The Prodigal's Deep Emotions: A Long Journey to Win Back His Wife

As night fell, the city of Yunjing gradually lit up with dazzling neon lights. At the stroke of eight, on the deck of a luxurious yacht moored along the riverfront of the Royal Grand Hotel, a grand birthday celebration was in full swing. Champagne bubbles danced in the air, and the crowd danced wildly to the upbeat melody. Colorful lights interwove on the river's surface, creating a series of flowing paintings that exuded luxury. An Lan, her hair tied neatly in a ponytail, wore light makeup on her face and a crisp black business suit that accentuated her elegant and slender neckline. Holding a precious bottle of Dom Pérignon, she ascended the spiral staircase with steady steps. The protagonists of this birthday party were a group of wealthy young heirs who lived in the spotlight. Their laughter and revelry had not stopped since the party began, and an hour had already passed in the blink of an eye. Stepping onto the second floor, a slightly absurd yet emotionally charged song suddenly pierced through the noise, striking directly at the ears. An Lan chuckled softly, about to take a sip of the fine wine in her hand, when her gaze inadvertently caught a familiar figure. In a corner of the yacht's deck, Ling Yu sat quietly on a curved sofa, dressed simply in a white shirt and black trousers. Reclining slightly backwards, his legs casually crossed, his arms lazily draped over the back of the sofa, and a cigarette pinched between his fingers, he exuded a mix of laziness and aloofness. The lights of the night inadvertently illuminated him, adding a touch of coolness and unruliness to his demeanor. An Lan's gaze instantly froze, a trace of surprise and complexity welling up within her. She had never expected to encounter him again on this glamorous and noisy night. Quickly regaining her composure, she shifted her gaze but happened to catch a woman in a gorgeous evening gown, walking gracefully towards Ling Yu in her stiletto heels. ​ ​The lady, with her outstanding beauty, wore a fine red dress with thin straps. Her long black hair cascaded down her white shoulders like a waterfall, and her eyes sparkled with captivating light, resembling a sprite in the night. She gracefully took a seat beside Ling Yu, holding a peeled grape in her hand. Unconsciously, her body leaned slightly towards him, exuding a hint of tenderness and flirtation. "Yu, why don't you join in the fun with them?" Her voice was laced with temptation. Ling Yu turned his head slightly, his gaze fleeting over the grape about to touch his lips before lifting his eyes to reveal unfathomable emotions in their depths. A meaningful smile curved at the corner of his lips. The lady, seeing his smile, blushed uncontrollably, and her body instinctively drew even closer. However, Ling Yu ignored the alluring grape and instead leaned forward, his thin lips close to the lady's ear, whispering softly. Upon hearing his words, the lady's face blossomed into an even more charming smile. Overcome with emotion, she playfully punched Ling Yu's chest, a mix of shyness and cuteness evident in her actions. It was noteworthy that this lady was not Ling Yu's girlfriend, whom he had personally accompanied on the first day of freshman registration to handle her enrollment procedures. An Lan watched the scene unfold silently, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes. She took a deep breath, preparing to step forward and offer the glass of red wine in her hand to the room, only to be violently jostled from the front. An Lan stumbled, her back slamming against the white wall behind her. The red wine slipped from her grasp, and she instinctively reached out to catch it, but to no avail. With a resounding "Crash!" the wine bottle shattered on the floor, its contents spilling everywhere. An Lan's eyes widened slightly as she gazed at the mess, her heart filled with mixed feelings. ​ ​"Excuse me, please step aside!" Anlan gritted her teeth against the searing pain, preparing to confront the culprit, but they had already darted away from the scene, a phone pressed to their ear. The commotion drew the attention of those around, their formerly joyous faces now turned towards the source of the disruption. Ling Yu, too, found himself turning involuntarily, his gaze following the sound. Sensing the man's scrutiny, Anlan instinctively retreated to the side. "What's going on here?" Zou Jin approached, his eyes widening at the sight of shattered wine glasses scattered across the floor. "Little miss, don't tell me...this is the bottle we ordered?" Anlan hurriedly crouched down to gather the fragments. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'll get you a new bottle right away!" "Do you have any idea how much this bottle costs?" Zou Jin's tone carried a hint of accusation. Anlan's hand trembled slightly. "How...how much?" "Two hundred thousand." "..." The fragments slipped from her grasp as Anlan's face drained of color. Manager Zhang rushed over upon hearing the commotion, his own expression paling at the sight. He immediately apologized to Zou Jin on Anlan's behalf. Zou Jin raised an eyebrow. "Manager Zhang, you should know this wine isn't cheap..." "Yes, yes, I'm aware." "Since this young lady claims she was bumped into, it's up to you to find the perpetrator." Anlan looked helpless. "But...what if we can't find them?" "Then payment will have to be made." ​ ​An Lan's eyes immediately turned red, and in her fluster, her gaze inadvertently fell on Ling Yu, who was sitting quietly there. He leisurely lifted the glass of red wine and took a sip, his deep eyes calm and unruffled, as if he didn't care about what she had just gone through. An Lan's gaze dimmed, and she lowered her head, bowing sincerely and apologizing, "I'm sorry, I'll pay for it!" Zou Jin looked at her, noticing how her face had turned abnormally pale from fright, with redness around her eyes and nose, making her appear especially pitiful. "Today is my birthday, and I don't want to make things difficult for you, little beauty." He put his hands behind his back, leaned slightly towards her, and a playful smile curved his lips. "How about this, you come in and have a drink with me. If we have a good time, you don't have to pay for the wine." His words carried an obvious hint of ill intentions. However, An Lan couldn't find a reason to refuse. She tightly bit her lower lip, mustered up her courage, and held out a finger, her voice barely audible as she pleaded, "I... can I just have one, one drink?" "Sure, one drink it is!" Zou Jin agreed readily, then grabbed her arm and with a smile, pulled her into his circle. With An Lan's arrival, the atmosphere in the room became lively again. Everyone knew that Zou Jin was a master at the drinking table, unbeatable, and even as the birthday boy tonight, no one dared to easily challenge him to a drinking contest. Feeling bored, he had finally found a companion to indulge in a hearty drink. Yet, this young lady... She seemed barely out of her teens, with the innocence of youth still etched on her face. Her eyes were particularly captivating, like two pieces of deep black glass, pure and unforgettable.