Looking at Xu Xinyi’s perspective, the sunlight refracted through the hotel’s glass window, illuminating the man’s handsome face. His eyes seemed to speak, and at this moment, they were gazing at her with a smile.
In a daze, Xu Xinyi felt as if she had returned to the day they first met…
That year, she was a freshman in college, having recently celebrated her twentieth birthday. One weekend, she went for a walk in her usual park alone, listening to music and admiring the scenery along the way.
Unexpectedly, in broad daylight, she encountered a brazen robbery. The assailant not only snatched her backpack but also pushed her to the ground, scraping her palm.
Just as she was panicking, a tall man chased after the robber from behind, shouting, “Don’t you run!” The man was fast, and the robber was about to be caught.
Perhaps out of fear, the robber threw her backpack in the man's direction. While the man was distracted by picking up the backpack, the robber accelerated and fled the scene.
The man retrieved her backpack and, instead of pursuing further, turned back to help Xu Xinyi up. The sun was as warm as it was today, and the man's voice sent a jolt of surprise through her mind, "Are you alright!" A few simple words, yet they stirred ripples in Xu Xinyi’s heart that lingered for a long time.
Later, after talking, they discovered they were even alumni. This man was Sun Liang. However, Sun Liang was already a third-year senior then, while Xu Xinyi was just a freshman.
After this incident, the two became good friends. Sun Liang was handsome and very patient. He offered Xu Xinyi a lot of help in both her life and studies. Over time, the girl's heart fell hopelessly for him.
About half a year later, Xu Xinyi mustered up the courage and confessed her feelings to Sun Liang. She had initially thought that since Sun Liang was so good to her, and from their daily interactions and the way he looked at her, it was clear that he loved her. Therefore, she was sure her confession would be successful.
To her surprise, Sun Liang rejected her. Xu Xinyi found it hard to believe. She didn't think their half-year relationship was fake, nor did she believe it was all one-sided. So, she kept asking, "Why? Why can't we be together?"
Finally, cornered, Sun Liang revealed the truth.
It turned out that Sun Liang didn't dislike Xu Xinyi; he was just afraid of implicating this pure and lovely girl.
Sun Liang came from a poor family, and his mother was critically ill. A large sum of money was needed for her medication every month, but it wasn't a permanent solution. To completely cure his mother, a major surgery by a provincial expert was required. Not to mention the exorbitant surgical fees, even if the surgery was successful, the subsequent treatment costs would run into the millions.
So, Sun Liang told Xu Xinyi directly, "Xinyi, there is no future for you with me. Because I have decided that I will marry a rich girl. It doesn't matter what her height or appearance is, as long as she is wealthy enough to afford my mother's medical expenses. As long as my mother can recover, I am willing to pay any price."
Sun Liang tilted his head stubbornly, preventing tears from falling. "Actually, Xinyi, I could have chosen not to tell you this and just be with you for now. But I couldn't bear it. You are such a kind and pure girl, and I can't bear to deceive you. Since we can't end up together in marriage anyway, I can't hurt you for my own selfish desires. Xinyi, you deserve someone better and more outstanding. Forget about me!"
Xu Xinyi’s external conditions were indeed excellent, and her academic performance was also very good. However, her family was only moderately well-off, unable to afford the exorbitant medical expenses for her lover's mother.
Upon learning the truth, Xu Xinyi did not look down on Sun Liang. Instead, she thought he was a very kind and responsible young man. This foolish woman actually believed that Sun Liang’s thought process was simply using his marriage and body as a bargaining chip. He wasn't stealing or robbing, so he shouldn't be considered a bad person.
Later, Sun Liang also introduced Xu Xinyi to his mother.
She was a woman tormented by illness. Half of her face had been burned, and the newly grown skin wound twisted around her face like fleshy worms, horrifying and grotesque.
The old woman appeared thin and frail, half-reclining on a narrow bed in the dim room. Yet, she was a gentle woman, smiling warmly at Xu Xinyi, who was visiting for the first time, and repeatedly urging Sun Liang to take good care of her.
Thus, Xu Xinyi fell hopelessly in love with this man, who, despite his unfortunate background, was "kind-hearted." Even knowing that he would abandon her if he met a rich woman, she chose to be with Sun Liang without hesitation.
However, it was from then on that Xu Xinyi began to understand the importance of money. She thought if she could get rich overnight, with a lot of money, she could help Sun Liang’s mother, and Sun Liang could be with her forever.
Xu Xinyi started buying lottery tickets, fixing on one number daily, but she didn't win even a small prize. She also began working in restaurants during holidays, carrying dishes, thinking every bit counted. She gave all her money to Sun Liang.
Until one day, she encountered a good opportunity.
Xu Xinyi accidentally met a wealthy divorced man, who was the original owner of this story—Dong Zhenhua. Dong Zhenhua was very fond of her. Xu Xinyi thought about marrying Dong Zhenhua first, then finding a reason to divorce him later, thereby obtaining a considerable sum of money.
Even though she knew such an action was immoral, Xu Xinyi thought that with her youth and beauty, marrying Dong Zhenhua would be doing him a favor. Moreover, this way, her boyfriend Sun Liang could use the money to treat his mother, and they would never be separated.
After Xu Xinyi tentatively shared this idea with Sun Liang, surprisingly, the man agreed.
However, Xu Xinyi still had some hesitation. She was afraid her boyfriend would look down on her later. "A Liang, if we are together in the future, I'll be a divorced woman. Won't you mind?"
"Baby, don't say it's for me, for our family that you are making this sacrifice. Even ordinary divorced women, don't they deserve happiness? I love you, and it has nothing to do with whether you're married for the first time. I love you for who you are, do you understand?"
After receiving her boyfriend's affirmation and reassurance, Xu Xinyi immediately took action. She changed her previous indifferent attitude towards Dong Zhenhua and gradually became more affectionate.
Before long, the two decided to enter the sacred bonds of matrimony.
However, only six months after their marriage, Xu Xinyi was already contemplating divorce.