026 Visitors from Hangzhou

"Why?" The moment Gu Yan stepped into room 521, Shen Hong’s voice rang out.

"Oh? Why is President Shen here?" Wei Hao, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere, asked innocently. Shen Hong ignored him, his eyes locked onto Gu Yan’s indifferent face. "It’s unnecessary." She didn't look at him as she spoke. Once, she might have held onto the fantasy of reconciling, but after that night, she had given up entirely. Even if a complete stranger were suffering a gastric attack in front of you, you wouldn't remain indifferent, let alone toward your own legal wife. There was only one conclusion: he did not love her.

"You two know each other?" Only when Shen Hong slammed the door behind him in a fit of rage did Wei Hao finally realize what was happening.

"Not well."

The air was thick with the scent of smoke and alcohol, and the music, turned up to its maximum volume, was nearly deafening. Men and women writhed wildly on the dance floor, their hips and waists swaying in rhythm. Glamorous, cold-looking women mingled among the men, their laughter ringing out as they teased those who couldn't control their impulses. Women nestled seductively in men's arms, whispering sweet nothings, while the men drank and dallied. This was the pinnacle of the city’s nightlife: the bar.

Under the dim lights, the bartender swayed gently, elegantly mixing a colorful cocktail. A man in a suit sat at the bar, downing drink after drink.

"Well, well! Our Mr. Shen actually has moments of loneliness. Do you need me to find a few girls for you?" Luo Xiaomeng walked in to find this exact scene. It wasn't that she wanted to kick a man when he was down, but she simply couldn't contain her resentment.

Shen Hong glanced at Luo Xiaomeng and continued to drink.

"Speak. Why did you call me?"

"Tell me about her." Perhaps it was the alcohol, but his voice sounded hoarse.

"Hah!" Luo Xiaomeng couldn't help but sneer. "Should I be happy for Yan? Her ex-husband is actually drowning his sorrows in a bar over her."

"Tell me about her." He ignored her tone, repeating the same phrase. He didn't understand—she had been the one to ask for the divorce, so why did the whole world seem to think it was his fault?

"You’re asking the wrong person." Perhaps startled by the intensity in his voice, Luo Xiaomeng stopped mocking him. "Truth be told, I owe Yan an apology; I have no right to call myself her friend. Three years ago, when she was at her lowest, we—her so-called friends—were not the ones by her side. He would know, but I doubt he would tell you."

Shen Hong set his glass down. "Who?"

"Zheng Yingqi. Back then, Cai Meiyuan was in South Korea, Xu Xian was in a coma from severe injuries, and I—along with Yilin—was actually blaming Yan from the start. I don't know what happened to her during that time, but she eventually just vanished without a word."

Watching Shen Hong’s contemplative expression, Luo Xiaomeng continued, "You clearly had feelings for Yan. Even as her bridesmaid, I could feel the happiness between you two. Why did your attitude change after the wedding? I know Yan; she loved you. And I know even better what immense pressure she was under to marry you. With so many eyes on her, I think she wanted to make it work more than anyone, just to show those waiting for a spectacle how happy you were. If you think she divorced you for money, then I feel sorry for her. Think about it: Zheng Yingqi is better than you in every way. Why would she have chosen to marry you instead? It’s not too late to turn things around. Think it over carefully; I don't want you to live with regret."

After Luo Xiaomeng left, Shen Hong remained at the bar, drinking. *'Why did your attitude change after the wedding?'* He wanted to know the answer to that himself. Was her virginity really that important to him? Shen Hong searched his own heart, but even then, he could find no clear reason why.