Return to Eighteen, the Spoiled Young Lady Acts Fierce with Her Beauty - Chapter 5: What Is Forever?

Chapter 5: What Is Forever?

Yang Tian’s smile froze on her face, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palms.

She forced herself to maintain the last shred of dignity, her voice very soft: “Alright… Mr. Sheng.”

“You may leave now.”

After picking up his phone, Sheng Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on the screen, not even sparing her a glance.

“Xiao Cheng will take you back.”

Yang Tian nodded, stood up, and bowed to Sheng Yuan, her lowered head hiding her expression.

“See you next time, Mr. Sheng.”

“Don’t come again unless necessary in the future.”

Sheng Yuan’s tone was flat as he fiddled with his phone, not even looking at her.

A flash of resentment crossed Yang Tian’s eyes, her slender fingers tightening around her skirt.

Everything had been perfectly normal before Mingzhu appeared.

Mr. Sheng would care about her studies, patiently listen to her talk about daily life.

He even had his driver bring her to visit the company.

She couldn’t accept this.

Thanks to the Sheng Corporation’s sponsorship.

She had managed to escape the remote, patriarchal mountain village and get into Capital City University.

Only then did she witness the prosperity of the city and the allure of money.

She understood the importance of opportunity better than anyone.

Sheng Yuan was the most perfect man she had ever met, like a beam of light illuminating her bleak life.

In her heart, Sheng Yuan was no less than a savior.

She simply couldn’t accept that Mingzhu, who possessed her savior, didn’t cherish him.

Even back in the mountain village, she knew she was beautiful.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have received Sheng Yuan’s sponsorship based on just a single photo.

But after seeing Mingzhu.

That feeling of jealousy and envy could no longer be suppressed.

It was too easy to find basic information about Mingzhu and Sheng Yuan in Capital City.

In earlier years, that wealthy wedding between a couple with a twelve-year age gap had been extensively covered by the media.

Countless people were envious.

Countless people offered blessings.

A match made in heaven.

Mingzhu’s life was too fortunate.

So fortunate it made her jealous.

She was nearly fifty years old.

Yet still so beautiful and elegant.

Her entire demeanor exuded a refined quality built on wealth, her skin delicate without even a trace of fine lines.

Her own mother was only in her fifties.

But already had a bloated figure, wrinkled face, and timid posture.

She didn’t want to live her mother’s life.

Even less did she want to lose everything she could now have.

Yang Tian was very clever.

Otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to get into Capital City University from that educationally backward mountain village.

She was also extremely adept at assessing situations.

“I understand, Mr. Sheng.”

Yang Tian’s voice was sweet and soft as she obediently turned to leave.

The moment the office door closed.

Sheng Yuan dialed his home number.

“Aunt Liu,” he began after rubbing his temples.

“When Madam returns, remember to apply medicine to her wrist.”

“Has Madam been injured?” Aunt Liu instinctively asked before quickly stopping herself.

These matters weren’t for her to inquire about.

Having cared for Mingzhu for so long.

She knew that although Mingzhu was willful and spoiled, she wasn’t a bad person.

She wasn’t heartless, and her instinctive concern was unavoidable.

“Alright, Sir, I’ll go prepare the medical kit now.”

Hearing Aunt Liu’s casual concern.

Made it difficult for Sheng Yuan to describe his current feelings.

Mingzhu was someone who feared pain intensely, who couldn’t bear the slightest grievance, yet she hadn’t shed a single tear earlier.

Whether before marriage or after.

During their most intimate moments.

He had promised he would never make Mingzhu shed another tear.

He never intended to hurt Mingzhu.

But in the heat of anger, it was hard to control his strength.

Coupled with Mingzhu’s delicate skin, the marks left behind inevitably appeared rather severe.

“She is injured.”

Sheng Yuan recalled the slender wrist he had just held in his hand.

“Pay more attention to her diet recently.”

She’s too thin.

Aunt Liu quickly agreed.

Sheng Yuan was showing concern for Mingzhu again, and she felt happy for her.

But being talkative, she couldn’t help but add some advice.

“Sir, you should come home more often.”

In the past two years, Sheng Yuan had been staying out overnight more and more frequently.

Although Mingzhu never complained, with only the two of them at home, it always felt cold and lonely.

“Hmm.”

Sheng Yuan responded indifferently and hung up.

He took another cigarette from the case, lit it, and took a deep drag.

Even as the sharp taste of smoke exploded in his mouth, the frustration in his heart remained unresolved.

Sheng Yuan didn’t know what he was thinking.

Ten years ago, he believed he loved Mingzhu loved her enough to accept everything about her.

At least at that moment, he thought it would last forever.

Sheng Yuan pulled open a drawer.

Inside lay a long-prepared divorce agreement, silent and still.

Mingzhu got into the car and instructed directly,

“To Hu City.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The driver didn’t ask why but instinctively reached for his phone to report to Sheng Yuan.

“Don’t tell Sheng Yuan.”

Mingzhu stopped the driver’s action.

“But…”

The driver was at a loss.

After all, his livelihood depended on Sheng Yuan.

Capital City and Hu City were nearly a thousand miles apart.

Traveling such a long distance

he definitely needed to inform Mr. Sheng first.

Moreover, if anything happened to Madam,

he couldn’t possibly bear the responsibility.

But he also couldn’t ignore Mingzhu’s words.

Mingzhu paid no mind to these concerns.

“Drive.”

The driver put down his phone and nodded helplessly.

The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot.

Watching the city recede rapidly outside the window,

Mingzhu snorted coldly.

To hell with Sheng Yuan she was going home.

As night fell, Aunt Liu paced back and forth in the living room.

When the clock struck nine,

she dialed Sheng Yuan’s number.

“Hello, Sir, Madam still isn’t home yet…”

Mingzhu was accustomed to going to bed early.

She usually slept around eight o’clock each day.

It was impossible for her to be out so late.

Sheng Yuan had just left his friend’s club when he received the call.

As always, everyone who came had brought different female companions.

What they had in common was that they were all young and beautiful women.

For men out socializing, it was all about drinking, dining, entertainment, and women especially for the wealthy.

This seemed to have long become an unwritten rule.

He was the only one who went out just to drink plainly.

Although no one dared to say anything to his face, subtle teasing was unavoidable.

Just drinking wasn’t much fun anyway.

Even though he was still reluctant to return to that dull home,

Sheng Yuan inexplicably thought of Mingzhu, and naturally, of the bruises on her wrist.

Forget it he might as well go home and check on her.

Sheng Yuan had just gotten into his car when Aunt Liu’s call came through. He listened until she finished.

Without responding, he hung up silently and dialed another number.

“Hello, Assistant Wang, find out for me!!! Where is Mingzhu right now?!!!”

Almost the moment he heard that Mingzhu wasn’t home yet so late, his anger peaked.

He hurled his phone violently onto the empty space of the car seat, producing a dull thud.

Sheng Yuan recalled the early days of his marriage to Mingzhu.

At that time, they were still living in Shanghai, which was the Ming family’s territory.

Even though thirty-two-year-old Mingzhu had already married him,

admirers still flocked to her endlessly.

No one paid him any mind.

Mingzhu was too dazzling, too famous, too perfect.

Her friends took her away,

claiming they were throwing her a bachelorette party to celebrate her final days of singlehood.

For an entire day, she was so occupied she didn’t even have time to call and inform him.

By the time he found Mingzhu, it was already the next day.

The numerous men and women at the party had worn themselves out,

casually collapsing on the carpet and falling asleep.

Mingzhu lay obediently asleep in a man’s embrace,

and even though the man was clearly uncomfortable, he couldn’t bear to adjust his position.

Sheng Yuan stood silently, locking eyes with the man who had long since woken up.

Jealousy raged like wildfire in his chest,

nearly devouring his reason and upbringing entirely, while a torrent of possessiveness surged recklessly through his veins.