Chapter 4

“The next version of me. Sometimes I want to hide you away so nobody can see you, let alone get near you.

“Actually, I understand exactly how Cheng Ming feels. He only came here today to get your attention. He bitterly regrets divorcing you. If his cousin hadn’t pushed him so hard, he’d never have done it. He’d have kept dragging things out forever.”

He looked a little embarrassed.

“Of course... I was pretty good at stealing you away too. Otherwise, you might not have been quite so decisive.”

His voice was very quiet. It struck me that insecurity could be an attractive quality in a man too.

First the tentative advances, then the steady encroachment, and now these endless demands.

I bore quite a bit of responsibility.

I’d spoiled him.

Now I had to live with the consequences.

Nursing a headache, I told him, “I may be seeing Cheng Ming quite often for a while. We have to discuss the share transfer. Once that’s done, I won’t need to see him again. I’m warning you now. Don’t lose your mind.”

“I’ll remember. Whether I can manage it is another question. Hurry up and sort it out. With wolves in front and tigers behind, I can’t stand another day of this.”

“What?”

“Your ex-husband in front of me, and a whole pack of men like me lying in wait behind.”

My headache got worse.

Meng Yi picked up the rice ball Cheng Ming had brought.

“I’ll take this. You’re not eating anything he buys. He’s up to no good. Who knows what he’s put in it?”

“What could he possibly put in a rice ball?” I asked irritably.

“Some kind of win-your-heart-back potion?”

I really didn’t have time to argue anymore. On my way out, I told him I had a business meeting and might not be home for dinner.

“You miss dinner eight days out of ten,” he said mournfully. “I’m used to it.

“Remember, no drinking at the table. Especially nothing someone else hands you.

“Don’t give them your address. Send me your location when you arrive. I’ll time it so I’m down in the parking garage to pick you up.

“Only add them on your work WeChat. Don’t give them any chance to chat with you privately.”

I hurried to cut him off.

“It’s not that serious, sweetheart. Stop worrying. I’m not some irresistible delicacy, okay?”

I was already outside when I heard him shout one last thing.

“And don’t call anyone else sweetheart! You hear me?”

The week I’d given Cheng Ming was only a delaying tactic.

I’d never intended to sell him my shares.

I just wanted to get a bottom-line offer out of him, something I could use as leverage with someone else.

He didn’t seem to understand that.

He even thought that leaving him an opening meant I still had feelings for him.

At his office, I ran into his cousin, Wang Zhenzhen.

She was his assistant now.

She poured me a coffee, then planted herself in the meeting room.

I gave her a curious look.

“You’re divorced,” she said. “You should keep your distance. If I stay, nobody will get the wrong idea.”

I could hardly believe it. What did she think this company was?

Cheng Ming frowned.

“Go and do your work. Stop making trouble.”

Wang Zhenzhen was good at reading a room. She didn’t linger, but when she reached the door, she left it ajar.

“Still, we should avoid misunderstandings. I’ll leave this open. I’ve told reception not to let anyone disturb you.”

I hadn’t expected that.

Beyond being speechless, I felt a small glow of satisfaction.

“Is this the life you dreamed of?” I asked Cheng Ming. “Sounds interesting.”

Apparently, he missed the sarcasm entirely. He launched straight into a complaint.

“She’s driving me insane. She won’t let any female employee enter my office alone. They can’t add me on WeChat. She even screens all my calls at night.”

“Isn’t that good? A man with so little self-restraint could use someone keeping him in line.”

He glared.

“You never tried to control me. What gives her the right? Do you know what people at the company are saying behind my back?”

“I didn’t control you before, and you weren’t happy with that either. Do you even know what you want?”

He sighed abruptly.

“I ran into an old business partner the other day. The one who worked on that textile shopping center with us. Remember?”

I nodded. He went on.

“He asked whether I’d gone blind, divorcing you.

“I didn’t take much notice at first. But that evening I ran into Meng Yi. I thought an outsider might see things more clearly, so I asked if he thought I was blind too.

“Guess what he said?

“He said I’d never had eyes in the first place. Meeting you was just dumb luck.”

I nearly laughed. That tongue of his was vicious.

Then Cheng Ming changed tack.

“What do you think of Meng Yi? I’ve always thought there was something odd about him. We’re about the same age. Why hasn’t he found anyone?”

I had no intention of discussing Meng Yi with him, especially in that insinuating tone.

Sure enough, his next words were, “Do you think he might be gay? Even at school, people said he was popular with gay men. Then he went abroad, where people are more open. There are quite a few photos of him with men on his Instagram.”

“You can message him and ask. You’ve worked together for so long, and you’re such good friends. I’m sure he won’t mind telling you. Or shall I ask for you?”

Cheng Ming forced a laugh.

“I was only joking. Just making conversation. Why take it seriously? He was harassed before. If you actually asked him, he’d definitely get angry.

“Oh, right. I heard your new company’s working closely with him. He’s a calculating man. If anything comes up, you can discuss it with me.”

“I’m here to discuss the price of my shares. Can you give me an offer?”

In the end, Cheng Ming gave me no definite figure.

I suspected he didn’t want to pay much, but didn’t want anyone else getting the shares either.