Chapter One: Witnessed with My Own Eyes

Li Ran had never imagined that one day she would witness her husband Zhang Fanfan’s infidelity, let alone that his lover would be her own young secretary, Angie.

They had come to Jicheng on a business trip to discuss a partnership. That evening, just after they finished work, Angie made an excuse to return to her room early. Normally, with just the two of them, one hotel room would have been enough. Yet Angie insisted on paying for her own room, which, by coincidence, was right next to Li Ran's.

Li Ran saw it with her own eyes: Zhang Fanfan holding Angie as they entered the room. She stood in the corridor, utterly at a loss. She wanted to believe she was mistaken, but after three years of sharing a bed with this man, she knew she could not be wrong.

Her feet refused to move, her palms grew clammy with sweat, and anxiety gripped her heart. At last, she forced herself to the door and heard hushed voices from within.

"Be gentle… Be careful, your wife is next door. She might hear us," whispered Angie.

"Don’t worry, she’s a heavy sleeper. She won’t hear a thing… I’ve missed you so much," Zhang Fanfan replied.

Laughter followed, light and intimate. Li Ran didn’t need to imagine what they were doing.

Her fingers curled quietly into her palm, then she raised her hand and knocked on their door.

"Who is it?" Angie called out.

"It’s me. I suddenly remembered there’s some work I forgot to mention. Open the door, please," Li Ran replied, doing her best to sound calm.

A moment later, there was the rustling of clothes as they hurriedly dressed. Angie soon opened the door, feigning sleepiness, but the flush on her cheeks betrayed her.

Standing at the threshold, Angie gave a lazy yawn. "Ran, it’s so late. Whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow."

Li Ran ignored her, her gaze sweeping the room. The bed had been hastily tidied, but the sheets were disheveled, and a man’s shirt lay atop them.

Without thinking, Li Ran strode in, seized the shirt, and demanded, "What is this? Who else is in your room?"

"Ran, it’s not unusual for me to share a room with my boyfriend, is it?" Angie replied coolly, snatching the shirt from Li Ran’s grasp, annoyance flickering in her eyes. "You’ve seen enough. Can you leave now?"

"Your boyfriend?" Li Ran scoffed, her smile laced with irony. She marched to the bathroom, flung open the door, and found Zhang Fanfan standing inside, his face tense with anxiety.

"This is your boyfriend? My husband?"

Li Ran stared at the two of them, feeling as though a stone pressed heavily on her chest, suffocating her.

"Li Ran, let me explain. It’s not what you think. I came here looking for you…" Zhang Fanfan pleaded, reaching for her hand, reading the anger in her eyes.

"You came looking for me and ended up in her room? With your clothes off? Do you think I’m a child, Zhang Fanfan?" Li Ran’s eyes shone with tears, though none fell.

"Ran, it really isn’t what you saw… Fanfan came to see me because he wanted to surprise you. I only said that because I had no other choice. Please, don’t be angry…" Angie’s bravado had vanished, her eyes brimming with tears as she begged Li Ran.

"How surprising indeed," Li Ran said coldly, fixing Zhang Fanfan with a steely gaze. "Tomorrow, we’re getting a divorce at the Civil Affairs Bureau."

With that, she shook off Angie’s hand and stormed out, tears finally streaming down her face. Head bowed, she covered her face to hide her pain, not noticing the two people approaching from ahead. She collided with them before she could react.

"Sorry…" she murmured.

Before she could finish, a man reached out, steadying her by the arm and keeping her from falling.