Ji Zhichen had Song Qiang take Lu Li back to Feicui-yuan first.
Lu Li sat in the car, looking through the window at the two people embracing outside the coffee shop.
He seemed to be comforting Xiao Yaoyao.
The corners of Lu Li's lips curled up slightly, carrying a hint of bitterness and relief.
The moment she had asked Ji Min to arrange a meeting with Xiao Yaoyao last night,
she had guessed that Ji Min would definitely tell Ji Zhichen about her meeting Xiao Yaoyao at Nanka Coffee.
Sure enough, it was just as she had expected.
Everything was going according to her plan.
Song Qiang was driving. When he stopped at a red light, he turned to look at Lu Li. "Secretary Lu, you're so smart—why go out of your way to make the boss angry?"
The two of them had worked together for five years.
Song Qiang had witnessed how devotedly Lu Li took care of Ji Zhichen.
To take good care of Ji Zhichen's stomach, she had spent every evening after work learning culinary skills.
She had honed her cooking to a level comparable to a three-star Michelin chef.
She attended to every detail of Ji Zhichen's life with meticulous care.
Lu Li tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, resting her elbow on the window, her eyes bright and clear.
She had never been more clear-headed.
That man didn't love her, so why should she cling to the hope of winning his love?
She tilted her head and blinked her beautiful eyes playfully. "Secretary Song, I'm plenty smart."
Song Qiang: "…You still have the mood to joke at a time like this?"
Ji Zhichen was already furious.
Lu Li smiled silently.
She was in a good mood.
The two of them fell silent.
Guards stood outside the Feicui-yuan villa, so there was no chance of Lu Li running away even if she wanted to.
Song Qiang left after dropping her off at Feicui-yuan.
Without Ji Zhichen's orders, Lu Li couldn't leave the villa.
In the middle of the night, the television in the living room was still playing some boring show.
Lu Li had already fallen asleep on the sofa.
Ji Zhichen looked down at the woman sleeping peacefully.
When she was asleep, she had a serene quality to her, unlike the striking and aloof Secretary Lu she was by day.
He furrowed his brows slightly and bent down.
Lu Li was woken by someone pinching her chin.
His grip was strong, and her chin ached.
Her drowsy brain snapped to full alertness in an instant.
She opened her eyes and saw his cold, indifferent face.
He still carried the faint scent of the same perfume as Xiao Yaoyao.
Lu Li frowned.
Her stomach churned with nausea.
The main lights in the room were off, with only a small desk lamp and the glow of the television casting flickering shadows.
Half of Ji Zhichen's handsome face was hidden in the darkness. He spoke, his voice icy. "Lu Li, who gave you the nerve to go spout nonsense in front of Yaoyao?"
Lu Li lay on the sofa, lowering her eyelids, saying nothing. At a time like this, anything she said would be wrong.
"Cat got your tongue? Speak!"
He pinched her chin without a shred of gentleness.
Her slender, fragile neck was forced to arch at an angle.
Forced to tilt her delicate neck upward, she looked at his cold expression with her beautiful eyes.
Her chin hurt, and tears of reflex welled at the corners of her eyes, yet her voice remained calm as she said, "I only told her the truth. The two of us are legally married—did I say something wrong?"
His fingers tightened around her chin, and his words came out cold and venomous. "Lu Li, it's just a piece of paper. Have you forgotten about the marriage agreement? Back then, you only signed it for the money—you signed it like the cheap woman you are."
Lu Li knew her expression must be ugly right now.
She blinked.
Cheap. So that was what he thought of her—cheap.
Lu Li bit her pearl-white teeth and let out a soft laugh. "It's not that I'm cheap—we were just getting what we each wanted."
Ji Zhichen sneered with disgust. "Secretary Lu certainly has a sharp tongue. Using the bride price to support your childhood sweetheart—only you could do something like that."
"What childhood sweetheart?" Lu Li frowned in bewilderment.
He let out a cold laugh.
His well-defined fingers slid from her chin down to her slender, fragile neck, then continued lower.
Lu Li's body trembled.
Ji Zhichen lowered his voice. "Your body isn't bad, I suppose. No wonder that Zhou Xitao fellow wanted to poach you with a high salary."
He lifted her clothes, and his scorching palm slipped inside.
Lu Li, startled, pressed down on his hand.
Her full, soft flesh was suddenly pinched hard, and Lu Li glared at him with reddened eyes.
The man's brows and eyes were cold and indifferent, his expression careless.
Lu Li noticed his other hand beginning to move downward.
Her expression turned grim, and her cool tone dripped with sarcasm. "So it seems your love for Xiao Yaoyao isn't all that much after all."
Ji Zhichen smiled enigmatically and withdrew his hand. "You overestimate yourself. I have no interest in your body. That night, if I hadn't been feverish and drunk, I wouldn't have slept with you."
The soft, pliant sensation still lingered on his fingers.
Ji Zhichen narrowed his eyes, disgust mingled with a hint of confusion.
That night two months ago, when they had first slept together, he actually had no memory of it—of sleeping with Lu Li.
Perhaps he had been delirious with fever, and she had taken the opportunity to crawl into his bed.
The man's voice was cold and detached, as if he were disgusted by what had happened that night.
Lu Li took a suffocating, deep breath.
She sat up, reached out to loop her arms around his neck, and smiled softly as she leaned close to his ear. "But you were very interested in me that night—you wanted it again, and again."
Her other slender, fair finger boldly brushed against his belt.
Ji Zhichen's face darkened abruptly, his deep eyes filled with disgust. He pulled away the hand hanging around his neck and stood up.
"Lu Li, stop doing unnecessary things. If it weren't for Grandmother liking you, given what you did today, I wouldn't mind giving you to Zhou Xitao."
Upon hearing this, Lu Li truly realized in that moment that she was a complete and utter failure.
He could so casually say he would give her away.
That alone proved he had no feelings for her whatsoever after all these years.
"Remember to visit Grandmother at the hospital tomorrow. Don't say anything in front of her that shouldn't be said."
Ji Zhichen coldly straightened his clothes, his eyes carrying a chill, and left with somewhat hurried steps.
**
At the hospital.
When Grandmother Ji saw her precious grandson and granddaughter-in-law walking in hand in hand, her whole face broke into a smile. "Little Li, come sit here by Grandmother."
She looked at Ji Zhichen, her eyes full of tenderness. "Zhichen, I dreamed of a great-grandchild last night—a tiny little one, very adorable."
Ji Zhichen revealed a faint smile and, in a rare moment of playfulness, said, "Grandmother, we promise to work hard."
Grandmother Ji's cancer cells had already spread.
She only had about a year or two left to live.
Ji Zhichen generally wouldn't do anything to make the old lady unhappy on matters like this.
So he just humored her.
"You two have been married for two years now—how come there's still no news?"
Before her death, the old lady had become strangely fixated on having a great-grandchild.
Lu Li said nothing, only pretending to be shy as she lowered her head.
"Little Li, no need to be nervous. Grandmother is just talking. The child's fate with us hasn't arrived yet—you're both still young." Grandmother Ji had just been rambling, and she turned to comfort Lu Li.
"Mm, Grandmother, I know."
Lu Li suddenly felt discomfort in her stomach. Her expression changed abruptly, and she rushed to the bathroom to vomit.
Hearing the sound of retching coming from the bathroom, Grandmother Ji excitedly gripped Ji Zhichen's hand. "Could Little Li be… pregnant?"
Ji Zhichen's eyes darkened, and he gave a light laugh. "Grandmother, she just has an upset stomach."