Volume 1, Chapter 15: I Hit Her, and It Breaks Your Heart?

Song Nanyi had wanted to slap Su Yu'an for a long time. Every incident that appeared to be well-intentioned or accidental was, in fact, a calculated move by her. What she wanted even more was to slap Huo Shixu; it was his indulgence that had made Su Yu'an so unscrupulous, challenging her bottom line time and time again.

This slap brought tears to Su Yu'an's eyes and stung Huo Shixu as well.

"It’s just a tree. Was it really necessary to make such a scene? Yu'an had good intentions. If you like it that much, we can just buy another one and plant it." Huo Shixu could not understand why Song Nanyi was reacting so strongly. He felt she was making a mountain out of a molehill, and suspected she was using this as an excuse to throw a tantrum. Seeing the handprint on Su Yu'an's face made him think Song Nanyi was being completely unreasonable. "Regardless of anything else, Yu'an's intentions were good. There was no need for you to resort to violence."

"And if I did, so what?" Song Nanyi had seen enough of Huo Shixu’s protective attitude toward Su Yu'an. "What, does it pain you to see me hit her? Do you want to pay me back on her behalf?"

Huo Shixu was momentarily speechless.

Su Yu'an sobbed as she came over to play the peacemaker. "Brother Shixu, it’s my fault. I should have checked with Sister Nanyi beforehand. I meant well but ended up doing something wrong. Please, don't fight. It makes me sad to see you arguing over me. Sister Nanyi, I’ll just leave."

Su Yu'an ran away crying. Huo Shixu’s face was like frost in the dead of winter, every fiber of his being radiating criticism toward Song Nanyi. "Look at what you’ve driven Yu'an to, Song Nanyi! Isn't the whole point of our charity to make her feel our warmth? What kind of madness is this? What is more important, a human being or a tree?"

Song Nanyi’s eyes turned red as she glared at Huo Shixu. The fact that he could even ask such a question proved that she no longer held any weight in his heart. Arguing would only make her hysterical—a trademark of the Song Nanyi from her past life. In this life, she had come to divorce him, not to compete for his affection. Bittersweetly, she clenched her fists, turned, and walked away.

Huo Shixu stood in place, irritably running his hands through his hair before turning to walk into the villa. Su Yu'an had already packed all her luggage. Red-eyed, she handed a red embroidered pouch to Huo Shixu. "Brother Shixu, these are safety and health talismans I requested from a master. Please give them to Sister Nanyi for me. I truly meant well; I never expected her to react so strongly. Please tell her not to be angry anymore—it’s bad for her health."

Huo Shixu looked at the sensible girl with heartache and reached out to take her luggage. "Nanyi was just speaking in anger when she told you to leave. Stay here; once her anger fades, she won't hold a grudge."

"No, Brother Shixu. The repairs on my old house are almost done, and I’d like to go back." Su Yu'an wept silently, which only made Huo Shixu feel more protective.

"Fine, just listen to me: stay here with peace of mind. No one is going to force you to leave."

...

Huo Shixu walked out of Su Yu'an's room and headed straight for the master bedroom he shared with Song Nanyi. Pushing the door open, the sunset light poured into the room, adding a strange, melancholic warmth to the space. Song Nanyi was sitting quietly on the wicker chair on the balcony. In her previous life, just after they married, she had loved sitting there to watch the silktree in full bloom. Now, looking down, there was nothing left. The silktree was gone, and her life with Huo Shixu had reached its end.

See? Even heaven was urging her to leave this man behind in this new life.

"Tomorrow, I’ll have someone buy another silktree to plant." In Huo Shixu’s mind, this was not a major issue. "Nanyi, I know you’re angry. Take it out on me, but Yu'an is innocent."

Song Nanyi stared blankly at the stump of the silktree and said, "Huo Shixu, have you forgotten the meaning of the silktree I planted back then?"

Back then, Huo Shixu had held her by that tree and vowed that he would love her for a lifetime. As long as that tree remained, they would never be separated. Looking back now, it seemed so ironic.

Huo Shixu’s eyelids twitched, feeling a pang of guilt. "Nanyi, we can't hold a grudge against someone who meant well but made a mistake, can we? Tomorrow, I’ll have the gardener clear out the entire south garden and plant it full of silktrees, all right?"

"It doesn't matter anymore, Huo Shixu." In this world, there are not so many instances of resurrection. That is true for life, and it is true for plants.

He looked at her back, his eyes dark and profound.

...

Early the next morning, Song Nanyi left for a business trip to Haicheng. After half a month, she finished her work and returned to Jiangcheng. Without telling anyone, she went straight to her father’s company.

"Dad, how many projects does our family have that are tied to the Huo Group? And approximately how long will it take to complete them all?"

Song Zhiling looked at his daughter in surprise. From childhood to adulthood, she had never asked about the family business. Why the sudden interest? "Nanyi, has something happened?"

Song Nanyi did not want to hide the truth; she couldn't hide her intention to divorce. It had come to this, and she had to be honest. "Dad, I want to divorce Huo Shixu."

A few days ago, when Huo Shixu had visited their home, Song Zhiling had sensed that something was wrong between them. He had been planning to find a time to talk to Song Nanyi, but he hadn't expected it to be this serious. "Did you have a fight?"

Song Nanyi shook her head.

"A misunderstanding?" Song Zhiling asked again.

Song Nanyi shook her head again.

"It can't be that... he has someone else, can it?"

Song Nanyi had not expected her father to guess so accurately. She gave a bitter laugh. "Dad, you really are a clairvoyant."

"He really has someone else?" Song Zhiling still remembered the vows Huo Shixu had made when he married Song Nanyi. He had sworn that if he ever loved anyone else, he would be cursed to have no descendants. It was a vicious oath, and yet he had... "That shameless wretch."

Seeing her father’s look of anger and heartbreak, Song Nanyi pursed her lips calmly. "Divorce is bound to be painful and messy. Huo Shixu is no longer the man he used to be. My only concern now is our family's company..."

"The company does have several ongoing projects with the Huo Group, and it will take about half a year to complete them." Since his daughter was unhappy, he would fully support the divorce. "Don't worry too much about the company. Even if we lose the business, it doesn't matter. I don't want to watch you suffer in this marriage."

Her parents' love was Song Nanyi’s greatest source of strength. She couldn't let the Song family's company be ruined by Huo Shixu. "Dad, I’m looking for a lawyer now. Divorce isn't something that can be done overnight; we have to take it slowly. This period of time will be enough for the projects to conclude. After that, if the Huo Group proposes any further cooperation, we won't sign."

Song Nanyi discussed the details with her father, considering every aspect. For a moment, Song Zhiling felt as if his daughter had suddenly grown up. He was heartbroken. He had thought that Huo Shixu would always let her remain a carefree child.

"Don't worry about the company, and above all, don't let yourself be wronged. Your mother and I would be devastated," Song Zhiling said, full of concern.

Song Nanyi offered a reassuring smile. "Dad, Huo Shixu just had a change of heart; he hasn't physically abused me. I haven't been wronged. Marriage is just like that—if you get along, you stay together; if love is gone, you part ways. It’s normal. I just feel sorry for making you both worry."

"You silly child." Song Zhiling reached out and ruffled her hair. "Whatever choice you make, your mother, your brother Xingyan, and I will support you."

"Thank you, Dad." Song Nanyi hugged her father tightly, her eyes moist.