Pei Yansi pushed open the door and stepped out; the moment he opened the door, he saw Shen Heyu standing outside.
She was looking down, seemingly engrossed in listening, until he had opened the door. Only then did she react, lifting her head to look at him.
In Shen Heyu’s eyes, there wasn’t the panic that Pei Yansi had expected. Instead, there was a calm, like the still waters of an ancient well, as if she had heard nothing of what just transpired.
She merely glanced at him indifferently, then turned to leave.
Pei Yansi frowned as he watched her retreating figure, and he quickly followed her.
Upon entering the bridal chamber and closing the door, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace. He held her from behind, his arms crossed over her abdomen, and whispered into her ear, "You heard everything, didn’t you?"
"Yes," Shen Heyu did not struggle. For the first time in a long while, she allowed him to hold her without resistance, simply relinquishing control to him. She spoke in a solemn voice, "Pei Yansi, let’s get a divorce. We were already in a state of divorce, and it was only because you used Lu Yi and others’ safety to coerce me into getting remarried with you."
Pei Yansi sighed, "That’s not possible."
"But Grandmother is right, you can’t be so selfish, hurting your childhood sweetheart and then mistreating me."
Pei Yansi swept her into his arms horizontally and carried her towards the double bed in the room.
He lay on his side next to her, "You don’t need to worry about those things. I will take care of Chen Lingmeng’s matters and strive to find the best place for her."
"I want to leave too."
Shen Heyu sighed, speaking heavily. She was truly exhausted from being by his side, not a single day passing without fatigue.
All she wanted was to leave and gain the freedom she desired.
Pei Yansi heard her words, and his eyes darkened, "That’s just an excuse, isn’t it?"
He turned over and pinned Shen Heyu beneath him, speaking earnestly, "I listened to what Grandmother said, but it’s not enough to change what I feel for you. Heyu, I can never let you leave my side."
Pei Yansi gazed at her eyes in the darkness of night.
At this moment, in Shen Heyu’s view, his eyes were like a beast lurking in the night, always watching her, unwilling to give her even a moment’s chance to breathe or escape.
Shen Heyu didn’t speak and turned over, turning her back to him to sleep.
She had nothing left to say to him; he was always selfish and authoritarian. Regardless of Chen Lingmeng and herself, he only wanted what he desired most, never bothering about how it affected anyone else.
Pei Yansi held her from behind. It was already late, and even though his body was somewhat restless, he didn’t disturb Shen Heyu any further.
A night without dreams.
When Shen Heyu woke up the next day, Pei Yansi was no longer by her side. She instinctively reached her hand out to touch the spot next to her, the place where he had slept was already cold.
He must have left a long time ago.
Shen Heyu soon got up as well. She had agreed with Pei Yansi last time to work at his company. Today was just the day to report for work– a Monday.
After getting ready, Shen Heyu was driven to the company by Zhao Jin.
Once in the car, she asked somewhat curiously, "Where’s President Pei?"
Zhao Jin paused, as if struggling with whether to tell her the truth.
Shen Heyu said, "Don’t lie to me."
"Early this morning, Miss Chen woke up, and President Pei received a call from the Chen Family, rushing over there."
Shen Heyu understood in her heart. So that was it; she needed to visit Chen Lingmeng.
She couldn’t quite pinpoint her feelings, not quite heartbroken or pained, but it was still unpleasant.
Zhao Jin observed her reaction through the rearview mirror, daring not to say much.
Upon arriving at the Pei Building, Shen Heyu returned to her previous position. She headed to the president’s office, and just as she got back to her own workstation, gossip, as expected, had already begun swirling around.
Gossip never changes with the centuries; it was all about her relationship with Pei Yansi, why there had been a fierce quarrel with Bai Sheng’er back then, and why she suddenly reappeared after so many years of absence.
Last time, Pei Yansi even made a show of bringing her here, and many people witnessed their close relationship.
This made the office gossip and rumors even more rampant.
Yet, Shen Heyu was completely indifferent, focused on the work before her. Even she didn’t expect that, despite being away for so long, when she started again, it would be just like before.
During the break, Shen Heyu went to the lounge, sitting on the sofa closely following the financial news, most of which speculated about the Shen Group.
Seeing these reports about the Shen Group, Shen Heyu couldn’t help but think of Shen Jiangli. She heard he was no longer in the madhouse, but where had he gone, and why had there been no word from him until now?
Shen Heyu didn’t bother to unpack how things had gotten to this point.
As she pondered, the door to the lounge suddenly opened. She turned to look and saw Yun Duo, her former assistant.
Yun Duo, holding a cup of coffee, looked at her gossip-hungry and quickly approached, excitedly asking, "Director Shen, does your coming here mean you won’t be leaving again?"
Shen Heyu appeared far more composed in comparison, "Perhaps."
"And what about you and President Pei? You were so close before; what exactly is your relationship? The whole company is speculating. Could it really be a secret marriage? What about Bai Sheng’er then? By that logic, wouldn’t President Pei have been unfaithful?"
Yun Duo hadn’t changed, still the gossipy chatty girl. Shen Heyu suddenly felt as though she had traveled back many years as she smiled slightly and said, "You have so many questions all at once; which would you like me to answer first?"
Yun Duo bashfully laughed and hugged Shen Heyu’s arm, playfully saying, "Of course, I wish to get answers to all of them if you’re comfortable sharing!"
Shen Heyu smiled and didn’t answer any, implying none were convenient to discuss.
Yun Duo got the hint and didn’t persist with her questions.
She had to rein in her curiosity, hiding a belly full of gossip.
Just when she thought she wouldn’t get any answers, Shen Heyu suddenly spoke up, "Six years ago, we were indeed secretly married."
Somewhat incredulous, her eyes widened, "Really? And now?"
Shen Heyu replied indifferently, "Not anymore."
Although they were still legally husband and wife, for Shen Heyu, it was over.
They were about to divorce; he would surely remarry Chen Lingmeng.
Yun Duo then seemed to remember something and frowned, "According to what you’re saying, then were all those rumors about him with the intern true? Was he unfaithful? To think President Pei’s personal life is ... What’s the use of being handsome! Just an empty vase! Infuriating. Fortunately, you are already divorced, Director!"