For six years, I had been with Gu Yanshan, and for six years, I had taken care of his dog.

But tonight, when I took it out for a walk, it suddenly leaped excitedly into the arms of Gu Yanshan's ex-girlfriend.

I was caught off guard and was pulled to the ground.

I lost the baby. On the way to the hospital, I had a moment of clarity.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

The same applies to people.

When I got home, I asked Gu Yanshan for a divorce.

He frowned, puzzled, and asked, "You're divorcing me over a dog?" "Yes, just because of a dog."

When I handed him the divorce papers, he looked at me as if I were some kind of freak.

"Tang Li, what are you doing? Are you really going to divorce me over a dog?"

My heart sank as I looked at Gu Yanshan, who stared at me coldly, and at the golden retriever baring its teeth at me.

Seeing my silence, Gu Yanshan tore the divorce papers to shreds and pointed at me, shouting, "Don't forget, you were the one who clung to me, refusing to marry anyone else.

Now you want to leave? What about the six years we've spent together? Duoduo just knocked you over; is that worth making such a fuss over?"

I hadn't had a chance to tell Gu Yanshan about the pregnancy. I had planned to surprise him on his birthday.

For six years of marriage, we had been unable to have a child. Not only were the elders urging us, but even Gu Yanshan thought it was my problem. I took numerous medications, including traditional remedies.

I desperately wanted to have Gu Yanshan's child. I loved him with all my heart, and even if I had to endure grievances, I wanted to stay by his side.

Duoduo had been with Gu Yanshan and me since we got together; it was a dog he raised with his ex-girlfriend, Bai Rui.

I thought the dog would become attached to me. After we married, I not only devoted everything to Gu Yanshan but also cared for the dog, caring for it, walking it, and preparing its meals, not wanting it to feel neglected after a change in its "mom."

I asked myself honestly, my care and attention for Duoduo exceeded that of Bai Rui's.

Yet, I never expected that a dog couldn't be tamed, and neither could Gu Yanshan.

On an ordinary day, I took Duoduo downstairs for a walk. Suddenly, Bai Rui appeared in the neighborhood, and Duoduo, catching her scent, rushed towards her recklessly. I couldn't keep my footing and was dragged along.

Duoduo pulled me a great distance, my body scraped against the ground, causing me to break out in a cold sweat from the pain, and I was in excruciating pain. The path was stained with blood.

A kind passerby called for an ambulance. I had no energy to wonder why Bai Rui was in our neighborhood or how Duoduo could remember so well, when it never learned to shake hands in the six years I taught it.

Ironically, when Gu Yanshan received the call from the hospital, his first question wasn't about my condition or injuries but anxiously asked, "Where's Duoduo?

You lost it while walking?"

My mind was foggy, lips cracked, and before I could answer, Gu Yanshan hurriedly ran out of the hospital.

The doctor's words, "Your wife had a miscarriage, " were swallowed back.

Watching Gu Yanshan walk away, I couldn't help but find it absurd. What did these six years of marriage mean?

After I was discharged from the hospital, Gu Yanshan was in the living room comforting Duoduo, gently coaxing him.

"Daddy should have been more careful. From now on, I won't let anyone else take you out. It's so dangerous outside. What if you hadn't met your mom and got taken away?"

The "your mom" Gu Yanshan mentioned, of course, wasn't me.

Ever since I married Gu Yanshan, whenever he talked to Duoduo, he always referred to me as "Aunt Tangli."

This was all because of Bai Rui's tearful plea when she and Gu Yanshan broke up.

"Ah Shan, no matter who you marry in the future, please don't let Duoduo call that woman 'mom, ' okay? I'm the only one who is Duoduo's mom, I'm begging you."

I never realized how much Gu Yanshan valued his promises.

He hadn't fulfilled any of the promises he made to me after our marriage.

I was weak and pale, yet Gu Yanshan didn't show a hint of concern—only glared at me with hostility.

"You can't even handle this little thing? Before we got married, you were so attentive in looking after my mom and charming my family. Now you can't even take care of a dog?"

Gu Yanshan casually dismissed what I had done in the past, making me feel small.

I admit, I did put in a lot of effort to marry Gu Yanshan. Besides, my family background was good, and his family elders already favored me.

Bai Rui, an insignificant woman with a mother who was a prostitute, would only disgrace the Gu family if he married her.

But I was only engaging normally with his family elders. Yet in Gu Yanshan's words, I was the scheming woman who would stop at nothing to marry him.

I should have realized long ago who I was sharing my bed with. Unfortunately, it took me six years to truly understand that when the process is wrong, the outcome won't change no matter how genuine or dedicated I am.

I was criticized by Gu Yanshan as being worthless. The matter of the miscarriage had circled my tongue three times, but in the end, I didn't mention it.

Before, I didn't have the chance to say it, and now that we're getting divorced, I feel there's no need to bring it up.

"Tangli, are you really divorcing me over a dog?"

Gu Yanshan repeated, pulling me back to reality, but I remained calm.

"Yes, it's because of the dog."

"Absolutely ridiculous!"

As soon as Gu Yanshan finished speaking, there was a knock on the door. He shot me a fierce look before answering it.

Standing at the door was none other than his ex-girlfriend, Bai Rui. Duoduo, recognizing the familiar scent, wagged his tail excitedly and rushed over.

Gu Yanshan's eyes softened immediately.

"Ruirui, what are you doing here?"

Bai Rui, with a perfectly timed smile and a carefully crafted natural look, wore a white dress, like a storybook heroine.

"Ah Shan, I just came to see Duoduo. If I hadn't passed by the neighborhood, it might have gotten lost. What if it got stolen and sold to a meat shop? I raised Duoduo from a puppy; how could I be at ease?"

After speaking, Bai Rui glanced at me, part challenge, part reproach.

Gu Yanshan seemed to have forgotten that just a moment ago, we were discussing divorce. Bai Rui's added embellishments successfully fueled his anger.

I didn't want to watch this pair of clowns perform in front of me. I hastily packed my essentials from this house and coldly said to Gu Yanshan at the door, "I'll send you the divorce papers.

If it's convenient, just sign them. Let's part ways amicably."

As I closed the door, I heard Bai Rui's feigned surprise inside.

"Did I come at a bad time and cause a misunderstanding? Should I go explain to her?"

Gu Yanshan scoffed.

"She's just trying to make me coax her. I haven't even held her accountable for almost losing Duoduo, and she turns the tables on me. Just ignore her. She'll be back in two days!"

His confident words amused me.

Even without seeing Bai Rui's face, I knew she must be feeling triumphant.

I didn't look back and left the house without expression.

In the past, I indeed would have obediently returned after running away. I loved Gu Yanshan; everyone around us knew. But now, I don't love him anymore. To be precise, I'm exhausted.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

The same goes for people.

In Gu Yanshan's mind, it was my presence that tore him and Bai Rui apart. I want to see if, without my interference, the two of them can finally be together.

The next day, I went to the office. My family's business is in the hospitality industry, while Gu Yanshan's family runs a fashion design company.

To be closer to Gu Yanshan, I chose fashion design against my family's wishes.

After years of hard work, I finally secured a position at Gu's company as an acclaimed designer.

However, as soon as I arrived at the office, I noticed people giving me strange looks. Then, the director called me into his office.

Even though I didn't know what had happened, a sense of unease crept over me.

When the director saw me, he had a troubled expression.

"Tang Li, here's the situation. The higher-ups have decided that Bai Rui will be the one to compete this time, and your design drafts will be used by her."

This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

Bai Rui, an assistant designer, joined the company three years ago. Gu Yanshan had helped her countless times, but each time it was at the expense of my achievements.

Initially, Gu Yanshan patiently explained to me, saying, "Honey, Rui Rui comes from a poor family.

I got involved in their relationship and owe her from when we broke up. Without good opportunities, someone of her background would remain poor forever."

I had indeed intervened back then. My mother-in-law used financial pressure to bring Gu Yanshan and me together.

At first, the two of them believed that love could conquer all, but as time went on, Bai Rui realized that love doesn't pay the bills, and she chose to leave.

I felt guilty toward Bai Rui, so I endured it the first few times.

But later, all the good projects and competition chances were given to Bai Rui, and my designs were handed over to her without my consent, often outright stolen.

Even the most patient person would eventually reach their limit. Despite my guilt, Gu Yanshan shouldn't have treated me this way, so I confronted him in his office.

At that moment, Bai Rui was timidly hiding behind Gu Yanshan, her pitiful appearance only arousing Gu Yanshan's protective instincts.

Faced with my questioning and outburst, Gu Yanshan dropped the pretense and confidently said, "Tang Li, you're in my company.

You should follow my arrangements. You've already achieved so much here. Rui Rui is different from you. Would it really hurt to give her a chance?"

Gu Yanshan always portrayed Bai Rui as the underdog, making me the villain if I didn't give in. But why should the designs I worked on tirelessly become someone else's stepping stone?

I had already repaid any debt I owed. That was the first time I defied Gu Yanshan, clinging to my designs to prevent them from falling into someone else's hands.

Gu Yanshan sneered, "Do you think you're the only one capable of designing? If I want, there are many talented designers out there ready to showcase their work!"

As expected, Gu Yanshan spent a fortune to hire top designers to assist Bai Rui, even staying up late with her to revise her work.

Perhaps it was then that I should have realized that for Gu Yanshan, Bai Rui's matters always took precedence.