048 All-Soybean Strain

"Why?" As soon as Gu Yan stepped through the door of Suite 521, Shen Hong's voice greeted her.
"Huh? Why is President Shen here?" Completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere, Wei Hao blurted out. Shen Hong ignored Wei Hao entirely, keeping his gaze locked on Gu Yan, whose face remained utterly indifferent. "There was no need." She spoke without looking at him. Once upon a time, she might have clung to the illusion of mending a broken relationship, but after experiencing that night, her heart had died completely. Even when faced with a complete stranger whose stomach illness flares up, one could hardly remain indifferent, let alone toward a legal wife. That could only point to one conclusion: he did not love her.
"You know each other?" Only when Shen Hong slammed the door behind him in a fit of rage did Wei Hao finally piece things out.
"Not well."
The heavy air was thick with the stench of alcohol and cigarette smoke, and the music, turned up to maximum volume, was nearly deafening. Men and women writhed wildly in the center of the dance floor, hips and waists swaying in a frenzy. Coldly glamorous women mingled with packs of men, laughing aloud and using frivolous words to tease those who could barely keep their composure. Seductively nestled in men's arms, women whispered sweet nothings while the men drank and carried on with them. This was the vibrant peak of the city's nightlife—a bar.
Beneath the dim lights, a bartender gently swayed his body, exquisitely mixing a vibrant, multi-colored cocktail. A man in a tailored suit sat at the edge of the bar, pouring glass after glass of liquor down his throat.
"Well, well! Our esteemed Young Master Shen actually has moments of loneliness. Do you need little old me to find a few girls for you?" This was the scene that greeted Luo Xiaomeng as she walked in. It wasn't that she wanted to kick a man while he was down or take advantage of his vulnerability; she was simply too furious to hold back.
Shen Hong glanced at Luo Xiaomeng and went right back to drinking.
"Spit it out. What do you want with me?"
"Tell me about her." Perhaps due to the excess alcohol, his voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Ha!" Luo Xiaomeng couldn't help a derisive scoff. "Should I be happy for Xiao Yan? Her ex-husband is actually drowning his sorrows in a bar over her."
"Tell me about her." Ignoring Luo Xiaomeng's sarcastic tone, he simply repeated the phrase. He couldn't understand it—she was the one who had asked for the divorce, so why did the whole world seem to think it was his fault?
"You're asking the wrong person." Perhaps startled by the grim tone in Shen Hong's voice, Luo Xiaomeng dropped her teasing manner. "Truth be told, I failed Xiao Yan too; I have no right to call myself her sister. Three years ago, during the most heartbreaking period of her life, the ones by her side weren't us, her so-called friends. He would know, but I doubt he'll ever tell you."
Hearing this, Shen Hong set down his glass. "Who is it?"
"Zheng Yingqi. Back then, Cai Mei was away in Korea, Xu Xian was gravely injured and in a coma, and initially, even Yilin and I resented Xiao Yan. I don't know what happened to her during those days, but in the end, she simply vanished without a word."
Watching Shen Hong's thoughtful expression, Luo Xiaomeng continued, "You clearly had feelings for Xiao Yan. Even as a bridesmaid, I could deeply feel the happiness between the two of you at the wedding. Why did your attitude change so drastically after marriage? I know Xiao Yan; she loved you, and I know even better the immense pressure she endured just to marry you. With so many pairs of eyes watching, I think Xiao Yan wanted to hold on more than anyone, just to show those waiting for a joke how happy the two of you were. If you think she divorced you for money, then I find her situation profoundly tragic. Just think about it—Zheng Yingqi is superior to you in every possible way, so why would Xiao Yan choose to marry you? Before it's too late, it's not entirely hopeless to mend what's broken. Think it over carefully; I don't want to see you regret this."
After Luo Xiaomeng left, Shen Hong remained seated at the bar, drinking. "Why did my attitude change after marriage?" He wanted to know the answer himself. Was her chastity really that important to him? Shen Hong asked himself in the silence of his heart, yet still could not come up with a reason.