Volume 1, Chapter 17: In the End, One Still Dies

Su Yuan’s eyes were painfully red, as if Song Nanyi was deliberately making things difficult for her.

Huo Shixu’s expression darkened, feeling that Song Nanyi’s actions were unnecessary. “It’s just a few old pieces of furniture, is it really worth it?”

Clearly, Song Nanyi hadn’t said a word.

Yet Huo Shixu had already habitually labeled her as someone who bullied others, growing increasingly sympathetic toward Su Yuan.

“Yuan, don’t be upset anymore. Go wait in the car,” Huo Shixu said, sending Su Yuan away.

Just as Song Nanyi was about to turn, he called out, “Song Nanyi.”

She stopped and looked at him.

Huo Shixu stepped forward, his gaze deep and intense. “I know, it’s not really about those few old pieces of furniture. But you really don’t need to keep quarreling with Yuan. I promise, once she’s settled, we’ll have a proper talk.”

To hasten their departure, Song Nanyi reluctantly agreed.

After the moving company left, the house finally fell silent once more.

A few days later, Song Nanyi saw news about Huo Shixu and Su Yuan on the largest media outlet in Jiang City.

The headline was bold: “Heir of the Huo Group Caught Living with Sponsored Party Outside Home, Suspected Confirmed Romantic Relationship.”

This man, naturally attracting attention, surged back onto trending searches in less than two months.

The photos were clear, unlike the usual paparazzi style—apparently a premeditated leak.

But none of that mattered.

What mattered was how frequently Song Nanyi’s name was mentioned under such news, as common as invasive snails flooding a river.

“Last time this girl had a birthday, Huo Shixu gifted her an exorbitant necklace; now he’s buying her a house? I wonder what his wife thinks—these are all marital assets.”

“A man like this, handsome and rich, just playing around with a mistress. If it were me, I’d be more tolerant than his wife.”

“Women, take notes from this sponsored party; she’s fully exploited her youth, hooking a man like Huo Shixu. This life, the next, and the one after that, she’ll never have to worry.”

“Poor original wife, rich but without a husband—that must be quite the feeling.”

The comments went on and on.

Everyone had their say.

In her previous life, the first time Song Nanyi learned that Huo Shixu and Su Yuan had set up a home together, she lost her mind.

She stormed over with a knife, smashing everything inside the house.

She nearly injured Su Yuan.

Huo Shixu, angered, called the police to have her arrested.

She ended up detained for three days, eventually bailed out by her father.

In this life, he still took her away to live elsewhere.

It seemed nothing had changed.

Would she still die in the end?

Song Nanyi propped her chin on her hand, lost in thought...

Just then, Pei Yin called.

As usual, she launched into a tirade against Huo Shixu.

“How can he be such a scoundrel? So reckless with women—pretending to be blind? Buying houses and diamonds for them? Does the pleasure from those things drain his intelligence?”

Song Nanyi rubbed her temples and smiled wryly. “That’s true love for you.”

“Bah! Using marital assets to please a mistress—I curse him with every venereal disease imaginable!”

Pei Yin had always despised Huo Shixu.

Now that Song Nanyi was divorcing him, Pei Yin’s insults were even more vicious.

In her previous life, Song Nanyi hadn’t been able to stand such talk.

Whenever Pei Yin ranted, she would defend Huo Shixu in every way.

Even after he became involved with Su Yuan, she still beautified the man.

Hearing Pei Yin curse him now, Song Nanyi felt a sudden urge to join in.

“A rotten man deserves a rotten disease, a just punishment. Let it eat him from the inside out, gnawing at his bones and flesh.”

“Wow, that’s the spirit, Song Nanyi, progress!” Pei Yin was pleased with her change. “You’ve made up your mind to leave that scumbag, right?”

“I made up my mind the day I found Lian Peng.”

“Well, you’re brave—madly in love one moment, and ready to cut ties the next. I admire that.”

Though Pei Yin was teasing, Song Nanyi felt happy listening.

“When I get divorced, I’m throwing a three-day banquet. Three days and three nights of drinking—no rest until I’m drunk.”

Pei Yin agreed, “I’ll join you for all three days.”

The sound of a car outside interrupted them.

Song Nanyi hugged her phone and glanced downstairs. It was Huo Shixu’s car.

“Pei Yin, Huo Shixu’s back. Can’t talk now.”

“Don’t give him any warmth, especially don’t let him touch you—that stuff’s dirty,” Pei Yin warned.

“I know,” Song Nanyi replied.

She hung up just as she heard Huo Shixu’s footsteps ascending.

Deliberately, she opened the news article that had surged to the top and placed her phone in a prominent spot.

Huo Shixu entered, his eyes immediately catching the bright screen.

Song Nanyi said nothing.

He was the first to speak.

“The media’s making things up. I have a home. How could I be living with another woman?”

He reached up and turned off the phone screen, looking at Song Nanyi.

“You know how I feel about you.”

“What feelings do you have for me?” She stared into his abyss-like eyes, catching every subtle expression. “Huo Shixu, to be honest, I really want to hear what kind of feelings you have for Su Yuan.”

“Stop making a fuss, will you?” He turned toward the wardrobe to fetch his pajamas, walking toward the bathroom as he spoke. “Wait until I finish showering, then we’ll talk about us.”

Watching his retreating figure, Song Nanyi’s mind drifted back to when they first met.

Huo Shixu had not been her only suitor.

But he was the one who persisted the longest, most passionately, and most devotedly.

He pursued her relentlessly for seven years.

Yet after only three years of marriage, he betrayed their relationship.

It was truly lamentable.

She had believed they would grow old together.

“Nan Yi, I grabbed the wrong clothes. Help me get the black pajamas.”

Huo Shixu called from the bathroom.

Song Nanyi got out of bed.

From the wardrobe, she took the silky pajamas he favored most.

Standing at the bathroom door, she knocked softly.

“Found them. Stretch out your hand.”

“Bring them in.”

She bit her lip and pushed the door open, stepping inside to hand him the pajamas.

The room was thick with steam and the scent of shower gel.

He reached out but didn’t take the pajamas. Instead, he clasped her wrist, trapping her in front of him.

Then came a flood of kisses.

Water traced down his broad shoulders, over his firm chest and defined abs, soaking through her clothes.

Since her rebirth, she and Huo Shixu had rarely even shared a bed.

She was unaccustomed to such intimacy.

Instinctively, she struggled, resisting.

He tightened his grip on her wrist, lifting her hand above her head and deepening the kiss.

This shouldn’t be happening.

Song Nanyi resisted fiercely, biting down on the tip of Huo Shixu’s tongue that had ventured into her mouth.

A metallic, sweet tang quickly spread between them.

The man looked at her in surprise, wiping the blood from his lips.

“Why did you bite me?”