She placed her hand on the doorknob and opened it. Standing outside was a man in his sixties, his expression a careful mix of professionalism and concern.
Who is this? she wondered, confusion briefly washing over her.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she offered the older man a polite smile. “Good morning! Yes, I’m awake. Is something wrong?”
The butler, Ling, seemed momentarily taken aback by her bright tone—Madam was smiling at him? But he quickly regained his composure and replied, “Madam, I apologize for the interruption, but Mr. Chen asked me to inform you that he had to leave early for the company due to an urgent matter. He also sent you a message and asked that you respond to it as soon as possible.”
Yang Liu felt a jolt of disbelief at the name. Mr. Chen? Han Chen? Like in the book Sweethearts Forever? The father of Han Wei, the third male lead? The man even richer than the main character?
A whirlwind of thoughts swirled in her head, but she kept her smile in place, trying to appear calm. She needed confirmation. If this really was Sweethearts Forever, then Han Wei had to exist too.
“Oh, okay,” she said smoothly. “I’ll reply to my husband right away. Just to confirm... has my stepson, Han Wei, left for school yet?”
The butler smiled gently. “No, young master Han Wei is still asleep, Madam.”
There it was. The name. The confirmation.She felt a chill run down her spine. It’s real... it’s all real.
She thanked him and gently closed the door. The second it clicked shut, her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor, stunned.
Eyes wide and breath shallow, she whispered to herself, “I can’t believe this. I’m inside Sweethearts Forever... and I’ve become the stepmother of my favorite character?”
Her mind spun with possibilities. Wait... Didn’t Han Chen and Yang Liu sign the divorce papers shortly after getting married in the book?
Desperate for answers, she scanned the room for anything that could tell her more. Her eyes landed on a bag draped over an armchair. She rushed to it and rummaged through the contents, pulling out a sleek phone — apparently belonging to the original Yang Liu. Her fingers fumbled across the screen as she opened the calendar.
January 7th.Exactly one year until the divorce.
She stared at the date, stunned. In the book, the reason behind the divorce was never revealed. Only that Han Chen had some kind of agreement with Yang Liu, and signing the papers had fulfilled a promise.
Then, unexpectedly, laughter bubbled up from her chest. She couldn’t hold it in.“The best part is, he’s rich!”
Yang Liu had always been quick to accept reality and adapt. After briefly weighing the pros and cons, her decision was made. I’ll stay in this marriage for the year, then sign the divorce papers when the time comes. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend a year married to a handsome, wealthy 35-year-old man?
The beginnings of a plan took shape in her mind. She could treat Han Chen and Han Wei like distant colleagues — polite, helpful, but emotionally distant. No drama, no complications. Just do what’s needed, keep her distance, and leave the marriage with a comfortable bank account.
The thought made her chuckle again. “Finally, some luck. And at least I still look like myself—no need to get used to a new face.”
With a newfound sense of determination, she started mentally outlining her next steps. The marriage certificate was dated yesterday, so it was still fresh. That meant she didn’t have to pretend to be deeply involved or overly affectionate. According to the book, Han Chen had only married her to help her out—nothing more.
She let out a small breath of relief. Perfect. The less we know about each other, the easier this will be. I can just be myself.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her hand, jolting her back to the present. The screen lit up with a name that made her heart skip a beat: Han Chen.
Han Chen is calling me?
She froze. Her thumb hovered over the screen. Should I answer? What do I even say? What if he realizes I’m not really Yang Liu?
After a moment of hesitation, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and reminded herself: Just act natural. You're his wife now. Technically.
Finally, she answered the call.
A deep, composed voice echoed through the speaker — smooth, calm, and unmistakably mature.“Hello, Yang Liu?”