Chapter 4

At last, his expression darkened.

“Wen Yu, you left home without a word. You skipped the family gathering this weekend. My parents are furious with you, and I covered for you. Do you think your place as the Lu family’s daughter-in-law would be so secure otherwise?

“I know you’re unhappy that I’m helping Xia Miao with her exhibition.

“But I’ve come here to make peace. What else do you want?”

I didn’t want anything else.

I wanted a divorce.

I lowered my head and messaged Xia Miao.

[When are you going to tell Lu Chenzhou to divorce me?]

She typed for a long time before replying.

[Soon. Don’t you dare regret it.]

Good.

If he wouldn’t leave, I would.

I stood up.

He immediately caught my hand.

“Come home with me today, Wen Yu.”

For once, there was something pleading in the proud man’s eyes.

I pulled my hand away and tried to remain calm.

“Lu Chenzhou, I know I married above my station.

“I’m not a good wife in your eyes, or a good daughter-in-law in your parents’ eyes.

“I’m very sorry I’ve made things so difficult for you.”

“You know that isn’t what I meant.” He sounded almost panicked as he tried to explain. “You haven’t made things difficult. I don’t think you married above your station. I—”

I smiled.

“Do you know something? These days away from home are the best I’ve slept in three years.

“Master Wang is a shrewd man. Xia Miao can’t handle him. You should go and help her.

“I need to supervise things at the venue. As he said, not every woman has a man to lean on.

“One mistake could destroy everything I’ve worked for. I have no one behind me, after all.

“Excuse me. I can’t stay and talk.”

7

He still wanted to say something, but I no longer wanted to listen.

When I returned from the venue that evening, he had just finished his discussion with Master Wang.

“Master Wang, Mr. Lu, Ms. Xia. Dinner has been arranged.”

I saw to everything.

At the restaurant, the three of them sat in a private room and continued chatting.

I went back and forth, checking everyone’s dietary restrictions with the manager, choosing the wine and other drinks, asking whether they should be chilled.

That was how it was for those of us who had started with nothing.

If I hadn’t worked as hard as I had, I wouldn’t even have earned the right to sit in that room with them.

Once everything was finally in order, Master Wang raised his glass to me.

“Everyone in the industry praises your competence, Ms. Wen.

“After today, I can see your reputation is well deserved.”

I bowed respectfully, holding my glass a little lower than his.

“You flatter me, Master Wang. I’m only doing my job.”

His admiration grew.

“May I ask whether you have a boyfriend? I have a nephew—young and accomplished. You’d make a fine match.”

I was about to decline when a glass shattered.

Lu Chenzhou slowly brushed drops of red wine from his suit sleeve.

“Sorry.”

Xia Miao anxiously asked if he was hurt.

He discreetly avoided her touch and spoke with polished courtesy.

“Ms. Wen has high standards, Master Wang. I doubt an ordinary man would catch her eye.”

The painter grew even more enthusiastic.

“Then you clearly haven’t met my nephew. Nearly one hundred and ninety centimeters tall—you’d think he was a model if I didn’t tell you otherwise. And his looks are the least of his merits. Cambridge graduate, thriving career. He just hasn’t settled his personal life yet.

“Although, Mr. Lu… why do I get the feeling you’re unhappy about me finding Ms. Wen a boyfriend? That won’t do! You have a beauty of your own. Must she go home to an empty bed every night?”

The longer he talked, the worse Lu Chenzhou looked.

Unfortunately, Master Wang was so proud of his nephew that he kept the conversation going all by himself.

Just as Lu Chenzhou seemed about to explode, Xia Miao took his hand.

“Chenzhou…”

He looked at her for several seconds, his eyes dark. Then he abruptly stood.

“Excuse me. Something’s come up. I’ll leave first.”

Xia Miao hesitated for a long time before deciding to stay.

Winning Master Wang over mattered more to her just then.

As he watched me add his nephew on WeChat, the jealousy in her eyes nearly spilled over.

That night, I staggered back into my office and immediately saw a dark figure by the window.

I nearly screamed.

“It’s me.”

A low voice.

Lu Chenzhou switched on the light.