Return to before death

"Thank you... I'm fine." Yan Ran hesitated for a moment when she saw the tissue offered to her... but ultimately did not take it, politely declining Zong Zhengqing's kindness, and casually wiped away the tears that had already slipped from her eyes.

Seeing that the person in front of him preferred to use their own hands rather than accept the tissue he offered, Zong Zhengqing felt a mix of emotions, unable to describe the feeling. The hope that had just been in his eyes dimmed.

She sighed deeply, sealed the box full of her daughter's belongings, straightened up, looked at the man who was silently watching her pack, and said goodbye. Her expression returned to calm, as if she were looking at a complete stranger. "It's all packed up. Now let's talk about the divorce."

His words were cold and indifferent, and to Zong Zhengqing, they were ruthless.

"Ranran..." Her eyes were full of pleading and disbelief.

"I'm leaving with nothing. I won't take a single penny of your family's money. As for the things I left in the house... oh, I mean your family's things..."

"Ranran, the main family is our home, and the things belonging to the main family are your things..." Hearing Yan Ran so clearly want to draw a line, the man beside her quickly added, trying to salvage their relationship.

"I don't want a single penny of anything from your clan, anything bought with your clan's money, except for what's on my person." Yan Ran seemed not to have heard, her gaze towards the man resolute and brooking no argument.

Looking at his gentle and lovely wife, whose face was now so cold and her words were like a cold wind blowing through his heart, causing waves of pain.

"Ran... Ran..." At this moment, his face was filled with pleading and pain... and his eyes held the same deep affection as always.

"If there are no objections, the divorce agreement... I'll find some time to go to the company, and you can sign it."

"Is there really... really no way? I really... have no chance left?" Zong Zhengqing was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept that... his wife had left him so heartlessly right before his eyes...

This is not the ending he wanted.

He looked at the person in front of him cautiously, watching her expression closely, hoping that she would soften her heart again.

Yan Ran took in the man's expression, but now, she felt no emotion whatsoever. She didn't want to waste any more time or energy on this man.

"No. It's settled then, I'm leaving." She had barely finished speaking when she picked up her suitcase and turned to leave.

"Okay, I'll sign... But, Ranran, I only have one last request." Her words were full of pleading. The man who had been "abandoned" behind her seemed to have finally come to his senses, or finally accepted his "wife's" resolute attitude, and decided to give up.

A weak voice came from behind Yan Ran. Yan Ran could imagine what he looked like at that moment if she closed her eyes, but she did not do so, nor did she stop because of those words.

"Can't I even attend a charity fundraising event for the 'Disease Center'? The 'Disease Center,' the organization you've always cared about. If you just come with me to this charity gala, I'll..." Seeing Yan Ran about to leave the room, Zong Zhengqing hurriedly added, his pleading and eagerness undisguised.

Upon hearing the words "Disease Center," Yan Ran's heart skipped a beat... The Zong family had considerable involvement in medicine, and the cooperation regarding the "Disease Center" was precisely the part she had been responsible for while she was with the Zong family. The relief work within it had been the focus of her work for many years.

So she had to go to this event... even if it was just for those patients and their families who had thanked her with tears in their eyes, and for those patients who looked at her with hopeful eyes.

In a way, this is a final farewell to my past work.

"Okay, I'll go." Without waiting for Zong Zhengqing to finish his rambling, Yan Ran answered decisively, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Ranran, you... agreed?" Upon hearing the answer, Zong Zhengqing was momentarily stunned before excitedly asking back, wanting to confirm.

"Hmm." The reply he received was still in a cold tone.

Although he remained ruthless, a light rekindled in Zong Zhengqing's eyes. He could hardly believe his ears, after all, Yan Ran's resolute attitude just now had made him dare not have too much hope.

"Okay, okay, I'll go prepare your dress right now." His eyes were filled with even deeper affection, and his gentle tone seemed to have just soothed his wife who was throwing a little tantrum.

"Thank you for your trouble." Yan Ran looked at the person in front of her with a complicated expression, not knowing what to feel. She nodded slightly and made polite but distant remarks.

"No need for words of thanks between family members." He smiled gently, like a refined gentleman and a good husband.

"You, sigh..."

Zong Zhengqing's attitude left Yan Ran feeling utterly helpless. She had no energy left to say anything more to him, so she could only sigh softly and sit down to wait for him.

Before long, Zong Zhengqing brought a dark blue fishtail rose-patterned cheongsam-style evening dress into the room. "This is what you usually wear to banquets. Do you think it's okay?"

"Okay, thank you." Yan Ran stood up and reached out to take the dress, but Zong Zhengqing blocked her way.

“There’s no need for such formalities among family. I’ll take it for you and you can change it at ‘Jingyan’.” “Jingyan” is a styling studio that the clan members frequent, usually catering to celebrities for events like banquets.

Their familiar conversation was like that of an intimate couple. Yan Ran was once again in a daze, staring blankly at the dress.

"Ranran, what's wrong?" Seeing his "wife's" stunned expression, Zong Zhengqing felt a surge of warmth in his heart and wanted to reach out and stroke his wife's soft hair as usual.

"Nothing, let's go."

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Yan Ran took a step back without making a sound, answered warily, then picked up the box and walked out of the room without looking back.

Zong Zhengqing, his hand having missed its mark, looked at the familiar figure with a gloomy expression, and could only awkwardly pick up the clothes and follow after him.

……

Outside the fundraising gala, a large number of reporters had already gathered, their flashes going off everywhere, capturing every single "celebrity" entering the venue.

Looking at the "lively" scene outside the car window, Yan Ran was filled with mixed emotions.

Back then, she was one of them, tirelessly traveling for news, preparing day and night, writing articles, and editing to complete the perfect interview in her mind... Now, she's the one being filmed; things have truly changed...

How much of my passion and enthusiasm for my dreams from back then is left now?

Zong Zhengqing opened the car door, bowed slightly in a gentlemanly manner, and extended his hand to invite the person inside the car, "Miss Yan, please."

His phoenix eyes, full of smiles, were slightly narrowed, and his handsome face showed only deep affection. His polite manners made him a model of a "good husband" in front of the camera.

How much had she given up for this hypocritical person? A concerned look flashed before her eyes. Fortunately, she was now...awakened, and the dream could still be reclaimed.

Yan Ran smiled and nodded, but her gaze towards the other person held no hint of a smile.