Mrs. Su, residing in Rose Manor in District 16, stood by the window, lost in thought.
Torn photographs lay scattered on the bed and floor behind her. A single tear escaped her eye, and then another, an unstoppable cascade.
She had endured it for a full decade, yet her husband had never shown a shred of remorse.
She recalled how her father had opposed her marriage to Xu Shuming. The man everyone had disapproved of had ultimately overcome class barriers to marry into the Su family.
Even then, the Su family was the undisputed leader in the national textile industry, a position they had held for decades and now remained unshakeable.
To gain his father-in-law's trust, Xu Shuming had grown accustomed to consuming the cold glances of his in-laws like a daily meal.
Fortunately, his diligent efforts to please the family earned him an opportunity to work within the Su Group.
Meanwhile, after becoming pregnant with their daughter, Su Ruiyi, Mrs. Su had dedicated herself to home and child-rearing, never interfering in the company's affairs.
Even though her father's watchful eyes constantly scrutinized this son-in-law, time eventually wore down the aging patriarch, forcing his retirement.
Once Xu Shuming officially took over the group, the company underwent a radical transformation.
It was as if, overnight, all of the old chairman's staff were replaced by Xu Shuming's people.
From that moment on, the Su family's conglomerate was entirely in Xu Shuming's hands.
Fortunately, Xu Shuming proved to be a shrewd businessman. Within a few years, he had integrated the Su Corporation with the international market, elevating it from a domestic leader to a globally renowned textile enterprise.
Henceforth, the Su family no longer treated this son-in-law with disdain. However, now empowered, Xu Shuming began to vent the years of humiliation he had suffered, albeit indirectly, onto Mrs. Su.
At some point, his feelings cooled, and he even found another woman outside. Mrs. Su, sidelined and marginalized, became a mere fixture in the household, having not seen her husband in many years.
The phone rang downstairs. The butler answered, exchanged a few brief words, and hung up.
The butler went upstairs and knocked on Mrs. Su's door. Wiping away her tears, Mrs. Su turned around.
"Madam, Miss says she cannot accompany you for Christmas Eve this year. She has plans with friends in LA."
"I understand. Let's prepare to return home."
The butler looked at Mrs. Su in surprise, then at the photos on the floor, and suddenly understood. After so many years by Mrs. Su's side, she had become like family. She understood the woman's sorrow.
The butler instructed the servants to pack. Mrs. Su picked up her phone and dialed a boy named Wang Ziran.
"Ziran, it's Auntie. Is this a convenient time to talk?"
Wang Ziran was not surprised by Mrs. Su's call. He replied politely, "Auntie? Yes, very convenient. Please, tell me."
"Ziran, Auntie heard that Yiyi is going to LA for Christmas with friends. Is that true?"
"Yiyi must have told you, right? Hehe, yes. A few of us classmates have planned to go together. We're graduating soon, so we thought of it as a graduation trip."
Mrs. Su let out a relieved sigh and continued, "Is that so? Then Auntie is relieved. You know, last time, if it hadn't been for your father..."
Wang Ziran quickly interjected, "Auntie, as long as I'm here, no one will ever harm Su Ruiyi!"
Mrs. Su sighed, "Thank you, Ziran. It's truly Yiyi's good fortune to have a friend like you!"
"Hehehe, Auntie, you know I've liked Su Ruiyi since I was little. Of course, I'll protect her well."
"Oh, and Ziran, Auntie is preparing to return home. When you're done with your trip, tell Yiyi to come back and find me. If she doesn't want to return, then so be it..."
"Auntie is returning home? Should I ask my father to..." Wang Ziran asked curiously.
"No need to trouble him. When you two return, our families can gather then."
Mrs. Su concluded their brief pleasantries and hung up the phone.
She just wanted to confirm whether her daughter was still in contact with those problematic friends. Since she was with Wang Ziran, there was nothing to worry about. Having a rebellious daughter was quite a handful.
Speaking of which, this son of the Wang family was also a spoiled heir.
However, because he was wholeheartedly fond of Su Ruiyi, he would do anything to protect her. In a way, this fool served as a small spy, keeping an eye on her daughter at all times.
Mrs. Su took a file folder from the drawer. Inside was a divorce agreement she had long since signed. She had finally given up hope and wished for this relationship to end soon.
A silver Lamborghini sped to a stop outside a luxurious apartment in LA. Wang Ziran leaned against the car door, striking what he considered a cool pose. A girl with dyed red hair, dragging a large LV suitcase, emerged unsteadily from the revolving door.
"Hey! You clingy brat, what are you posing there for? Don't you see I'm struggling with this suitcase alone? Come help!"
The one shouting was Su Ruiyi, the heiress of Su Corporation. She had taken her mother's surname.
Wang Ziran took a large stride and hurried over to take the suitcase.
"Grandma, what is all this? It's so heavy!"
"Money!"
"A suitcase... of money?!"
"Are you trying to get me killed? Shouting so loud! Tonight, at the casino, you'll be carrying this suitcase! I'm going to spend all this money tonight! I want to watch it leave my sight, one bill at a time!"
"Everything is electronic transfer now, or you can use a card."
"Why are you telling me this? I've been cooped up all year! I was a good student for a whole year, and now that I've graduated, Mom finally allows me to splurge just this once!"
Wang Ziran placed the suitcase in the front trunk.
Su Ruiyi got into the car. Wang Ziran excitedly fastened her seatbelt and placed the pre-ordered milk tea in front of her, poking the straw in for her. Seeing Su Ruiyi nod in satisfaction, he began driving dog-like.
"Um... Yiyi, what do you want to do after graduation?"
Su Ruiyi tilted her head, propping her arm on the car window. She stared blankly, thinking hard, but her mind was empty. After a long pause, she managed to utter three words: "I don't know."
"So, do you want to get married?"
Su Ruiyi widened her eyes and turned to look at this shadow. She had heard Wang Ziran's confessions countless times. She resisted the idea of their close friendship turning into a naked romantic relationship.
Wang Ziran quickly amended, "No, no, I mean, will you become a tool for an arranged marriage at any moment?"
Su Ruiyi's mouth dropped open. Wang Ziran corrected himself again, "No, no, no, then you don't know what you want to do after graduation? Work?"
Su Ruiyi deflated like a balloon, slumping back into the passenger seat.
Wang Ziran desperately hoped Su Ruiyi would give him an answer.
If she said she wanted to work, then Wang Ziran would use his family connections to arrange the best job for her, or he would go to work at the Su Group with her.
If Su Ruiyi said she wanted to get married, then Wang Ziran would present the highest bride price and ensure she had a romantic, princess-like wedding.
But if Su Ruiyi said she didn't know, then Wang Ziran wouldn't know what to do next either. After all, he was accustomed to being Su Ruiyi's follower. His lifelong ambition was to follow this girl he had loved for over a decade.
Wang Ziran thought to himself, "Then let's just have fun until you're tired. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, I'll be right behind you."
As Wang Ziran pressed the button to open the convertible top, Su Ruiyi's face finally lit up. She took off her shoes, knelt on the passenger seat, spread her arms, and cried out joyfully, "I love you, LA! I love you! Do you hear me?!"
Back in China, Mrs. Su's first stop after disembarking was the corporation.
Twenty years had passed, and the company was no longer what she remembered.
Old employees who knew Mrs. Su rushed to greet her, while many new employees had only heard of her and never seen her in person.
Receptionist: "Mrs. Su, the Chairman is in a meeting. He said..."
Mrs. Su's eyes widened as she inquired, "What did he say?"
The receptionist glanced at the manager, unsure how to relay the Chairman's secretary's words to the Chairman's wife. Mrs. Su noticed the receptionist's predicament.
"Have the Corporate Secretary come down to meet me. I will wait in the Chairman's office after his meeting concludes."
"Yes, madam."
A moment later, the Corporate Secretary descended in the Chairman's private elevator. She had been by Xu Shuming's side for seven or eight years, yet she had never once seen this Chairman's wife, who was living abroad.
The Corporate Secretary, still polite, said, "Madam, the Chairman instructed me to ask you to wait for him at home. His meeting today will be very long."
"I asked you to come down to perform your duties. Even if I were not the Chairman's wife, I hold shares in the company. Just because I am not attending the meeting does not mean I cannot come to the company. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
The Corporate Secretary immediately nodded, "I understand, Madam. Please, this way."
It seemed Mrs. Su was determined to go up.
Mrs. Su and her entourage took the elevator. Employees who witnessed this scene were whispering amongst themselves. The Chairman's wife was visiting the company for the first time. Wasn't this the Su family's company?
The Corporate Secretary opened the Chairman's office door for Mrs. Su, prepared coffee, and then left. Mrs. Su sat alone on the sofa, placing the divorce agreement on the coffee table.
Time passed slowly, but Mrs. Su's patience was eventually rewarded when she met her husband, whom she hadn't seen in over a decade.
Xu Shuming, glancing at his phone, asked, "Why didn't you tell me you were back?"
Mrs. Su chuckled softly, "Even if I had told you, would you have come to the airport to pick me up?"
"A driver would have been sent."
Xu Shuming, who had not looked directly at Mrs. Su since entering, finally raised his head after a long pause and gazed at his wife seated on the sofa.
She wore her hair in an elegant updo, a black stand-collar wool sweater, and a diamond-encrusted rose brooch. On her finger was a large black pearl ring, and on her wrist, a Cartier watch she had worn for many years...
Ah, yes, that watch was a gift Xu Shuming had given his wife on the day he officially became Chairman. The words he had spoken then still echoed in Mrs. Su's memory.
"From now on, my time will be as precious as yours. I give you every minute and second of my future."
What romantic words they had seemed. Now, they were like a cage, trapping a foolish woman aged by the passage of time.
Xu Shuming's gaze fell upon the folder in front of Mrs. Su.
"What is on the coffee table? Bring it here for me to see."
Mrs. Su took a deep breath and handed the divorce agreement to her husband, who sat at the boss's desk.
Xu Shuming saw the five glaring characters and slammed it onto the desk. He was about to lose his temper with Mrs. Su again.
"What is this madness? I've provided for you well, and you want a divorce?"
Mrs. Su suppressed her tears. She had prepared herself mentally before coming. She didn't want to become hysterical; she just wanted to handle this disastrous marriage peacefully.
"Our marriage is a mere formality. I believe separating is the best option."
"Fine. If you divorce me, you won't get a single cent!"
"This is our Su family's corporation!"
"The Su family? Look closely at who is sitting in the Chairman's seat. My surname is Xu! I have diligently managed your family's business for years! I built this corporation into a world-class enterprise!"
"Xu Shuming, you begged my father for a position back then!"
Xu Shuming sneered, "Back then? You want to bring up 'back then'? Your father gave me a position, yes, but your entire family treated me less than human for years! I toiled for your family like an ox, no better than your household servants!"
Xu Shuming continued, "Even you never truly respected me! I endured for so many years. Everything I have now is what your family owes me!"
Mrs. Su found it hard to believe these words were coming from Xu Shuming.
"How can you say that about me..."
"How can I say it? What does everyone call you? Mrs. Su! Does your husband's surname have to be Su? If you're going to be called Mrs., it should be Mrs. Xu!"
"Don't push me. I'll send those photos of your mistresses to the board. I'll make sure you can't be Chairman."
"Heh, yes, I have other women. So what? Look at yourself. Do you look presentable when I take you out? You no longer resemble a distinguished lady. You're not even as good as the women I find outside! At least they smile at me and flirt with me. You don't even act like a woman. Why shouldn't I find other women?"
"You are a scoundrel!!!"
Just as Mrs. Su raised her hand to slap Xu Shuming, he blocked her with his arm, knocking her down. Her head hit a flowerpot by the window.
Xu Shuming tensed for a second. Seeing that Mrs. Su was not seriously injured, he regained his cold demeanor. He tore the divorce agreement from the desk into two halves and threw them at Mrs. Su.
"You will not divorce me. I will not let go of the new corporation I built with my own hands!"
With that, Xu Shuming stepped over the fallen Mrs. Su, adjusted his suit, and left the office.
The dejected Mrs. Su gritted her teeth, her once elegant hairstyle disheveled.
She sat there, utterly defeated, never imagining that she had lost. She had lost to the husband who had long since drifted away with time.