The news of Yan Anhua’s divorce spread throughout the circle.

Most people guessed Yan Anhua probably had a mistress, and divorced Si Linna just to make room for her.

Although the Yan family kept claiming that wasn’t the case and that the couple divorced due to irreconcilable differences, no one in Hai City’s upper-class circle believed it.

How many couples in the upper-class circle look harmonious but are actually at odds, yet you don’t see them getting divorced.

Besides, was Si Linna stupid enough to leave a wealthy husband for a divorce?

The Yan family originally planned to smear Si Linna’s reputation, intending to claim publicly that she was caught cheating and that’s why they had to divorce. But knowing the Yan family well, Anning had already predicted that they would try to smear Si Linna, so she specifically called Yan Anhua to warn him that Si Linna held evidence. If they dared to accuse Si Linna falsely, she might get angry and post photos of Yan Anhua and Shi Ye in bed online, exposing their shamelessness to everyone in the country. Due to Anning’s warning, the Yan family didn’t dare pursue that idea.

Meanwhile, Anning and Xiao Yuan were always seen together at school, eating together every day, appearing very affectionate. After several days of this, the rumors at school had significantly diminished.

No matter what others said about Anning, she hadn’t done anything objectively wrong.

Even if she had broken up with Xiao Yuan before, he didn’t care, so what was the point in others talking?

Hai University’s students had heavy coursework, with daily assignments barely leaving them enough time for their own lives, let alone keeping tabs on other people’s relationships.

So things continued until Friday. That Friday, after classes, Anning and Xiao Yuan planned to return to the countryside, as Anning had no classes, and Xiao Yuan had already asked for leave in advance.

Anning had informed Si Linna earlier that after classes, she would not be returning home. Si Linna was to drive over to pick up her and Xiao Yuan. The three planned to have lunch and then set off together.

Si Linna drove to Hai University at eleven in the morning.

She had prepared lunch at home, packed it in a thermos box, and put it in the car, thinking that after picking up Anning and Xiao Yuan, they wouldn’t waste any time, letting them eat in the car, after which the three could take turns driving home.

When she drove over, Anning hadn’t finished class yet. Si Linna hadn’t been to the university for quite a while, and since it was still early, she decided to find a place to park and take a walk around Hai University.

These past few days, whenever Anning returned from school, she would accompany Si Linna, constantly talking and walking with her, which improved Si Linna’s mood significantly.

While she still felt bad inside, she had come to terms with it. After the divorce, Si Linna no longer had to stay with the Yan family, endure Mrs. Yan’s criticisms, worry about being ridiculed for doing something wrong, or think about managing Yan Anhua’s external relationships. She felt entirely relieved.

It seemed as if she had shed a heavy shell, returning to her unmarried state. She even changed her hairstyle and took care of her appearance, appearing youthful and energetic. When walking around the university campus, at a glance, she might even be mistaken for a student.

Si Linna was originally very beautiful.

Understandably so; she and Shi Ye were siblings, and Shi Ye managed to captivate Yan Anhua, so naturally, he was exceptionally good-looking. As Shi Ye’s sister, Si Linna’s looks were certainly not lacking.

Si Linna had good looks, a decent sense of fashion, and exuded youth. Her presence on Hai University’s campus drew quite a bit of attention.

With a smile on her face, she walked under the shade of the trees, watching the vibrant students on campus, recalling her own university days, which lifted her spirits and sparked some reflection.

Just then, Si Linna’s phone rang. As she looked down to grab her phone, she unexpectedly bumped into a man carrying a stack of books.

"I’m sorry."

Si Linna saw that she had knocked the man’s books to the ground and quickly squatted to help pick them up.

The man, who wore glasses and looked scholarly, squatted to pick up the books as he said, "It’s okay."

Si Linna handed the man his books and, upon taking a closer look at him, was taken aback: "Shao, Shao Wen?"

The man recognized her too: "Lina?"

"It’s me."

Si Linna smiled, though a bit awkwardly: "I didn’t expect to run into you here."

"I really didn’t."

Shao Wen pushed his glasses up.

Si Linna saw it was a call from Anning and hung up before asking Shao Wen: "Which way to the Biology Department?"

Shao Wen pointed in a direction: "Never mind, I’ll walk you there."

Si Linna nodded.

"What brings you here?"

Shao Wen asked while walking.

Si Linna smiled: "I’m here to pick up my sister."

"Sister?"

Shao Wen frowned: "Didn’t you only have a brother?"

Upon mentioning this, Shao Wen glanced at Si Linna a few times: "How have you been these years?"

"I’ve been alright. And you?"

Si Linna returned the question.

Shao Wen smiled: "Not bad. I’m teaching at Hai University now. The environment is relatively simple, and I quite enjoy it."

"Have you... gotten married?"

Shao Wen asked tentatively.

Si Linna stopped walking, and as Shao Wen grew nervous, he continued: "Back then..."

"I don’t want to talk about what happened back then."

Si Linna’s expression turned a bit cold.

Shao Wen’s palms were sweaty from nerves: "Lina, I... I really regret it."

He looked at Si Linna, his expression earnest: "Back then, Shi Ye came to me and said I should leave you, that I shouldn’t hold you back. He said you’d started seeing a wealthy man and were embarrassed to break up with me in person, so he came on your behalf. I was young and impetuous, so I couldn’t take it. I went to confront you, but Shi Ye stopped me outside your house, claiming you didn’t want to see me. I tried several times..."

Shao Wen looked at Si Linna, his face full of anguish: "I got drunk and was beaten up on the way home, ended up hospitalized, waiting for you to come, but... I thought you truly wanted to break up, so I left Hai City... I spent a few years abroad and figured things out when I returned. I wanted to find you and ask, but I couldn’t find you anywhere."

"What?"

Si Linna was stunned, her face instantly turning pale: "You’re saying it was Shi Ye who came to you, asking you to break up with me? And that he said I asked him to come?"

Shao Wen nodded: "Yes."

Si Linna’s face grew even paler: "At that time, Shi Ye kept saying he was unwell, and later ended up hospitalized. I was caring for him in the hospital and knew nothing about your injury."

"No wonder, no wonder."

Si Linna muttered: "So it’s all his doing."

"You’re telling me you never intended to break up with me, and Shi Ye acted on his own?

Shao Wen was dumbfounded: "But why would he do that?"

"Haha."

Si Linna laughed, a bit bitterly: "Why? Naturally, to trick me into being a beard for him, to provide him cover."

Shao Wen grabbed Si Linna’s arm: "Lina, please clarify—what’s really going on between us all these years, what have we missed?"