Chapter 1: Retribution

In the hospital, Ning Ruyun glanced softly at the diagnosis report before her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Late-stage lung cancer, end-stage uremia, advanced rectal cancer, positive for HIV!

Excellent.

Truly excellent!

That arrogant scoundrel Wei Zhitao had finally met his comeuppance!

Now, with so many terminal illnesses afflicting him, many beyond remedy, he would endure constant torment from his ailments, destined to die a miserable death.

This outcome instantly lifted Ning Ruyun’s spirits.

The diagnosis report belonged to her husband, Wei Zhitao.

This was precisely the retribution Ning Ruyun had long desired.

Years ago, they had an engagement, and he had married her early after rescuing her from drowning—but it was all a ploy by Wei Zhitao.

He had long since fallen for her treacherous best friend, Feng Qingsnow, with whom he had a child and an entirely separate household. He never loved Ning Ruyun.

Despite this, Wei Zhitao needed to maintain a good reputation, sought support from the Ning family, and required her sacrifices. Using despicable schemes, he tarnished her reputation and married her, relegating her to a neglected, powerless position within the marriage.

Bound by the engagement and her reputation, Ning Ruyun had feelings for Wei Zhitao and endured the hardship, even as he often stayed away from home. She managed the household and helped run the family business.

Of course, the success of Wei Zhitao’s and Feng Qingsnow’s schemes was also aided significantly by Feng Qingsnow herself.

Back then, Ning Ruyun was unaware of Feng Qingsnow’s true nature. The latter was a consummate actress, and Ning Ruyun, blinded by gratitude for the life-saving help Feng had once given her, fell victim to their deceit.

Besides them, the elderly Wei family members and other relatives covered up the truth, allowing the treacherous pair to conceal their misdeeds tightly for so many years, profiting handsomely.

Poor Ning Ruyun had no idea, believing that Wei Zhitao’s inability to consummate the marriage was due to an injury before their wedding, deceived by this scoundrel for so many years.

Young and naïve, she had silently helped Wei Zhitao conceal his shameful secret, fulfilling her duties, caring for the home, and supporting his business ambitions.

Later, upon discovering suspicious financial records and medical reports for Wei Zhitao’s family, Ning Ruyun investigated further and uncovered the entire truth.

At that moment, she felt like the greatest fool, realizing that even the drowning incident had been orchestrated by Feng Qingsnow and Wei Zhitao to deceive her for years. Feng Qingsnow’s child had grown and was ready to inherit the family fortune!

Especially damning were the numerous documents in Wei Zhitao’s records filled with declarations of love for Feng Qingsnow, complete with various love confession images. He claimed that marrying Ning Ruyun was a reluctant necessity, accusing her of ruining the pure love between him and Feng Qingsnow and causing immense injustice to Feng and the child.

Further, the records revealed Wei Zhitao’s belief that Feng Qingsnow was his only true wife in this lifetime and the only daughter-in-law approved by the Wei family. Once the child matured, he planned to divorce Ning Ruyun and publicly reinstate Feng Qingsnow and her son into the Wei family, regaining everything that belonged to them.

Ning Ruyun also found an exorbitant insurance policy taken out on herself.

Seeing all this, she felt both bitter irony and dread.

To eliminate her and claim the insurance payout, Wei Zhitao had even plotted to kill his wife.

From that moment on, Ning Ruyun saw the true faces of Wei Zhitao and Feng Qingsnow clearly.

Determined to avoid such a tragic fate, she began planning a ruthless revenge.

Many of Wei Zhitao’s problems had been solved by Ning Ruyun behind the scenes, ensuring his business thrived while she remained in the shadows, bearing the guilt silently.

But now, knowing their treacherous schemes, Ning Ruyun would no longer be the gullible victim.

If she stayed uninvolved, given Wei Zhitao and Feng Qingsnow’s incompetence, their business would soon crumble, leaving them stripped bare by others.

She would not help them but instead add fuel to the fire, reclaiming everything rightfully hers. She would not let that scoundrel, his treacherous lover, their illegitimate child, or their ungrateful relatives have a single penny.

Unexpectedly, before she even acted, Wei Zhitao and Feng Qingsnow suffered their own downfall.

Feng Qingsnow’s promiscuity had led to contracting AIDS, which also afflicted Wei Zhitao.

Coupled with Wei Zhitao’s pre-existing conditions, his immune system was overwhelmed, his illnesses rapidly worsening beyond medical help.

In a short time, Wei Zhitao was confined to a private hospital room, bedridden and helpless.

Though he still harbored dreams of destroying Ning Ruyun and claiming the massive insurance payout through Feng Qingsnow and the child, he lacked the strength to act or even communicate plans with others.

Knowing all this, Ning Ruyun felt a bitter sense of justice and relief.

She need not lift a finger—retribution had already arrived swiftly and mercilessly, rendering Wei Zhitao’s life worse than death.

This swift and precise justice was even more satisfying than the revenge she had planned.

Standing at the door of the private ward, fully protected by isolation measures, Ning Ruyun clutched the diagnosis report and entered the room.

Approaching the bed, she gazed upon Wei Zhitao, swollen and ulcerated, with dark circles under his eyes, struggling to breathe, wracked with agony.

A faint, cold smile curved her lips.

She stepped closer, continuing to study him, savoring the sight of his wretched, miserable state, her eyes filled with vengeful satisfaction.