Chapter 41: Complete Clarity of Mind

Liu Zhuyin had always struggled to understand how she truly viewed this relationship.

During the wedding, she had been numb and dazed. Because Ning Yuanzhou had already left, she knew she had to marry someone eventually.

He was a good man, easy to get along with without causing trouble, so she gradually accepted this marriage in her heart.

Deep down, she had even thought that her whole life might just pass by like this.

And that would be quite nice...

Yet, when the divorce came, she felt bewildered and helpless.

She could not understand why I wanted a divorce.

For five years, they had never quarreled, treating each other with mutual respect. While they lacked the burning passion of some couples, they also avoided the messy tragedies of others.

At least, that was how she felt.

Then came the time when she tried to understand me, learning about everything I had contributed to this home and to her...

She felt moved, filled with self-reproach...

Yet still, she did not believe it was entirely her fault.

Even though her mother and others kept saying that she and Ning Yuanzhou walked too close.

She believed it was only right.

Towards one's savior, one should give everything.

Of course, lingering childhood adoration and infatuation also made her unable to help wanting to be close to him.

However, she had long since let go of her romantic feelings for Ning Yuanzhou.

She had never even entertained such thoughts!

Because she was my wife, and I was her husband.

Ning Yuanzhou was already a thing of the past.

"Wait... wait a minute, Ah-Yin, you developed feelings for him over time?"

"How could that be!"

"You were probably just used to him, weren't you?"

"Just like a kitten or a puppy, after accompanying you for a long time, naturally you grow attached."

"You mustn't overthink this and mistake that attachment for love!"

Panic had set in for Ning Yuanzhou, and he began using his own theories to brainwash Liu Zhuyin.

However, Liu Zhuyin did not see it that way.

"I used to think so, too."

"But now... I think I was wrong."

During this period, she had thought a lot.

The answer in her heart had gradually become clear.

Facing my rejection, she had initially felt puzzled and angry.

She thought I was throwing a tantrum, or deliberately trying to upset her.

It wasn't until yesterday, when I said those words to her, that she was truly awakened.

Only then did she understand where she had gone wrong!

Only then did she understand what marriage truly meant!

Only then did she understand what genuine affection was.

A sudden fluttering of the heart—that was love, fierce and grand.

A quiet stream flowing gently—that was love, silently nourishing all things.

She and Ning Yuanzhou belonged to the former, but that was already in the past.

Was it unforgettable?

Yes!

Yet, upon careful reflection, what remained was merely an emotion driven by a burst of passion... influenced purely by hormones.

She only knew she had liked Ning Yuanzhou, but she could not recall any specific, meaningful deeds.

She could not remember... what she actually liked about Ning Yuanzhou.

Her relationship with me belonged to the latter.

Seemingly ordinary and plain, yet it seeped into the soul, enveloping every microscopic detail of life.

She had thought it wasn't love, merely habit.

Yet when her heart ached, she could recall all the little moments we shared—grand things like me risking everything for the company and for her,

down to trivial things like me cooking a meal for her or slicing an apple.

As every single memory strung together, her anger melted away, replaced entirely by self-reproach.

She could even empathize, experiencing my bitterness and disappointment firsthand.

And that made the pain... all the more piercing!

"You... you..."

"Don't be foolish!"

Ning Yuanzhou did not know what else to say. This was what he feared the most!

He knew how Liu Zhuyin behaved when she loved someone.

Just like her stubborn persistence when she fell for him years ago.

He was terrified that Liu Zhuyin would truly fall all the way into this.

If that happened, he would be completely helpless!

"I am not being foolish."

"My mother was right. What is the point of living a human life? It's about being happy."

"Thinking about it now, being with Gu Yichen makes me genuinely happy."

She had figured it all out completely!

She was going to carry this love forward!

Once she figured it out, she was no longer depressed.

Her former husband, whom she had carelessly lost, she just needed to win back.

She refused to believe that I didn't have an ounce of feeling left for her.

"You want to win him back?"

The muscles in Ning Yuanzhou's face stiffened completely.

"He is my husband. We haven't even officially finalized the divorce yet."

"We just had some conflicts, so why shouldn't I win him back?"

Liu Zhuyin smiled, dropped those words, and stood up to leave.

Ning Yuanzhou clenched his fists so hard they trembled, the malice in his eyes growing deeper and deeper!

...

The foreign-funded project was about to open for bidding.

Luo Mingzhu had already arranged for people to work overtime to optimize and organize my proposal.

All that remained for me to do was to conduct the negotiations in the name of the Liu Group.

That afternoon, I arrived at the Liu Group and met Madam Liu.

"The company seal, the corporate credentials... they're all here!"

"You were the one keeping them anyway."

"Take them quickly."

Madam Liu shoved everything into my hands all at once, as if they were hot potatoes she desperately wanted to get rid of.

"Uh... I'll return them as soon as I'm done."

Madam Liu immediately shook her head. "No, no need... just keep them with you, Mother trusts you!"

"From now on, any major projects of the parent company, you should oversee them too."

"Mother is old and truly losing her touch! That reckless girl is far inferior to you."

"With such a massive family enterprise, tell me, shouldn't Mother rely on you?"

Madam Liu was playing the emotional card, and I hadn't the heart to pierce through her underlying intentions.

She wanted me to return to the group and manage the company once more.

I had no intention of returning; this time, I was only stepping in to resolve the foreign-funded project.

Aside from helping out the Liu family, I also considered Luo Mingzhu a capable and reliable partner.

Once this matter concluded, I would wash my hands of it entirely.

"Fine... alright then."

"If there are any issues, have someone else liaise with me."

"As for Liu Zhuyin, leave her out of it."

Madam Liu didn't refuse, nodding repeatedly. "Alright, alright, I'll listen to you... I'll listen to you..."

She agreed readily enough, though I doubted she would actually follow my instructions.

"Mother, how has your health been these past couple of days? Your complexion looks much better."

Madam Liu's smile abruptly froze, and she immediately coughed a couple of times.

"Cough, cough... pretty good, not bad..."

"Just that... Mother was so happy to see you come by that she completely forgot all about being sick."

This behavior...

Why did it feel so bizarre?

I cast a suspicious glance at her, then sighed inwardly.

It seemed this illness of hers was not going to clear up anytime soon.

With a helpless shake of my head, I bid her farewell and turned to leave—only to run right into Liu Zhuyin.

"Mom, where is the company seal? I need to stamp a contract."

She had rushed over holding a stack of documents and collided squarely with me.

"Yichen! You're here!"

Upon seeing me, a bright smile instantly bloomed across her face.

That familiar, affectionate demeanor caught me entirely off guard.

If I remembered correctly... just yesterday she had been shouting and quarreling with me!
Today she was acting as if nothing had ever happened?

Since when had she learned to be so shameless?

"Uh... yeah. You go ahead and get busy."

I turned to walk away, but Madam Liu called out from behind us.

"Hey, Xiao-Chen, don't leave just yet. This seal... go ahead and stamp her document."

Hearing those words, Liu Zhuyin froze for a second.

Fearing she might misunderstand, I quickly clarified.

"I need the group seal for some specific business matters."

"Since you need it, go ahead and use it first."

"Just have someone drop it back to me when you're finished."

With that, I tried to thrust the items back into her hands.

Instead, she stepped deftly aside, the smile on her face growing even warmer.

"No, no..."

"Just keep it with you! I'll be really quick."

"I just need one little stamp."