Su Yunyou managed her family's chain of upscale Western restaurants, where she hired well-regarded pianists to perform nightly. Having studied piano since childhood, Jiang Lili played with a proficiency that rivaled professionals. She understood Su Yunyou's intention: to give her something to do, anything to keep her from getting lost in her thoughts. "Alright," she agreed. Su Yunyou was too swamped with work to stay home and keep her company. "You get some sleep, then head straight to the East District restaurant this afternoon. I'm busy, so I won't be able to pick you up." "I know, go do your thing." Jiang Lili and Su Yunyou had been inseparable since kindergarten. Though they went to different universities, their bond was unbreakable. In fact, as the Jiang family's fortunes declined, their friendship had only grown stronger. With her, Jiang Lili never felt the need to be polite. After seeing Su Yunyou off, she called Fu Xingchen's assistant, Sun Ting, to schedule a meeting with him. "Mrs. Fu, are you... joking?" Sun Ting's voice was laced with disbelief after a long pause. "If there's something you need, can't you just wait for Mr. Fu to come home this evening?" "We're scheduling a time to get divorced," Jiang Lili stated, her voice clipped. As the words left her lips, a sharp sting prickled the back of her nose, and her eyes began to burn. She tilted her head back, refusing to let the tears fall. Sun Ting drew a sharp breath. "But—Mr. Fu is incredibly busy. His schedule is packed for the entire week!" "Then make it next week," Jiang Lili said, her knuckles white as she gripped the hem of her shirt. She felt a lump forming in her throat. "I'll have to check his schedule when I get to the office and get back to you," Sun Ting said, not daring to make such a decision on his own. He hung up and immediately dialed Fu Xingchen. Instead of waiting for Jiang Lili to come home obediently, he got a call about her scheduling a meeting with his assistant. A cold fury built in Fu Xingchen's chest. It was so absurd he let out a bitter laugh. "The audacity!" Sensing the displeasure in his tone, Sun Ting understood immediately. "I'll make an excuse and delay her, then." "Don't bother!" A mocking, sarcastic sneer touched Fu Xingchen's lips. "Schedule it. A week from now." Let her wait. It would make it seem like *he* was the one reluctant to divorce. He gave it three days, tops. Jiang Lili would come crawling back to him. Sun Ting immediately replied to Jiang Lili: next Wednesday, nine in the morning, at the entrance to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Jiang Lili was exhausted, but sleep was impossible. After hanging up with Sun Ting, an acidic sorrow filled her chest. Lying in bed, she could hear her own heart pounding like a drum. She finally broke, hot tears sliding from the corners of her eyes, dampening her long hair and soaking the pillow. The moment she received Sun Ting’s message, whatever faint flicker of hope she'd been harboring was extinguished. A profound sense of despair washed over her. What had she been waiting for? For Fu Xingchen to refuse the divorce? For him to realize how deeply his words had cut her? Fu Xingchen wasn't the kind of man who admitted he was wrong. And she couldn't tolerate a cheating husband. Two years wasn't a long time, but for those two years, her world had revolved entirely around Fu Xingchen. The devotion she had poured into this marriage was immeasurable. She had even forgotten… what her life had been like before she married him. That evening, Jiang Lili forced down her negative emotions, applied some light makeup, and went to the restaurant in the East District. The traffic was heavy, and by the time she arrived, the restaurant was already bustling with guests. Su Yunyou, knowing she was on her way, had slipped away to wait for her at the entrance. Seeing her step out of a taxi, Su Yunyou walked over. "I forgot you don't have a car." "It's fine," Jiang Lili said, following her into the restaurant. Su Yunyou had a dress ready for her and led her to the dressing room. "You don't look so good. Didn't you get enough rest?" The light makeup did little to hide the pallor of Jiang Lili's face. She shook her head. "I'm fine." She changed into the long gown Su Yunyou had prepared and, holding the hem of her skirt, walked to the imported grand piano in the center of the main hall. There was sheet music on the stand. Jiang Lili took a deep breath, placed her slender, pale hands on the keys, and a melodious sound soon filled every corner of the restaurant. Upstairs, in a VIP booth by the window, a figure in white sat listening. He glanced down at the performance, then leaned over and murmured something to the foreign man sitting across from him. Five minutes later, the piece concluded. A waiter approached Jiang Lili. "Ms. Jiang, a gentleman in the VIP booth has requested you come upstairs to play a romantic piece for a confession." The VIP booth on the second floor had its own expensive piano, one that Su Yunyou wouldn't let just any pianist touch. But she trusted Jiang Lili, so when the request came, she had immediately agreed. Jiang Lili lifted her skirt and ascended the stairs. A waiter opened the door to the booth, and she stepped inside. Warm, amber light bathed the room, casting it in a romantic and elegant glow. A burgundy tablecloth was spread over the square table, and the light reflecting off the wine glasses cast shimmering patterns on the three people seated there. Jiang Lili’s steps faltered when her eyes met Fu Xingchen's deep, dark gaze. The man was dressed in a sharp, black, custom-tailored suit, his short hair neat and his features refined. The cuffs of his sleeves were rolled up twice, revealing a Patek Philippe watch on his wrist. Every gesture exuded the aura of a successful man. And sitting beside him was Lin Xiran, clad in a white power suit. Her long, dark hair was styled in glamorous waves that fell down her back. She had an air of authority, but next to Fu Xingchen, it was tempered with a touch of feminine deference. Across from them sat a foreign man, likely in his forties or fifties. This wasn't a romantic date for two; they were in a business meeting. Yet, the scene still sent a tremor through Jiang Lili's heart. As she took them in, their eyes were fixed on her. Fu Xingchen's narrow eyes narrowed ever so slightly. The woman wore a flowing dress the color of burgundy wine, her long, wavy hair cascading around her shoulders like seaweed. Her delicate, palm-sized face was a study in contrasts—both innocent and alluring, a combination that should have clashed but instead was utterly captivating. He knew she was beautiful, but he'd never imagined she could be *this* beautiful. In two years, he had never taken her to a formal event; he was most used to seeing her in loungewear at home. The sight of Jiang Lili like this sent a jolt of surprise through him. *She must have found out where I'd be from Sun Ting,* he thought. *Manufacturing a chance encounter.* A faint, mocking smile played on his lips. He saw right through her little tricks. "Mr. Fu, do you know her?" the foreign man asked in fluent English, noticing how long he had been staring at Jiang Lili.