Shu Yunyi suddenly stopped when she heard this and turned back.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Cheng Jun smirked, feeling a sense of schadenfreude that her words had indeed shaken Shu Yunyi's thoughts.
"No special meaning, you must have misunderstood," she replied nonchalantly.
Shu Yunyi's impatience showed through as she said, "Speak clearly, don't beat around the bush."
Cheng Jun's smile remained unchanged as she slyly added, "It's very simple – your husband seems to be more sought-after than you'd imagine."
"Aside from you and me, there are others who have their eyes on him."
Shu Yunyi's eyebrows furrowed as she stared at Cheng Jun, trying to discern the truth behind her words from her expression.
It was difficult; they had been at odds for quite some time, and trust between them was hard to come by.
Shu Yunyi couldn't tell if Cheng Jun was being sincere or just throwing out misdirection.
Regardless, she kept the information in mind, as the situation was becoming more and more convoluted.
Seeing that her bait had been set, Cheng Jun turned and left without hesitation.
Her goal was simple: to muddy the waters.
Cheng Jun had initially planned to stake her claim by being nearby, but their conversation today revealed many things, including a significant problem: she was lagging behind.
And not just by a little.
If things continued like this, there would be no space left for her. The only way forward was to stir up the situation and create an opportunity for herself.
Cheng Jun's personality was one that thrived on taking the initiative. She disliked waiting passively.
Love was inherently selfish, and even if Shen Yi hadn't chosen her, she would strive her hardest to win him over.
Arriving at the parking lot, she got into her car and looked at herself in the rearview mirror.
Her face, with its delicate contours, a straight nose, and lively eyes, exuded a charm that combined youthful freshness with a sense of maturity gained through experience.
This blend of contradictory yet harmonious qualities distinguished her from the cookie-cutter beauty standards, making her unforgettable at first sight.
The reflection in the mirror smiled faintly and whispered to herself, "Things are getting more interesting. Another contender has emerged..."
"Soon, I'll uncover your secrets, Shen Yi..."
…
After Cheng Jun left, Shu Yunyi saw no reason to stay any longer. She decided to return to school.
The initial excitement of coming here without seeing Shen Yi had slightly dampened her spirits, and her rationality was returning.
As she walked down the stairwell, she began to think about her current circumstances and plan for her future life.
The immediate priority was to go back to her apartment, as it was likely that her student Shi Jing would bring Shen Yi to visit her within the next couple of days.
"Ring ring..."
A phone ringing interrupted Shu Yunyi's thoughts.
Looking around, she realized the sound was coming from upstairs.
She hurried up the stairs and only caught a glimpse of a trouser leg.
Shaking her head, Shu Yunyi didn't let the passerby distract her and continued walking, resuming her contemplation of what she hadn't fully figured out.
First, she needed to shake off her previous state of disheartenment and organize everything. In this new life, she aimed to embrace life with a better attitude.
The first step was to quit drinking. Although she had mentally overcome her addiction, the physical dependence still lingered, requiring a fresh start.
However, with the experience of successfully quitting under Shen Yi's help in her previous life, Shu Yunyi believed she could do it on her own this time.
The second step was to exercise and improve her physical fitness. Her current body was far too weak; she had even woken up from a hangover the previous night, leaving her in terrible shape today, with even makeup failing to hide the dark circles under her eyes.
Having been granted another chance at life, Shu Yunyi was determined to live longer and enjoy it. Given her age, she couldn't afford to delay changing her routine and exercising. Otherwise, childbirth would be akin to a life-threatening ordeal.
Lastly, she needed to resume her work. Checking her financial status last night, she found it was in dire straits. Frequent drinking and her reluctance to work had nearly depleted her savings, often relying on her mother for financial support.
Most of her makeup was expired, and her clothes hadn't been updated in ages. The dress she wore on this outing was several years old, though it was still in good condition. Nevertheless, it made her feel shabby.
After paying and getting out of the car, Shu Yunyi followed the crowd into Jingyuan.
A good life requires not only striving but also careful maintenance. As she walked along the tree-lined path, her gaze was distant.
"Shen Yi, you took care of me enough in my previous life. Now it's my turn to look after you."
With this thought, her footsteps seemed to grow lighter.
…
"Shen Yi! Shen Yi! Shen Yi!"
Shu Yunyi's sudden pounding on the door startled Shen Yi.
Despite their friendly conversation, Shen Yi watched in confusion as Shu Yunyi abruptly turned and started knocking on his room door.
The repeated calling of his name gave him a nostalgic pang of being called by a teacher in school – a sensation akin to being summoned by the Grim Reaper.
Fortunately, no one answered, and Shu Yunyi soon stopped.
After a brief exchange, Cheng Jun left first.
In this old apartment building, there was only one exit. Shen Yi, afraid of running into Cheng Jun, climbed up half a flight of stairs to avoid her.
Once Cheng Jun had left, Shen Yi went down, only to find Shu Yunyi standing still for a while before she, too, was about to leave.
From his position on the stairway, Shen Yi hesitated, contemplating whether to reunite with Shu Yunyi immediately. His thoughts had shifted since this morning.
Having just solidified his resolve, an immediate reunion, while joyful, might not be the best course of action, as Shu Yunyi was not a marionette but an individual with her own thoughts.
The first question she would ask after the surprise would inevitably be about Cheng Jun's identity—a question that couldn't be avoided.
At that point, Shen Yi would have limited options: either evade or confess honestly.
An early reveal would leave him with little room for maneuver.
Yet, much like his situation with Fu Nanzhi, with Shu Yunyi right in front of him, the memories of their simulated life together couldn't be ignored.
The urge to avoid her was a sign of cowardice, one Shen Yi couldn't allow himself to succumb to.
His mind made up, he suppressed his excitement and was about to call out to Shu Yunyi when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
The clear ringtone echoed loudly in the empty stairwell, reaching far.
Shen Yi quickly took out his phone and saw that it was Fu Nanzhi calling.
Startled, he glanced around and climbed up a few more steps.
Meanwhile, Shu Yunyi, deep in thought, glanced up and only spotted a trouser leg.
Fu Nanzhi's call, of course, couldn't be ignored, so Shen Yi went up another floor.
Picking up the phone, he brought it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hi, darling~" Fu Nanzhi's cheerful voice came through the line.
"What's up?" Shen Yi asked softly.
Fu Nanzhi giggled before speaking, her tone playful, "I missed you. We haven't seen each other all day."
"All day!"