow at noon.” With that, Sang Wan hung up straightaway. She opened the job site, browsed through the listings to see if any new positions had been posted, and sent out another round of applications.
Ding! A WeChat message from Lu Zhiyi popped up on her screen.
[Sang Wan, tomorrow’s my mom’s birthday. Which restaurant did you book?]
Her gaze lingered on that form of address. She had been married to Lu Jinnian for six years. And in all that time, Lu Zhiyi had never once called her “sister-in-law.” In public and in private, it was always just her name.
She hadn’t thought much of it before. But now, belatedly, Sang Wan didn’t know whether to sigh at her own thick nerves—or pity herself for having been so pitiful all these years.
Su Baohui hated her. Lu Zhiyi didn’t like her either. All these years, had she endured only because Lu Jinnian once loved her enough? Or was it simply because she was foolish—good at deceiving herself?
Sang Wan didn’t know. And she no longer wanted to know. She opened WeChat and replied to Lu Zhiyi: [No idea.]
The next second, her phone rang.
On the other end, Lu Zhiyi’s voice was as arrogant and spoiled as ever.
“Sang Wan, what on earth are you doing? My mom’s birthday is tomorrow, and you still haven’t booked the restaurant?”
“Isn’t she your mom? Why is it always me who has to book it every year?”
“……”
Clearly, Lu Zhiyi hadn’t expected the usually mild Sang Wan to sound like she’d swallowed gunpowder today. After a pause, her voice rose even louder. “Sang Wan, don’t be ungrateful! She’s your mother-in-law. It’s her birthday—if you don’t take care of it as her daughter-in-law, then who will?”
“Daughter-in-law? Ha…” Sang Wan let out a cold laugh. “I’m nothing but an outsider. How could it possibly be my place to show gratitude? Besides, I’ve already told your brother I want a divorce. We’ll be getting the certificate soon. As for how your mom’s birthday is celebrated, and where—it’s for you and your brother to decide. It has nothing to do with me!”
Beep. She hung up without hesitation.
Sang Wan opened her contacts and dragged Lu Zhiyi’s WeChat and phone number straight into the blacklist.
Out shopping at the mall, Lu Zhiyi nearly exploded with rage. She tried calling back, but all she got was a busy tone.
Realizing Sang Wan had blocked her, Lu Zhiyi immediately dialed Lu Jinnian instead. “Brother, has Sang Wan lost her mind? Mom’s birthday dinner still isn’t arranged, and she’s talking about divorcing you. Did you two fight?”
“No.” Lu Jinnian flatly denied it. “She’s just throwing a tantrum. Ignore her. Tomorrow we’ll celebrate at home. I’ve already asked Yang Yan to contact the chef.”
Thinking of Sang Wan’s firm tone on the phone, Lu Zhiyi pressed, “You two aren’t really going to divorce, are you?”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
Lu Jinnian sneered. “If we divorced, what could she possibly do?”
That was true. Without the title of Mrs. Lu, Sang Wan wouldn’t just lose her privileged life—given her current situation, she probably couldn’t even support herself. And then there was Lu Xiaomu. The child she had carried for ten months—could Sang Wan really bear to give him up?
“She really thinks she’s grown a backbone,” Lu Zhiyi muttered with a cold laugh.
Lu Jinnian instructed, “Enough. Just come early tomorrow to keep Mom company. And don’t mention the divorce to her. We’re not divorcing anyway; no need to make her worry.”
After hanging up, Lu Jinnian transferred one million yuan to Sang Wan.
[Go out this afternoon and pick a gift for Mom.]
Fresh from washing up, Sang Wan picked up her phone and saw the transfer. She couldn’t help but let a bitter smile curl at her lips. She had worked at the Lu Corporation for a year—nine to five, plus her year-end bonus—and earned barely a hundred thousand.
But for Su Baohui’s birthday, Lu Jinnian could toss her a million without batting an eye.
A single leaf can block one’s sight. But she didn’t even need that leaf—she was perfectly capable of deceiving herself into circles. In the past, she had been foolish to the extreme. Now, at last, she saw things clearly.
Birthday? Whoever wants to fuss over it can fuss! Gift? Whoever wants to buy it can buy! To hell with whoever it’s for! She wasn’t serving anyone anymore!
She rejected his transfer. Didn’t even bother to reply.
Phone in hand, Sang Wan headed to the mall. She finally did the manicure she’d always wanted but never had time for. Bought several new outfits and even picked out two sets for Xu Yiyi. By evening, she was snacking along the pedestrian street, arms full of shopping bags as she returned to the hotel.
From the back seat of the Mercedes parked at the hotel entrance, Lu Jinnian’s eyes gleamed with mockery, lips curling. He knew it! She might say she wanted a divorce, that his mother’s birthday had nothing to do with her. But in the end? She still bought all those gifts to please her.
Mouth says no, body says yes.
Originally, because Sang Wan would rather stay in a hotel than come home, he had come ready for a fight. But now, most of his anger had dissipated. Since Sang Wan was so intent on creating a surprise— He would give her that chance.
Lu Jinnian lifted his gaze to the driver. “Let’s go…”