Volume One, Chapter Five: Let's Get a Divorce!

“Do you know your cancer cells are spreading?”
“Doctor, how much time do I have left?”

Her thoughts had been too chaotic these past few days before Shen Zhi finally remembered that her stomach was showing severe signs of cancerous transformation. The doctor warned that without prompt surgery, she might lose the chance entirely.

“If you keep delaying like this, your days will be hard to extend. Young people these days really don’t know how to take care of their bodies.”

Listening to the doctor’s harsh reprimand, Shen Zhi felt a strange sense of comfort. It had been so long since anyone had cared for her so directly. Even He Yunshen, upon reflection, hadn’t truly cared for her. Compared to his anxiety and concern for Zhou Qin, his attention to her felt lukewarm at best—more like routine duty than genuine care. She was the only one who had taken it to heart.

“Thank you, doctor. I’ll take care.”

“What’s the use of care? You need to schedule surgery immediately. Next time, bring a family member with you!”

Family member?

She no longer had any family. Since Grandma Zhao, who raised her, passed away, there had been no relatives left—only He Yunshen. Originally, she planned to wait for He Yunshen to return before undergoing surgery. She didn’t want to face life and death alone, nor the cold surgical table.

But now...

Shen Zhi’s eyes were filled with desolation; she no longer had the strength to cry.

At that moment, Lin Su hurried in from outside, clutching the payment slip.

“Sister Shen Zhi, are you alright? How is the doctor?”

The doctor stood to leave, glanced briefly at Shen Zhi, and was about to say something when Shen Zhi interrupted.

“Thank you, doctor. I’m fine, it’s just an ordinary stomach ailment, right?”

The doctor didn’t expose her; instead, she gave a sympathetic look and shook her head before leaving.

“I’m fine.”

Shen Zhi forced a faint smile to soothe Lin Su, but her gaze instinctively drifted toward the door.

He Yunshen had not appeared.

Her phone slipped from her hand. Beneath the privacy screen, her social feed displayed a recent photo posted by Zhou Qin—a radiant half-face smiling brightly.

The caption read: “Today’s sadness was given by someone, but so was the happiness!”

Seeing Shen Zhi’s melancholy, Lin Su awkwardly explained, “President He said he’ll come right after his meeting.”

Shen Zhi knew the meeting was just an excuse; he was probably busy keeping Zhou Qin company instead.

But it didn’t matter anymore. She had long grown accustomed to being alone.

“It’s nothing serious—just a stomach flare-up. You should get back to work. Call me if anything happens. I’ll head straight home afterward.”

After dismissing Lin Su with a smile, Shen Zhi finally exhaled in relief. She wasn’t ready for anyone to know about her illness just yet.

---

Late at night, He Yunshen finally returned home reeking of alcohol. Seeing Shen Zhi sitting alone and forlorn on the bed, he didn’t turn on the light but asked in a low, gruff voice,

“Are you feeling better? Such a serious stomach cancer—why didn’t you tell me?”

Anger laced his tone.

Shen Zhi said nothing.

What good would telling him do? And what if she didn’t tell him?

Wasn’t he having a great time with someone else? Drinking, no less, and now feigning concern for her?

“Sorry, Lin Su told me you just...”

“He Yunshen, let’s get a divorce.”

She couldn’t clearly hear his apology, but no matter how rare it was, it no longer mattered.

She had spent the entire afternoon pondering. Instead of engaging in a bitter battle between a wealthy wife and another woman, it was better to let go gracefully and avoid staining her eyes with filth.

She never truly belonged in this complicated world; it was He Yunshen who forcibly dragged her into it.

“What did you say?”

He Yunshen stared at her in disbelief.

“I said, let’s get a divorce.”

Shen Zhi looked up and met his gaze, her eyes reflecting boundless desolation—no resentment, only disappointment.

It was the first time He Yunshen saw such resolve in her eyes.

She felt despair too.

All these years, it seemed she had been fooling herself, while He Yunshen might never have truly held her in his heart.

He suddenly felt at a loss. He had never imagined that the simple, easy-to-please Shen Zhi would ever say something so cold and heartless.

“Is it because I didn’t go to the hospital with you? Or is it because of Zhou Qin...”

“It doesn’t matter anymore!”

Shen Zhi stood, pulling out a pre-drafted divorce agreement and handing it to him coldly. “I’ll move out tomorrow. Tonight, I’m staying with a friend.”

She was used to notifying He Yunshen of everything. Even if it was about divorce, she didn’t want him to guess her whereabouts without cause.

“Is it because I was harsh with you today?”

He Yunshen’s voice dropped to an icy tone as he continued questioning.

“I’m just tired.”

Looking at his exquisitely handsome face so close, Shen Zhi realized she might never have truly understood this man before her.

“I just realized that maybe we never really understood each other.”

“What is there to understand?”

Even now, He Yunshen remained dismissive, certain that Shen Zhi would never leave him.

Shen Zhi’s heart darkened.

So marriage could go on without love, as long as one party pretended to care deeply, the other would believe it was love.

How ridiculous!

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t want to understand anything, and you shouldn’t ask anymore.”

Dragging her luggage, she headed for the door.

“When will you be back?”

“He Yunshen, please let me go! Between us...”

“If it’s because of Zhou Qin, I can explain. Dad woke up and asked me to take good care of her. If you don’t like it, I can make her leave the company.”

Coldness crept into his eyes as he spoke, thinking Shen Zhi was just throwing a tantrum.

Five years ago, in a car accident, Zhou Qin’s father had carried a severely injured He Yunshen for over ten miles through mountain paths, causing him to miss the best rescue window and remain unconscious for two years.

He Yunshen had never told Shen Zhi about this.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Shen Zhi was touched.

Though He Yunshen had been abroad all these years, the chairman had treated her well and entrusted most company affairs to her management.

“You shouldn’t have to bear these burdens.”

Hearing his seemingly sincere explanation, Shen Zhi was unsure whether to believe him. Whenever Zhou Qin was involved, he seemed like a different person.

“A lot has happened recently. I think we both need some time to calm down.”

She didn’t want to know about Zhou Qin’s past. She would repay the chairman’s trust through hard work.

“Are you still leaving?”

He Yunshen grabbed her arm, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction but he avoided looking at her.

Once doubt takes root in a person’s heart, it’s not easily uprooted.

Shen Zhi didn’t know how to face him and could only escape for now.

“No, I just want to be alone for a while. You’ve just returned and have many things to handle. Let’s be apart for some time.”

With that, she awkwardly pushed him away, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out.

“Where are you going, wife?”

“I’m going to stay with Shanshan for a few days.”

Shen Zhi felt there was no need to tear each other apart even if they were to separate. The divorce could wait, but the resentment in her heart remained.

“Alright, spending time with a friend sounds good. I’ll come pick you up in a few days.”

He Yunshen hesitated briefly but didn’t stop her.

Watching Shen Zhi’s retreating figure, a voice came through his earphones.

“Are you really not going to tell her the truth? Hiding it like this will cause trouble one day.”

“No need. She’ll come back.”