The day Su Qingyu was diagnosed with stomach cancer, her husband, Li Tingchen, was with his old flame at a check-up for their son. “Qingyu, the results are back. It’s a stage 3A malignant tumor. If the surgery is successful, the five-year survival rate is between fifteen and thirty percent.” Su Qingyu’s slender fingers tightened on the strap of her shoulder bag, her pale face grim. “Lin Yan, how long do I have if I don’t get the surgery?” Lin Yan held the biopsy report, his expression serious. “Six months to a year, it varies from person to person. In your case, it’s best to undergo two rounds of chemotherapy before surgery. That will help prevent infiltration and metastasis. I’ll arrange for your admission right away.” Su Qingyu bit her lip, the words catching in her throat. “Thank you, Lin Yan, but I’m not going to seek treatment. I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Please, keep this a secret for me. I don’t want my family to worry.” With the Su family bankrupt, Su Qingyu was already pouring all her energy into covering her father's exorbitant medical bills. Telling her family about her own illness would only make a terrible situation worse. Lin Yan sighed, a sense of helplessness washing over him. “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. But I hope you won’t give up on treatment. I heard you got married… your husband…” “Lin Yan, please take good care of my father. I have to go.” Su Qingyu seemed desperate to avoid the topic, hurrying away before he could respond. Lin Yan shook his head. Rumor had it she’d dropped out of medical school before graduation to get married. The former genius of their program had become a falling star, and now, all that remained was a broken woman. In the two years of her father’s treatment, Lin Yan had only ever seen Su Qingyu rushing around by herself. Even today, when she’d collapsed, it was a stranger who had brought her in. Her husband was nowhere to be seen. Su Qingyu’s mind drifted back. There was a time, in their first year of marriage, when Li Tingchen had been genuinely good to her. But everything changed the day his old flame returned to the country, pregnant with his child. It had ended with both her and the other woman falling into the water, both heavily pregnant. Li Tingchen had chosen to save his old flame, Bai Yuanyuan. In the ensuing shock, both women had gone into premature labor. But Su Qingyu was rescued too late, missing the critical window for treatment. By the time she reached the hospital, the baby was stillborn. Seven days after their child’s death, Li Tingchen had asked for a divorce. She had never agreed. But now, knowing her diagnosis, Su Qingyu couldn’t hold on any longer. Her hand trembling, she dialed his number. It rang three times before his magnetic, cold voice came through. “Unless it’s to sign the divorce papers, I’m not seeing you.” A sharp sting hit Su Qingyu’s nose and her eyes burned. She swallowed the words she had prepared about her illness. Suddenly, Bai Yuanyuan’s voice chirped in the background, “Tingchen, it’s time for the baby’s check-up.” At that moment, the tears Su Qingyu had been holding back finally fell. Her child was gone. Her home was destroyed. And he had built a new family with someone else. It was time to end it all. Without the groveling pleas of the past, Su Qingyu’s voice came out as a fragile thread of sound. “Li Tingchen, let’s get a divorce.” The man on the other end of the line was silent for a beat, then scoffed. “Su Qingyu, what kind of game are you playing now?” Su Qingyu closed her eyes and said, word by word, “Li Tingchen, I’ll be waiting for you at home.” Hanging up took every last ounce of her strength. Her body slid down the wall to the floor. The heavy rain from the corridor slanted in, soaking her clothes. She clutched the phone, biting down on her sleeve to muffle her silent sobs. *** Li Tingchen stared at the phone, the disconnected call leaving him momentarily stunned. After a year-long standoff where she’d stubbornly refused to let go, why the sudden change of heart? Her voice had been choked with tears. Glancing at the torrential rain outside, Li Tingchen stood and walked out of the examination room. “Tingchen, where are you going?” Bai Yuanyuan called after him, holding their child. But all she saw was his retreating back as he hurried away, and her gentle face twisted into a dark, ugly scowl. That bitch just wouldn't give up. It had been a long time since Li Tingchen had set foot in their marital home. He had half-expected to find the table laden with his favorite dishes, Su Qingyu waiting for him. Instead, the sprawling villa was dark and lifeless, not a single light on. Winter nights always fell too quickly; it was barely past six, but darkness had already consumed the world outside. His gaze fell upon a bouquet of withered flowers on the dining table. It wasn't like Su Qingyu to let flowers wilt like this. There was only one explanation: she hadn’t been home for days, likely keeping watch at the hospital. Just then, the front door opened and Su Qingyu walked in. She saw the tall, slender man in the suit standing by the table, his handsome face as cold as ice. The moment his eyes met hers, his dark pupils swam with an overwhelming hatred. Su Qingyu, who had run from the car through the downpour, was soaked to the bone. Under his chilling gaze, a wave of cold washed down her spine. “Where have you been?” Li Tingchen’s voice was like ice.