Chapter 1

When I discovered that my husband was having an affair with my best friend, I made a furious scene and swore I would ruin them both.

Overcome with shame, Lin Qian jumped into a river and killed herself.

She left a final letter:

“Niannian, I wronged you. I owe you, and I’ll repay that debt with my life. But Jin’an truly loves you. I was the one who wouldn’t leave him alone. Please don’t blame him, and don’t divorce him. Live a good life together.”

My parents wept and pleaded with me.

“Qianqian has paid you back with her life. Isn’t that enough? We’re begging you—stop making trouble. Forgive Jin’an.”

Even my husband, Lu Jin’an, knelt before me and swore he would never betray me again.

From then on, he really did return to our home and become an exemplary husband.

Thinking of my best friend’s last words, I gradually let go of my resentment and decided to start again with him.

Until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On my way home from the temple, where I’d gone to pray for her, I saw her from behind.

I thought I was hallucinating again.

Still, I couldn’t stop myself from following.

Then, in a courtyard, I saw Jin’an smiling as he thanked her.

“Thank goodness you faked your death and distracted Niannian. Otherwise, sooner or later, she would have found out about Shushu.”

My best friend fondly pinched the nose of the girl beside her and smiled.

“If I hadn’t, with Niannian behaving so crazily, Shushu would have been hurt. Seeing you two happy makes it all worthwhile.”

I stood frozen, as though I’d fallen into ice.

Because the Shushu they were talking about was my own younger sister.

…

Xu Yunshu was still holding Lin Qian’s arm and speaking sweetly.

“You’re the best to me, Qianqian. You should be my real sister.”

Lin Qian glanced at Jin’an and deliberately teased her.

“Say that, and someone might get jealous.”

Yunshu shyly stuck out her tongue, then leaned over and kissed Jin’an’s cheek.

“Jin’an wouldn’t hold it against me.”

He watched her antics with indulgence in his eyes.

I stared at them, my heart hurting so badly I could scarcely breathe.

Suddenly, Yunshu looked worried.

“Every holiday, my sister goes to the temple to pray for Qianqian. Then she’s sad for ages. Isn’t it a little cruel to keep hiding this from her?”

Jin’an and Lin Qian exchanged a glance. Their smiles stiffened.

Lin Qian spoke first.

“It’s fine. If Niannian hadn’t insisted on ruining the other woman, we wouldn’t have needed to come up with this.”

She paused, then added carelessly, “Besides, she’s been grieving for years. One more time won’t make a difference.”

Jin’an pressed his lips together but said nothing.

I walked toward them, step by step.

Yunshu saw me first. Her face changed.

“Sis, why are you here?”

Jin’an and Lin Qian’s expressions changed too. Instinctively, they shielded her behind them, afraid I might do something to her.

I looked at Lin Qian.

Before I could speak, tears spilled uncontrollably.

She looked away, unable to meet my eyes.

Jin’an approached and took my hand, his voice gentle.

“Niannian, come home with me. I’ll explain everything slowly, all right?”

I flung his hand away as though I’d been shocked.

“Don’t touch me!”

His hand froze in midair.

The pain in my chest bent me double. My voice was hoarse.

“Lu Jin’an, why did you lie to me?”

“You knew how much I’d suffered these past five years.”

So many times, I’d wondered whether I should have exposed the affair so openly.

When I woke in the night thinking of Lin Qian, I blamed myself. I’d shown no mercy and driven her to her death.

Yet here she stood, telling Yunshu that I was crazy.

Yunshu came forward with tears in her eyes.

“Sis, don’t make things hard for Jin’an and Qianqian. They did it for me. If you’re angry, hit me.”

She took my hand and tried to press it to her cheek.

My stomach twisted. I shoved her away.

She staggered, about to fall.

Jin’an and Lin Qian rushed to catch her.

Someone behind me shoved me aside and hurried to check on her too.

I turned, dazed.

“Dad? Mom?”

2

My parents helped Yunshu up, their faces awkward.

Looking at the five people opposite me, I suddenly understood.

All of them knew Lin Qian was alive.

All of them knew the woman really involved with Jin’an was Yunshu.

And all of them had chosen to hide it from me.

Because they were afraid she would be hurt.

The pain tearing through my heart spread into my lower abdomen.

I clutched my stomach and sank to the ground, exhausted, breaking into a cold sweat.

Jin’an went white and rushed toward me to see what was wrong.

My parents and Lin Qian let go of Yunshu and followed.

“What’s wrong, Niannian?”

Before I could answer, Yunshu cried out, “Dad, Mom, my stomach hurts too.”

In an instant, every eye turned to her.

My parents and Lin Qian immediately turned away.

Instinctively, I caught Jin’an’s sleeve.

“Jin’an.”

He hesitated, then brushed my hand aside. His voice still soothed me, but he was already walking toward Yunshu.

“Niannian, don’t make a scene. Shushu is pregnant. Nothing can happen to her.”

I watched his back, my eyes burning.

So, in those five years of day-and-night anguish, she had even become pregnant with his child.

Yunshu’s cries of pain grew weaker.

None of them dared delay. Jin’an lifted her into his arms and hurried to the hospital.

I crouched where I was and watched them leave me behind.

When I struggled to stand, my vision went black.

I fainted and fell heavily to the ground.

When I woke again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose.

Only Jin’an was in the large hospital room.

His sleepless eyes were bloodshot, but he was smiling.

“Niannian, you’re pregnant. We’re having another baby.”

My hand moved unconsciously to my lower abdomen.

Remembering what had happened, I closed my eyes and held back my tears.

“Jin’an, when did it start between you and Yunshu?”

He was silent for a long time before answering softly.

“Five years ago. The night we secured that project. I was drunk and went into the wrong room.”

My fingertips turned cold.

So it had started that long ago.

Watching my expression, he continued, “I never told you because I was afraid it would hurt you.”

It was absurd. I gave a quiet laugh.

“So you had Lin Qian fake her death to cover for Yunshu. That way I wouldn’t be hurt. Is that right?”

His lips moved, but no excuse came out.

After a long time, he said, “Niannian, I couldn’t risk it. When you found a woman’s hair on my coat, you were so wild. Shushu is timid. I was afraid she’d get hurt. We had no other choice.”

I looked at him.

My heart had gone numb with pain.

Everyone considered Yunshu. Everyone feared she would be hurt.

From beginning to end, no one had considered me.

Tears welled up despite me.

I wiped at them clumsily.

“Jin’an, let’s divorce.”

He immediately seized my hand.

“No. Niannian, I’ll sort everything out. Give me a little more time.”

I pulled free.

“Five years wasn’t enough? How will you sort it out? Make Yunshu have an abortion?”

His lashes trembled. He said nothing.

Then Lin Qian called, her voice frantic.

“Jin’an, Shushu’s stomach still hurts terribly. She’s crying for you. Come over quickly!”

He turned and hurried away.

Watching him leave, I understood.

Explanations. Promises.

None of them mattered.

He had made his choice.

So I didn’t call to ask him to come back.

I sent a message instead.

[I’ve thought it through. I want a divorce.]

His reply came quickly.

[I’ll pick you up when I’m finished here.]

I switched off my phone and closed my eyes.

If they were so afraid I would hurt Yunshu, I would leave altogether.

Then every one of them could stop worrying.

3

On the day I was discharged, I learned that a leak from the apartment above had flooded our home.

I planned to go back, collect my things, and move into a hotel.

Outside the hospital, Jin’an’s car was waiting.

The window lowered. Yunshu smiled and waved from the passenger seat.

“Sis! Jin’an… your husband said I have nowhere else to go, so we’ve come especially to bring you back to stay with me.”

“No, thank you,” I said coolly. “I’m going to a hotel.”

Yunshu pouted. Her eyes immediately reddened.

Lin Qian gave her a tissue, then looked at me reproachfully.

“Niannian, can you stop making trouble? You’re pregnant. How could we let you stay at a hotel alone?”

Jin’an tried to persuade me too.

“Listen to me, Niannian. I can’t stop worrying if you’re on your own.”

When I still refused, Lin Qian got out and forcibly pulled me into the car.

Yunshu brightened. All the way there, she chattered.

“Sis, I know you don’t want to live with me. I was going to take you to Mom and Dad’s, but they said they were worried the neighbors would talk.”

I curled my lips.

“Talk about what? You being pregnant with your brother-in-law’s child?”

Before I’d finished, Jin’an shouted, “Xu Chunian!”

Lin Qian glared too.

“Niannian, why must everything you say be so spiteful? Shushu means well.”

I’d only told the truth.

Yet it was as if I’d committed some terrible offense.

I stopped speaking, closed my eyes, and pretended to sleep.

The car entered the residential complex.

Only then did I realize that, for five years, Jin’an and Yunshu had been living in the same complex as me.

Right under my nose.

And I had never known.

Their home displayed a wedding photograph of the two of them, as well as a family photograph of four people, including Lin Qian.

Every face was filled with happiness.

I stood in the living room like an outsider who had wandered in.

Jin’an followed my gaze and explained in a low voice.

“Shushu’s mood was unstable early in her pregnancy. She kept calling herself the other woman who’d ruined someone’s marriage. We took the photo to make her feel better.”

Studying my face, he hurried to add, “If you don’t like it, I’ll take it down.”

I shook my head.

“No need.”