Chapter 2

He pointed at Cheng Ming in the back seat.

“He seems to enjoy them. He organizes that sort of thing all the time. Honestly, you’re too easy on him. Doesn’t it make you angry?

“I heard him telling you how pretty some girl was the other day. I thought you’d lose your temper right there. But you didn’t say a word.

“Are you really going to let him walk all over you?”

We weren’t close enough for this conversation. I had no idea how to answer.

Perhaps he realized he’d overstepped. He rubbed his nose and fell silent.

After that, on several occasions, he happened—or perhaps deliberately contrived—to express his disapproval of Cheng Ming’s bad habits.

Honestly, I always thought there was something a little calculated about his innocent act.

Then, one day, he saw us arguing.

I had never expected Cheng Ming to change his mind.

Just as our trial period before divorce was about to end, he had the nerve to tell me, “I think things are pretty good as they are. Let’s reconsider the divorce.”

“Good for you doesn’t mean good for me. After all our years together, can’t you honor even one agreement?”

“Don’t you think business has been better since we opened up the relationship?” he asked shamelessly.

Cheng Ming knew me too well. He was certain I would never cheat while we were married. That was why he dared to be so brazen.

I smashed up his office. When I turned around, I ran into Meng Yi, who had come to visit.

To my surprise, on finding us fighting over the divorce, his first instinct wasn’t to urge us to reconcile.

“Then get divorced,” he blurted out.

None of us could have guessed that those words would begin another story.

Meng Yi came home at midnight.

He must have thought I was asleep. He tiptoed toward the study.

When I spoke, he jumped.

“It’s late. Why aren’t you in bed?” he asked, looking uncomfortable.

“How can I go to bed when we haven’t finished arguing?”

He looked even more awkward.

“I’ve got nothing to argue about. I’m going to bed. I’ve been in meetings all day. I’m exhausted.”

It was always like this.

Whenever he sensed an answer he might not want to hear, he instinctively avoided the whole subject.

I’d once asked whether his life had gone so smoothly that he couldn’t bear a single setback.

He’d exploded on the spot.

“Smoothly? Do you have any idea what it took to win you over?

“I had to watch you and your ex play the happy couple in front of me every day. I had to pretend nothing was wrong while handing the two of you money that went straight into your marital assets!

“Then I had to watch him drag his feet, refusing to divorce you!

“I was terrified you’d fall for him all over again, while trying my hardest to charm you and score a few points. I even played the homewrecker! And you think it was smooth sailing?”

I hadn’t realized he had so much going on inside his head.

A little amused, I said, “If it was that much trouble—”

“That’s exactly why I don’t want to argue with you,” he cut in. “You never say anything I want to hear. I’ll say it again. We’re not breaking up. Not unless I’m dead.”

I was worn out.

“What exactly do I have to do to reassure you? Don’t you think you’re getting a little obsessive? If we don’t deal with this, it’s going to eat away at you. Isn’t it?”

He gave a self-mocking smile.

“Deal with this? Zhou Huan, be honest. Do you want to get rid of the problem, or get rid of me?”

“What nonsense are you talking? Why would I want to get rid of you?”

“You’ve always solved things by cutting straight through them. You just don’t realize it.”

I couldn’t help raising my voice.

“If you’re determined to accuse me, you’ll find a reason! I really don’t have time to stand here arguing. Please act normal. Stop behaving like some bitter, neglected husband.”

I thought he would argue back. Instead, he looked at me for a long moment, walked into the study, and slammed the door, hiding his aggrieved face behind it.

I gave up.

He really did play every possible role in this relationship.

I didn’t know what drama he was writing for himself every day. I only knew it was packed with plot.

Less than five minutes later, he charged out of the study, pointing at the new desktop wallpaper.

“Why have you switched to another man?”

Confused, I got up and went over to the computer. The wallpaper app must have automatically changed it to a currently popular young heartthrob.

“He’s a celebrity,” I said, at a loss.

“So what? Does being a celebrity mean he can sit there half naked on someone else’s computer? Has he no decency?

“If anything, a celebrity should set an example. He shouldn’t pose for revealing pictures like that. He’s disrupting other people’s domestic harmony!

“I looked him up. His Chinese zodiac sign clashes with yours. So does his star sign. Even his height’s wrong for you. I’m going to message him and tell him to give up trying to seduce you.”

For some reason, he was so over the top that I found him... a little adorable.

Suddenly, he pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead.

“Another stamp. You’re mine.”

He clung to me so relentlessly that night that I finally gave in.

“Why don’t we go public? Tell everyone we know that we’re together. Wouldn’t that reassure you?”

I expected him to agree eagerly. Having an official place in my life mattered a great deal to him.

Instead, he refused.

“No. You and Cheng Ming have been divorced less than six months. He’s still playing the devoted man over there. If you announce a new boyfriend now, people will make ugly assumptions about you.”

I shrugged. “So? It’s just gossip. Would you think less of me?”

“Of course not. I wish I could run down the street telling every person I meet that I love you. But I can’t. I won’t give anyone the chance to hurt you. No one.”

Then his tone changed. He ground his teeth.

“I’ve had enough of Cheng Ming. Every day, he puts on this repentant act in front of me. He even asks me to persuade you to remarry him. How can anyone be that shameless?”