Chapter 1.1

Early summer, a gentle breeze blows warm, lightly swaying a tree full of white blossoms.

Cheng Yu tilts her head up, slightly squinting her eyes, watching the brilliant golden rays filtering down in specks through the flowers and leaves.

The sunlight is so warm, so wonderful, bathing the city in dazzling splendor; the undulating mountains in the distance, the lush green grass nearby, beautiful like a painting.

Cheng Yu loves this kind of good weather, loves the lazy feeling of sunlight on her skin, loves listening to the sound of the wind, the rustling of flowers and leaves, and not far away, a little boy using his soft and crisp voice to act coquettishly toward his daddy.

“Daddy, look, the castle I made!” The little boy, about four or five years old, holds a small shovel, squats in the sandpit, and proudly shows off to his father the crooked sandcastle he built with his own hands.

The man sits on a leisure bench in the park, a laptop placed on his knees, watching the child play in the sand while still busy with work. On his young face hangs a pair of black-framed glasses, giving him a somewhat bookish and dull air; his features are not handsome, yet they are chiseled and three-dimensional, with a distinct character all their own, especially the eyes behind the lenses, now looking at his child, shining with gentle light, his square lips slightly raised, softening the cold and stern lines.

“Daddy, look at my castle!” The little boy stands up and comes over to pull his daddy’s big hand, insisting that he come over to see.

The man puts down the computer, complies with the little boy’s request, and the father and son squat in front of the castle that really cannot be called majestic, seriously studying it.

“Is Yangyang’s good? Am I really amazing?”

“Mm, really amazing, even Daddy couldn’t make one.” Cheng Yu did not expect that the man’s voice would actually be so low and pleasant, like the tone of a cello.

“Daddy, play with me too.”

“No, Daddy has to work.”

“But Auntie is sick today, you clearly said you would take leave to accompany me the whole day.”

“Daddy did take leave, but there is still work not finished, you play by yourself first, okay? Once Daddy is done, he will come accompany you.” The man’s tone when speaking to the child is extremely patient, softly coaxing him.

“Okay! Then I will obediently play by myself.” The little boy pouts his moist red little mouth, somewhat unwilling, yet very obediently nods his head, his big eyes like two polished black jewels, lively and adorable.

Cheng Yu stared at him in a daze, almost unable to resist the impulse to reach out and hug the little boy tightly, and to kiss his cheeks fiercely several times.

If her first child had been born smoothly, he would probably be about the same age as this little boy now, and surely just as innocent and adorable.

Her child…

Unconsciously, Cheng Yu reached out to stroke her lower abdomen, her fingers gradually clenching and twisting tightly.

Not long ago, she had miscarried another child, the baby she had longed for for many years, but in the end, she could not keep it.

Just because she had personally witnessed that fickle and heartless man entangled passionately with another woman in the office.

She did not see who that woman was, and it did not matter who she was. She only knew that when that man was caught red-handed by her, his wife, he calmly put on his clothes, straightened his tie, and then said he had a client dinner later and would not come home that night.

Now thinking back, she could not quite remember her reaction at the time; the memory was very blurry. It seemed she had hysterically said some words, and then somehow, she was impatiently pushed by that man. Her lower abdomen heavily struck the corner of the table, and then she fell into a coma.

When she woke up, the doctor informed her with a tone of reluctance—she had miscarried.

The baby was gone again…

She rested in the hospital for two days, but her husband did not even come to see her once. She quietly handled the discharge procedures herself and returned to the empty house.

Today, she was actually supposed to go back to the hospital for a follow-up visit, because when the doctor had treated her miscarriage earlier, some issues were discovered, so a series of detailed examinations were arranged for her.

She had to go hear the doctor’s diagnosis report.

She did not want to hear it. Even without hearing it, she could guess: probably to tell her that she could no longer conceive, that in this lifetime she could not have a child of her own.

It did not matter anymore; she did not care.

She cared about nothing anymore…

Cheng Yu stood up in a daze, forcing herself to withdraw her gaze from the little boy, and quietly turned around.

She did not expect that the little boy would look up curiously at her, then suddenly run after her in a flash, and take out a piece of candy from his pocket.

“Auntie, for you.”

She stared blankly at the innocent-faced little boy.

“My daddy said that eating candy will make you happy!” the little boy explained softly, his smile pure and untainted by any impurity.

The little boy stuffed the candy into her hand, then quickly ran off again, saying something to his daddy. His daddy rubbed his head in approval and glanced at her from afar.

That one glance made Cheng Yu’s emotions complicated.

The little boy must have noticed that she was in a bad mood, which was why he wanted to give her a piece of candy to cheer her up. And what kind of father could raise a child who knew to extend kindness even to a stranger?

Cheng Yu stood lost in thought, unwrapping the paper and placing the candy in her mouth. Immediately, an indescribable taste spread—

Was it sweet? It did not seem like it. She always felt as if it was mixed with a thick bitterness.

She shook her head with astringency, slowly biting the candy into pieces and painfully swallowing that contradictory flavor.

A few minutes later, she crossed the road, arrived at the hospital opposite, entered the consultation room, and smelled the distinctive disinfectant scent unique to hospitals.

The doctor took out her diagnostic report and looked at her with sympathetic eyes, appearing even more cautious than when he had previously announced her miscarriage.

“Miss Cheng, we have discovered that you have cervical cancer, and the cancer cells have already spread…”

Cheng Yu stared at the doctor with misty eyes, as if she had not understood what he said.

“If you undergo chemotherapy, there might still be a slight chance, but I must be honest—the probability is not high…”

“How much time do I have left?” Cheng Yu interrupted the doctor’s hesitant explanation in a wooden tone.

“If no treatment is done at all, perhaps three months, at most no more than half a year…”

Three months to half a year.

Cheng Yu suddenly laughed. Right there in the cold consultation room, under the consistent pitying and astonished gazes of the doctor and nurses, she laughed so freely and unrestrainedly.

“Thank you, doctor.” After laughing and hurting, she could still remember to thank the doctor elegantly.

She did not discuss with the doctor how to proceed with follow-up treatment, even refusing the appointment for the next visit. She simply turned away indifferently and walked out of the hospital alone.

It was raining.

The sky that had been bright and sunny just moments ago had somehow gathered a large mass of dark clouds. Lightning tore through the air, accompanied by a rumbling thunder, and bean-sized raindrops suddenly poured down.

Cheng Yu did not avoid the downpour. She stood foolishly in the vast misty rain, letting the raindrops painfully strike every inch of her skin.

She recalled her entire life.

In elementary school, a sudden earthquake toppled her family’s house. Her parents were buried alive under the rubble and stones, tightly holding her small body beneath them, using the last of their strength to create a space where she could breathe, allowing her to wait for rescue.

In that earth-shaking disaster, she lost her family, classmates, teachers, and the small-town neighbors she saw and greeted every day. Few survived.

Afterward, she was sent to a social welfare institution, transferred through two or three foster families, before finally settling in an orphanage.

After graduating from high school, she worked part-time while studying at university. It was there that she met her senior by several years, Deng Ruofan.

Toward her, this junior sister, Deng Ruofan was very caring. She had an introverted personality and always kept to herself, while he was like a natural spotlight, full of extraordinary charm—wherever he went, people gathered around him, and romantic pursuits bloomed endlessly.

She did not know why he took a fancy to her. He would bring her to every event, forcing her to make friends and interact with groups.

They naturally got married, and for a short time after the wedding, they enjoyed a brief honeymoon period of sweetness. She thought she had found the most solid support in her life.

She believed that from then on, she would no longer be alone or lonely, that she could build a home with him—a warmer, happier home than anything she had before.

It turned out to be just a dream.

Such a hasty, laughable dream. After waking, it was like a bucket of cold water poured over her, leaving her frozen and wretched.

This was her life, her entire existence. In the final few months of her life, what she could repeatedly savor was only this day after day of desolation and bitterness.

Why did she have to live such a life? In the end, she truly possessed nothing, left nothing behind.

Cheng Yu, is this your entire life? Losing your dearest father and mother; losing two children who never got to meet you; losing the love you thought was real; losing the future; losing all possibilities in life.

Why must I live like this?

Why must I die like this?

Why? Why!

“Haha, haha… woo woo…”

The laughter gradually turned into painful sobs. She cried bitterly in the rain, no longer caring about the strange looks from passersby, crying like a child who could not find her parents.

“Daddy, Mommy… my babies…” One hoarse wail after another, sounding especially mournful and heartbreaking in the rain.

Since experiencing the intense pain of losing both parents, Cheng Yu had hardly shed tears again. Even in the days when she thought she had Deng Ruofan’s protection, she had never tried to act coquettishly toward that man by crying. She had always lived so stubbornly.

Until today, until this very moment.

She cried until she felt dizzy, with tears and snot streaming down her face. She sat down on the wet street, sobbing uncontrollably.

What was the use of living so strong? In the end, she had nothing, she had lost everything…

“Daddy, look! It’s that auntie from just now.” The little boy’s clear voice rang out not far away. “Why is she sitting on the ground crying?”

The man did not answer the child’s question. He simply walked over quietly.

An umbrella was held over Cheng Yu’s head, shielding her from the relentless falling raindrops. She dazedly lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen, her vision blurred and misty.

The man bent down, reached out to pull her up, placed the umbrella in her palm, and let her hold it.

His deep, ink-like eyes calmly reflected her pale face. “Miss, no matter what has happened to you, think about the people around you who care for you. For them… no, even more for yourself, you must live well.”

His warm words were like a spring fountain, slowly flowing through Cheng Yu’s frozen heart. She stared blankly while gripping the umbrella, watching the man take the hand of the little boy in his yellow raincoat and walk away into the rain.

For the people who care about her…

But in this world, there was no longer anyone who cared about her.

Cheng Yu thought sorrowfully, her solitary figure standing under the umbrella.

When Deng Ruofan returned home, the house was pitch black, not a single light turned on. He frowned and pressed the switch on the wall. The living room light came on, and only then did he see on the balcony outside the floor-to-ceiling window a slender figure quietly leaning and sitting there.

The balcony was fitted with European-style outer windows. On the white windowsill were various potted flowers in full bloom, their colorful petals gently swaying in the moonlight, with a faint fragrance floating in the air.

“Why didn’t you turn on any lights?” he asked, his tone cold.

Cheng Yu said nothing. She only raised a pair of deep, dark eyes, looking at him without any emotion.

He suddenly felt irritated. “What is it now?”

She was silent for two seconds before faintly raising her voice. “I went to the hospital for a checkup today. Do you want to hear the results?”

Deng Ruofan frowned, glaring at his wife with some displeasure. Was she going to bring up the miscarriage again? The child was gone, and he, as the father, was also very upset. But did that mean it was all his fault? Who told her to barge into his office without saying a word!

“Whatever it is, wait until I come back from my business trip to talk about it! First help me pack my luggage. There’s an important client whose company abroad has some legal disputes. I need to help handle it. I’m heading to the airport soon.” He glanced at his watch, not wanting to waste time arguing with his wife when every second counted.

Cheng Yu did not move at all. She only asked him coldly. “Do you think your business trip and work are more important than hearing what I want to tell you?”

“Stop making a scene, okay! I work to earn money too. Do you think this luxury house you live in, the designer clothes you wear, those designer bags—where do they come from? I earned them! I’m the one supporting you! Do you think I’m going out to play? Hurry up and pack my luggage! This time I’ll be away for at least a week.”

“If you need to pack luggage, you can do it yourself.”

“Cheng Yu!” Deng Ruofan thought his wife was throwing a tantrum at him and immediately became furious.

Cheng Yu stood up gracefully, handed over a document, and spoke in an icy tone. “Let’s divorce!”

“What did you say?!” Deng Ruofan stared in shock at the document in his hand—it was actually a divorce agreement!

“Let’s divorce. From today onward, I want to live for myself.” Cheng Yu said word by word, without a trace of emotion.

Deng Ruofan suddenly felt his pride injured. Divorce? Did she think she could just leave whenever she wanted? If anyone was going to end this marriage, it certainly would not be her!

“Cheng Yu, do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know very clearly, and I believe you heard it very clearly too.”

“Is it because of what happened that day? How was I supposed to know you would suddenly come to the company! Didn’t I tell you not to come looking for me at the office casually if there’s nothing important? Why did you have to come anyway!”

Did it matter why she went?

Cheng Yu said coldly. “Let’s divorce.”

The calmer she appeared, the harder it was for Deng Ruofan to control his raging anger. Fury burned in his chest, and he immediately spoke without choosing his words. “Want to divorce me? What do you think you can do after leaving me? You have no work experience at all. Or do you think you can still trick another man? Don’t be stupid! You’re already a worn-out woman. What man would want you?”

The sharp sarcasm cut like a blade, deeply wounding Cheng Yu’s heart, yet she no longer felt the pain. “I want a divorce.”

Her attitude showed not the slightest softening; her tone remained calm as ever.

In response, he forcefully tore up the divorce agreement, then viciously slapped her across the face.

“Don’t even think about it! A woman of mine, Deng Ruofan, unless I don’t want her anymore, will forever be mine!”

Cheng Yu’s cheek instantly swelled, red fingerprints appearing on it. She reached up to touch her face, yet a slight smile formed. “Whether I’m yours or not isn’t for you to decide.”

With those words, Cheng Yu opened the door and walked out of the house empty-handed, leaving this selfish and heartless man behind.

Deng Ruofan did not chase after her. He was certain she had nowhere to go, and since she had not even taken her ID or wallet, how far could she run or hide while acting tough?

He waited for this ungrateful woman to come back and beg for his forgiveness.

He never expected that, because of a single moment of indifference, he and his wife of several years would part forever.

Cheng Yu walked along the nearby road. A runaway large truck sped toward her, too late to brake, and crashed into her with a bang.

Cheng Yu’s frail and thin body was thrown into the air, then fell heavily to the ground like a tattered rag doll, lying sprawled there. Bright red blood instantly spread on the ground, staining it into a tragically beautiful picture.

Life is originally so fragile.

When Du Lingyun received the notification from the hospital, he was focused on his work. For a moment, he simply stared blankly at the flickering computer screen.

He was testing a program he had just written, meticulously catching the hidden bugs in it.

Only after a long while did he suddenly snap back to reality, realizing the meaning of that phone call.

His wife, who had run away from home, had been in a car accident!

He had to rush to the hospital to see her immediately!

Du Lingyun went to his son’s room. Yangyang was already fast asleep, his little face flushed red, hugging a plush teddy bear in his arms, sleeping very soundly.

Du Lingyun really could not bear to wake his son, but he could even less leave him alone at home. Last month, Yangyang’s mother had quietly left while Yangyang was sleeping, and he had been working overtime at the company. The next morning, when Yangyang woke up and could not find anyone, he tried to get food himself because he was hungry. While heating milk in the microwave, he accidentally burned his finger.

If Du Lingyun had not suddenly decided to go home to shower and change clothes, it might have led to an even bigger accident.

From then on, he swore to himself that he would never again leave the child alone at home.

“Yangyang, wake up, Yangyang!” he called to wake his son.

“Daddy? What’s wrong?” Yangyang rubbed his eyes with his small hands, looking confused.

“Mommy had an accident. Daddy is taking you to the hospital.”

“To the hospital?” Yangyang was startled, remembering that every time he got sick, he had to go to the hospital for shots and medicine. He hated hospitals. “Why is Mommy in the hospital? Is she sick?”

“Mm, she seems to be injured. We’re going to see her.”

“Hurry! Faster!”

Yangyang anxiously jumped out of bed, nearly falling to the ground. Du Lingyun quickly steadied his son.

The father and son changed into outdoor clothes, drove to the hospital. Du Lingyun carried his son out of the car and rushed straight to the emergency room. Suddenly, a man roughly pushed past them from behind.

The man was dressed in a sharp suit, pulling an expensive suitcase, as if he had been called here while preparing for a long trip. He walked hurriedly, his face full of urgency.

Yangyang’s nose was bumped and hurt, letting out a cry of surprise. Du Lingyun quickly reached out to rub it for his son.

“Are you okay? Yangyang.”

“It hurts.” Yangyang felt a bit wronged.

Du Lingyun frowned slightly. When he looked up, he saw the man had already rushed ahead, randomly grabbing a medical staff member and shouting loudly.

“Where is my wife? How is she? Where is she now!”

“Sir, please calm down. May I ask who your wife is?”

“Her name is Cheng Yu! Someone called me and said she was in a car accident and was sent here for emergency treatment…”

Another medical staff member walked over. “You are Mr. Deng Ruofan, Miss Cheng Yu’s husband?”

“Yes, I am! How is she?”

“I’m really very sorry, we did our best…”

Du Lingyun had no interest in watching the following scene any longer. That man named Deng went mad, raging at the medical staff, his roaring voice shaking the hospital corridor.

Yangyang was frightened and covered his ears with his small hands.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s okay.”

Du Lingyun gently comforted his son, walked past the man, found a medical staff member, and was led to a temporary bed in the corner of the emergency room.

“Your wife only suffered some minor injuries. After finishing this IV drip, she can go home.”

“Thank you.”