Chapter 21 – Baseless Dreams

The Rolls-Royce slowly drove into the Mid-Levels estate.
Wrapped tight in a coat and Yushen’s jacket, Shuhui stepped out first, not waiting for him, striding swiftly toward the main house.

“Mommy!”

At the sight of her, little Qin Suining dropped her doll, dashing over on short legs.

“Mommy’s here!”

“Baby, Mommy’s home.”

Shuhui crouched, kissing her daughter until the girl giggled uncontrollably and flung herself into her arms.

But Shuhui’s stiletto heels wobbled under the impact of her chubby little one.

Just then, strong arms scooped Suining up mid-charge, sparing Shuhui.

High above in her father’s embrace, Suining’s vision widened. She wrapped around his neck, squealing, “Fly! Daddy, fly!”

“You’re back…” Madam Lian Minfang approached, eyes lingering on her granddaughter.

Honestly, she thought both husband and wife were fools.

Out so late, they should have been enjoying their time together, not running to fetch their daughter.

What harm was there in letting Ningning spend the night with her grandmother?

…

Shuhui lingered long in the bathroom that night—removing makeup, cleansing, skincare, blow-drying her hair.

When she emerged, Suining was already sound asleep.

On the bed sat Qin Yushen, calmly holding a storybook, as if the quarrel in the car had never happened.

Shuhui smiled faintly.
“Step out. I have something to say.”

“?” He put the book aside and followed her out.

“Stand over there.” She pointed casually into the distance.

Puzzled, he still obeyed.

The moment he stood in place—click.

The bedroom door locked.

He spun around just in time to see the door close. Shuhui was gone.

Striding over, he confirmed it was locked from inside.

Yushen chuckled coldly.

He could fetch the spare key from Aunt Liu, but to let outsiders know he’d been thrown out of his own room at midnight? Unthinkable.

Expression blank, he turned to the guest bedroom.

Without her warmth beside him, lying alone in the vast bed, he felt restless for the first time.

Sleep came late.

And then—the dream. Absurd, yet so real it swallowed him whole.

Inside the master bedroom: endless arguments.

“This morning there’s a critical meeting. I’ve been swamped these past few days.”

“Qin Yushen! The primary school orientation is a milestone in Ningning’s life. I don’t care how busy you are—or who you’re trying to see at the office—you’re going today!”

Shuhui’s voice trembled with anger, her body strained, hand braced on the vanity for breath.

He ached with both frustration and worry. His temples throbbed.
“Other than work, who else could I possibly be seeing—”

Knock, knock.

The door creaked. Ningning peeked in, timid.
“Mommy… if we don’t go, we’ll be late.”

“Alright, baby. Daddy’s coming too. You two go wait in the car. Mommy will change quickly and join you.”

Shuhui coaxed gently, then shot Yushen a glare, urging him with her eyes.

Ningning blinked, surprised. Daddy too?

Would she finally get to sit between her parents like other children in photos?

“Daddy…” she whispered softly.

But he didn’t hear. His attention was locked on Shuhui.

Only once her breathing steadied did he relax and take Ningning’s hand, leading her out.

The car pulled away from Central, heading toward Boyang Primary.

In the backseat, Ningning sat obediently, while her father, beside her, rushed through a video conference.

His fluent American English—fast-paced, peppered with obscure vocabulary—was incomprehensible to her.

Despite four years of bilingual schooling, she couldn’t understand a word.

Head drooping, she hid her disappointment.

Never good enough…

Suddenly the radio cut in with an urgent alarm.

【Breaking traffic alert: Just now on Connaught Road Central, a severe collision occurred. A Maybach was struck, overturned. Both vehicles risk explosion. Please avoid Central this morning. Stay safe.】

The radio cut out. Silence filled the car.

The driver muttered, “We just passed Connaught Road. Lucky we came early…”

Before he finished, Yushen’s head snapped up. His heart clenched violently. Fingers on his keyboard trembled.

They had passed. But behind them—Shuhui?

A suffocating dread engulfed him.

Outside, the sky darkened, thunder rolling.

Ripping off his headset, he dialed frantically.

【The number you dialed is powered off. Sorry…】

Again. And again. Same cold voice. The contact name on screen—“Wife.”

“Turn back!!!”

…

Gasp—

Yushen jolted awake in darkness, drenched in sweat. His chest heaved as though he’d escaped death.

The emotions of the dream version of himself still gripped him, too vivid, too continuous with the ones from nights before.

Why…

He stood under the shower, cold water pouring over his head, shocking clarity into him.

In the dream, Shuhui weakened after just a quarrel. The real woman—tonight she’d been full of fire, unyielding.

And what “Boyang Primary”? In Hong Kong’s elite circles, such a school didn’t even exist.

Stop this baseless grief. It’s only nonsense dreams.

Pressing a hand hard against his chest, he steadied his breath.

—

Half a month slipped by.

Every night, after coaxing Suining to sleep, Yushen was still shut out, relegated to the guest room.

One noon, sunshine warm and crisp, a cool breeze blowing—the epitome of autumn’s clarity.

Shuhui and Suining, late risers, woke near noon. After lunch, Suining ran eagerly to her playroom.

Since its recent renovation, it had become her new paradise. Even her grandmother couldn’t compete, let alone Mommy.

With her daughter occupied, Shuhui settled to work. Carrying her laptop and iPad, she moved to the sunroom in the garden.

A beige V-neck sweater with matching wide-legged trousers, her dark hair twisted loosely into a low ponytail.

She sat cross-legged, bathed in perfect warmth. Flowers bloomed around her.

Through the glass she saw the camellia bushes she’d planted. Buds already swelled among the glossy leaves.

In winter, when Hong Kong had no snow, the camellias would bloom instead.

Sipping herbal tea, she let her thoughts wander. But in the end—work awaited.

Opening her laptop, she logged into her work accounts.

Messages exploded across the screen, pop-ups flying faster than she could clear.