Volume 1, Chapter 18: Mrs. Zhou, Let’s Go Home!

In the corner, Zhou Jinghuai leaned over and extinguished the remaining half of his cigarette.

His profile was flawless, his fingers slender; even a simple gesture was pleasing to the eye. He stood up, his tall frame moving toward them, and placed a palm lightly on Ye Wu’s shoulder. "Ye Wu, it’s time to go home."

The private room fell into a dead silence.

No one had expected Zhou Jinghuai to be such a poor sport. Did he not care about Ye Wu? Besides, Gu Jiuchi had been measured in his words; making a few ambiguous remarks was hardly like carving out Zhou Jinghuai’s own heart. Why was his reaction so intense? He had never protected anyone like this before—not even that woman from years ago. Being legally married really did make a difference!

Everyone assumed that with Zhou Jinghuai backing down, Ye Wu would surely follow him home obediently, settling into the role of a devoted wife, and choosing to turn a blind eye to his various affairs.

To their surprise, Ye Wu did not play along.

She gently brushed his hand away, her voice soft and composed. "My friend is celebrating his birthday, and the party isn't over yet. If you want to leave, you can go home yourself."

Zhou Jinghuai’s dark eyes deepened.

The silence in the room grew heavier; everyone knew this was the precursor to his rage. Although this circle of people were all childhood friends, Zhou Jinghuai’s status was simply different. The scale of the Rong’en Group stood head and shoulders above the rest in the capital. Moreover, despite his elegant and refined appearance, Zhou Jinghuai’s methods were ruthless. Who would dare cross him?

Yet tonight, there was an exception.

Gu Jiuchi leaned back against the sofa, his slender fingers toying with a King playing card, and smiled faintly. "Let’s keep playing, Jinghuai."

Zhou Jinghuai looked at Gu Jiuchi.

The gold pen Ye Wu had gifted him was clipped conspicuously to his suit pocket, glaringly bright—it was a declaration of war against him, the legal husband. Was Gu Jiuchi insane? Given the complex web of interests between them, he shouldn't be targeting Ye Wu.

A cold, thin smile touched Zhou Jinghuai’s lips. "Married men have other engagements." He looked down at Ye Wu. "Let's go."

Ye Wu knew that if she didn't leave with him now, he would likely do something in public that she would regret for the rest of her life. She rose to leave, her heart entirely void of emotion. This brand of overbearing dominance only worked on naive young girls. She, Ye Wu, was a free spirit; the world was vast and wide, and the wise do not fall into the trap of love.

The next second, Zhou Jinghuai grabbed her hand, his possessiveness so intense that even a blind man could feel it. Everyone present was stunned.

Ye Wu felt humiliated. "Zhou Jinghuai, there’s no need for this."

But he only gripped her tighter.

***

They reached the door of the private room, half-forced, when Gu Jiuchi’s indifferent voice drifted from behind them: "As a divorce lawyer, I’ve always wanted to ask Ye Wu: why do you want to divorce Zhou Jinghuai?"

Silence permeated every corner of the room. Everyone was dumbfounded.

Gu Jiuchi looked grave, as if he were presiding over the future of a marriage in a solemn courtroom rather than at his own lavish birthday party. Everyone thought he had lost his mind.

But no one knew that Gu Jiuchi had followed her that day. He had seen Ye Wu slumped by an elderly person's hospital bed; he had seen her visit that villa; he had seen her walk out, shattered, with faint finger marks on her face. He had witnessed a proud woman at her most vulnerable. He hadn't stepped forward, fearing he would shatter the last of her dignity. He had considered much. In the end, he had asked Nian’an to invite her to the party. He hadn't failed to consider that Zhou Jinghuai might show up, nor the consequences of a falling out, but none of that mattered compared to Ye Wu’s despondent silhouette.

That day was the first time Gu Jiuchi had wanted to embrace a woman—not out of lust, but simply to hold her, wipe away her tears, and kiss her trembling red lips.

In the silence, Gu Jiuchi asked again, "Why do you want a divorce?"

At the door, Zhou Jinghuai turned with Ye Wu. He looked coldly at his former friend, his voice chillingly thin. "Gu Jiuchi, do you know what you’re doing? If you’re not sober, go to a hospital and clear your head."

Gu Jiuchi stood up slowly. "I am very sober! I have always been sober."

"Are you sober, then, Jinghuai? If you were, you’d know that Ye Wu doesn't love you anymore. You can drag this out for a year or two, but you cannot hold onto her for a lifetime."

Zhou Jinghuai sneered. "She is still my wife."

Gu Jiuchi said nothing. Nearby, Gu Nian’an tugged at his sleeve and asked cautiously, "Brother, do you like Ye Wu?"

Gu Jiuchi gave a soft hum. The glass in Gu Nian’an’s hand fell and shattered.

***

Inside the cramped elevator, there were only the two of them.

Ye Wu shook off his hand, her voice cold. "There’s no one else here, Zhou Jinghuai. You don't need to keep playing the role of the loving couple anymore."

The next second, she was slammed against the cold elevator wall. Her soon-to-be ex-husband began to check her over from head to toe. Zhou Jinghuai had never been this lewd or crude before; he acted as if he were inspecting a piece of personal property, his movements carrying an air of insult.

His tall body trapped her, his face drawing close until his high, firm nose pressed against hers.

"When did you become so close with Gu Jiuchi?"

"Does it have anything to do with you?"

Zhou Jinghuai’s dark eyes stared at her, as if he wanted to see through every inch of her skin. After a long while, he sneered. "Let me remind you: Gu Jiuchi is our divorce lawyer. His job is to make sure you end up with nothing. Is this really the kind of person you have to associate with?"

This was the true Zhou Jinghuai, cutting straight to the bone.

Ye Wu leaned against the elevator wall and laughed softly. She laughed until tears came. "Isn't his goal your goal? Zhou Jinghuai, aren't you the one who wants me to end up with nothing?"

She tilted her head, teasing, "Actually, I don't care! I’ve built up plenty of connections over the years. Even if I’m sent away with nothing, I think if I wanted to, there would be plenty of men lining up to take over as Mrs. Zhou Jinghuai’s next husband—whether as a second spouse or a successor."

Zhou Jinghuai was driven to the brink of madness. He lightly stroked her delicate face, his voice rasping. "Do you think I would let you go to bed with another man? Ye Wu, don't even think about it in this lifetime."

Ye Wu spat out three words: "You are insane."

Thoroughly incensed, Zhou Jinghuai glared at her with icy eyes. He pressed the button for the 32nd floor. Ye Wu didn't notice until the doors opened and he dragged her out.

The hotel receptionist smiled as she saw them. "Would you like to book a room, sir?"

Zhou Jinghuai, holding Ye Wu with one hand, pulled his wallet from his coat pocket with the other. "Take the ID and the card yourself. Give me the best suite."

Ye Wu couldn't take it anymore. "Zhou Jinghuai, you've lost your mind."

Zhou Jinghuai’s dark eyes were profound. "What do you think, Mrs. Zhou?"

The receptionist processed the request immediately, her hands trembling as she returned the wallet. She had recognized him—the man before her was the CEO of the Rong’en Group, and the woman must be his wife.

Four years into their marriage, and they were still checking into hotel suites together—how truly loving!