This afternoon, a fine drizzle fell over the small county town.
Lu Li held a suitcase in one hand and an umbrella in the other, standing outside the hospital waiting for a car.
Her figure looked somewhat cold and solitary.
She had agreed to go back with Ji Zhichen to get a divorce—she didn't have time to wait for a surgical abortion.
A car pulled up in front of her.
An elbow with a black mamba tattoo rested against the car window, two fingers holding a cigarette.
The man sitting inside the car had a handsome, striking face with deep, well-defined features.
"Get in. Wherever you're going, I'll take you."
He stubbed out the cigarette between his fingers and looked at the woman holding an umbrella outside.
While Lu Li was still hesitating whether to keep waiting for a car,
Qin Zhi had already opened the door, stepped out with his long legs, and placed her luggage in the trunk.
Lu Li didn't hesitate any longer. She opened the door and got in. "To the airport."
Qin Zhi started the car, one hand on the steering wheel, and handed a bag of something to Lu Li with the other. "The soup dumplings here are really good. Try one."
Lu Li hadn't had breakfast yet. She took the buns. "Thank you. You're a really nice person."
Qin Zhi let out an ambiguous smile.
It was the first time he'd heard someone say he was nice.
If anyone who knew Qin Zhi had heard those words, they probably would've been scared to death.
Everyone in his circle knew—you could mess with anyone, but never the young master of the Qin family.
The scalpel in his hand could save lives, but it could also make life a living hell.
**
The plane landed at Shen-shi Airport.
As soon as she got off the plane, Lu Li called Ji Zhichen.
"Meet me at the civil affairs bureau at four. We're getting a divorce."
Once the divorce was done, she'd get the abortion.
Ji Zhichen signaled for the meeting to pause. His face expressionless, he said coldly, "I'll be there on time."
There were only two hours left until four o'clock.
He hung up and spoke coldly to the design department coordinator who had just presented the next quarter's plan. "The future market focus is on the AI initiative. I'm very dissatisfied with your report this time."
The design coordinator swallowed his frustration. "Chairman, I'll hold another meeting with the department's R&D team."
Outside the civil affairs bureau.
Lu Li sat on top of her suitcase, eating a bread roll she'd bought from a convenience store.
As four o'clock approached, a black sedan pulled up in front of her.
Ji Zhichen got out, and Xiao Yaoyao followed him out of the car.
Lu Li swallowed the bread in her mouth and said, somewhat indistinctly, "You two came together—are you planning to get your marriage certificate right after the divorce certificate?"
Xiao Yaoyao lowered her head slightly, revealing the obvious hickeys on her pale neck.
Lu Li saw them, but her expression remained indifferent.
"Let's go. They're about to close."
Lu Li dragged her luggage and walked up the stairs.
"Yaoyao, wait in the car. I'll be out soon."
Ji Zhichen said to Xiao Yaoyao, then followed behind Lu Li, calmly walking up the stairs.
Just as they were about to sign the divorce papers,
the butler called to tell them that Grandmother was waiting for them at Feicui-yuan.
Ji Zhichen's expression turned icy as he looked at Lu Li. The divorce certificate was still unsigned. He put down his pen. "Lu Li, so this is your game?"
He pulled back his chair and left.
Lu Li rubbed her brow.
In his eyes, she was already that kind of scheming woman.
Xiao Yaoyao was waiting outside the civil affairs bureau.
When she saw Ji Zhichen walk out, she smiled and walked over, hooking her arm through his. "Zhichen, is everything done?"
"I'll take you back to Dijingyuan first. I have something to handle," Ji Zhichen said. Though he was in a bad mood, he still controlled his emotions in front of Xiao Yaoyao. "Let's go."
Xiao Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Lu Li walking out of the civil affairs bureau, then got into the car.
In the living room of Feicui-yuan.
Grandmother Ji, seated in her wheelchair, took off her reading glasses.
She watched the two people walk in one after another but said nothing.
The butler took Ji Zhichen's coat and handed it to a servant.
"Grandmother, why the sudden visit?"
Ji Zhichen smiled and sat down on the sofa beside Grandmother Ji.
"Starting today, this old woman that everyone finds annoying will be living here."
Grandmother Ji's face was cold, clearly displeased.
Lu Li's brow twitched. Didn't this mean Ji Zhichen wouldn't divorce her for now?
And she'd have to move back in with him too.
"Whatever makes you happy, Grandmother. I'll go upstairs to change."
Ji Zhichen swept a cold glance at Lu Li, signaling her to follow him upstairs.
In the bedroom.
Ji Zhichen unbuttoned his shirt and took it off.
Lu Li stood by the door.
"If you want your childhood sweetheart to live a little longer, then play it smart."
Lu Li's expression shifted slightly. "What do you mean?"
The man uttered a name in a chilling tone. "Lu Cheng."
Lu Li looked at him in shock and fear. She pulled out her phone and immediately called Lu Cheng.
Lu Cheng wasn't actually her biological brother.
They were both children sent to the orphanage on the same day by the adults in their lives.
One surnamed Lu, the other surnamed Lu.
In the orphanage, the two kids whose names both sounded like "Lu" grew up supporting each other.
Without Lu Cheng, there would be no Lu Li today.
Lu Cheng's phone remained unanswered.
Lu Li's hands trembled as she gripped her phone.
Pick up the phone, Cheng.
"He can't take your call right now."
Ji Zhichen's words sent a chill through Lu Li's entire body.
She tried calling the caregiver, but the caregiver's phone also went unanswered.
"Tonight, you're going to apologize to Zhou Xitao. Secretary Song will drive you there. Lu Li, this is your warning."
Lu Li bit her lip in a mix of fury and fear, glaring at the man before her.
"Ji Zhichen, I want a divorce too. I want you to be with Xiao Yaoyao. What does Grandmother's decision have to do with me?"
Ji Zhichen had changed his clothes and walked toward Lu Li, his pitch-black eyes fixed on her. "What, upset? Be a good girl, and your childhood sweetheart gets to live a little longer, understand? Your behavior lately has been very disappointing."
Lu Li took a deep breath, her eyes reddening with anger. "I get it. These past few years, I, Lu Li, was blind—actually falling for someone like you."
Hearing this, Ji Zhichen felt a faint flicker of displeasure.
"Lu Li, being liked by you only disgusts me. You're not even worthy."
Lu Li wiped away the tears that had fallen without her noticing, gave Ji Zhichen one cold look, and turned to walk out of the bedroom.
"If you dare stay at a hotel, I'll have someone break one of Lu Cheng's legs."
He meant every word.
Lu Li roughly wiped her tears and said coldly, "I'll go move my luggage back."
**
By seven in the evening, Grandmother Ji had already retired for the night.
Song Qiang drove over to pick up Lu Li.
Lu Li got into the car wearing long sleeves and long pants.
"Secretary Lu, you look a bit pale. Are you feeling unwell?"
Song Qiang struck up a conversation as he drove.
Lu Li was worried about Lu Cheng and couldn't calm her mind, so naturally she couldn't rest properly.
"I'm fine, just didn't get enough sleep."
"I'll go in with you in a bit."
The destination this time was Meise Huiguan.
This establishment was famously known as a paradise for the wealthy.
Zhou Xitao was hardly a decent sort.
Who knew what Zhichen was thinking—that man deserved having that little bit between his legs nearly ruined.
And yet he was making Lu Li go apologize.
Song Qiang couldn't change Ji Zhichen's decision; all he could do was accompany Lu Li inside.
They entered the private room, where several tables of people were playing mahjong.
Others were lounging with hostesses, drinking and flirting.
Lu Li spotted Ji Zhichen and Xiao Yaoyao there too.
He was teaching Xiao Yaoyao how to play mahjong.