“Ah? Are you going?” Li You asked in surprise.
“If there’s a suitable opportunity, of course I’ll go. What else can I do otherwise?” I had considered starting from the bottom at my family’s company, but my ambitions never lay there. Now that my parents are still in good health and don’t need me yet, I want to revisit my dreams.
Li You slapped her thigh, “I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time! You were the cello goddess at A University back then. It’s such a waste for you to just stay home as a full-time housewife. Don’t worry, if there are any elegant concerts or similar events, I’ll definitely recommend you!”
I clasped my hands together, “Alright, I won’t say thanks for this great favor. I’m paying for everything tonight, don’t be polite!”
After drinking, Deng Jing’er and I went our separate ways, each heading home.
I called Xiao Li to come drive for me. Just after hanging up, I heard a familiar voice, “Xu Jie?”
I turned my head and saw it was Qi Zhouyang.
“Xiao Qi, what are you doing here?” I asked.
“I was working a part-time job nearby and just got off work. Xu Jie, have you been drinking?” Qi Zhouyang must have smelled the alcohol on me.
Holding my forehead, I nodded uncomfortably as the alcohol started hitting me. My brain felt like it had turned to mush. “Xiao Qi, do you know how to drive?”
Qi Zhouyang replied, “Yes, if you’re not in condition to drive, I can do it.”
What a good kid. I tossed him the car keys and called Xiao Li to tell him not to come.
“Xu Jie, this… is your car?” When Qi Zhouyang saw the black Panamera, clear surprise and envy flashed in his eyes.
Men, regardless of age, always have a strong desire for cars.
Feeling dizzy, I answered, “Mm, it’s my car. Just use the navigation to take me to Feng Zhou Yuan.”
“Feng Zhou Yuan?” Qi Zhouyang was stunned again. He must have heard about how ridiculously expensive the housing prices were there.
“What are you standing around for? I’m extremely dizzy.” Seeing that Qi Zhouyang seemed somewhat stunned, I moved closer to him, leaning weakly against his shoulder. This kind of seemingly unintentional drunken gesture easily creates an ambiguous atmosphere.
Qi Zhouyang snapped back to reality, realizing our proximity was too intimate, and quickly supported me, his face turning red. “Xu Jie, be careful not to fall.”
It seemed Qi Zhouyang and Wei Lan had similar personalities—both were people who wouldn’t easily bow to money. Even knowing he’d encountered a wealthy woman, he could still maintain his composure.
I pretended to be drunk and laughed, “Xiao Qi is so considerate. Your girlfriend must be very happy, right? Not like me… failed marriage, nothing left but money. Look, this car is actually the most ordinary one in my family. If you like it, I’ll give it to you!”
If Pei Heng could give cars and houses to other women, I could give them away too—and I felt extremely balanced psychologically.
“No, no, no, Xu Jie, you’ve had too much to drink. I’ll take you home.” Qi Zhouyang quickly shook his head and helped me into the car.
Qi Zhouyang drove very cautiously and slowly, probably afraid of accidentally scratching the car and not being able to afford the repairs.
I pretended to doze in the passenger seat, occasionally opening my eyes to check where we were.
After a while, Qi Zhouyang spoke up, “Xu Jie, we’ve arrived at Feng Zhou Yuan. Which building is yours?”
“Building A08,” I answered with my eyes closed.
Qi Zhouyang entered the specific building number into the navigation and finally delivered me to my doorstep.
After parking the car, I took out a stack of cash from my wallet and handed it to Qi Zhouyang. “Take this, it’s for the driving service and a tip.”
Qi Zhouyang was stunned, then quickly tried to return the money. “Xu Jie, you don’t need to pay me. I was just helping you out, it wasn’t a transaction.”
“Keep it. It’s late and taking a taxi would be troublesome for you. Just drive this car back and contact me by phone tomorrow. I’ll have the driver pick it up from you.” I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car, not waiting for Qi Zhouyang’s response before heading inside.
As soon as I got home, I woke Liu E and asked her to brew me some sobering tea.
Liu E showed no resentment and immediately went to the kitchen to get busy.
In just two or three days, Pei Heng would attend a business forum. The time when he would meet the true love of his life was drawing closer, and so was the time for my freedom.
After a while, the sound of a car engine turning off came from outside, and soon Pei Heng appeared.
He glanced at me lying lifelessly on the living room sofa and sat down on the other side. He reeked of alcohol, no better than me.
“Madam, your tea is ready.” Liu E placed a cup of brewed sobering tea in front of me, then respectfully greeted Pei Heng. “Mr. Pei, you’re back.”
Pei Heng glanced at her, his expression cold, and gave no response.
I sat up and flashed a bright smile at Pei Heng. “You’ve been drinking too, right? Here, you have this cup of sobering tea first. Aunt Liu, please brew another cup for me.”
Liu E nodded and returned to the kitchen.
“Not necessary.” Pei Heng didn’t even touch the cup.
I felt a bit of schadenfreude. This was sobering tea brewed by his future mother-in-law. Later, when he pursued Wei Lan, he would have to ingratiate himself with her cold shoulder.
The nanny he ignored today would become the mother-in-law he couldn’t reach tomorrow.
When Liu E brought out another cup of sobering tea, I said to Pei Heng meaningfully, “Aunt Liu was woken up from her sleep to brew this tea. It’s too ungrateful of you not to take a sip after all her effort.”
Liu E quickly replied, “Mr. Pei, Madam, this is my duty. It’s no trouble at all.”
“He has no manners and a terrible temper, Aunt Liu. Don’t take it to heart.” I spoke softly, but I was actually disparaging Pei Heng in front of Liu E.
Didn’t he love Wei Lan to the point of obsession? I was just adding a little difficulty to his future pursuit.
“No, no, Madam, you exaggerate!” Liu E was already flustered.
“Alright, Aunt Liu, you can go rest now.” I waved my hand.
After Liu E left, I drank half a cup of sobering tea and went upstairs to take a shower. Pei Heng, as usual, went to the guest room to rest.
Just as I finished showering and stepped out, I found Pei Heng sitting on the master bedroom bed, already in his pajamas.
I frowned. “What are you doing in my room?”
Pei Heng wore an equally impatient expression. “My parents are here. They’re staying in the guest room tonight.”
I was shocked and confused. In my previous life, my in-laws had desperately hoped for Pei Heng and me to have a child, but they had never come to Feng Zhou Yuan to supervise us. Why would they show up so unexpectedly today?
“So sudden?” I was caught off guard.
“Sudden?” Pei Heng sneered. “Don’t you know what you said to Yu Yifan?”
So that was why Pei Heng had come back tonight—to deal with a surprise room check.
I swore I never expected Yu Yifan to tattle and even drag my in-laws into this. Damn butterfly effect.
“I didn’t say much to him, just asked him to persuade you to get a divorce.” I didn’t want to take the blame, “I didn’t know he would go tell your parents.”
“How long are you planning to keep up this act?” Pei Heng was already quite irritated, his tone unfriendly.
I didn’t answer, but simply opened the drawer and took out a divorce agreement I had drafted earlier. I had already signed it and wasn’t asking for any of Pei Heng’s assets—only the divorce.
I handed the divorce agreement to Pei Heng and then started applying a face mask. “Sign it and you’ll find out whether I’m playing hard to get or not.”
The atmosphere instantly froze. I could see from the dressing table mirror that Pei Heng’s expression was growing increasingly grim.
Just as he was about to tear up the divorce agreement, there was a knock on the bedroom door.