When she woke again, a faint, cool cedar scent lingered at her nose.

Beside her came Ho Junfeng’s low, pleasant voice. “Yan-yan, you’re awake? Are you still in pain anywhere?”

A warm hand touched her cheek.

For a moment, He Yanzi felt dazed, as if she had returned to the carefree days of the past.

But the pain in her body quickly jolted her awake.

Ho Junfeng had cheated.

He had stood by and watched as she was smeared as a homewrecker, surrounded and beaten, even asking whether she knew she was wrong.

She forcefully turned her face away, avoiding his hand and looking out the window.

Ho Junfeng frowned slightly as he watched her.

“Yan-yan, after suffering this much, haven’t you learned your lesson yet?”

“As long as you obediently admit your mistake, I can withdraw the divorce. You’ll still be Mrs. Ho, and everything will be just like before.”

He Yanzi remained silent, only tugging faintly at the corner of her lips.

Just like before? How could that be possible.

She heard Ho Junfeng stand by the bed for a moment, then bend down to coax her gently. “I asked the auntie to make your favorite tang bu shuai. Let me feed you some, all right?”

He Yanzi still said nothing.

Ho Junfeng looked at her back, frowning slightly, about to speak again when his phone rang.

He Yanzi could clearly hear that it was Han Jingyun on the other end.

After hanging up, he straightened. “Yan-yan, Jingyun has already been working nonstop for over twenty-four hours, yet she still has the energy to come up with solutions for your situation. You really should put away that childishness and pampered attitude of yours and learn from her.”

He Yanzi stubbornly replied, “Han Jingyun is so great—if you like her, that’s fine. I will never learn from her.”

A flash of anger crossed Ho Junfeng’s face. He raised his hand and shut off the pain pump by the bed.

Sharp pain surged instantly. He Yanzi sucked in a breath, staring at him in disbelief.

Ho Junfeng looked down at her from above.

Watching her break into a cold sweat without the pain pump, he asked lightly, “Yan-yan, say what you just said again.”

Enduring the pain, He Yanzi repeated herself. Sweat slid down her forehead, into her face and along her neck, leaving her utterly miserable.

Ho Junfeng stared at her for several seconds, then turned and called a nurse. “Remove the pain pump from this room. She doesn’t need it.”

The nurse was startled. “Ms. He’s medication is quite strong. Without the pain pump, she might—”

Ho Junfeng cut her off, his tone brooking no refusal. “Remove it.”

The nurse fell silent, her movements quick as she removed the pump.

He Yanzi clutched the blanket tightly, her knuckles turning white from the pain.

Ho Junfeng’s phone rang again.

He answered it. The voice on the other end was urgent. “President Ho, Director Han has collapsed in her office—”

Ho Junfeng’s expression changed. He turned to glance at He Yanzi. “Han Jingyun worked herself to the point of fainting for her job, while you lie here throwing a tantrum like a spoiled young lady, Yan-yan—”

He Yanzi pulled the blanket over her head, refusing to listen any further.

Ho Junfeng strode out. The hospital room door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Only after a long while did He Yanzi emerge from under the blanket, staring blankly at the insulated food container by the bedside.

The pattern on it showed the Maruko-chan family. She and Ho Junfeng had bought it during a trip to Japan.

Back then, she had thought that one day they would have children, and then grandchildren… that their family would be as happy and complete as Maruko-chan’s.

As she looked at it, tears fell silently.

After that, Ho Junfeng never came again.

Every day, He Yanzi saw updates from Han Jingyun’s social media on her phone.

In every photo, in every video, there were traces of Ho Junfeng.

Ho Junfeng stood behind Han Jingyun, holding her hand as they wrote together, both smiling softly.

Han Jingyun, dressed in a white suit, linking arms with Ho Junfeng in his black suit at bustling business summits.

The two of them traveling together for work, negotiating deals, praised by partners as a perfect match.

The two of them appearing together at hot springs, drinking champagne, discussing business terms He Yanzi couldn’t understand—Ho Junfeng’s eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Han Jingyun.

It was a look he had never once given He Yanzi.

She watched quietly, and in her daze, it felt as though the pain from waking up to find the pain pump turned off surged through her once more.

She put her phone away.

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