Volume One, Chapter 38: Lovesickness

"Sang Wan?"

When Lin Qiyue appeared, Sang Wan was trying on clothes in a women's boutique. She looked up just in time to see Lin Qiyue stepping out from the adjacent fitting room.

Her direct superior.

The very one who, after the interview, had insisted on hiring her and had shown her considerable care since she started.

Sang Wan smiled warmly. "Manager Lin, what a coincidence—"

"Sister!"

Before she finished, another familiar voice rang out.

Sang Wan turned around.

There was a brief hush in the fitting room.

Lin Chaochao's expression shifted subtly.

If not for the fact that the store had been empty when she arrived, if not for Sang Wan emerging from the fitting room, she would almost have believed Sang Wan had come here deliberately to make trouble for her.

"What are you doing here?"

"You two... know each other?"

The voices overlapped.

Looking at Lin Chaochao, then at Lin Qiyue, whose features bore a resemblance to Lin Chaochao, Sang Wan felt a sinking in her heart. She kept her composure. "No, we don't. Manager Lin, take your time. I’ll be going."

Her urge to pay for the dress she’d intended to buy vanished. She handed it back to the shop assistant and turned to leave.

She had no desire to quarrel publicly with Lin Chaochao over a man she’d already decided to let go, nor did she wish to engage in any dispute with her.

As for what Lin Chaochao might say to Lin Qiyue, or whether Lin Qiyue was cut from the same cloth and would make things difficult for her at work—Sang Wan refused to dwell on it before anything happened.

Inside the fitting room, Lin Qiyue glanced at the obviously flustered Lin Chaochao. "You know Sang Wan?"

After a few seconds of silence, Lin Chaochao fumed, "A shameless woman... tangled up with my boyfriend."

Lin Qiyue’s hand paused as she zipped up her dress.

Both surnamed Lin.

Both with the same parents.

But they were the true and false daughters of the Lin family.

She was the false one.

Lin Chaochao had been found at fifteen, ever since competing with her at every turn. Unable to best her in academics, she was intent on outdoing her in marriage.

Little did she know, Lin Qiyue had no interest in any of it.

Recently, she’d heard two pieces of news about Lin Chaochao from friends.

The good news: Lin Chaochao had latched onto a promising young elite from the capital’s upper crust and would soon rise to become a wealthy society wife.

The bad news: her path to the top was fraught, as the man already had a family.

Lin Qiyue had spoken kindly, but Lin Chaochao was ungrateful, accusing her of jealousy over having found a well-born, prestigious man.

For that, Lin Qiyue had ignored her for quite some time.

Were it not to spare their mother the discomfort of being caught in the middle, Lin Qiyue wouldn’t even have gone shopping with her today.

Now, hearing Sang Wan was another woman tangled up with that scoundrel, Lin Qiyue looked at Lin Chaochao, her anger barely contained. "What on earth do you like about such a sleazy man who’s juggling God knows how many women, Lin Chaochao? Are all the men in the world dead? Why are you two so eager to fawn over him?"

"Lin Qiyue, that’s harsh! I took you shopping out of kindness, and you—you—"

Bang!

Lin Chaochao, furious, threw down her hanger and stormed out.

After paying, Lin Qiyue left the boutique and called Cheng Jingran. "Director Cheng, I suggest extending Sang Wan’s probation to three months."

"Why?"

Cheng Jingran sounded utterly perplexed.

Lin Qiyue sighed regretfully. "As far as I know, Sang Wan is entangled with a married man. I’m concerned she might bring trouble to Lou Corporation."

Though work and personal conduct are separate matters, Lin Qiyue didn’t want any architects under her with questionable morals, especially when it came to extramarital affairs.

Lin Chaochao was her half-sibling; she couldn’t control her and didn’t wish to.

But Sang Wan worked under her—any risk could be managed.

Dismiss one Sang Wan, and there would still be countless talented architectural designers in the capital and across China.

But if Lou Corporation ever made it onto the trending searches because Sang Wan dragged them into some scandalous upper-crust drama, it would be a disaster.

"Alright, I understand!" Cheng Jingran replied.

Still uneasy, Lin Qiyue called Director Qin in HR.

Learning that her superior was the biological sister of "the other woman," Sang Wan’s bad mood lasted barely half an hour.

After venting to Xu Yiyi, she processed it all.

First, she was the betrayed party; no matter what, she was in the right.

If Lin Qiyue sided with Lin Chaochao and made things hard for her, it was a matter of character.

Second, as long as she didn’t make mistakes at work, if Lin Qiyue tried to sabotage her, she wouldn’t just take it—she’d go straight to Cheng Jingran.

Cheng Jingran was her junior from university!

"Exactly... And even if you take it a step further, there’s Lou Ye, President Lou—your junior from school!" Xu Yiyi, ever eager to stir the pot, chimed in from the other end of the phone. "Darling, you have connections! A department director and a group CEO—we’re not afraid of her!"

Sang Wan: ...

When Monday rolled around, Sang Wan was in high spirits.

For one simple reason: only one week left until next Monday.

At this time next week, she’d be free of this hopeless marriage, free of Lu Jinnian and Lu Xiaomu.

From then on, every day would be a good day.

Beaming, she walked through the company doors.

She clocked in with a light, lively step.

Someone in the elevator called out, "Sang Wan," and someone by the door quickly pressed the open button.

Sang Wan hurried forward, "Coming, coming—thanks!"

Her beautiful dress fluttered with her movements, a cascade of ripples hinting at her good mood.

On the sofa in the lobby, Lou Ye’s mood plummeted.

Was she this happy because she’d seen Lu Jinnian that night?

In his mind was Sang Wan cradling 2S, speaking in a gentle tone, so motherly and concerned.

Now, before him, was Sang Wan visibly glowing with happiness.

Lou Ye glanced at his phone to check.

He hadn’t been mistaken: Saturday and Sunday, two full days, Sang Wan hadn’t sent him a single message.

She hadn’t even asked, "Is 2S feeling better?"

Was she so happy that her maternal concern had vanished?

What had Lu Jinnian said?

Sweet words, enough to coax her?

Was she... reconsidering the divorce?

The elevator rose, sunlight streaming in through the panoramic window.

But Lou Ye’s mind was stormy.

A lazy voice in his thoughts: Isn’t it perfectly normal for her to change her mind? Lu Jinnian, for all his slick appearances, is the CEO of Lu Corporation. They went from school uniforms to wedding gowns and have a son. Of course she’d hesitate to leave!

Another voice, dark and cold: But what if I insist that she does?

Action beats hesitation.

After wrapping up the ten o’clock executive meeting, Lou Ye drove home.

Sang Wan, as always, worked until seven before leaving.

Stepping out of the company, she saw the driver waiting on the steps outside.

Upon seeing her, the driver’s stern face twisted into a look of distress.

"Miss Sang, 2S is refusing to eat..."

Sang Wan was startled.

The driver quickly added, "The young master is sick, too."

"What happened?"

She asked urgently, hurrying down the steps and getting into the car as the driver opened the door.

The car sped toward the hillside villa. Glancing at Sang Wan in the rearview mirror, the driver said softly, "The young master says... he’s lovesick."