...
Probably because the argument with Cheng Yuan had taken too much out of her, Jiang Xiao had dreams all night—bad dreams. When she woke up, her eyes were swollen.
But she heard something that relieved her.
Shen Yue told her, "Babe, good news. Great news."
Jiang Xiao: "What great news?"
Shen Yue: "That scumbag ex of yours got what he deserved."
Shen Yue sent her a photo. "Old Master Cheng had the butler administer corporal punishment and made him kneel. It was a big scene."
In the photo, the man's white shirt was marked with several red welts from the paddle. It was clear that Old Master Cheng was genuinely angry.
Shen Yue was curious. "Cheng Yuan is the only heir of the Cheng family, Old Master Cheng's own grandson. Logically, he should be more partial to him. Why is he on your side instead..."
It was a long story. Jiang Xiao made it short. "My grandfather once saved Old Master Cheng's life."
"That explains it," Shen Yue clicked her tongue. "Well, it seems your ties with the Cheng family run deep."
These were old matters, and Jiang Xiao didn't want to discuss them anymore. All she wanted now was the divorce, to leave here, and to go abroad.
"By the way, I have some properties under my name. Could you help me sell them?"
"All of them?" Shen Yue asked. "Are you really not coming back?"
"I don't know," Jiang Xiao said. "If I really want to come back, I can buy new ones. Right now, I just want to sell them and get far away."
"Alright, I understand." Shen Yue hung up and contacted some acquaintances.
Jiang Xiao changed clothes and took a taxi back to the Jiang family home. Before leaving, she had to see her parents.
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang were especially concerned, comforting her, "Leave without worry. We'll handle the aftermath."
Jiang Xiao still had some concerns. "Mom, Dad, why don't you come with me? The company can be left to my cousins for now."
Father Jiang and Mother Jiang exchanged looks. "Better not. We want to stay in the country. We're older, and without friends abroad, it would be too boring."
Jiang Xiao knew she couldn't be too selfish. She nodded. "Staying is fine. I'll come back to see you when I can."
That night, she slept with Mother Jiang, nestling in her arms and talking about her school days.
Mother Jiang sighed. "Back then, your eyes and heart were full of A Yuan. You couldn't see anyone else. Otherwise, with your grades, you could have gone to a better high school and a better university."
Jiang Xiao rubbed against Mother Jiang and whispered, "Mom, I was so immature. I made you and Dad worry."
"You're our daughter. Worrying is fine, but we don't want to see you sad." Mother Jiang's eyes reddened. "Every time we saw you run around for A Yuan and be neglected by him, your dad and I felt worse than anyone."
"It won't happen again." Jiang Xiao looked up. "Mom, I won't do such foolish things anymore. I won't grieve for someone who doesn't love me."
"Good, that's good." Mother Jiang choked up. "Xiao Xiao, you are the apple of your parents' eyes. You were meant to have a brilliant life. Forget everything that happened before. From now on, you must be happy."
"Mm, I will." Jiang Xiao sniffled. "Mom, I'm sorry. I was wrong."
Mother and daughter talked until the early hours. Before sleeping, Jiang Xiao saw a WeChat message from her lawyer.
[There's a new development in the divorce. President Cheng's assistant contacted me for a meeting. We'll discuss the details at noon.]
Jiang Xiao replied: [Okay.]
At 4 a.m., Jiang Xiao was woken by a phone call. Glancing at her sleeping mother, she threw off the covers, grabbed her pajamas, and went to the balcony.
The call connected, and a drunken man's voice came through.
"Jiang Xiao, why do you insist on divorce? What have I done wrong?"
"Yes, I admit I neglected you, but I can change."
"Just don't divorce me. You can have whatever you want."
"House, car, money, shares—I can give them all. Just name it."
"Didn't you say you loved me the most? That you'd never leave me? We've only been married three years, and you're running away. What is this?"
"You... be good. Stop making a scene, okay?"
Cheng Yuan's end was chaotic. The next second, women's voices came through.
"President Cheng, you just had Lily's drink. You haven't had mine yet. President Cheng, please drink."
"President Cheng, you said whoever finishes their drink gets to go see the Northern Lights with you. I finished mine. You can't go back on your word."
"President Cheng..."
Listening to those simpering voices, a self-deprecating smile curled Jiang Xiao's lips—a smile at her own momentary softness. How foolish she was, still fantasizing that Cheng Yuan would give up his harem for her.
No, he wouldn't.
He had always enjoyed it, hadn't he?
Watching her suffer and struggle only delighted him.
"Don't come looking for me when you're drunk and acting crazy. I'm not obligated to soothe you in the dead of night," Jiang Xiao said. "Hang up."
"Don't you dare hang up," Cheng Yuan said. "I'm begging you like this. Why can't you show me some pity?"
"Jiang Xiao, do you even have a heart?"
Jiang Xiao wanted to laugh, but also to cry. "A heart? No, I don't have a heart. That's why I endured ten years of you, watching you swap out women one after another, killing myself to be good to you."
"Don't give me that," Cheng Yuan sneered. "You're not as noble as you claim. You've thrown tantrums too, remember?"
"You had a candlelit dinner with another woman on our wedding anniversary. Wasn't I supposed to mind?" Jiang Xiao gave up for the last time. Her eyes closed, then opened again, her voice cold. "I'll see you at the civil affairs bureau tomorrow."
Author's note:
----------------------
Begging for nutritious fluids.
Next door, I'm serializing a redemption secret-crush novel, "Summer Indulgence." If you're interested, dear readers, please take a look. I love you all.
Random red envelopes, 20 in total.