After Breaking Off the Engagement, My Ex-Husband Deeply Regretted It

Gu Yushi and Feng Wenyu were once considered the ideal couple in the capital, married for twelve years with no concubines and a public reputation for deep affection. However, their private life had deteriorated into a cold war of silence and estrangement. The turning point arrived on a rainy autumn evening when Feng Wenyu, suffering from a high fever and emotional exhaustion, demanded a divorce. Gu Yushi, interpreting her illness as a manipulative tactic based on a past incident where she had feigned sickness to gain his attention, dismissed her plea. He refused to grant the divorce, insisting she was merely making trouble, and continued to treat her with cold indifference despite her deteriorating health.

Complicating matters, Feng Wenyu had been secretly visiting Shen Jingchen, a former lover turned courtesan whose hands had been ruined, preventing him from writing. Gu Yushi discovered them together and, consumed by jealousy and suspicion of infidelity, accused Feng Wenyu of bringing another man into their home to force a separation. The confrontation escalated until Gu Yushi, believing their marriage was beyond repair and that she desired another man, agreed to grant her the divorce. Yet, immediately after this decision, Gu Yushi closed his eyes and opened them fourteen years in the past, finding himself at the stage of their engagement. He retained the memories of their tragic future, including the mutual suffering, the cold death of Feng Wenyu, and his own regretful realization that he had misunderstood her loyalty.

In this second chance, Gu Yushi resolved to prevent the mistakes of his previous life. He learned that in the original timeline, he had used a dangerous imperial mission to Jiangnan as an excuse to break off the engagement, leaving Feng Wenyu to face social ridicule and heartbreak alone. Determined to protect her, he approached the Feng family to formally dissolve the engagement but did so with dignity, ensuring her reputation remained intact. He returned her betrothal gifts and accepted her angry curse with a calm demeanor, hiding the turmoil of his rebirth. Feng Wenyu, unaware of his internal struggle, interpreted his actions as cold rejection and prepared to move on, packing away her memories of him.

Following the broken engagement, Feng Wenyu traveled to Yangzhou to stay with her grandmother, seeking solace away from the gossiping capital. During this time, she experienced vivid dreams of her past life with Gu Yushi, which confused her but also reinforced her resolve to detach emotionally. Meanwhile, Gu Yushi departed for the Jiangnan mission, not as an escape, but as a duty he intended to fulfill while keeping his distance to avoid hurting her again. He struggled with the knowledge of the future, particularly the fate of Shen Jingchen and the political intrigues that would eventually draw Feng Wenyu back into his orbit.

Back in the capital, Gu Yushi’s mother expressed anger at the broken engagement, having relied on the connection for social standing. However, Gu Yushi remained steadfast in his decision, prioritizing Feng Wenyu’s well-being over familial expectations. As he traveled south, he reflected on the differences between the young, vibrant Feng Wenyu of the past and the broken woman he had known in his previous life. He recognized that his past indifference had been the root cause of their downfall and was determined to navigate this new timeline with caution and care, even if it meant enduring her hatred to ensure her safety and happiness.

The narrative shifts between Gu Yushi’s perspective in the past and Feng Wenyu’s experiences in Yangzhou. She attempts to rebuild her life, attending social gatherings and facing suitors, though her heart remains conflicted by the lingering dreams of Gu Yushi. Her friend Jiang Zhilan offers support, unaware of the depth of Feng Wenyu’s emotional turmoil. Gu Yushi, meanwhile, navigates the dangerous political landscape of the salt official investigation, his thoughts constantly returning to Feng Wenyu. He realizes that simply avoiding her is not enough; he must actively protect her from the dangers that lurk in their world, including the schemes of those who wish to harm the Feng family.

As the story progresses, the boundaries between past and present memories blur for both characters. Feng Wenyu begins to suspect that Gu Yushi’s actions in the past life were not entirely of his own volition, while Gu Yushi fears that his attempts to change fate may only lead to different forms of tragedy. The central conflict remains their emotional disconnect, exacerbated by Gu Yushi’s secret knowledge and Feng Wenyu’s unresolved feelings. The story sets the stage for a reevaluation of their relationship, driven by Gu Yushi’s redemption arc and Feng Wenyu’s journey toward self-discovery and independence.