The sound of a door opening came through the receiver, then the other noises faded away, leaving only heavy, ragged breaths, as if something was being suppressed.
Just as Jiang Xiao thought Cheng Yuan was about to hang up, she heard him say, "Jiang Xiao, have you really thought this through?"
Jiang Xiao said firmly, "Yes, I have."
"You really want a divorce?"
"Yes, I want a divorce."
"Don't forget, everything you have now was given by me. Aren't you afraid you'll have nothing once you lose me?"
"I'm not afraid." Jiang Xiao's voice was clear, carrying the resolve of burning one's bridges. "As long as I can leave you, that's enough."
Cheng Yuan hadn't expected Jiang Xiao to be serious—that she truly wanted a divorce. He tugged at his tie, loosening it. "I'll give you one last chance. If you apologize to me, if you obediently come back, I'll pretend nothing happened. You'll still be Mrs. Cheng, the president's wife of the Cheng Group. You can still go wherever you want with an escort, buy whatever you want."
"Also, I can promise you to cut ties with those women."
"So, do you still want a divorce?"
These conditions were tempting. If he had said this before, Jiang Xiao would have been moved. But not now. She wanted to leave Cheng Yuan, completely.
"Divorce."
*
That call ended there. The next noon, Jiang Xiao received a call from her lawyer, saying that Cheng Yuan had agreed to the divorce, with the condition of meeting in person.
At the time, Jiang Xiao was having lunch with Shen Yue. Hearing this, Shen Yue worried, "Cheng Yuan won't do anything to you, will he?"
Jiang Xiao knew him well enough for that. She patted Shen Yue's hand. "Don't worry, he won't."
Shen Yue hesitated. "Let me go with you."
The call continued. The lawyer added, "President Cheng's side said he wants to see only Madam, no one else allowed."
Jiang Xiao said, "Understood," and ended the call first.
Then she said to Shen Yue, "It's fine. I can handle it myself."
At two o'clock, Jiang Xiao arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant. On the table were her favorite desserts and coffee.
The waiter bowed. "Mrs. Cheng, President Cheng ordered all these for you. He will be here shortly."
Jiang Xiao hummed in acknowledgment, looking down at the items but not eating.
Not because she didn't want to, but because she couldn't.
The desserts contained mango, and she was allergic to mango. After knowing each other for over a decade, Cheng Yuan still didn't know about her mango allergy.
In fact, it wasn't just mango. He never paid attention to anything about her—what foods gave her rashes, what upset her stomach. He knew none of it.
Even her preferences, he was completely ignorant of.
Last time, he brought back a piece of jewelry from abroad, said to have been purchased at a high price at auction. She didn't like it at all, but she had to pretend to like it and accept it.
There were many such instances.
A heart doesn't die in a day. Jiang Xiao picked up the coffee and took a sip. She was the same—enough disappointment accumulated, and all she wanted was to leave.
The private room door opened, and Cheng Yuan walked in. Tailored suit, limited-edition cufflinks, immaculate hair—still the same aloof demeanor, so cold that just one look sent chills down the spine.
Jiang Xiao's fingers trembled inexplicably. She quietly placed them on her lap and spoke first. "Let's skip the small talk. Sign the divorce agreement, and we'll go file for divorce."
Cheng Yuan sat across from her, calmly staring at her as if trying to read something in her eyes. But there was nothing. His Adam's apple moved slowly. "Although I don't like people who make unreasonable scenes, we are still husband and wife. If you change your mind, I can pretend nothing happened. What I said last night still stands."
"If you want to go abroad to relax or have fun, that's fine with me."
"As long as you stop making a fuss, I won't divorce you."
"Jiang Xiao, this is the last chance. You'd better think carefully before you answer."
Jiang Xiao didn't need to think. She curled her lips and smiled. "No need to think. I want a divorce."
Cheng Yuan's fingers paused slightly, his eyes narrowing. He gritted his teeth. "No regrets?"
Jiang Xiao: "No regrets."
Cheng Yuan had pride too. Jiang Xiao's prolonged fuss had worn out his patience. He said harshly, "Once you sign the agreement, don't ever think about coming back to the Cheng family."
"Since I'm getting a divorce, I don't plan to have any other entanglements with you. As for the Cheng family, why would I want to return?" There were so many fun places in the world. Why trap herself in the Cheng family? Was she stupid?
Cheng Yuan's Adam's apple moved slowly. "Fine. Divorce."
Both sides' lawyers were present. After they finished speaking, the rest was left to the lawyers. After signing the agreement, Cheng Yuan said in a deep voice before leaving, "The jewelry at home is all yours. Take it."
Those things were all given by Cheng Yuan. Jiang Xiao didn't want them. "No need. You can give them to your other lovers... or throw them away, as you wish."
His earlier calm was completely shattered by these words.
Like a night that had been silent for a long time, finally awakened by thunder.
The restraint from before vanished, leaving only boiling anger inside.
Cheng Yuan's grip on the door handle tightened. He had been about to leave, but he turned back, took a big step, and pressed Jiang Xiao against the dining table, looking down at her. "Say that again."
Jiang Xiao bit her lip. "I said, I don't want those jewelry. They're dirty."
"Is it me who's dirty, or the jewelry? Jiang Xiao, explain yourself." At this moment, anger surged in Cheng Yuan's chest. He wanted to curse, even to kill.