"Don't you want to be single again, to be with someone you actually love?"
Lin Nuannuan thought about how she and Ning Shiyu were still married in name only, and felt as disgusted as if she'd swallowed a fly.
She could still vividly remember the scene of him handing her birth control pills, as if it had just happened yesterday.
If she had known back then that he liked Ye Ke, she would never have confessed to Ning Tianyang that she liked him, would never, ever have married him.
Ning Shiyu chuckled indifferently, "Lin Nuannuan, do you really think I care about things like that?"
Of course, how could Ning Shiyu possibly care about something like this.
Who would even care if the young master of Ning Group was married or not?
From start to finish, he was never affected in the slightest; on the contrary, he attracted even more attention from women everywhere.
Just then, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and a gentle voice called out, "Shi Yu."
Lin Nuannuan instinctively turned around and saw Ye Ke standing at the door to Ning Shiyu's office.
Ye Ke was back—when did she come back?
Had Ning Shiyu brought her back as soon as Lin Nuannuan left?
Looking at the employee badge hanging on her chest, Lin Nuannuan realized that she was already working at Ning Group.
With a quiet laugh, Lin Nuannuan felt even more like a total joke.
"Nuannuan, when did you get back? Why didn't you let everyone know? We could have thrown you a welcome-back party." Seeing Lin Nuannuan sitting across from Ning Shiyu, Ye Ke hesitated for a brief moment.
The next second, she composed herself, hurried over to Lin Nuannuan, took her hand, all smiles and warmth.
"Just got back not long ago."
Tucking her hair behind her ear, Ye Ke explained, "I'm working in the corporate communications department now. I was just about to ask Shi Yu to have lunch with me. Nuannuan, you probably haven't eaten yet either, have you? Let's all go together."
Ye Ke's poise made it seem like she was Ning Shiyu's wife and Lin Nuannuan was nothing more than an insignificant guest.
"No need. I was just discussing business matters with President Ning. I'm sorry to have interrupted your lunch plans." With that, Lin Nuannuan stood up to leave.
She would never make the same mistake twice, let alone keep Ning Shiyu from pursuing his real love and happiness.
Ye Ke quickly caught her arm and pushed her back into her seat, "You and Shi Yu haven't finished talking, right? I'm not in a hurry. You two can continue. I'll wait for you at the door."
After saying this, Ye Ke walked toward the door.
As she was about to close the door, she didn't forget to turn to Ning Shiyu and remind him with her eyes, "Shi Yu, I'll be waiting for you right outside."
This woman was still just like before—gentle to the point of being flawless.
Even after three years, Lin Nuannuan still found herself helpless around her.
The door closed with a soft "bang," and Lin Nuannuan let out a bitter laugh, "Ning Shiyu, I always thought you truly loved Ye Ke. But just now, seeing her, I suddenly realized something."
"Five years ago, my father threatened you—if you didn't marry me, he'd rather donate all his assets to charity than leave anything to you. So you were forced to marry me. Five years later, when I brought up divorce, you refused, just because you couldn't swallow your pride."
"You'd rather keep Ye Ke hidden away than give her a legitimate place by your side. In your eyes, Ye Ke is less important than the Ning family's fortune, and even less important than your ego."
"Ning Shiyu, I always thought I lost to Ye Ke. But today I finally realized, I didn't lose to anyone. I lost to your selfishness, because Ning Shiyu, except for yourself, you've never really loved anyone."