Chapter 22: What Did the Trap Catch? Gu Yichen's heart skipped a beat. Unconsciously, he stepped closer, strangely anticipating what Su Nian would say next. He seemed to have figured out the reason behind her unusual behavior over the past few days. So it was all a act of playing hard to get? She really was an excellent actress. Gu Yichen frowned slightly, clearly feeling a surge of pleasure and relief welling up inside him. So she had been acting; she didn't actually stop loving him.

"What?" Tang Shi asked in disbelief,

"You're pushing for divorce just as a tactic? To make Gu Yichen change his mind and care more about you?"

She covered her forehead with her hand, filled with helplessness. She should have known; Su Nian had loved Gu Yichen for eight years—how could she possibly give up so easily? It turned out she was just playing hard to get! Tang Shi sighed; this outcome was expected by everyone.

"So? It's working, right?" Su Nian asked excitedly, her eyebrows dancing with delight.

As if casually, she glanced toward Gu Yichen's hiding spot, the corners of her lips curling upward slightly, revealing a hint of cunning. Just five minutes earlier, Shen Yuhuan had sent her a message informing her that Gu Yichen had left the banquet hall. She had carefully timed everything before dragging the unsuspecting Tang Shi into this act. The entire divorce strategy had been devised by Shen Yuhuan, with the main goal of making Gu Yichen believe she was playing hard to get. When she had curiously asked about the reasoning behind it, Shen Yuhuan replied with only one sentence: "Many men are masochistic; they only become restless over what they can't have, while taking for granted what comes easily."

Su Nian didn't truly understand men; otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up in such a failed marriage. But since Shen Yuhuan spoke with such confidence, trying it wouldn't hurt. As long as she could secure a divorce, employing schemes and tactics was perfectly acceptable.

"How could it not work?"

Tang Shi nodded.

"When we left the banquet hall just now, Gu Yichen's attention was clearly fixed on you."

She gave a thumbs-up, unsure whether to feel happy for Su Nian or frustrated by her stubbornness.

"Nian Nian, no matter what happens, I truly hope you find happiness."

Su Nian hugged her tightly, her eyes curving into gentle crescents.

"Tang Tang, thank you!"

No matter when or where, regardless of whether she stayed with or left Gu Yichen, Tang Shi always supported her unconditionally.

"Alright, enough with the formalities between us," Tang Shi said, half helplessly, half irritably.

"If that bastard Gu Yichen hurts you again this time, just watch me take a knife to him!"

Su Nian couldn't help but laugh softly, her voice sweet and slightly coquettish.

"Okay, okay, let's continue planning our next move. Right now, Gu Yichen and I are at a stalemate. I propose divorce, but he refuses every time. So I plan to keep 'acting up'."

"The more unwilling he is to divorce, the more he cares about me. That means the initiative is in my hands, and I can start making all sorts of demands," she said triumphantly.

Behind an ancient tree thousands of years old, Gu Yichen's expression darkened as he listened to Su Nian listing her unreasonable demands: "For example, demanding he cut off all contact with Shen Wanrou—I really can't stand that mistress anymore. Or, requiring him to spend more time accompanying me…"

Tang Shi frowned, somewhat worried.

"What if you push too hard and he actually agrees to divorce? You know that bastard Gu Yichen cares deeply about his mistress. In the past, he gave you plenty of cold shoulders because of her."

"Don't worry," Su Nian replied carelessly, exuding complete confidence.

"Mom likes me so much. At that point, I'll have Mom pressure him, just like she did when we got married. I don't believe my husband would be heartless enough to disregard Mom's life."

"Huh?" Tang Shi asked, utterly confused.

Su Nian chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling brightly.

"Didn't you know? Back then, my husband wasn't willing to marry me. It was me who suggested to Mom that she threaten suicide to force him into compliance."

Her gaze flickered briefly, and the smile on her face faded slightly. Gu Yichen's pupils contracted sharply, his expression turning ice-cold. So that was how it happened! When they got married, Xu Qing cried, made scenes, and even threatened suicide to force him into marrying Su Nian—but it turned out the idea had come from Su Nian herself!Su Nian's character—he had always thought her merely willful and spoiled, not inherently bad. Tonight, he finally understood the truth. Such a heartless woman was utterly unworthy of being his wife! Gu Yichen's chest burned with fury; he turned sharply and strode away, his faint footsteps echoing amidst the rustling wind. Su Nian watched him go. In the mottled moonlight, that retreating figure was as cold as autumn frost, just as it had always been. The smile vanished from her eyes, replaced by a tinge of melancholy and sorrow.

"Nian Nian, you're not that kind of person. You would never suggest Aunt risk her life to help you."

Tang Shi frowned, following Su Nian's gaze.

A moment later, understanding dawned.

"Alright, what's past is past. The next one will be better; this one isn't worth it!"

She pulled Su Nian into an embrace, skillfully shifting the topic.

"Once the divorce is finalized, there'll be plenty of young, adoring men waiting for you. Shen Yuhuan is so wonderful—gentle, considerate, and obedient…"

Su Nian shivered violently, suddenly remembering Shen Yuhuan. Preoccupied with her own divorce, she had forgotten that tonight was his main event!

"Let's go, let's go! We need to find him quickly!" Su Nian urged hastily.

If they delayed any longer, Shen Yuhuan might not only have killed someone but also finished painting the symbol representing his identity as "the Judge"

—the poppy flower.

"What's the rush?"

Tang Shi blinked in surprise, complaining helplessly.

"You're not even divorced yet, and you're already eager to chase after a young lover? Well, at least it'll drive that bastard Gu Yichen mad with anger!"

"Hurry, or we'll be too late."

Su Nian searched everywhere, but Shen Yuhuan was nowhere to be found in the banquet hall. Since this involved a murder case, she feared implicating Tang Shi and causing unnecessary trouble. Making up an excuse, she parted ways with Tang Shi and went alone to find Shen Yuhuan.

Finally, on a small path, she spotted Shen Yuxi, his expression stern. Just as Su Nian was about to call out to him, Shen Yuxi turned his head and placed a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay silent. She approached cautiously. Before Shen Yuxi stood several plainclothes police officers gathered around a figure lying on the ground.

"Don't look," Shen Yuxi warned in a low voice.

Although Su Nian closed her eyes promptly, a fleeting glance had already revealed the man's face—a young fellow with shifty, rat-like features. Chen Yiqi, the young master of the Chen family. Su Nian detested him from the bottom of her heart. Having committed a brutal murder while still a minor, his character was utterly despicable. Yet, seeing his gruesome state now, she couldn't quite name the churning emotions within her. Like Hu Tianyu before him, he had been disemboweled. Previously, a pregnant woman had been slashed open; now, it was their turn. A poppy flower, painted in blood—the symbol of "judgment"

—bloomed upon the ground.

"Miss Su, please leave this area," Shen Yuxi suggested kindly, noticing Su Nian's pallor.

Su Nian nodded obediently, though heavy-hearted. As she turned to leave, she came face-to-face with Shen Yuhuan, dressed in a flawless white gown. He still wore his warm, sunlit smile, elegant as jade, making her shiver slightly. Clearly a ferocious wolf, yet insistently pretending to be a little angel.

"Little Nian Nian, let me take you home," Shen Yuhuan said with a smile.

Su Nian instinctively refused.

"No, I'll return with Gu Yichen."

She paused, then added, "That's part of our plan."

Due to the fatal incident involving the Chen family, the banquet was abruptly concluded. After everyone registered their information, they departed separately, awaiting future summons from the police. Su Nian felt unsettled. After returning home and taking a bath, she noticed the divorce agreement placed on the bedside table. In the signature section, three bold, vigorous characters soared like dragons and danced like phoenixes: Gu Yichen had already signed. Su Nian's expression turned blank; her emotions were complicated. Now that she finally held the divorce agreement she had longed for, she suddenly felt empty, struck by an unreal sense of disorientation. One year of marriage had reached its end.

"Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, we'll go to finalize the divorce," Gu Yichen stated coldly, without even glancing at Su Nian, before leaving the room with icy detachment.Author: Meme Da.

The next chapter will be behind the paywall~ I hope my little angels will continue to support me~ Upcoming works (click on my profile to add to your library): Upcoming Work #1: "Transmigrated as the Substitute Bride and Beloved of the Villain Tycoon"

~ Early stages feature the heroine in a dramatic love triangle; later stages show the male lead groveling to win her back. Synopsis: Liu Yiyi transmigrated into a book, becoming a vicious and spoiled supporting female character who was tricked by the heroine into marrying their rival as a substitute bride. Huo Suchen is the great villain in the story; currently in a vegetative state, he suffered all kinds of abuse from the original supporting character after she married him. Just as Liu Yiyi snapped out of her confusion, lo and behold, the villain tycoon woke up. Will she still have time to display her obedient, soft, cute, and harmless persona? Upcoming Work #2: "Becoming the White Moonlight Who Tortured Seven Powerful Men"

~ A gathering of tycoons, an explosively dramatic love triangle. Synopsis: Xue Wanwan offered nothing but tenderness and warmth, becoming the white moonlight of seven powerful men. After faking her death and escaping, she became the cinnabar mole forever etched upon their hearts. She submitted her mission report to the main system, applying for retirement and return to the real world. However, a glitch occurred in spacetime, and somehow all the different worlds merged together??? …

Finally, one day, the seven villain tycoons discovered each other's existence!