"Cao Shi said at that time, 'It doesn't matter, he's very rich. I can marry him and use his money to make a comeback. He's from Taiwan and has some connections there.' He said, 'It doesn't matter that I'm blacklisted on the mainland, I can go to Taiwan to make movies. There are more film genres on the island than on the mainland, and the censorship is more lenient. Besides, I'm not a disgraced artist here.'"

“I know he’s taking advantage of my vulnerability. But what does it matter? I need his money and status, and he wants me. It’s a good deal.”

"I wouldn't care if I sold myself to the devil, as long as I could stand in the spotlight again and the audience cheered for my performance again."

Yang Huanyi rambled on, and by the end, she couldn't tell if the rain on her face was rain or tears. Her arm, which was holding the umbrella, was already numb and sore, but she seemed oblivious to it.

These words had been bottled up inside her for so long, almost filling her entire heart. While with Shang Yechu, her heart was constantly tormented by this pain and guilt.

“He was very good to me. I gradually became genuinely moved. We had a daughter. I didn’t want to have her, but that would have been unfair to Cao Shi for his unwavering support. Besides, if I didn’t have this child, it would prove that I hadn’t truly cared for Cao Shi—how could I have the face to use his money?”

Yang Huanyi murmured, "But I never even breastfed her, because breastfeeding would deform her body."

Shang Yechu's back swayed again, as if he had lost his balance for a moment.

"As soon as I finished my postpartum confinement, I couldn't wait to go back to filming. But my health was not as good as before, and I could no longer film action scenes."

The rain grew heavier. The deep blue rain carried a chilling desolation, truly a cold and desolate February.

"I searched online for a long time for suitable scripts. I thought, since the market doesn't want me, I'll go for the awards. Once I win the awards, I'll go for the market..."

The rain soaked Shang Yechu completely. She seemed to melt into the rain.

"Finally, I found Luo Yao and saw her script. I could tell at a glance that this was the award-winning script I wanted. But, among the actresses I know, who would be willing to come to Taiwan to act in a gay film? You know the acting skills of the younger generation of actors, where are there so many who can carry this script?"

"Just then, you came to Taiwan to attend the Golden Dome Award ceremony..."

Yang Huanyi choked up and lowered her head.

"You immediately came to mind. You act well, and you're young. I know you love acting. Besides, we know each other to some extent."

"Cao Shi was very supportive of me and got me an invitation to the Golden Dome Award, arranging for Luo Yao to attend the ceremony. Actually, I originally wanted to go to the ceremony, but my health wasn't very good after giving birth, and I wasn't feeling well for a few days, so I couldn't go in the end."

"And then... you know everything."

Yang Huanyi covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, sobbing uncontrollably.

Shang Yechu remained motionless, seemingly frozen in the rain.

For a moment, only the sound of rain and Yang Huanyi's sobs remained in the garden.

After a long while, Shang Ye turned around.

Rain lashed her face, just like the scene where Lin Fengyu died that day. Shang Yechu strained to open her eyes in the rain, and Yang Huanyi couldn't tell if the rain on her face was rain or tears.

"And what about me?"

The hoarse voice uttered these words. It was so distorted that her original voice was almost unrecognizable.

Shang Yechu wiped her eyes, trying to see the woman in front of her more clearly. She stubbornly repeated, "And what about me? What am I?"

Rain streamed down her beautiful face, her black hair clung to her cheeks, making her face appear incredibly pale, which pained Yang Huanyi deeply.

Yang Huanyi covered her mouth, the low eaves of the umbrella obscuring her eyes.

“At first, I thought it was just a play,” she said softly.

Boom!

A bright white lightning bolt cleaved through the lush greenery between heaven and earth, followed by a deafening thunderclap!

As if given a signal, the rain suddenly intensified. The torrential rain extinguished all the greenery, turning the world into a vast expanse of white.

The baby in the stroller suddenly woke up and let out a loud cry!

"Woo-waa-waa-waa-woo-waa ...

At the same time, Shang Yechu's body trembled violently, and he staggered backward a few steps.

Yang Huanyi was shocked and could no longer suppress the sorrow and pity in her heart. She rushed to Shang Yechu's side, put one arm around her and held the umbrella over her head with the other: "What's wrong? How are you? Are you—are you okay?"

The cold, wet rain overhead was blocked. But Yang Huanyi's body was instantly soaked through by the downpour.

Large raindrops pelted the gauze canopy of the stroller, soaking the baby inside. The baby's cries grew louder, almost louder than the rain itself.

Yang Huanyi, trembling, embraced Shang Yechu, repeatedly asking, "Are you cold? Are you in pain? Are you feeling unwell?"

Shang Yechu felt dizzy as Yang Huanyi held her tightly in his arms. Yang Huanyi's embrace wasn't warm; instead, it was damp and cold. Yang Huanyi's hands trembled uncontrollably, and the umbrella tilted precariously, letting half the rain soak Shang Yechu. But Shang Yechu felt dizzy and disoriented, as if she were in a dream.

She trembled as she embraced Yang Huanyi, then her body involuntarily slid down, as if all her strength had left her, and she knelt at the woman's feet.

Shang Yechu knelt down and hugged Yang Huanyi's legs, raising his head to gaze intently at her face in the pouring rain.

After a long silence, she said in a trembling voice, "You love me, don't you? You love me more than your children, don't you? You love me the most than your other children, don't you?"

This was her lifelong nightmare and obsession.