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Now that Mu Zhaozhao knew the whereabouts of the jade pendant, she was just about to go look for Ding Jihuan. She certainly wasn’t relying on Yue Xianzhi to actually get it back for her.
Halfway there, she ran into Lu Xiaohu again. He pointed right at her nose and yelled angrily, “You bad woman! Did you force my mom to jump into the sea? Tell me, how did you hurt her at the guesthouse?!”
Because his legs were short, he had walked slowly earlier. By the time he reached the guesthouse, the crowd had already dispersed, leaving only his mother with disheveled hair, filthy, and crying her eyes out.
Before he could even ask what had happened, his mother ran off, sobbing that she was going to the seaside and warning him not to follow.
Hearing this, Mu Zhaozhao instantly knew where Ding Jihuan had gone. Little Xiaohu really was her savior today!
She smiled and said, “Little Xiaohu, thanks a bunch!”
With that, she sprinted straight toward the seaside to find Ding Jihuan.
Lu Xiaohu scratched his head, completely bewildered. Only after Mu Zhaozhao had completely vanished from sight did he react and shout after her, “You bad woman, you haven’t answered my question yet!”
At the seaside, the wind and waves blew Ding Jihuan’s already undone braided pigtails into an even messier tangle.
She sat on a reef, her face twisted with resentment.
She hadn’t actually planned to take her own life; she had just come out to clear her head and figure out her next step to drive away the eyesore that was Mu Zhaozhao.
“Oh my, Mistress Ding, sitting here pondering how to deal with me?” A clear, crisp female voice suddenly sounded beside her.
Mu Zhaozhao didn’t believe for a second that a malicious person like Ding Jihuan would admit defeat and jump into the sea over a minor setback.
Ding Jihuan turned pale with fright and whipped her head around. “How did you find me here? What are you trying to do?!”
After what had transpired that morning, she felt that Mu Zhaozhao’s previous scheme-free demeanor over the past few days had all been an act—she had been holding back her big move just to frame her in front of everyone today.
What she couldn’t figure out, though, was that she had personally seen Mu Zhaozhao drink that drugged glass of water yesterday. Why had nothing happened to her at all?
“Oh, your sweet son told me you were here. If you’re mad, don’t forget to go home and beat your kid. As for why I’m here, I want my jade pendant back. If you know what’s good for you, hand it over right now!”
When Mu Zhaozhao stripped Ding Jihuan’s clothes off this morning, she had made a note that the pendant wasn’t on her person. Thus, she couldn’t play hardball yet, or the woman might hide where it was kept.
Upon hearing this, Ding Jihuan recalled when her ex-husband had just passed away and she had come to rely on Yue Xianzhi. To demonstrate his resolve to protect her and her son, he had indeed given her a jade pendant.
She snapped angrily, “That was a jade pendant Yue Xianzhi gave me. I’m not giving it to you!”
Mu Zhaozhao expected her to say that. Unhurried and calm, she said, “Mistress Ding, that was part of the dowry my family gave to Yue Xianzhi. Surely you don’t want to use my belongings to witness your grand love story, do you? How about this: as long as you return the jade pendant to me, I’ll go apply for a divorce with Yue Xianzhi!”
“Are you serious?!” Ding Jihuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re willing to take the initiative to divorce Yue Xianzhi?”
Just yesterday, this woman had been clinging to Yue Xianzhi, declaring that unless she died, he shouldn’t even dream of divorcing her. How had she changed her mind today?
“That’s right. As long as my family’s dowry is returned to me, I am willing to divorce! I’ll leave the military compound and get out of the way of your happy union,” Mu Zhaozhao pledged solemnly.
Bullshit scumbag. Whoever wants him can have him, I sure don’t care!
Getting her jade pendant back and ridding herself of the scumbag—killing two birds with one stone. She was more than happy to do it!
Ding Jihuan never expected to get what she wanted so easily. As long as Mu Zhaozhao left, she was confident she could explain the morning’s incident to Yue Xianzhi and win back his trust.
“Fine. Follow me, I’ll go get the jade pendant for you,” Ding Jihuan agreed without hesitation.
Mu Zhaozhao calmly followed behind her.
Ding Jihuan suddenly turned around, suspicion in her eyes. “Mu Zhaozhao, you won’t back out on your word once you get the pendant, right?”
Mu Zhaozhao sneered. “Don’t worry, I don’t give a damn about Yue Xianzhi. I’m gifting him to you!”
It’s best if that scumbag and his mistress stay locked together forever. I wish them a long and miserable life.
Looking at her dismissive attitude, Ding Jihuan still had a few doubts, but this was her only option at the moment. If Mu Zhaozhao refused to divorce, her and Lu Xiaohu’s presence in the military compound would be completely unjustifiable.
By now, the neighbors in the family quarters would no longer speak up for her. It probably wouldn’t be long before the newly arrived Chief Officer found out and kicked her out of the military area altogether.
The two walked all the way back home, and Ding Jihuan went into her bedroom to rummage around.
Mu Zhaozhao stood in the living room, taking in her surroundings. She hadn’t expected Yue Xianzhi and his mistress to actually sleep in separate rooms—he really was acting like a hypocrite, putting up a front of virtue while acting shamelessly.
Before long, Ding Jihuan came out holding the jade pendant, hesitating on whether to hand it over directly.
Seeing it, Mu Zhaozhao reached out and snatched it straight from her hand. “Hand it over! Don’t worry, I’ll sit right here and wait for Yue Xianzhi to come back, and I’ll negotiate the divorce with him at the very first opportunity!”
Seeing this, Ding Jihuan beamed with joy. She hadn’t expected Mu Zhaozhao to be so straightforward. Flattering her, she explained, “Zhaozhao, I didn’t mean to drug you yesterday. Please forgive me.”
She wanted to coax Mu Zhaozhao so she wouldn’t go back on her word later, taking the opportunity to offer a quick excuse for yesterday’s incident.
Mu Zhaozhao let out a cold snort. “How was it ‘unintentional’? Was a ghost possessing your body and forcing you to do it? Oh my goodness, you better be careful! A filthy thing like you attracts ghosts. Especially when you sleep at night, watch out or a ghost might suck out all three of your souls and seven spirits! I was wondering why your eye sockets were sunken and your complexion looked so sallow, making you look like you’re in your nineties—turns out you’ve been drained by ghosts. Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
Ding Jihuan was furious after hearing this and was on the verge of flying into a rage, but when she remembered Mu Zhaozhao’s promise to divorce Yue Xianzhi immediately, she swallowed her anger.
However, after processing Mu Zhaozhao’s words for a moment, she couldn’t help but shudder. She began to wonder in her heart: Am I really looking this old because I’m haunted by a ghost?
Mu Zhaozhao sneered inwardly. The original host died because the dose of poison Ding Jihuan gave her was too strong, which was how I ended up taking over her body.
For the original host’s sake alone, it was impossible to ever forgive this pair of scum. She’d just scare her a bit first to collect some interest.
Once she secured the jade pendant completely, she would deal with them slowly!
It was only after military training ended that Yue Xianzhi returned home. Seeing Mu Zhaozhao leaning lazily back in a cane rattan chair, he asked in confusion, “Why are you here?”
Before Mu Zhaozhao could speak, Ding Jihuan hurriedly rushed out of her room to explain, “Xianzhi, you’re back! She’s waiting here to talk to you about the divorce.”
“You agree to a divorce?” Yue Xianzhi was somewhat surprised, but at the same time, he felt a subtle pang of discomfort. Now that Mu Zhaozhao was no longer clinging to him, why did it feel so unnatural?
Ding Jihuan stared anxiously at Mu Zhaozhao and chimed in, “Zhaozhao, hurry up and tell Xianzhi!”
“Keep your mouth shut. I haven’t settled the score with you yet,” Yue Xianzhi glared coldly at Ding Jihuan. “Move out of my house later. I don’t entertain unfaithful, fickle women here.”
“Xianzhi, I really didn’t do anything! After you and Mu Zhaozhao are divorced, I’ll explain everything to you properly, okay? Or we can bring Nan Qingqing here to prove it for me!” Ding Jihuan knew Yue Xianzhi was soft-hearted toward her; if she begged him, he would forgive her later.
“Enough. I don’t have time to sit here and watch you two put on a play,” Mu Zhaozhao said impatiently. “Yue Xianzhi, I do want a divorce from you! We’ll go see the Political Commissar shortly and submit the divorce application!”
Hearing this, the corners of Ding Jihuan’s lips curled up into a triumphant smile. It seemed Mu Zhaozhao actually possessed some shred of trustworthiness after all.