The dinner for three became a dinner for four. Jiang Xiao and Cheng Yuan sat together, while Shen Yue and Zhao Kai sat together. The atmosphere was awkward. Shen Yue coughed lightly, trying to ease the tension, but when she met Cheng Yuan's icy face, she swallowed her words and gave Jiang Xiao a subtle kick.
Jiang Xiao spoke up to make introductions, "This is Cheng Yuan, and this is Zhao Kai."
Zhao Kai extended his hand, "Mr. Cheng, pleased to meet you. I'm Zhao Kai, the owner of this bar."
Cheng Yuan, always doing as he pleased, just looked at him silently, saying nothing and not shaking his hand. Zhao Kai withdrew his hand awkwardly.
Seeing this, Jiang Xiao tried to smooth things over, "Mr. Zhao, have you always been in Jingbei?"
"I returned to the country two years ago and came to Jingbei last year," Zhao Kai said warmly. "What about you, Miss Jiang?"
Jiang Xiao: "I've always been in Jingbei."
Under the table, Cheng Yuan reached out and pinched Jiang Xiao's thigh, signaling his displeasure. Jiang Xiao pulled her leg away, but he pulled it back forcefully. He turned his head, "Honey, I'm thirsty."
The term 'honey' made the atmosphere even more awkward. Before coming, Shen Yue hadn't gone into details with Zhao Kai; she just mentioned that her friend was in a divorce cooling-off period and not in a good mood. Zhao Kai had agreed, "Don't worry, when she comes to my place, I'll make her feel better." No one expected Cheng Yuan to show up or to act like this. Jiang Xiao hadn't expected it either; she looked at him as if he were a ghost. Unable to avoid it, she braced herself and handed him a cup of water, "Here."
Cheng Yuan continued his antics, "You feed me."
"Pfft" Shen Yue spat out a mouthful of water. She turned to look at Jiang Xiao, wanting to ask what was going on. But Jiang Xiao had no idea what was happening. Frowning, she picked up the cup. Cheng Yuan took her hand, opened his mouth, and drank, all the while watching Zhao Kai. As a man, Cheng Yuan knew at first glance what Zhao Kai was thinking. Even if he hadn't divorced Jiang Xiao yet, even if they did divorce, he would never allow any man to covet her. Divorce or not, Jiang Xiao's man was only him; others could dream on.
Half a cup of water took a full three minutes to drink. Jiang Xiao wished she could smash the cup on Cheng Yuan's head. He was going too far, leaving her no face. Shen Yue was also angry. Weren't they about to divorce? What was Cheng Yuan playing at? Meeting Zhao Kai's gaze, she smiled awkwardly, "Senior, is the food ready? Should we check on it?"
"I'll go check," Zhao Kai said and left.
"I'll go too," Shen Yue followed. She had to explain.
Only Jiang Xiao and Cheng Yuan remained in the private room. There was no need to pretend anymore. Jiang Xiao slammed down the cup, "What exactly do you want?"
"You tell me what I want," Cheng Yuan said, picking up a napkin to slowly wipe the water stains on his hand. His voice was cold, "Jiang Xiao, you've got some nerve, meeting a man behind my back."
Meeting someone was having nerve? Then what about him?
"I just met him," Jiang Xiao said. "Not as bad as you."
"What did I do?" Cheng Yuan seemed to have forgotten what he'd done before and demanded, "Haven't I been good enough to you?"
"In what way have you been good to me?" If she weren't rational, Jiang Xiao would have picked up her bag and hit him. She said coldly, "If cheating on me is your idea of being good, then President Cheng's idea of good is truly unique."
"I've explained, I have nothing to do with those women," Cheng Yuan's face darkened. "They were all fake."
Fake?
Tell that to the ghosts.
"Do you think I'd believe that?" Jiang Xiao had originally wanted to save him some face, but he didn't want it. She took a stack of photos from her bag and threw them in front of him. "These, surely not all fake?"
The photos had been delivered by courier that morning. The sender was unknown, but Jiang Xiao guessed it was one of Cheng Yuan's female companions.
Cheng Yuan picked them up, flipping through one by one. His face was darker than the sky outside. "Where did these come from?"
"Does it matter?" Jiang Xiao sneered. "President Cheng isn't afraid to admit what he's done, is he?"
"I didn't do anything," Cheng Yuan denied. "These bed photos are all doctored."
"You mean every time you checked into a hotel with those women, you just went to sleep and did nothing else?" Jiang Xiao picked up her cup of water and splashed it in Cheng Yuan's face. "Cheng Yuan, do you think I'm stupid?"
She didn't want to look at him anymore and turned to leave.
It was late autumn in Beicheng, and the temperature at night had dropped considerably. Wearing only thin clothes, she walked down the street shivering, tears streaming down her face. The streetlights cast their glow on her, outlining her thin figure. Anyone who knew her could see she wasn't happy.
But the person she cared about most seemed blind to her feelings, criticizing her with cold words and bullying her relentlessly.
His heart was harder than stone.
Near the sea, the air was heavy with moisture. After walking a short distance, she sneezed several times. Unable to bear it, she stopped and pulled out her phone from her bag to call a cab.
The next second, a screech of brakes came.
The Bentley stopped in front of her.
The door opened, first revealing his feet, then his whole body.
Cheng Yuan.
Jiang Xiao didn't want to see him. She turned and ran, but her heels were too high. After a few steps, Cheng Yuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.
"Where are you running off to?"
"None of your business."
"We're not divorced yet; you're still my wife. If it's not my business, then whose? That bar owner's? Jiang Xiao, since you're being so disobedient, I'll have to teach you a lesson."
Jiang Xiao struggled, "Cheng Yuan, are you being reasonable? We're in the process of divorcing."
"Divorce? Who agreed?" Cheng Yuan said fiercely. "If I don't sign, this divorce can't happen!"
"Grandpa agreed," Jiang Xiao, in a moment of heat, brought up the Elder Master. "Grandpa said I can get a divorce."
"The name on your marriage certificate is Cheng Yuan, not Elder Master Cheng," Cheng Yuan tightened his grip. "No matter who agrees, it's useless. Even if Grandpa agrees, it's useless."
Cheng Yuan hoisted Jiang Xiao over his shoulder. "If you're smart, you'll know to shut up now and say nothing."
Jiang Xiao was very uncomfortable being carried like that; she felt like vomiting. She pounded hard on his shoulder, "Put me down! Put me down!"
Cheng Yuan shoved her into the car and then got in himself. Jiang Xiao struggled free and pushed the door to get out, but Cheng Yuan pulled her back again. "If you don't want the Jiang family to get hurt, you'd better behave!"
He shouted it. Jiang Xiao froze. "What are you going to do?"