012 Caught in a Dilemma

“Why?” As soon as Gu Yan stepped into Room 521, Shen Hong’s voice already came through.

“Oh? President Shen, what are you doing here?” Wei Hao, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, spoke naively. Shen Hong ignored Wei Hao’s question, his eyes fixed intently on the indifferent Gu Yan. “There’s no need,” she said without looking at him. Perhaps she had once entertained the hope of mending their broken bond, but after that night, all hope was extinguished. Even a stranger witnessing you suffering a sudden bout of stomach pain wouldn’t remain indifferent—let alone a lawful wife. This could only mean one thing: he no longer loved her.

“Do you two know each other?” Wei Hao only realized the situation as Shen Hong angrily slammed the door and left.

“Not well,” Gu Yan replied.

The air was thick with the scent of smoke and alcohol. Music blared at full volume, nearly deafening. Men and women writhed wildly on the dance floor, hips twisting in reckless abandon. Women dressed in icy elegance laughed and mingled among men, teasing them with flirtatious words. The women coyly nestled in men’s arms, whispering softly, while the men drank and dallied without restraint. This was the city’s nightlife at its most vivid—the bar.

Under dim lighting, the bartender swayed gently, elegantly mixing a vibrant cocktail. A man in a suit sat at the bar, gulping down drink after drink.

“Hey! Our great young master Shen even gets lonely sometimes. Need me to find a few girls for you?” Luo Xiaomeng’s entrance revealed this very scene. It was no wonder she seized the opportunity to strike while he was down; she simply couldn’t hold back her irritation.

Shen Hong glanced at Luo Xiaomeng but continued drinking.

“Speak. What do you want?” he said.

“Tell me about her.” Perhaps due to the alcohol, his voice was hoarse.

“Heh!” Luo Xiaomeng sneered, unable to resist mockery. “Should I be happy for little Yan? Her ex-husband is drowning his sorrows in a bar.”

“Tell me about her,” he repeated, ignoring her tone. He couldn’t understand why, though she filed for divorce, the whole world seemed to blame him.

“You’ve come to the wrong person,” Luo Xiaomeng said, perhaps intimidated by his tone, and ceased teasing. “Honestly, I don’t deserve to be her friend. When she was at her lowest three years ago, it wasn’t us so-called friends who stayed by her side. He should know that, but I doubt he’ll tell you.”

Hearing this, Shen Hong set down his glass. “Who?”

“Zheng Yingqi. Back then, Cai Meiyuan was in Korea, Xu Xian was seriously injured and unconscious, and Yi Lin and I were initially blaming little Yan too. I don’t know what she went through during that time, but in the end, she vanished without a word.”

Seeing Shen Hong deep in thought, Luo Xiaomeng continued, “You clearly cared for little Yan. Even as her bridesmaid at the wedding, I felt the happiness between you two. So why did your attitude change after marriage? I know Yan loves you, and I know the immense pressure she bore to marry you. With so many eyes watching, I believe she wanted more than anyone to hold on, to prove to those waiting to see you fall how happy you could be. If you think she divorced you for money, then I pity her. Think about it—Zheng Yingqi is better than you in every way; why would Yan marry you? It’s not too late; there’s still hope to mend what’s broken. Think about it carefully—I don’t want you to regret it.”

After Luo Xiaomeng left, Shen Hong remained seated at the bar, drinking. Why did his attitude change after marriage? He wanted to know too. Was the affair really that important to him? Shen Hong asked himself, but still found no answers.