Breaking All the Rules

Shuangxu’s return to China had been completely unexpected. She hadn’t told anyone. Not a single soul. The moment the plane touched down, the familiar Mandarin announcement echoed through the cabin. As she stepped into the bustling airport, surrounded by faces that looked like home, an indescribable feeling finally settled in her chest. She was back. Five years. She had been away for five long years. Dressed in a light beige trench coat over a crisp linen-white blouse and a pair of fitted jeans, Shuangxu looked effortlessly elegant. There was nothing extravagant about her outfit, yet the graceful way her silky black hair framed her delicate features gave her an air of quiet nobility—as if refinement had been woven into her very bones. The taxi driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Where to, miss?” “The Third People’s Hospital.” Outside the window, Yancheng was wrapped in the colors of late spring. Fresh green leaves lined the streets, and flowers bloomed everywhere, breathing new life into the city. Five years ago, Shuangxu had left this place. Now she had returned in haste for only one reason. Shu Yang. ⸻ When she stepped into the hospital room, she found Shu Yang sitting cross-legged on the bed with her eyes closed and her palms pressed together. She was chanting solemnly. “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form… Men are to be admired from afar, never loved with your whole heart…” The ridiculous sight instantly dissolved the anxiety Shuangxu had carried throughout the flight. She couldn’t help laughing. “So one illness was enough to make you renounce the mortal world?” Shu Yang’s eyes flew open. The moment she saw Shuangxu, they sparkled with surprise. “Shuangxu?!” She practically jumped off the bed. “When did you get back?” “I came as soon as I heard you were sick.” Shuangxu walked over and sat beside her. “What did the doctor say?” A few weeks earlier, Shu Yang had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a malignant blood disorder originating from abnormal bone marrow stem cells. Many people simply called it the precursor to leukemia. Shuangxu had rushed back because of that diagnosis. But things had become even worse. During Shu Yang’s hospitalization, her boyfriend of four years hadn’t stayed to care for her. Instead… He had emptied every cent from the company’s accounts, taken away nearly half of their core employees, stolen two years’ worth of technical research, and disappeared without a trace. ⸻ “I’ve got one piece of bad news,” Shu Yang said calmly, “and one piece of good news.” Shuangxu immediately sat up straighter. “Tell me the good news first.” “The doctor says I’m already at Intermediate-Risk Stage Two.” “My chances of developing leukemia are pretty high.” “I’ll need chemotherapy.” “…” Shuangxu blinked. “…That’s the bad news.” “Exactly.” “So what’s the good news?” Shu Yang smiled with astonishing composure. “The good news is that chemotherapy can’t cure me anyway.” “It can only slow the disease down.” “Oh, and it’ll probably destroy my ovarian function.” “I may never be able to have children.” For a second, Shuangxu genuinely thought Shu Yang had mixed the two up. Then she realized… Neither sounded remotely like good news. She reached over and touched Shu Yang’s forehead. “Are you sure this disease isn’t affecting your brain too?” Shu Yang burst into laughter. “Finding out what kind of scumbag my ex really is counts as good news.” “Besides, I’ve never wanted children.” “My dad died of leukemia.” “I’ve always suspected this disease runs in the family.” Shuangxu couldn’t help frowning. “I never expected him to stand by you through everything,” she said quietly. “But did he really have to kick you while you were already down?” Shu Yang let out a bitter laugh. “Isn’t that what men do?” She leaned back against the headboard as if she had already made peace with everything. “Love is the least reliable thing in this world.” “Any woman who believes in love will eventually pay the price.” Then she waved a hand dismissively. “Forget it. You’ve never been in a relationship.” “You wouldn’t understand.” Shuangxu nodded. “That’s true.” “I’ve never dated anyone.” She lowered her eyes, a faint smile touching her lips. “But I’ve already suffered because of love.” Shu Yang looked at her curiously. Before she could ask anything, Shuangxu took out her phone. “I transferred some money to your account.” “It isn’t much.” “It should be enough to help you get through this difficult period.” Shu Yang casually opened her banking app. The next second— Her scream nearly shattered the hospital windows. “This… this is what you call ‘not much’?” Her eyes were glued to the number on the screen. She counted the digits again. And again. No matter how many times she counted, the balance remained the same. Shuangxu’s definition of not much… Was completely different from everyone else’s. Shuangxu quickly covered her mouth. “Keep your voice down.” “Everyone knows I’d do anything for you.” “No need to announce it to the whole hospital.” Shu Yang grabbed her hands tightly, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Forget lending me money.” “I’d even let you take my liver or kidney if you wanted.” She laughed through her tears. “Are you really giving me this much?” “My company is on the verge of bankruptcy.” “I might never be able to pay you back.” Shuangxu smiled gently. “Then consider it my investment.” Flying Snow Technology had already reached the edge of collapse. No sane investor would put money into it now. Anyone willing to do so… Had to be either a fool— Or family. Shu Yang hadn’t cried when Chen Peiran betrayed her. She hadn’t cried when she signed her own chemotherapy consent form. But now… Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. “When everything falls apart…” “You’re still the one standing beside me.” Shuangxu wrapped her in a warm embrace and gently patted her back. “A man who only stays during the good times isn’t worth keeping.” She spoke softly. “I’m here.” “We’ll get through this together.” Shu Yang took a deep breath before suddenly remembering something. “Wait…” “You came back without telling your family, didn’t you?” “Won’t they be furious?” At the mention of family, Shuangxu fell silent. She rarely spoke about them. Shu Yang knew very little. Only that Shuangxu wasn’t close to most of her family. There was only one person she truly cared about. Shen Yu. And five years ago… She hadn’t willingly gone overseas. She had been forced to leave. Shuangxu always described it with one word. Exile. After a brief silence, she smiled calmly. “The worst that can happen…” “…is that they’ll send me away again.” Her tone was so peaceful that it sounded as though she were talking about someone else’s life. What Shuangxu didn’t know… Was that the moment she entered the hospital, someone had quietly recognized her. A secretly taken photo spread from one phone to another. Within hours, the news had traveled through Yancheng’s upper-class social circle. Among the city’s wealthy families, the name Song Shuangxu had always attracted attention. Not only because of her complicated past— But because everyone knew who stood behind her. Shen Yu. The photo eventually landed in Yue Zifeng’s hands. Without hesitation, he tossed it into their private group chat and tagged Shen Yu several times. No response. Growing impatient, he dialed Shen Yu’s number. At that moment, Shen Yu had just stepped out of a board meeting. “What’s keeping you so busy?” Yue Zifeng complained the moment the call connected. “Shuangxu’s back. Why didn’t you tell us?” Shen Yu paused. He pulled the phone away from his ear and opened WeChat. The first thing he saw was the photograph. The background was a hospital corridor. People bustled around her, but she stood quietly in the middle of it all. As if she’d sensed someone secretly taking her picture, she had turned around at that exact moment. A few strands of silky black hair brushed across her fair cheek. Her crystal-clear eyes held the slightest trace of confusion. Five years overseas hadn’t changed her. If anything… She had become even more beautiful. Shen Yu closed the photo and opened their chat history. No unread messages. Ever since Shuangxu left China, she had contacted him less and less. The little girl who used to trail after him every single day… Had slowly begun living a life that no longer revolved around him. The last message she had sent him… Was over two months ago. Happy New Year. Nothing more. She had returned home… Without telling him. A faint crease appeared between Shen Yu’s brows. His little girl… Had finally learned to keep secrets from him. The secretary walked over with a stack of financial documents. Shen Yu lowered his eyes, signed them one by one without changing his expression, and replied calmly, “Why should I tell you?” Yue Zifeng laughed. “Come on.” “Shuangxu’s my little sister too.” “I haven’t seen her in years.” “Let’s all have dinner tonight.” Shen Yu capped his pen. “You have your own sister.” “Go have dinner with her.” “My sister’s only seven!” Yue Zifeng protested dramatically. “What am I supposed to do? Order a kid’s meal? It won’t even fill the gap between my teeth.” “Then you should probably see a dentist.” Click. Shen Yu ended the call without another word. The secretary quietly gathered the signed documents and left the office, gently closing the door behind him. Silence settled over the room. For several seconds, Shen Yu stared at Shuangxu’s profile picture. Then… He pressed the call button. ⸻ Shuangxu had just stepped out of the hospital when her phone vibrated. The name flashing across the screen made her heart skip a beat. Shen Yu. She knew exactly why he was calling. All the way back to China, she had been rehearsing countless explanations in her mind. How was she supposed to explain returning without telling him? Before she could think of the right words, his familiar voice came through the speaker. “You’re back?” His tone was calm. Natural. As though he were simply asking whether she’d had dinner. “…Mm.” Shuangxu answered softly. “I arrived this afternoon.” “What were you doing at the hospital?” “Were you feeling unwell?” His unhurried voice somehow soothed the uneasiness that had followed her ever since she boarded the flight home. She relaxed slightly. “I’m fine.” “I came to visit my senior.” There was a brief silence. Then Shen Yu said, “Come home for dinner tonight.” “Send me your location.” “I’ll have someone pick you up.” Shuangxu hesitated for only a moment. “…Okay.” ⸻ By the time she left the hospital, the sky had already darkened. Late spring nights in Yancheng still carried a lingering chill. She pulled her trench coat tighter around herself and stood quietly by the roadside. The car arrived only a few minutes later. The driver hurried out and respectfully opened the rear door. “Miss Shuangxu.” She handed him her suitcase. Just as she bent down to get into the car— She froze. Because the man sitting inside… Was Shen Yu himself.