chapter 9

A woman’s intuition-Mu Yebai’s gaze made me sense that the girl had an unusual relationship with him.

That night, Mu Yebai didn’t stay at home. He gave me no explanation; after answering a phone call, he drove away.

Later, I learned from Mu Yebai’s mother that the girl’s name was Li Wei, the white moonlight he secretly loved in his youth.

Li Wei was a rich and beautiful young woman, a dazzling light in Mu Yebai’s gloomy adolescence, impossible to forget.

But because Mu Yebai was unsuccessful in his youth, he missed his chance with her. After Li Wei went abroad to study, Mu Yebai gradually followed his father to learn about business and became the commercial prodigy he is today.

Li Wei had already changed boyfriends several times, but Mu Yebai remained alone.

Everyone in their circle said that even if Mu Yebai got married, as long as Li Wei called, he would leave his bride to go to her.

Unfortunately, I was the cannon fodder bride in their romantic story, used to prove the male lead’s deep feelings.

Because I answered Li Wei’s call, Mu Yebai got angry.

His punishment was that he went abroad to expand new business territory.

For nearly a year, he didn’t come back to see me.

Mu Yebai was born under a lucky star. Even though our marriage was arranged by our parents, I couldn’t help but fall in love with him.

But this year of silence made me realize there was an unbridgeable chasm between Mu Yebai and me. In that chasm were many factors-family background, knowledge, vision-but the biggest one was Li Wei.

I knew he was deliberately distancing himself from me because of Li Wei, but my parents, endlessly greedy, kept urging me to ask Mu Yebai for money under the pretense of family business.

My mother said, “I know you’re Mu Yebai’s wife now. If you have a child, you’ll have wealth and glory. But that’s your husband’s family. Only if your own family is strong will you have confidence. If you ever quarrel with him, you’ll have somewhere to return to.”

During the time we didn’t see each other, I sent Mu Yebai countless WeChat messages, sharing daily trivialities, showing concern for him. If he was in a good mood, he’d occasionally reply with a brief sentence or two.

But more often, my messages vanished without a trace.

Because of my parents’ demands, I could only swallow my pride and call Mu Yebai.

Afraid of disturbing his rest, I calculated the time difference-it was his lunch break, but midnight for me.

But when I carefully made my request, Mu Yebai only let out a cold laugh.

Then, in a mocking tone, he said, “Luo Wanyin, does it mean you’ll marry anyone who gives you money?”

Hearing his words, I felt as if I’d fallen into an icy abyss.