Zheng Zhenzhen’s tone was biting and sarcastic, but Zhao Xinnian was not surprised in the slightest.
Just like Zhuang Ziwei, Zheng Zhenzhen had been Qin Chaolu’s university classmate.
Later, after Zhuang Ziwei went abroad, Zheng Zhenzhen saw Zhao Xinnian appear by Qin Chaolu’s side. Once she learned about his background, she began mocking him without the slightest restraint.
However, Zhao Xinnian had always been good-tempered and never bothered arguing with her.
Unexpectedly, he had only just gotten divorced, yet she had already come looking for him.
Zhao Xinnian’s expression darkened. Without holding back, he snapped, “Did you forget to brush your teeth this morning? Because nothing but shit is coming out of your mouth.”
The good mood he had been in after completing a large order vanished the moment Zheng Zhenzhen appeared.
“You dare insult me?” Zheng Zhenzhen’s expression changed as she shouted sharply.
Zhao Xinnian pointed outside and said coldly, “You’re not welcome here. Get out immediately.”
Zheng Zhenzhen snorted. “I’m not leaving. What are you going to do about it?”
Zhao Xinnian did not waste another word on her. He simply pushed the handcart farther into the store.
As he passed her, whether intentionally or not, the corner of the handcart happened to slam straight into Zheng Zhenzhen’s right shin with a loud clang.
“Ahhh!”
Zheng Zhenzhen screamed and immediately crouched down, clutching her shin as tears of pain welled in her eyes.
Zhao Xinnian raised an eyebrow and said, “See? I told you to leave.”
“You did that on purpose!” Zheng Zhenzhen roared.
Zhao Xinnian chuckled. “Don’t make baseless accusations. There are surveillance cameras in the store! How about we go to the police station and let the police determine whether I did it deliberately?”
“You!”
Zheng Zhenzhen was furious.
Zhao Xinnian could not be bothered wasting any more time with her. He waved his hand and said, “Hurry up and leave. If you stay any longer, who knows what other accidents might happen? Maybe a ceiling light will fall on you, or a shelf might suddenly topple over… And if that happens, you’ll have to compensate me for the damage.”
Zheng Zhenzhen took a deep breath.
Suppressing the pain, she forced herself back to her feet. Then she suddenly smiled. “Zhao Xinnian, don’t you want to know why I came looking for you?”
“I don’t. Hurry up and leave.”
‘Fuck…’
Zheng Zhenzhen cursed inwardly. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward.
Now, the distance between her and Zhao Xinnian became extremely small.
“What are you doing?” Zhao Xinnian asked with a frown.
“Qin Chaolu doesn’t want you anymore. You must be heartbroken, right?” Zheng Zhenzhen said softly, her gaze becoming strangely suggestive.
Zhao Xinnian sneered. “What the hell does that have to do with you?”
Zheng Zhenzhen stared at the man’s face before her, and her expression gradually became somewhat entranced.
Putting his background aside, Zhao Xinnian’s own qualities could be considered nearly perfect.
No matter how beautiful Qin Chaolu was, with Zhao Xinnian’s height and handsome appearance, he was more than worthy of standing beside her.
“I don’t mind… that you’ve been divorced! I’m not as rich as Qin Chaolu, but as long as you agree… I’ll give you 200,000 yuan a year!”
As she hurriedly spoke, Zheng Zhenzhen quietly tugged her neckline lower.
Zhao Xinnian froze.
His gaze immediately caught sight of the pale cleavage revealed beneath her lowered neckline. Only then did he finally understand what Zheng Zhenzhen was suggesting, and disbelief spread across his face.
“Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?” Zhao Xinnian cursed incredulously.
“Nothing…”
Zheng Zhenzhen’s heart pounded wildly. Suddenly, she grabbed Zhao Xinnian’s arm and said, “Touch me and see…”
“Touch my ass! Get the hell away from me!”
However, Zhao Xinnian mercilessly shook off her hand and cursed without the slightest restraint.
Zheng Zhenzhen froze. Her face alternated between pale and flushed with humiliation.
“Zhao Xinnian, don’t push your luck when I’m giving you a chance! What the hell do you think you are? Without Qin Chaolu, you’re nothing! Sooner or later, you’ll end up working as a gigolo in some nightclub!” Zheng Zhenzhen screamed hysterically, clearly having lost her composure.
Zhao Xinnian sneered. “Even if I became a gigolo, I still wouldn’t let you touch me. You’re too filthy.”
“You motherfucking %&￥￥#…**￥%!”
Zheng Zhenzhen’s eyes turned red, and without thinking, she charged straight at him.
Clang!
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Her left shin slammed straight into the edge of the handcart this time.
Zheng Zhenzhen immediately collapsed into a crouch from the pain. Both of her shins were now red and swollen, leaving her unable to stand at all.
Zhao Xinnian looked toward the surveillance camera inside the store and promptly issued a disclaimer, “Hey, she ran into it herself. That had nothing to do with me!”
It took a long while before Zheng Zhenzhen’s pain finally eased a little.
Her eyes red, she glared fiercely at Zhao Xinnian, her face filled with resentment.
Zhao Xinnian smiled calmly. “There’s no point glaring at me. It wasn’t my fault.”
“Zhao Xinnian, petty tricks like these are all you’re capable of.”
Gritting her teeth, Zheng Zhenzhen gave him a cold, mocking smile. “What are you acting so tough in front of me for? Ziwei stole your wife. Did you even dare say a single word to him?”
The instant those words left her mouth, the smile on Zhao Xinnian’s face faded.
“You’re nothing but a coward! Ziwei hadn’t even made a move yet, and you’d already admitted defeat! Do you know something? While you’re sitting here guarding this lousy store, I’m the only one who even bothered coming to see you. Meanwhile, Qin Chaolu and Ziwei are on a date at an upscale restaurant!”
Zheng Zhenzhen mocked him without restraint.
Zhao Xinnian had to admit that the news genuinely made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
“Where are they eating?” Zhao Xinnian asked calmly.
“Wait, you actually dare go there?” Zheng Zhenzhen asked with a sneer.
“Just tell me. Why are you talking so much nonsense?”
Zheng Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow and replied, “They’re at the Marriott International Hotel. I’m even the one who reserved their table. If you’re not afraid of embarrassing yourself, go ahead.”
Zhao Xinnian did not waste any more words. “I’m closing the store. Hurry up and get out.”
Zheng Zhenzhen’s expression changed. She tried to stand, but after struggling twice, she realized she could not get up at all.
“Help me up.”
Zhao Xinnian looked indifferent. “Get up yourself. Otherwise, crawl out.”
Zheng Zhenzhen had never expected to encounter such an utterly ungentlemanly man. Although she knew she was not as beautiful as Qin Chaolu, she still considered herself fairly attractive.
Yet Zhao Xinnian was not even willing to help her stand?
Filled with resentment, Zheng Zhenzhen pulled a set of car keys from her handbag and snorted. “Help me into the car, and I’ll let you drive it.”
Zhao Xinnian thought for a moment before nodding. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
Then he roughly hauled Zheng Zhenzhen off the floor.
“Ouch! You’re hurting me!” Zheng Zhenzhen cried out in pain.
Zhao Xinnian completely ignored her. He took the keys from her hand, unlocked a BMW 5 Series parked outside, opened the door, and shoved Zheng Zhenzhen directly into the back seat.
“Ah! My damn back!”
Zheng Zhenzhen screamed again.
With tears in her eyes, she watched Zhao Xinnian close the store. At that moment, she genuinely felt that this man was a walking disaster. She had only been around him for a short while, yet she already felt battered from head to toe.
Zhao Xinnian got behind the wheel and started the car without saying a word.
On the way, he lit a cigarette.
Even Zheng Zhenzhen, sitting in the back seat, was surprised. “Wait, when did you start smoking?”
“What the hell does that have to do with you?”
After being snapped at again, Zheng Zhenzhen’s expression stiffened. She sneered and said, “Even if you don’t tell me, I understand. Smoking, huh? Isn’t it because you’re heartbroken? I bet when no one’s around, you cry your eyes out and act like your whole life is over.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Xinnian noticed that she had stretched her injured legs forward.
Without saying anything, he deliberately slammed on the brakes.
“Ahhhhh!”
Agonizing pain instantly exploded through Zheng Zhenzhen’s swollen shins, making her scream yet again.
Zhao Xinnian said indifferently, “Smoking helps with the pain.”
“Give me one!”
Zheng Zhenzhen gritted her teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
…
Before long, Zhao Xinnian arrived at the Marriott International Hotel.
He casually parked the car by the roadside and headed straight toward the hotel.
“Hey! Zhao Xinnian, what the hell are you doing? You can’t park here!” Zheng Zhenzhen shouted.
Zhao Xinnian completely ignored her and continued walking inside.
“My damn penalty points!”
Zheng Zhenzhen groaned miserably. Enduring the pain, she climbed out of the car and limped after Zhao Xinnian.
“Why are you following me?” Zhao Xinnian asked coldly.
Zheng Zhenzhen ignored his question. Her eyes practically gleamed with eagerness to watch the drama unfold. “Stop wasting time. The elevator’s here! Third floor, table by the window.”
Even her voice had become excited.
The two soon arrived on the third floor.
Zhao Xinnian raised his head and immediately spotted Qin Chaolu among the crowd.
She and Zhuang Ziwei sat facing each other, talking quietly. A gentle smile graced her face, one that even Zhao Xinnian had rarely seen during their seven years together.
At that moment, an indescribable ache spread through Zhao Xinnian’s heart.