Volume 1, Chapter 8: If You Lack the Wit, Perhaps You Should Call Off the Divorce

At seven in the evening, Shen Shuhe pushed open the door to Lanting Yayuan, bringing with her the chill of early autumn.

Wen Yu had already returned and was sitting on the sofa, talking on the phone. Hearing the sound, she looked over and waved in greeting. Shen Shuhe waved back casually, put down her bag, and changed her shoes. Catching a few snippets of Wen Yu's conversation, she realized she was still busy with work. Seeing that she hadn't even changed her clothes, she couldn't have been home for long.

Shen Shuhe walked into the open-plan kitchen and opened the refrigerator, intending to cook. However, she found it empty, save for a few cups of yogurt. Right, this woman flew all over the country; she had no habit of cooking. She took the yogurt out, poured it into a bowl, sprinkled some fruit granola on top, and carried it over.

Wen Yu’s call ended at that moment. She tossed her phone aside and collapsed onto the sofa, as if her soul had been sucked out of her. "Oh, God! Just kill me now!"

"What’s wrong?" Shen Shuhe asked, handing her the bowl.

Wen Yu took it. "Sigh, a promising artist I signed last year—a dance academy graduate with great potential—the company was planning to give him a big push. Just like that, after finishing a supporting role in a major production in the first half of the year, just as his career was looking bright, he was exposed today for meddling in someone else's marriage."

Wen Yu was livid. "I told him not to date! It’s one thing to date in secret, but to get caught! And to top it off, the person he’s involved with is already married!" She banged her spoon against the bowl, the jarring sound echoing through the living room.

Shen Shuhe held her hand down while patting her back to soothe her. "Is his name Tong Xi?" She had opened Weibo on her way home and seemed to recall seeing that name in the top three trending topics.

"That's the one!" Wen Yu fumed.

No sooner had she spoken than her phone rang again; Shen Shuhe saw it was an entertainment reporter. Wen Yu signaled to her and walked to the balcony to answer. "Yes, I have no comment regarding the Tong Xi matter. The company has already issued a statement..."

Shen Shuhe watched her. She knew Wen Yu was under immense pressure dealing with the artist's negative publicity. She stood up and ordered some groceries on her phone. By nine o'clock, Wen Yu was finally able to catch her breath. Shen Shuhe had dinner ready, and they sat down at the table.

Looking at the appetizing dishes, Wen Yu, despite her exhaustion, managed a smile and gave a thumbs-up. "Shuhe, darling, you’re incredible! You’re great at everything, from hosting guests to cooking. How are you so lovable?" She made a heart shape with her fingers.

Shen Shuhe smiled, holding her hand. "Alright, enough with the flattery. Aren't you hungry?"

"I'm starving!" Wen Yu grabbed a chicken wing and stuffed it into her mouth, abandoning any pretense of decorum. "I’ve been hungry since noon; my stomach is flat as a board! You should eat, too."

Without standing on ceremony, Shen Shuhe picked up her chopsticks and began to eat at a leisurely pace. They chatted occasionally during the meal, eventually touching on the events of the afternoon.

When Wen Yu had returned and hadn't found Shen Shuhe, she’d assumed she was out for a walk, not realizing she had gone to the old Pei family estate. She immediately thought of the troublesome little princess of the Pei family. Wen Yu knew that Pei Leyao was the only younger member of the family besides Pei Qiongyu, raised with doting indulgence. She was arrogant and spoiled—or, to put it bluntly, she looked down on everyone.

Wen Yu had met her once. It was shortly after Shen Shuhe had married Pei Jingmo; when Shen Shuhe was three months pregnant, she had asked Wen Yu to accompany her to a baby store. They had run into Pei Leyao and her friend. When Shen Shuhe greeted her politely, the little princess had retorted, "You scheming bitch, you aren't worthy of saying my name. It disgusts me."

Shen Shuhe’s face had gone pale. Wen Yu couldn't stand it and wanted to teach the brat a lesson, but Shen Shuhe had stopped her. At the time, Shen Shuhe had just married Pei Jingmo; Wen Yu knew there was tension between them, but Shen Shuhe loved him, and Pei Leyao was his sister, so she had swallowed her anger.

But the little princess hadn't known when to stop, continuing to badmouth Shen Shuhe to her friend—calling her a fox spirit, a green tea bitch, saying she was shameless and manipulative. Wen Yu, with her fiery temper, had finally snapped and slapped her. The situation exploded. Pei Leyao, incensed, had lunged at her.

But Wen Yu was taller and older, and she had pinned the girl against the railing in a few swift moves. The little princess had gone home to cry to the elders, which resulted in Pei Jingmo treating Shen Shuhe with even more coldness. Fortunately, He Wanrong had mediated, preventing further escalation. Wen Yu had felt guilty for a while knowing that her actions had deepened the rift, but Shen Shuhe had insisted it was fine. Pei Leyao had started it, and she knew Wen Yu was only standing up for her. Besides, Pei Jingmo didn't like her anyway; a little more hatred wouldn't change much.

"Did Pei Leyao make trouble for you again today?" Wen Yu asked, noticing Shen Shuhe's expression.

Shen Shuhe nodded. "The usual."

Wen Yu knew the girl loved to boss her around. "That brat never changes! She clearly still needs a lesson!"

"Forget it, they're irrelevant people. Don't let it upset you," Shen Shuhe said, serving her more food.

Seeing how composed and broad-minded she was, Wen Yu couldn't help but press for details. Shen Shuhe, not wanting to dwell on such meaningless people, gave a brief summary.

"Hah! Calling you vain? As if! If you were vain, you would have cleaned out his bank account and run off years ago, instead of suffering through the behavior of a scumbag like him! Is Pei Jingmo a severe victim of 'love brain'? Did his romance rot his intellect? With an IQ like that, can he even read a company contract?"

Wen Yu laughed sarcastically. "He cheats and then blames you? Shuhe, you should have beaten both him and his mistress up! And then slammed the divorce papers in his face! Or, better yet, don't divorce him. That way, the mistress stays a mistress forever. I’d love to see Pei Jingmo lose his mind!" Wen Yu clapped, laughing. "The thought alone makes me happy!"

Shen Shuhe: "..."

She suspected Wen Yu had been driven mad by today's stress and felt a flicker of concern for her mental state.

"Darling, why don't you eat another chicken wing to soothe your agitated heart?"