Alliance – Zhang Xiaofei, Huang Xiaoming

Lin Shuang used to be a top student at a prestigious university in Jiangzhou, earning the first place in global student programming competitions. She was the only female student in the country to receive this honor. After getting married, she quickly became a full-time housewife due to an unexpected pregnancy. She is beautiful, intelligent, and capable, taking excellent care of her husband, Wei Ming, and their daughter Guoguo, and managing the household meticulously. Wei Ming is very appreciative of Lin Shuang's thoughtfulness, often showcasing their happiness on social media, which makes their friends, including her best friend Xuan Zi, and classmates, envy Lin Shuang.

Not long ago, Lin Shuang heard rumors of Wei Ming's infidelity. She thought long and hard and came up with a plan to meet with the third party, Jiang Xi.

On the appointed day, Lin Shuang arrived early at the meeting place, forcing herself to stay calm. She knew she had a tough battle ahead. Jiang Xi arrived late, wearing a white dress and standing confidently in front of Lin Shuang. Lin Shuang couldn't help but see a reflection of her former self, the one who used to be so confident before quitting her career. Jiang Xi and she were so alike in their attire, demeanor, and gestures; it was like they were cut from the same mold. Lin Shuang got straight to the point and explained that she wanted to team up with Jiang Xi to confront Wei Ming.

To understand the full story, we need to go back two weeks. Wei Ming wanted to host a family gathering at their home, and Lin Shuang worked tirelessly to prepare for it. She even hired a private chef specializing in Cantonese and Huaiyang cuisine to cook. Lin Shuang received news that her best friend, Xuan Zi, was giving birth and rushed to the hospital. Several of her college friends were there, praising Lin Shuang's achievements. Wei Ming, a department manager at a major internet company, had worked tirelessly with his team to develop an intelligent robot named "Ark," and he presented its features to clients, earning their appreciation.

As Lin Shuang's friends left, Xuan Zi reminded her to keep a close eye on Wei Ming to avoid losing him. However, Lin Shuang didn't take it seriously. She received a call from her mother and learned that her parents had invested their life savings in a financial product offered by a bank, resulting in significant losses. They wanted to withdraw the money, but bank staff advised them to wait for better market conditions in six months. Lin Shuang intervened and managed to convince them to withdraw the funds. During this process, she learned that Wei Ming had also invested in the same financial product at the same bank, something she was completely unaware of.

When Lin Shuang went to pick up Guoguo from kindergarten, she witnessed Guoguo being humiliated by a classmate named Yang Yang. Yang Yang boasted about her family's wealth and belittled Guoguo at every turn. Guoguo cried uncontrollably, and Yang Yang's mother even mocked Guoguo for having poor emotional resilience. Lin Shuang couldn't stand it and retorted against Yang Yang's mother.

The client was very impressed with Wei Ming's robot development and his responsible attitude towards his family. They immediately signed a contract with him. Wei Ming needed to accompany the client for dinner, so he called Lin Shuang to ask for permission. Lin Shuang arranged for takeout for herself and Guoguo and was surprised when Wei Ming also sent her a large bouquet of roses. Lin Shuang couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed when she saw the awards displayed on the table, but she consoled herself with the envy of her friends and classmates.

Early the next morning, Wei Ming had to leave on a business trip, and Lin Shuang helped him pack. She also discussed enrolling Guoguo in ice hockey classes, believing it would give her a significant advantage in the future. Wei Ming, however, thought ice hockey was too dangerous for a girl and suggested dance instead. Lin Shuang casually asked about Wei Ming's involvement in financial matters at the bank, and Wei Ming quickly made excuses to cover it up, promising to take the family on a trip after completing his current project. While doing Wei Ming's laundry, Lin Shuang found a nail with a camellia design in his pocket, raising suspicions. She also detected a fragrance of perfume on his shirt.

Jiang Xi is Wei Ming's secretary, and the two of them are secretly having an affair. Lin Shuang quickly identified the nail design and style and found the salon that made it. Surprisingly, it was located right below Wei Ming's company. As Lin Shuang left, she accidentally spotted Wei Ming having dinner with another woman. They seemed very close, and Lin Shuang suspected the woman to be the third party. She walked in to confirm and discovered that the woman was Wei Ming's company's chief financial officer, Wei Jie, who didn't have the same nail design.

Lin Shuang lied, saying she needed to buy bread for Guoguo, and managed to avoid being seen. She then encountered Wei Ming's assistant, Mi Xue, buying coffee. Lin Shuang had a brilliant idea and bought coffee for her colleagues, hoping to identify the owner of the nail during the coffee delivery. However, she didn't find anyone with the same nail design, leaving her disappointed.

As Lin Shuang reached the exit, she passed by Jiang Xi. Thinking of the photos of Wei Ming's gatherings on his social media, which included Jiang Xi, she went to the hotel where the gathering had taken place. Lin Shuang pretended to inquire about extending Wei Ming's stay and learned from the hotel staff that Wei Ming and another woman had checked in. Suddenly, everything became clear to her.

Devastated and heartbroken, Lin Shuang returned home, reflecting on her years of selfless dedication to her family. She couldn't believe Wei Ming had betrayed her. When Wei Ming returned home late from work and took a shower, Lin Shuang went through his phone but found no evidence of wrongdoing. She questioned him about the perfume scent on him, and he desperately tried to cover it up, claiming to have strained his back while playing golf. Lin Shuang helped him with a massage, but she found his compliments and behavior repulsive. She chose to ignore him, and Wei Ming sensed that something was amiss with Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang, after investigating thoroughly, discovered that Wei Ming and Jiang Xi were having an affair. She went straight to the gym to find Jiang Xi. She had a strong urge to slap Jiang Xi but ultimately restrained herself. Lin Shuang reluctantly got a gym membership to control her anger. She even engaged in casual conversation with Jiang Xi. At first glance, Lin Shuang recognized Jiang Xi's bracelet as the one she had always wanted, and Jiang Xi claimed that her boyfriend had given it to her. Lin Shuang suspected it was a gift from Wei Ming, which made her feel uncomfortable. Jiang Xi recognized Lin Shuang as Wei Ming's wife through Wei Ming's social media, and a smug smile appeared on her face.

Lin Shuang sought solace from her friend Xuan Zi, falsely claiming that her cousin's husband was having an affair. Xuan Zi advised her to persuade her cousin to endure it temporarily and not to divorce, or the third party would win in the end, leaving her cousin with nothing. Wei Ming returned home late from work, and Guoguo pestered him to attend her school's sports day. Wei Ming agreed wholeheartedly and played with Guoguo, but Lin Shuang noticed that Wei Ming didn't seem happy while playing with her. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

Lin Shuang tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Memories flooded her mind. Even when pregnant, she had insisted on working until the very end. She had sacrificed her career for the family, and now Wei Ming had betrayed her. She was heartbroken. The next day, Lin Shuang went to the gym and intentionally chose the same training class as Jiang Xi. She inquired about Jiang Xi's boyfriend and Jiang Xi openly admitted that her boyfriend was married. Lin Shuang advised Jiang Xi to leave the married man while she still could, warning her that it wouldn't end well. Lin Shuang also sarcastically remarked on Jiang Xi's situation.

Lin Shuang consulted a lawyer and then went to the bank to inquire about Wei Ming's financial products. To her surprise, Wei Ming had redeemed all his open-end financial products. Wei Ming's parents were coming to visit, and Lin Shuang had prepared a feast. She casually asked about the bank's financial products, and her mother-in-law reluctantly admitted that Wei Ming had used that money to buy a large villa. Lin Shuang was completely unaware of this and was very displeased. When Wei Ming explained the situation regarding the house purchase, Lin Shuang remained unconvinced.

That night, Lin Shuang couldn't sleep and started drinking alone. She recalled a past incident when Guoguo fell ill during Wei Ming's business trip abroad. Lin Shuang had to take Guoguo to the hospital alone and happened to run into college classmates who ridiculed her. The school was hosting a parent-child sports day, but Wei Ming was late. Lin Shuang called him, but he used work as an excuse and declined. Jiang Xi, knowing that Wei Ming was supposed to attend the sports day with Guoguo, deliberately invoked the company's leadership's name to keep Wei Ming in a meeting.

Wei Ming was invited to a birthday party for a major client, Mr. Li. Jiang Xi dressed up meticulously and wanted to accompany Wei Ming, but Wei Ming didn't want to bring her to a private gathering to avoid suspicion. Jiang Xi felt disappointed and hoped that Wei Ming would divorce Lin Shuang soon. Wei Ming returned home very late, and Lin Shuang repeatedly called him, but his phone went unanswered. When Wei Ming finally returned home, he immediately went to sleep. Lin Shuang detected a strong perfume scent on his clothes and threw his shirt into the trash in anger. Lin Shuang went to the gym and revealed her identity to Jiang Xi, who admitted that she and Wei Ming worked at the same company.

Lin Shuang discovered Wei Ming's affair with his female secretary, Jiang Xi. She went to the gym to confront Jiang Xi, restraining her anger while revealing her identity. Jiang Xi had recognized her long before and showed no guilt, instead, she confidently faced Lin Shuang. When Lin Shuang saw the hickey on Jiang Xi's neck, her anger flared, but she desperately suppressed it. She advised Jiang Xi not to waste time with a married man. Jiang Xi argued that their love was true and belittled her boyfriend's wife as someone who only cared about money and chores. Lin Shuang clenched her fists in anger but retorted and left.

Lin Shuang obtained Jiang Xi's WeChat ID from the receptionist and added her as a friend. Wei Ming asked Lin Shuang to accompany him to Mr. Li's birthday party and even sent her an evening gown. Lin Shuang used the excuse of taking Guoguo to an amusement park to decline. Wei Ming tried to persuade Lin Shuang, explaining the importance of the party for his career advancement, as Mr. Li was a key client. He didn't want to miss this opportunity.

Suddenly, Jiang Xi messaged Lin Shuang, claiming that Wei Ming originally intended to take her to the party, but she had last-minute plans. She also mentioned that the dress was bought in her size. Lin Shuang was infuriated but hung up on Wei Ming's call. Lin Shuang arrived at the party in a floor-length dress and immediately dazzled everyone. Even Wei Ming was deeply impressed by her beauty. Lin Shuang complained that Wei Ming had chosen a dress one size too small for her, but Wei Ming explained that he thought it would be more convenient for her to walk. He lifted Lin Shuang in front of everyone, earning praises from the guests. He proudly introduced her, calling her a virtuous wife.

Lin Shuang, with a cold gaze, watched Wei Ming excessively praise her in front of everyone. She recalled Jiang Xi's humiliation and grew angrier with every thought. She started drinking alone, consuming a lot of alcohol and becoming unsteady on her feet. Wei Ming's old classmate Jonathan, who was studying abroad at the time, also attended the birthday party. When he learned that Lin Shuang had given up her career to become a full-time housewife, he expressed regret for her. Fueled by alcohol, Lin Shuang vented her grievances, and Wei Ming hurriedly took her to the dressing room to rest.

Wei Ming scolded Lin Shuang for her drunken behavior, and she blamed him for neglecting her and tried to earn more money for the family. Wei Ming desperately tried to please her and explained how important the party was for his career. He advised Lin Shuang to go home and rest. Lin Shuang ignored him. Jiang Xi sent a message to Lin Shuang, taunting her for wearing her dress incorrectly. Lin Shuang retorted, mocking Jiang Xi's choice of clothing as too provocative. Due to the long train of her dress, Wei Ming held Lin Shuang, making Jiang Xi furious. Lin Shuang, in anger, tore the dress.

The company's general manager, Gu Xu, rode past on his bike, testing data on his new sports watch. Mr. Li greeted him, and Wei Ming recognized Gu Xu as Lin Shuang's college classmate. He rushed over to greet Gu Xu and invited him to have a drink. Gu Xu saw Lin Shuang leaving the party alone and couldn't help but recall their past. He had feelings for Lin Shuang, but she was dating Wei Ming, so he silently buried those emotions in his heart. Using testing data as an excuse, Gu Xu left the party.

Today was the weekend, and Wei Ming left early for work, using the excuse of overtime. Lin Shuang prepared Guoguo's toys and left her with Xuan Zi. Xuan Zi casually asked about her cousin's husband's affair, and Lin Shuang didn't know where to start. She didn't want to lose her family, but Wei Ming's infidelity weighed heavily on her. Xuan Zi advised her cousin not to divorce. Lin Shuang once believed she could be a different kind of full-time housewife, but day by day, she felt like she was losing herself in household chores. Lin Shuang was deeply distressed.

Lin Shuang returned to the gym once again. Jiang Xi taunted her, claiming that she and Wei Ming would eventually be together. Lin Shuang warned her not to trust Wei Ming's promises, as it would only end in disaster for both of them. Wei Ming worked late at the office, and Jiang Xi braved the rain to bring him food and help with data organization. Unable to resist their feelings, Wei Ming embraced her, and Jiang Xi urged him to divorce quickly. They ended up being intimate on the couch.

Guoguo suddenly developed hives and had difficulty breathing, causing Lin Shuang to rush her to the hospital. Lin Shuang got soaked in the rain but still persevered. After receiving emergency treatment, Guoguo's condition gradually stabilized. Lin Shuang's mother-in-law blamed her for not taking good care of Guoguo, and Lin Shuang stayed up all night to accompany Guoguo while she received intravenous therapy until dawn, carrying her back home.

Wei Ming hurriedly returned home and lied about his phone running out of battery. Lin Shuang was extremely irritated, and a deliveryman brought Wei Ming's tie that he had left at the hotel. Wei Ming desperately tried to cover up, claiming it was a prank by his colleagues. Lin Shuang had reached her breaking point and released all her pent-up anger. They had a heated argument, and Guoguo was awakened by the noise. She loudly mentioned Lin Shuang's fever, and Wei Ming stormed out of the house.

Jiang Xi and Wei Ming spent a night at the hotel, and Wei Ming rushed back home early in the morning. Jiang Xi intentionally had the hotel send Wei Ming's tie back home, hoping to provoke Lin Shuang and speed up their divorce. Lin Shuang's high fever wouldn't go down, so she had to send Guoguo to her mother's house. Lin Shuang lay in bed, half-conscious, recalling Wei Ming's past promises. Lin Shuang decided to divorce Wei Ming, and she struggled to tidy up the house, removing all the photos of herself and Wei Ming.

Lin Shuang went to a second-hand store and sold her wedding ring for 5,000 yuan. She learned from the shop owner that Jiang Xi often pawned jewelry and bags there, all of which were basic branded items. Lin Shuang saw volunteers promoting the Spring Seedling Program and donated the 5,000 yuan. Lin Shuang consulted a lawyer about property distribution and custody of Guoguo after the divorce. The lawyer listed Lin Shuang's unfavorable factors one by one, advising her to stay put for now, find a stable job as soon as possible, or she wouldn't qualify to fight for custody. Lin Shuang needed to gather evidence of Wei Ming's infidelity and property transfer.

After much consideration, Lin Shuang took the initiative to meet Jiang Xi. Jiang Xi arrived late, dressed and behaved just like Lin Shuang. Lin Shuang directly expressed her intentions, stating that she wanted a divorce from Wei Ming and only wanted custody of Guoguo. Lin Shuang proposed cooperation with Jiang Xi to secure her rightful share of the property, offering to split it evenly. Jiang Xi refused to cooperate and wanted Lin Shuang out of the picture. Lin Shuang confronted Jiang Xi about pawning jewelry and bags, advising her to use this opportunity to verify if Wei Ming was genuinely in love with her. After much consideration, Jiang Xi reluctantly agreed.

Lin Shuang found out that the villa Wei Ming had bought for his parents was next to a contagious disease hospital. She went to persuade her mother-in-law and father-in-law to return the house, as they were concerned about infection. Lin Shuang later discovered that Wei Ming had bought expensive wine, intending to have a romantic time with Jiang Xi, but she declined, citing feeling unwell.

Jiang Xi's family lived in another city, but she stayed in Jiangzhou after graduation. She rented a rundown small house with her younger brother, Jiang Hai. Jiang Xi went to the interview at the Ark Company and encountered rain. She sought shelter under Wei Ming's umbrella, casually mentioning her ambition to establish herself at Ark using her good looks. Wei Ming gave her the umbrella. During Jiang Xi's interview at the Ark Company, she realized that Wei Ming was the director. He made an exception to hire her, and they subsequently developed an intimate relationship. Jiang Xi only learned afterward that Wei Ming was married. Wei Ming claimed he didn't receive warmth at home and spoke ill of his wife, and Jiang Xi believed him.

Jiang Xi turned down Wei Ming's invitation to have a drink together. She returned to her rundown rented house, which was in a mess. Her brother, Jiang Hai, was playing games on the computer. Jiang Xi was furious and scolded him harshly. Jiang Hai mocked Jiang Xi for earning "dirty" money, and Jiang Xi finally let out her pent-up anger. She worked tirelessly to put Jiang Hai through college and support her parents back in her hometown. Jiang Hai repeatedly apologized to Jiang Xi.

Lin Shuang sent a message to check Jiang Xi's decision, and Jiang Xi was determined to cooperate. Lin Shuang came to give Guoguo an ice hockey class and convinced the coach to allow Guoguo to try out for six months, despite concerns about her determination. Jiang Xi gave a presentation during a meeting but found that all the data on her PowerPoint had turned to zeros. Wei Ming came to the rescue, using data from his own computer to help Jiang Xi complete the presentation. After the meeting, Wei Ming showed great concern for Jiang Xi, and she was deeply moved. On the spot, she sent a message to reject cooperation with Lin Shuang. Mi Xue believed that Jiang Xi was not suitable for the secretary's job, but Wei Ming asked Mi Xue to support Jiang Xi more.

Lin Shuang searched for jobs everywhere but faced rejection at every turn. She was determined to keep sending out resumes. Guoguo joined an ice hockey training but was discriminated against by the male players. She felt discouraged, but Lin Shuang encouraged her not to give up, eventually bringing a smile to Guoguo's face.

Lin Shuang invited Xuan Zi and old classmates for dinner. When her old classmates learned that Lin Shuang was a full-time housewife, they expressed sympathy for her. Lin Shuang decided to re-enter the workforce and sought their advice on future career planning. They believed it would be challenging since Lin Shuang had been away from the workplace for too long, struggling to keep up with the trends. Nevertheless, they agreed to help her find a suitable job.

Lin Shuang drove to the Ark Company and met a programmer from Jingrui Company who mistook her for a ride-sharing driver. Lin Shuang noticed his urgency and gave him a ride while inquiring about internet companies' situations. When Lin Shuang returned home, she found Wei Ming and Guoguo happily playing games. Wei Ming tried to be friendly, claiming that he had taken Guoguo to an amusement park today. Lin Shuang tried to avoid him.

Wei Ming and Guoguo baked a cake together and posted pictures on social media. Lin Shuang forced a smile and cooperated with him. Lin Shuang went to the gym for a workout, and Jiang Xi posted pictures on social media, mocking Lin Shuang with a photo of her family of three, appearing loving. Lin Shuang reminded Jiang Xi not to have any illusions about Wei Ming, saying that he only loved himself. Jiang Xi believed that she and Wei Ming were true love and agreed to use this opportunity to verify it.

The head office sent Mr. Ling to the Ark Company as the general manager. Wei Ming's social media posts about taking his daughter Guoguo to the amusement park caught Mr. Ling's attention, and he actively discussed experiences of playing with children. This made Jiang Xi feel uncomfortable, and she repeatedly urged Wei Ming to divorce, but he always made excuses.

Jiang Xi returned to her rented house and received an invitation from Wei Ming, which she coldly rejected. She had a video call with her mother and Jiang Hai. Jiang Hai lied about working at a design institute, and her mother asked Jiang Xi for 150,000 yuan to renovate their old house. Jiang Xi was furious and considered exposing Jiang Hai's unemployment, but he desperately tried to please her. Mr. Fang invited Jiang Xi to a KTV, and Jiang Xi learned from Wei Ming that taking this order from Mr. Fang could bring in a significant sum of money. She wasted no time and went to meet Mr. Fang.

Jiang Xi was eager to sign a contract with Mr. Fang, but he suspected her motives and pressured her to drink. Jiang Xi consumed a lot of alcohol but still insisted on the contract. Mr. Fang agreed to sign with Ark Company the next day. Jiang Xi, overwhelmed by the alcohol, ended up vomiting profusely in the bathroom. Mr. Fang followed her and forcibly pulled her into his car. Jiang Xi managed to jump out of the car, and Lin Shuang happened to pass by. Lin Shuang drove Jiang Xi back home and listened to her complaints as Jiang Xi vented her frustration. Lin Shuang took care of Jiang Xi and made a hangover soup before leaving.

Jiang Xi woke up early the next morning, called Wei Ming to request a day off, and then rushed to get ready for the contract signing with Mr. Fang. Jiang Hai bought instant noodles and planned to cook them with radish soup. Jiang Xi learned that Lin Shuang had brought her home last night and even made a hangover radish soup for her.

Jiang Xi accompanied Mr. Fang and drank until she vomited. Mr. Fang agreed to sign the contract with her at the company the next day. Jiang Xi was overjoyed because successfully securing such a big order from Mr. Fang would bring her both fame and fortune. Early the next morning, Jiang Xi dressed carefully and happily went to the company. She even bought coffee for her colleagues. However, to her surprise, Mi Xue signed the contract with Mr. Fang before her. Jiang Xi was deeply disappointed and angry. She had endured the drinks with Mr. Fang and worked hard to secure the deal, only to have Mi Xue take the credit.

The more Jiang Xi thought about it, the angrier she became. She confronted Wei Ming, but he was helpless. Mi Xue wanted a promotion and a raise, but her performance wasn't up to par. Mi Xue even threatened to resign. Wei Ming knew how valuable Mi Xue was since she had secured one-third of the department's deals. Moreover, Wei Ming was currently competing with Feng Kai for the position of vice president. He couldn't afford to lose Mi Xue, so he decided to attribute Mr. Fang's deal to her for the sake of performance.

Wei Ming explained the situation to Jiang Xi, urging her to consider the bigger picture. Jiang Xi was still resentful, but Wei Ming promised to promote her and fulfill her desires as soon as possible. He also planned to take her out for dinner to make amends, but Jiang Xi made an excuse to decline. Lin Shuang waited for Jiang Xi at the gym and once again proposed the idea of cooperation. Jiang Xi firmly refused, and Lin Shuang reminded her not to become another Lin Shuang.

Wei Ming accidentally spilled coffee on his shirt just before he was about to give a speech. He urgently needed a replacement shirt, so Lin Shuang rushed to the scene without hesitation. While there, she overheard people at the forum talking about Gu Xu's achievements and his promising career. This triggered Lin Shuang's memories of their university days. Gu Xu had always excelled academically, but he had consistently come in second place behind Lin Shuang. Gu Xu had held a grudge about it ever since. Gu Xu also attended the forum and coincidentally ran into Lin Shuang while she was delivering the replacement shirt. Learning that Lin Shuang had become a full-time housewife, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

After work, Jiang Xi received a rent increase of 1,000 yuan from her landlord. She pleaded with the landlord, but it was in vain, so she reluctantly agreed to the new terms. Lin Shuang, on the other hand, exited the building and decided to take a ride-sharing car. Gu Xu happened to request her car and noticed outdated study materials scattered in the back seat. He candidly pointed out that these materials were no longer relevant, which Lin Shuang found hard to accept.

Mi Xue was promoted to department manager, and Jiang Xi was transferred to the relatively unimportant Strategic Innovation Department. She questioned this decision in front of everyone, but Wei Ming claimed it was necessary for work. Jiang Xi sent Wei Ming a message, asking for an explanation, but he ignored her, leaving Jiang Xi fuming. Lin Shuang was waiting for a ride-sharing car when she suddenly received a call from Guoguo's class teacher. Guoguo had vomited at school, causing Lin Shuang to worry. She was about to cancel her new ride and rush to the school when a motorcyclist collided with her car. Lin Shuang quickly got out to check the situation and was shocked when the motorcyclist demanded 10,000 yuan in compensation. Fortunately, Jiang Xi arrived in time to help Lin Shuang resolve the situation.

Jiang Xi suspected that it was a scam, so she offered to take the motorcyclist to a nearby hospital for a full-body checkup. However, the motorcyclist became scared and left in a hurry. Lin Shuang was deeply grateful to Jiang Xi for her assistance. Jiang Xi's mother received 25,000 yuan from Jiang Hai and called Jiang Xi to remind her to transfer money to their family as soon as possible. Jiang Xi was furious when she realized that Jiang Hai had sent her family's money for utilities without her consent.

Jiang Xi called Wei Ming and asked him to meet her. She had always wanted to work in the Product Department, as it would not only allow her to earn a lot of money but also fulfill her own value. Wei Ming acted professionally and agreed to her request. Jiang Xi reluctantly agreed to follow Wei Ming's lead, and Wei Ming left. Jiang Xi was determined to surpass Lin Shuang and began learning how to cook using recipes and competing with her at the gym.

Wei Ming sent a message early in the morning to arrange a meeting with Jiang Xi in their usual place that evening. Jiang Xi readily agreed and took the initiative to invite Wei Ming to an art exhibition on the weekend. Wei Ming was delighted and couldn't help but passionately kiss her in the office. Jiang Xi messaged Lin Shuang, sending her the address of the art exhibition. Unknown to Wei Ming, Lin Shuang and Jiang Xi had formed an alliance to deal with him. They had carefully planned this and, in advance, Jiang Xi had requested a payment of 40,000 yuan from him, which Lin Shuang readily agreed to.

Jiang Xi and Wei Ming arrived on time for the art exhibition, and Lin Shuang joined them later. Lin Shuang witnessed Wei Ming kissing Jiang Xi and slapped her harshly. Wei Ming hurriedly followed Lin Shuang and tried to explain, claiming that Jiang Xi had actively seduced him. He begged Lin Shuang to give him another chance. Lin Shuang made an excuse about registering Guoguo for the ice hockey team next door. Wei Ming immediately transferred the registration fee to her and then another 100,000 yuan. Following her lawyer's advice, Lin Shuang planned to find a way to uncover Wei Ming's hidden assets.

Lin Shuang went to her parents' house to pick up Guoguo. Her mother hadn't seen Wei Ming in a long time and suspected that Lin Shuang and Wei Ming were having problems. Lin Shuang tried to conceal this but her mother remained skeptical. Jiang Xi returned home, only to find her place in a mess. She was furious. Wei Ming sent her a message asking her to take three days off to avoid suspicion from her colleagues. Suddenly, the electricity was cut off at home due to unpaid bills, adding to Jiang Xi's frustration. Lin Shuang arranged to meet Jiang Xi at the ice hockey rink and gave her the first installment of the payment.

From that day onward, Wei Ming avoided Jiang Xi at all costs. He not only refused her calls but also had Mi Xue ask her for documents. Jiang Xi ordered flowers online, and every day she received a large bouquet, making her colleagues speculate that she had met a wealthy second-generation individual. Wei Ming wanted to take Jiang Xi to meet Mr. Fang, but she made an excuse to decline. Wei Ming secretly followed her and saw Jiang Xi getting into a man's sports car. He felt a pang of jealousy. Later, Wei Ming drank heavily alone and eventually had to call for a designated driver. When the driver arrived, Jiang Xi sent him away and drove Wei Ming home. Only then did Wei Ming realize that all of her actions were intended to make him jealous, and Jiang Xi openly admitted to it.

Jiang Xi applied for jobs on Jiang Hai's behalf and quickly received an interview invitation. She forced Jiang Hai to attend the interview, even though he was reluctant. After the interview, Jiang Hai coincidentally met his ex-girlfriend, Xu Meng, who ridiculed him and exchanged harsh words. Jiang Hai didn't want to listen to her any longer and quickly made an excuse to leave. Lin Shuang witnessed this and came over to encourage Jiang Hai, warming his heart.

Guoguo wanted to video call her grandfather, but he didn't answer. She ended up video calling her grandmother instead. Her grandmother, who was with her grandfather at the hospital due to his fractured bone, didn't want Lin Shuang to worry and falsely claimed they were at the bank. Lin Shuang didn't think much of it. Wei Ming called Lin Shuang to inform her that his mother was accompanying his father to Jiangzhou for medical treatment. Lin Shuang calmly accompanied her father-in-law to the hospital for a check-up. Wei Ming's mother purposely instructed Lin Shuang to pay the bills and collect the medicine. Gu Xu loudly stopped Lin Shuang and mentioned that he had been unable to reach her on the phone. They coincidentally met at the hospital. Gu Xu complained that Lin Shuang hadn't taken care of his injured father, and Lin Shuang only then realized that her father-in-law had a fractured bone.

Lin Shuang ran into Gu Xu at the hospital and only then found out that her father had accidentally broken his leg while cleaning. Coincidentally, he was also hospitalized at this same hospital. Without saying a word, Lin Shuang went to visit her father and complained that her parents hadn't told her about it in advance. Her father felt very sorry for Lin Shuang. She was already exhausted from taking care of Guoguo and Wei Ming every day, and on top of that, her in-laws, who were not easy to deal with, didn't want to burden Lin Shuang any further.

Wei Ming suddenly called Lin Shuang to blame her for not accompanying her father-in-law for a gastroscopy. Lin Shuang had to explain her father's accident. Gu Xu was Lin Shuang's father's proud disciple. He had always considered Lin Shuang as a role model in academics. Seeing Lin Shuang's current situation, he felt sorry for her. Since college, he had considered Lin Shuang his strongest competitor, and he had returned to China this time hoping to compete with her. He hadn't expected Lin Shuang to become a full-time housewife, and he regretted it.

Wei Ming hurriedly arrived at the hospital and saw a luxury car in the parking lot. Curious about the owner of the car, Wei Ming went to visit his father-in-law. Upon entering, he saw Gu Xu cutting fruits for his father-in-law, and his mother-in-law praised Gu Xu repeatedly. The three of them were happily chatting and laughing, which made Wei Ming feel a pang of jealousy. Wei Ming inquired about when Gu Xu would return to the United States. Gu Xu had sold his company in the United States and planned to develop it in Jiangzhou. Wei Ming only learned downstairs that the luxury car belonged to Gu Xu, which made him even more envious.

Wei Ming dropped Lin Shuang off at the hospital and asked her to apologize to his parents first. He made an excuse about needing to return to the company for overtime work and drove away. Lin Shuang knew Wei Ming was avoiding something but didn't want to confront him. She returned home feeling unhappy. Her mother-in-law ordered her around, and she couldn't help but think back to when she had resigned from her job to become a full-time housewife. Her parents had strongly opposed it, but Lin Shuang had willingly sacrificed for her family. Now, she regretted it.

Lin Shuang visited her father at the hospital, but he didn't want to burden her, so he persuaded her to leave. Lin Shuang took a ride-sharing car and learned from the driver that the internet giant Panshi Company was hiring. She immediately took her resume to the interview. The interviewer explicitly stated that they were only hiring recent graduates, but Lin Shuang promised to learn from younger colleagues. They didn't listen and rejected her. Lin Shuang, in her haste, left her resume in the bathroom.

Panshi Company hired Gu Xu as CEO with a generous offer. He officially took office today and heard employees gossiping about the company appointing an outsider as CEO. Today was the day Lin Shuang's father was discharged from the hospital. Lin Shuang called Wei Ming to pick them up, but Wei Ming made an excuse about a meeting and couldn't make it. Lin Shuang was about to take a taxi home when Gu Xu happened to come to the hospital to visit her father. He offered to take them home and even carried Lin Shuang's father upstairs.

Feng Kai had his heart set on becoming vice president. He formed alliances within the company, and Wei Ming, not wanting to be outdone, decided to organize a team-building event with his department over the weekend. The theme of the event was a family day, and he specifically instructed Mi Xue not to invite Jiang Xi, who was unmarried. He converted the event funds into 2800 yuan in cash and gave it to her. Colleagues speculated that Jiang Xi had offended Wei Ming, and they talked about her behind her back.

Jiang Xi confronted Wei Ming about it, but Wei Ming gave her a vague excuse to brush her off. Jiang Xi was frustrated and decided to vent at the gym. Lin Shuang could see that Jiang Xi was troubled and advised her not to worry. Wei Ming organized this family-themed team-building event to present himself as a good husband and father in front of his colleagues. If his affair with Jiang Xi were exposed, everyone would blame her. Lin Shuang suggested that Jiang Xi cooperate with her to expose Wei Ming's ugly side, but Jiang Xi refused again.

Today was the weekend, and Wei Ming was supposed to take Lin Shuang and Guoguo to the team-building event. He bought a bouquet of flowers to apologize to Jiang Xi and promised to make it up to her. Before leaving, Lin Shuang sent a message to Jiang Xi, asking her to come to the event to test Wei Ming's feelings for her. Jiang Xi remained unmoved. Jiang Xi's mother called and urged her to send money home, which annoyed Jiang Xi. She decided to test Wei Ming.

The team-building event officially began, and Wei Ming was very attentive to Guoguo and Lin Shuang. They participated in family games, and Wei Ming took extra care of Lin Shuang. She had to reluctantly cooperate with him. Guoguo didn't like wearing a princess dress and accidentally took a big fall. Lin Shuang quickly applied a band-aid to her wound. Wei Ming took Lin Shuang and Guoguo to the evening banquet, introducing Lin Shuang to his colleagues. Guoguo was uncomfortable in her princess dress, and Lin Shuang wanted to take her home first, but Wei Ming insisted on staying.

Wei Ming showered Lin Shuang with praise in front of Mr. Ling and Sister Wei at the banquet, calling her a virtuous wife. Sister Wei also praised him as a good husband and father. Jiang Xi arrived at the banquet in style, stunning everyone in attendance. Mi Xue told Lin Shuang that Wei Ming had informed Jiang Xi not to attend today's team-building event. Lin Shuang was puzzled, but Wei Ming desperately made excuses to cover up.

Jiang Xi waited for Wei Ming in their room, and when he arrived, he scolded her loudly and blamed her for coming there. Wei Ming publicly announced that their game was over.

Jiang Xi suddenly appeared at the dinner party, and Wei Ming was worried that their affair would be exposed. He wanted to break things off with Jiang Xi completely. However, Jiang Xi was unwilling to end their relationship so easily. This infuriated Wei Ming, and he angrily threatened and intimidated her, telling her to get lost from their lives.

Wei Ming stormed out of the room in anger, only to find Feng Kai sitting at the door, mocking him for getting involved with female colleagues. Wei Ming warned him not to speak out of turn. Meanwhile, Lin Shuang was telling a bedtime story to Guoguo to help her sleep. Guoguo couldn't help but complain, noticing that Wei Ming behaved differently during team-building events. He kept taking selfies with her in his arms, and Lin Shuang didn't know how to explain it.

Wei Ming returned home very late and admitted that he had a past relationship with Jiang Xi. He promised that they would no longer be in contact and offered Lin Shuang 500,000 yuan as compensation. Lin Shuang went to negotiate with Jiang Xi, urging her to leave Wei Ming before she got hurt. However, Jiang Xi was unwilling to give up. Wei Ming was like a beacon of light in her life, and for the first time, he affirmed her worth. Despite Lin Shuang's earnest persuasion, Jiang Xi remained steadfast.

Lin Shuang visited her parents, and Gu Xu happened to be there. When Guoguo heard that Gu Xu and Lin Shuang were former classmates, she became curious and asked about their past. Gu Xu had always considered Lin Shuang a role model in academics, but he regretted that she had become a full-time housewife now. When Jiang Xi returned home from work, she found that Jiang Hai had cleaned the house and even cooked a delicious meal. She was curious about the sudden change in him since meeting Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang consulted a lawyer about divorce and saw a man who refused to divorce causing a scene at the lawyer's office. Lin Shuang intervened to help the lawyer handle the situation. Jiang Xi went to work at the company, and her colleagues were whispering and gossiping about her. She found out that someone had exposed many negative aspects of Feng Kai to the media, including leaking company data. Feng Kai suspected that Wei Ming was behind it, trying to disqualify him from running for vice president, but Wei Ming denied it.

Lin Shuang confirmed that Wei Ming had reported Feng Kai. She once again approached Jiang Xi for cooperation, asking her to help find evidence. After careful consideration, Jiang Xi agreed. She opened Wei Ming's computer based on the clues provided by Lin Shuang and discovered the screenshots that had been sent to the media, confirming Wei Ming's involvement in reporting Feng Kai.

Lin Shuang received a call from Zhu Xiaoqing at Panshi Company, asking her to report to the company as soon as possible. Lin Shuang arrived at the company and learned that Zhu Xiaoqing had seen her resume left in the restroom and recommended her to the HR director. The director felt that Lin Shuang was well-suited for the job. Shopping festival promotions caused a surge in online shoppers, leading to server crashes. Gu Xu arrived promptly and effortlessly resolved the issue.

Lin Shuang went for a job interview at the company, with HR manager He Fei, executive assistant Shu Man, and Gu Xu present. Lin Shuang admitted that she had returned to the workforce because of her daughter Guoguo. She didn't regret her decision to focus on her family initially. Shu Man and He Fei were impressed with Lin Shuang, but Gu Xu questioned her decision to give up her career for her family, bluntly stating that she wasn't suitable for the job. Lin Shuang felt wronged and left the company in tears.

Lin Shuang sent a message to meet with Jiang Xi and asked her to bring all the evidence. Wei Ming realized that someone had tampered with his computer and asked the tech department to investigate, suspecting Jiang Xi first. After finishing work, Jiang Xi wanted to meet Lin Shuang, but Wei Ming suddenly drove her to a Western restaurant. He repeatedly apologized to her, regretting the harsh words he had said earlier. Wei Ming had prepared a birthday dinner for Jiang Xi, expressing his love with a bouquet of flowers.

Lin Shuang waited late into the night but didn't see Jiang Xi. She couldn't reach Jiang Xi on the phone, and Wei Ming's phone was also turned off. She immediately understood that they were together. Jiang Xi hid in the restroom, trying to call Lin Shuang, while Wei Ming urged her outside. After careful consideration, Jiang Xi decided to dispose of the USB drive containing the evidence.

Wei Ming took Jiang Xi out for dinner as soon as he got off work. On the way, he tried his best to make Jiang Xi happy, repeatedly claiming that he had reported Feng Kai's dark secrets for Jiang Xi, hoping to eliminate interference and become the vice president. From then on, Jiang Xi would be able to secure her position in the company. Jiang Xi admitted that she had already destroyed the evidence and cleared the background data. Wei Ming was deeply grateful to her.

Lin Shuang had been waiting for Jiang Xi and came to her house early in the morning. She learned from Jiang Hai that Jiang Xi hadn't returned home all night. Lin Shuang guessed that Jiang Xi had been with Wei Ming last night. Jiang Xi hurried back home, and Lin Shuang couldn't wait to ask her for the evidence, but Jiang Xi had already destroyed it. Lin Shuang was greatly disappointed and blamed her for being too naive to fall for Wei Ming's tricks. She believed Wei Ming had noticed Jiang Xi's secret investigation and was trying to win her over. Jiang Xi was convinced of Wei Ming's true love, and Lin Shuang left in frustration, slamming the door.

Jiang Hai advised Jiang Xi kindly, but she made it clear that she and Lin Shuang were not friends and warned Jiang Hai not to interact with Lin Shuang in the future. Lin Shuang had initially wanted to use Feng Kai's situation to bring Wei Ming down, but she didn't expect Jiang Xi to suddenly switch sides and support Wei Ming. Lin Shuang was very frustrated and sat alone in the street garden, feeling dejected. Her parents couldn't reach her on the phone, and Gu Xu couldn't contact her either. They had to search for her everywhere. Finally, they found Lin Shuang in the street garden. Gu Xu thought Lin Shuang was angry because she had been rejected from a job interview and couldn't help but blame her for giving up her career for the family. Lin Shuang poured out all the grievances that had been pent up in her heart, and Gu Xu finally understood her inner conflict and helplessness.

Feng Kai's scandal spread like wildfire in the company, and employees were gossiping about him. Feng Kai had already guessed that Wei Ming had exposed his secrets to the media, so he came to Jiang Xi for cooperation. He promised to marry Jiang Xi once she provided evidence against Wei Ming. Jiang Xi firmly refused. Feng Kai urged Jiang Xi to see the situation clearly, or she would end up like him. Jiang Xi didn't accept his offer but couldn't be sure if Wei Ming's feelings for her were genuine or not. Wei Ming swore his love for her, and Jiang Xi believed him.

Jiang Hai developed a good impression of Lin Shuang and advised Jiang Xi to reconcile with her. Jiang Xi could see Jiang Hai's feelings for Lin Shuang but pretended not to notice. Lin Shuang had been out of the workplace for too long and was out of touch with society. When she was at a loss, Zhu Xiaoqing sent her a training certificate from Panshi Company, allowing her to attend training sessions held by the company every Wednesday. Lin Shuang was grateful for the opportunity but knew she couldn't accompany Guo Guo to practice ice hockey. Guo Guo supported her decision to focus on learning.

Lin Shuang attended classes at the school on time, working hard to catch up on her neglected professional knowledge. Jiang Xi considered and agreed to cooperate with Feng Kai. Feng Kai was overjoyed and urged her to provide evidence against Wei Ming as soon as possible. Jiang Xi secretly recorded Feng Kai's words, following Wei Ming's instructions, as Wei Ming wanted to completely defeat Feng Kai.

Zhu Xiaoqing learned that an internet celebrity would be teaching at Jiang University and immediately called Lin Shuang. Lin Shuang asked her mother-in-law to pick up Guo Guo from kindergarten and even bought her a neck massager, as her mother-in-law loved playing mahjong every day and felt uncomfortable. She reluctantly agreed. Lin Shuang arrived early for the class and was surprised to find that the internet celebrity was Gu Xu. Gu Xu explained the material in an easy-to-understand way, and Lin Shuang benefited greatly.

Wei Ming used Jiang Xi's email to send the recorded conversation of Feng Kai trying to bribe Jiang Xi to their colleagues. Feng Kai's reputation was tarnished, and Jiang Xi became the center of discussion among her colleagues. She confronted Wei Ming about it, and Wei Ming, under the guise of protecting her, convinced her to cooperate. Wei Ming's mother came to pick up Guo Guo from kindergarten but got caught up in a phone call with her friends, chatting enthusiastically. When she hung up, she realized that Guo Guo was missing. She immediately called Wei Ming and Lin Shuang.

Lin Shuang had just finished her class, and when Gu Xu learned about the situation, he didn't hesitate to drive her to search for Guo Guo. Wei Ming and Lin Shuang searched separately but found no trace of her. Jiang Xi saw Guo Guo at the park entrance and offered to take her home. Wei Ming blamed Lin Shuang for being irresponsible. Gu Xu checked the surveillance footage and discovered that Wei Ming's mother had lost Guo Guo while talking on the phone. Wei Ming showed the footage to his mother, leaving her speechless. Jiang Hai pretended that his phone was out of battery and asked to use Jiang Xi's phone to order takeout. He took the opportunity to secretly jot down Lin Shuang's phone number.

After settling Guo Guo for the night, Lin Shuang sent a message to Jiang Xi, expressing her gratitude and reminding Jiang Xi not to trust Wei Ming lightly. At this moment, Wei Ming's intentions were impure, but Jiang Xi believed him. Wei Ming's parents were into stock trading and had lost a lot of money due to a downturn in the market. Wei Ming's mother learned some insider information about stocks and asked Wei Ming for money to recover her losses. Wei Ming didn't have enough money on hand, as he had just given Lin Shuang 500,000 yuan.