Hearing this, Zhao Qi clenched her left hand tightly, her nails digging into her palm. She answered with a calm voice: “She is my father’s other daughter.”

Zhao Qi was surprised and asked, “Another daughter? Doesn’t your father only have you and your brother Zhao Yan?”

Zhao Qi said: “My father has only two biological children.”

“So Shen Mingyou is not your father’s biological daughter?” Guan Qian noted that Shen Mingyou’s surname is Shen, while Zhao Qi and her family have the surname Zhao, so she is definitely not Zhao Qi’s father’s biological daughter.

“Shen Mingyou’s status in our family is complicated. Don’t tell anyone about this. She is my father’s daughter, but she is not close to us. She has a strained relationship with my father, me, and my brother.”

Guan Qian, who thought she understood, said, “I see. Don’t worry, I’m good at keeping secrets. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Shen Mingyou might have used my father’s connections to let the crew rent the hotel again,” Zhao Qi said. “Since she is my sister, we will let it go. If the crew wants to continue renting the hotel, they can.”

Zhao Qi added, “Next time you see Shen Mingyou, try to avoid her and don’t confront her.”

Guan Qian was puzzled and asked, “Why? Didn’t you say she wasn’t your father’s biological daughter? Oh, I get it. Could it be that she married well? Didn’t the Internet say she is a wealthy lady?”

Zhao Qi sneered, “Can you trust what’s on the Internet? Shen Mingyou and her husband have no real feelings for each other. It’s just a business marriage. They separated shortly after marrying. A divorce is only a matter of time.”

“So Shen Mingyou is not only disliked by her birth family but also by her husband’s family and has a poor relationship with her husband?” Guan Qian asked.

“Yes, you could say that.”

After the call, Zhao Qi stared blankly at her phone, her eyes troubled. She wondered why Shen Mingyou wanted to return to China and thought it would be better if she stayed abroad.

** 

At ten o’clock in the evening, Jiang Chen came to the European Emperor Hotel to pick up Shen Mingyou after work.

The courtyard outside the European Emperor Hotel was brightly lit. Shen Mingyou was still filming, and the crew was very busy, moving around quietly.

Jiang Chen stayed in the shadows under a tree and watched Shen Mingyou under the light.

The director seemed to be discussing something with her. Shen Mingyou’s face lit up with a bold and confident smile, something Jiang Chen had never seen in their five years of marriage.

Every time Shen Mingyou came home, she would always greet him with a gentle, warm smile. Jiang Chen liked that smile very much.

But seeing Shen Mingyou so different tonight made Jiang Chen realize that perhaps he never truly understood her.

He always thought their marriage was happy, but maybe the happiness he felt was just his perception.

While Jiang Chen was lost in thought, he received a text from Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan: [You and Youyou want to divorce?]

Jiang Chen frowned and replied impatiently: [No.]

Zhao Yan: [Youyou found Lawyer Feng, who was our mother’s favorite lawyer, and even drafted a divorce agreement. You still say you don’t have one?]

Jiang Chen’s mood darkened. The divorce agreement was already drafted? It seemed Shen Mingyou was serious about divorcing him.

Zhao Yan: [It seems Youyou wants to divorce you.]

Zhao Yan: [Did you do something to offend Youyou?]

Zhao Yan: [If you dare to mistreat Youyou, I will make sure you regret it!]

Jiang Chen ignored his brother-in-law’s messages and looked up, focusing on Shen Mingyou.

Divorce?

From the first day he saw Shen Mingyou, he felt she was meant to be his wife. 

There was no way he could accept a divorce.

When Shen Mingyou finished filming, she said goodbye to the staff and walked over to Jiang Chen.

She had noticed that Jiang Chen had been standing quietly in the corner since he arrived.

Shen Mingyou asked him, “What are you doing here?”

Jiang Chen said, “I am reflecting on myself.”

For some reason, his usually cold voice sounded different now. Shen Mingyou detected a hint of pity in his tone.

Shen Mingyou asked him, “What did you reflect on?”