C1 Shen Lingyi, How Low Can You Go?

It was late autumn, and the cold winds were harsh and threatening. It bellowed over the dark greeneries, rummaging through their foliage as it howled around the outskirts of the villa. Although the villa had protected itself from the freezing weather, its atmosphere remained cold to touch.

Shen Lingyi tightened her coat around her thin frame as she stepped quietly into the door of the villa. Her high heels clicked against the tiles as she moved towards the front door. Taking her key out, she pulled the handle.

Immediately, as she was twisting the knob, she could hear laughter echoing across the room.

If it had happened a few months ago, she would've never come in.

In fact, she'd probably just turn her head and walk away, finding the nearest internet cafe or hotel she could stay for the night. Out of sight, out of mind, she had always told herself repeatedly.

However, today, she was far too exhausted to adjust.

Pinching the exquisite gift box in her pocket, she walked into the living room. The spark in her eyes had faded, replaced with a blank look that had always been there from the start. Without saying another word, she plopped onto the sofa.

After receiving Feng Yuling's call, she had rushed to the shop from the hospital to grab the gift.

It wasn't heavy. The small thing couldn't even match the size of her palm, yet holding it in her coat pockets–she felt as if she were carrying the weight of the entire world.

Her hope came crashing down–just like that. What did she expect? A bitter smile spread across her lips.

It wasn't as if the present was for her.

Shen Lingyi looked around the villa that she had lived in for ten years. Nothing much had changed, but the emotional burdens surrounding this house were far more than she could've ever imagined.

She had been here since she was eighteen. And now, she was twenty-eight.

Ten years–she had lived with Feng Yuling for ten years of her life.

She should've known that the man would never take her seriously.

In his eyes, she was just another plaything he'd entertain when his beloved had left him. Nothing more, nothing less. She was easily replaced, easily moved, and easily discarded–nothing more than a piece of furniture.

Friends-with-benefits, or well...minus the friends, because they weren't even close to being one.

The only reason why he had even agreed to sleep with her was that she had begged for it. Shen Lingyi clenched her fists tightly. Was she really that pathetic then? To beg a man to sleep with her?

The laughter from the room only grew louder and louder.

It was like a knife stabbing into her heart.

Obviously, she knew that Feng Yuling had other woman.

However, her knowledge of it was one thing. Seeing it with her own eyes–that was another thing. She took a deep breath as she clutched the side of her chest, squeezing her eyes shut.

Usually, she was excellent at pretending.

If she didn't have anything going on, she would've even be an actress.

All she had to do was put the gift box on the table and leave the room. But why wasn't she moving? Was she deliberately trying to make herself feel uncomfortable?

Shen Lingyi wanted to move, but her body didn't feel like listening to her. The only thing she wanted to feel was Feng Yuling's warmth against hers, but even that seemed impossible.

These days, the Shen Family was under so much fire from their competitors. Repeatedly framed and taken advantage of, their creditors started moving in to claim their debts. Their situation was dire. The last thing she needed was any more pain to add to her list.

Her mother's heart disease had relapsed due to her anger and stress. Now, she was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. She was alone.

Frustrated, Shen Lingyi threw the box onto the table and got up to pour herself a glass of red wine. If he wanted to leave her alone, fine, but she wasn't going to wait for him all prim and proper.

The scarlet liquid twirled around the transparent glass, swishing readily before her eyes. Her eyes suddenly looked more bloodshot as they matched the drink she was downing. Pain flashed across her features as she took another sip.

Actually, the company crisis–she knew exactly why that had happened, but she did nothing to stop it.

Not only that, when she found out that Feng Yuling was responsible for this, she had even helped him clear the obstacles. She was nothing more than a double-agent to him, one he could use over and over again.

Lin Weiwei was the first one to find out. She was so angry that she had banged her fists onto the table upon snapping, "Shen Lingyi, tell me, how low can you go? The least you can do is have a limit for yourself! You treat him like treasure, not even bothering to think about how he treats you!"

"I...but I love him," she murmured, bowing her head.

Shen Lingyi had loved Feng Yuling for all these years. To her, nothing could ever compare for him.

Whatever he wanted, she'd deliver. Even if it was her own company.

"Fuck," she breathed out, downing one cup after another. Soon enough, the entire bottle of wine was empty, yet Feng Yuling was nowhere to be found. Just as she had expected.

She returned to the living room and sat on the sofa. Lying down, she opened her eyes and glared at the ceiling. The alcohol was already starting to take effect as her vision was slowly covered by a layer of smog.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a man walked out of the room. His cold face became marred with disgust as soon as he spotted her on the couch.

"Where is it?"

Shen Lingyi wiped her face and stood up from the sofa. Handing the gift box over, she slowly said, "I heard that you designed this necklace yourself."

When he didn't answer, she pried even more, "You usually asked your secretary to buy ready-made things for all of your lovers. Definitely not customized jewelry from top-notch jewelry stores."

Feng Yuling had a fair share of lovers–all of them he cared nothing about.

The only reason why he had picked them out was because they looked more or less similar to Lin Manqing.

She had always been the only woman to steal his heart.

Upon hearing her words, a trace of a smile appeared on his lips. Feng Yuling glanced back at her. "Do you really think I'm giving this to other women?"

"I..." Shen Lingyi blinked in surprise, before clenching her fists. A large ball went up to her throat, and she could feel herself trying to catch her breath. "You're saying that Lin Manqing has returned to the country?"

He nodded. "Manqing has returned."