Zhonglin Building.
Award Ceremony.
The host announced: "The winner of the Ancient Pearl Restoration Innovation Award is—Starlight Studio!"
Meng Shutang walked onto the stage calmly, her makeup perfect.
"Thank you for this honor. Restoring ancient pearls is restoring the years and stories locked inside them.
This award belongs to my team, and to everyone who keeps their craft alive."
She held the trophy high.
She walked offstage to thunderous applause. Ruan An shoved a huge bouquet of champagne roses into her arms.
"Sister Tangtang! Mr. Gu said he was too busy, but he sent these! They're your favorite—he still remembers everything about you!"
They left the ceremony, chatting. They froze when they saw the crowd at the opposite exhibition hall.
An art show was being held there. At the entrance, Bai Cixian stood gently beside Gu Yunci in a long dress.
Gu Yunci wore a black suit, tall and straight, introducing her to famous painters.
Several Gu Group employees stood nearby to help.
Whispers drifted on the wind.
"Director Bai is so young, an amateur painter—and she has a show at Zhonglin! Amazing!"
"Zhonglin is impossible to get into! Mr. Gu pulled all the strings, spent a fortune!"
"He's so devoted to her—even top painters don't get this treatment!"
"Of course—she's his first love."
The words cut into Meng Shutang's heart.
She stood frozen like a porcelain statue, her fingers tightening around the trophy until her knuckles ached.
He'd never cared about her passions. But he'd thrown everything into an art show for Bai Cixian—all because his mother, Chu Fu, had been a painter.
Bai Cixian saw her out of the corner of her eye. She leaned closer to Gu Yunci. "Yunci, Miss Meng just won her award. Should you go congratulate her?"
Gu Yunci's eyes darkened. He turned sharply, staring at the trophy in her arms, then at her stunning face.
Qin Zheng hurried over. "Madam, congratulations!"
Meng Shutang didn't look at Gu Yunci. Her face was cold. She shoved the roses into Qin Zheng's arms.
"Assistant Qin, you're always efficient—but you sent these to the wrong person. They belong at the exhibition next door!"
The room went silent.
Bai Cixian's smile froze.
Gu Yunci's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He tried to speak, but no words came out.
***
After they left, Ruan An ranted nonstop.
"How could he do this? You're still his wife! How can he flaunt Bai Cixian like that?
Sister Tangtang, don't be sad. He's an idiot for not seeing how amazing you are."
They reached the parking garage. Meng Shutang opened the door for Ruan An. "Get in. I'll take you to celebrate."
The studio only had three people—her, Chen Man, Ruan An. Chen Man was on bed rest.
Ruan An did all the extra work.
Meng Shutang didn't have time to be sad. Earning money to keep her mother alive was all that mattered.
Grandma called.
"Tangtang, tomorrow's your birthday. Come to the old mansion—I'll celebrate for you."
Meng Shutang thought of Gu Yeheng and refused. "Grandma, no need. Yunci and I will celebrate alone."
Grandma laughed loudly. "My Tangtang is so sensible!
Good—send me a photo of you two with the cake tomorrow!"
She hung up, then immediately called Gu Yunci.
"Get home here now!"
Gu Yunci stuffed his hands in his pockets, frowned, and hung up quietly. "Cixian, I can't stay. If you need anything, tell Qin Zheng."
Bai Cixian grabbed his arm. "Yunci, we're already here—come see the show!
These are all my best pieces. Even the ones I painted when I secretly had a crush on you…"
Gu Yunci pulled away. "I have to go to the old mansion. It's important."
He left.
He walked into the mansion, and a teacup flew at him.
"Gu Yunci, have you lost your mind?"
Grandma's voice was low, her cane tapping the floor angrily.
"Tangtang won an award today, and you didn't even go. Instead, you waste money and favors on an outsider, giving her an exhibition at Zhonglin! How do you think she feels?"
Their marriage was a secret.
Only a few Gu Group executives knew Meng Shutang was Gu Yunci's wife.
"I let you marry her because she's kind and smart. But you ignore your wife and fawn over an amateur painter who can't even draw basic lines! You're blind and stupid!"
"I'm telling you one last time—Bai Cixian will never be part of the Gu family.
Stop this now. If you make Tangtang cry again, I'll never forgive you."
She hit him with her cane.
"Tomorrow's Tangtang's birthday. She promised to celebrate with you. Leave work early, and send me a bed photo of you two tomorrow night."
She sipped her tea, ignoring him.
Gu Yunci leaned over the table, grinning. "Bed photo? Grandma, you're into that?"
*Bang.* Grandma slammed her teacup down. Tea splashed on his sleeve.
"Get out! If you don't send it, I'll book you a men's health clinic again!"
Gu Yunci chuckled, arrogant and teasing. "Grandma, still on that? I don't need it."
He stood up. "I'll send a cake photo. No bed photos—you'll get dizzy and blame me."
He left.
Grandma yelled: "Don't forget!"
He snapped his fingers.
…
Meng Shutang took Ruan An to a stylish hot pot restaurant.
It was hidden away—Gu Yunci had brought her here shortly after they married.
He'd said it was his favorite spot in college.
Back then, he'd kissed her hand and said: "I'll take you everywhere I've ever been."
Meng Shutang had avoided this place for a long time.
It made her think of him.
But not anymore.
Their marriage license would soon be replaced with a divorce certificate. All the painful memories would boil away in the spicy soup.
They ate happily. On the way home, she bought desserts for Aunt Zhang and the others.
She never expected Gu Yunci to be home.
It was the first time she'd seen him since moving to the attic.
She said nothing, looking down to change her shoes. Her cute rabbit slippers scuffed the floor silently.
She walked to Aunt Zhang, handed over the desserts. "These are for you."
She deliberately walked around him, not giving him a single glance, and turned to leave.
Gu Yunci recognized the desserts from the shop next to the hot pot restaurant. Everyone got something except him. His voice held a trace of hurt: "Where have you been?"
Meng Shutang didn't stop, her hand on the stair rail. "None of your business."
Gu Yunci's Adam's apple bobbed. He stood up from the sofa and followed her.
Meng Shutang heard him and stopped at the attic door. "Mr. Gu, what do you want?"
Gu Yunci stopped on the stairs.
He'd always looked down on her—in bed, in life.
This was the first time he'd been in this position.
Something felt wrong, but he couldn't name it.
He walked to the door, standing face to face with her, his voice businesslike. "Let's talk inside."
"I'll talk here."
"What? You don't want me to come in anymore?" He stuffed one hand in his pocket, looking devilishly handsome.
Meng Shutang stood straight, her eyes ice-cold. "You kicked me out of the master bedroom. Isn't that what you wanted? For me to stay away from you?"
He'd pushed her away, but now he craved her closeness. Did he really think a few words could fix the damage he'd done?