My Husband Divorced Me for His Mistress, Then My Real Prince Appeared
Zhou Huainan asks his wife Qiao Wangshu to sign divorce papers to appease his mistress. As Qiao endures humiliation and betrayal, she connects with her online pen pal Fu Xiuxiu. When Zhou's cruelty pushes Qiao to her breaking point, Fu unexpectedly offers her an escape—marriage and a new life in Paris.
My Husband Divorced Me for His Mistress, Then My Real Prince Appeared
Zhou Huainan's canary was throwing a tantrum again.
He handed me the divorce papers:
"Sign them, just for show, to coax the young girl."
I gripped the hem of my skirt tightly, nodding.
Quietly, I signed my name.
As I was leaving, I heard his friends joking:
"Sister-in-law is so well-behaved. I bet if you told her to get the marriage certificate, she wouldn't even make a sound."
Zhou Huainan happily lit a cigarette:
"Wanna bet?"
They bet that a month later at the Civil Affairs Bureau, I would be crying like a dog but would obediently follow orders.
Trading my marriage certificate for a divorce certificate.
I held my phone, staying silent.
Only replied to the message that had just come through:
[Won't you marry me?]
"Alright."
1
[?]
The reply came almost instantly.
I hung up my phone.
The laughter and chatter continued inside.
"Alright then! If Sister-in-law is really that obedient, I'll cover everyone's drinks next month!"
"Three months." Zhou Huainan said.
"Deal! Deal!"
A burst of laughter.
I hurriedly walked out.
Not until I was out of the office building did the sharp sunlight sting my eyes.
Only then did tears begin to fall like rain.
Zhou Huainan had taken a liking to a college girl who hadn't graduated yet.
He bought her a house in Haicheng, filled with luxury goods.
But the girl wouldn't let him kiss her or hug her.
She lived in a 360-square-meter flat apartment, wearing haute couture worth over a million,
sticking her neck out saying: "I won't be a mistress!"
Zhou Huainan found this fascinating.
This was already the third time he was putting on an act for her.
The first time, he showed off our love.
Back then, I didn't know Song Zhi existed.
I happily hugged him and took many photos.
When I saw he posted a full-screen grid of nine photos on WeChat Moments, I was surprised and excited.
But that post, no matter how I refreshed, never appeared.
Later I learned he had set it to "Visible to Song Zhi only."
The second time, he argued with me.
He left me on the street.
Took a photo of me crying alone and sent it to Song Zhi.
[See, there's nothing I can do. She can't leave me.]
The third time, he wanted to divorce me.
My phone buzzed. I took it out.
[Really?]
[You're serious?]
[Qiao Wangshu.]
I wiped my tears and smiled.
"Really."
2
In the afternoon, Zhou Huainan indeed took me to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
He was in a good mood the entire way.
Kept asking me about our third anniversary, where I wanted to go to celebrate.
Zhou Huainan and I grew up together. This was the third year of our marriage.
"How about Prague?"
"You've been begging to go to Prague Square to feed pigeons since you were seven."
He got out of the car, opened the door for me, and unbuckled my seatbelt.
"Tsk, why have you been crying?"
He frowned, thumb brushing over the corner of my eye:
"I told you it's just for show. She's just a little bird. I'm just curious when she'll lower her head."
As he spoke, something fell from his pocket.
A box of condoms.
Zhou Huainan coughed lightly and rubbed his nose.
Didn't explain anything.
Led me into the Civil Affairs Bureau.
Everything went smoothly.
I have aphasia.
I often can't speak when facing strangers.
But I can nod or shake my head.
"Are you voluntarily divorcing?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Do you confirm the relationship has broken down?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
"There's a one-month cooling-off period. Come back after a month."
Zhou Huainan took the receipt.
Before even leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, he took a photo and lowered his head to send a message.
My message came through too.
From Song Zhi, just like before.
The photo of the receipt Zhou Huainan sent her, with an additional line:
"Satisfied? Wash yourself clean for me tonight!"
Clicking the avatar, I blocked her.
Just as I finished this, a text message for airline tickets came in.
Simultaneously on WeChat:
[Tickets purchased, one month later.]
[See you in Paris.]
3
I dreamed of Zhou Huainan again that night.
When Zhou Huainan was little, he was very sweet-tongued.
"Qiaoqiao meimei, your eyes are so beautiful. Can I often look at them while talking to you?"
"Qiaoqiao meimei, you play the piano so beautifully. Can I come listen to your concert every day?"
"Qiaoqiao meimei, I like you the most! When I grow up, I'm going to marry you!"
I liked Zhou Huainan too.
We had to sit together in school.
We had to play together after school.
Even when my parents had their car accident, I was in his family's car.
Playing rock-paper-scissors with him.
But the two cars were too close.
I saw with my own eyes as the large truck drove across.
Boom—
My father, my mother, my brother, even the puppy I raised since childhood, all struggling in the sea of fire.
For a long time, my throat couldn't make a sound.
I needed Zhou Huainan with me to fall asleep.
Zhou Huainan was very patient back then.
Accompanied me as I practiced speaking.
Told me stories night after night.
Whoever dared mock me as a "mute," he would punch them.
Marrying Zhou Huainan seemed like the most natural thing.
The day after I received my university graduation certificate, he leaned on my bed early in the morning:
"Qiaoqiao, let's get another certificate, okay?"
That same day, we became husband and wife.
In my dream, it was a sea of fiery red roses, covering our new home.
He knelt on the bed, kissing me very gently.
He said Qiaoqiao, we'll be this happy our whole lives.
But when I opened my eyes, the whole world was black.
I took out my phone. Song Zhi had sent another text message.
A photo.
On a messy bed, a streak of crimson red.
Suddenly I felt nauseous.
I rushed into the bathroom and retched.
But only brought up physiological tears.
Finally, I sat on the cold floor hugging my knees.
I don't know what I touched on my phone, and in the silent night, a low male voice suddenly sounded:
"Qiao Wangshu?"
My heart jumped.
I picked up the phone.
"Fu... Xiuxiu?"
4
Fu Xiuxiu was my fellow patient from the hospital.
After three years of intervention, my aphasia had improved a lot.
I only lost the ability to speak when I was emotionally down or nervous.
In the two years after marrying Zhou Huainan, I had almost completely recovered.
I was in good spirits and had free time.
I had joined a patient support group.
The support partner assigned to me was Fu Xiuxiu.
Actually, for two years, I always thought he was a girl.
Pink rabbit avatar, WeChat name "Angel."
At first, "she" almost completely ignored me.
But同类 understand同类.
People troubled by aphasia for years often have severe psychological trauma.
They might not be able to speak.
But they need someone to accompany them.
I tirelessly shared my daily life with "her."
From text, to voice messages.
From photos, to videos.
In the end, it was like we had been friends for many years.
So when I first spoke with him and discovered "she" was male, I was so scared I almost had an episode right then and there.
"I'm... sorry."
I held my phone, "I disturbed... your rest..."
"No." Fu Xiuxiu said, "It's nine PM here."
His speech was actually this fluent.
This was only the second time I had spoken with him.
After discovering he was male, I deliberately kept my distance from him.
That day was actually purely accidental.
I hadn't contacted him for almost a month.
So coincidentally, when Zhou Huainan handed me the divorce papers, he asked me what I was doing.
My mind went blank at the words "divorce papers."
I only replied: [Divorcing.]
After signing, I hid outside Zhou Huainan's office, trembling all over.
[Fu Xiuxiu, I seem to have lost my home.]
No father, no mother, no brother, no my cute puppy.
Even Zhou Huainan was gone.
What should I do?
I never expected he would suddenly say:
"Then won't you marry me?"
The laughter in the room grew louder.
"Don't joke around. Qiao Wangshu won't even be able to speak without Brother Nan, how could she really get a divorce certificate?"
"That's right, if you really ask her to divorce, I'm afraid she'll cry the Civil Affairs Bureau down!"
"Is that so?"
Zhou Huainan sneered.
He threw the lighter on the coffee table: "Even if she cries like a dog, she'll only be Zhou Huainan's dog."
"If I tell her to go east, she'll crawl east!"
I stared blankly at the already unfamiliar man through the door crack.
[Alright.]
5
Fu Xiuxiu made me a list.
Things that must be done within a month.
Handling visas, finding lawyers—these go without saying.
Inside was actually a densely packed list of must-eat restaurants.
[Chinese food abroad isn't tasty.]
[Really.]
I happily accepted.
Following his list, I ate at restaurant after restaurant.
Living alone didn't seem so difficult.
Every day eating, shopping, and packing luggage.
On the day I moved out of the marital home, Zhou Huainan suddenly sent me a message.
[Not even calling me, don't you miss me?]
He had gone traveling with Song Zhi.
Said he wanted to show the young girl the world.
[Not obedient.]
He sent again.
Then came a photo.
[This place is nice, for our third anniversary, shall I bring you too?]
I really wanted to block him like I did Song Zhi.
But thinking I still needed to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau for the divorce certificate, I held back.
For the next half month, I handled the small pieces of jewelry and bags in my possession.
Went to the hospital for a check-up.
Confirmed I wasn't pregnant.
Finally, I organized all the assets Zhou Huainan had asked me to keep over the years.
The night before going to the Civil Affairs Bureau, Zhou Huainan returned.
He called me.
"Qiaoqiao, you moved out?"
6
Used to my silence on the phone, he laughed to himself.
"Qiaoqiao, you're too cute."
"I told you it's just acting."
"Fine." He was in a good mood,
"How about we act it out to the end? Tomorrow you come with me to the Civil Affairs Bureau and get the divorce certificate?"
I held my phone.
"Qiaoqiao, don't worry, it's just..."
"Okay." I said.
"Ho~~~"
Cheers came from the other end.
I hung up the phone.
Sent the time to him via WeChat.
The next day, I got up very early.
Zhou Huainan arrived late.
Probably on purpose from Song Zhi, there was a bite mark on his lips, neither deep nor shallow.
He acted as if nothing.
I acted as if I saw nothing.
The procedures went even more smoothly than last time.
Took no more than five minutes.
"Qiaoqiao, I'll give you a surprise tomorrow."
Zhou Huainan lightly kicked my calf.
I put away the divorce certificate: "Zhou Huainan, are you free tonight?"
I looked at him: "I have something I want to say to you."
Zhou Huainan froze.
Since we got married, I had always called him "husband."
The next moment, he curved those peach blossom eyes, flicking the red book in his hand:
"Alright."
7
No matter what Zhou Huainan was like this year.
I don't want to deny the Zhou Huainan of the past.
I thank him for his companionship over so many years, grateful for his care for me.
So actually, I never thought of leaving without saying goodbye.
But it rained that night.
Thunder and lightning.
I'm afraid of such nights.
That car accident happened on just such a stormy night.
I endured the trembling in my body, waiting for Zhou Huainan.
I was even a bit worried that when Zhou Huainan appeared, because of years of habit,
I would shatter the psychological defenses I had carefully built over this month and throw myself into his arms crying.
But he didn't come.
He made a phone call to me.
When the call connected, it was noisy on the other end.
"What redemption! Bullshit!"
"I was so annoyed by her those years! If my mom hadn't forced me, I wouldn't have bothered with her!"
"Marriage? Guess why we married so early?"
"Wasn't it because she wouldn't let me touch her!"
"I'm just curious, she gets aphasia when she's emotionally agitated, right? What about in bed? Can she make sounds then, hahaha."
Boom boom boom—
It was as if something, on such a thunderstorm night, was torn to pieces again.
I wanted to hide.
I didn't want anyone to see me in such a state.
But where could I hide?
No matter where, it was all rain, all lightning.
All mockery.
Fu Xiuxiu's call came at that moment.
"Qiao Wangshu?"
His voice was always so calm.
Making those noisy sounds seem to instantly fade away.
"Are you crying?"
I wanted to say no.
But I couldn't make a sound.
Tears seemed to respond to his words, breaking through their banks and gushing out.
"Wait."
He remained calm, "I'm coming to get you."
8
The Zhou family's second son was actually single again.
A group of young masters organized a "singles party," getting dead drunk at KTV.
A whole row passed out.
I don't know what time it was when someone fumbled for their phone.
"Fuck! Big news!"
With this shout, several people woke up.
"That revered and precious helmsman of the Fu family actually appeared in Haicheng!"
"And he rushed back overnight on a private jet!"
One muzzily waved his hand:
"Impossible. Didn't he say he was recuperating abroad? Haven't seen him for ten years."
"Really! It's already on hot search!"
The phone was passed around.
The cooled-down venue became lively again.
"It's really him! And he's holding a girl! Said he rushed back overnight to take the girl abroad!"
"Ho, the PR team didn't even have time, how urgent was that?"
"Let me see, let me see!"
"Tsk, this girl... why does she look a bit familiar..."
"Brother Nan, Brother Nan!"
Someone pushed Zhou Huainan, "Look at this one in Fu Xiuxiu's arms, does she look like... Sister-in-law?"
Zhou Huainan had actually been awake for a while.
But he didn't like watching Fu family drama.
"How could that be your sister-in-law."
He unhappily took the phone, "Your sister-in-law doesn't even dare leave Haicheng, let alone go abroad..."
But just glancing at that photo, he suddenly froze.
Rain poured at the airport.
Under a black umbrella, the man's figure was tall and straight, his face cold and severe.
He sheltered the girl in his arms completely from the rain.
But he was too familiar with Qiao Wangshu.
Her figure, her hair color...
Impossible.
Zhou Huainan "slammed" down his phone.
How could Qiaoqiao know someone like Fu Xiuxiu?
Tonight she had even invited him to her apartment.
Probably because she hadn't seen him for a month, she missed him desperately.
Zhou Huainan took a cigarette from his case.
Lit it.
Took out his own phone.
Flipped to Qiao Wangshu's number, about to dial.
Glanced at the time on his phone.
Three AM.
Forget it, at this time, she was sleeping.
But.
No matter what time, Qiaoqiao would always answer his calls.
Zhou Huainan turned his phone back on.
Dialed.
"Sorry, the number you dialed is empty."
9
After that car accident, I never left Haicheng.
All forms of transportation made me fearful.
Going to a completely unfamiliar place would make me even more anxious.
I sat beside Fu Xiuxiu, nervously wringing my hands.
He was so tall.
Even sitting in the back seat of the car, he was still a head taller than me.
He looked very serious.
When the driver spoke to him, he dismissed him with just a word or two.
He seemed to be some kind of celebrity.
Just now at Haicheng Airport, reporters surrounded us completely.
Shouting "Mr. Fu" one after another.
Am I... being impulsive?
The name "Fu Xiuxiu" was something I only learned after our first phone call.
Paris was a place I never dared to dream of before.
The person beside me suddenly moved.
Took something from his pocket and handed it to me.
"Want some?"
A piece of candy.
The paper bag had a pink rabbit printed on it.
Memories were immediately pulled back two years ago, when I tirelessly tried to talk to "her."
"Little sister, do you like candy?"
"I recently ate a kind of candy that's really delicious!"
"Soft and chewy, with the fresh scent of peach!"
"If you want some, give me an address, I'll mail you a jar?"
"She" replied with a string of English addresses.
That was the first time "she" acknowledged me.
The unfamiliarity suddenly dissipated.
I had searched for these rabbit candies for a long time.
Searching based on his WeChat avatar.
Just wanted to cheer up this reclusive "little sister."
"Shall I unwrap it for you?"
He didn't seem so hard to approach.
His voice was gentle, a soft light shining in his eyes.
Before I could nod, he had already skillfully unwrapped the candy paper.
I took the candy and put it in my mouth.
The familiar taste spread from the tip of my tongue.
All the pores in my body relaxed.
10
I actually managed to settle down in a completely unfamiliar place.
Fu Xiuxiu arranged for me to stay in his apartment.
But he seemed very busy and rarely came home.
In the first week after adjusting to the time difference, he talked to me once.
"Wangshu, what kind of work do you want to do?"
His question left me stunned.
Zhou Huainan wouldn't let me go out to work.
"You get nervous and can't speak clearly, what kind of work can you do?"
"Be good, just stay home growing flowers and grass. We can't be short of your little bit?"
But Fu Xiuxiu, holding coffee:
"Your language studies haven't started yet, but there are quite a few Chinese people in Paris."
I wrung my hands:
"I... can I?"
Fu Xiuxiu raised his eyebrows: "How will you know if you don't try?"
Then I really found a job.
Teaching Chinese to a Chinese-French child.
It was just the most ordinary "tutoring" job, but I was rarely happy.
So happy that I wanted to share with my few friends that I didn't seem so useless after all.
Just as I logged into WeChat, messages came pouring down like snowflakes.
[Qiaoqiao, where did you go? Young Master Zhou has been frantically looking for you!]
11
Zhou Huainan is looking for me?
I wasn't in great condition the night I left with Fu Xiuxiu.
So he handled all the follow-up for me.
The asset information that was supposed to be returned to Zhou Huainan was all sent to the Zhou family's old mansion.
The property that needed handling was entrusted to the lawyer I had found earlier.
The divorce follow-up matters were naturally also left to the lawyer.
Other things, like the phone card, Fu Xiuxiu directly canceled.
If Zhou Huainan had any issues, he should find the lawyer, not me.
I was deleting those messages one by one when a voice call came in.
My hand was too fast and accidentally connected.
"Qiao Wangshu! What the hell are you doing?!"
Zhou Huainan's voice came blasting out:
"Was your phone stolen?"
"Stolen and don't know to buy a new one?"
"Bought a new one and don't know to call me?"
"Didn't you have my phone number memorized backwards?!"
I quietly held my phone.
"And where did you go?"
"Why did you send those things to the old mansion?"
"Don't you want to celebrate our third anniversary anymore?"
"Zhou Huainan." I actually managed to say his name very easily:
"We're already divorced."
Before he could say the next sentence, I hung up.
[Qiaoqiao, I've told you so many times it's acting, acting, didn't you understand?]
[What's your new phone number? Send it to me.]
[Add me back on WeChat. Don't you want to contact me anymore?]
Messages popped out one after another.
I clicked the avatar and blocked him.
Then I found Zhou Huainan's friends in my contacts.
Blocked them all.
12
A new environment really seems to make it easier to let go.
On the way back, I bought a small cake.
After all, Fu Xiuxiu and I had chatted for over two years. After getting past the initial awkwardness, I was still familiar with him.
For example, knowing his preferences.
Lately he seemed less busy and came back to the apartment more frequently.
Carrying the cake, I thought on the way.
He should be coming home today.
But I didn't expect him to come back so early.
I had just taken out my keys when the door was already opening.
Fu Xiuxiu in a dazzlingly white shirt, a furry little animal in his arms.
"A puppy!"
I was so delighted I forgot the cake in my hands and reached out to hug the puppy.
"Are you raising him? I've never heard you mention it."
"Or is it a friend's?"
"He's so cute."
"He's for you." Fu Xiuxiu closed the door.
I froze.
For me?
Subconsciously I asked: "I... can I?"
Zhou Huainan wouldn't let me keep pets.
He said the house would be full of fur and have a strange smell.
But Fu Xiuxiu said:
"Why not?"
My heart seemed to "pop" with a small firework.
I was going to have my own puppy again!
"I... brought you a small cake."
I handed the cake to Fu Xiuxiu and went to the sofa to play with the puppy.
My first puppy was a birthday gift from my parents.
My brother personally chose him with them.
Back then, I never knew what worry was.
So I always felt.
Whenever I saw a puppy, all my worries disappeared.
Looking up, it seemed I wasn't the only one in a good mood.
Fu Xiuxiu sat beside me, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.
Eating the small cake quietly, bite by bite.
"Little sister, cream got on your clothes."
I stood up, just about to grab a tissue, when I suddenly realized...
Too relaxed, I called the wrong name.
"Little sister?"
Fu Xiuxiu's voice came closer.
His breath came closer too.
Too close, the puppy "ao wu" and ran away.
I looked up slightly to see a superior face.
And the elastic texture under my hand.
For a moment, all I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat.
Wanting to retreat a bit, but Fu Xiuxiu held the back of my head, kissing me without refusal.
"Qiaoqiao, did you forget something?"
My heart was about to explode.
My face was so hot my brain felt dizzy.
But he kissed me again.
This time very light, very gentle.
His voice was low and hoarse:
"When shall we go register?"
"Today, or tomorrow?"
13
I don't know what happened.
Dazed from being kissed, thinking it was already late today.
Then tomorrow.
The next day, Fu Xiuxiu really took me to city hall.
The old gentleman who was supposedly the mayor of Paris chattered away, and I followed along nodding.
With a wave of his hand, he issued us a marriage certificate.
A bit nervous, but mostly, a small flutter of joy.
同类 understand同类.
I always felt, Fu Xiuxiu would not be a wrong choice.
The only unhappy thing was that Zhou Huainan somehow found my Paris phone number.
He even called me from a French number.
"So you really went to Paris!"
As soon as the call connected, he recognized my voice:
"Qiaoqiao, learned to throw tantrums, have you?"
"It's been a month, still not done throwing your tantrum?"
I took a deep breath, suppressing the rising emotions:
"Zhou Huainan, stop disturbing my life."
"Your life? What kind of life could you possibly have?!"
"Don't think I don't know, you went to Paris to find that 'Angel', right?"
"A little sister who eats candy every day, and you're going to burden her, have you no shame?"
I never hid anything I did or friends I made from Zhou Huainan.
"None of this... has anything to do with you."
"I'm fucking your husband, if not with you, then with who?!"
"I advise you to get your ass back here right now! Otherwise..."
I hung up directly.
He sent another text message:
[Not replying, huh? Fine! You're capable!]
[If you have the ability, cling to a little sister for the rest of your life!]
14
I never thought Zhou Huainan could be such a vile person.
But on second thought.
He could cheat during marriage and shamelessly ask me for a "fake" divorce.
How could he be a good person?
I was blinded by childhood affection, confused in the head.
That night, many friends sent me messages.
Mostly a screenshot of Zhou Huainan's WeChat Moments, plus:
[What's going on between you and Young Master Zhou?]
Zhou Huainan posted an intimate photo with Song Zhi on WeChat Moments.
Basically publicly acknowledging their relationship.
I was too lazy to explain so much.
Just posted a photo of the divorce certificate on my WeChat Moments.
My college dormitory group exploded.
"Fuck, Qiaoqiao, you finally came to your senses!"
"I always thought something was off with that Zhou. Never took you to meet his friends, never saw him post you on his Moments!"
"That's right, always bringing up Qiaoqiao's 'aphasia'."
"Qiaoqiao spoke perfectly fine with us, but the moment he mentioned it, Qiaoqiao would get so nervous she couldn't speak."
So everything had shown signs long ago.
A few days later, the group exploded again.
"Is he sick or something?"
Zhou Huainan sent the same content to each of them.
A photo of a diamond ring.
A screenshot of his chat with Song Zhi:
[I'll give you a surprise in three days.]
[Are you free?]
Then a message to be relayed to me:
"Tell Qiao Wangshu, three days from now, my mother's birthday banquet."
"If she doesn't come back, I'll have my mother change her daughter-in-law!"
I really think he's sick.
"Just ignore him."
But, I did need to go back.
This night Fu Xiuxiu came home with two suitcases.
"We're going back to the country for a bit."
I stared blankly, not understanding.
"The marriage certificate needs to be notarized back home."
He was organizing documents: "And, to take you back to meet some friends and family."
"I..." I subconsciously wanted to ask.
Can I...?
Just as my roommate said, Zhou Huainan never took me to public occasions.
He was afraid I couldn't speak.
He was afraid I would stutter.
Embarrassing.
"Qiaoqiao." Fu Xiuxiu suddenly stopped what he was doing.
Turned around.
Cupped my face with one hand, black pupils motionlessly looking at me:
"Qiao Wangshu, nothing is impossible."
A tingling warm current flowed from my heart, slowly spreading through my whole body.
So this is what a positive relationship feels like.
15
Fu Xiuxiu said he needed to go to Haicheng first to handle some matters.
Perfect, I wanted to meet with my lawyer anyway.
So the first stop back was set in Haicheng.
Unlike the pouring rain when I left, the sun was shining when I got off the plane.
Fu Xiuxiu was very low-key.
Wore sunglasses the whole way, holding my hand as we walked to the VIP channel.
After all this time, I of course knew who he was.
The battle for control of the Fu family twelve years ago was "serialized" on front pages for months.
No one expected that the final winner would be a young junior who hadn't even finished university.
Even less expected that after Fu Xiuxiu took over the Fu family, he would use thunderous methods and clever moves.
In just two years, he doubled the already massive Fu family's size.
I had also heard rumors about him.
But I was young then, plus he had faded from the domestic scene for many years, I didn't remember his name.
Fortunately, we didn't encounter reporters this time.
Fu Xiuxiu and I arrived at the hotel smoothly.
He went to the company, I was sleeping off jet lag at the hotel, and went to the law firm after waking up.
"Miss Qiao, your assets are being processed step by step as you requested."
"These are a few documents that need your signature. Please take a look."
"This is the original contract for the already sold property. You can take it with you."
"The handling of your personal assets is going very smoothly, it's just..."
The lawyer looked a bit troubled: "Miss Qiao, you have several properties that are marital property with Mr. Zhou."
"According to the divorce agreement, it's half and half."
"But Mr. Zhou... refuses to cooperate."
"He says you two... are still married."
I frowned.
"So you see..."
I nodded: "Sorry, I'll communicate."
I took out my phone.
After my roommates blocked Zhou Huainan, he created various alternate accounts.
Adding me in different ways every day.
I accepted one of them.
"Are you free tonight? Come out and meet."
Zhou Huainan didn't reply quickly.
He was "typing..." for a long time.
"Oh~~~ finally willing to come back to the country?"
16
"What a pity."
"Tonight this young master is accompanying Zhizhi shopping, no time."
I looked at the message sent to my phone.
Almost laughed angrily.
He refused to cooperate with handling the assets, but there were ways.
Just apply to the court for compulsory execution.
But this trip back wasn't planned to be long, I wanted things to be simple.
Probably seeing I didn't reply, he sent another message.
"If you want reconciliation, it's not impossible."
"Tomorrow is my mother's birthday banquet, come apologize."
Attached a hotel location.
Really sick.
I blocked him again.
Just then Fu Xiuxiu also sent a message:
[Had someone deliver several sets of evening dresses, you choose.]
[Tomorrow I'll take you to meet a few friends first.]
Meeting Fu Xiuxiu's friends.
My heart beat a bit faster.
I immediately threw away the unpleasantness Zhou Huainan brought.
Hailed a cab back to the hotel.
17
Fu Xiuxiu sent more than "a few" evening dresses.
Full racks of them, plus matching shoes, jewelry, and makeup artists.
Filled an entire room.
Seeing how seriously he took it, I didn't dare be careless.
I tried on outfit after outfit, choosing for almost an entire night.
Finally chose an outfit that looked well-behaved and understated.
Fortunately, Fu Xiuxiu didn't return either.
He hadn't been back to the country in ten years, rarely personally visiting the Haicheng branch.
His busyness was evident.
The next day, I slept for half the day.
Woke up in the afternoon.
Changed clothes and put on makeup, just as Fu Xiuxiu's message came.
[Sent the driver to pick you up.]
When I got in the car, an unknown number called.
Intuition told me it was Zhou Huainan again, so I directly hung up.
He called again, I hung up again.
Finally blocked him again.
But I didn't expect that when the driver stopped, I actually saw Zhou Huainan.
He stood at the hotel entrance, making call after call.
Finally, he smashed his phone angrily.
I looked up at the hotel name, it was actually the one Zhou Huainan sent me yesterday.
Fu Xiuxiu's call came at the right time.
"Are you here?"
"Shall I come down to get you?"
His voice always calmed people.
I glanced at the dark-faced Zhou Huainan: "No need, I'll come up myself."
Probably hearing the voice.
Zhou Huainan also looked over.
For a moment, his expression was hard to describe.
Like surprise, like ecstasy, mixed with a bit of suppressed anger.
He kicked the phone he had smashed.
Red-eyed: "Qiao..."
But only one word came out.
He pressed his lips together, looked away: "Go on."
With a bit of pride: "I knew you'd come."
Turned and walked first.
This hotel was probably booked out.
I suddenly realized what Fu Xiuxiu meant by "meet a few friends," what kind of friends.
Seeing I wasn't following, Zhou Huainan deliberately slowed down.
"Alright, I'll apologize first, okay?"
He lowered his voice: "You just don't like Song Zhi, right?"
"I won't see her anymore, okay?"
"You're too petty. The young girl never did anything to you."
I took a deep breath, suppressing my emotions.
Upstairs, I saw several familiar faces.
"Ho, Sister-in-law finally came back?"
"It has to be Young Master Zhou. A good obedient girl, learning to be a runaway canary from others, isn't that ridiculous?"
"Brother Nan, you brought her today with so many people here, aren't you afraid..."
"That's right, there are important people here today!"
Zhou Huainan glared at them: "Get lost."
Walked closer to me:
"At least you're sensible enough to dress up before coming."
"Later, just follow behind me. No matter what happens, don't speak, just smile, understand?"
"Here." He extended his hand, "Hold my hand."
I speechlessly stopped in my tracks.
"Zhou Huainan."
Coldly said: "I'm not here for you."
Zhou Huainan "pfft" laughed:
"Alright, at this point, what are you still pretending?"
"If not for me, then for whom?"
The inner hall doors opened.
I saw Fu Xiuxiu at a glance.
It wasn't his venue, but he sat in the main seat.
To his left and right were Zhou Huainan's mother, and Zhou Huainan's older brother who managed the company.
Others either stood or sat, some quietly drinking, some whispering.
But they seemed to naturally form a semicircle with Fu Xiuxiu at the center.
"See? The one in the middle, my mother worked hard to invite."
"His wife is coming too."
"You behave yourself. If you embarrass the Zhou family, my mother and my brother won't let you off!"
Zhou Huainan said as he reached for my hand.
I violently shook it off.
"Qiao Wangshu!"
The voice wasn't small.
Many people looked over.
Fu Xiuxiu also looked over, his eyes slightly darkening.
"Huainan, what are you making a fuss about?"
It was Zhou's mother who called Zhou Huainan, but her dissatisfied stare was at me.
Zhou Huainan's brother frowned at me, then smiled at Fu Xiuxiu:
"Mrs. Fu should have arrived? Should I go down to receive her?"
Someone whispered.
Zhou Huainan lowered his voice:
"I told you not to make a fuss, are you satisfied now?"
"This is your first time meeting so many Zhou family relatives, are you going to give people this kind of impression?"
That's right.
Three years of marriage, this was the first time I met the entire Zhou family.
"Wangshu." Fu Xiuxiu suddenly called me.
"Come over."
Between him and Zhou's mother, there was an empty seat.
Zhou Huainan froze.
Zhou's mother and Zhou Huainan's brother also froze.
I stepped forward.
"Let me introduce."
Fu Xiuxiu's voice wasn't loud, but enough for everyone present to hear.
"Qiao Wangshu."
He kissed the back of my hand, looking back at everyone, "My wife."
18
The banquet hall was deathly silent.
Everyone seemed to forget even to breathe.
Only Fu Xiuxiu, worthy of having seen big scenes.
"Wangshu, is there anything you'd like to say?"
All eyes were on me.
Cold sweat broke out on my back.
Clutching my palms, my heart beat again and again.
Fu Xiuxiu squeezed my hand, looking into my eyes, gently nodding at me.
"Nothing is impossible."
I took a deep breath.
"Auntie."
I said to Zhou's mother: "I..."
I clenched my fists: "Zhou Huainan and I divorced long ago."
"I don't know why he didn't tell you."
Then to Zhou Huainan:
"Zhou Huainan, I never believed... marriage, divorce, could be 'acting'."
"There is no possibility between us anymore."
Finally to everyone:
"I am already Fu Xiuxiu's legal wife."
"From now on, I have no relationship with the Zhou family."
Zhou Huainan watched my hand intertwined with Fu Xiuxiu's, taking two steps back in disbelief.
Fu Xiuxiu also stood up.
Picked up the towel on the table, slowly wiping the hand Zhou Huainan had just grabbed.
"My wife prefers quiet."
"I'm protective."
"After today, I don't want to see anyone harassing my wife in any form."
"Mrs. Zhou, have I made myself clear?"
Zhou's mother stared blankly, nodding repeatedly.
"Apologies for the disturbance."
Fu Xiuxiu put down the towel and took my hand away.
Not until we reached the elevator did my heartbeat seem to recover.
My feet felt weak, about to fall, when Fu Xiuxiu put his arm around my waist, pinning me against the inner wall.
"You went to such great lengths..." I breathed lowly, "just to stop Zhou Huainan from coming to find me again?"
Fu Xiuxiu cupped my face:
"You look beautiful today."
I didn't know if he meant I was beautifully dressed, or beautifully spoken.
He leaned down to kiss me.
"Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao!"
Zhou Huainan was shouting outside the elevator.
Unfortunately, busy talking, I hadn't pressed the floor.
The elevator actually opened for him.
Fu Xiuxiu pulled me into his arms, coldly turning back:
"Something?"
The elevator wall reflected my bright red face from being kissed, and outside the elevator, Zhou Huainan's expression of near despair.
I quickly pressed for the basement level.
Before the elevator doors closed, Fu Xiuxiu maliciously
Pinched my chin, right in front of Zhou Huainan.
And kissed me even harder.
19
I heard Zhou Huainan was locked up by the Zhou family.
They took away his phone, computer, cut off all communication devices.
Made him swear he wouldn't trouble me anymore before they would let him out.
I went back to Beijing with Fu Xiuxiu.
Originally planning to notarize the marriage certificate, Fu Xiuxiu found it troublesome, so he went directly to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get one.
I also met his friends and family.
Just like the rumors.
He was the eldest grandson, but his mother died early, and his father died of sudden cardiac arrest when he was eighteen.
His several uncles now had no chance of winning and treated me courteously.
His friends were also civilized and polite.
Only one, probably his best friend.
Made fun of him for "losing his virginity at an advanced age" to his face.
No.
He was over thirty, still a virgin?
But, it had been half a month since we got our certificate, and he really hadn't touched me.
Was it that he couldn't...
Or was he worried I would discover he couldn't?
So this night when sleeping, the atmosphere was rather strange.
For a moment I wanted to touch him, for a moment I thought it was better to avoid him.
What if it wasn't that he couldn't, but that he didn't want to...
Cough.
Probably not.
I could still feel it when he kissed me.
President Fu was busy with ten thousand things a day, rarely easily approachable.
Perhaps, it was normal?
Even if not normal, we already have the certificate, I wouldn't despise him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Fu Xiuxiu suddenly turned over, pulling me into his arms.
I shook my head repeatedly.
He lowered his head to capture my lips.
He had been kissing me more and more frequently lately, and for longer and longer.
"I just want to give you more time to accept me."
The temperature under the covers rose.
In the darkness, Fu Xiuxiu's breath was slightly ragged, his voice hoarse.
"I..."
My heart "thumped, thumped, thumped," cutting off my voice.
But I thought of the puppy sleeping soundly at the foot of the bed.
When we came back, Fu Xiuxiu didn't forget to bring it along too.
Thought of the lavender bedding in the room.
Thought of the yard full of tulips outside.
All the words I had said to him over the years, he remembered.
"I like you, Fu Xiuxiu."
I said softly.
Lifted my face to press my lips to his.
Fu Xiuxiu's whole body froze, immediately taking the initiative.
In the end, naturally...
Spring days are long, summer nights are short, we didn't sleep all night.
20
But some things always don't go so smoothly.
Too many people attended that birthday banquet, and some rumors still spread.
Below every interview video of Fu Xiuxiu, there were some ambiguous comments.
"Tsk, tsk, domineering CEO, looks human, but shameless, even his wife..."
"Upstairs, he's married? What happened to his wife?"
"Keep a low profile to stay safe. Keywords: stolen bride."
Fu Xiuxiu didn't mind.
The more forbidden such talk was, the more fiercely it spread.
But I felt like I had a fishbone stuck in my throat.
This day Fu Xiuxiu was working overtime again.
Three more days and we would return to France.
Just as I was packing my luggage, I suddenly heard a commotion outside the courtyard.
"Yes, my wife and I were childhood sweethearts, over twenty years of feelings, how could they just disappear?"
"Look at this photo."
"Yes, the one Fu Xiuxiu was photographed with at the airport and deleted clean the next day."
"Look at my wife, is she awake?"
"Fu Xiuxiu disguised himself as a little girl three years ago to deceive my wife! He clearly has special fetishes, he's a pervert!"
My ears were buzzing.
Blood rushed to my head.
It was Zhou Huainan, of course.
He brought a group of livestreaming influencers to the entrance of my and Fu Xiuxiu's home.
"The Fu family is lawless, please bear witness for me! Today I must see my wife!"
I grabbed the materials I had printed earlier and rushed downstairs.
Completely forgetting that I had sent all the servants out shopping.
Only I was left at home.
Completely forgetting that the massive interviews after the car accident had caused secondary trauma.
Facing the camera, I couldn't say a word.
So when you want to protect something, one person's strength can be this great.
I directly opened the main door.
"Qiaoqiao..." Zhou Huainan's face lit up with surprise.
Before he could say a third word, I stepped forward and slapped him.
"Zhou Huainan! Look at yourself in the mirror! Who gave you the confidence I wouldn't leave you?!"
Another slap.
"And who gave you the courage to slander others and spread rumors?!"
Another slap.
Threw the printed chat records at him.
"Read it carefully! Stop tarnishing the phrase 'childhood sweethearts'!"
Finally threw the player at him.
Inside was playing the recording of that phone call he gave me the night I left.
"What redemption! Bullshit!"
"I was so annoyed by her those years! If my mom hadn't forced me, I wouldn't have bothered with her!"
"Marriage? Guess why..."
Zhou Huainan's face turned deathly pale.
Quickly pressed pause.
21
But the trouble he stirred up wasn't so easy to pause.
The livestream was cut off, all clips deleted clean.
What circulated was all the chat record screenshots Song Zhi sent me that year of her various conversations with Zhou Huainan.
The internet was amazed at the pair's perversity.
Soon, the long-hidden Song Zhi was completely exposed.
Some even dug up that she lived in a luxury mansion Zhou Huainan gave her, wearing luxury goods Zhou Huainan bought.
Pretending to be a rich girl.
Flirting with other second-generation heirs.
Fu Xiuxiu was originally a business-is-business person who hadn't deliberately targeted the Zhou family.
But with this fuss, he cut off all cooperation between Fu family and Zhou family.
A couple of days later, Zhou's mother called me.
"It's our fault for not watching Huainan well, I'm sorry, Qiaoqiao, but can't you consider so many years..."
"Auntie."
I interrupted her: "You did take care of me for many years, that's true."
"But all these years, I listened to you and handed over my parents' business to the Zhou family bit by bit."
"I have never, owed you anything."
Fu Xiuxiu and I proceeded as planned.
Preparing to return to France.
The day we left, it was raining lightly.
Going through security, suddenly there was a commotion.
Zhou Huainan ran out from somewhere again.
Covered in mud and rain.
A mess.
"Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao."
He grabbed my luggage.
The ground was too slippery, and he fell right in front of me.
"Qiaoqiao, don't go, okay?"
22
Fu Xiuxiu's face showed disgust.
But he only glanced at his watch, giving a look to the people around him.
Those who had taken out their phones planning to take photos and watch the drama were immediately cleared away.
Zhou Huainan tightly gripped my luggage.
"Qiaoqiao, listen to me."
"There are too many misunderstandings between us!"
"That phone call, Song Zhi made it to you, not me... I had no idea!"
"I was talking big because I was drunk! I was never annoyed by you!"
"I married you because I really liked you..."
"Those things I said to Song Zhi, I was temporarily confused, it was... right, she was skilled! She seduced me!"
"I wasn't really going to divorce you either."
"Didn't I say I'd give you a surprise? I planned to propose to you again the next day."
"Qiaoqiao, it was all a series of unfortunate coincidences!"
"That night, I was planning to go to your apartment too..."
"It was that idiot Chen Jiang who insisted on drinking with me!"
"Yeah, it was everyone else's fault."
I looked down at his tears: "Someone else stuffed the condoms in your pocket."
"Someone else pushed you into bed."
"Those words that belittled and humiliated me, were ghosts possessing you, that's why they came out of your mouth."
I spoke such a long paragraph without even pausing.
"Zhou Huainan, you just thought I couldn't leave you."
"So you looked down on, ignored, and despised me."
"Mocking me, suppressing me, had become the only way you found your existence in your failed life, hadn't it?"
The Zhou family had two sons.
The eldest took over the family business entirely.
The second was frivolous, lived for pleasure.
Not that he was unwilling, but that he couldn't.
The only thing worth boasting about in his life was that he once accompanied a girl.
Letting her wholeheartedly rely on him, trust him.
"Let go."
"Our childhood affection, don't let it end too ugly."
Zhou Huainan's hand suddenly jerked.
Released.
"Qiaoqiao! Give me another chance, okay? This time I'll definitely..."
As he spoke, he reached for my hand.
I quickly stepped aside:
"So dirty."
Zhou Huainan's words stopped abruptly.
I pulled my luggage and turned to leave.
Fu Xiuxiu was not far ahead, I took his arm.
Suddenly, crying sounds came from behind me.
23
Later, for a very long time, I never saw Zhou Huainan again.
Only occasionally heard a bit about Song Zhi and him from my roommates.
Song Zhi's matter became a big deal.
Several second-generation heirs, including Zhou Huainan, sued her together.
She was expelled from school and didn't get her graduation certificate.
As for whether the lawsuit had a final verdict, it's unknown.
Zhou Huainan was kicked out of the Zhou family.
Probably to curry favor with Fu Xiuxiu, or because Zhou's mother's business wasn't going well, she took her anger out on him.
Stopped all his cards, reclaimed all property under his name.
Made him go out and work for himself.
It's said that the young master who once didn't blink at million-dollar haute couture now hesitates to buy a bottle of wine.
Some also said they had seen him and Song Zhi fighting on the street.
Two equally distressed people, even if they fought until heads were broken and blood flowed, no one paid attention.
My "work" went very smoothly.
Students went from one, to two, from two to four.
Soon I had a whole class of children.
My language studies were also going quite well.
Though often dizzy from its 15 tenses, at least I could communicate daily.
Our first Spring Festival in France, Fu Xiuxiu took me skiing.
When racing down from the Alps at high speed, I screamed my heart out.
At night, we lay in a valley hotel counting stars.
Every star was someone who had loved us.
"Fu Xiuxiu, aren't you going to tell me the story of 'Angel' yet?"
That night, Fu Xiuxiu took me back to the country.
To Beijing.
Back to that old mansion that hadn't been opened in years.
There was a room inside, filled with paintings of pink rabbits.
24
Fu Xiuxiu had a younger sister.
Ten years younger than him, she loved rabbits most.
When she grew a bit older, she loved pink rabbits most.
She often said she was from Rabbit Planet, come to save the world.
But she didn't seem so lucky.
Her mother passed away giving birth to her.
At eight, her father passed away.
She watched with her own eyes as her brother negotiated and contended with covetous uncles.
Exhausted.
She had come to save the world, so she definitely couldn't be her brother's burden.
So when the family servants abused her, she didn't make a sound.
When mocked and bullied by classmates because of aphasia, she only smiled at Fu Xiuxiu.
It was never Fu Xiuxiu who had aphasia.
It was her.
To conceal her condition, she often wrote notes to Fu Xiuxiu.
"Brother, school is more fun, I won't come home for summer vacation, you must take good care of yourself!"
"Brother, I made another friend today, another happy day!"
"Brother, I learned to make small cakes, they're in the fridge, remember to eat them!"
But the last note she left Fu Xiuxiu was:
"Brother, Earth is too bitter, I'm going back to Rabbit Planet! Don't worry, I'll often come back to visit you (#^.^#)"
Fu Xiuxiu was too busy.
School, company, everywhere was a battlefield.
But when the war ended, all that awaited him was a cold corpse at the bottom of the lake.
She had actually thought of saving herself.
She joined many support groups.
Depression support groups, aphasia support groups.
Many people had added her too.
But they were people who could barely take care of themselves, how could they help others?
Most disappeared after chatting for two or three days.
Until many, many years later, I clicked on her pink rabbit avatar and sent a friend request.
"Little sister, add me."
"Little sister, are you busy?"
"Little sister, another sunny day! Am I lucky enough to have your friend request accepted?"
Fu Xiuxiu said I was too noisy.
He guarded his sister's WeChat year after year.
Fantasizing whether one day, she could really come back?
But his sister didn't wait.
Instead came a chatty "big sister."
He accepted the friend request.
Watching her day after day, tirelessly sharing her life.
Then thought, if she had appeared ten years ago, would his sister have... had a different outcome?
Even later, he thought, was she, perhaps, the gift his sister sent him?
He was too lonely.
Far from his homeland, day after day atoning for his sins to his sister.
The voice in his phone was the only color in his life.
Unfortunately, she was someone else's wife.
"You are my wife now."
Fu Xiuxiu looked at the brightest star beside the moon, "Tell me, is it really true, that she sent you as a gift?"
"Has she forgiven me?"
"She never blamed you."
I kissed away the tears from the corner of his eye: "She's an angel who came to save the world."
"She saved you, and she saved me too."
Fu Xiuxiu held me tightly.
"Qiaoqiao, I love you."
Very, very much.
The greatest regret in life is loving someone who betrays your trust.
The greatest fortune in life is that I love you, and you happen to have fallen into my palm.