Shenruxue pulled out one of Jianglai’s jackets, breathing in the familiar scent. Her previously composed demeanor cracked; excitement made her voice hitch slightly. *If only I’d brought a suitcase,* she thought, *I could’ve taken more clothes.*
Even these garments carried traces of Jianglai’s scent—but they weren’t the *best*. Shenruxue craved the intense aroma of his sweat-dampened workout clothes. It had been so, so long since she’d smelled it…
A radiant smile spread across her face. She knew she looked pathetic, but so what? She’d suppressed her true self since birth. Every fiber of her being ached for anything Jianglai had touched. She even wanted to crawl into his wardrobe, letting his scent swallow her whole. After all these years, just the memory of him still ignited her desire.
At school—and even in her dorm, except with Jiangleyi—Shenruxue remained aloof and untouchable. She kept everyone at arm’s length unless duty demanded otherwise. Like an alpine bloom on a glacier, she seemed meant only for distant admiration. A single conversation with her felt like a privilege.
Beyond her near-divine beauty, Shenruxue possessed a genius-level intellect. A child prodigy, she’d taken the national college entrance exam after tenth grade, scoring high enough for China’s second-ranked university. Her family’s influence could have secured her a spot at any elite overseas institution. Yet she rejected both paths. Instead, she chose Jiangleyi’s school and major. No one knew why—not even her parents.
Shenruxue guarded her deepest secret: she was a reincarnator, her soul decades old despite her teenage body. When Jiangleyi joked that she was “like a mom,” Shenruxue’s heart swelled. Because she *was* Jiangleyi’s mother—the wife Jianglai had lost over a decade ago. If only her daughter could call her “Mom” for real…
But who’d believe a girl younger than her own daughter? Social norms forbade it. Beyond reclaiming motherhood, Shenruxue burned to reunite with Jianglai. Yet exposing their past would destroy his present. Rumors alone would drown him. Her age was the cage. Strict upbringing had shackled her—even with an old soul, she couldn’t act freely. She’d never traveled alone, forced to rely on others’ reports about Jianglai and his daughter…
University finally freed her. She chose this city for one reason: him. The thought of confessing—*I was your wife, your daughter’s mother*—was unthinkable. She’d planned to reconnect slowly: first with Jiangleyi, then Jianglai. She’d watch him from shadows when longing overwhelmed her, waiting for the perfect moment to reclaim him. *He carried our burdens alone before. Now it’s my turn.*
But Jiangleyi’s call yesterday about a “stepmom” shattered her patience. Shenruxue couldn’t bear Jianglai loving anyone but her. The idea of losing his heart was unbearable. *Jianglai, you can’t love someone else…*
Her careful plan collapsed. She wanted to tear off the mask, to confess everything—but only after seeing Jianglai. *If he tries to marry another,* she vowed, *I’ll tie him to the bed. Drain him completely. Then he’ll forget her.*
Buried deep in Jianglai’s jacket, Shenruxue shed all pretense. Her eyes smoldered, hazy with desire. She longed to vacuum-seal every piece of his clothing—to savor his scent on lonely nights, as if he were there to soothe her. This reunion after years of drought pushed her toward obsession. She forgot Jiangleyi was even in the apartment.
Jiangleyi had prepared sweet treats, but returning from the kitchen, she found the living room empty. She followed the trail to her father’s bedroom—and froze. Her goddess-like friend wore an expression of raw, almost *disgusting* yearning. Jiangleyi’s mind went blank. How could that face—the face countless admirers worshipped—twist into something so shameless?
