Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: A Major Scandal Emerges!

“What do you regret?”
“Divorce!”
Lou Ye turned to look at her. “If you hadn’t divorced, you’d still be Madam Lu, living in comfort and luxury. On a rainy day like this, your family of three would be chatting at home, laughing, building Legos, watching cartoons… Isn’t that a blissful scene?”
Yes, it was.
But from now on, the ones accompanying Lu Jinnian and Lu Xiaomu would be Lin Chaochao.
As for her…
“I don’t regret it!”
Sang Wan rose with a smile, slowly walked to the window, and sat down.
She turned her gaze to the torrent outside, “I’m especially grateful for today’s rain.”
It was heavy.
It was cold.
It made her clear-headed enough to tear away the black veil shrouding her heart.
Let her see, unmistakably, the faces of those around her.
They weren’t worth her selfless devotion.
Not worth it!
“As long as you don’t regret it!”
Lou Ye seemed in high spirits, raising his coffee cup, “Then, from today on, may everything go your way, and may your path be strewn with flowers!”
“Thank you!”
Sang Wan clinked her cup in acceptance.
They talked about how unusually rainy the capital had been this year, wondering if it was a sign of injustice somewhere.
They discussed the rising stars in the architectural design world, and the industry’s most acclaimed works.
The more Sang Wan talked, the more excited she became.
It had been ages since she’d spoken so much to anyone.
Lu Jinnian never had time to listen.
Old classmates and colleagues all had their own lives after graduation.
Those who initiated conversations with her, after a few pleasantries, inevitably veered to borrowing money.
To have such an effortless, unreserved chat—besides Xu Yiyi, it was only Lou Ye at this moment.
“And you?”
After so much professional talk, Sang Wan switched topics, “You were one of our architecture academy’s outstanding graduates. I remember you even have a golden résumé from Yale School of Architecture. I always thought you’d become a top architect in the world.”
The moment the words left her lips, Sang Wan knew she’d said the wrong thing.
With a family background like Lou Ye’s, he was always destined for business.
No matter how passionate the dream, it was always just a flower in water, a moon in a mirror—a fleeting fantasy.
Sure enough, Lou Ye shrugged, “I thought so too. But life is unpredictable, fate plays tricks!”
Faced with Lou Ye’s lament, Sang Wan was speechless. “That’s excessive! Peak Versailles!”
“Versailles?”
Lou Ye laughed, setting down his coffee cup and sitting cross-legged, facing Sang Wan. “I know you probably don’t believe me. How about this—you come help me at Lou Corporation.”
“Three years!”

Lou Ye’s eyes shone, his smile bold. “I promise, in three years, your name and mine will be known throughout the international architecture world. What do you say?”
Sang Wan couldn’t help but laugh. “Lou Corporation is full of talent. I don’t believe you can’t find someone to help you.”
“But you’re the only one I trust!”
Lou Ye said it casually.
Sang Wan froze.
The living room was silent for a moment.
Lou Ye took a sip of coffee, changing the subject. “What about you? Any plans?”
“Find a job, work hard, and fulfill my dreams.”
“If I—”
“Lou Ye!”
Guessing what he was about to say, Sang Wan cut him off. “Thank you! To have a day like today, I feel I’ve spent most of my luck already. Truly, thank you!”
Though Sang Wan hadn’t said much, Lou Ye seemed to sense her meaning.
He nodded, a mischievous smile appearing on his face. “Senior, you’re still just like you were back then!”
Sang Wan was taken aback.
Back at Imperial University, Lou Ye had teased her many times, saying she had some special ability to always guess what he was about to say—and then, always managed to shift the topic before he could speak.
Years had passed, but she was still the same.
Sang Wan lowered her head and smiled. “I used to not believe in luck or karma, but now I do.”
If everyone’s good fortune is finite,
Then, after surviving disaster and escaping calamity today,
She’d probably used up most of hers.
She couldn’t waste any more.
Luck should be saved for when there’s no way forward.
Lost in conversation, she only now noticed the rain had stopped.
Sang Wan stood. “I’ll head back now, I won’t trouble you further.”
“Alright.”
Lou Ye didn’t try to keep her. “Let me have the driver take you.”
Sang Wan nodded, stood up, then paused.
Her eyes fell on the dignified orange cat crouched at the edge of the rug.
Freshly bathed and checked, its fur was clean and fluffy, looking like a lucky mascot.
Thinking of how the hotel didn’t allow pets, Sang Wan hesitated. “Lou Ye, can you help me with one more thing? I…”
Before she finished, the orange cat stretched lazily, placing its paw on the sofa armrest.
That cream-colored sofa in the center of the living room—Sang Wan had seen it in luxury catalogues.
A handcrafted masterpiece worth over a million.
One swipe of those paws could cost tens of thousands.
Sang Wan hurried over and scooped the cat into her arms before it could scratch. “Never mind!”

“But I mind…”
Lou Ye put his hands in his pockets, smiling at the orange cat in Sang Wan’s arms. “I’ve made an appointment with the vet—once its fur dries, they’ll come to deworm it. And it needs vaccines tomorrow… If you take it now, the vet will come for nothing.”
“Why not let it stay here for now…”
Lou Ye suggested, “After the vaccine is done and you’re settled, you can come pick it up. How about that?”
“Alright.”
Sang Wan nodded, bent over, and placed the orange cat on the rug, gently stroking its head. “Be good, and after a while, Mama will come for you, okay?”
The orange cat nuzzled Sang Wan’s cheek, as if in agreement.
Then it brushed past Lou Ye’s trousers in an S-shaped loop.
The soft fur brushing his ankle was ticklish and gentle,
And that gentle feeling sank right into his heart.
Lou Ye’s eyes lowered.
In his ears, in his heart, was Sang Wan’s tender “Mama.”
When he looked up again, Sang Wan had changed her shoes.
The little waif from the rain had, in an instant, become a radiant, stylish beauty with extraordinary presence.
Thinking of that coincidence—so uncanny he could barely believe it himself—Lou Ye, once a hater of rainy days, now felt utterly delighted.
Her lambskin sandals were exquisite and comfortable; even the ache in his feet seemed soothed.
Sang Wan put her slippers back in the cabinet, stood, and looked at Lou Ye. “Why don’t you send me Jiang Ke’er’s WeChat?”
Rather than have Lou Ye relay messages, it was better to contact Jiang Ke’er directly.
“Alright!”
Lou Ye took out his phone and sent her Jiang Ke’er’s contact card.
Sang Wan entered the elevator.
Lou Ye bent and scooped up the orange cat, which wanted to follow, waving at Sang Wan. “See you, Senior!”
The elevator door closed, and Sang Wan was gone.
Lou Ye released the orange cat, letting it leap onto the rug.
He sent Jiang Ke’er a WeChat message: [Don’t ask what you shouldn’t, don’t say what you shouldn’t!]
Why should I?
My mouth is on my face, shouldn’t I be in charge of it myself?
On the other end, Jiang Ke’er replied with a cheeky, dancing sticker, and accepted Sang Wan’s friend request.
Switching out of the screen, she saw Lou Ye’s transfer—six sixes in a red envelope.
!!!
In the dim gaming room, Jiang Ke’er’s eyes sparkled with excitement!
There’s juicy gossip ahead!!!
Time to make a fortune!!!