1.pngThe story revolves around Sheng Qian and Tao Chengxi, a couple trapped in a tumultuous marriage orchestrated by family obligations. Despite Tao’s arrogance and resentment, Sheng Qian remains steadfast, enduring years of emotional hardship. When she files for divorce, Tao struggles with his feelings, refusing to let go. Through a dramatic deception involving a fake terminal illness, Sheng Qian forces him to confront his true emotions. The revelation of her pregnancy becomes the turning point, proving Tao’s deep love for her. In the end, they reconcile, with Tao finally admitting his devotion and commitment.

As expected, the moment I mentioned divorce, Tao Chengxi completely lost it. He slammed the spoon down on the table, and it snapped in half right then and there.

"Sheng Qian, are you out of your mind, or are you doing this on purpose? Last night, you were sweet-talking me into bed, and today you’re flipping out. What, is divorce a game to you?"

He said it so quickly, his words barely clear, with veins popping on his neck—looking just like when he kissed me last night.

Tao Chengxi was really good-looking, not very old, with a youthful innocence in his brows. Whenever he glared at someone, he always looked like he’d been wronged, even though he was the one being a complete jerk.

That face of his was so damn hard to resist. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have fallen for his tricks, spending six years doing everything for him, living like a damn housewife, and in the end, that’s all I really became.

"Fun? Oh, it’s real fun. It’s even comfortable! Didn’t you know? I only wanted you for your looks—young and strong. What else could I possibly want from you? You’re pretty much useless otherwise."

I threw every word at him with sarcasm, each one digging into Tao Chengxi's most painful spot.

He was four years younger than me, but he had to marry me, the "boring, old woman" he always complained about. That was his biggest sore point. Every time I brought it up, it hit home.

Tao Chengxi suddenly stood up, kicked the table leg with all his might. The milk in front of me splashed everywhere, some even landing on my hand, burning me just a little. My fingers curled up slightly, but I didn't move or say a word.

I’ve always been good at enduring, whether it’s pain, tears, or heartbreak.

It’s something I’ve honed over years of struggling alone to survive. It’s also my determination and courage.

I leaned back in the chair calmly, looked at him with a piercing gaze, and jabbed him again. "Don’t be so impulsive. You’re like an immature kid."

Tao Chengxi gritted his teeth, the sound sharp and tense. "You're the kid! Your whole damn family is full of kids! Didn’t you see how much of a man I am last night?"

He stopped abruptly, pressed his lips together, eyeing me as if wanting to say something, but biting it back. His expression was full of frustration.

I’m an orphan, so I don’t really have a family. Tao Chengxi always says I’m impervious to insults. That’s probably my only weakness.

Not because it’s taboo or painful, but because I hate people pitying me or attacking me over it.

Those forced connections only serve to remind me of something that’s almost forgotten. Other than that, they’re meaningless.

Right now, Tao Chengxi realized he’d said the wrong thing. Unable to apologize, he just watched me, his gaze now less angry, as if trying to make up for it.

I know him too well, and that’s exactly what makes it worse. Tao Chengxi isn’t completely bad. No matter how arrogant or reckless he gets, there’s always that last bit of softness inside him that keeps me from fully walking away. I can’t hate him, and I can’t let go.

I used to think he’d be the only family I’d ever have. I even secretly hoped for it. In the end, it was all just an illusion.

I stood up, took off my ring, and placed it on the table. Then, I quietly cleaned up the dishes, moving to the kitchen without a word.

Tao Chengxi seemed to be angry at my calmness or maybe felt ashamed. He yelled from behind me, "Fine, if you want to divorce, then go ahead! But remember, it’s me who doesn’t want you! The world’s full of beautiful women, why waste time with you, an old woman? Always walking around with that long face, trying to control everything, it’s so damn annoying!"

Not satisfied, he stormed behind me, continuing to yell, "Sheng Qian, don’t think I don’t know! You’ve always thought I’m useless! You’ve always looked down on me!"

Tao Chengxi was really angry, and he even sounded aggrieved and frustrated, his voice trembling, like he might cry any second.

But I didn’t feel bad. His self-loathing was something I often felt too, during every moment he ignored me.

I’d wonder if I’d said the wrong thing, if I hadn’t done enough, if I wasn’t worthy of loving him…

Now it was time for him to feel that way, even if it was just a fraction of how I felt, just as fleeting as the love he had for me.

I took a towel, slowly wiped my hands, then turned to look at him. "And what about you? Have you ever liked me?"

Tao Chengxi froze, like a cat caught by the tail, his face turning red in an instant. His eyes darted around, as if trapped.

Just when I thought he’d say "No way" or "Of course not," he suddenly turned around and walked off, his steps quick like he was running away from something.

He never answered, and whether he did or didn’t, I’ll never know.

But my heart still stirred—just from his brief hesitation, I already had my answer.

2

I was funded by the Tao Group Charity Foundation to attend university, with the condition that I would work for the Tao Group after graduation.

The head of Tao Group is Tao Chengxi’s grandmother, Song Huiyun. Her husband passed away when she was only thirty-six, and she took on the heavy responsibility of running the company alone. Amid a crowd of sharp-eyed shareholders, she carved out a path for herself, firmly holding onto the power of decision-making.

This grip lasted for nearly forty years. Though she built a legendary story of a powerful businesswoman, it also brought with it many invisible shackles.

For example, the accusation that she was domineering and unwilling to delegate—this notion slowly spread in the business world.

But I knew better. She wasn’t unwilling, she just couldn’t.

Song Huiyun had only one son—Tao Chengxi’s father, Tao Heng. He was raised alone by his mother, witnessing firsthand her struggles and the cruelty of the world. One would think he would have grown up to be more mature and responsible than others.

But the reality was quite the opposite.

Perhaps because Song Huiyun was too powerful, Tao Heng was well-protected. He was a naturally optimistic person who preferred to enjoy life under the shade of the big tree, knowing that no matter the storm, his mother would always shelter him.

Tao Heng was also emotionally distant and indecisive. At first, he had affairs with women outside, and later even had an affair with a female subordinate. His wife, Zhao Qing, caught them in the act in the office, leading to a massive fight and a divorce.

Song Huiyun couldn’t persuade him, so she found a way to keep their five-year-old son, Tao Chengxi, from Zhao Qing, agreeing to her only condition: Song Huiyun would personally raise him, and no matter whom Tao Heng married in the future, Tao Chengxi would always be the heir to the Tao Group.

I imagine, many times, Song Huiyun must have felt helpless. Despite being a commanding businesswoman, she struggled with trivial family matters.

Her son blamed her for making decisions on his behalf, and her grandson was distant from her.

Because Tao Chengxi had wanted to be with Zhao Qing, but Song Huiyun forcefully kept him, using the excuse of love, making him unable to refuse but also unwilling. Over the years, he grew up in a state of awkwardness.

He didn’t show it outwardly, but he always carried a sense of resentment inside. This resentment fully erupted when Song Huiyun insisted he marry me.

"As a child, I had to listen to you for everything—what I ate, what I drank, what I studied. As an adult, I still have to listen to you about what I do, where I go, who I hang out with. Now, even who I marry and have kids with is up to you!"

"Just like when you took me away from my mother, you never considered what I wanted, or whether I was happy! Grandma, you don’t deserve to say you love me!"

When Tao Chengxi angrily kicked open the door and left, Song Huiyun stood frozen, her face pale, and after a long while, tears started to fall.

"So he’s always been blaming me…"

I felt a pang of sympathy as I watched and quickly rushed to support her, helping her sit down. "Please don’t be upset. Little Tao is just used to speaking his mind. He has a temper, but he’ll be fine once he cools down."

Song Huiyun’s eyes were red, but she still took my hand and patted it gently. "Sorry, Xiao Qian. I’ve made you suffer."

She knew Tao Chengxi didn’t like me and could easily foresee the conflicts and struggles we’d face in the future. Yet, she still forced him onto me. I think she was apologizing for that.

I nodded gently, accepting her apology, hoping that at least it would make her feel a little better.

It wasn’t because I had a saintly heart, but because I owed her. In my over twenty years of life, Song Huiyun was the first person to ever give me warmth.

3

When I first entered college, I had nothing but passion and determination, but I was also carrying the weight of my struggles. As my classmates would put it, I had the look of someone down on their luck, poor and shabby.

I didn’t really care about other people’s opinions. With my background and years of hardship, if I had been concerned about that, I probably wouldn’t have made it this far.

But in the stillness of the night, I’d often feel a pang of loneliness, and I’d find myself lamenting life’s unfairness.

Why was it that, just because we’re all human, I had to endure their mockery when I was clearly better than most? Why was it that, although I was more attractive, I was stuck in the greasy kitchen of the cafeteria, washing dishes while my roommates were out on dates in their fancy clothes?

I really couldn’t accept it, but I also knew there was no choice but to accept it. Life is inherently unfair, and it’s better to focus on working harder than to be angry. If you push hard enough, you can overcome anything.

Like how I always wash the dishes the fastest and cleanest, I’m going to live my life the best and most spectacular way possible.

Maybe that’s what caught Song Huiyun’s attention – my stubbornness, my fearless drive, and my resilience. In my sophomore year, Tao’s Charity Foundation donated a new building to our school. When it was finished, she came to cut the ribbon, and the school picked a few girls who were good students and looked pretty to hold trays and ribbons on stage. I was one of them.

The high heels the school gave me didn’t fit well – it was my first time wearing them. After several rehearsals, both of my heels were rubbed raw, and one had even burst open, exposing the tender flesh inside. Every step was agony.

But I gritted my teeth and didn’t say a word, worried they might replace me, and secretly hoping to get a close look at the legendary Tao family CEO.

She wasn’t as stern and distant as I imagined. Song Huiyun was a warm and smiling older woman, dressed elegantly, with a string of prayer beads on her wrist, looking kind and compassionate.

I stood right in front of her. She took the scissors from my tray, said "Thank you," and, seeing me still standing there, asked with surprise, "Is there something else, classmate?"

Realizing my rudeness, I became very embarrassed: "Sorry, Ms. Song. I just admire you so much. I’ve always looked up to you as my role model and goal."

She laughed gently. "It’s my honor. I hope you keep working hard, and I wish you success!"

In that moment, her sincerity really moved me. I’m good at reading people, and I could tell she was genuine.

Not long after, the department head found me and told me that Song Huiyun had personally inquired about me and wanted to offer me financial support, but she hoped I could work for Tao in the future.

Tao is a big company, so this solved both my academic and career problems. I couldn’t have asked for more, and I happily agreed, even going to Tao’s office to thank Song Huiyun in person.

She was just as kind as the first time we met. When I had questions, she answered them seriously:

"I chose you because I saw your bleeding feet and your straight posture that day. It reminded me of myself back then – enduring and tough.

Later, when I overheard your classmates mocking you for trying to climb the social ladder and foolishly dreaming, you didn’t get angry or argue. You just quickly changed clothes and went to work.

That’s when I understood – you’re not someone who aims too high. You know what you need to do right now, and you act on it.

Sticking to your principles without being restless is something many young people struggle with, but I’m sure you can do it. That’s why I want to give you a chance.

And by the way, you’re very pretty, delicate but not flashy. Someone will probably like you."

At the time, I was flattered by her praise, feeling secretly pleased. I didn’t think too much about why she was also considering my appearance.

It wasn’t until after I graduated and started working at Tao, under Tao Chengxi, that I found out that Song Huiyun had been picking a wife for her grandson.

After Tao Heng’s divorce, he remarried a female subordinate within six months, and soon they had a son. The boy was smart and charming, and Tao Heng adored him.

Unlike Tao Chengxi, who had none of the elegance suggested by his name. Though he was sharp and clever, he was playful, hot-tempered, impulsive, and always trying to go against his father.

Song Huiyun still hadn’t handed over the reins of the company, fearing that Tao Heng might be swayed by his wife and fail to pass on Tao Corporation to the younger son.

That’s why she chose me – to work at Tao first and then marry Tao Chengxi, to help him secure his position as the heir.

4
When I first met Tao Chengxi, I was personally led to his office by Song Huiyun. He was sitting there, fully immersed in... playing a game.

When he saw Song Huiyun, he was still respectful enough, took a couple of scoldings, but then turned to glare at me with a cold look.

"Don't think I don't know, you're just the old lady's lackey sent to spy on me!" he spat.

I lowered my eyes and secretly smiled. This guy is even more childish than his grandmother described, and he’s naive to the point of being blunt.

For others, it’s obvious, so they don’t show it, they hide it behind a mask and play the game. But not him—he can’t keep anything in.

However, people like him are easy to manipulate.

"You’re right, little Tao. I’m just a lackey. Be careful, though. I might start reporting on you!" I teased.

Tao Chengxi froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to admit it so easily. He was left speechless and then scoffed at me before returning to his game.

I sat down, opened my laptop, and started organizing the files in my usual way.

Thanks to Song Huiyun’s arrangement, my laptop contained the same files as Tao Chengxi’s, which made it easier for me to assist with his work and decision-making. It also made it convenient to mess with him—like when I "accidentally" stepped on his power button while cleaning his desk.

When the screen suddenly went black, Tao Chengxi let out a cry and immediately bent over to check, panicking: "Damn it, a power outage at this time! I was about to win! My teammates are going to complain!"

Clearly, in his eyes, all those company projects and documents meant less than a stupid game.

I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. Why did someone like him get to sit in this position? Just because his mom gave birth to him?

So, I stepped on the power button a second and third time...

Tao Chengxi finally realized something was wrong. He furrowed his brows and glared at me: "Sheng Qian, you’ve had enough, haven’t you? I told you to clean up the desk, not make a mess with your feet!"

I smiled innocently and handed him a document: "Can you maybe sacrifice a bit of your gaming time during work hours and sign this for me?"

He could still recognize the sarcasm, and after taking the document and glancing over it, he signed it quickly, then bared his teeth and scolded me: "Don’t think you’re something just because Grandma likes you. You’re just a dog in my family. How dare you bark at your master?"

I continued smiling: "That’s true. But a dog only wags its tail for the master who feeds it bones. If someone feeds it shit, it’s disrespectful, and the dog will bite!"

Tao Chengxi frowned. "Isn’t the saying that dogs eat shit? What’s the saying again...?"

I instinctively finished his thought: "A dog can’t change its nature."

"Yeah, that’s the one," Tao Chengxi said, then suddenly realized what he had said. He slammed his hand on the desk and yelled, "Sheng Qian, who the hell are you calling shit!"

I was just as confused as he was. How did my well-meaning, subtle remark turn into something so crass...

That’s Tao Chengxi for you—always interrupting at the most random times and only realizing his mistake afterward, which caught me completely off guard and messed up my plans.

For a while, I thought this was his way of getting back at me, but over time, I realized he was just naturally clueless. Though I hate to admit it, it’s kind of funny.

Maybe it’s his inherited optimism from Tao Heng, but Tao Chengxi’s life has been fairly smooth, and in his own way, he’s still carefree. As for others, he doesn’t really care. And he certainly doesn’t care about my feelings, Song Huiyun’s, or even his flirtatious dad’s, annoying stepmother’s, or troublesome younger brother’s.

That selfishness runs deep, just like his father’s, but the difference is, Tao Chengxi has a softer side.

He’s the kind of person who will yell when angry, say anything harsh, but then feel guilty and try to make it up in his own way—quietly and stubbornly, without needing anyone to know.

I learned that the hard way, and now I know how to use it to my advantage.

I would purposely provoke him, stir him up until he said something he didn’t mean, then silently endure it and never tell Song Huiyun. The next day, I would continue to be diligent and quietly obedient, hoping for the effect of two red, swollen eyes.

That way, Tao Chengxi would inevitably give in a little during the next conflict. Over time, he stopped opposing me as much, became more serious about his work, and even matured a bit. He still curses occasionally, but he never tells me to get lost anymore.

He knows I’m looking out for him, and I know he doesn’t mean what he says, so when he yells at me, I don’t get upset. After all, I’ve been on the receiving end of much worse, and his self-reflection is something I can mostly ignore.

In fact, I even think if it weren’t for Song Huiyun pushing us to marry, Tao Chengxi and I would have made great partners.

His parents’ divorce made him resistant to marriage in the first place, and with me being such a strong-willed person—just like his grandmother and mom—he was bound to feel repelled, maybe even haunted by it.

What’s worse, he’s tired of being controlled. Song Huiyun sent me to help him at work, which he could accept, but marriage? That’s his personal matter. He just wants to find someone he likes. Isn’t that fair? But he still can’t make his own decisions. How could he not be angry?

I completely understand. I’ve tried to talk to Song Huiyun about it, even going so far as to suggest she drop the idea, but she’s so adamant, thinking I just have a misunderstanding about Tao Chengxi.

"Xiao Qian, Chengxi is just a bit willful, but he has a good heart. Even when he’s mad at me, he’ll always come home at night, just so I won’t worry."

I sighed and didn’t say anything more. Actually, I’ve always known. I understand Tao Chengxi better than Song Huiyun ever will.

At the company’s second-year annual meeting, I went with Tao Chengxi as his assistant.

I had a bit too much to drink and slipped away to the restroom to throw up. Through the stall, I overheard two female colleagues gossiping about me—stuff like using connections, flattering, sleeping your way up, and other disgusting remarks.

I tried hard not to listen, but their insults felt like nails driving into my ears.

Just as I was about to storm out, I heard the restroom door crash open.

Tao Chengxi was standing at the door, yelling: "I can hear you two talking shit about a colleague from the sink! You do nothing but gossip and smear others. Why are you even in the office? Go clean the trash and take yourselves with you!"

The two women walked out, terrified, while I nearly laughed myself to death in the stall. Tao Chengxi’s sharp tongue never loses its edge, even when scolding on the street.

"Come out already!" he called.

I wiped my mouth and walked out, only for Tao Chengxi to give me a cold stare: "What happened to the big talk? You always challenge me, but now you’ve gone mute?"

"I just didn’t want to argue with them. They’re beneath me, so I figured I should let them be a little more annoying."

Tao Chengxi scoffed, and I followed him, asking, "Did you come looking for me on purpose?"

"I came to pee."

"Really? The great little Tao is sneaking around the women’s restroom?"

"I was worried you drank too much..." Tao Chengxi paused mid-sentence, suddenly turning his head. "Afraid you’d choke yourself!"

I couldn’t help but smile, and the next second, he draped his warm jacket over my shoulders. I looked down and saw that my white shirt had become soaked from washing my face.

"Alright, go home now."

Tao Chengxi muttered impatiently as he walked away, and I called after him: "Watch your temper in front of the shareholders..."

"Shut up, you’re so annoying!" He waved his hand dismissively, his back straight, his broad shoulders wrapped in the white shirt, giving off an aura of reliability. Tao Chengxi was the second person to ever make me feel warmth, but with him, I didn’t feel gratitude like I did with Song Huiyun; I felt a spark.

In the end, he couldn’t resist Song Huiyun and married me.

That night, after drinking too much, he looked at me with clear eyes: "Sheng Qian, nothing in this world ever really belongs to me. My mom did, and so did you, but you’ll only accompany me for a while, and then you’ll leave too."

In that moment, looking into his tear-filled eyes, I felt a surge of tenderness and almost rushed to hug him, but he left without a word.

Tao Chengxi isn’t a bad person. He just doesn’t want to grow up, doesn’t want to lose, because he’s never truly had anything of his own.

Now, four years into our marriage, he still hasn’t fully accepted me.

I may be a reminder of his mother’s marriage, and the worst thing is that, with no way out, he has to carry this burden on his own.

Yet still, he’s unwilling to break the ties with me.

It’s funny. He’s so stubborn that I don’t know if I should laugh or cry.

5
Since we brought up divorce, everything should be wrapped up quickly. It’ll be better for both of us.

I went ahead and sent my resignation to Tao Chengxi. Over these years, he’s grown rapidly into a wise and steady CEO of Tao Corporation—quick-thinking with a tough approach. He’s even more aggressive than Song Huiyun, and has taken the company to the next level.

As the CEO’s chief secretary, my position and transfers are directly under his control, but by the end of the day, I still hadn’t heard back from him.

He didn’t call for me today, and I also didn’t want to face him, so I gave some tasks to the second secretary, Han Xi, including running around for signatures.

Han Xi didn’t quite understand, but she did as I asked. She’s a diligent and earnest kid who I’ve trained for three years, so I trust her.

But she’s a bit timid, especially when it comes to Tao Chengxi.

She used to always follow me around, and as long as she didn’t have to speak to him directly, things were better. Now, suddenly thrown into the role, she’s been on edge all day.

Even so, Tao Chengxi scolded her harshly.

The schedule was wrong, the files were out of order, the printed format was wrong, and he even got mad because the coffee was too sweet.

These are all things I usually take care of, and although Han Xi has been with me for so long, she’s still not as meticulous as I am. Still, there shouldn’t have been any major mistakes, especially considering Tao Chengxi isn’t normally so harsh. He’s usually not this strict.

Today, though, it was clear he was picking on me, and Han Xi just ended up taking the blame for me.

I felt guilty and sent her a red envelope to let her leave early, so I could wrap things up.

She hesitated, then couldn’t hold back: “Sheng Jie, did you and Mr. Tao have a fight?”

Our marriage was a secret, and no one at the company knew, so Han Xi probably just thought we had a work-related disagreement.

“No, I’m just feeling a bit unwell. Sorry to trouble you, thank you.”

Han Xi quickly waved her hands: “No, no! It’s part of my job... but I noticed Mr. Tao doesn’t seem quite himself.”

I bit my lip, suddenly feeling a bit nervous: “Mr. Tao... what’s wrong?”

“He seems... lost, his eyes are a little red, and he’s been frowning all day. His face is pale, like a living version of the grim reaper!

“But when I went in earlier, I saw him staring at a pen... his expression was so... it was like he was in some kind of gentle pain.”

The pen she mentioned was probably the one I gave him for his birthday last year.

My chest tightened with a pang of sadness, but I only smiled: “You’re being overly dramatic!”

Han Xi thought I didn’t believe her and quickly explained: “No, really! He even called me by your name five times. After realizing, he seemed embarrassed and got angrier, shouting even louder at me. The last time, he even threw something...

“Everything just felt wrong, so wrong!”

I understood. Tao Chengxi wasn’t used to this.

I had always been by his side, taking care of him, being there for him, making sure everything was in order. I even knew the exact temperature of the water he liked.

It wasn’t about the big things, but life is made of countless little details. The more trivial, the more unnoticed, until they become habits without us realizing.

If one day that routine suddenly breaks, it’s bound to feel disorienting, frustrating, and helpless.

I sighed and walked into his office.

Without even looking up, Tao Chengxi snapped, “Haven’t you been scolded enough? Now you don’t even bother knocking when you come in?”

“It’s me. Han Xi’s off for the day.”

He paused, looked up at me with a mocking tone: “I thought you weren’t coming back!”

I walked over and placed the printed resignation letter on his desk: “I came to drop this off. You probably missed it in the email.”

Tao Chengxi’s hand tightened around the pen, but he didn’t speak.

I urged him, “Just sign it when you get a moment. It’ll be effective as soon as you sign it.”

His temper flared, and he jumped up, furious: “Sign it, sign it—always asking me to sign! Now you want me to sign your resignation, are you going to sign divorce papers when you go home?”

He grabbed the letter and tore it up, throwing the pieces at my face. “You can just come and go as you please? And divorce was your idea—who’s pushing you out? Are you not going to eat after the divorce? Going to starve, or just quit your job and drink the northwest wind?”

I calmly met his gaze: “I can find another job. It may not be with Tao Corporation, but I can take care of myself.”

His brow furrowed tighter, but seeing my determination, his voice softened: “Even if you resign, you still need to hand over your work. I’ll sign it in two months!”

Looks like he wants to drag this out...

I glared at him: “The resignation letter already says I’ll leave in two months, but you didn’t even read it!”

I was getting more irritated: “What’s your problem? Taking your anger out on Han Xi because of me?”

Tao Chengxi immediately perked up: “And what about you?! You’re always around, but when she steps in, nothing goes right. I’m so sick of it!”

I sighed, my eyes stinging: “These next two months are for you. Tao Chengxi, you need to get used to me not being here.”

He froze, staring at me for a long time, silent for a while before finally replying: “I know.”

From that day on, Tao Chengxi held himself back a lot more, almost like he had accepted the reality of Han Xi stepping in for me. Although he was still dissatisfied, he no longer lashed out at people. When he got really angry, he would just throw things and wait until Han Xi had left the room.

The number of times he called me by the wrong name decreased, slowly becoming four times a day, then three, two... until he didn’t call me anything at all—just a casual “Hey” or “Yo.”

It felt like he was doing it on purpose, refusing to call me, but not calling Han Xi either. He just wouldn’t admit that someone else had replaced me.

Honestly, seeing Tao Chengxi like this, I felt heartbroken. He’s always been so arrogant and free-spirited, never one to deceive himself like this.

But he still refused to sign the divorce papers. Every time I brought it up, he’d snap, asking why I was in such a hurry, telling me he’d sign it when the resignation was ready.

It seemed like he was treating these two months as his final deadline and excuse, stubbornly clinging to them.

One night, I was woken up by the sound of Tao Chengxi stumbling back into the room. He was probably drunk, swaying as he entered his bedroom, and I soon heard him throwing up.

I stayed still, thinking he had finally passed out, but after a while, I heard him heading to the kitchen, followed by the clatter of dishes.

He must have felt sick again, and all he knew to make was some sweet water, but at least it was something.

I fought the urge to get up, then suddenly the bedroom door creaked open, and I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Tao Chengxi slowly walked over to my bed, standing there for a long time, before muttering to himself.

“You’ll just have to endure it if you’re feeling bad. If you’re hungry, you’ll have to bear it too. See, Sheng Qian won’t be making you noodles anymore, no honey water, no milk... It’s all gone. You need to get used to it.”

By the end, his voice choked, like he was holding back tears, yet stubbornly refusing to admit it.

“You can do this. You have to. But it’s so hard... Only twenty days left.”

I bit my lip, tears soaking my pillow. When he left, I took out my phone, checked the calendar, and silently counted the days. Then I sent a message to Chen Feng:

“I’ll go for an exam at the hospital tomorrow.”

He hadn’t fallen asleep yet and quickly replied: “Okay, I hope the results are good.”

6

This morning I went to the hospital for an exam, and afterward, I promised to take Chen Feng out for dinner as a thank-you.

Chen Feng smirked, "I help you with three things, and you’re treating me to just one meal? The capitalist wife sure is stingy!"

I shrugged. "What can I say? Big families need to count every penny, especially when my husband's one of the top ten outstanding young entrepreneurs!"

Chen Feng scoffed, telling me to hurry up and leave.

I laughed and went to the office. Han Xi saw me and looked puzzled. "Sheng Jie, you’re in a really good mood today!"

"Yeah, I’m going on a date tonight."

Han Xi’s eyes widened, and her voice went a little higher. "Sheng Jie, you’re dating someone?!"

I chuckled, "Is that so strange? I'm beautiful and still in my prime, how could I not date?"

"Exactly, you should! You’re always so dedicated to work, you’ve neglected yourself. So, who’s the lucky guy? Is he handsome? What does he do? He must be amazing to catch your eye!"

It’s true—girls just love gossip. Han Xi’s eyes were practically sparkling, and she fired off a bunch of questions.

I glanced over at Tao Chengxi’s office, which had a half-open door, and then raised my voice a bit. "He’s a really great doctor, super handsome, and we get along really well!"

Just as I finished speaking, I heard something being thrown in the office. Then, Han Xi’s phone rang, and it was Tao Chengxi’s angry voice: "Get in here."

Han Xi immediately wiped the smile off her face and hurried into the office. Less than a minute later, she came out looking all glum. "Tao said we need to push the negotiations with Shen’s company forward. The CEO’s office is working overtime tonight."

I forced a smile and sent a big red envelope to the secretary’s group chat.

Han Xi looked confused. "Why are you sending red envelopes all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, you guys have worked hard."

It’s really unlucky to have a boss who’s so immature and abuses his power.

I worked non-stop until 10 PM. Chen Feng had already called me three times, fuming. "Sheng Qian, shouldn’t we go grab a late-night snack?"

I apologized, laughing. "Don’t be mad, I’ll make it up to you with another meal. And then we can go drink!"

"Quit it. You’re only allowed to drink milk now."

"So what? Doesn’t stop us from clinking glasses!"

Just as I was talking, Tao Chengxi came out of his office. His face was blank, but there was a hint of satisfaction when he looked at me. "It’s late. Everyone, go home!"

Then he walked off ahead. As soon as I stepped out the door, I found him waiting for me. "Get in. Let’s go home together."

We usually go our separate ways, but today he’s really keeping an eye on me.

I smiled. "No need. I’ve got things to do."

Tao Chengxi’s face stiffened. "It’s so late. Where are you going?"

"It’s not too late. The night’s just beginning."

In the years we’ve been married, I’ve rarely gone out at night. But he, on the other hand, often goes out with friends to bars and doesn’t come home until late.

Thinking about it, I’ve always been waiting for him. First, waiting for him to accept me. Then, waiting for him to come home. Now, I’m just waiting for him to say something.

But he just frowned and turned his head away, muttering, "Do whatever you want!" Before I could respond, he sped off in his sports car, the exhaust fumes spraying right in my face.

I shook my head in resignation and called a cab to meet Chen Feng.

Chen Feng was lying in his seat, tired. "I’ve already had my fill, not eating anymore. Let’s just go to the bar."

This kind of place isn’t really my scene. The only times I’ve been here were when Tao Chengxi was drunk and his friends called me to pick him up.

Chen Feng ordered a Mojito, and I got a fruit juice. We leaned against the bar, watching the young people in the dance floor sway and move, dripping with hormones.

"Sheng Qian, is it worth it?"

I paused for a moment and gave it some thought. "Yeah, it’s worth it."

"With your looks and abilities, it’d be so easy for you to find someone else. Why put yourself through all this? All these years, it’s like raising a kid—so much effort and heart, but still, things don’t turn out right."

"I’m exhausted, but I do find happiness," I said, nodding toward the entrance. "Like now."

At that moment, Tao Chengxi walked in, quickly weaving through the crowd, his face tense as he looked around.

I nudged Chen Feng, and he understood. He immediately turned his body to hug me, resting his chin on my neck. It looked intimate, but he was careful not to actually touch me.

"Try to keep me from getting hit. My face is precious!"

Just as I was about to reassure him, Tao Chengxi grabbed him by the collar from behind and punched him square in the face. I swallowed and silently apologized in my heart.

Tao Chengxi tried to pin him down and punch him again, but I stepped in between them. "Calm down!"

He shook me off, glaring at me. "How can I stay calm? Is this why you want to divorce me—because of this bastard?"

I froze, realizing that Tao Chengxi had never asked me why I wanted a divorce.

"I thought you were just tired, bored, and wanted to leave. But if you’re in love with someone else, that’s another story. I won’t accept it. No way!"

Tao Chengxi stepped forward and grabbed Chen Feng by the collar again. "Do you know she’s married? She’s my wife!"

Chen Feng licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Not for long..."

"Fuck you, are you trying to die?" Tao Chengxi roared, clenching his fist to hit him.

I quickly stepped in front of Chen Feng to block the punch. "Tao Chengxi, what are you doing? Don’t you usually not care about me? What’s going on now, are you jealous?"

Tao Chengxi froze for a second, then sneered. "Him? He’s ugly and poor. Why the hell would I be jealous?"

"Then why are you so angry?"

"I..." Tao Chengxi paled. "What man wouldn’t be angry if he got cheated on?"

Chen Feng chuckled behind me. "Same old story, tough talk but soft inside."

Tao Chengxi jumped up, pointing at him. "Shut the fuck up!"

I quickly stepped in to stop him, but as I pulled him back, something fell out of my pocket. I pretended to pick it up, but Tao Chengxi beat me to it.

He grabbed the piece of paper, unfolded it quickly, and held it up to the dim light of the bar. His face went pale as he read it, eyes wide in shock.

The test results were clear: I had terminal liver cancer.

Tao Chengxi crumpled the paper and unfolded it again, staring at it, still unable to believe it. "No... this can’t be real..." He muttered, his eyes filling with tears.

His hand trembled as he reached out, as if to hug me. But then, he pulled his hand back, forcing a smile. "Sheng Qian, if you want a divorce, you don’t need to go this far. This isn’t funny."

I shook my head and pointed to Chen Feng. "This is Chen Feng, my old classmate, and my doctor."

Tao Chengxi looked at Chen Feng, then at me, before suddenly turning and running out of the bar. He bumped into several people, almost tripping along the way.

By the time his figure disappeared outside, I let out a long sigh. I looked down, and a tear fell onto my shoe.

Chen Feng sighed behind me. "Sheng Qian, I really admire you. You can really endure, and you’re ruthless when you need to be!"

"I had no choice. I love him..." I whispered, "Even if he’s unlucky."

I reached into my bag and pulled out another test result—this time, a colorful ultrasound image. A tiny sprout was silently growing in my womb, thriving without a sound.

And the sprout’s mother, to give it a happy and complete home, was using every bit of her wisdom and courage to deal with the sprout’s father.

Now, the final round begins.

7
Not even ten minutes had passed when Tao Chengxi returned, his face still pale, but his eyes much more determined.

He walked through the bustling, dimly lit space and made his way straight toward me. Without a word, he pulled me into his arms and whispered softly in my ear, "Sheng Qian, let’s go home."

We didn’t speak the whole way, but he never once let go of my hand.

That hand, the first time I’d ever held it, was big and warm. Now, it was holding mine tightly, its warmth carrying the moisture of his emotions, pressing into me all the way to my bones.

My eyes welled up, but my heart felt calm, like a drifting boat finally anchored on solid ground.

And Tao Chengxi... he was my anchor.

Once we got home, he helped me sit down on the couch and then poured me a glass of warm water.

I chuckled. "What are you doing? I’m not disabled, you know..."

Tao Chengxi smiled too, but it was forced and awkward. "Sheng Qian, let me take you to the hospital tomorrow, just in case we got it wrong."

"I don’t want to go. It’s unnecessary."

"Alright, then let’s go abroad. I have the money, the connections. I can get you the best doctor. What do you say?"

He looked at me carefully, for the first time so cautious, smiling as if everything was fine, but his eyes were shimmering with unshed tears.

"Sheng Qian, you're still so young. You’ll get better..." Tao Chengxi’s voice broke as he crouched in front of me, placing his forehead on my knees, his words hitching in his throat. "Please don’t give up... please, Sheng Qian..."

A wave of pain hit me, and I reached out to comfort him, but then I stopped myself, only asking, "You want me to go abroad to get treatment?"

He suddenly looked up, his eyes alight with hope. "Yes, I do. I’ll arrange everything. We’ll leave tomorrow, and I’ll be with you the whole time."

"Why stay with me? Because it’s your duty? You don’t have to, you know. We’re getting divorced soon, and after that, we won’t have anything to do with each other."

At the mention of divorce, Tao Chengxi jumped to his feet, his face suddenly panicked. "Who said anything about a divorce? I never agreed to that!" Then he stopped short, as if a thought struck him. "Are you only saying this because of your illness? Or... do you really want to leave me?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Want to know? Then answer me truthfully first."

"Alright, ask me anything. I’ll answer honestly."

"When you heard me talk about divorce, how did it feel?"

"It was like a thunderclap, but also not surprising... I’ve known you’d leave for a long time. You’re so perfect, how could you put up with all my flaws? You were only staying because of my grandmother's favor!"

"What did it feel like when I wasn’t by your side?"

"It felt empty and helpless. Nothing felt right. I kept thinking about you, like a smoker trying to quit. It’s impossible to stop."

"What about when you saw Chen Feng holding me? What did you feel?"

"I wanted to beat him until he questioned his life and never dared to do it again!"

So straightforward. That’s Tao Chengxi for you.

I couldn’t help but laugh, even though my heart felt lighter. "And when you found out I have a terminal illness, how did it feel in that moment?"

"...Like falling into the deep sea, about to suffocate."

Tao Chengxi lowered his eyes, pain radiating from them. "So, Sheng Qian, please... save me. Even if you leave me, please don’t leave this world. At least then, when I want to see you, I’ll be able to."

The man in front of me was so unfamiliar, yet so new. He was vulnerable, honest, and surprisingly open, even when he spoke sweet words.

My eyes welled up, but I couldn’t help but smile, pulling out the ultrasound report and handing it to him.

"Alright, I’ll pull you back to shore."

Tao Chengxi stared blankly at it. "What’s this?"

"You always thought I was going to leave, didn’t you? This is to put your mind at ease," I said, gently placing his hand on my abdomen. "Tao Chengxi, I’m pregnant with your child."

He blinked a few times, stunned, before looking at the report again, his mind slowly catching up. "The timing... just that one night... damn, I’m good!"

Then his mood shifted, and he frowned. "No wonder you were so proactive with me. Was this all planned? What about your illness..."

"The diagnosis is fake. Chen Feng is a doctor, but he’s an OB-GYN. I asked him for tips on getting pregnant, which is how I managed. Back at the bar, he was just playing along with me..."

Tao Chengxi took a deep breath, his shoulders suddenly relaxing, but his face darkened.

I bit my lip, pulling him into an embrace, trying to play it off. "So, how about that? Is replacing shock with surprise a little like feeling alive after surviving a close call?"

He suddenly pushed me away, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Sheng Qian, you’re playing me, aren’t you?"

I grinned, grabbing his hand. "Yup! Tao Chengxi, admit it, you can’t live without me. You love me."

It didn’t seem like much, but Tao Chengxi’s eyes suddenly reddened, and he let out a low growl. "Yes, I admit it! But does that mean you can just joke about your life? Messing with me like this? Do you enjoy watching me break down, Sheng Qian? What do you think of me?"

Seeing his expression, I realized I’d gone too far, but I didn’t want to apologize. I just wanted to make him confront his feelings for me.

I didn’t want him to keep hiding his true heart. If he kept it locked up, no matter how much I loved him, it would eventually tire me out, and I might even give up. So, if he loved me too, I just wanted him to hold on to me.

Tao Chengxi, I see you as my sun, my haven, the person I want to spend my life with.

He stared at me for what felt like forever, then suddenly pulled me into his arms. Tears streamed down his face, dropping one by one onto my neck.

"Sheng Qian, I can’t live without you. I love you. From now on, I’ll never be afraid again. Not because you proved it with the baby, but because I’ll never let you go."

I nodded gently, but the tears kept falling. This game of heart-strategy was mine to win—not because I was clever, but because I had a trump card.

In the end, I relied on nothing but the fact that Tao Chengxi loved me. I knew it, but wasn’t sure, so I set a trap and slowly forced him to face it. I made him suffer, cry, and finally, with all his heart, give himself to me.

I was awful, and for that, I’ll spend my life making it up to him.

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