Endless Regret

He drank himself into a stupor. In his drunken haze, Nathan Ye heard the blaring wedding horns passing by the Public Works Office, each note stabbing his heart like a knife. Powerless and desperate, he pounded his own belly: "Why can't you just work? Why can't you even be a man anymore! Nathan Ye, if you're bald, just wear a wig! Why did you have to mess around with those crazy remedies? Nathan Ye, do you regret it now or not?"

"Regret? Of course I regret it! How could I not regret it?" Nathan Ye slurred, gulping down more wine as he sang a tune that barely resembled a melody.

Many in the Public Works Office heard him, but none dared go in to comfort him.

But from that day on, Nathan Ye would shout drunkenly in his room, and soon everyone knew he was impotent. Even those who once considered introducing him to a match now hesitated.

A man can be ugly, bald, and poor—that's all survivable. At least he'd still be a man.

But being impotent...

Better not ruin someone else's daughter.

From that day forward, Nathan Ye became utterly dejected, trapped in a cycle of endless regret.

Fortunately, he never neglected his work; he still did everything he was supposed to do.

Lily Evans wanted to comfort him, but she couldn't find the words. All she could do was hope that, with time, Nathan Ye would slowly recover.

Right after the Grain Rain Festival wedding, Lola—who had been on leave and absent from the Distinguished Professors' Office—finally showed up for the first time since her marriage.

Before her wedding, Lola never wore makeup. But now, as a married woman, her face was caked with powder.

Martin Wu was shocked the first time he saw Lola.

“Lola, you—you finally came back.” Martin Wu stared at her in surprise, taking in her new married-woman hairstyle and the thick powder that completely masked her natural skin tone.

By rights, Lola should have been glowing with happiness in her newlywed bliss, but Martin Wu couldn’t sense even a trace of joy from her.

To Martin Wu, Lola seemed weighed down and somber.

She smiled at Martin Wu, but it was a forced smile, as if she had to squeeze it out.

Because of the thick powder on her face, her smile only deepened the fine wrinkles around her mouth.

Martin Wu saw this and his frown deepened.

She was clearly just a young girl, yet with that makeup, Lola looked like she was in her thirties.

“Lola, you—you look a bit worn out.” Martin Wu said with concern, “Is Neil Zhao treating you poorly?”

A strange look flickered in Lola’s eyes. She shook her head and said, “Not at all. My husband treats me very well, he dotes on me. I’ve been on leave at home for almost a month, so why would I look worn out? It’s just that I’m newly married and changed my style—you’re not used to it yet, but you’ll get used to it soon.”

With that, Lola hurried into the office, as if she were trying to avoid Martin Wu’s gaze.

But as the two brushed past each other, Martin Wu caught sight of Lola’s collar shifting, revealing a bruise on her neck.

The bruise had clear finger marks—it looked exactly like someone had gripped her neck hard!

“Lola!” Martin Wu grabbed her arm and pulled her to a quiet corner, speaking seriously, “Tell me the truth, are you really okay living with the House of Zhao?”

Lola forced a smile and said, “Everything’s fine.”

Martin Wu clenched his teeth. “Don’t lie to me—I saw the bruise on your neck! Is Neil Zhao hurting you?”

A flash of panic crossed Lola’s eyes. She instinctively touched her neck and hurriedly said, “N-no! My husband would never hurt me. This—this was just an accident, I got it while practicing martial arts!”