Recalling all the past events, Ji Liao couldn’t help but let out a self-mocking laugh, tears once again streaming from her eyes.
She had nothing left now, truly nothing, yet Yu Nanzhi still had no intention of letting her go.
Hah, why… why was fate so unfair to her? Clearly, she was the one married into the Yu Family, so why did Yu Nanzhi care about others and stand up for them instead…
Staring at the cold and cruel man, Ji Liao felt weary, regretful, and finally clear-headed. Facing him, she forced a smile uglier than crying. “Since you despise me so deeply, I won’t cling to the title of Young Mistress of the Yu Family anymore. Please have a divorce agreement prepared for me, Mr. Yu.”
Hearing this, Yu Nanzhi sneered mockingly, “What new trick are you trying to pull now?”
Ji Liao maintained her expression and continued softly, “Yu Nanzhi, I, Ji Liao, have loved you for ten years. Throughout this decade, I endured countless grievances and scorn, pretending not to see them, keeping you buried deep in my heart. Now that I’ve seen through everything and hit a wall, I’m turning back. After leaving, from now on, we shall be Incompatible in life and death.”
At this moment, Ji Liao was more clear-minded than anyone.
Yu Nanzhi, however, was momentarily stunned. Looking at this woman who was as proud as a plum blossom yet utterly disheveled—though everything had been destroyed, she still wore an admirable expression.
Was she… putting on an act? Did she think mentioning divorce would make him heartbroken?
Hah, Ji Liao, oh Ji Liao, you certainly think too highly of yourself.
Yet for a moment, he nearly got swayed by her act. Unpleased, Yu Nanzhi said, “Divorce, is it? Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”
He called a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. A few minutes later, after signing it himself, he tossed the pen aside and flung the agreement directly at her—a signature move, no different from what he’d done not long ago at the cemetery.
“Sign it. From now on, the Yu Family will have no trace of a woman as wicked as you. And don’t even think about getting a single cent of the Yu Family’s assets!”
His words essentially meant she would leave with nothing.
She had been married to him for five years, wasting five years of her youth. In the end, she gained neither his heart nor his respect.
Ji Liao picked up the pen without hesitation and signed her name with two swift strokes.
Yu Nanzhi frowned slightly. The whole world knew she openly adored him; he occupied a significant part of her life. Yet now, when signing the divorce papers, she didn’t even blink.
Watching this trembling woman before him, he kept wondering why she was being so compliant today. Usually, she avoided even mentioning divorce, but now, her motives were somewhat unclear.
After signing, Ji Liao set down the pen and dragged her exhausted body out of the Yu Family like a lost soul. Before leaving, she glanced at Yu Nanzhi and said, “From today onward, we go our separate ways, never to interfere with each other again.”
She left, severing her love for him without a trace of attachment, departing all alone.
Yu Nanzhi coldly watched her frail figure disappear into the rain, hatred surfacing in his pupils.
“Sir, the rainy season is damp. You should go back inside,” the Old Butler reminded him, holding an umbrella.
Yu Nanzhi snapped out of his thoughts and, holding the divorce agreement, returned to the master bedroom on the second floor, leaning wearily against the chair.
The desk before him was covered with everything related to Cheng Shuangshuang—the books she loved to read, the games she enjoyed playing, the snacks she liked to eat, and a photo frame containing her picture.
Wearing a sun hat and a floral dress, she stood amidst a field of foxtail grass. The wind blew, lifting her silky hair and fluttering her skirt as she smiled radiantly under the sun…
She was truly beautiful that year.
Yu Nanzhi stared at the photo for a long time, his heart aching for just as long. It wasn’t until the butler appeared that he managed to pull his thoughts away from the image.
The old butler knocked on the door and said, “Sir, the head of the Cheng Family has come to express his gratitude.”
After a long pause, Yu Nanzhi reluctantly tore his gaze away from Cheng Shuangshuang’s photo. He casually tossed the divorce agreement into the deepest corner of a drawer and poured himself a glass of red wine. “Let him in.”
Cheng Li, Cheng Shuangshuang’s father, was the current head of the Cheng Family. The Cheng Family and The Ji Family Estate had been rivals for years, often clashing over clients due to their similar business interests.
Now that The Ji Family Estate had collapsed, Cheng Li stood to gain the most.
When Cheng Li entered, he saw Yu Nanzhi, cold and imposing like an emperor, gently swirling his wine glass. His gaze seemed to linger vaguely on the photo frame on the desk. After knocking twice on the door, Cheng Li heard Yu Nanzhi say indifferently, “Skip the pleasantries. Why are you here?”
Someone as sharp as Yu Nanzhi could easily see that Cheng Li’s intentions lay beyond mere gratitude.
“President Yu, the acquisition of The Ji Family Estate’s assets has been completed, as you mentioned last time.”
Yu Nanzhi snorted coldly. “Those fools from The Ji Family Estate were utterly useless. They held such valuable shares but didn’t know how to manage or operate them. It’s a pity—the only capable survivor will soon be behind bars.”
Cheng Li was immensely grateful to Yu Nanzhi for dismantling The Ji Family Estate. However, the fact that Ji Liao was still at large unsettled him. “You’re absolutely right, President Yu. Without your intervention, I wouldn’t have been able to challenge Ji Liao in the slightest, and I wouldn’t have been able to seek justice for Shuangshuang.”
Only Cheng Shuangshuang could provoke Yu Nanzhi’s ruthlessness. Only by making Yu Nanzhi despise Ji Liao would she meet a more tragic end. Only her death could bring Cheng Li a sliver of peace.
Yu Nanzhi glanced at the photo, his sorrow deepening as he downed the entire glass of red wine in one gulp.
“Don’t misunderstand. The reason I targeted Ji Liao is that Shuangshuang was the girl I loved, not because she was your daughter.”
Hearing this, Cheng Li remained unfazed. Lowering his eyelids, he mirrored Yu Nanzhi’s grief. “It’s just a shame about Shuangshuang. Her youth was cut short in that fire. She was always so afraid of pain, and she was Ji Liao’s closest friend. If she were still here, she would never believe that Ji Liao could be such a heartless woman.”
A flicker of resentment crossed Yu Nanzhi’s eyes. “She doesn’t deserve to share the same educational background as Shuangshuang. Butler, notify all the schools Ji Liao ever attended and erase any records related to her. Also, make it known that anyone who dares to help Ji Liao will have me, Yu Nanzhi, to answer to.”
“Yes, sir!”
As the old butler turned to leave, Yu Nanzhi called out to stop him. “Wait!”
“Sir?”
“Never mind. I’ll go see her myself.” Yu Nanzhi pondered for a moment, his expression shifting unpredictably, making it impossible to decipher his thoughts.
Cheng Li looked up, puzzled. “You… still can’t let her go?”
“No. I just feel that this would be letting her off too easily,” Yu Nanzhi replied, his gaze sharp and merciless.
Ji Liao was his ex-wife who had caused the death of his unattainable love. After she faced legal punishment, he intended to visit her one last time to tell her that this was the retribution she deserved.
During the days Ji Liao returned, she encountered an unprecedented cold reception. Friends who once got along well with her would scatter and hide upon seeing her, not even offering a greeting, as if avoiding her would prevent misfortune from befalling them—some even went so far as to shoo her away.
Times had changed, and Ji Liao understood that friends were unreliable. She could only turn back to her parental home.