“Qiao Yuwei, shut up.”
Without the slightest bit of mercy, the man shoved her aside. His face flushed red all the way to his ears, and he glanced around in panic, afraid someone might overhear.
“Let’s go.”
His face darkened as he strode off quickly, as if worried that if he stayed even a few more seconds, she’d say something outrageous again.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corner of Qiao Yuwei’s lips as she staggered after him.
The so-called cold-faced commander… seemed like he was about to lose his composure.
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of moldy, rancid stench hit her head-on. Qiao Yuwei instinctively covered her nose and mouth, nearly gagging from the sheer disgust.
The man frowned slightly, as if he was already used to it.
After recovering for a while, she finally had the chance to look around the two-bedroom apartment.
There were two basins of unwashed dishes on the floor, the water inside blackened and moldy. Dirty clothes were scattered everywhere on the floor, on the sofa and the bedding was piled with trash. A few flies buzzed noisily around.
Why was there not a single memory of this place being dirty in the original owner’s mind? Could it be that living in this “dump” didn’t bother her at all?
Clang!
Song Zhinian kicked aside an empty cola bottle near his feet. His face was frighteningly dark as he pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked a room that had always been closed in the original owner’s memories.
The door opened just a crack. Standing on tiptoe, Qiao Yuwei peeked inside on the army-green desk were neatly arranged books, and the quilt on the bed was folded into a perfect square, completely out of place with the chaos outside.
He took out a document folder and tossed it into her arms. With a bang, he shut the door again, cutting off her view. His tone was cold:
“Sign it.”
Qiao Yuwei caught it and opened it in confusion. The bold words “Divorce Agreement” made her temples throb.
“What is this?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
Disgust filled Song Zhinian’s eyes; he almost forgot she couldn’t read.
“It’s a divorce agreement I submitted to my superiors. Sign your name, and you’ll be free.”
Of course she knew it was a divorce agreement. She had just transmigrated into the 1980s and already caused a scandal by “stealing” a marriage. After finally ending up with such a handsome husband and feeling a bit comforted, now she was being asked to divorce right away who could take that?
Besides, all that trouble was caused by the original owner. It had nothing to do with her.
“I’ll talk to your father and compensate you. After the divorce, move out of the compound. I’ll rent you a place outside,” Song Zhinian said, his chest rising and falling sharply, veins bulging at his temples clearly pushed to the limit by her past behavior and the mess of the house.
“Do you hate me that much?” she asked softly.
He stepped closer, looking down at her with a cold, slicing gaze, as if he wanted to tear her apart.
“You think you’re worthy of asking that?”
“Even though I’m dirty, don’t like bathing, cause trouble for you, and I’m not good-looking…”
The more she spoke, the more ashamed she became, her back bending lower and lower until her voice almost disappeared.
Then suddenly, as if she remembered something, she changed her tone:
“But I do have good qualities!”
He scoffed. “Good qualities?”
Straightening her back, she said, “Yes. My strength is… kindness.”
“Kindness? You mean dumping slop at your sister-in-law’s door or snatching candy from children?”
His words left her speechless. She stammered, meeting his gaze:
“Then… then my strength… I I’m a woman.”
His expression turned furious. “Enough, Qiao Yuwei. This divorce is happening.”
Ignoring the stabbing pain in her knees, she stood upright and stared straight into his eyes, her gaze firmer than ever before.
“Song Zhinian, I won’t divorce. Even if I die, I won’t!”
Song Zhinian looked at her as if he’d heard the biggest joke in the world. Before, she had desperately tried to force him into a divorce. Now that Lin Sen was married, she suddenly pretended to be devoted nothing more than fear of leaving the compound and never seeing Lin Sen again.
“Qiao Yuwei, what trick are you playing now? You caused chaos in the compound chasing after Lin Sen, and now he’s married how long are you going to keep this up?”
“I was a jerk before. I didn’t cherish having such a handsome husband. But from now on, I won’t make trouble, and I won’t bother Lin Sen anymore,” she said earnestly.
She knew the original owner had done many wrongs, but that wasn’t her. She couldn’t just get divorced right after transmigrating and end up miserable.
“Not make trouble?” Song Zhinian raised an eyebrow, eyes full of mockery. “You think I’d believe you?”
Anxious, Qiao Yuwei grabbed the divorce papers and tore them to pieces with a rip.
She dragged over a chair, stepped on it, and declared with high spirits:
“I will never sign it unless you beat me to death! Song Zhinian, not only will I not divorce you, I’m going to pursue you and make you fall in love with me!”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear, her eyes burning with unyielding determination.
The living room fell into dead silence. Even the buzzing of flies sounded unusually loud as Song Zhinian stared at her intently, his gaze dark.
Feeling a bit awkward under his stare, Qiao Yuwei slowly lowered her leg and coughed lightly.
“At least give me one month. If after a month I’m still the same and haven’t made you feel anything, I’ll sign the divorce immediately and leave without causing trouble.”
Her tone carried a hint of shamelessness, but it was completely different from her previous tantrums.
Song Zhinian looked around at the foul-smelling mess and said coldly:
“You’d better keep your word. I’ll give you one month. After that, leave immediately.”
Qiao Yuwei’s eyes lit up. Afraid he might change his mind, she nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
“Yes, yes! I promise!”
He said nothing more. The house irritated him just by looking at it, so he turned and slammed the door as he left.
Qiao Yuwei let out a sigh of relief. At least she had one month to change things. The consequences planted by the original owner she would deal with them herself. And as for the handsome husband, she’d gladly accept him.
After watching so many palace dramas and schemes, could she really not win over one stiff, wooden commander?
Buzz… buzz…
The sound of flies snapped her back to reality. Looking at the complete mess in front of her, she rolled up her sleeves, determination filling her eyes.
Step one in pursuing her husband: clean up this pigsty and make him see her in a new light!
After rummaging through drawers, she finally found a relatively clean cloth. She folded it roughly like a mask and tied it over her nose and mouth, wrapping herself up tightly.
The stench reminded her of passing by garbage bins as a child holding her breath while running past, and when she couldn’t hold it anymore, taking a deep breath… that sour, nauseating smell…
She found a broken broom by the door and made do, sweeping up plastic bags and leftover corn scraps into two large sacks.
After finally dragging the trash to the compound’s garbage station, she unfortunately ran into a group of women returning from a banquet.
Each of them was smiling, chatting happily about something.
“Let me tell you just now, Commander Song pushed her away so hard. This time, he’s definitely divorcing her.”