Meng Shutang reached her grandma's house late at night.
Grandma was still awake, with her favorite food warm on the table—but she couldn't eat a bite.
All she could see was Gu Yunci with Bai Cixian. They'd been so happy once—why did it end like this?
"Fighting with Yunci again?" Grandma asked softly.
Meng Shutang didn't want to tell her about the divorce. She couldn't let her worry about her mother's medical bills.
When she got paid and divorced Gu Yunci, she'd tell her the truth.
"I'm just tired."
Grandma knew her too well.
"All couples fight. It's normal—don't hold a grudge."
She paused. "Tangtang, I think he wants a baby. I saw him standing in a baby store for a long time.
You're not young anymore. Don't focus only on earning money for your mom—have a baby."
It wasn't her fault.
In three years of marriage, Gu Yunci had been obsessed with being intimate, but he'd always been careful—never letting her get pregnant.
Even when he got carried away, he'd stop at the last second.
She'd asked twice about having a baby. Both times he'd said no.
This time, he asked for a divorce directly.
"Grandma, we're fine. Don't worry."
Grandma didn't push it. She told her to go to bed.
Meng Shutang had her own room at home, even after marriage.
Grandma aired the blankets every few days, so she'd be comfortable.
She slept soundly at the Zhou house, waking up at 10 a.m. It was Saturday, so Grandma let her sleep.
She ate lunch, walked with Grandma, then bought groceries and filled the fridge. She stocked up on supplies before heading back to Repulse Bay.
Aunt Zhang smiled warmly when she saw her. "Madam, I've made bird's nest soup for you. I'll bring it up soon."
Meng Shutang gave her gifts for the staff. "Here—share these with everyone."
She hurried upstairs to the third floor.
Her attic room was a small bedroom converted from a half-open storage room.
The ceiling was slanted—tall enough in the middle, but she had to bend over at the edges, or she'd hit her head.
It was small, with a tiny skylight, and dim.
The worst part was the nights. The attic had no sound insulation, and it was freezing in late autumn.
Her first night there, the blanket was thin—she'd curled up to sleep.
She'd brought a thick blanket from grandma's.
She decorated the attic with plants and flowers, making it soft and warm.
This was her home for the next 44 days. She wouldn't let herself suffer.
Aunt Zhang knocked with the bird's nest soup. She gasped at the decorated room. "Madam, you're so talented."
She looked around. "Mrs. Gu loved this room when she was alive.
She loved painting here when the sun was bright.
The windows were always open, and the paint smell drifted downstairs.
Mr. Gu… would sit here waiting for her. They'd spend the whole afternoon together."
In three years of marriage, Meng Shutang knew her mother-in-law, Chu Fu, was a taboo topic.
It was like she'd never existed, even though she'd given birth to Gu Yunci and Gu Jinxing.
No one ever spoke of her.
But Aunt Zhang had mentioned her twice recently.
It was like her death was connected to Meng Shutang's failing marriage. But why? It was all her own fault.
If she hadn't loved Gu Yunci, if she hadn't left with him at her engagement to Gu Jinxing…
Meng Shutang pushed the thought away. She picked up the soup bowl. "Aunt Zhang, was Mrs. Gu a painter?"
She remembered people at the company saying Bai Cixian loved painting too.
Aunt Zhang was happy she asked. "She was so talented! She had exhibitions at the Palace Museum and Zhonglin Building—Mr. Gu arranged all of them.
She was skilled, everything she painted was beautiful. But she was fierce—she couldn't stand injustice."
Meng Shutang frowned. "Why have I never seen her paintings?"
Aunt Zhang's voice dropped. "…They were burned. Mr. Gu burned them all."
She sighed. "Madam, I'll go downstairs. Call me if you need anything."
Meng Shutang sat at the vintage carved desk and worked. She sipped her soup and glanced downstairs—Aunt Zhang wiped her eyes as she walked down.
Gu Yunci didn't come home for the next few days.
The attic was quiet, except for Aunt Zhang bringing fruit.
Meng Shutang heard Sister Li talking to Aunt Zhang. "Miss Bai is perfect. If the young master had married her, none of this would have happened."
Aunt Zhang: "Don't mention Miss Bai at home."
…
One day, Meng Shutang went to the studio early after breakfast.
She worked all morning. At noon, Ruan An reminded her: "Sister Tangtang, we have to go to Zhonglin Building for the award ceremony this afternoon."
They'd entered a project months ago and won first place.
"I know."
Ruan An: "Mr. Gu said he'd go with you to the award ceremony. Do you want to call him?"
Meng Shutang paused. "No."
He didn't even come home. He wouldn't care about a small award.
Ruan An thought they were just fighting—they were perfect together, they couldn't really divorce!
"Sister, it's his choice not to come. But you have to tell him, just in case—"
"He won't be there."
Gu Yunci was either at Gu Group or with Bai Cixian. He'd never show up.
Ruan An bit her lip and snuck out with her phone.
Qin Zheng had told her to call him if they couldn't reach Gu Yunci.
She called Qin Zheng. "Assistant Qin, Starlight Studio won first prize in the ancient pearl restoration project. Mr. Gu promised to go with Sister Tangtang. Can he make it?"
Qin Zheng: "Wait, I'll ask."
Two minutes later: "Miss Ruan, tell Madam Mr. Gu is busy—he can't go. But he ordered flowers, they'll be delivered."
Ruan An was thrilled. Gu Yunci cared! He was just stubborn!
She'd fix this!
She ran back to Meng Shutang, but Meng Shutang didn't look up, her voice calm.
"Cancel the flowers. I'll accept the award alone."
She rejected his flowers coldly, cutting him off completely. But why did Gu Yunci's eyes burn with a rage she couldn't understand?