Volume One, Chapter One: I Want a New Mother

Inside a lavishly decorated villa, a woman who looked utterly exhausted bustled back and forth in the kitchen.

Today was the wedding anniversary of Si Tang and Gu Yubai, and she had decided to prepare dinner with her own hands.

Counting the days, it had been a long time since she last saw Gu Yubai.

When they first married, he still showed some affection toward her. They had a child together. But everything changed two years ago after Su Yuejin returned to the country.

The boiling hot water spilled onto her hand as her thoughts wandered.

“Ah!” Her hand turned bright red, pain radiating from the back of her hand through her entire body.

Si Tang dialed Gu Yubai’s number.

“Yubai?” Her voice was cautious when the call connected. “I’ve made dinner. Could you... come home for a bit?”

A woman’s light laughter came from the other end. “Yubai and Zhouzhou are with me. We just got back from the amusement park and are resting.”

That voice—Si Tang could never forget it in her dreams. It was Su Yuejin!

“I’ll tell him once he wakes up,” Su Yuejin said with a soft, triumphant tone.

After hanging up, Si Tang stared blankly ahead, her heart aching bitterly in countless spots, her lips suddenly pale.

She had lost count of how many times this had happened.

They were childhood sweethearts, innocent companions since youth. Su Yuejin was Gu Yubai’s long-held first love. Then what was she supposed to be?

This absurd marriage—it was time to end it.

A table of cold dishes sat untouched. At eight in the evening, a noise came from the doorway!

Si Tang stood up, a faint glimmer of hope on her face.

He still cared for her, she thought, heart full of expectation, and went to the door.

But she saw the two of them, with the little baby in tow, appearing before her like a perfect family of three.

Her smile froze, and she helplessly watched Su Yuejin link arms with the man while holding Zhouzhou’s hand, stepping inside.

Si Tang felt like she had been struck by lightning on a clear day; her blood seemed to flow backwards.

“I don’t want to see Mommy!” The four-year-old’s childish voice rang out before he hid behind Su Yuejin.

Su Yuejin bent slightly, her voice patient and gentle. “Zhouzhou, Auntie has taught you to be polite.”

Tears suddenly welled up in Si Tang’s eyes. How ridiculous!

Zhouzhou was the child she had carried for ten months. She had almost died on the operating table giving birth to him. And now the child hid in another woman’s arms as if she were a monster.

The man wore a casual shirt with perfectly ironed trousers. Because he had been driving tonight, he wore gold-rimmed glasses. His face was sharply defined, features strong, but utterly expressionless.

“There’s a leak at Yuejin’s place. We’ll stay here tonight,” he said indifferently.

Si Tang took a deep breath. “Yubai, did you forget? Today is our wedding anniversary. You brought another woman home?”

“What are you making a scene about? I’ve already explained,” the man finally glanced at her disdainfully, frowning with impatience.

“Si Tang, look at yourself now. Where is the image of the Si family’s young lady?”

“Yeah, yeah, Mom’s old and ugly,” Gu Zhouzhou chimed in, lifting his head. “Daddy, I want Auntie Su to be my mom.”

Si Tang stared at the father and son, a cold, barren wasteland spreading in her heart.

“Zhouzhou, come here to Mommy,” she said, voice tight with emotion, arms outstretched.

When did the child she raised become like this?

Her gentle tone only made Gu Zhouzhou shrink away in fear.

“I want Auntie Su to be my mom!” The boy’s voice cracked with tears, sharp as he pointed at Si Tang. “You ugly monster, get out!”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Su Yuejin’s mouth. She soothed Zhouzhou and then feigned worry. “Yubai, I’m taking Zhouzhou to stay at a hotel tonight.”

“You don’t have to go,” Gu Yubai said without hesitation. His eyes softened. “Yuejin, from now on, my home is your home.”

“But...” Su Yuejin wanted to say more.

Si Tang cut her off. “Stop pretending, Su Yuejin. Isn’t this exactly what you’ve wanted to see?”

Su Yuejin’s face suddenly went pale. She bit her lip, silent.

“Si Tang, are you done yet?” Gu Yubai’s tone was icy, sharp as a blade.

Si Tang stared at Gu Yubai in disbelief. At the peak of her sorrow, she broke into a rare, bitter smile.

“Who’s being unreasonable?” Her eyes were desperate, voice barely a whisper.

Dizzy and weak, she lost the strength to stand and staggered to the side, collapsing to the floor. The three across from her watched coldly.

Her whole body ached, yet she stubbornly lifted her head, tears blurring her vision.

“Who’s been gone for months without coming home? Who brings a mistress before their lawful wife on their anniversary? And who abandons their own child to be raised by others? Gu Yubai, do you even consider me your wife?”

The man’s brows furrowed deeply, a crease forming between them. His Adam’s apple moved as Su Yuejin, choking back tears, spoke first.

“Yubai, I’m sorry to disturb you. I still have my dignity. I’ll leave now.”

Gu Zhouzhou then broke into wails, tears streaming down his fair cheeks. “Auntie Su, don’t go!”

Gu Yubai didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Su Yuejin’s wrist and glanced with disgust at the woman on the floor.

“So this is your goal?” His face darkened. “You should never have come back. Si Tang, take care of yourself.”

With that, he took Su Yuejin’s hand and was about to leave.

Using her last ounce of strength, Si Tang grabbed his trouser leg, her voice barely above the dust. “Gu Yubai, if you leave, never come back.”

Gu Zhouzhou pulled out his phone and started recording a video. “Ugly monster, don’t bother Daddy.”

That voice was unbearably harsh.

Tears surged from Si Tang’s eyes, soaking the floor beneath her. What exactly was she holding on to?

The man stepped hard, shaking off her hand.

In a moment of sudden cruelty, Su Yuejin stepped on Si Tang’s burned hand, pressing down with dark intent.

Si Tang went numb from the pain and looked up to meet Su Yuejin’s mocking gaze.

“Yubai, let’s go,” Su Yuejin cooed sweetly.

The door closed again. The final image was of the three walking away, seemingly a warm and harmonious family.

Si Tang closed her eyes, suddenly wide awake to the bitter truth that her marriage had been a joke from start to finish.

She lay there for an unknown length of time before slowly rising and quickly packing her belongings.

After five years living in the villa, all her things could fit into a small suitcase.

Just like herself—worthless and insignificant in the eyes of others.

Wiping away her tears, she no longer wanted anything. Everything here disgusted her, including Gu Yubai.

She was going to get a divorce.