The rain fell in a dense, suffocating net, trapping Su Qingyu until she could barely breathe. Huddled beneath the meager shelter of a bus stop sign, she watched the city stream by, and regret washed over her. If she hadn't taken a leave of absence for her pregnancy, she would have her degree by now, her skills and education paving the way for a promising future. But who could have predicted it? The Su family's bankruptcy, and then Li Tingchen, the man who had treasured her, suddenly turning his back on her. Overnight, she had lost everything. A year ago, Li Tingchen had sent someone to take all her jewelry and designer bags. The only thing of value she had left was their wedding ring. She slipped it off her finger and, with grim resolve, walked into a high-end jewelry store. The salesclerk sized up Su Qingyu, taking in her cheap, drenched clothes. “Miss, do you have the receipt and certificate of purchase?” “I do.” Pretending not to notice the clerk’s dismissive gaze, Su Qingyu kept her head down, her movements hesitant as she handed them over. “Very well, Miss. We’ll need to send the ring for appraisal. We can get back to you tomorrow, if that’s all right?” Su Qingyu licked her dry lips, a note of desperation in her voice. “I need the money urgently. Is there any way to expedite the process?” “Well, I’ll do my best. If you’ll just wait a moment, Miss…” Before the salesclerk could take the box, a pale, delicate hand pressed down on the lid. “This ring is beautiful. I’ll take it.” Su Qingyu looked up into a face she despised. Bai Yuanyuan. Bai Yuanyuan was dressed in a soft, white cashmere coat, the Australian South Sea pearls at her ears lending her an air of gentle elegance. The shawl draped around her neck alone was worth a small fortune. The moment the salesclerks saw her, they flocked to her side. “Mrs. Li! Is Mr. Li not joining you today?” “Mrs. Li, we just got our latest collection in. Every piece would look stunning on you.” “Mrs. Li, that jadeite piece you asked me to hold has arrived. You must try it on later; it will complement your skin tone perfectly.” The salesclerks chirped “Mrs. Li” one after another. Bai Yuanyuan smiled at Su Qingyu, her eyes gleaming with triumph, a clear declaration of her victory. The world knew that Li Tingchen doted on Bai Yuanyuan, treating her like a precious jewel. But what they didn't know was that Su Qingyu was his legally wedded wife. Su Qingyu’s hands, hidden at her sides, clenched into fists. Of all the times to run into the one person she never wanted to see again, it had to be now, at her lowest. Bai Yuanyuan’s voice was gentle. “Selling a ring of this quality for cash… you’ll lose quite a bit on it.” Su Qingyu snatched the ring box back, her face ashen. “It’s not for sale anymore.” “Not for sale? What a pity. I quite like it. For old times’ sake, I was even prepared to offer you a high price. Aren’t you in need of money, Miss Su?” Su Qingyu froze. Yes, she needed money. Desperately. And Bai Yuanyuan knew it, which was why she was trampling all over her without a shred of restraint. The surrounding clerks chimed in. “Miss, this is the fiancée of the CEO of the Li Corporation. It’s not every day Mrs. Li takes an interest in something. She’ll surely give you a fair price. This way, you can get the money right away without waiting for our appraisal.” Every mention of "Mrs. Li" was a fresh stab of irony. Just a year ago, he had sworn to her that he would never divorce her, that she should give up any hope. Now, only a year later, everyone knew Bai Yuanyuan by that title. Su Qingyu felt, more strongly than ever, that her marriage to Li Tingchen had been nothing but a calculated scheme. Seeing her hesitate, a brilliant smile bloomed on Bai Yuanyuan’s face. “Name your price, Miss Su.” Her smug, gloating expression was nauseating. Su Qingyu’s eyes turned cold. “I’m not selling.” But Bai Yuanyuan wouldn’t let it go. “You’re at the end of your rope, Miss Su. Are you really still clinging to your pride? If I were you, I’d just let go. Hasn’t anyone told you how pathetic it is to hold on so desperately?” “That’s rich coming from you, Miss Bai. You’ve really made a name for yourself stealing other people’s things. If you love taking what isn't yours so much, why don’t you go rob a bank?” In the midst of their struggle, the ring flew from its box, tracing an arc through the air before landing on the floor with a soft *clink*. Su Qingyu scrambled after it. The ring rolled to a stop right before a pair of exquisite, handmade leather shoes. As Su Qingyu bent to pick it up, a drop of water from above landed on her neck, its chill seeping straight to her bones. She slowly raised her head and met a pair of cold, merciless eyes. Li Tingchen stood over her, his black umbrella still open, raindrops trickling down its canopy and onto her head. His fine, black wool coat accentuated his tall, sharp figure. Su Qingyu stared at him, her mind flashing back to the first time she saw him. He was twenty, standing on a sun-drenched athletic field in a white shirt, and in that moment, it was as if he was standing right on her heart, a memory forever seared into her fourteen-year-old soul. Now, she wore a thin knit sweater, the fuzzy texture only making her look more gaunt, her chin sharper than it had been three months ago. He was the picture of untouchable elegance; she was as humble as dust. Su Qingyu’s hand hovered, frozen in place. In that brief moment of hesitation, the man lifted his foot and brought it down squarely on the ring. His face a mask of indifference, he walked past her without a second glance. She remained half-crouched. He had designed this ring himself, tailored to her tastes—understated, unique, the only one of its kind in the world. From the moment he had placed it on her finger, she had never taken it off, except to wash her hands. She wouldn’t have resorted to this if she weren’t so desperate for money. But what she treasured, he treated like worthless trash. He wasn't just stepping on a ring; he was crushing every memory she held dear. Bai Yuanyuan smiled as she approached him. “Tingchen, you’re here. What a coincidence, I was just looking at some jewelry and saw Miss Su selling her ring.” Li Tingchen’s cold expression betrayed no emotion. His icy gaze fell on Su Qingyu’s face, which was tight with suppressed fury. “You’re selling this ring?” he asked coldly. Su Qingyu fought back tears, biting her lip so hard it hurt. “Yes. Are you interested in buying it, Mr. Li?” A mocking smirk twisted Li Tingchen’s lips. “I seem to recall you saying how much this ring meant to you. So much for your sincerity. Something without heart is just trash to me.” Just as Su Qingyu was about to retort, a searing pain flared in her stomach, gripping her nerves. As the tumor grew, the pain had progressed from a mild ache to a piercing agony. She looked at the two of them, a perfectly matched pair in black and white, looking like a flawless couple under the bright store lights. Suddenly, all the fight went out of her. You could tear out your heart for a man who no longer loved you, and he wouldn't even spare it a glance. Gritting her teeth against the pain, Su Qingyu picked up the ring, calmly walked back to the counter, and retrieved her box and receipt. She refused to show weakness in front of him. Even if the pain was so intense she felt she might pass out, she kept her steps steady. As she passed Li Tingchen, she let a single, quiet sentence fall. “It’s just like you, Mr. Li. Once, it was my life. Now, it’s just a rock I can trade for cash. Nothing more.” Li Tingchen sensed something was wrong. Beads of sweat dotted Su Qingyu’s pale forehead, and her face was as white as a sheet, as though she were fighting an immense pain. His large hand shot out and grabbed her arm. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked in a low voice. Su Qingyu shook him off. “None of your business.” She didn’t look back, not even once. Instead, she forced her spine straight and disappeared from his sight. Li Tingchen stared at her retreating back. He was the one who had let her go. So why did his heart ache? Su Qingyu found a secluded corner and fumbled in her bag for her painkillers. She knew that all cancer treatments and medications had side effects, so she had only bought some painkillers and ordinary stomach medicine. Their effect was minimal, but it was better than nothing. Staring out at the pouring rain, she wondered if there was only one path left. It led to the last person she ever wanted to see. But for her father, she had to try. Su Qingyu first went home to pull her disheveled self together before taking a taxi to the Fanjing Villas. The woman had called her from abroad over a year ago. They hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. She wondered how she was doing now. Gazing at the magnificent villa, Su Qingyu figured she must have done well for herself over the years. After she stated her purpose, a maid led her into the living room, where an elegant, beautiful woman sat. She was just as stunning as Su Qingyu remembered. “Qingyu.” The woman’s beautiful eyes met hers. But the word “Mom” wouldn’t leave Su Qingyu’s lips.