Chapter 1: Scaring the Husband Away  

Wen Li dragged her exhausted body out of the operating room, removed her medical mask, and took the water bottle handed to her by a nurse. She gulped down the entire bottle in a few large swallows.  

The two-and-a-half-hour surgery had drained her physically.  

“Dr. Wen, today’s operation was a success. Make sure to eat something to regain your strength after work,” the nurse said cheerfully as she took back the empty bottle.  

“Thanks, you’ve worked hard too.”  

Wen Li was well-liked not only for her exceptional medical skills but also for her easygoing attitude toward everyone.  

After thanking the nurse and giving a few more instructions, Wen Li headed to the locker room to change and prepare to leave.  

She habitually checked her phone first and frowned at the sight of over a dozen missed calls. Just as she was about to ignore them, another call came in.  

The caller ID displayed the words “Biological Mother,” making Wen Li exhale heavily. Every time her birth parents reached out, it was never good news.  

She waited until the ringing was about to end before answering. Before she could even speak, the voice on the other end demanded, “Why did you take so long to pick up?”  

Wen Li replied indifferently, “What do you want?”  

Though her tone had always been lukewarm, Zhao Lanzhi still found it infuriating. “Is that any way to talk to your mother?”  

“If there’s nothing important, I’m hanging up,” Wen Li said, not bluffing in the slightest as she moved to end the call.  

She had performed three surgeries today and was exhausted, with no patience for idle chatter.  

Knowing Wen Li’s temper, Zhao Lanzhi raised her voice in urgency. “Don’t hang up! There’s something important.” After a two-second pause, she softened her tone and continued, “I heard Shen An is back in the country. You two should come home for dinner tonight.”  

“Not going. No time.” Wen Li refused bluntly and promptly hung up.  

Shen An had returned to the country, yet she—his legally wedded wife—had no idea, while Zhao Lanzhi somehow knew.  

Wen Li scoffed sarcastically and opened her WeChat Moments. After scrolling for a bit, she confirmed that Shen An had indeed returned.  

If he was back, his childhood friends would undoubtedly throw him a welcome party, and someone would definitely post about it.  

Originally planning to go home early to rest, the news of Shen An’s return suddenly made her reluctant to head back.  

She felt nothing but unfamiliarity toward this husband she had only met twice in over a year of marriage, unsure how to interact with him.  

Their marriage was absurd by any measure—they had wed after a single meeting, and he left the country the very next day, turning her into a laughingstock among the elite circles of Haicheng.  

Desperate to climb the social ladder, she had married Haicheng’s infamous “sickly person,” rumored to be on death’s doorstep with only a few years left. While other wealthy families avoided him like the plague, the Wens had eagerly offered their daughter in a luck-bringing marriage.  

The most ridiculous part? Even this supposedly dying husband had looked down on the Wen family’s eldest daughter—why else would he vanish the day after the wedding?  

“Scaring the husband away on the second day of marriage” became a classic punchline at every high-society gathering.  

Just as she was wondering where to hide, her friend Chen Qiao sent a WeChat message: “Off work yet? How about hitting Sleepless City?”  

The two agreed instantly. By the time Wen Li arrived, Chen Qiao had already ordered drinks and a fruit platter.

Wen Li had changed into a little black slip dress before coming over. Along the way, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone’s gaze was following her—a gaze so penetrating it seemed capable of shattering her effortlessly.

This sense of being watched made Wen Li feel somewhat uneasy.

Chen Qiao was quite pleased with Wen Li’s outfit and clapped her hands in approval before asking, “Just got off surgery?”

Wen Li nodded. She was long accustomed to it and saw no reason to be coy. She speared a piece of watermelon and popped it into her mouth for a sugar boost. “Just the two of us?”

Chen Qiao nodded mysteriously. “Today, I’m taking you to experience something different. Didn’t want to invite anyone else.”

Wen Li turned her head curiously. “You don’t look like you’re up to any good.”

Chen Qiao nodded vigorously. “Just wait and see. You’re gonna love it.”

A moment later, the hostess brought over six young men for them to choose from. Chen Qiao immediately perked up like she’d been injected with adrenaline and whispered in Wen Li’s ear, “What do you think? Look at the second one—he seems really strong. And the fourth one, so fair-skinned, a total cute young man.”

When Wen Li didn’t respond, Chen Qiao continued enticing her. “You’ve worked hard all day. What’s wrong with relaxing a little? Your man isn’t even here.”

Wen Li thought to herself that he actually was, but she figured the odds of running into him were slim.

Seeing Chen Qiao’s enthusiasm, Wen Li didn’t want to be a killjoy. Besides, she knew Chen Qiao well—all talk, no action. If things got serious, she’d be the first to bolt. So Wen Li nodded. “Fine, I won’t fight you for them. Those two are yours.”

Then, Wen Li randomly pointed at two young men to stay. Soon enough, she regretted it. Were all the guys at the club this enthusiastic? Their energy was overwhelming, and she could only chat with Chen Qiao to ease the awkwardness.

Chen Qiao, a chatterbox, noticed Wen Li’s discomfort and couldn’t resist gossiping. “Shen An’s been gone for over a year. Don’t you miss him?”

Unbeknownst to them, at the mention of “Shen An,” one of the men at the neighboring table stiffened, his ears perking up.

At the mention of Shen An, Wen Li chuckled. “He’s just on a business trip, not dead. What’s there to miss?”

No sooner had she spoken than the man at the next table let out an exasperated laugh. Oh, great. His wife wanted him dead.

Chen Qiao nodded in agreement. “Your marriage is practically widowhood. It’s not far off from him being dead.”

“You haven’t seen each other or even contacted each other in over a year?” Chen Qiao was deeply curious about her friend’s marital situation and couldn’t resist digging further.

Wen Li thought for a moment before replying uncertainly, “Well, we have had some contact.”

“Some?”

Wen Li picked up her phone, opened her chat history with Shen An, and showed it to Chen Qiao without hesitation. “We’ve been in touch on holidays like Qixi Festival, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and so on.”

Chen Qiao scrolled through the messages and gasped. “Damn! This screen is full of 520s and 1314s. Girl, I’m jealous of your marriage! Just for Qixi alone, he sent you ten 520s and ten 1314s. Can you hook me up with someone like that?”

Wen Li rolled her eyes. “You really want this kind of ‘blessing’?”

Chen Qiao nodded vigorously. “Hell yeah! Is life in high society this easy? No need to be by his side, and you still get so much money in a year. I’d take it in a heartbeat.”

After a moment’s thought, Chen Qiao added, “But girl, you’re something else. You take the money without even saying thanks?”

Their chat dialog was filled with nothing but transfer and payment records—not a single extra word, not even a perfunctory emoji.  

Wen Li murmured, “I don’t know what to say. What if I say the wrong thing and upset my sugar daddy? This is fine—just sending regular transfers to confirm he’s still alive.”  

As for this marriage, Wen Li had no strong feelings or high expectations. She just had to fulfill her role in this luck-bringing marriage.  

“I’m really afraid I’ll wake up one day as a widow,” Wen Li said gloomily. After all, the whole city knew that the Shen family’s young master didn’t have long to live.  

The topic was getting a bit heavy, so Chen Qiao quickly changed the subject. “Come on, let’s drink! Hey, you two handsome guys, toast her!”  

The two good-looking guys had been listening to the gossip and snapped back to attention, raising their glasses and crowding closer to Wen Li, making her want to flee. *Don’t they feel hot pressed this close?* she thought.  

Her phone screen hadn’t dimmed yet, and in the chat log full of transaction records, a new message appeared:  

“Heard you’re looking forward to attending my funeral? Why not come toast me in person?”