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At this point, Yang Xue and I were nothing more than the most familiar strangers.

Ignoring her angry gaze, I walked into the restaurant calmly.

At the table, I chatted and laughed with President Su.

This time, I was the one talking.

She listened attentively, resting her chin on her hand, smiling like a blooming flower.

She was the first woman who was truly willing to listen to my thoughts on sculpture.

In her eyes, I saw curiosity and sincerity.

Yang Xue, on the other hand, had always looked down on my profession. She thought it was unstable and not respectable.

We never had a common language.

With President Su, I could talk endlessly about sculpture, speaking with passion. Before I knew it, it was almost time for her flight. I still had so much more to say.

At the restaurant entrance, I bid farewell to President Su, waving as she left.

After meeting her, I became even more certain about leaving this city.

Thinking about seeing her again soon, I actually felt excited about the future.

[Who is she?]

Yang Xue finally lost her patience. She stormed up to me, raising her hand to slap me while shouting furiously, "No wonder you were acting strange last night! So you've found someone new! Shen Qing, this is cheating! Do you have any shame?"

I grabbed her wrist and said indifferently, "She's just a business partner. We only had a meal together."

Yang Xue's rage exploded as she screamed, "How dare you resist?! Before, when I hit you, you had to kneel and take it! Shen Qing, you've definitely changed! You're nothing but a cheating scumbag!"

Looking at her face, now twisted with anger, I found the whole situation ridiculous.

In the past, I endured endless humiliation for the sake of this face. I let her trample on my dignity, leaving me battered and bruised.

Before, if something like this had happened, I wouldn't just have to endure her fury—I would have to kneel and apologize in front of everyone.

I always knew she had a bad temper, but I never imagined she was this twisted.

In her mind, she was never wrong.

Even if she was, it would somehow be my fault.

For three years, my indulgence had made her feel untouchable.

But now, I had had enough.

"Yang Xue, have you lost your mind? You're the one who couldn't forget your first love even after getting married."

"You're the one who left the master bedroom for your ex in our marital home."

"You're the one who drugged me so you could go on a trip with him—almost killing me in the process."

"So tell me, who's the real scumbag here?"

For the first time, I refused to back down. I tore off her fake mask right in front of everyone.

Yang Xue's mouth fell open, her eyes widened in shock as she stared at me in disbelief.

She never expected me to fight back so fiercely.

If someone doesn't truly care about you, why waste your heart trying to hold on?

Just let the wind take them away.

[You...]

Yang Xue pointed at me, her face flushed red with anger. As more and more people gathered, whispering among themselves, she gritted her teeth and said, "Just you wait!"

Still wanting to save face, she dragged Mu Chen away.

Before leaving, Mu Chen shot me a smug, taunting smile, looking triumphant.

I felt nothing.

If they were truly in love, then they should stay together forever and stop ruining other people's lives.

When I got back to my studio in the suburbs, Yang Xue called me, trying to flaunt her power and force me to admit my wrongdoing.

I was beyond annoyed.

Blocked her.

Everything went quiet.

But soon, I received a notification from my special follow list on Weibo.

I clicked it open and let out a cold laugh.

Mu Chen had posted a photo of them holding hands with the caption:

"After all this time, it's still you!"

I immediately recognized the other hand—it was Yang Xue's.

The wedding ring on her finger was the exact one we had picked out before getting married.

Back then, I thought she loved it.

Later, I found out she had actually chosen it years ago when she was still with her first love, dreaming of marrying him.

Yang Xue even liked the post on purpose.

Every time we fought, she would show off her affection with Mu Chen on social media.

It used to drive me insane.

I would apologize over and over, begging her to come home.

She would demand outrageous things before reluctantly agreeing.

Now, she was using the same trick again, hoping I would grovel at her feet.

But I was done.

She could play her games all she wanted—I wasn't going to care anymore.

I unfollowed her.

Out of sight, out of mind.

From now on, I was going to live for myself.

I wanted Yang Xue completely out of my life.

President Su's company was a professional, internationally recognized firm. Even she couldn't make arbitrary decisions.

If I wanted to join, I needed the right credentials.

Though I had a natural talent for sculpture, I had spent too many years revolving around Yang Xue. The only certification I had was an intermediate sculptor's license from my university days.

The next advanced certification exam was in two weeks.

After blocking Yang Xue, I devoted myself entirely to preparing for the test.

Without her in my life, I became busy and focused. Her face gradually faded from my mind. At one point, I even went three days without thinking about her at all.

I spent my time at the studio either studying or refining my craft.

During this period, President Su reached out to me. She had shared photos of my sculptures in her professional circle, and a buyer was interested in purchasing one at a high price.

But the piece in question was unfinished—it was called "Memories."

I had been inspired to create it when I first met Yang Xue by the river.

It was meant to be a wedding gift, a surprise for her.

Unfortunately, she had never truly cared for me or my work, treating me as nothing more than a placeholder.

That sculpture had been sitting in my studio ever since.

Now that someone wanted it, I decided to complete it.

A proper ending to three years of misery.

Two weeks later, I passed the exam with ease and officially became a certified advanced sculptor.

Now, it was time to clear my mind, leave everything behind, and move on to a new place.

For the past half month, my life without Yang Xue had been fulfilling.

Before, her entanglement with Mu Chen had made me lose all self-respect. I had become easily enraged, jealous, like a deranged third party clinging to a toxic love triangle.

Now, I was ready to start fresh.

Saying goodbye to the past, I felt like an entirely different person.

I began taking better care of myself—not for vanity, but for a new beginning.

Looking at the handsome man in the mirror, I realized I didn't actually resemble Mu Chen at all.

His face carried a heavy, calculating gloom, as if burdened by endless schemes.

I, on the other hand, used to be gentle and respectful to everyone.

And now, I finally understood why Yang Xue had tormented me for so long.

She needed me to lose myself—so I could become more like Mu Chen.

The realization sent a chill down my spine.

Thankfully, I had woken up.

I never wanted anything to do with Yang Xue again.

I hoped she and Mu Chen would stay locked together forever—far away from my life.