The next day, Cecilia Ye picked out a warm, soft scarf at the mall as a birthday gift for Grandpa Rivers, and of course, she didn’t forget Grandma Rivers, either.
After nearly six years living with the Fu family, perhaps fate really is a strange thing.
When Fu Zhiyan had brought Cecilia Ye home, Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers looked at the pitiful, battered girl and showered her with affection.
Later, when they heard news of their upcoming wedding, Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers were delighted and wholeheartedly supportive.
Now, about the divorce—Cecilia Ye only hoped they wouldn’t be too saddened when they found out.
Grandpa Rivers’s birthday banquet was held in a Fu family-owned hotel—a five-star venue, dazzlingly luxurious.
Cecilia Ye wore a white cocktail dress, pearl earrings glinting softly on her ears, ink-black hair cascading down her back. Her eyes glimmered, gentle and captivating, making it impossible to look away.
Fu Zhiyan came to fetch her, and the instant the two appeared at the banquet, all eyes turned to them.
Fu Zhiyan, standing at 1.89 meters, escorted his delicate wife with a cool, aristocratic air beside her gentle beauty.
Who would have imagined that the girl Fu Zhiyan once claimed he’d marry would grow into such a breathtaking woman?
Grandpa Rivers was dressed today in a bright red Tang jacket, radiant in spirit, though his face wore its usual stern mask.
It wasn’t until he saw Cecilia Ye that his eyes crinkled in a delighted smile.
“Oh, Cecilia’s here! Come over to Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers!”
Cecilia Ye hurried forward a few steps, greeting them sweetly, “Grandpa Rivers, Grandma Rivers.”
Standing next to Grandpa Rivers was Grandma Rivers, an elegant lady whose gentle kindness shone all the more in contrast to Grandpa Rivers's gruffness.
“Cecilia, come let Grandma Rivers have a good look at you. We haven’t seen you in more than half a month. Has Zhiyan been treating you well?”
Seeing Grandma Rivers’s smile, a wave of grievance welled up in Cecilia Ye’s heart, but she quickly swallowed it down. "Yes, Zhiyan treats me very well."
She handed over her gift. "Grandpa Rivers, happy birthday! This is from me."
Grandpa Rivers accepted it like rare treasure and even showed it off to Grandma Rivers. “Look, our sweet girl got me a present! Grandpa Rivers is so happy.”
Grandma Rivers gave a mock huff. Watching the two elders, Cecilia Ye smiled. “If Grandpa Rivers gets a gift, of course Grandma Rivers does too.”
She handed the other present to Grandma Rivers, making both elders laugh with joy.
Fu Zhiyan came over from behind and offered his own greeting as well.
Grandpa Rivers shot him a glare, seemingly still holding a bit of a grudge.
After giving her well wishes, Cecilia Ye followed Fu Zhiyan, exchanging greetings with arriving guests.
The entire floor of the hotel was reserved for Grandpa Rivers’s birthday. Every so often, someone would come over and raise a glass to Fu Zhiyan, but he only sipped delicately now and then, his expression cool.
But as the head of the Fu family, no one truly dared force Fu Zhiyan to drink.
Cecilia Ye had a glass as well, but after just a sip—her alcohol tolerance being abysmal—she grimaced at the burn and stuck her tongue out, refusing any more.
As they passed the bar, Fu Zhiyan turned to take her glass and replaced it with juice.
“You can’t handle alcohol—drink this.”
His voice was domineering as ever, but Cecilia Ye felt a warmth rise in her heart.
Before long, a few people came to toast Fu Zhiyan, so Cecilia Ye quietly stepped back a bit.
Just outside the door was a garden, where several guests were chatting amid the flowers.
Seeing that Fu Zhiyan was busy, Cecilia Ye slipped outdoors alone. The garden, lit by warm golden lights, felt cozy and inviting.
Her favorite mallow flowers were blooming there. Cecilia Ye bent to sniff them—how fragrant they were.
“Cecilia Ye, you’re here too.”
A crisp, lively voice sounded nearby. Cecilia Ye turned to see Vivian Belle standing next to her.
Tonight, Vivian Belle wore a white dress, her hair let down, dressed so similarly to Cecilia Ye it was hard not to notice.
Cecilia Ye hesitated, then asked, “What are you doing here?” She knew Grandpa Rivers would never invite Vivian Belle.
“Of course, Ah-Yan told me. Otherwise, how would I know when Grandpa Rivers’s birthday is?”
Vivian Belle looked very pleased with herself, holding a dainty gift box in her hand.
Fu Zhiyan? A bitter feeling rose in Cecilia Ye’s chest. If he invited her, why not mention it beforehand? Why make things so awkward for her, every time?
And this was Grandpa Rivers’s birthday—was he willing to upset Grandpa Rivers just to have her here?
Cecilia Ye gave Vivian Belle a cold look and turned to leave, but Vivian Belle grabbed her arm.
“Cecilia Ye, everything that you have—or everything you took from me—I’ll get it all back, piece by piece.”
The words dripped with venom. Vivian Belle stared challengingly into Cecilia Ye’s eyes.
Cecilia Ye clenched her fists. “Fine. Take back what’s yours—I never wanted to keep it. But if you can’t, blame your own lack of ability.”
Now that Cecilia Ye had seen Vivian Belle’s true face, she felt nothing but disgust. The very thought that this was the kind of woman in Fu Zhiyan’s heart made her want to laugh—and cry.
Vivian Belle gave a cold, mocking chuckle, her nails digging sharply into Cecilia Ye’s forearm. “Of course. You can just run crying back to your perverted little home.”
“Don’t trouble yourself. Zhiyan made it clear—even after divorce, I’ll still be part of the Fu family.”
She loathed the woman before her and wouldn’t be swayed. Besides, hadn’t Vivian Belle ruined her treasured mallows?
Cecilia Ye shook off Vivian Belle’s hand, but Vivian Belle played the same trick again—this time, she went down herself, tumbling dramatically to the ground.
A commotion rose as everyone in the garden turned to look.
“Miss Ye, how could you! I only came to give Grandpa Rivers his gift—just because Ah-Yan likes me, you can’t treat me like this!”
Tears welled in Vivian Belle’s eyes, her face heartbreaking in its misery.
Standing nearby, Cecilia Ye watched her performance with icy indifference.
People began to crowd around, whispering among themselves as Vivian Belle spoke.
“Isn’t this the woman President Foster likes? Weren’t he and his wife just acting all affectionate before?”
“Dramatics in a rich family—never a dull moment.”
Rumors and gossip buzzed everywhere. Standing at the eye of the storm, Cecilia Ye just felt exhausted.
The favored ones are fearless. They can act weak, act pitiful—there’s always someone to care for them.
That was what Cecilia Ye could never compete with Vivian Belle on.
The commotion grew until Fu Zhiyan appeared. He spotted the woman on the ground at once.
His tall figure strode over, but—to everyone’s surprise—he didn’t help Vivian Belle up right away.
His brows drew together, eyes growing colder. “Who told you to come?”
Vivian Belle’s expression flickered. Clutching her exquisitely wrapped gift, she replied in a sweet voice, “You mentioned Grandpa Rivers’s birthday the other day, so I just had to come and pay my respects.”
She stretched her hand out to Fu Zhiyan, tears streaming down her face. “Ah-Yan, help me up? Miss Ye just got so angry—she didn’t mean to push me.”
Cecilia Ye didn’t explain herself. In the end, Fu Zhiyan would always believe in his so-called ‘white moonlight.’ Hadn’t it been proven last time?
Seeing the gift in Vivian Belle’s hand, Fu Zhiyan’s expression softened a little. He reached down and helped her up. “I’ll take your gift inside. You should go home now.”
“Ah-Yan, what do you mean?”
Vivian Belle clung to his arm, sniffling. “After all these years, Miss Ye has always been at your side. Have you… have you forgotten your promise to me?”
Cecilia Ye’s face went pale. Were they really going to do this—profess their hearts to each other—at Grandpa Rivers’s birthday party? Didn’t they care about Grandpa Rivers’s feelings, or hers?
Fu Zhiyan set down his wine glass and looked at Cecilia Ye. “Apologize to Vivian Belle.”
A flash of triumph passed across Vivian Belle's face.
See, Cecilia Ye? Even here, at Grandpa Rivers’s birthday, Fu Zhiyan is still on my side.
Cecilia Ye wondered if she was imagining things. She had done nothing, yet he wanted her to apologize?
She shook her head and stepped back, her heart splintering to pieces.
“I didn’t push her.”
Because of Fu Zhiyan, she’d compromised too many times already. Did she not even deserve the last scraps of her dignity?
In front of so many people, her own husband was making her apologize to another woman. Cecilia Ye could imagine what a laughingstock she would be tomorrow.
“Miss Ye, it’s not the first time you’ve treated me this way. I don’t want you to apologize, but you can’t keep bullying me.”
Vivian Belle looked pitiful, crying delicate tears like a tragic beauty caught in the rain.*
Cecilia Ye thought: If I weren’t the one involved, even I might believe her act.
Fu Zhiyan’s gaze stayed icy as he watched her. The three stood deadlocked, the only sound Vivian Belle’s sobs.
“Who’s making trouble?”
A voice—thick with anger—rang out. Grandpa Rivers emerged from the doorway, slamming his cane against the courtyard stones.
The moment he saw the woman Fu Zhiyan was holding, his face turned thunderous.
*Note: “crying delicate tears like a tragic beauty caught in the rain” refers to being so pitiful that even flowers would pity you—a classic image in Chinese fiction.