Yecheng has a mild climate and is separated from Lincheng by Wanhu Lake.
Shang Wu used some of her personal savings to rent a studio with a small courtyard in a quiet but artistic neighborhood.
Aying followed her without hesitation and became the only permanent employee in the studio besides her.
During the day, they are busy and on the go.
Shang Wu has returned to design and devoted all her energy to creation.
She hosts small design exhibitions on her channel to distract herself from her busy schedule.
However, influenced by this period, Shang Wu's style began to lean towards a fragmented aesthetic.
Although she became more and more popular with everyone, Shang Wu felt that she had lost her original aspirations.
Her designer stage name, "Freya," was originally chosen because she wanted to design jewelry for people who truly love each other.
Now, however, comes the pain of heartbreak. She feels broken, vulnerable, and hopeless.
Even with such a warm response, Shang Wu was not very satisfied with herself.
However, she never revealed her true thoughts.
She greets her studio visitors and fans with calm and gentleness, and occasionally chats and laughs with them.
But only Aying knew that every night, the light on the second floor of the studio would stay on very late.
Sometimes she would hear suppressed, rapid breathing from upstairs, like someone waking up from a nightmare, followed by long silences.
Lu Rang's image flashed into Shang Wu's mind every night.
Those past moments of love, all the experiences they went through, and finally his hatred and coldness, all tormented Shang Wu repeatedly.
Even though she tried to numb herself with busyness, her emotions always came back to haunt her in the dead of night.
More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
Shang Wu thought she would gradually get used to this peaceful life tinged with hidden pain.
But one night, a phone call from Shang Yun Shen shattered all of this.
On the other end of the phone, Shang Yunshen's voice was heavier and hoarse than ever before.
“Awu, Mom… is dying, she wants to see you one last time.”
The phone nearly slipped from Shang Wu's hand, and she stood there stunned.
Ruan Yuzhi...
How could that woman with whom she had a complicated and distant relationship suddenly become unwell?
Shang Wu bit her lip, unsure of what to say.
"She wants to see you, she's been forcing herself to stay strong, Ah Wu, please come over, okay?"
"Just for the sake of her giving birth to you and raising you, I'll see her once."
Shang Yunshen pleaded softly on the phone.
A complex look flashed across Shang Wu's eyes as she grabbed her coat and wallet.
She hurriedly gave a brief explanation to Ah Ying, who came out after hearing the noise.
"I'm going on a business trip."
Without looking back, Shang Wu drove to the airport in the deep darkness, her mind in turmoil.
She finally arrived at the private hospital just before dawn.
The ward was filled with the smell of disinfectant.
As soon as Shang Wu entered, he saw Ruan Yuzhi lying on the hospital bed, so thin she was almost unrecognizable, her life hanging by a thread thanks to machines.
Shang Yun stood by the bed with red eyes and gently shook her head at her.
Shang Wu slowly moved to the bedside, her steps unsteady.
She could hardly recognize the woman on the bed, barely breathing, as her impeccably made-up, domineering, and unreasonable mother.
Ruan Yuzhi seemed to sense her arrival and opened her eyes with difficulty.
His eyes were cloudy, but he tried to look at her.
"Ah... Wu..."
Her voice was barely audible.
Shang Wu looked at her withered hands, her throat tightened, and she couldn't speak.
Ruan Yuzhi's unfocused gaze revealed a strange clarity and obsession.
She took a few deep breaths and said haltingly, "I don't have much time left. There's something I must tell you."
Shang Wu leaned down and brought his ear close to her lips.
“Lu Rang…the Yu family…it’s my fault…I’m sorry to them…”
Ruan Yuzhi's voice was weak but clear, tinged with regret.
“I… liked Lu Zheng… but he only had eyes for Xiao Yun, and I never expected…”
Shang Wu's body stiffened abruptly, and she looked at Ruan Yuzhi in disbelief.
An unnatural flush rose on Ruan Yuzhi's face, as if she were experiencing a final burst of energy before death.
“It was me… who secretly pushed Xiaoyun and him apart… I didn’t expect… I never thought Xiaoyun would be so traumatized that she would become depressed… and die… I… regret it…”
Shang Wu's breathing faltered slightly as he stared blankly at Ruan Yuzhi.
Love turned to hate.
Many high-sounding excuses.
Could this love lead Ruan Yuzhi to destroy everything Lu Zheng has, including his wife?
Shang Wu probably felt that he was heartless to the core.
Even so, she never felt any pity for Ruan Yuzhi.
Ruan Yuzhi gripped her hand tightly, her nails almost digging into the flesh of the back of her hand.
"Mom was wrong...Lu Rang is a good boy...Please, don't blame Mom...You two should be happy..."
happiness?
These two words pierced Shang Wu's heart like a knife.
She looked at Ruan Yuzhi, who was repenting on her deathbed, and at the entanglement of love and hate between two generations.
A sense of absurdity nearly crushed Shangwu.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall.
Shang Wu grasped Ruan Yuzhi's cold hand in return, her voice trembling yet unusually clear.
"Mom, thank you for telling me all this, and thank you for teaching me one thing with your whole life."
Ruan Yuzhi was surprised that she would call her "Mom," and her eyes lit up.
Shang Wu took a deep breath: "That means never becoming like you, hurting the innocent because of love turned to hate."
"Me and Lu Rang..."
She choked up, and tears finally streamed down her face, dripping onto the back of Ruan Yuzhi's hand.
"As you wish, it will never be possible. You can rest in peace now."
As Ruan Yuzhi listened to her words, her eyes widened in vain, as if she wanted to say something.
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