For the first twenty-two years of her life, Lin Songyi had everything go her way. Her father was a well-known businessman in Taishi, and every step of her life had been carefully planned, right down to marrying Chu Tingxiao, a highly educated man with no powerful connections, at the age of twenty-three.
After their marriage, Lin Songyi and Chu Tingxiao were the model couple everyone envied. Only Lin Songyi knew it was all an act. Chu Tingxiao didn't love her. They married because each had something the other needed. Their first time had been a drunken mistake, and even their later bedroom encounters were only because he had physical needs.
Their stagnant life was shattered six months into their marriage when Lin Songyi's father was arrested for bribery and accepting bribes. His home was confiscated, he was condemned in the press, and everyone pointed fingers at him. Unable to face reality, her mother took her own life.
Lin Songyi left behind two signed copies of their divorce agreement and, with her uncle's help, left Taishi.
Four years later, Lin Songyi returned for her grandmother's funeral.
On the day of the service, rain blurred the autumn landscape. As the ceremony drew to a close, a young business prodigy, who had appeared on the covers of business magazines more often than anyone else in Taishi in recent years, arrived holding a black umbrella.
When she saw it was Chu Tingxiao, Lin Songyi lowered the black lace hat that veiled her face. She had heard that Chu Tingxiao and his current wife were deeply in love.
Who would have thought that night Chu Tingxiao would drag Lin Songyi back to his home, pin her to the bed, and tear the hem of her black qipao.
"Chu Tingxiao, have you lost your mind? Aren't you afraid your wife will find out?"
Chu Tingxiao bit her earlobe, applying just a little pressure. "Do you think she should know, or shouldn't she?"
Lin Songyi struggled. "Let go of me."
But how could she escape him...
They left the room in disarray, everything in chaos. Chu Tingxiao always left her aching and miserable.
"Mrs. Chu, are you satisfied after four years apart?" Chu Tingxiao pressed close to Lin Songyi, unwilling to be apart from her for even a moment.
Lin Songyi froze, breathing heavily as she murmured, "Four years ago... I wasn't Mrs. Chu anymore."
"Mrs. Chu has always been Lin Songyi. She was four years ago, and she is now."
[Blurb written on February 7, 2026, and screenshot saved]
Theme: A love out of step with time.
