A new day began, and early in the morning, Mo Lin was already busy.
She met with a scheduled customer, a 26-year-old young woman dressed in comfortable and simple clothing. She wore no makeup, but her delicate skin and calm demeanor highlighted her good family background.
She came alone and smiled gently at Mo Lin as soon as she entered. She mentioned that she had a sister who knew Yu Jie. Yu Jie had told them that the owner of this jewelry store had a particularly happy marriage, like a match made in heaven. Customers who bought jewelry here would also find perfect marriages like the owner’s.
Hmm…
Mo Lin believed that she indeed had a perfect relationship, with no issues, except for… the lack of an ending.
However, treating her as a mascot was a bit unscientific.
Mo Lin didn’t break the customer’s expectations and accompanied her in the store to choose the main stone for her wedding ring.
In the end, the young woman hesitated between a 3-carat Mozambican ruby and a 5-carat Zambian emerald.
In fact, jewelry is afraid of comparison. When two good pieces are not placed together, each is beautiful on its own. But when placed together, the superiority is easily discernible. However, this only applied to selecting within the same category. Choosing between two different types of stones depended on personal preference.
“For a wedding, a ruby is definitely more suitable”
The young woman said: “My original expectation was to get a beautiful ruby. This ruby seems to fit perfectly in my heart—color, size, price—all just right. However, this emerald looks much better than I imagined. Although it’s not perfect and has internal flaws, the color is really beautiful and eye-catching!”
She was very conflicted and couldn’t make a decision.
Mo Lin didn’t rush her. She suggested taking photos of both stones and discussing them with her fiancé. After all, gemstones are expensive, and weddings are significant; the choice must be made carefully.
The young woman was very grateful to Mo Lin and left after taking the photos.
Mo Lin sat down again and quickly sent the design drafts she had drawn last night to several clients for confirmation.
By the time she finished communicating, it was already past twelve at noon.
Mo Lin felt a bit hungry and hadn’t yet ordered takeout. As she scrolled down the chat interface on her computer, she saw the “scandal photo” sent by Jiang Yuanmu late at night.
Before clicking on it, Mo Lin saved the photo and dragged it into an empty document named “Supplemental Agreement on Delaying Contract Termination Time.”
With the photo placed in the document, Mo Lin finally took a closer look at the enlarged image.
Just as Jiang Yuanmu had said last night, the photo was indeed taken at a hotel entrance. Jiang Yuanmu was about to walk around to the driver’s seat, his body half obscured by the car. Due to the night-time lighting, his figure was blurry and indistinct.
Behind Jiang Yuanmu was a woman, also half obscured, seemingly about to get into the front passenger seat. Her face was even more blurred than Jiang Yuanmu’s.
Was this really a scandal photo?
To be thorough, Mo Lin searched the images of influencers under Jiang Yuanmu’s company on their public website. After comparing the pictures, she couldn’t figure out who the influencer with the nearly indistinguishable features in the “scandal photo” was.
Mo Lin couldn’t help but marvel at how skillful netizens were these days, able to identify people from such unclear images.
Ji Ming’s skill was also impressive; there was no trace left online. She couldn’t find any evidence.
Perhaps she should include this woman’s name in the delayed contract. Mo Lin thought, since this third party was also implicated…
“What are you looking at? So focused?”
The voice at the door was full of youthful energy.
Mo Lin looked up, her vision blurred from staring at the screen for too long. At that moment, the sunlight outside the door painted a dreamy silhouette of the person standing there, like a character from an anime or game, full of vitality.
Mo Lin was taken aback, pushed her frameless glasses up her nose, and blinked before recognizing the silhouette.
“Xu Yuan?” Mo Lin called his name, “Why are you here?”
Xu Yuan had never come uninvited before. She usually saw him at his store, where she would buy coffee, chat a bit, accept his cookies, thank him, and then leave.
But today, Xu Yuan not only came on his own but also took off his coffee shop uniform and apron. He was wearing light-colored sportswear, looking like a vibrant “young man” full of energy, much like an emerald.
The “young man” was holding a white plastic bag.
The bag, filled with steam, made Mo Lin feel warm in the slightly cool spring air.
“I didn’t see you when you left yesterday, and you didn’t reply to my messages. I was quite worried, so I came to check on you today.”
Xu Yuan smiled warmly. He walked to Mo Lin’s side and, as if very familiar, placed the items in his hand on Mo Lin’s left side. While opening the plastic bag, he casually glanced at Mo Lin’s computer screen.
The screen still displayed the enlarged photo Mo Lin was studying.
Xu Yuan’s hand paused momentarily, then quickly resumed its movement.
Hearing Xu Yuan’s words, Mo Lin opened the chat interface on her computer. She scrolled down the chat list and finally saw Xu Yuan’s message. She felt a bit embarrassed:
“Yesterday was a bit chaotic, lots of things were going on. I left without saying goodbye and forgot to reply to your messages this morning. I’m sorry.”
“As long as you’re okay,” Xu Yuan said calmly. “I went for a run this morning and happened to pass by a really good bun shop, so I brought you some.”
Perhaps because she had been thinking about “choosing a partner” recently, Mo Lin’s mind almost instinctively linked keywords when she heard Xu Yuan’s words.
Morning run, disciplined, healthy, high-quality.
Buns, traditional, family-oriented, suitable.
Thoughts that were acceptable yesterday were not okay today.
Not suitable.
“Thank you, I’m actually hungry. How much do I owe you?”
Xu Yuan took the takeout box from the plastic bag and handed it to Mo Lin, saying calmly and warmly, “There’s no charge for giving something to someone you like.”
Mo Lin’s hand, holding her phone ready to transfer money, froze in mid-air. The shop was quiet for just a moment, as if fate didn’t want to give her time to react. A slightly cold questioning voice came from the door:
“Is that appropriate, Mr. Xu?”
Mo Lin looked towards the door. Her gaze couldn’t be described as sharp or quick-witted; in fact, it was somewhat slow and simple.
She stared blankly at the door, watching the man in a suit and tie walk in against the backlight—Jiang Yuanmu.
He was also holding a plastic bag—an envelope-style plastic bag.
Inside it were pure white A4 papers, as cold and impersonal as he was now.
This noon was getting a bit too lively.
Mo Lin thought, and asked dryly, “Why are you here too, Mr. Jiang?”
That cold gaze shifted from Xu Yuan’s face to Mo Lin’s face.
As usual, Mo Lin immediately understood what Jiang Yuanmu meant.
She corrected herself, “Yuanmu.”
Thus, Xu Yuan’s gaze also returned to Mo Lin’s face.
Xu Yuan’s gaze was too intense, his presence too strong, making Mo Lin unconsciously look at him too.
As before, Mo Lin didn’t quite understand.
He seemed a bit angry, a bit sad, and even… a bit pitying.
But, pity, why?
The three exchanged looks, and only Jiang Yuanmu moved. He walked around Xu Yuan, reached the other end of Mo Lin’s desk, placed the envelope on her right side, and leisurely looked at Xu Yuan.
“Mr. Xu, your behavior is indeed contrary to public order and morals. It’s unethical, and even borderline illegal.”
Xu Yuan adjusted his emotions and smiled at Jiang Yuanmu, “Expressing my feelings openly, what’s unethical about that? Confessing to someone who is already divorced, how is that illegal?”
Jiang Yuanmu let out a cold snort, half-smiling.
Mo Lin quickly interjected, “Sorry, our marriage is still valid.” She looked at Xu Yuan and admitted, “We just discussed it last night.”
Xu Yuan’s lips twitched momentarily. He looked at Mo Lin with a slightly hoarse voice full of hidden pain, “Sister Mo Lin…” He paused for a long time in the silent midday light before finally saying, “You deserve better.”
Jiang Yuanmu, once again labeled as “undeserving,” couldn’t help but let out another cold laugh.
It turns out that when people are speechless, they might indeed laugh inexplicably.
“Mr. Xu,” Jiang Yuanmu looked at Xu Yuan seriously and asked, “May I ask what you mean by ‘better’?”
Xu Yuan glanced at Jiang Yuanmu with barely concealed disdain, “At least more loyal.”
With these words, the small shop, which frequently fell into awkward silences, became even more silent.
Until Mo Lin belatedly said, “Ah…”
She finally realized, “You saw the photo just now…”
Xu Yuan was silent for a long time, as if considering how to speak without hurting Mo Lin. He carefully chose his words and finally said, “Sister Mo Lin, I didn’t mean to invade your privacy. But I don’t want to see you… sad.”
Well…
How should she put it…
It was not that sad.
Mo Lin opened her mouth but found herself unable to explain and closed it again. Finally, she looked at Jiang Yuanmu.
At this moment, “the unfaithful cheater” Jiang Yuanmu tightened his lips.
He…
Didn’t know where to start…
Should he say the photo was edited or that the words were false?
Should he admit to using underhanded means to avoid ending their agreed marriage?
He couldn’t say anything.
Jiang Yuanmu could only bear the label of “cheater.”
Listening, just listening, Jiang Yuanmu found himself unable to say anything.
Looking back on his life, he couldn’t recall any moment when he was as speechless as he was now.
Xu Yuan pushed the buns towards Mo Lin, “No matter what, Sister Mo Lin, these are for someone I like. I offered them willingly, you don’t need to pay me.”
Xu Yuan turned to leave.
Mo Lin called out loudly, “Wait, Xu Yuan.” She spoke solemnly, “Everyone is here today, I think it’s best to say this directly.”
Xu Yuan, who had reached the door, and Jiang Yuanmu beside him, both looked at Mo Lin. Their expressions were different, but they both waited in silence.
“No matter what you think, my marriage with Yuanmu will continue. This is a confirmed matter and won’t change. So, please refrain from expressing your feelings for me while I’m still married. As Yuanmu said, it’s unethical and borderline illegal.”
Xu Yuan lowered his eyes, not looking at Mo Lin, and responded heavily, “Okay.”
On the other side, Jiang Yuanmu looked at Mo Lin, as if he could finally breathe again, and nodded in agreement.
But then, Mo Lin continued, “Once my marriage ends, if you still like me, I think we can talk in more detail.”
Jiang Yuanmu’s body tensed almost imperceptibly. He squinted his eyes and scrutinized Mo Lin.
In the future?
Not explicitly stating three months, was it to save his face or their contract’s face?
Xu Yuan, upon hearing this, blinked in confusion.
Mo Lin thought for a moment and sincerely added, “Xu Yuan, you are very outstanding.”
Jiang Yuanmu knew exactly what she was praising.
Mo Lin was goal-oriented, just like him—they were very alike. She was focused on having a child now, so he knew what kind of excellence she meant.
But Xu Yuan might not understand, only thinking Mo Lin was too earnest. He smiled, “Alright… Thank you for the… compliment. Sister Mo Lin, if there’s an opportunity in the future…” Xu Yuan glanced at Jiang Yuanmu, “We can talk again.”
Xu Yuan left, but the buns on the table were still steaming and smelled delicious, quite tempting to the slightly hungry Mo Lin. She stared at them for a moment before asking Jiang Yuanmu:
“It’s not appropriate for me to eat these buns, and it’s a waste to throw them away. Do you want them?”
Jiang Yuanmu coolly responded, “Feed them to the dogs.” He picked up the plastic document bag again, “Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s get something proper to eat.”
Two chapters this week! The next chapter will be fireee. See you next week 😘
