"Aike, I’m leaving."
Sunlight spilled onto the large bed, where a disheveled man and woman leaned against each other.
Their gazes were caught in a reluctant entanglement.
The man stared deeply at the woman’s face, his eyes brimming with overwhelming affection, a sentiment so moving it was almost unbearable.
"Can’t you stay for me?"
Though the woman’s eyes showed traces of emotion, she quickly shook her head, "I can’t stay."
"Then can I come with you? I can request a transfer..."
"No."
The woman cut him off coldly: "The bond between us ends here."
"No..." The man clutched her tightly, his grip so firm it nearly left her breathless.
Pressed against his broad chest, listening to the fierce rhythm of his heartbeat, Mei Qingdai felt her blood ignite. She kissed him recklessly, as though the world were about to end, consumed by a desperate fervor.
From sunrise to sunset, twilight stretched across the sky in hues as vivid as blood, strikingly beautiful, yet tinged with a sorrowful, breathtaking finality.
Mei Qingdai sat quietly for a while, then turned her gaze to the man asleep beside her.
She reached out and gently traced his brow, attempting to smooth that fleeting crease.
Every brow, every feature—she wished to etch them deeply into the corners of her heart, knowing this might be the last time they’d ever meet.
Parting is forever.
An encounter in a foreign land, a fleeting affair, yet it gifted her the happiest days of her life—a moment that made her feel the true joys of being a woman. These days would stay with her forever.
It was all as wonderful as a dream.
She yearned to remain submerged in it, to stay with the one she loved, forever bound to a beautiful, free city.
But even as she sank into that longing, she bitterly indulged in a fantasy she knew was unachievable.
Dreams, no matter how beautiful, must eventually end.
"Thank you."
She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the man’s brow.
Accompanying the kiss was a single, scorching teardrop.
Then she threw back the covers, got out of bed, packed swiftly, and left without hesitation.
The evening glow faded, and night descended.
The room, left unlit, fell into a deep, haunting stillness.
Her steps grew distant, until they disappeared entirely into the void.
On the bed, the man slowly opened his eyes. The tenderness in them had long vanished, replaced by chilling indifference tinged with a sinister, mocking sneer.
Leaving the apartment, Mei Qingdai walked the streets as her eyes unknowingly grew misty, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.
After wiping her tears, she silently reminded herself: it’s just a man. How could he compare to the wealth and power of being the Yu family’s second lady?
The cool evening breeze brushed against her, clearing her once-fuzzy mind in an instant.
She pulled her phone from her bag. After three days of indulgence, she hadn’t even noticed when the battery died.
No idea how Yu Fuce had been doing the past few days—whether he’d been causing trouble outside.
Once back at the hotel, Mei Qingdai plugged her phone in to charge. Just as she prepared to shower, a knock sounded at the door.
Walking over, she opened it to find a tall man dressed in black—none other than Zhong Qi, the bodyguard her grandmother had specifically arranged for this trip to Siland.
"Second Lady, where have you been these past few days?"
Mei Qingdai cleared her throat: "Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?"
Zhong Qi furrowed his brow, his gaze fixed intently on her.
Nervous at being seen through, Mei Qingdai feigned irritation: "Remember your place. You’re just a bodyguard. Don’t meddle in things that don’t concern you. I’m going to sleep; don’t bother me."
With that, she moved to shut the door.
Zhong Qi grabbed the doorframe, stopping her from closing it.
"Second Lady, something’s happened to the Second Young Master."
Mei Qingdai froze, her heart indifferent but her face feigning concern: "What happened to him?"
Zhong Qi lowered his voice and said, "The Second Young Master has already returned to the country. Second Lady, we must leave first thing tomorrow morning."
Mei Qingdai pressed, "What exactly happened to him?"
Zhong Qi glanced at her. "The Second Young Master went to a gambling city, accrued a massive debt, and got beaten up."
The bodyguard responsible for Yu Fuce had already returned to the country to face consequences, unable to contact Mei Qingdai during these days. Hence his urgency in ensuring her safety now that she was finally back.
Mei Qingdai nearly laughed out loud, but quickly stifled it, her face displaying feigned worry: "How badly was he hurt? Is it serious?"
"Don’t worry, Second Lady. The master is taking care of it."
Mei Qingdai replied hastily: "We’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning."
Shutting the door, Mei Qingdai let out a cold laugh: "Yu Fuce, looks like it’s finally your turn."
If she had once harbored any lingering feelings for this man out of their ten years of marriage, any illusions were now utterly shattered.