C1 Rebirth

"One million, and her body is yours. After that, she has no ties to you."

Director Ye is decisively unresentful. He bears no grudge against the woman who left him and his son for me, turning them into the butt of everyone's jokes."

"Get out! Take the money and vanish from Jin City. If not, I'll beat you every time I see you."

The man's voice carried an undertone of repressed loathing.

...

"No!!!"

She couldn't give the money to that scumbag Chung Sen. He'd betrayed her love, drained her savings, and now was using her body to swindle money from Ye Junhao. Such a man deserved nothing but death!

Mu Chuchen let out a cry of anguish, her eyes snapping open from the depths of despair, only to find herself still weeping.

She was surrounded by a setting both familiar and strange.

Without thinking, she wiped away her tears.

Looking at her hand, she saw a jade green bracelet perfectly intact on her wrist.

She was taken aback.

This bracelet... hadn't Chung Sen sold it off long ago?

Mu Chuchen sat on the bed, her gaze fixed on the room's decor, her mind a complete blank.

Just then, a soft, sweet child's voice drifted in from outside.

"Daddy, why did Mommy jump into the river?"

"It was just an accident, Mommy didn't mean to."

"Will Mommy wake up then?"

...

Mu?

Hearing the child's voice, Mu Chuchen's thoughts began to sharpen.

Wasn't this the conversation that had taken place after she, heeding her stepmother's advice to force a divorce from Ye Junhao, had deliberately jumped into the river?

Her stepmother had always supported her in chasing after true love, leading her to elope with Chung Sen and throw the Ye and Jun Families into turmoil. After her last river jump, this very scene unfolded, and Ye Junhao agreed to divorce her, taking their child and moving out of the villa, cutting off all contact with her.

Yet, it was he who had collected her remains and buried her bones, who would silently lay flowers at her grave every year on the anniversary of her death, sitting there all day long.

While even her own father wouldn't visit his disgraced daughter, Ye Junhao never failed to show up, no matter the weather...

Mu Chuchen's heart ached unbearably. As if seeking confirmation, she abruptly rose and, barefoot, dashed out of the room.

As she opened the door, Ye Junhao was crossing from the opposite side, cradling their son, Ye Mu, in his arms.

Their bedrooms were divided by a staircase, one to the left and one to the right.

The sight of Ye Junhao triggered a flood of memories in Mu Chuchen about her life after death, and tears instantly filled her eyes.

"Are you awake?"

Ye Junhao noticed Chuchen. He had intended to carry his son downstairs, but he hesitated, furrowing his brows as he regarded her.

"Jun Hao..."

Overcome with emotion, Mu Chuchen rushed toward him, longing for an embrace, but he deftly sidestepped her.

Ye Mu clung tightly to Ye Junhao's neck, his large, dark eyes fixed on Mu Chuchen. His lips pressed firmly together, he remained silent, not once calling out 'Mom'.

His mother didn't like him.

And he didn't like his mother.

But he loved his father, who had always been the kindest to him.

Overwhelmed by the remorse of her past, Mu Chuchen's emotions shattered, and her tears cascaded down like pearls slipping off a string.

Ye Junhao's frown deepened.

"Mu Chuchen, what trouble are you stirring up now?"

His voice, cold as ice, struck Mu Chuchen like a hammer, causing her to shake her head vigorously, tears streaming as she protested, "Jun Hao, I... I didn't do anything."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I... I just felt like crying when I saw you."

"You're trying to suggest I've been unkind to you, aren't you? Mu Chuchen, remember, my love for you has its limits."

His indifference cut through Mu Chuchen like a blade.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head downstairs now."

"Jun Hao, I'm not causing trouble, I swear."

Ye Junhao paused, holding his son in place, his gaze icy as he scrutinized her.