Shine on Me

As one of the benchmark companies in China's photovoltaic industry, Jiang Yun, the head of Guangyu Solar, always had her schedule meticulously planned down to the minute by her assistant. That morning, she had just hosted an inspection by important figures in Suzhou, and in the afternoon, she rushed nonstop to Wuxi to discuss the establishment of a branch factory with local officials.

The negotiations went surprisingly smoothly, concluding an hour ahead of schedule. With over two hours to spare before the evening banquet, Jiang Yun checked the time and remembered her old friend Ding Hong lived nearby. She called to ask if Ding was home and whether it would be convenient to drop by for tea.

Ding Hong was overjoyed by the call and immediately replied, "Yes, yes, I'm home... just a moment."

After a pause, as if moving to a different spot, she lowered her voice and said, "Why didn't you give me a heads-up? Wang Liyun is here—she just arrived. I’ll figure out a way to send her off soon."

Before Jiang Yun could respond, Ding quickly added, "Don’t you dare say you’re not coming! I’ve been trying to meet up with you for ages, and now that you finally have time, we must see each other. Wang Liyun had also been pestering me for ages, and I felt bad, so I finally agreed to have tea with her. What are the odds of this timing?"

Jiang Yun chuckled, her words stuck in her throat. "I came here for business today, but things wrapped up unexpectedly early, so I thought I’d check in with you. No need to send her away—we’re all old acquaintances. Just add an extra cup for me."

Ding hesitated. "You don’t mind?"

Jiang Yun laughed heartily. "Since when do I care about her?"

Ding’s concern wasn’t unfounded.

Wang Liyun was the wife of a prominent local businessman and had long held a grudge against Jiang Yun. It all started years ago when Nie Chengyuan and Wang’s husband were at the same drinking gathering. Another businessman, drunk out of his mind, blurted out, "Between the two 'Yuns' in your circles, Jiang Yun is definitely the more capable one."

The next day, the comment spread like wildfire.

Furious at being publicly compared by some random man, Jiang Yun first berated Nie Chengyuan, then later took the opportunity to skewer the offending businessman with sarcastic remarks at a public event, barely venting her anger.

Just when she thought the matter was over, Wang Liyun began harboring resentment toward her over that comment. At first, Wang nitpicked Jiang Yun’s appearance, saying she didn’t seem like a good match for Nie. Later, when Nie had an affair, Wang seized the opportunity to criticize Jiang Yun’s personality—too domineering, too attention-seeking, and so on.

Jiang Yun had always been polite to her before, but after this, she dismissed Wang as petty and stopped taking her seriously. Over the years, as Jiang Yun’s career in Suzhou flourished and she gradually distanced herself from Wuxi’s social circles, she cared even less.

Still, Jiang Yun braced herself for some passive-aggressive remarks. But when she arrived at Ding’s place, Wang Liyun’s attitude was unexpectedly warmer than Ding’s. She showered Jiang Yun with praise—first about her company’s success, which was expected, but then even started complimenting her looks.

Even if Wang was putting on a front, this level of flattery was downright bizarre. Jiang Yun grew wary, mentally reviewing the state of Wang’s company, convinced she must have an ulterior motive. But their businesses—photovoltaics and auto parts—had virtually no overlap.When Wang Liyun went to the restroom, Jiang Yun quickly asked Ding Hong, "What's wrong with her? How could she say something like 'you're looking younger and more beautiful' so openly?"

This wasn't like her at all.

Ding Hong looked even more bewildered. "How would I know? But she's not wrong—you do look radiant and full of energy lately, with a great complexion."

"Really?" Jiang Yun touched her face. After her divorce, she had focused on skincare for a while, but after moving to Suzhou and burying herself in work, she'd neglected it. She never expected to receive compliments now.

"Of course. When have I ever lied? It's not surprising, though. Your company's performance has skyrocketed—of course you're glowing. People say women need love to thrive, but I think money might work even better," Ding Hong joked.

"Oh, it's not about the money." Jiang Yun waved her hand, her face lighting up. "I've just found my drive. Right before coming here, I got great news from the R&D center—we've made another breakthrough in photoelectric conversion efficiency. Of course, it's still lab-stage for now, but once we scale it to production..."

She launched into a detailed explanation about work, and Ding Hong listened with a smile, not interrupting. After a while, Jiang Yun snapped out of it, embarrassed. "Ah, I just go on and on when I talk about this stuff. You could've stopped me."

"Why would I? Seeing you like this makes me happy," Ding Hong said sincerely.

When Wang Liyun returned from the restroom, Jiang Yun stopped discussing work. The three chatted over tea for a while until Wang Liyun suddenly kept glancing at Jiang Yun, her expression hesitant.

Jiang Yun perked up, thinking, Here it comes.

Sure enough, Wang Liyun soon asked, "Did you hear about something that happened a few days ago, Jiang Yun?"

What kind of question was that? "Obviously not."

Wang Liyun paused, but she was too impatient to beat around the bush now. Words spilled out of her: "I heard that woman—the one surnamed Qian—went to YuanCheng's headquarters and made a huge scene."

Jiang Yun was stunned by the bombshell. After a second to process it, she fixed her gaze on Wang Liyun, thinking, Could you be more specific? Leaving it halfway is so frustrating!

Of course, her urgency wasn’t out of concern for Nie Chengyuan—she just wanted the juicy gossip.

Even career women needed some spice in their lives, and ex-husband drama was perfect for that.

But since Wang Liyun had just praised her so highly, Jiang Yun felt she should maintain some decorum and not press too eagerly. Luckily, Ding Hong was even more impatient and fired off three questions in a row: "Seriously? That really happened? How come I didn’t hear about it?"

"Of course it's true!" Wang Liyun emphasized, unable to tolerate any doubt. "It’s no surprise you didn’t hear—Nie Chengyuan has his pride to protect. He must’ve tried to cover it up, but these things always get out. It’ll probably spread soon."

Ding Hong pressed further: "Then explain properly! What was she making a scene about? Forcing him to marry her?"

Yes, yes, give us the details! Jiang Yun echoed inwardly.

"Nothing like that—it was about medical bills," Wang Liyun said. "She went to YuanCheng demanding payment, saying Nie Chengyuan abandoned her and she couldn’t afford her imported medication anymore.""Could the information be wrong?" Jiang Yun spoke up at this point, her hands folded gracefully on her lap as she said with poise, "She only had minor health issues before—surgery could have cured them completely. She should have recovered long ago. How did it escalate to not being able to afford medication?"

"I heard she developed another illness," Wang Liyun said with strong gossipy enthusiasm, having already gotten to the bottom of it. "A relative of my relative is her attending physician and said her condition is hard to treat. The imported medication costs a fortune. The doctors here initially suggested she go to Beijing for better treatment prospects, but she looked down on that and insisted on going to the U.S. for treatment. In the end, she didn’t even make it to Beijing, and now she’s making a scene at the company over medical expenses."

Ding Hong found it somewhat unreasonable: "Yuancheng isn’t what it used to be—I’ve heard they even have some cash flow issues—but Nie Chengyuan wouldn’t be unable to cover something like this. How did it get so ugly?"

"No idea," Wang Liyun said with a shrug. "But that woman is foolish. By making a scene at the company, isn’t she just making herself more despised and cutting off her own escape route?"

Jiang Yun took a sip of tea, her expression serene. "Probably path dependency."

Ding Hong was taken aback, then suddenly understood. "Right, didn’t she faint in Nie Chengyuan’s office at Yuancheng headquarters back then?"

Jiang Yun nodded.

Qian Fangping had successfully won over Nie Chengyuan with that trick back then, so she likely assumed it would still work now. But times had changed—people’s hearts and circumstances were entirely different. How could the same tactic still apply?

When Qian Fangping had first appeared years ago, she and Nie Chengyuan had clashed over the company’s direction. Though she had always been the one to yield in the end, looking back now, it was clear that Nie Chengyuan had grown distant. At the time, public praise for her had been abundant, and those voices might have deepened Nie Chengyuan’s resentment toward her.

So he brought in a third party—partly out of lingering affection, but also undoubtedly to manipulate her. He wanted to make her just one of his options, to place himself above her.

What a pipe dream.

But these darker aspects of human nature weren’t something Jiang Yun had understood from the start.

There had been a time when she, too, had wanted to salvage her marriage. Whether for love, career, or Xiguang, divorce hadn’t been the best choice.

She had bared her heart to Nie Chengyuan, but while he claimed innocence, his actions showed no restraint. Did he not know how much pain he was causing her?

Of course he knew. But he was certain she could do nothing about it, convinced she couldn’t bear to let go and would simply endure.

Back then, everyone around her had urged her to tolerate it. She knew most of them meant well—after all, a divorce would mean handing half their assets and her husband to someone else, rendering years of hard work nothing but a dowry for another woman.

But the humiliation was unbearable.

She resolutely filed for divorce.

Yet she never told anyone that, in the early days after the divorce, she had regretted it. Twenty years of companionship—how could there not have been love and dependence?

It felt as if a part of her had been ripped away.

During that time, she put on a brave face by day, but in the quiet of night, when tears fell, she even questioned herself—had she given up too easily?Yet she understood all too well that precisely because of this, she must sever ties decisively. For the sake of past affections or financial security, enduring humiliation would only numb her soul and distort her beyond recognition.

In recent years, Guangyu had soared to success through serendipity, while Yuancheng's performance plummeted due to broader economic shifts. The balance of power between her and Nie Chengyuan had abruptly reversed.

Her last lingering resentment dissolved completely. The truth was, divorce didn’t mean surrendering everything from the past. Those experiences remained hers alone, and whose losses would weigh heavier in the future depended solely on who stood stronger and more triumphant today.

As long as she was the stronger one, it would be Nie Chengyuan left with regrets.

Ding Hong still couldn’t grasp one thing. "No matter how expensive imported medicine is, Nie Chengyuan could afford it. With his connections, securing Beijing’s best medical resources would’ve been effortless. How could things have gotten so ugly?"

Unless…

Ding Hong had her suspicions but hesitated to voice them in front of Jiang Yun. She suspected Nie Chengyuan had likely taken up with someone new.

"What else could it be?" Wang Liyun shared her thoughts.

Jiang Yun replied coolly, "Back then, exaggerating minor ailments for attention was playful. Now that he’s truly ill, it’s just a burden."

Ding Hong and Wang Liyun were momentarily stunned, then nodded in realization. "You’ve always seen things clearly," Ding Hong remarked, patting her shoulder.

Jiang Yun smiled. "No one’s born knowing this. It’s only after life teaches you the hard way."

Ding Hong asked, "He hasn’t been pestering you about reconciliation lately, has he?"

"That’s ancient history. We haven’t spoken in over half a year." The more Guangyu flourished, the less Nie Chengyuan reached out. Sometimes Jiang Yun found it almost amusing—how had she failed to see this side of him in her youth?

"With your company’s market value now dwarfing Yuancheng’s, Nie Chengyuan wouldn’t dare show his face. He’s probably drowning in regret, the laughingstock behind his back. Serves him right!" Wang Liyun added bitterly, as if recalling something.

Jiang Yun caught the implication and glanced at Ding Hong, who subtly shook her head, signaling ignorance. Jiang Yun let it drop, uninterested in digging further.

Wang Liyun wasn’t done. "If I were you, I’d find a younger, well-off partner. You’re not even sixty—someone in their forties would do nicely. If men can chase youth, so can you!"

Jiang Yun was taken aback, sensing Wang Liyun projecting her own desires onto her. "That won’t be necessary," she demurred. "I’ve no intention of burdening my daughter with such complications."

Even with a prenup, it’d be more trouble than it was worth. With her career, her daughter, and even a son-in-law to rely on, why invite chaos into her life?

Wang Liyun looked at her with palpable disappointment, as if lamenting wasted potential.

Jiang Yun stifled a laugh. After another cup of tea, she checked the time and rose to leave. "I should go—there’s a dinner engagement tonight."

Tea and gossip had been pleasant, but as her car carried her toward the evening’s event, an unease settled over her.

Yin Jie, who’d been waiting in the car, noticed the shift immediately. "Is everything alright, Ms. Jiang?" she asked gently.Yin Jie was now Jiang Yun's special assistant, having followed her since the day Jiang Yun first joined the company. Over the years, she had come to know all the ins and outs of both the company and Jiang Yun's personal life. Tight-lipped and a good friend of Xiguang, Jiang Yun didn't avoid discussing sensitive topics with her. With a sigh, Jiang Yun mentioned, "It's about Xiguang's father."

She shared the rumors she'd just heard and sighed, "I feel somewhat vindicated hearing this, but... there's also a sense of 'harming one's own kind.'" Though "harming one's own kind" wasn't quite the right phrase, Jiang Yun couldn't quite articulate the complex emotions she was feeling.

Yin Jie was startled and quickly interjected, "No, no, President Jiang, 'harming one's own kind' doesn't apply here. They never once considered us as their kind back then."

"Besides, we're all still human beings. Our 'kind' should be the good people among humanity. You mustn't entertain any thoughts of pity for her. There's a popular saying online now: 'Respect others' choices and destinies.' Everything has its causes and consequences."

Yin Jie rattled off her thoughts in a flurry, clearly worried Jiang Yun might make a misstep. Amused, Jiang Yun explained, "That's not what I meant. Never mind, I misspoke."

She paused, then continued, "I was thinking that people must always rely on themselves. Don't pin your life's hopes on others—what kind of luck would it take to never stumble in a lifetime?"

Yin Jie nodded in agreement, "Absolutely. Earning your own money and spending it is so satisfying, and you earn respect too. My annual salary is now the highest in my entire family—I feel like my status at home has risen. Every time I go back for the New Year, it's like being the little moon surrounded by stars."

"Why the little moon?" Jiang Yun asked curiously.

Yin Jie grinned, "Well, I have to stay humble and leave room for improvement."

Jiang Yun burst into laughter at her response.

Soon, the business car arrived at their destination. Several people were already waiting at the entrance of the grand hotel, and they immediately swarmed around Jiang Yun as she stepped out.

Accustomed to such scenes, Jiang Yun greeted each of them warmly and humbly with a smile.

Together, they entered the hotel.

The opulent lobby was adorned with crystal chandeliers hanging high above, and the marble floors gleamed like mirrors.

Perhaps because of the news about Nie Chengyuan she'd heard earlier, Jiang Yun suddenly found herself reminiscing about the past amidst the crowd. Back then, she had been Nie Chengyuan's wife, often accompanying him to similar events. Though not the center of attention, she had still been treated with great courtesy and enjoyed considerable prestige.

She had once been proud of it, content.

But now that she stood at the center herself, she realized that the sense of achievement and satisfaction she'd felt back then couldn't compare to even a fraction of the exhilaration of being the moon surrounded by stars, the focus of all eyes.

She was Jiang Yun, the head of Guangyu Photovoltaics. Once content to be an appendage, once divorced in middle age, once mired in the depths—but all that was in the past, and no one cared anymore.

Because now she stood at the summit—this time, her own summit.

—End of Yun Qi