Chapter 1 — Whispers of Lu Xiao

My first love returned to the country, and I adamantly demanded a divorce from my wife. She looked at me and asked, “She betrayed you once; do you truly still love her?” I answered without hesitation: “Besides her, everyone else in this world is merely a compromise.” I eventually got my wish, marrying my first love and becoming the stepfather to her son. The three of us began our supposedly happy life together.

The clock struck eight, and my daughter, Fifi, still hadn't left for school. I frowned at Wei Shuqing, suspecting she was playing some psychological game of hard-to-get to delay our plans. Fifi raised her small, pale face, her eyes dull and glassy. “Daddy, I have a fever,” she whispered. I reached out to check her forehead; she was indeed burning up. Watching Shuqing prepare fever medicine, I hesitated and asked, “Maybe… we should do this another day?”

Deep down, I didn't want to wait. I had longed for the day we would finally sign the divorce papers. Su Rui was waiting for me. Every second of delay felt like an injustice to her. Fortunately, Shuqing shook her head. “Fifi, Auntie Chen will be here soon to look after you. She was a nurse; call me if anything happens.” Fifi nodded obediently. Looking at my six-year-old daughter, a wave of guilt washed over me, but then my phone rang. It was Su Rui’s son, Zhezhe, calling from his smartwatch. “Daddy Lu, my tummy hurts. Can you come see me when you’re done with work?”

“Did you eat too much ice cream again? I’ll be there as soon as I’m finished,” I promised. When I hung up, I realized Fifi was staring at me. I instinctively tried to justify myself: “Zhezhe is sick. He doesn’t have a father, I’m just…” Fifi forced a small smile on her wan face. “I know, Daddy. You’re just worried Auntie Su can’t handle him alone. It’s okay! I’m used to it anyway. Every time I’m sick, it’s always Mommy who takes me to the hospital.” The words “used to it” stung me with a strange, inexplicable discomfort.

The divorce certificate was finally in my hands. “Shuqing, I’ll leave Fifi in your care from now on,” I said. She didn't respond, simply putting on her sunglasses and walking away. As I followed her out, I was surprised to see Su Rui and Zhezhe waiting. “Daddy Lu, we came to pick you up!” Zhezhe, looking like a chubby, adorable little seal, lunged into my arms. I picked him up without a second thought, asking if his stomach still hurt. “Daddy Lu, as long as I can call you ‘Dad’ from now on, nothing hurts anymore,” he chirped. Su Rui stood beside us with a gentle, triumphant smile. Shuqing’s silhouette seemed to stiffen for a moment. When she turned back, I saw her knuckles whitening as she gripped her bag. An immediate sense of defensiveness rose in me, and I stepped in front of Su Rui to shield her, making my stance clear. Zhezhe stuck his tongue out at Shuqing—a mischievous little boy.

I remembered a previous incident at the office when Zhezhe had pushed Fifi down in front of everyone. Shuqing had lost her usual composure, screaming that the boy was uneducated and pointing her finger at Su Rui. Zhezhe had cried piteously, claiming he only pushed Fifi because she tried to take the gift I gave him. Fifi had sobbed until she choked, while Shuqing defended her fiercely, accusing Zhezhe of tearing Fifi’s drawing first. I had shouted at them then, my voice cold: “It’s just a piece of paper! Is it worth inciting your daughter to make such a scene?”

Su Rui and her son had suffered enough. I wouldn't let Shuqing make things harder for them. I warned her sternly, “From now on, Zhezhe is my son. Don’t poison Fifi’s mind. I don’t want conflict every time the children meet.” Fifi was my daughter; she would eventually have to live with the three of us. Having an older brother would be good for her. I didn't want her biological mother to alienate her from a valuable relationship. Shuqing’s body shook as she looked at me, her lips trembling. “Su Rui stole my husband, and now you want to force my daughter to play nice with her son?” It wasn't about forcing anyone; it was about the future. Love cannot be coerced, and Su Rui had occupied my heart long before Shuqing ever did.

Su Rui had been the star of the neighboring arts academy, while I was a top student in computer science at an elite university. We were both prominent figures on campus and naturally drawn to one another. I was captivated by her beauty and her dancing, bringing her breakfast every single day. To afford gifts for her, I started my first business in my junior year. However, upon graduation, she sold my research project to a competitor and vanished. I was devastated, drinking until my stomach bled. Eventually, I had no choice but to move on and marry Shuqing.

Years later, after I had finally achieved success, Su Rui returned with her son. The moment we met again, I knew I had lost. Eight years had passed, but I had never forgotten her. It was a feeling I couldn't quite describe—I didn't know why I loved her, only that because of her, I couldn't truly love anyone else. She wept piteously, explaining that her family had gone bankrupt back then and creditors had threatened her father, forcing her to betray me. My resentment vanished instantly. She claimed she had never forgotten me for a single second but didn't dare hope for a future since I was married. I softened completely, giving her a job at my company and treating Zhezhe as my own.

Shuqing couldn't handle it, constantly harassing them and even sending threatening letters and razor blades to Su Rui’s apartment—though she denied it. Su Rui had called me in a panic, offering to leave so she wouldn't cause trouble. I had lost her once; I wouldn't lose her again. This woman made my blood boil with a youthful, reckless passion. I decided to face my feelings, went to her apartment, and kissed the lips I had longed for every night. We were finally reunited.