022 The Old Man Has Gone Mad

"Why?" The moment Gu Yan stepped into room 521, Shen Hong’s voice rang out.

"Oh? Why is President Shen here?" Wei Hao, oblivious to the tense atmosphere, asked ignorantly. Shen Hong ignored him, his eyes fixed on Gu Yan’s indifferent face. "It was unnecessary." She spoke without looking at him. Before, she might have harbored fantasies of reconciling, but after that night, she had given up completely. Even if a stranger were suffering from a stomach ailment in front of you, you wouldn't be indifferent, let alone toward your own legal wife. That left only one conclusion: he did not love her.

"You two know each other?" Only when Shen Hong stormed out, slamming the door, did the realization dawn on Wei Hao.

"We aren't close."

The air was thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol, and the music, turned to its maximum volume, was nearly deafening. Men and women writhed wildly on the dance floor, while cold, glamorously dressed women mingled among the men, teasing those who couldn't control their impulses with flirtatious remarks. Women nestled seductively in men's arms, whispering sweet nothings, while the men drank and dallied with them. This was the heart of the city's nightlife: the bar.

Under the dim lights, the bartender swayed gently, elegantly mixing a colorful cocktail. A man in a suit sat at the bar, downing drinks one after another.

"Well, well! Our Mr. Shen actually has moments of loneliness. Do you need me to find you a few girls?" This was the scene Luo Xiaomeng encountered when she walked in. It wasn't that she wanted to kick someone when they were down, but she simply couldn't hold back her indignation.

Shen Hong glanced at her and continued to drink.

"Speak. Why did you call me?"

"Tell me about her." Perhaps due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed, his voice was hoarse.

"Ha!" Luo Xiaomeng couldn't help but sneer. "Should I be happy for Gu Yan? Her ex-husband is actually drowning his sorrows in a bar over her."

"Tell me about her." He ignored her tone, repeating the same phrase. He couldn't understand why, even though she was the one who initiated the divorce, it felt as if the whole world blamed him.

"You're asking the wrong person." Perhaps startled by the tone in his voice, Luo Xiaomeng stopped taunting him. "Truth be told, I feel guilty toward Gu Yan; I have no right to call myself her friend. Three years ago, when she was at her lowest, we so-called friends weren't the ones by her side. He would know, but I doubt he’ll tell you."

Shen Hong set his glass down. "Who is it?"

"Zheng Yingqi. Back then, Cai Meiyuan was in South Korea, Xu Xian was in a coma from severe injuries, and Yilin and I were actually blaming Gu Yan from the start. I don't know what happened to her during those days, but in the end, she just vanished without a word."

Watching Shen Hong’s thoughtful expression, Luo Xiaomeng continued, "You clearly had feelings for Gu Yan. Even as her bridesmaid, I could deeply feel the happiness between you two. Why did your attitude change after the marriage? I know Gu Yan, she loved you, and I know even better how much pressure she faced to marry you. With so many eyes on you, I think she wanted to hold on more than anyone, to show those waiting for a spectacle just how happy you were. If you think she divorced you for money, then I feel sorry for her. Think about it: Zheng Yingqi is better than you in every way. Why would she choose to marry you? It’s not too late—reconciliation isn't impossible. Think it over carefully. I don't want you to live with regrets."

After Luo Xiaomeng left, Shen Hong remained at the bar, drinking. *Why did your attitude change after the marriage?* He, too, wanted to know why. Was her virginity truly that important to him? Shen Hong asked himself, but he still couldn't find an answer.