Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: Spare Him, Have Mercy

The next day.

Early in the morning, Old Master Lu’s calls came one after another. Only after confirming that Ji Shu had driven to the Lu residence did he finally relax.

This time, her car didn’t have to park outside; she drove straight into Jingting Garden and stopped right at the entrance of the Lu mansion.

The servants at the door immediately gathered around as she got out, their demeanor respectful.

“Madam, you’ve arrived.”

Hearing this title, Ji Shu recalled the words Lu Jinchuan had said at the door when he first returned to the country.

With the help of the servants, her belongings were quickly moved into a room on the third floor.

One of the maids who helped said this was Lu Jinchuan’s room, cleaned and prepared in advance upon hearing they were moving back.

Ji Shu looked around the room after entering—gray and white tones, nothing particularly special. Lu Jinchuan had barely stayed here in three years; the items inside were mostly those he'd left from his school days.

The only thing that caught her eye was a black box placed on the bookshelf. Compared to the medals beside it, the box seemed oddly out of place. She was about to step forward for a closer look when a knock interrupted her.

“Madam, the lady requests you wait for her in the tea room downstairs.”

Ji Shu understood immediately—sure enough, Jiang Suqing had been waiting anxiously since her return.

She went downstairs to the tea room and waited a while before Jiang Suqing slowly descended from upstairs.

“Ji Shu, you’re really something. Fainting so naturally in front of Achuan, and then moving back into the Lu residence just as effortlessly—I underestimated you.”

Listening to Jiang Suqing’s taunt, Ji Shu realized she was accusing her of feigning unconsciousness just to return to the Lu mansion.

Jiang Suqing sat down slowly opposite her and gave a subtle wave to the maid standing nearby.

The maid immediately understood and cautiously placed a steaming pot of tea in front of Ji Shu, whispering, “Madam, this is the lady’s favorite, Taiping Houkui.” With that, the maid quietly withdrew from the tea room.

Ji Shu grasped the maid’s implied meaning and smiled faintly, knowing what was coming was inevitable.

She slowly lifted the teapot and poured a cup of tea, placing it in front of Jiang Suqing.

However, Jiang Suqing remained calm and indifferent, nibbling on a pastry without once glancing at Ji Shu.

The teacup was hot to the touch; when Ji Shu handed it over, a few drops of tea splashed onto Jiang Suqing’s fingers. Ji Shu instinctively rubbed the scalded spot gently.

Jiang Suqing finished half the pastry and casually tossed the remainder onto the saucer.

She lifted her head, eyes sharp as she stared at Ji Shu, coldly saying, “Ji Shu, is the tea too hot? But that’s nothing compared to the pain of a mother who’s barely seen her son in three years!”

Jiang Suqing glanced meaningfully at Ji Shu. “Xingyuan told me you and Jinchuan are processing divorce papers.”

The words struck Ji Shu like thunder, and she suddenly lifted her head, locking eyes firmly with Jiang Suqing.

“So it’s true. Ji Shu, ever since you married in three years ago, the Lu family has never mistreated you, right?” Jiang Suqing gripped her hand tightly.

“Then what?” Ji Shu retorted.

“So, can you please let Achuan go and agree to the divorce?” Jiang Suqing’s eyes lost their earlier sharpness, filled entirely with pleading.

Ji Shu quietly observed this woman who, for her son, was willing to humble herself and beg. A pang of sorrow stirred within her.

Suppressing the pain in her heart, she asked hoarsely, “Let him go?”

Jiang Suqing thought she was unwilling and continued, “Ji Shu, if you agree to divorce Achuan and stop interfering in his and Xingyuan’s lives, after the divorce, I will give you a sum of money as compensation.”

Ji Shu clenched her fingertips beneath her sleeve, “Compensation?”

“Whatever you want, I will provide, as long as you sign the divorce papers.”

“How many times has Achuan come home in these three years? I, as his mother, have only been able to see my son through news on my phone. Do you know what people say about us behind our backs?”

“I know Achuan’s been avoiding you by not coming home, but three years of torment is enough! Ji Shu, please let Achuan go!”

“Torment?”

Ji Shu’s rebuttal struck a nerve buried deep within Jiang Suqing’s heart for years.

Her calm expression suddenly darkened, and the carefully crafted mask was mercilessly torn away.

She widened her eyes, glaring at Ji Shu with trembling anger. “Back then, Achuan and Xingyuan were so close—because of you, because of your dead father, everything changed!”

“Ji Shu, after three years, don’t you understand? Achuan never loved you. You’ve bound him for three years—isn’t that enough? Because of you, Achuan’s happiness in this life is destroyed. You haven’t even repaid what you owe him.”

Jiang Suqing’s voice grew harsh. “These three years, I’ve lived in the same city as my son, but because of you, he has a home he can’t return to. Do you know how that feels? What did your father say to Old Master before he died three years ago? Why did he force my son like this? Why?”

Her wrist was gripped so tightly it felt as if it might break. Jiang Suqing seemed to be using all her strength to vent the bottled-up emotions, exacting double revenge on Ji Shu.

A suffocating pain spread across Ji Shu’s chest as Jiang Suqing’s scolding and curses stabbed at her heart like knives.

No one had ever considered how she had endured these past three years.

Everyone placed all the blame on her.

Everyone begged her to be merciful, to let Lu Jinchuan go.

Everyone kept repeating the truth that Lu Jinchuan did not love her.

But who was truly tormenting whom?

Who really should let go?

Ji Shu summoned all her strength to pry Jiang Suqing’s hand from her wrist and looked her straight in the eyes, voice firm: “You’re wrong. This time, I was the one who handed the divorce papers to Lu Jinchuan. I’m not letting him go; I’m begging him to let me go.”

After saying this, she didn’t look at Jiang Suqing again but rose and returned to her room upstairs.

The moment the door closed, Ji Shu felt completely drained, unable to support her body any longer. She leaned weakly against the door and slowly slid down to the floor, tears uncontrollably streaming down.

The words Jiang Suqing spoke were like a venomous snake coiled around her heart’s tip, constantly releasing poison that corroded her already shattered soul.

In everyone’s eyes, she was the unforgivable villain who had come between Lu Jinchuan and Xu Xingyuan.

So it made sense that Lu Jinchuan had separated from her the day after their wedding and hadn’t seen her for three years, while occasionally flying to America to see Xu Xingyuan—proof of deep affection!

After all, with more than ten hours’ time difference, how could one persist in making so many trips in a year without love?

Ji Shu admitted that, at this moment, besides heartache, she also felt jealousy.

Jealous of Lu Jinchuan having loving parents who cared for him and a beloved partner.

Jealous of Xu Xingyuan having a lover who could overcome time zones and distance.

And what about Ji Shu?

Alone, desolate, with nothing.

No one ever cared about her feelings.

No matter who it was, if they were displeased, they would shamelessly rush in, step hard on her, then mercilessly stab deep into her heart.

Suddenly, she longed desperately for her parents, if only they were still here...

Ji Shu clenched her clothes tightly, gasping for breath as her heart felt clogged, heavy and suffocating. That familiar yet alien sensation returned to her body.

Her trembling hand reached into her bag for a bottle of medicine, fumbling to open it. She poured a few white pills into her palm and swallowed them without hesitation.

As the medicine gradually took effect, her trembling body slowly calmed.

But her shattered heart seemed beyond repair, still bleeding silently.

Ji Shu sat on the floor for a long while until the ringing of her phone pulled her from her emotions.

She slowly regained awareness and, seeing the caller’s name, was shocked.

After a moment’s hesitation, she pressed the answer button.

“Hello?”

She listened quietly to the other person and responded with a soft “Mm” before the call ended.

Feeling her strength returning, Ji Shu took a deep breath and slowly stood, her steps unsteady as she headed to the bathroom.

After freshening up a little, she went downstairs. Jiang Suqing was no longer in the tea room.

After telling the servants she wouldn’t be dining at home that evening, she drove away from the Lu residence.

The wheels kicked up a cloud of dust, and the sunset’s afterglow cast a warm light across the car window, illuminating Ji Shu’s face.