She went to the wrong table on a blind date and ended up getting married to a billionaire CEO.

The car slowly stopped in front of the villa, and Shen Qingge got out of the car.

The moment the car door closed, the black luxury car turned around and drove away, its taillights fading into the night until they disappeared at the end of the street.

Haize didn't get out of the car. He disappeared without even saying goodbye to Shen Qingge.

Shen Qingge stood in front of the villa, the night breeze gently caressing her cheeks, carrying the warmth and fragrance of early summer.

The distant streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow, elongating her shadow and making her appear exceptionally lonely.

She stared in the direction the car had disappeared, a strange, indescribable feeling welling up inside her—not anger, not disappointment, but a deep emptiness, as if a piece of her chest had been hollowed out.

This feeling is all too familiar.

Shen Qingge slowly walked towards the villa's gate, her footsteps standing out clearly in the quiet night.

As she pushed open the door, the warm light in the living room instantly enveloped her, but this warmth could not dispel the chill in her heart.

The nanny, hearing the noise, came to greet her: "Madam is back."

"How is Xiaoxi?" Shen Qingge took off her high heels and tried to make her voice sound normal.

"Miss has just finished her bath; we're about to put her to sleep."

"Um, I'm not feeling well today, so I won't be able to put Xixi to sleep. Thank you for your help."

"Don't worry, Madam, I will take good care of Miss. You should get some rest."

Shen Qingge walked up the stairs, each step feeling heavy.

Pushing open the bedroom door, I found it empty, with only moonlight filtering through the curtains and casting dappled shadows on the floor.

She walked to the dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror.

Mrs. Shen, who was so radiant in the car just moments ago, now looks rather haggard.

Exquisite makeup couldn't hide the fatigue under her eyes, and her elegant hairstyle was somewhat disheveled from a long day.

Her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the time when she had just married Haize.

After several wild and violent sexual encounters, Haze stopped touching her but often stayed out all night.

Back then, she would sit on the bed for most of the night, unable to sleep.

The torment, the panic of being abandoned, and the unease about the unknown almost consumed her.

But now it's different.

Shen Qingge walked to the wardrobe and began to take off the exquisite purple dress.

The silky texture glided through my fingers, carrying the scent of perfume and the lively atmosphere of tonight's wedding.

She has her own career, and the success of the "Shen Qingge series" has given her unprecedented confidence and strength.

She was no longer the woman who could only depend on the sea for survival.

Her romantic mindset transformed into a career-oriented one, and she resolved to rely on herself.

Being with Haize felt more like doing a job—playing the role of a model couple, presenting a perfect image to outsiders, and protecting each other's reputation and interests.

Most of the time, she does a good job and even finds a sense of accomplishment in it.

But for some reason, tonight is different.

Perhaps it was the lively and festive atmosphere of the wedding that stimulated her, perhaps it was the genuine happiness on Su Wanyu's face that touched her, or perhaps it was Haize's thoughtful actions in front of everyone that gave her a certain illusion.

In short, at that moment, her long-suppressed desires for marriage and love suddenly surged forth like a tidal wave.

She longed for genuine intimacy, for heartfelt communication, and for a natural and authentic connection that required no pretense.

She longs for someone who can truly understand and care for her, rather than just treating her as a suitable partner and a social tool.

Haize left without even saying goodbye, which was like a bucket of cold water poured on her newly ignited hopes, instantly bringing her back to reality—their relationship was still the same, nothing had changed.

Shen Qingge changed into simple pajamas, removed her elaborate makeup, and revealed her true face.

The woman in the mirror looked much younger, but her eyes held a deep weariness and helplessness.

She walked to the window, opened it, and the night breeze carried the scent of roses from the garden.

The city lights in the distance were still dazzling, but to her, those lights seemed distant and unreal.

At that moment, she felt an unprecedented loneliness.

—In this world, it seems that no one truly understands her or cares about her inner world.

She has a father, but Shen Zejun is more concerned with her commercial value and the benefits that marriage brings;

She has an older brother, but Shen Qingshuo is busy with his newlywed life and career development;

She has a husband, but Haize's attitude towards her has always maintained a certain distance and utilitarianism.

Even her closest friends gradually drifted away for various reasons.

This feeling of loneliness washed over her like a tidal wave, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

Shen Qingge closed the window and drew the curtains, plunging the room into complete darkness.

She lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.

Everything that happened tonight replayed in my mind like a movie—the lively scene at the wedding, Haize's considerate behavior, the envious looks from those around him, and his cold departure without saying goodbye at the end.

This stark contrast left her feeling lost and confused.

Which one is the real Haize?

Is he the gentle and considerate husband in public, or the cold and distant stranger in private?

In the darkness, tears streamed down her face without her realizing it.

These tears were silent, simply sliding quietly down her cheeks and dripping onto the pillow, leaving a faint salty taste.

She didn't know why she was crying. Was it because of disappointment, loneliness, or those unfulfilled expectations?

Perhaps she should be more clear-headed like Su Wanyu and not have too many emotional illusions about this marriage.

Perhaps she should accept reality and treat this relationship as a mutually beneficial partnership, rather than seeking genuine affection.

Yes, she can do it, and she has been trying her best to do it.

But as a woman, she still longs to be loved, to be genuinely cared for and understood.

Time passed slowly in the darkness, and Shen Qingge drifted between sleep and wakefulness.

In a daze, she seemed to hear a knocking sound, but she thought it was her imagination and ignored it.

The knocking became more urgent, accompanied by the nanny's anxious voice: "Madam, Madam!"

Shen Qingge instantly woke up and looked at the clock on the bedside table—4:30 a.m., the sky was just beginning to lighten.

"What is it?" She hurriedly got up and opened the door.

The nanny's face was full of worry: "Xixi has a high fever, a really high fever. I gave her fever-reducing medicine but it hasn't come down. It's over 40 degrees Celsius now, and we might have to take her to the hospital."

Shen Qingge instantly became fully awake, all her fatigue and sadness vanishing from her mind: "To the hospital immediately."

She hurriedly put on her coat and followed the nanny to Hai Ruoxi's room.

The little girl lay in her crib, her face flushed red, her breathing rapid, and she looked listless, completely lacking her usual liveliness.

Shen Qingge's heart clenched instantly, all other emotions vanished without a trace, and at this moment, she had only one thought in her world—the safety of her child.

She carefully picked up Hai Ruoxi; the little girl's body was frighteningly hot, and she curled up helplessly in her mother's arms.

The car sped towards the hospital in the darkness.

On the way to the hospital, holding her feverish baby in her arms, Shen Qingge still felt dizzy.

Hai Ruoxi, who had a high fever, calmed down a lot in her mother's arms, and she suddenly felt a little guilty.