On the beach, the sun began to set, painting the sea with a brilliant orange-red glow.
Yu Sheng and Sophia returned, faces flushed from activity, smiles full of satisfaction. Yu Sheng felt sore all over, yet a rare sense of clarity and ease accompanied it.
She went to retrieve her phone, pressed it, and found the screen black.
"Mom, why is my phone off?" she asked casually.
Wen Jing didn't hide her irritation. "That Shen Yunmian, she kept calling non-stop. So annoying! It was bothering me, so I turned it off for you."
Yu Sheng frowned slightly at that, but didn't think much of it.
Shen Yunmian's persistence was indeed exhausting. Her mother's approach, though blunt, saved her the trouble of answering the calls. She casually pressed the power button, watching the screen light up, but didn't immediately check the unread messages or missed calls.
The sea breeze brushed against the damp ends of her hair, carrying a slight chill.
She lifted her gaze toward the horizon where sea and sky met, painted magnificently by the setting sun, and felt a rare sense of calm.
Meanwhile, Yu Sheng remained completely unaware of Shen Yunmian's overwhelming jealousy.
The four of them quickly changed the topic and began discussing where to eat, eventually settling on a seaside restaurant with strong local flavor.
They sat outdoors, soft sand beneath their feet, gentle waves murmuring in their ears.
With delicious food, beautiful scenery, and Sophia's lively jokes, the atmosphere stayed harmonious. In such a relaxed setting, Yu Sheng's tightly wound nerves finally loosened completely. She even drank a couple more glasses of locally mixed fruit wine, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
After dinner, Dale drove them back. The car came to a smooth stop downstairs at Wen Jing's apartment.
The night was gentle, streetlights casting dim yellow halos on the ground.
Dale stepped out first and courteously opened the door for Wen Jing.
The two stood beside the car, speaking softly for a few moments. Dale reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of wind-blown hair behind Wen Jing's ear, the gesture natural and intimate. Then she leaned in and pressed a soft goodbye kiss to Wen Jing's forehead. Wen Jing didn't resist, a faint smile on her face.
This scene fell directly into Yu Sheng's eyes as she got out from the other side.
She paused slightly, then understood—her mother had accepted Dale's confession. A complicated sense of relief stirred within her. No matter what, she was genuinely happy that her mother had found her own happiness.
Sophia also hopped out of the car, grinning as she opened her arms and gave Yu Sheng a big hug.
"Yu Sheng, today was so fun! Let's go surfing together again next time!" Her enthusiasm was pure and direct.
Yu Sheng returned the hug politely, the corners of her lips lifting unconsciously. "Okay, thank you, Sophia."
"Bye!" Sophia let go and got back into the car.
The car slowly drove away, its taillights disappearing around the corner.
The smile on Yu Sheng's face hadn't fully faded when she turned to head upstairs with her mother. But the moment she looked up, her steps abruptly halted, her face filled with shock.
Under a plane tree not far away, in the heavy shadows, stood a figure.
It was Shen Yunmian.
She wore a trench coat, her usually meticulous curls slightly disheveled, a few strands falling across her forehead, adding to her worn appearance. She stood there motionless, as if she had been waiting for a long time—so long she nearly blended into the night behind her.
What startled Yu Sheng most were her eyes.
Those usually cold and composed eyes were now bloodshot, like a trapped beast on the brink of collapse, locked tightly onto Yu Sheng. Too many emotions churned within them—so many that Yu Sheng felt dazed, unable to comprehend her strange behavior.
How did Shen Yunmian get here? How did she find this place?
Wen Jing saw her too, her heart skipping a beat. "Sheng Sheng, let's go upstairs, ignore her!"
But Yu Sheng didn't move.
She knew Shen Yunmian too well. In her current state, avoidance would only make things worse. Suppressing her shock, she gently patted her mother's hand. "Mom, go upstairs first. I'll talk to her."
"But—"
"It's fine. I can handle it." Her tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.
Wen Jing looked at her worriedly before reluctantly heading into the building, glancing back repeatedly.
The night breeze was cool, stirring Yu Sheng's skirt. She looked at Shen Yunmian, still standing stiffly in the shadows, lonely like a wandering ghost, carrying a destructive aura—as if she had come to fight to the death.
Frowning, Yu Sheng walked up to her. "What are you here for?"
Shen Yunmian's gaze locked onto her, her voice hoarse from restraint. "Who is that woman?"
Yu Sheng was taken aback, annoyed by the overreach. "What does it have to do with you?"
That non-answer was like pouring oil onto Shen Yunmian's already blazing jealousy.
Her mind was filled with those photos, with that line—"Plenty of people love me, what are you even trying to do?" She stepped forward. "You came all the way here… just for her?"
Yu Sheng found it ridiculous and sneered. "What if I did?"
"What if you did?"
Repeating her words through gritted teeth, Shen Yunmian felt like she'd just heard the cruelest joke in the world.
She suddenly grabbed Yu Sheng's wrist, her eyes terrifyingly red. "Yu Sheng! I tolerate the way you treat me because I love you, but that doesn't mean I can accept everything without limits!"
At this point, Yu Sheng had already guessed something.
Shen Yunmian was jealous—probably because of Sophia.
Honestly, Shen Yunmian was absurdly capable. Even overseas, Yu Sheng couldn't escape her "watch."
Yu Sheng looked at her coldly, not bothering to explain, the sarcasm clear on her face.
But Shen Yunmian, blinded by jealousy, spoke recklessly, grasping at the last straw that might restrain Yu Sheng, her words carrying an unconscious threat: "Don't forget, Yu Corporation still needs Shen Corporation's support! Don't force me…"
Yu Sheng's pupils shrank. The pain in her wrist was nothing compared to the chill in her heart.
She forcefully shook off Shen Yunmian's hand, her voice icy. "Shen Yunmian, are you threatening me?"
"I'm just reminding you," Shen Yunmian insisted stubbornly, as if convincing herself.
"Fine. I don't accept your reminder." Yu Sheng laughed in anger. "What are you going to do? Bankrupt Yu Corporation? Turn me into a stray dog, begging you and going back to be that Mrs. Shen you can control?"
"I'm not…" Seeing the determination in her eyes, Shen Yunmian panicked. Her tone softened, almost pleading. "I just want you back. Sheng Sheng, I really love you…"
"Love?" Yu Sheng scoffed. "Your love is terrifying. Shen Yunmian, I've had enough. I will never compromise with you again."
"Is that woman really that important? Important enough for you to completely break with me?"
Lost in her suspicion that Yu Sheng had fallen for someone else, Shen Yunmian demanded almost hysterically, "Yu Sheng, you can't do this! Even if… even if we're really over, we still have an agreement. You can't cheat!"
Yu Sheng looked at her like she was insane. "Shen Yunmian, why are you suddenly acting crazy?"
Seeing the genuine confusion on Yu Sheng's face, a sliver of clarity pierced through Shen Yunmian's chaos.
She hurriedly pulled out her phone, hands trembling as she opened the photo and shoved the screen toward Yu Sheng. "This isn't real, right? You didn't… didn't like someone else…"
Yu Sheng glanced at the screen—it was a photo of her and Sophia surfing. Then she thought of her mother turning off her phone earlier, and Shen Yunmian's accusations…
In an instant, everything connected.
A ridiculous misunderstanding—created impulsively by her mother, then exaggerated wildly by Shen Yunmian's imagination.
And with that realization came overwhelming anger. Anger that Shen Yunmian could so easily believe something so absurd, question her character, and even threaten her with Yu Corporation.
Enough.
After a long pause, Yu Sheng looked at her and clearly uttered one word: "Get lost."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward the apartment entrance.
"Yu Sheng!" Shen Yunmian panicked, finally realizing her stupidity. She hugged her from behind, apologizing incoherently. "I'm sorry, I was wrong, I shouldn't have doubted you! Come back with me, let's go home, let's talk properly, okay?"
"Let go!" Yu Sheng struggled.
But Shen Yunmian held on tightly. A surge of violent impulse rose uncontrollably within Yu Sheng—and this time, she didn't want to suppress it. She suddenly lifted her leg and kicked hard backward into Shen Yunmian's calf.
"Get lost, you idiot!"
Caught off guard, Shen Yunmian groaned in pain and instinctively let go, stumbling back several steps.
Yu Sheng seized the chance, breaking free and walking into the apartment without looking back.
Shen Yunmian stood frozen, sharp pain throbbing in her leg as the night wind blew cold against her.
She looked utterly defeated—like a soldier stripped of everything, left in complete disarray.
—
After Shen Yunmian left in humiliation, Yu Sheng stayed in F Country with her mother for two more days.
The sunshine, the beach, the relaxed foreign atmosphere, and her mother's companionship allowed her to temporarily forget that unpleasant episode. She had always feared her mother might repeat her past tragic fate, but seeing her now living happily finally put her at ease.
After returning home, however, the relationship between the two fell completely to freezing point.
At the office, at home—any place they might cross paths, Yu Sheng treated Shen Yunmian like she was nothing but air.
Shen Yunmian tried to explain. She chose her words carefully, cautiously, attempting to dissect the misunderstanding from that day and her own loss of control. Yet the messages sank like stones into the sea, without the slightest response.
Once, when they ran into each other in the corridor, Shen Yunmian had just called out "Sheng Sheng" when Yu Sheng walked straight past her without even glancing sideways. The cold wind that brushed past in that instant made Shen Yunmian feel worse than any harsh words ever could.
All her efforts were like punching into cotton—silent, without impact—only bringing an even deeper sense of helplessness.
Until noon that day.
Yu Sheng had just finished a video conference. Slightly fatigued, she rubbed her brow when there came a soft knock on the office door.
She thought it was Su Qingyu and, without looking up, responded with a simple "Come in."
The footsteps were different from Su Qingyu's brisk pace, carrying a trace of hesitation. She raised her eyes and saw Shen Yunmian standing at the door, holding a folder, her expression tightly controlled under forced composure.
"Something wrong?" Yu Sheng's voice carried no warmth.
Shen Yunmian walked forward and gently placed the folder on the corner of the desk but didn't open it. She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and tried to keep her voice steady. "In a week, it'll be our third wedding anniversary. I wanted to… ask your thoughts, see how you'd like to arrange it."
"Anniversary?" Yu Sheng let out an almost inaudible scoff. "There's nothing to arrange."
"I know you don't want to." Shen Yunmian tried to make her words sound objective and rational, bringing out the argument she had long prepared. "But the rumors about our strained relationship previously caused fluctuations in both our companies' stock prices. Things have only just stabilized. If we don't even acknowledge the anniversary, the media will likely speculate again and exaggerate our relationship breakdown. That would only bring more unnecessary trouble."
Her words sounded perfectly justified, wrapping personal feelings entirely in the guise of business interests.
How could Yu Sheng not understand Shen Yunmian's careful intent? She simply couldn't be bothered to expose it, nor to argue.
What could another hypocritical performance change? She only felt exhausted by it.
"Do whatever you want." She lowered her head again, her gaze returning to the documents, her tone extremely indifferent with impatience. "Handle it however you like. No need to ask me again."
Shen Yunmian looked at her lowered profile, bitterness filling her heart. She knew it was perfunctory, that she didn't care at all.
But she still forced out a faint smile. "Alright, I'll arrange it."
She left Yu Sheng's office in haste, as if staying even a second longer would shatter her forced composure.
Back in her office, Shen Yunmian immediately pressed the intercom. Her voice carried an almost obsessive urgency. "For the third anniversary venue, book a cruise ship. I want the most luxurious setup, the highest level of service—the scale must be grand. Three days. I want a complete plan."
She had just hung up when Secretary Li knocked and entered.
"President Shen, Miss Lin… has refused to pay the penalty calculated by the legal department, citing lack of funds."
Shen Yunmian didn't hesitate, her tone devoid of emotion. "Tell the legal team to proceed with the lawsuit. At the same time, apply for asset preservation and freeze all executable assets under her name."
"Yes." Secretary Li nodded and left, efficiently carrying out the orders.
Once the news broke, it was like the first domino falling.
Partners and brands who had been watching from the sidelines immediately distanced themselves from Lin Ruoyan. Termination letters came flooding in. The media caught wind of it and began digging up her past scandals, embellishing them with exaggeration. At first, Lin Ruoyan still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking Shen Yunmian was only trying to scare her—that as long as she admitted fault, she would be forgiven.
She carefully dressed up, wearing a sorrowful expression with tear-streaked cheeks, and went to the Shen Group headquarters, trying to see Shen Yunmian again. However, she didn't even make it through the entrance before security "escorted" her away without courtesy. Her disheveled appearance was captured by waiting reporters, becoming the next day's headline joke in the entertainment section.
The persona she had painstakingly built completely collapsed, triggering a massive backlash from haters. The internet was flooded with insults and curses. Some even sent her dead rats and blood-stained blades, filling her mailbox with threatening letters.
Until the court summons was officially delivered, all her accounts frozen, her beloved sports car, jewelry, and even the luxury mansion she regarded as a symbol of status all facing auction…
Under the prolonged pressure, her mind finally broke completely, and she blamed everything on Yu Sheng.
"It's all because of you that I've been driven into a dead end!"
"Yu Sheng, I won't let you have it easy! I absolutely won't let you have it easy—"
—
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