The Iceberg Ex-Wife Doesn't Want to Take My Tragic Ending Script (BE Script) - Chapter 1

Over the azure sea, heavy, goose-feather-like snow was falling.

The snowflakes kissed the surface of the sea, instantly dissolving into the frigid winter seawater.

A newly opened seaside art gallery in Ning City featured a specially designed glass corridor that shielded the view of the traffic and pedestrians on the coastal road, leaving only the pure convergence of blue and white reflected in the glass. The world was so clean it gave people the illusion of living in a movie.

“No wonder the gallery wasn’t in a hurry to open even though it’s been finished for so long. It turns out Ms. Shi was waiting for this snow.”

“That’s why so many galleries that try to imitate Ms. Shi are only skin-deep copies.”

“I’ve seen Ada’s paintings in other galleries before, but Ms. Shi’s curation is still the best.”

“It has to be Ms. Shi with her spiritual touch; she always finds the perfect connection point for the artwork.”

…

Several women stood in the glass corridor, enthusiastically discussing the exhibition. They occasionally exchanged glances, subtly observing Shi Xiu, who stood in the middle, trying to gauge her expression.

Shi Xiu was in the art gallery business, and this seaside gallery was the fifth under her management.

In the past two years, Shi Xiu’s unique vision and talent had led her planned exhibitions to repeatedly win awards both domestically and internationally, achieving remarkable success. Many people were eager to curry favor with her.

Flattery didn’t require much sincerity, only mutual understanding and skill.

However, today Shi Xiu’s face was mostly devoid of emotion. She was the typical “three whites of the eye” type, with sharp canthi and long eye tails. When expressionless, she looked completely unapproachable, making it impossible to tell if she was satisfied with her exhibition today.

Just as the conversation dwindled and was about to fall silent, Shi Xiu finally smiled, picking up the last bit of flattery to reply: “We achieve success together. I’m just a humble art seller; there’s no spiritual touch to speak of.”

“Ms. Shi is far too modest.”

“Ada’s paintings are going to hit a new high this time. Ms. Shi is going to earn a fortune again.”

Even in an elegant setting like a snowy art exhibition, the conversation and flattery of merchants inevitably circled back to money. Shi Xiu’s self-deprecating claim of being a “humble art seller” made her appear as a profit-driven businesswoman.

However, upon hearing such remarks, her brow couldn’t help but furrow slightly.

The people around her noticed this reaction and instantly realized they had said the wrong thing, becoming nervous.

Yet, it felt baffling that such a wealthy group would spare no effort to fawn over Shi Xiu, an art seller.

Unless…

“It just takes a lot of capital to invest so much upfront just to wait for a single snowfall. It seems Mr. Shang’s money is resilient enough to withstand this kind of extravagance.”

Amidst the forced smiles, a sudden discordant voice arose.

A woman, holding a champagne glass, smiled at Shi Xiu, her eyes full of disdain.

That was right. Shi Xiu had another identity: she was the wife of the “Mr. Shang” mentioned—Shang Jinyue, the current business magnate of Ning City and the head of the Shang Group.

Seven years ago, when the actual controller of the Shang Group, Old Mrs. Shang, passed away suddenly, the Shang family was briefly plunged into an internal power struggle.

As Shang Jinyue gradually consolidated power, reorganized resources, and exiled Old Mrs. Shang’s eldest son, the situation in the Shang family became increasingly clear. Shang Jinyue transformed from the focal point of internal attack into a highly revered figure.

An art gallery’s business isn’t just buying and selling paintings or promoting new artists. As a social venue, it also deals in the currency of favors and social etiquette.

Many believed that Shi Xiu’s gallery business was merely a way to gild her own image by leveraging Shang Jinyue’s name. What competence or aesthetic sense could the daughter of a parvenu, educated in a third-rate major, possibly have?

Such mockery had drifted into Shi Xiu’s ears more than once.

So, she looked at the person who had just aimed that barb at her with more calmness than anyone else.

Her eyes, which had been cast down for most of the day, finally lifted. Shi Xiu raised an arc at the corner of her mouth that was even more disdainful than the woman’s: “It’s better to make a splash with the effort than to spend money on a pile of rotten mud and not know what to do with it.”

At this, several people around them couldn’t help but chuckle. The circle was small; everyone knew everyone else’s embarrassing secrets.

Just as Shi Xiu’s background had been thoroughly investigated, this wife’s recent blunder was also common knowledge. Not long ago, she was persuaded to buy a batch of antiques, only to realize upon appraisal that they were all modern, artificially aged goods freshly “wholesaled” from Jingdezhen.

She tried to find the seller, but they were quicker than her, having already vanished with the money. This incident became the topic of conversation at that month’s tea party. When her husband found out, he cursed her out and canceled her cards, extending the tea party’s gossip for another half a month.

“You!”

Under the spectacle-watching gaze of the surrounding crowd, the woman’s face turned extremely ugly.

Shi Xiu just looked at her, chin slightly raised, with no intention of giving her a graceful exit. This was her personality: if someone made her unhappy, she wouldn’t let them off easily.

Shang Jinyue was no exception.

Just then, an elegant woman walked past the corridor and waved to Shi Xiu: “A-Xiu.”

This was Ada, who had been frequently mentioned, whose real name was Feng Xinyang. She was Shi Xiu’s good friend from high school.

Shi Xiu would rather spend time with her friend than listen to flattery or watch someone lose face here.

She offered a quick “Please excuse me,” and turned to leave.

“Good clapback! Those people have rotten mouths,” Feng Xinyang walked towards Shi Xiu, giving her a thumbs-up for her counterattack.

“She deserved it,” Shi Xiu scoffed. She seemed to be more herself when she was with Feng Xinyang.

This was friendship.

Over the years, people had come and gone in Shi Xiu’s life, and among her high school acquaintances, only Feng Xinyang remained.

And Shang Jinyue.

Thinking of this, the expression on Shi Xiu’s face paused.

Feng Xinyang, still engrossed in Shi Xiu’s bold move, didn’t notice the change in Shi Xiu’s expression: “That’s great, that’s more like you.”

She familiarly linked her arm through Shi Xiu’s and played the spoiled friend: “Aiya, you spent so much money on my painting this time, how should I thank you?”

“Didn’t we write it down in black and white in the contract? Five-five split,” Shi Xiu looked at Feng Xinyang openly. “And it wasn’t just for you that I spent the money. This kind of thing is always mutually beneficial. The gallery doesn’t just make money by selling paintings.”

Whenever Shi Xiu talked about this, Feng Xinyang became lost. She was a pure artist. She didn’t understand, nor did she want to understand, the welcoming, sending-off, or commercial interests involved. In any case—

“A-Xiu wouldn’t cheat me. I’ll only entrust my paintings to you to sell.”

“It’s just that I feel… it’s a pity.”

Feng Xinyang’s voice rose and fell, conveying a sense of melancholy after a period of prosperity.

Shi Xiu raised an eyebrow: “Pity?” She half-jokingly asked, “Do you think I’m taking too much of your money?”

“How could I? I think you’re getting the short end of the stick even with a five-five split.” Feng Xinyang was deeply grateful for Shi Xiu’s support and assistance over the years. People returned kindness, and she thought more about Shi Xiu’s welfare.

“I just think you’re a pity,” Feng Xinyang followed Shi Xiu’s arm and took her hand. “Are you really not planning to start painting again? You’ve made enough money from the gallery, and your reputation is well established. You can come back to painting now.”

Her fingers were held, and the falling snow shadows dusted them.

Shi Xiu also followed Feng Xinyang’s gesture and looked at her own hand. It was well-defined, meticulously maintained like a slender scallion, with no trace of the calluses left by holding a pen. Only a slight indentation on her middle finger reminded her of how much she once loved painting.

But that was in the past.

“After so many years without a brush, I’ve long forgotten how to paint,” Shi Xiu said flatly.

A teenager standing at the crossroads of life is unaware of the butterfly effect their choices will have on the future. Later, Shi Xiu realized that from the day she chose to give up applying to the fine arts academy just to be with Shang Jinyue, she was destined to have no connection with that endeavor.

Not just painting. At every fork in the road, Shi Xiu would inevitably give up her own choice for the sake of Shang Jinyue.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have tied you up and dragged you to the studio during the summer vacation of my junior year,” Feng Xinyang felt frustrated every time this was brought up, and she didn’t forget to curse Shi Xiu one last time: “You love-struck idiot.”

Shi Xiu felt that Feng Xinyang was right and lowered her head without refuting her. She had abandoned it, so she could only approach it in this way. She could never possess it again.

Shi Xiu didn’t know if she regretted it, but since she had come this far, regret was useless. Instead, she shared some good news with Feng Xinyang: “But the love-struck idiot is getting a new piece of land. Xiao Chen told me the land I had my eye on has been successfully purchased.”

Xiao Chen was Shang Jinyue’s chief assistant, and most of what Shi Xiu did was authorized by Shang Jinyue.

“Wow,” Feng Xinyang exclaimed sincerely. Although Shang Jinyue usually wore a deadpan expression, like an emotionless machine, she was quite good to Shi Xiu.

So, Feng Xinyang immediately followed up: “The land has been purchased. Shouldn’t the wife of the love-struck idiot also be back in the country?”

After stabilizing domestic affairs, Shang Jinyue began organizing overseas ventures. For the past three years, she had spent three-quarters of her time abroad. Since the ancestral worship during the New Year, Shi Xiu hadn’t seen her for over half a year.

Shi Xiu twisted the ring on her finger and said, “I don’t know, she didn’t—”

Shi Xiu’s words stopped abruptly. She realized she didn’t need to give Feng Xinyang an answer; the answer was already standing before her.

The sunlight refracted through the pure snow, illuminating the glass corridor as clean as seawater.

Hanging there was the oil painting Shi Xiu had collaborated on with Feng Xinyang. A tall, elegant woman was standing in front of this painting. Light and shadow shimmered, making her seem to be a part of the artwork. Her light-brown hair was styled in delicate curls, reflecting a golden sheen in the sun, radiating elegance and nobility. Even with her eyes lowered and no particular expression, her refined features were hard to ignore, still breathtakingly beautiful.

Just as Shi Xiu remembered.

Shi Xiu stood at the other end of the corridor, stopping in her tracks without expression.

Feng Xinyang was also startled, and not just because Shang Jinyue suddenly appeared. After all, Shang Jinyue returning home unannounced could be explained as a surprise for Shi Xiu.

However, it was hard to justify surprising one’s wife while having another woman standing right beside her. Furthermore, this other woman was smiling as she handed Shang Jinyue a red dot sticker, asking her to help mark her intention to purchase the painting.

The winter sunlight cast an unreal film over the people, separating the inside and outside worlds.

The spot where Shang Jinyue stood had been adjusted countless times by Shi Xiu to offer the best visual experience. They were appreciating the painting, and also integrating into it, their natural interaction exuding familiarity.

“They look so good together.”

“Are they a couple?”

Two young girls, dressed plainly, walked by. They were not from this social circle, so they naturally didn’t know who Shang Jinyue was. This made their excited words about what they saw especially grating.

“Little sisters, it’s not good to ship a married woman,” Feng Xinyang didn’t care about the gallery’s etiquette, her voice clear enough for the entire corridor to hear.

So, under the surprised and apologetic gaze of the two girls, Shang Jinyue, on the other side, also looked over.

As did the woman beside her: “Xinyang, long time no see.”

“I apologize, Miss Wen, this painting is a collaboration between me and A-Xiu and is not for sale.”

Compared to the woman’s gentle smile, Feng Xinyang’s demeanor was notably distant. Her gaze was fixed on the sticker in Shang Jinyue’s hand, subtly hinting at something.

There was no need for avoidance. All four of them knew each other.

The person Feng Xinyang called Miss Wen was Wen Youqing, Shang Jinyue’s childhood sweetheart.

Both the Wen and Shang families had always expected Shang Jinyue and Wen Youqing to marry and create a beautiful legend. No one expected Shi Xiu to intervene, relentlessly pursuing Shang Jinyue, and even taking the lead while Old Mrs. Shang was on her deathbed.

In the eyes of the Wen family, and many others, Shi Xiu’s marriage to Shang Jinyue was nothing more than a moral coercion, exploiting Old Mrs. Shang’s fondness and Shang Jinyue’s filial piety. Now that Shang Jinyue had regained full control, it remained uncertain whether she would continue to uphold her grandmother’s dying wish with Shi Xiu or remarry her childhood sweetheart.

In contrast, the two passing girls kept it simple: they immediately noticed the wedding rings on both Shang Jinyue’s and Shi Xiu’s hands.

The woman standing by the window looked unapproachable, but her aura and clothing were almost perfectly matched with the powerful woman. She seemed a better match than the gentle woman beside her.

Why wasn’t she walking over, though? They really wanted to see the two of them in the same frame.

Feng Xinyang felt the same way. She wanted to physically push Shi Xiu towards them to separate Shang Jinyue and Wen Youqing.

But Shi Xiu remained silent. She held her emotions in check, looking coldly at Shang Jinyue.

It wasn’t until a pair of charcoal-gray boots entered her line of sight.

The woman’s tall frame blocked the sun from the window, leaving only a cool, indifferent halo of light on Shi Xiu’s eyes.

Shang Jinyue took the initiative, walked over, grasped Shi Xiu’s hand, and asked her: “Home?”

The falling snow made no sound, heavily weighing down the withered branches outside the window. In the profound silence, the sound of a breaking branch seemed to echo. Shi Xiu stared at the tree shadow outside the car window, wondering if it would still be there when she left tomorrow.

The driver held her breath, clearly sensing that Shi Xiu was in a very bad mood today. The woman was naturally unruly and cold-faced, like a high-level assassin in a movie. The light didn’t reach her face, making her look sullen, as if she might strike and kill someone at any moment.

But there were only three people in the car, excluding Shi Xiu and her beloved. Only the driver herself remained.

The driver didn’t think Shi Xiu would kill Shang Jinyue, nor did she want to face the harsher reality of being fired, so she kept her mouth tightly shut.

However, she couldn’t understand why Shi Xiu would still be in a bad mood now that Shang Jinyue was back. In the past, whenever Shang Jinyue returned, no matter what bad things Shi Xiu had been through, the car would always be filled with laughter. She always had so many stories to share with Shang Jinyue that even the longest journey wouldn’t suffer a moment of awkward silence.

But somewhere along the way, Shi Xiu’s smiles became increasingly rare. And she hadn’t seen Mrs. Shang for over half a year.

“Thud.”

The sound of the car door closing interrupted the driver’s thoughts and woke the voice-activated light sensor from its slumber.

Shi Xiu got out of the car decisively, not waiting for Shang Jinyue at all. Shang Jinyue walked leisurely behind her, looking less hurried than the driver. Fortunately, the elevator was prompt, having just dropped off the upstairs resident.

Shi Xiu was forced to stop until Shang Jinyue reached her and stepped into the arrived elevator with her.

I hope Mrs. Shang can manage to placate the madam.

I wish you two a happy night.

The driver prayed silently, having missed the entire duration of Shi Xiu’s cold face and Shang Jinyue’s continuous silence.

No one knew what Shi Xiu was thinking at the moment, and Shang Jinyue didn’t seem to care.

The elevator’s chime for the top floor broke the silence in the space.

Shi Xiu casually kicked off her expensive high heels upon entering the house, and her coat was thrown down haphazardly, forcing Shang Jinyue, who followed behind, to pick it up and hang it properly.

Too much snow had muted the sun into a dreary gray. In the barely-lived-in room, a person moved with extreme casualness. Shi Xiu stripped off the annoying constraints of her clothing, walking around the house in only a slip dress worn as an undergarment.

She went to the gym four times a week and had an incredible physique. The excellently-draped silk hung on her, vaguely outlining her figure, revealing a back as smooth and toned as white jade…

Shang Jinyue had just finished hanging up Shi Xiu’s coat when she looked up and saw this scene. Her gaze was still, yet not entirely still.

Two figures were reflected on the wine cabinet. Shang Jinyue reached from behind and hooked onto Shi Xiu, who was about to pour a drink.

Shi Xiu tried to pull her hand away and evade Shang Jinyue, but the kiss on her back came faster than her movement. Shang Jinyue’s hand clamped her waist, the warmth of her breath falling on Shi Xiu’s ear: “Upset?”

Author’s Note:

The story has begun! The first two and a half chapters feature a tongue-tied, low-EQ Xiao Shang (Shang Jinyue) before the rebirth, who drives her wife’s blood pressure through the roof. At the end of Chapter 3, our Xiao Shi (Shi Xiu) will be reborn as a high school student! See how Xiao Shi ‘trains the dog’ (crossed out) makes Xiao Shang suffer through a pursuit-of-wife crematorium arc.