Host! I told you to do a task! I didn't tell you to bbb.

That day, Pei Yu'an called Ye Yuwei and, after learning that she was at home, made a special trip back to her place.

Pushing open the door, under the crystal chandelier, Ye Yuwei was lounging on the sofa, her fingertips repeatedly stroking the new platinum bracelet on her wrist.

The small diamonds set in the chain links refracted a delicate sparkle under the light as she moved.

Hearing the door open, she deliberately raised her hand, showing off to Pei Yu'an with a smug look on her face.

"Xiao An's back? Do you think this bracelet is pretty?"

Pei Yu'an's gaze swept over them indifferently.

In that instant, he inexplicably thought of Liu Yunshu. If he wore it on her slender, fair wrist, the diamonds would be a cool and elegant embellishment, making her skin look like solidified cream.

Unlike the dazzling jewelry on his mother's wrist, which, though glittering, always exuded a vulgar air of deliberate ostentation.

He nodded calmly, changed into slippers, and sat down on the sofa opposite Ye Yuwei.

"Mom, was it given by President Chen? The one you took me to dinner with last time."

Ye Yuwei's eyes flickered, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing her bracelet: "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"Your intentions were so obvious that day, I would be too slow to see through them."

His tone was calm and even, revealing no emotion.

A hint of unease flashed across Ye Yuwei's face after her thoughts were exposed.

She picked up the coffee on the coffee table, took a sip, and quickly put on a smug smile.

"Although Chen Yu is middle-aged, he's in good shape, and most importantly, he has a high income. As long as I treat him well, our family's life will only get better and better."

She put down her coffee cup, then rubbed her fingertips against her bracelet again, her tone resolute.

"Your father passed away early, and it wasn't easy for me to raise you. You must understand!"

Pei Yu'an lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting mockery in them.

When she looked up again, her face was now etched with just the right amount of emotion.

"Mom, I've thought it through. It hasn't been easy for you to take care of me all these years. I was being unreasonable by opposing you like that before."

Ye Yuwei's eyes lit up instantly, and she put down her coffee cup with a lighter touch: "Really? You've finally figured it out?"

She leaned forward urgently, "Don't you think Chen Yu isn't divorced yet, and I'm like this..."

Clearly, she still remembered Pei Yu'an's accusation that she was "acting like a mistress."

Pei Yu'an raised his eyes, his gaze gentle, and even leaned forward slightly, softening his tone.

"It was my fault for being so immature and only focusing on the surface. You've done everything for this family, and since Mr. Chen is so sincere towards you, what's such a small matter?"

Seeing her son's change in attitude, Ye Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief, and a joyful smile bloomed on her face.

Before she could speak, Pei Yu'an subtly changed the subject: "However, it's not a good idea to keep this relationship hidden forever."

His fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the sofa, his tone deepening, revealing his serious consideration for her.

"Think about it, Mr. Chen can't keep this a secret from both sides forever. What if his wife finds out one day and makes a scene? You'll be the one who loses face. He, on the other hand, can get away unscathed. Wouldn't all your hopes over the years be for nothing?"

Ye Yuwei's smile froze instantly.

She unconsciously clenched her bracelet, the tiny diamonds digging painfully into her palm. These words touched a nerve, a hidden worry she had long avoided thinking about.

Chen Yu always says he will get a divorce as soon as possible, but he never actually does it.

She was so engrossed in the material comforts he provided that she completely forgot about the most crucial safeguards.

"Then... what should I do?"

She looked up at her son, her eyes filled with dependence, and even her way of addressing him softened unconsciously.

"Xiao An, you're quick-witted, help Mom think of a solution."

A barely perceptible glint of cold light flashed in Pei Yu'an's eyes, but his face remained filled with worry.

"There are solutions, but the key is for President Chen to take concrete actions." He lowered his voice.

"For example, have him transfer some of his assets to your name first, or have him write a legally binding guarantee. That way, even if he changes his mind later, you'll have protection and won't end up with nothing."

These words were exactly what Ye Yuwei wanted to hear.

She loosened her clenched bracelet, a calculating glint gradually appearing in her eyes: "You're right...we should ask for something more substantial."

She used to think that talking about money hurt feelings, but now, after her son pointed it out, she realized that intangible feelings are far less reliable than real money.

Seeing that she had taken his words to heart, Pei Yu'an subtly added fuel to the fire.

"Besides, it's better to do this sooner rather than later; the longer it goes on, the more things might go wrong. Find an opportunity to bring it up with him, and tell him that your friends are all advising you to think more about yourself. If he's sincere, he definitely won't hesitate."

Ye Yuwei nodded emphatically and picked up her phone to send a message to Chen Yu, but Pei Yu'an gently pressed her down.

"Don't rush, it's too deliberate to say it now. Wait until the next time you meet, find a suitable time, such as when he gives you another gift, and then casually say a few words about feeling wronged. He'll be more likely to soften up then."

"Yes, yes, you're so thoughtful!"

Ye Yuwei completely let down her guard, her face full of smiles, and she even got up to pat her son's shoulder affectionately.

"Mom didn't raise you for nothing; when it really matters, you still have to rely on your son!"

Pei Yu'an twitched the corners of his mouth but didn't reply, though his heart was as cold as ice.

He knew his mother's nature all too well—greedy and vain.

It would be much easier to get her to extract evidence of Chen Yu's asset transfers by accurately targeting her weaknesses than for him to do it himself.

Chen Yu, being a shrewd and selfish person, would inevitably turn against Ye Yuwei once he discovered that she was scheming to take his assets.

By then, he won't need to personally appear to obtain irrefutable evidence of Chen Yu's transfer of company assets, helping Liu Yunshu to get rid of this marriage as soon as possible.

He picked up the water glass on the coffee table, took a small sip, and used this action to conceal the coldness in his eyes, softly instructing:

"Mom, this can't be rushed. We have to take it slowly and not let him see through our disguise."

Ye Yuwei nodded repeatedly, already planning how to start the conversation the next time they met.

She was completely unaware of the cold gaze her son was giving her as he looked at the bracelet on her wrist.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Their passionate lovemaking finally came to an end that day.

Chen Yu lazily put his arm around Ye Yuwei's shoulder, his fingertips lightly stroking her collarbone, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.

What appeared before my eyes was Liu Yunshu's cold and beautiful face.

Her captivating charm, which she exuded with a captivating gaze, always unexpectedly stole his heart.

His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and he half-closed his eyes, lost in his own reverie.

"What are you thinking about, Yu?"

Ye Yuwei traced circles on his chest with her fingertips, her voice tinged with the languor of fading passion, yet also laced with a touch of deliberate coquettishness.

"Where did your soul go? You were clinging to me just now, but now you're completely distracted."

Chen Yu was lost in thought when he blurted out unexpectedly, "Thinking about Yun Shu..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly woke up, his fingers that were caressing her collarbone abruptly stopped, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.

He quickly composed himself, reached out and pinched her chin, deliberately making his tone flippant:

"I was thinking, if Yun Shu had even a fraction of your consideration, I wouldn't be so annoyed every day."

This statement was half true and half false, partly to cover up his earlier slip of the tongue, and partly to vent his dissatisfaction with Liu Yunshu's stubborn temperament.

Ye Yuwei's circling motion suddenly stopped. Her heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle, and a mixture of bitterness and anger surged up inside her.

She knew long ago that Chen Yu had never given up on Liu Yunshu, but hearing him call that woman's name during their tender moments still made her clench her fists tightly.

But remembering Pei Yu'an's previous instructions, she suppressed her anger and snuggled closer to him, her voice choked with grievance.

"Ah Yu, I know I'm not as pretty as your wife, but I..."

She paused deliberately, then gently touched his heart with her fingertips.

"I just want to live a good life with you, unlike her, who doesn't care about you at all and can't even remember your birthday."

These words struck a nerve with Chen Yu.

I recalled Liu Yunshu's usual cold and aloof demeanor.

Compared to the docile and clingy person in his arms, his expression softened slightly. He raised his hand to ruffle her hair, his tone becoming gentler:

"What's the point of comparing yourself to her? She's like a block of ice that can't be warmed up."

A calculating glint flashed across Ye Yuwei's eyes, but her voice softened, carrying a timid probing tone.

"But I'm always afraid... afraid that one day you'll suddenly stop liking me."

She snuggled closer to him, her fingertips gripping the hem of his shirt.

"I went shopping with my girlfriends the other day, and she advised me that I shouldn't believe everything a man says. She told me to think more about myself, and that even if I left you with something tangible, it would be better than ending up with nothing."

As she spoke, her voice gradually became choked with sobs, and her shoulders trembled slightly.

"I argued with her right there and then, telling her that she wasn't that kind of person and that she was sincere towards me. But I couldn't sleep at night, tossing and turning, and I couldn't help but overthink..."

"Ah Yu, I'm following you not for your money, but I need something to hold onto, something to be secure, before I dare to continue."

She looked up, her eyes red like cherries soaked in water, her fingertips still stained with wet tears.

When she looked at him, her eyes were filled with grievance and unease, and even her voice trembled with timidity.

"I know I shouldn't make this kind of request; it makes me seem vulgar. But when I think about what will happen if you get tired of me someday, I'll have nothing left, not even a place to stay..."

Chen Yu looked at her tearful appearance and compared it to Liu Yunshu's usual aloofness.

The annoyance I felt from being caught in a slip of the tongue immediately dissipated.

He reached out and wiped away her tears, his tone becoming increasingly gentle: "What are you thinking? How could I let you end up like that?"