The morning sun light filtered through the office windows, in thin and slanted beam,catching dust in air.
The low hum of computers and the buzz of printers blended into a dull background.
But today everything felt wrong.
The numbers on Li Na's computer screen were swimming before her eyes when her coworker, Chi Chi, stopped by her desk. Chi Chi offered a cheerful, genuine smile, commenting, "Li Na, you came early today?" Li Na returned the smile, teasing Chi Chi by gently poking her cheek and saying, " Our Chi Chi is getting prettier day by day, isn't she?"
"It must be the company I keep ! Being with my bestfriend means I'm surrounded by good looks, so why wouldn't I glow ?" Chi chi said in a playful way.
Li na chuckled.
Chi Chi quickly moved closer to Li Na, lowering her voice. "Hey, have you heard about the new secretary—the one the boss hired personally?" she whispered conspiratorially. "I heard she was in love with a guy for ten years. But then he found out and immediately confessed his love to someone else." Li Na rolled her eyes and chuckled,Chi Chi continued: "So, the new secretary found that girl's ex and started dating him!. The boy eventually apologized to her and confessed but the secretary had already moved on and rejected him.
Later, the boss of our rival company fell for her, and they began dating. "But now," Chi Chi whispered, "she has joined our company! I think she's definitely plotting something." Li Na sighed, gently tapping Chi Chi's head. "Why don't you just focus on your work? Have you finished the project that boss gave you?"" Chi Chi pouted. "I will," she promised, then added, "But seriously, why would the boss hire her when he knows she dated the rival's CEO? Li na eyes narrowed with wonder but she shook off the feeling. "It's totally messed up."
Her eyes widened as she remembered "It was due today." Chi Chi immediately jumped up and rushed back to her desk. Li Na resumed with her work.
Shortly after, her boss arrived.
"Good morning, Miss Li," he said. She stood to greet him. "Good morning, Sir. How are you today?" She asked. "I'm fine, Miss, but you don't look so fine. Everything's alright? How's your husband?" Li Na maintained her composure, replying with a subtle smile, "Everything's alright, Sir ; he's doing great." The boss nodded, giving her a fleeting wistful smile.
Chi Chi blinked twice as if confused.
Suddenly he turned his attention to Chi Chi's desk. "Chi Chi, have you completed the project which was due today?" he asked, throwing her a sidelong glance and using a mocking tone.
Chi Chi forced an awkward laugh. "Haha, yes Sir, just a few things and it's done." Giving him a thumbs up.
"It better be," he retorted sharply before leaving.
Li Na struggled to work. Despite being a highly diligent employee for whom the usual paperwork and projects were never an issue, the tasks now felt too heavy. She was unable to concentrate, and the atmosphere felt thick and smothering.
She stepped outside for fresh air and instantly relaxed as the cool breeze cleared her stress and exhaustion. She stood with her eyes closed, enjoying the feeling of her hair moving freely in the wind.
Her phone rang. It was Guo Yu.
"Hello, yes my dear," she greeted him lovingly.
"What's going on?" She asked.
However, the only response she heard was a sound of sobs and heavy sighs from the other end. "Hello?" she asked again, expecting him to speak, but the line remained silent before suddenly disconnecting.
Though momentarily puzzled, she chose not to worry about the strange, interrupted call.
She lingered a moment longer, savoring the cool air, before heading back inside to her desk.
Across the city, in Li Na's home, Mei sat alone at the dining table. The sunlight illuminated where Mei kept her head down on the table. Though her writing material - the pen and paper were right there but still Mei felt no desire to write.
The conversation she had with her protégé son-in-law kept repeating in her mind, persistent and unwelcomed like a sad, unforgettable melody.
"I just wanted my little girl back."
"You know nothing about love."
"Love can't be measured, Mei. Yet yours comes with conditions."
"Me! I fit all your criteria. But now, you've altered your standards again."
"You came to reclaim what you can no longer control."
"You were never a burden,but you've made this house feel like one."
Tears started brimming in her eyes.
"Yes, you can leave."
Tears streamed down her face as she gasped for air.
Clutching her chest, she continued to weep fiercely.
The phone ringing interrupted Mei's crying.It was Li na.Mei quickly dried her tears to answer.
"Hello, yes my sweetie pie."
"What's going on ?" Li na replied.
"Have you both had lunch?"
"Yes,yes we finished that long ago."she replied still wiping her face.
"Maa, is everything alright?. I just spoke to Guo Yu, and it sounded like someone was crying, and he won't answer now."
The realization that Guo Yu was weeping caused Mei's heart to drop, unleashing her own tears again.
She clutched her chest, holding her phone away, prevent her daughter from hearing her distress.
At this point Li na knew something was wrong."Maa, I'm coming home." Mei panicked, but it was too late—the call had already disconnected.
Just then, Chi Chi arrived with Li Na's coffee and immediately noticed Li Na's shaking hands. "What happened?" she asked. "I have to go home now. I'll tell you later," Li Na replied, rapidly gathering her things. Chi Chi simply sighed, unable to get an explanation.
When Li Na arrived home, the scene confirmed her worst fears. Guo Yu was on the drawing room floor, clearly distraught: his clothes were disheveled, his hair was a mess, and tear tracks marked his face as he rested against a chair. Li Na ran to him, embracing him. "What happened?" she managed, her voice cracking with fear.
The sight of his wife triggered an immediate wave of remorse in Guo Yu. "I'm, I'm sorry, Li Na. I didn't mean to..." he stammered.
Mei quickly emerged from her room. Her eyes widened at the sight of Guo Yu, though she still wouldn't admit what she saw.
"What happened? Maa!" Li Na demanded, her tone was sharp. Mei, avoided her daughter's gaze, her eyes glued to the floor. Li Na raised her voice. "I'm asking you Maa. What in the world happened?"
Mei finally broke,crying as she retorted. "Ask your husband, the one wanted me gone." Li Na glanced at Guo Yu, but seeing his distraught state, she realized she had to handle the matter personally.
Li Na helped Guo Yu sit on the couch and turned to her mother, Mei.
Li Na's fingers tightened around the edge of the couch, her knuckles whitening as she tried to keep her voice steady.
"Now tell me what happened."
Mei, swallowed hard and claimed that Guo Yu "started it" by raising his voice.
Guo Yu kept his eyes lowered, as if meeting Li Na's gaze would break him completely. He shook his head weakly, tears welling up as he denied the accusation.
Mei's fingers kept fidgeting with the corner of her shawl, twisting it tighter and tighter as she snapped: "Don't lie!".
Li Na's cold, steady gaze forced Mei to admit the core of the conflict: Guo Yu had said she made the house feel like a burden, was trying to control everything again, and was "suffocating" both of them.
Li Na inhaled shakily, her breath catching in her throat as anger and heartbreak collided inside her. "You came here to help? All you've done is hurt him—every single day! You constantly find a way to belittle him. Why?"
Mei, attempting to touch Li Na's shoulder, defended herself, claiming everything she did was "for your good."
Li Na sharply cut her off, crying out, "And Him? What about him?"
Mei softened her tone: "I just want your happiness."
"That's the problem," Li Na shot back, raising her voice. "You think only you know what's good. I can decide my own happiness."
Mei gave Li Na a deadpan stare, issuing an ultimatum. She took a step forward, her voice trembling as her hand hovered in the air—almost touching Li Na's cheek, but stopping, as if she no longer remembered how to reach her own daughter."Come home with me. Leave this man, he's worth nothing. He is the one who took you away."
Guo Yu slammed his hands onto his chest, convulsing in a fetal curl, choking and weeping as he gasped for air .
Mei piled on the emotional pressure, listing things back home that missed Li Na: her father, the house, and even the peonies that grew without her. "Even I can't live without you," she pleaded. "Will you come with me?"
For a brief second, Li Na's eyes softened—just for a heartbeat—as if the little girl inside her still wanted to be held by her mother.
No," Li Na whispered.
The quiet in the room was crushing. Mei's eyes saddened in disbelief. She asked again.
"What?".
"I said NO," Li Na repeated, closing her eyes. "Can't you see what you're doing? Everything's fine. Father's fine."
"But the peonies...." Mei mummered.
Li Na snapped back in a surge of rage: "I hope they annihilate."
Mei froze, tears beginning to stream down her face.
"But I just want to give you happiness," she cried.
Li Na's own tears fell as she delivered the final blow: "You're not giving me any happiness. You're just taking away what little I have left. I am not going, that's final."