She had been abroad since the second day after their wedding, and now she was back home after three whole years.

She had come back because her mother was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer.

In those three years of marriage, he had sent her abroad under the pretext of letting her continue her studies, but in reality, it was just because he feared she would disturb his world with his true love.

At night, she had dinner with her in-laws and the elderly lady at the old house and returned to the bridal room they had never lived in.

The once arrogant princess had long since retracted her sharp claws.

During this trip back, she had a strong premonition that it was time for them to end this relationship in name only!

He returned from outside, dressed in a neat black suit, exuding a vibe that screamed 'keep out.'

He was a perfectionist!

And a severe germaphobe!

Zhuo Jian stood far away by the window; with every step he took closer, her heartbeat quickened!

Three years had gone by, and he had become even more handsome and imposing.

He stopped at the couch and sat down, loosening his tie.

Her eyes dropped in disappointment.

"You've seen your in-laws, haven't you?"

He asked her indifferently, without even a glance her way.

Zhuo Jian, standing with her hands habitually behind her back like a well-behaved child or a quiet subordinate, nodded, "Mhm!"

"Look at this!"

He suddenly leaned over, taking a document from a drawer beneath the table and placing it on the surface.

Zhuo Jian just glanced at it and knew her thoughts were confirmed.

Not long ago, she had seen news online about him and his true love choosing wedding dresses, even though they were secretly married.

She walked over, picked up the document, and flipped it open.

The words 'Divorce Agreement' were starkly displayed before her eyes.

She was grateful she had prepared herself and smiled faintly, "I agree!"

Fu Yanye's captivating eyes looked at her, "Sit down and let's talk!"

Zhuo Jian then sat down on the single sofa diagonally across from him.

He had been drinking, and his mood seemed quite off as he tugged at his tie again!

Zhuo Jian, adhering to the intention of not making any noise that might discomfort him, silently read through the divorce agreement.

He even offered her two properties, which was quite generous of him!

After reading, Zhuo Jian smiled and asked him, "Do you have a pen?"

"Hm?"

He slightly tilted his ear, as if he hadn't heard her clearly.

"To sign!"

Zhuo Jian maintained her gentle smile as she spoke to him.

Fu Yanye scrutinized her for a long while with his dark eyes, then bent over to open the drawer and get a pen for her.

She wrote down her name under the agreement without any hesitation, "Done!"

"Ruxiang can't hold on any longer; she wants a perfect ending,"

Fu Yanye suddenly explained.

Zhuo Jian's hand tightened around the pen, and her heart twisted in pain again.

He could sacrifice everything for that woman!

"I understand,"

Zhuo Jian nodded wisely.

Fu Yanye fell silent for a moment, and only when she pushed the agreement in front of him did he take it. Yet, as he was about to sign, he looked up at her again, "If you have any demands, ask. I will fulfill them as much as I can!"

"I am already very satisfied, and I must thank you for paying for my mother's medical bills,"

Zhuo Jian replied to him.

Fu Yanye felt almost suffocated, looking down at her delicate handwriting, then suddenly set the agreement aside in frustration, "Meet Ruxiang tomorrow!"

Zhuo Jian saw that he hadn't signed the agreement before setting it aside. She meekly agreed, "Okay!"

"If she asks whether you have someone you like, you must say yes!"

"Okay!"

"You need to make her believe it, make her happy,"

he said.

"Okay!"

Zhuo Jian responded numbly, unable to help but glance at the agreement beside him again.

That moment, she entertained a ludicrous thought—perhaps he too was reluctant to let go of their marriage?

"Could you run a bath for me?"

His voice abruptly turned cold as he asked.

Zhuo Jian was initially taken aback, only realizing her own wishful thinking as she caught the indifference on his face. Her long lashes drooped to hide the blurriness in her eyes as she got up to run his bath upstairs.

She couldn't help but mock herself. What was she fantasizing about?

His mind was full of that other woman, not you!

Walking into the dark upstairs, she continuously warned herself to be rational and to manage her emotions before pushing open that door.

Aside from their wedding night, this was only the second time she had entered this bedroom.

For some reason, it felt taboo, as if she was intruding into someone else's world.

But inside, it was as minimally decorated as downstairs—white walls, black flooring, a bed, a bedside cabinet, a sofa, and nothing more.

On their wedding night, he had spent the night on that sofa, the only night they had ever spent alone together.

She entered the bathroom and started the bath for him.

Suddenly, her mother's words from earlier that day at the hospital echoed in her ears while she lay ill, "He probably wants a divorce; he only thinks of his true love. Doesn't he consider how hard it is for a woman who has been married before to remarry?"

She hadn't even considered remarriage; she was just heartbroken that she could no longer share his name.

Zhuo Jian sat on the edge of the bathtub, gently stirring the warm water inside. She remembered how three years ago, he had sat in front of her right after her father had taken his own life out of guilt and her mother was diagnosed with stomach cancer, needing help...

"Is it ready?"

Suddenly, a chilly voice came from behind her. She reflexively turned around, but her hand slipped, and she fell into the bathtub full of hot water.

...

Instantly, the room filled with an awkward air.

Zhuo Jian wore black skinny jeans and a white shirt, so soaked that her upper body was faintly visible.

Her black undergarments were evident to his eyes.

Being a cleanliness freak, without looking she knew how disgusted, nauseated, and even desirous he was to replace the bathtub and the entire bathroom.

Zhuo Jian quickly climbed out of the bathtub while feeling relieved that the tears on her face were also washed away, preserving her last shred of dignity. She hugged herself and meekly apologized, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Fu Yanye kept his distance and simply said, "Go change!"

Zhuo Jian lowered her head and walked towards the door, turning sideways to avoid him.

Yet as she passed by, the perfume on her seemed to evaporate, involuntarily pausing him in his tracks.

Zhuo Jian rushed downstairs, opened her suitcase, and frantically searched for her clothes, before entering a room on impulse to change.

Fu Yanye walked a little away from the bathtub to a dry spot, standing outside the splash range.

He would not step in; he merely stared at the bathtub for a long time.

Zhuo Jian hurried back up, "Yanye...I'm sorry!"

She thought he must be furious. For someone with severe cleanliness issues, it was unacceptable for someone to soil his bathroom; she rushed up after changing, ready to clean up, only to find him undressing.

Zhuo Jian froze for a second then immediately turned and stood outside the door.

Fu Yanye leaned against the wall and removed his pants, casually tossing them out: "Hang those up for me!"

Zhuo Jian awkwardly looked at the clothing hanging from the belt, hesitantly taking them.

"Want to keep watching?"

A questioning voice came from behind her.

Zhuo Jian quickly took his shirt and then turned to run away.

Fu Yanye pondered for a moment but, as usual, did not close the door. He simply walked under the shower and turned on the water.

Zhuo Jian neatly folded his clothes by the bedside and then went downstairs.

He would probably stay here tonight. As she was considering whether to sleep here or go to a hotel, her phone suddenly rang. She answered, "Hello?"

"Not planning on leaving this time?"

It was a friend's greeting.

"Yeah, I probably won't be able to leave for now!"

"I'm short of manpower here. Why don't you come help me for a while?"

Her friend suggested again.

Thinking of her current situation, Zhuo Jian readily agreed: "Okay!"

"Fu Yanye is going to marry Ruxiang; did you know?"

Her friend suddenly changed the topic.

"Yeah, he told me!"

Zhuo Jian held her phone as she wandered to the window, leaning unconsciously against the window sill and looking out into the darkness.

"Jian, do you still love him?"

Her friend suddenly asked her with restrained emotion.