Ноwеvеr, on this cоld Vаlеntinе's Dаy, Wu Mangmаng did nоt wait for Сheng Yue.
Не sееmеd quitе busy latеly, and Wu Mangmang hadn't sееn him for оver а wееk.
Shе had саllеd Сhеng Yue sеveral times, but hе nеver аnswered.
Wu Mаngmang sat in thе restaurаnt until tеn о'сlосk bеfore finаllу reсеiving а cаll from Сhеng Yue.
"Sorrу, Мangmаng, I probablу can't makе it." Сhеng Yue's vоice soundеd distаnt оver thе рhоnе, аs if it сamе frоm anоther рlanet.
Wu Мangmаng сhuсkled sоftlу. Тhоugh somewhat unеxpected, it wаsn't entirely bеyond hеr eхрeсtations.
Some things didn't need to be said aloud—everyone already understood their meaning.
Cheng Yue would likely no longer appear in Wu Mangmang's world.
"Cheng Yue," Wu Mangmang called out, "I wish you happiness."
Cheng Yue stood across the street, watching Wu Mangmang through the restaurant's glass window as she held the phone to her ear.
"Thank you." Cheng Yue's eyes instantly grew moist.
Wu Mangmang seemed to sense something and turned to look out the window. She saw a figure standing under the streetlamp on the opposite side—she couldn't make out the face clearly, but it was enough.
As Cheng Yue turned to leave, Wu Mangmang remained seated calmly.
When he had left before, her heart had been torn apart, but now she could sit peacefully with composure.
There wasn't even regret, just a faint sense of melancholy.
What she once thought was deep love, the person she believed was destined for her lifetime—now, when she looked back, even his shadow had faded into a blurry trace.
Wu Mangmang apologized to the restaurant owner for sitting all evening without ordering anything.
The owner was exceptionally kind and even gave her a bright red rose.
On the roadside, Wu Mangmang encountered a young couple stomping their feet in the sleet while buying roasted sweet potatoes. She stood under the streetlamp, watching their vibrant sweetness, which brought a smile to her face.
After a moment's thought, Wu Mangmang walked over and handed the rose to the girl. "Blessings to you both."
The girl took the flower in surprise, exchanging a bewildered glance with her boyfriend.
The young boyfriend watched Wu Mangmang's retreating figure and said, "She must have just gone through a breakup."
Because the loneliness on that person's face was so deep that even light couldn't penetrate it.
When people are hurting, they seem more inclined to self-punishment. Despite the strong wind and heavy snow, Wu Mangmang got off the car halfway up the mountain, wanting to walk a stretch on her own.
The wind howled through the trees on the mountainside, and the shadows of the dark, looming villas and trees were cast on the ground by the streetlamps, revealing the desolation and barrenness of winter.
With her hands tucked in her pockets and her head lowered, Wu Mangmang walked along, occasionally giving small pebbles on the road a gentle kick.
Her heart felt hollow—there was nothing left to fear, but also nothing left worth holding onto.
Wu Mangmang stood on the road, gazing in the direction of the Lu residence. From here, she couldn't see anything, but she couldn't help thinking that in that place, there lived someone.
The way she felt about Cheng Yue now was probably how Lu Sui would feel about her in the future—faint as a trace of ash, scattered by the slightest breeze.
When she was two-thirds of the way along the road, Wu Mangmang stopped again and looked toward the sea. Somewhere out of sight, there was an island called LW. Would it change its name in the future?Could she go after Lu Sui? Wu Mangmang couldn't help but fantasize. Her foot involuntarily took a step in that direction, but beneath her was a cliff. Even if she shattered into pieces, she feared she could never get him back.
Wu Mangmang leaned despondently against a tree trunk by the roadside, thinking of Lu Sui.
He was a man who could never be reclaimed. He knew exactly what he wanted and what he didn't.
If there had been even the slightest hope between them back then, Lu Sui wouldn't have let her leave when she went to retrieve her documents that day.
He had already let go.
But in the midst of misfortune, there was one small blessing: during their last meeting, at least she had dressed rather nicely, hadn't she?
Wu Mangmang rubbed her eyes, which had been stung by the wind, and lifted her leg to continue walking forward.
She told herself silently: It's okay. She still had a home, a place connected by blood. And what she needed to do from now on was to ensure that those who had once loved her would never regret having loved someone like her.
She would become better, so that one day in the future, he wouldn't feel ashamed to mention someone like her and despise his own judgment back then.
She, too, had her own ideals.
Wu Mangmang looked up at the sky, forcing her tears to flow back, then quickened her pace toward the hillside villa.
As she rounded the bend, the hillside villa came into view not far ahead. Wu Mangmang lifted her head and saw a flicker of crimson in the deep shadows ahead.
She rubbed her eyes, and it seemed as if only snowflakes were dancing before her.
Wu Mangmang laughed at herself for still harboring such futile hopes. She continued walking forward, and that flicker of crimson seemed to reappear.
Wu Mangmang could no longer control her feet. She broke into a sprint, running so fast it felt as if she were about to fly off the road and down the mountain.
When she reached the source of that crimson glow, she had initially thought the person smoking was A Shu. But standing before her, the one who tossed the cigarette butt onto the ground was unmistakably the man who never smoked.
Wu Mangmang stood motionless. She rubbed her eyes, afraid this was an illusion. Nine years ago, she had experienced something similar—an illusion where that person had never left.
Lu Sui looked at Wu Mangmang, her hair glistening with melted snowflakes, exhaled softly, and then raised his hands, spreading his arms wide.
Wu Mangmang threw herself into his embrace with such force that Lu Sui stumbled back two steps, nearly falling onto the road.
She clung tightly to Lu Sui's waist, pressing her face against his chest to listen to his heartbeat—steady and powerful, miraculously soothing all her unease and anxiety with each beat.
That's how emotions are: one moment, they make you feel as if life is not worth living, as if you're in purgatory; the next, they lift you to heaven, where spring blossoms and warmth abounds.
Such a transformation leaves even you astonished, wondering how it could possibly happen.
Wu Mangmang couldn't help but tighten her embrace a little more. The hand resting on her back patted gently, offering comfort.
But it wasn't enough—not nearly enough. Wu Mangmang wished she could melt entirely into Lu Sui's chest, wanting him to hold her tighter, yet her lips felt as if they were sealed shut, unable to utter a word.
Lu Sui kissed Wu Mangmang's hair, recalling how she had stood before him just moments ago like a helpless child, not daring to move.
So full of longing, yet so timid.
He had merely raised his hand slightly, and she had rushed into his arms.Forgiving her was certainly difficult, but not forgiving her was a thousand, ten thousand times more unbearable.
And why should he be so hard on a young girl?
Lu Sui tightened his embrace, and Wu Mangmang's tears began to fall in torrents.
Yet no matter how fervent love may be, it cannot withstand the biting cold wind of a winter's early morning for long. Lu Sui reached out to push Wu Mangmang away, but she, as if startled, immediately clung tighter, wrapping herself around him like an octopus.
Helpless, Lu Sui tried to pry Wu Mangmang's hands from his waist.
After several attempts, she finally let go.
A distance finally opened between them, allowing Lu Sui to see Wu Mangmang's face.
Wu Mangmang, looking utterly lost, reached out again to take Lu Sui's hand, clasping it tightly between her own palms.
She looked as pitiful as could be, panicked like a squirrel that had lost all its acorns and could not survive the winter, her claws now clutching her last bit of sustenance.
A fleeting emotion passed through Lu Sui's heart. "Your card was left at the Lu residence. I brought it over for you."
Wu Mangmang blinked rapidly a few times, her tears nearly freezing her eyes shut, yet she still couldn't bear to let go of his hand. She only responded dully, "Oh."
No rebuttal, no plea to stay—just a dazed, foolish stare at Lu Sui.
Lu Sui's heart ached. This child before him no longer dared to ask for anything, no matter how much she desired it, she could no longer voice it.
Truly happy and fortunate children, when they want something, will simply ask for it outright. You might not notice it ordinarily, but this is truly a precious quality.
And what about a child like Wu Mangmang? After countless rejections and neglect, she had long since learned the harsh truth.
She viewed every bit of love she deserved as charity from others.
And in the face of such charity, she was always overwhelmingly grateful.
Receiving it brought her immense satisfaction and happiness, while not receiving it, she had learned not to complain or resent, only to think that she herself was not good enough, and thus unworthy of happiness.
Lu Sui loved this side of Wu Mangmang, yet he also hated it.
He took Wu Mangmang's card from his coat pocket and handed it to her. "I'm leaving. Take care."
Wu Mangmang's tears had long since poured down like a storm. Choked with sobs, she couldn't speak, only nodding at Lu Sui, over and over again.
Her hand still refused to let go of Lu Sui's, yet she could only watch helplessly as he pulled it away.
Lu Sui got into the car, started the engine, and glanced out the window at Wu Mangmang. She mechanically waved goodbye to him, even trying to force a smile to mask the turmoil.
That is, if her tears hadn't been flowing so fiercely and uncontrollably.
And Lu Sui finally came to realize one truth: expecting Wu Mangmang to pursue him was probably like waiting for the sun to rise from the west.
Lu Sui turned off the engine, opened the car door, stepped out, and slammed it shut with a loud bang, startling Wu Mangmang into confusion.
"Come here," Lu Sui said, standing by the front of the car and addressing Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang stared at him in astonishment, obediently taking a step forward.
Perhaps annoyed by her slowness, Lu Sui strode a few steps toward her. "Come here."Wu Mangmang stood at arm's length from Lu Sui, looking up into his eyes.
"Hold me." Lu Sui spread his arms.
Wu Mangmang hesitated, then slowly moved closer, pressing her face against Lu Sui's chest once more.
Lu Sui wrapped his arms around Wu Mangmang, taking several deep breaths before he could speak. "Just how stupid do you have to be to think I'd wait here for two hours just to give you a card?"
Wu Mangmang didn't respond. In truth, she wasn't that foolish—she just hadn't been able to think clearly earlier.
The narrow car interior felt like another world—warm, sweet, and safe.
Wu Mangmang clung tightly to Lu Sui's waist, a slight smile lingering at the corners of her mouth. She was reluctant to speak, afraid she might say the wrong thing.
Lu Sui remained silent too, only occasionally stroking Wu Mangmang's back.
Now, a bit of her cleverness finally returned. Lu Sui had already taken the hardest step—he was still waiting for her to kneel and sing her surrender.
Wu Mangmang whispered softly, "Earlier, I thought it was A Shu smoking."
Lu Sui scoffed. "Would I be so foolish as to invite an audience to watch me make a fool of myself over such an embarrassing matter?"
Being dumped twice by the same woman, then shamelessly coming back to find her—Lu Sui felt like kneeling before himself just thinking about it.
"No, I just felt... heartbroken." Wu Mangmang said remorsefully. In any situation, Lu Sui never abused his body. He had once said smoking was slow suicide—how much pain must he have been in to smoke?
"Oh, so you can feel heartbroken for me too?" Lu Sui retorted with cool sarcasm.
Wu Mangmang knew Lu Sui was bound to be angry, but everything he said sounded sweet to her. She pressed her lips together, smiling without speaking.
Seeing Wu Mangmang like this only irritated Lu Sui more. He turned his head away.
"Why did you come here at this time?" Wu Mangmang gently wrapped her arms around Lu Sui's neck and asked cautiously.
"Because I heard some news and was afraid a certain fool might do something reckless. Others might not care, but that fool is my most precious person." As he spoke, Lu Sui pulled Wu Mangmang's hands from around his neck.
"Let me say it again—I've never once thought of letting you go."
Wu Mangmang was deeply moved. At this moment, even if Lu Sui asked her to jump off a mountain, she probably wouldn't hesitate for a second.
As Lu Sui tried to pull her hands away, she clung even tighter, then leaned her forehead against his and whispered, "I wasn't going to do anything reckless."
"Oh, how capable." Lu Sui mocked in reply.
It felt as though there were a thousand things to say, yet Wu Mangmang couldn't find any words now.
Any explanation seemed unnecessary. Leaning against Lu Sui's chest, she asked, "Does this mean we're reconciled?"
"What? Were you waiting for me to kneel and sing 'Conquest,' begging for your forgiveness?" Lu Sui asked, the sarcasm practically dripping from his words.
Wu Mangmang naturally didn't dare expect that—she was the one who should be kneeling and singing surrender.
"Though, it's not impossible for me to kneel for you." Lu Sui added, nearly scaring Wu Mangmang out of her wits.
Wu Mangmang sat up straight in disbelief, looking at Lu Sui. She couldn't have misunderstood him, could she?
In the darkness, Lu Sui's eyes shone with an intensity that made her heart race. Wu Mangmang didn't speak. Though completely unprepared, even with a thousand times more courage, she wouldn't dare say "NO" now.To hell with all that fear of marriage or never marrying—first, I need to please Boss Lu.
Wu Mangmang extended her left hand, holding it up in midair, admiring it for a moment. She felt her ring finger was quite slender and would look good with a ring.
However, Lu Sui did not pull out the ring Wu Mangmang had imagined. He said calmly, "I'll give you a month to think it over. You can still change your mind. I can't handle the embarrassment of the bride running away at the wedding ceremony."
There was once someone who was jilted twice at the altar, and it’s still a laughingstock to this day. Lu Sui had no intention of becoming that kind of fool.
"I won’t back out, I swear," Wu Mangmang immediately raised her right hand.
"You should still think it over," Lu Sui said.
"I really won’t regret it," Wu Mangmang anxiously assured him.
"Well, I didn’t expect you to agree, so I haven’t ordered the ring yet," Lu Sui said.
So this wasn’t a proposal, just a joke?
Wu Mangmang felt a bit frustrated and awkwardly withdrew her hand.
That evening, Lu Sui declined Wu Mangmang’s unspoken request to follow him back to the Lu residence. Of course, she hadn’t explicitly asked, but her longing gaze had completely betrayed her thoughts. However, Lu Sui ignored her, simply dropping her off at her doorstep and ringing the doorbell for her.
The next morning, Wu Mangmang floated downstairs with light steps. Ms. Liu was sternly ordering Wù Dàndàn to finish his boiled egg. When she saw Wu Mangmang, she scrutinized her several times before finally asking, "What’s wrong with you?"
Wu Mangmang looked at Ms. Liu blankly. "Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m fine."
Ms. Liu narrowed her eyes. "It’s because you’re too fine that I’m asking."
Wu Mangmang pursed her lips into a smile but didn’t answer Ms. Liu’s question.
"I heard Cheng Yue is back. Are you back together with him?" Ms. Liu snorted.
Wu Mangmang, who was facing away from Liǔ Lèwéi while taking milk from the fridge, stiffened slightly. She turned around and said, "No, he’s gone."
Liǔ Lèwéi didn’t say anything. It would be a lie to claim she hadn’t noticed Wu Mangmang’s struggles over the years, but sometimes it was hard to bring it up. Besides, Liǔ Lèwéi had never thought highly of Cheng Yue in the first place.
"Then what are you so happy about?" Liǔ Lèwéi added.
Wu Mangmang glanced at her empty finger and turned back. "I’m not happy about anything."
People’s mindsets can change so quickly. For many years, Wu Mangmang hadn’t imagined she would ever get married, but now she seemed desperate to tie the knot.
This was probably what’s commonly called "being difficult."
Wu Mangmang’s current state was a classic case of "the death penalty may be spared, but the living punishment is unavoidable."
Although they had reconciled the night before, Lu Sui’s attitude was practically sky-high. Wu Mangmang now had to keep her head down and behave.
When Lu Sui returned to the Lu residence, Wu Mangmang, having received the news, was already standing respectfully by the door, waiting for the Boss to return.
It must be said that Lu Sui had never received such treatment from Wu Mangmang before, so he glanced at her and said, "If you can’t keep this up for a lifetime, don’t bother acting cute and foolish here."
Wu Mangmang felt as if her face had been slapped—trying to please someone who sees through everything is truly difficult.
But Mr. Lu has really improved—he even knows trendy internet terms like "cute and foolish."Wu Mangmang followed Lu Sui upstairs all the way. After he entered the room, she rushed ahead of him into the bathroom. "Shall I run a hot bath for you?"
Lu Sui didn’t move, his gaze lingering for a moment on the deliberately accentuated curve of her chest and her long legs before he said, "Not really interested."
It seemed Wu Mangmang’s tactic of making up after a quarrel had missed its mark entirely.
Lu Sui was now like a smooth, round stone—Wu Mangmang couldn’t find a single place to bite.
"Then let’s talk, okay?" Wu Mangmang felt braver now. In the past, she would have retreated into her shell like a turtle, thinking that by not asking or looking, she could pretend nothing had happened. But Lu Sui clearly wouldn’t give her that chance.
"Go ahead," Lu Sui replied, then walked over to the wardrobe, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time as he changed.
Wu Mangmang’s thoughts were momentarily derailed by Lu Sui’s movements. It had been a long time since she had touched his abs, and now, just looking at them made her mouth go dry—much like how Lu Sui had felt when he watched Wu Mangmang emerge from the sea, dripping wet.
Back then, the diamond belly button ring on Wu Mangmang’s navel had sparkled brilliantly, capturing his attention.
When Lu Sui didn’t hear Wu Mangmang speak, he glanced sideways and caught her intense, longing gaze. He stopped what he was doing, grabbed a T-shirt, and went into the bathroom. When he came out, he was fully dressed.
"Didn’t you have something to say?" Lu Sui sat down opposite Wu Mangmang.
Truthfully, Wu Mangmang didn’t really have anything to say. She just felt that Lu Sui should have many questions for her. She was like an employee waiting for an interview, racking her brains to guess what the interviewer might ask.
"Do you have anything to ask me?" Wu Mangmang inquired.
Lu Sui stood up. "I have nothing to ask you. Let’s go down for dinner."
Wu Mangmang stared blankly at Lu Sui’s retreating back for a moment before a sudden realization struck her. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "You’re upset because I didn’t go to the Christmas dinner, aren’t you?"
In Lu Sui’s eyes, it was because she had chosen Cheng Yue. But in Wu Mangmang’s view, even if Cheng Yue hadn’t been there, she wouldn’t have gone at the time.
Looking back now, though, Wu Mangmang felt that if time could be rewound, she would have crawled there if she had to.
Everyone is wise after the event. Why had she been so affected and difficult back then?
Lu Sui turned around, cupped Wu Mangmang’s face, and studied it carefully. "Oh, so your IQ is still above 80 after all."
Wu Mangmang struggled to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.
She pulled Lu Sui back, and the two of them sat down together on the sofa.
Now that she had figured out the root of Mr. Lu’s resentment, Wu Mangmang was determined to clear things up.
She understood Lu Sui all too well. Even if he had already decided the outcome, if the process wasn’t sorted out, he had a whole arsenal of ways to make her pay for it.
Just last night, when she had been so heartbroken, Lu Sui had still played the "I’m here to return your card" game with her.
Recalling it now, she really had been incredibly foolish. Wu Mangmang was once again wise after the event.
Holding Lu Sui’s hand earnestly, Wu Mangmang said, "I didn’t go to the Christmas dinner that day because of Cheng Yue. Even if he hadn’t come back, I still wouldn’t have gone."
Lu Sui silently withdrew his hand, but Wu Mangmang immediately grabbed it back.The reason this matter wasn't brought up for discussion last night was because the tone set yesterday evening was one of sweet reconciliation, while today's focus is on resolving lingering concerns now that reconciliation has been firmly established.
"I've always been afraid I'm not good enough for you, afraid that we might eventually separate one day," Wu Mangmang said softly, looking into Lu Sui's eyes as she laid bare her feelings.
The words were simple, but speaking them was incredibly difficult.
"And now?" Lu Sui asked.
Wu Mangmang thought for a moment before answering, "I'm still terrified."
"But I believe you'll hold my hand all the way," Wu Mangmang said. Her eyes sparkled like stars in a cold night, her pupils reflecting Lu Sui's image, shining brilliantly.
Lu Sui clasped Wu Mangmang's fingers in return, their hands gradually intertwining tightly, fingers locked.
"What if one day I let go of your hand?" Lu Sui asked.
Even as he spoke these words, the grip of his fingers tightened gradually. Wu Mangmang almost felt her hand crushed by Lu Sui's hold. She let out a soft whimper of pain before Lu Sui loosened his grip slightly.
"Would you beg on your knees for me to come back?" Lu Sui pressed his forehead against Wu Mangmang's.
These words would undoubtedly tear open Wu Mangmang's wounds, but some things lingered in the heart, impossible to ignore.
When deeply in love, it was impossible not to compare. For him, she could go to such lengths, yet when it came to herself, Wu Mangmang had been terrifyingly decisive. Just thinking about this made Lu Sui want to strangle her.
Wu Mangmang anxiously scratched the back of her head. How could she explain to Lu Sui that at the time, she felt life was no longer worth living? She only wished for everyone else's happiness while she retreated alone to a corner, silently licking her wounds, convinced she would never love anyone again.
Saying such things now felt incredibly awkward because she realized how foolish she had been back then. Why hadn't she seen things clearly?
Later, during a casual chat after an intimate moment, Wu Mangmang accidentally let slip something that left her utterly speechless in the face of Lu Sui's words.
At the time, Lu Sui said, "Do you think I'm a fool? When you broke up with Cheng Yue, didn't you also feel life was no longer worth living and that you'd never love anyone again? And now?"
Wu Mangmang was left utterly bewildered. It seemed what Lu Sui said was true—it was a harsh reality check.
"So, would I be foolish enough to give you another chance to fall in love with someone else?" Lu Sui asked again.
But back to the point. At this moment, Wu Mangmang didn't answer Lu Sui that way. She rehearsed her response several times in her mind—all sincere words from the heart. Yet, when facing Lu Sui, she always had to think carefully before speaking, or she might easily dig her own grave.
Wu Mangmang said, "No. From Cheng Yue, I've learned that love isn't something you can beg for on your knees."
Lu Sui tried to pull his hand away again. Wu Mangmang inwardly groaned. Couldn't he stop being such a proud and sensitive person, Mr. Lu? But she couldn't show any displeasure now. She had to continue playing the role of a smooth-talking romantic.
"For you, what I truly think is this: even if you no longer want me, I must live well. I don't want you to look back one day and think, 'How did I ever fall for someone like that? What a terrible judgment.' I want to ensure you carry no burden. I won't make a scene or cling desperately. I'll only wish you happiness."Lu Sui sneered, "Thank you, but rest assured, when I stop loving someone and turn to leave, I won't have any psychological burden. Whether you live or die, I won't feel guilty. So, you don't need to think so much for me. Everything you said is just nonsense—none of it is as practical as you kneeling and begging me not to leave."
Wu Mangmang said seriously, "I will never kneel to love someone again. I think the only situation that could make me kneel and beg you to come back is..."
Wu Mangmang was throwing back the words Lu Sui had said to her last night.
Lu Sui thought for a moment, "Then you'd better never do that."
Wu Mangmang pouted, feeling a bit disappointed. She thought she needed to keep trying, so she continued holding Lu Sui's hand and pouring out her feelings, "Anyway, I just want to tell you that I've matured. What I believe is that truly mature love only makes people better. Otherwise, why would we long for love so much, right?"
To be honest, Wu Mangmang's expression was somewhat clumsy.
What she really wanted to say was that because she loved him, she had already become better. She wouldn't fall ill again, and she would strive to become someone worthy of him.
There are actually two ways to conquer fear. Having no fear is just the passive one—because you're afraid of losing, you simply don't acquire anything.
That is the love of the weak.
The other way is to make it impossible for anyone to take away the person or thing you love, to fight for it, and never retreat even if it means being shattered to pieces.
That is the love of the brave.
Lu Sui smiled faintly, and it was unclear whether he had been persuaded by Miss Wu Mangmang, the expert in sweet talk.
"Are you still blaming me?" Wu Mangmang asked.
Lu Sui ruffled Wu Mangmang's head and said, "I've never blamed you because you've never had a good role model."
Wu Mangmang quietly looked at Lu Sui's face and then said, "Now I have you."
Lu Sui said with a hint of arrogance, "Then you'd better learn well."
Since the matter had been laid out, Lu Sui didn't beat around the bush anymore. In truth, he really hadn't understood Wu Mangmang's mindset at the time. In his eyes, Wu Mangmang's choice was incredibly poor and foolish—the kind that harms others without benefiting oneself.
"Were you crying so hard yesterday because Cheng Yue left you again?" Lu Sui asked.
"Of course not," Wu Mangmang said, though she was reluctant to admit it. Strangely, she felt it was more like a sense of relief.
How ironic—that was once the person she loved most. Rather than saying Wu Mangmang was hurt by Cheng Yue, it would be more accurate to say she was hurt by this harsh reality. And when she applied it to Lu Sui, she couldn't bear it.
She couldn't imagine at all that one day Lu Sui would feel a sense of relief at not seeing her.
"Then what made you think that missing the Christmas dinner meant we were breaking up? Or did you already plan to get back together with Cheng Yue?" Lu Sui asked.
"Uh..." Wu Mangmang was stunned. Hadn't Lu Sui implied the breakup?
But she really didn't have the courage to say that now.She immediately obediently took all the blame for her foolish mistakes. "I never thought about getting back together with Cheng Yue. Cheng Yue said I was like a fragile porcelain piece, a broken one. No matter how precious it once was, even if repaired, it would still be flawed and no longer considered valuable. I just think you deserve to have your own perfect porcelain piece."
Wu Mangmang had made her meaning quite clear. Lu Sui scratched his ear, frowned, and said, "Is that what normal people say? Are you having another acting relapse? That's why you sound so pretentiously sentimental."
Wu Mangmang glared angrily at Lu Sui. She genuinely felt that way, okay? Even if it was a bit foolish, he shouldn't be so harsh.
"Wu Mangmang, don't live your life like it's a drama. If you were truly grounded and down-to-earth, you'd know that people aren't porcelain. Loving one person doesn't mean you're no longer qualified to love someone else." Lu Sui continued, "By your logic, since I've been with other women, should I just castrate myself? Because I'm no longer perfect either, I'm flawed too."
"Of course not!" Wu Mangmang immediately raised her hands in surrender. "I never minded that."
She was the epitome of being strict with herself and lenient with others.
"Oh, so you don't mind that I've had girlfriends before, right? And you don't mind that Zhao Xinyun existed, do you?" Lu Sui asked.
Wu Mangmang really wanted to cry. Why was it that Lu Sui, who had once lived a wild life and quickly found a new girlfriend after a breakup, now seemed like the victim, as if she, Wu Mangmang, were the villain?
"I do mind," Wu Mangmang said, then immediately felt something was off. She wasn't implying that Lu Sui should castrate himself. "That's not what I meant, do you understand?"
"I understand. You're just being melodramatic for no reason," Lu Sui summarized for her.
Wu Mangmang could only nod awkwardly.
"Also, I don't think of you as a piece of porcelain. If you insist on objectifying yourself, why not think of yourself as a blank sheet of paper? At first, someone drew a stroke and stopped, then someone else drew another stroke and left. These are the precious experiences of your life. A blank sheet of paper isn't worth much. Then, eventually, you met me. I took everything everyone else had drawn, organized the composition, and completed the final painting," Lu Sui said.
"Do you know how much one of my paintings sold for at the last charity auction?" Lu Sui asked Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang nodded. It was very expensive. Although people were probably bidding because of Lu Sui's reputation, the landscape painting he created was actually quite good, with the style of a master.
"So, you should have confidence in yourself. You've joined the ranks of famous paintings, at least in terms of value," Lu Sui patted Wu Mangmang's cheek.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Lu Sui pinched her cheek and said, "Cheng Yue said you were a piece of porcelain, so you chose to major in porcelain restoration in college. Now that I've compared you to a painting, should you consider switching to Chinese painting?"
Wu Mangmang blinked, thinking Lu Sui was joking, but his expression was unusually serious. Was he competing with Cheng Yue?Wu Mangmang said, "I'll consider it."
"How about I hire you a traditional Chinese painting teacher to cultivate your temperament?" Lu Sui asked.
"Of course, that would be great." Wu Mangmang smiled, almost on the verge of tears.
"Now let's summarize. You think you're like a shattered piece of porcelain, unworthy of me, and would rather spend your life like a pile of broken shards, right?" Lu Sui said.
Wu Mangmang blinked again. Hearing Lu Sui phrase it this way, the reasons she once found so logical and the decisions she believed were absolutely correct now seemed utterly ridiculous.
Unable to help herself, Wu Mangmang defended her position, "Not exactly. At the time, I was also worried that I would inevitably compare you to Cheng Yue. With Cheng Yue's shadow lingering, we would inevitably break up sooner or later."
Suspicion and jealousy would come one after another, and no matter how deep the feelings, they couldn't withstand such erosion.
Lu Sui raised an eyebrow, pulled Wu Mangmang up from the sofa, and stood facing her. Then he took three steps back, standing opposite her, spread his hands, and said, "Look at me. Does Cheng Yue seem like someone who could cast a shadow over me?"
Wu Mangmang shook her head.
"Now look at me again. Is there any part of me that falls short compared to him?"
So narcissistic!
Wu Mangmang shook her head again.
"Therefore, your reasons don't hold up," Lu Sui concluded.
Wu Mangmang covered her face, too devastated to say anything.
Lu Sui walked over and wrapped his arms around Wu Mangmang. "Any thoughts after our talk?"
Her thoughts were particularly complicated, Wu Mangmang thought to herself.
Back then, she truly, truly believed she was absolutely right, and even felt a sense of fearless self-sacrifice. But now, everything she had thought, after being dismantled point by point by Lu Sui, had turned into utter nonsense.
"Do you feel particularly foolish?" Lu Sui asked.
Wu Mangmang shot Lu Sui a glare but reluctantly nodded.
Lu Sui smiled and kissed the corner of her lips. "Good. It's not so terrible to have self-awareness."
"Alright, now go draw me a bath," Lu Sui said.
"But it's almost time for dinner," Wu Mangmang hadn't fully snapped out of it yet.
"But I want to take a bath first," Lu Sui's hand slid up and down her back.
So that meant he was interested?
Wu Mangmang was still reeling from the devastating blow, not fully awake, and not particularly in the mood. But she didn't dare resist, so she turned and headed to the bathroom.
Then she heard Lu Sui say behind her, "Mangmang, one last piece of advice for you. Since you know you're foolish, from now on, don't make any decisions on your own, understand?"
Wu Mangmang thought for a moment before finally responding, "Don't help me play games anymore." She hated Mr. Lu who knew internet slang.
Understand your sister!
The bath lasted two hours. In the game, the rampant NPC boss always loved to say, "You foolish humans," followed by a barrage of attacks.
Wu Mangmang watched her health bar plummet rapidly, and in the end, she curled up in bed, enjoying the sweet feeling of being fed by Mr. Lu.
Unfortunately, this wasn't the turning point for better times.
Two days before the start of the semester, Wu Mangmang was nearly driven to despair by an unexpected email.Lu Sui emerged from the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel while looking at Wu Mangmang’s pale face. “What’s wrong?”
Wu Mangmang immediately shook her head, then stood up and said, “Let me help you dry your hair.”
She gently and patiently dried his hair, even giving him a shoulder massage along the way.
Lu Sui narrowed his eyes but didn’t call out Wu Mangmang’s overly attentive behavior—after all, such sudden flattery usually meant she was up to something.
However, secrets never stay hidden for long. Lu Sui soon tossed the email in front of Wu Mangmang.
“What is this?” he asked.
Wu Mangmang was too timid to even accuse Lu Sui of invading her privacy. He must have logged into her gaming account again and stumbled upon her email.
Now, she was frantically trying to plead her innocence. “When I applied for this, I had no idea we’d get back together. I was just afraid that staying at University A would keep me tangled up with Cheng Yue, so I asked Professor Cheng to recommend me for this excavation project.”
Lu Sui completely ignored her excuses and stated bluntly, “I only care about the result.”
“How long is the young lady planning to be gone this time? Three months? Half a year? Or a full year? When you come back, should I send you an invitation to my wedding, or maybe to my son’s hundred-day celebration?” Lu Sui’s sarcasm was in full swing.
Naturally, the argument ended on a sour note. No matter how hard Wu Mangmang tried, she couldn’t cheer up Mr. Lu. Even their usual nine o’clock evening entertainment had been suspended for three days.
Of course, Wu Mangmang wasn’t willing to give up her career. But you can’t have your cake and eat it too, especially during such a sensitive time. She hadn’t even managed to get a ring on her finger yet. If she really left, she might very well receive a wedding invitation from Lu Sui upon her return.
Wu Mangmang decided to secure Mr. Lu first. As for her career, she wasn’t giving that up either.
After mentally preparing herself, Wu Mangmang flew straight to City A while Mr. Lu was at work.
She had actively applied for the project and even asked Professor Cheng to pull strings to get accepted. Now, having to say she couldn’t go felt unbearably awkward.
Sitting in front of Professor Cheng, Wu Mangmang struggled to tell a lie. “I’m sorry, Professor Cheng. I’m getting married, so I might not be able to participate in this project.”
Professor Cheng smiled at her. “I understand. Nowadays, young women are always worrying about being ‘leftover,’ and I certainly don’t want my students to end up that way. But let’s be clear—this is a one-time exception.”
If she could, Wu Mangmang would have jumped up and kissed this kind old man. “Thank you, Professor Cheng!” she exclaimed, practically dancing with joy.
After resolving this tricky situation, Wu Mangmang practically skipped her way to Lu Corporation to find Lu Sui.
Peng Ze didn’t dare stop this future boss’s wife, who radiated an overwhelming girlfriend aura. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—this woman really knew how to stir things up. Would Lu Corporation have to set up temporary headquarters wherever she decided to work in the future?
Slipping into Lu Sui’s office, Wu Mangmang happily threw herself into his arms and said, “I have good news to tell you.”Lu Sui's gaze naturally swept toward Wu Mangmang's lower abdomen.
Wu Mangmang quickly covered her stomach. "I'm not pregnant."
Then Lu Sui displayed an attitude of indifference that seemed to say, "What good news could you possibly have?"
"I told Professor Cheng that I can't go for this project, and he agreed," Wu Mangmang said excitedly, clapping for herself first. "Isn't it a surprise?"
This time, a faint smile finally appeared on Lu Sui's face. "How did you explain it to him?"
Wu Mangmang shrugged. "I just said my boyfriend doesn't like me going on such long business trips. Professor Cheng said he understood and agreed."
Lu Sui actually laughed out loud this time. He lifted Wu Mangmang up and sat her on the desk, then placed his hands on either side of her, encircling her in his arms. "Tell me, did you ask for maternity leave, or..."
Wu Mangmang deliberately widened her eyes in feigned shock. "Maternity leave? That's ridiculous. Why would I use such a lame excuse?"
Lu Sui raised an eyebrow. "I heard you on the phone asking your friend if she could help you get a certificate."
Wu Mangmang immediately deflated. "I didn't use that excuse." The reputation of having an abortion was just too unpleasant.
"Then what reason did you use?" Lu Sui asked. "Let me hear it. I want to see if all those walnuts you've been eating have helped your brain grow."
Cornered, Wu Mangmang mumbled, "I asked for marriage leave."
Laughter erupted from above her head, and Wu Mangmang felt so embarrassed she could have burst into flames, overwhelmed with shame.
"Then we'd better hurry up, so Professor Cheng doesn't think you're lying," Lu Sui said.
This, of course, was not a proposal. A proposal was the most romantic moment in a woman's life, and Wu Mangmang was determined to preserve her right to be proposed to.
However, since Lu Sui and Wu Mangmang had decided to get married, it was only natural to inform their close friends and family.
When Lu Lin received the news, she wasn't surprised. Instead, she sighed to Wu Mangmang, "Your relationship has been quite a rollercoaster, hasn't it? How many times have you broken up already? You drove Lu Sui to smoking and drinking, acting like a depressed teenager. How did you two reconcile this time? Who begged whom to come back?"
Lu Lin was truly a gossip at heart.
When people are in love, they can't help but want to share their happiness with the whole world, and Wu Mangmang was no exception. By nature, she loved to show off, but to maintain the low-key image of Mrs. Lu, she had completely stopped updating her Weibo. So, she could only share her joy in real life.
Wu Mangmang poured out the whole story to Lu Lin, who just shook her head and sighed with one sentence.
"Girl, I think you're still too naive."
Lu Lin glanced furtively at Lu Sui, who was chatting with their uncle not far away, and quietly pulled Wu Mangmang onto the balcony.
"Have you ever wondered why your first love just happened to appear in the Lu Group building?" Lu Lin asked the "naive girl," Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang had thought about this question, but she hadn't dared to ask Lu Sui."If I'm guessing correctly, your little lover must have received an olive branch from the Lu Group. The terms offered were exceptionally favorable, and your little lover happened to want to return to the city. Both sides hit it off perfectly, which led to that scene you witnessed." Lu Lin patted Wu Mangmang's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, even if you hadn't gone to the Lu Group that day, Lu Sui would have found a way for you to see your little lover."
Wu Mangmang remained silent, unwilling to doubt Lu Sui.
But Lu Lin grew more enthusiastic the more she speculated, "Besides, look at the outcome now—aren't you already firmly trapped in Lu Sui's grasp?"
"Let me tell you, Lu Sui's greatest skill is that he could sell you out, and in the end, you'd still turn around and thank him profusely, wishing you could light three sticks of incense for him every day, praying for his success in all things."
"You silly child, you're being sold out and still helping them count the money," Lu Lin sighed. She had been tricked by Lu Sui countless times in her life, and only now had she learned to be a bit smarter.
"No, why would Lu Sui bring Cheng Yue back? He has no motive," Wu Mangmang said.
Lu Lin pulled Wu Mangmang to sit down outside. "Come, let me analyze this for you."
"When Cheng Yue returned, Lu Sui suddenly became distant toward you, right?" Lu Lin asked.
Wu Mangmang nodded.
Lu Lin sighed. "Aren't you being foolish? If you and Lu Sui hadn't reconciled, I might still believe this had nothing to do with him. But look at your situation now—it's clear Lu Sui would never let you go. Someone as smart as him, upon learning your first love had returned, should have been even more gentle and considerate toward you, making you feel guilty and afraid to bring up breaking up, right?"
Wu Mangmang remained silent.
"Or do you think Lu Sui is really the kind of fool who would be blinded by jealousy, pushing you away with bitterness and sarcasm, straight into the arms of your little lover?"
Wu Mangmang shook her head.
"That's right. You're like a kite, and the string is firmly in Lu Sui's hands. I'd bet my head on it—Lu Sui deliberately distanced himself from you, misled you, and pushed you toward your little lover," Lu Lin declared confidently.
"That's impossible," Wu Mangmang felt a chill in her bones. "What good would that do him?"
Lu Lin looked at Wu Mangmang without speaking, and soon Wu Mangmang grasped her point.
Seeing the dawning realization on Wu Mangmang's face, Lu Lin continued, "Your little lover, whom you've been pining for for nearly ten years, has returned. If you don't spend some time with him, won't you keep longing for him forever? He's your white moonlight, your red rose."
"How long did you spend with your little lover? Looking back, didn't you realize it wasn't all that special? That roasted sweet potato that smelled so delicious back then didn't actually taste that good," Lu Lin pressed on.
There was a bit of that feeling.
"Then let me ask you, do you still think about your little lover now?" Lu Lin asked.
Wu Mangmang shook her head again. She had completely let go.
Lu Lin spread her hands. "See? Lu Sui's goal has been achieved. And he left a glaring clue, right? You know it yourself, don't you?"
Wu Mangmang thought for a moment, then nodded heavily.
"Your little lover leaves, and the next moment Lu Sui shows up at your doorstep—isn't that too much of a coincidence?" Lu Lin asked.
"Right, that's why I thought it had nothing to do with Lu Sui. He's not that foolish," Wu Mangmang still defended Lu Sui.
"Hah," Lu Lin sighed. "Such a young girl. Lu Sui's possessiveness is so strong—he simply couldn't bear the fact that you've held another person in your heart all these years. Just as he couldn't bear the thought of you spending another Valentine's Day with your little lover, do you understand?"
Lu Sui was not that generous."If you don't believe me, go check. Your little lover must have been forced away by Lu Sui. And I dare say, if Lu Sui dares to let him return, he must have already collected enough dirt on your little lover, digging a huge pit just waiting for him to jump in." Lu Lin said with frustration at their naivety, "You two sweet fools have always seen him as the victim."
Lu Lin was mistaken in saying this—Cheng Yue was no sweet fool.
It was just that Lu Sui had planned meticulously against an unprepared opponent. In Cheng Yue's life, there were people and matters more important than Wu Mangmang. Having let go once, the second time was not so difficult.
On the way to the airport, Cheng Yue unwillingly made one last call to Lu Sui. "Don't celebrate too soon. Mangmang and I have six years of shared history. You can never erase or surpass that."
"No matter. She and I will have sixty years together. You need not concern yourself with it," Lu Sui replied.
"You are truly despicable," Cheng Yue cursed.
Cheng Yue's words had no effect on Lu Sui. "I am not like you. When it comes to her, I will never choose to let go, even if it means descending into hell together."
And those who choose to give up have no right to play the saint.
"But I still don't understand. After all this back and forth, isn't it the same as before? If Cheng Yue hadn't returned, Lu Sui and I wouldn't have broken up, and none of this would have happened," Wu Mangmang said.
That was because Lu Sui had deceived Wu Mangmang.
With such deep love, how could someone as possessive as Lu Sui not mind Cheng Yue's presence? Moreover, Wu Mangmang's mental state had always been a ticking time bomb.
If Wu Mangmang had met someone else in this lifetime, they might not have had Lu Sui's confidence, nor his madness.
For Lu Sui, he had to take this gamble.
To untie the bell, one must seek the one who tied it.
Look how well things have turned out now: Wu Mangmang's mind is clear, Cheng Yue's influence has vanished, Wu Mangmang no longer fears marriage, and Lu Sui's absolute authority in her heart has been firmly established.
Who is the biggest winner?
Lu Lin looked at Wu Mangmang and replied, "Lu Sui—he is an arrogant madman."
For Lu Sui, his love means never letting go.
For Wu Mangmang, her love means asking the other to always hold her hand.
Neither of them could be called normal, so when normal people encounter those like them, they should definitely, without fail, stay far away.
But fortunately, in this world, no matter how exceptional or flawed you may be, there is always someone out there, perfectly suited for you.
And for these two perfectly matched individuals, may they never again emerge to cause trouble for others.
OpenNovel