The Marriage Contract

The news that Ji Cheng, CEO of Ji Group, had proposed to Xu Lingchu during a global livestream was causing a huge sensation.

When I returned home, I happened to see the two of them embracing and kissing on the billboard across the street.

Everyone was envious of Xu Lingchu's fortunate life.

Only I knew—

If Xu Lingchu fell in love with Ji Cheng, this would be the beginning of her nightmare.

Because she could never become Mrs. Ji.

Her glory would end in this grand proposal performance.

Chapter 1

I came out of the supermarket, having bought some daily necessities and some vegetables, planning to cook for myself.

Bored with nothing to do, cooking was just a way to pass the time.

The moment I looked up, I saw the television projection on the opposite high-rise building—

The CEO of Ji Group and a woman were embracing and kissing.

Even on television, their eyes were filled with lingering tenderness—the man handsome, the woman beautiful.

A perfect match made in heaven.

I knew that girl was named Xu Lingchu.

Of course, many people knew her name now. She seemed favored by God.

With exquisite and beautiful features, a soft and slender waist.

A pair of captivating eyes that could steal souls.

I heard that the first time Ji Cheng saw her, his gaze had followed her constantly.

So-called love at first sight was just like this.

Afterward, Ji Cheng began using all his skills to pursue her, pursue her, pursue her...

He deliberately created all sorts of romance.

New jewelry was named after her, newly developed properties were named after her.

Even a newly opened amusement park was named after her.

Everywhere, as if declaring his mark on her.

As I stood by the roadside, I heard two girls holding milk tea and looking at the two figures embracing on the opposite building.

Their faces filled with envy.

"I envy Miss Xu so much, having someone who loves her so much."

"Her being loved isn't even the main point—the main point is how rich CEO Ji is!"

"She must have saved the galaxy in her past life to come here this lifetime to enjoy blessings."

I lowered my eyes and smiled. If she didn't love Ji Cheng, perhaps she could enjoy these blessings.

But in the romance Ji Cheng deliberately created, many girls would fall.

Let alone Xu Lingchu, who came from an orphanage?

My phone made a "ding" sound.

Lowering my head, I glanced at my phone—

"He Xingwan, I know about you."

Xu Lingchu had added me as a WeChat friend two days ago through information from Ji Cheng's side.

I hesitated for a moment but still accepted her friend request.

"A Cheng and I are getting engaged. Be sensible and stay away from him." Xu Lingchu sent me another message.

I didn't reply, picked up my vegetables, and walked toward the residential complex across the street.

Below our building, I saw a Porsche, brand new.

Ji Cheng's car!

As for Ji Cheng, I had always been very annoyed. He liked all kinds of women, flowers and grass—that was his freedom, but why could he never let me go?

Chapter 2

Taking the elevator upstairs, when I opened the door, Ji Cheng came to meet me. He took the vegetables from my hand and took out slippers for me from the shoe rack.

"You're back?"

"What are we eating today?"

His words were just like those of a married couple of many years.

Not the slightest bit polite, very natural.

I took the slippers from his hand, sat on the shoe-changing bench to change my shoes, while he had already carried the vegetables and walked toward the kitchen.

"Braised pork in soy sauce, or?" He gave me an inquiring look.

As he spoke, he had casually picked up the bunny apron I had hanging to one side and started preparing.

I thought I needed to have a serious talk with him.

After changing my slippers, I leaned against the kitchen doorway. The range hood was buzzing, somewhat noisy.

Ji Cheng had already started preparing the meal, familiar with the place.

When I came back earlier, I had already noticed that rice was cooking in the rice cooker.

The fragrance of southern japonica rice filled the entire house in the evening.

Curling cooking smoke, carrying the atmosphere of human life.

"Let's make braised pork in soy sauce." I said, "Why are you free to come over today?"

"The company doesn't have much going on." Ji Cheng smiled and said, "Your pink diamond necklace has been set. I brought it over for you."

"Ji Cheng, I think—we need to have a serious talk." I chose my words carefully before speaking.

"Okay!" He was like an innocent boy, tilting his head to look at me and smile at me.

This man truly had an exceptionally handsome face.

Like Xu Lingchu, they were both God's favorites.

"Xu Lingchu." I said, "Global livestream proposal, the city especially bought a light show for her, setting off fireworks all over the city on her birthday."

"At the beginning of the year, she had a car accident and needed a blood transfusion."

"You also made a huge fuss about it."

"In fact, even with a rare blood type, with your abilities, you could easily obtain it. Why make it known to everyone?"

"You just wanted to tell everyone that you love her!"

As Ji Cheng slowly cut the meat, he smiled: "Yes!"

"When pursuing someone, I'll take what I do and exaggerate from one part to ten."

"Otherwise, how would she know my intentions?"

"Young girls all like these impractical things."

The meat was already in the pot being blanched.

The rising flames were blue-green, naturally not as beautiful as fireworks.

I sighed and asked: "Are you preparing to marry her then?"

Ji Cheng turned to look at me and smiled: "Wanwan, how could I possibly marry her?"

"It's just playing around, in this long life, one needs to play a few games of romance and moonlight."

"While still young and not wasting one's youth."

This answer, I knew all along, but I still planned to persuade him.

"Ji Cheng, you can marry her. I can go talk to my father and brother, we—divorce."

"Although separating the assets of the two families will be somewhat difficult, but..."

Before I could finish speaking, Ji Cheng waved at me, smiling cheerfully: "Wanwan, you haven't fallen for some young boy, have you?"

"Who?"

"A new celebrity in entertainment, or an ordinary university student?"

"Should I help you take a look?"

The words at the tip of my tongue got stuck in my throat.

Chapter 3

Ji Cheng glanced at me and smiled: "If not, then don't mention this topic again."

"In one's life, if one must find a legally recognized partner, then I hope it has always been you."

I sighed, I couldn't persuade him, really couldn't.

"You're just playing with Miss Xu's feelings." I said irritably.

"When have I ever played with anyone's feelings?" Ji Cheng said, "She came from a poor background. I gave her wealth and well-being, and everything she wanted."

"I also gave her the love she wanted."

"In this relationship, I also gave."

"Every time, very seriously."

"As for the rest, if she understood, she should know."

I understood, but others might not necessarily understand.

I didn't grow up in the country since childhood. From a young age, I saw that my father had many beauties around him, both women and men.

Naturally, I was accustomed to everything.

I didn't like this messy relationship, and had once envied what was written in books—one person for a lifetime, growing old together.

But I knew this was impossible.

My brother once said something very vulgar.

A man who doesn't cheat is either ugly or poor.

In prominent wealthy families like theirs, how could they have only one person by their side for a lifetime?

I was seventeen when I met Ji Cheng, and at eighteen, my family arranged for me to marry him, signing a marriage agreement.

I didn't raise any objections.

After all, in an arranged marriage—being able to choose such a handsome man was also a blessing.

Later, I came to the country to study.

I had been living a semi-reclusive life, monotonous and low-key.

I didn't like attending various events, welcoming and sending off, life was like a performance.

I also didn't like appearing in public doing charity, saying insincere words.

I holed up in my snail shell, and my usual hobbies were watching dramas, reading books, and painting.

Ji Cheng would come to see me.

Often cooking and eating together.

Occasionally, he would also stay at my place—he slept in the guest room, I slept in the master bedroom.

The years were quiet and calm.

But today's meal, we couldn't as usual eat while watching dramas and discussing current affairs news.

The food had just been placed on the table.

Someone knocked on the door, pounding loudly.

I thought it was property management, but when I opened the door, I found Xu Lingchu standing at the doorway with a cold face.

This woman, envied by everyone, said to have gained both money and love, now seemed somewhat disheveled.

Seeing me, she raised her hand and slapped me across the face.

I caught her hand.

I had learned sanda and taekwondo. When it came to fighting, I didn't take a weak woman like her seriously at all.

"Looking for Ji Cheng?" I asked.

Instantly, her eyes reddened.

Her voice trembling as she pointed at me and cursed: "He Xingwan, have you no shame, seducing someone else's boyfriend?"

I could see she was very angry, even stuttering as she spoke.

I took out spare slippers from the shoe cabinet and invited her in.

"Come in and eat together. Ji Cheng's braised pork is quite delicious." I smiled.

But Ji Cheng took the slippers from my hand and threw them back into the shoe cabinet.

Almost instantly, he changed his expression, cold as ice.

"What are you doing here?" Ji Cheng questioned Xu Lingchu.

"Go back, don't make me say it a second time."

Chapter 4

Xu Lingchu's beautiful eyes were filled with tears.

She was truly extremely beautiful, even I felt somewhat uncomfortable looking at her.

So I said to Ji Cheng: "You should take Miss Xu back and explain to her properly."

Thinking about it, I was afraid Xu Lingchu would misunderstand, so I smiled: "Miss Xu, I'm not Mr. Ji's lover."

Right, I was just his wife in name only.

He wouldn't, and couldn't, love me.

His love was completely given to Xu Lingchu, or perhaps scattered to others.

Probably from beginning to end, I hadn't invested a single emotion, so when facing Ji Cheng and Xu Lingchu, I could watch them calmly.

It was like watching a drama.

The plot made me anxious and troubled.

But in the end, I was just an outsider.

Ji Cheng's expression wasn't too good.

He probably hadn't expected that the treasure he held in his palm, the usually seemingly foolish girl, would suddenly run to catch him cheating.

I was truly heartless.

Completely forgetting that I was actually the one being caught, I should be embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated.

Xu Lingchu naturally wasn't willing to leave just like this.

Ji Cheng had pursued her for a year and a half.

In her mind, Ji Cheng loved her more than all the colorful things in the world.

She was the only one in his heart, an irreplaceable existence.

Now, she discovered that his heart was like a durian with thorns, covered with his affection.

And she, who knew not where she had been discarded, would even be spoken harshly to by him for another woman.

"A Cheng, tell me, what exactly is she to you?" Xu Lingchu pointed at me, angrily accusing him.

"Do you think I don't know?"

"She's a little canary you keep."

"You... you clearly said you only loved me."

This question was somewhat awkward, so I took a few steps back, making way for Ji Cheng to talk to her.

Ji Cheng pulled her over and dragged her into the corridor.

I directly closed the door.

After all, I hadn't paid for VIP—what shouldn't be seen, what shouldn't be heard, shouldn't be seen or heard.

I thought Ji Cheng would leave with Xu Lingchu.

After all, everyone said Ji Cheng loved Xu Lingchu, madly, devotedly, deeply.

But probably half an hour later, Ji Cheng returned.

Watching me holding my rice bowl in one hand, watching television, grinning foolishly.

He said irritably: "Wanwan, can't you be more careful?"

I was puzzled, be more careful about what?

He opened a bottle of red wine on his own, raising his glass to me.

I shook my head.

The red wine was something my brother had brought me from a French winery last time. I just thought the bottle was pretty and placed it on the wine rack for show.

If he drank it, I'd have to have my brother bring me another bottle.

"When someone knocks, can't you ask who it is? What if it's a bad person?" Ji Cheng began to criticize me.

"Wanwan, listen to me, don't live here anymore."

"The security here is nonexistent."

"I've already tidied up Green Pear Courtyard for you. Shall I help you move in a few days?"

I refused.

Green Pear Courtyard was a resort, where all visitors were wealthy people.

The courtyard was beautifully maintained.

But everywhere showed traces of artificial carving, too deliberate, losing the original beauty.

That was fine.

Perhaps because it was too wealthy, people wore masks in their interactions, without any human touch.

Unlike this residential complex.

All aspects of life, laughter and anger, family matters, condensed into a social panorama.

Even if I couldn't integrate into others' lives, I felt that I was alive, like a person.

"Today, even if I had asked and learned it was Miss Xu, would I still not open the door?" I said with a smile.

This time, Ji Cheng didn't speak. He served rice, and while eating, put a piece of meat in my bowl.

"Wanwan, you're too thin, eat some meat." he said to me.

I felt again that he and I were like a married couple who had lived their whole lives.

No politeness, only plainness and mediocrity.

He didn't seem like the dominant CEO holding Ji Group, and I—was still myself.

His phone rang, he lowered his eyes and looked at his phone.

From my angle, I could just see him swallow, his beautiful Adam's apple rolling, with a hint of lust.

I was curious, leaned over, and glanced at his phone.

A beautiful girl entered my eyes.

Dressed in a maid outfit, with rabbit ears on her head, black silk stockings, sexy long legs.

Worth playing with for a year!

Chapter 5

I leaned close to him and whispered: "New pet?"

He glanced at me, nodded slightly, and said: "Isn't she sexy?"

"Does she—know?" I asked.

The "she" in my mouth naturally referred to Xu Lingchu.

I didn't know what Ji Cheng's mentality toward Xu Lingchu really was, but he must care very much, love her very much.

"If she knew, wouldn't she turn the world upside down?" Ji Cheng laughed.

"Is everyone like you, heartless?"

I smiled, I just didn't love him.

"Go on." I said.

"Mm!" Ji Cheng reached out to put on his clothes, suddenly pressed me, and without warning, kissed me.

I felt my brain lacking oxygen.

My heart pounded erratically.

He was experienced, his kissing skills first-class, lips lingering, tongues touching.

Like a brief encounter.

Ji Cheng released his hand supporting the back of my head and smiled: "Girls all like my kisses, Wanwan, you should be a little jealous."

Almost the moment he released me, I had already come to my senses, calm as before.

"Fine, you come tomorrow and make me sweet and sour pork ribs?"

"With extra vinegar."

Ji Cheng laughed loudly, pushed open the door and walked out.

I touched the corner of my mouth and walked to the bathroom, rinsed my mouth, brushed my teeth, twice, before I let myself go.

Leaning against the bathroom doorway, I seriously recalled that kiss just now.

Ji Cheng had actually kissed me before.

When I came to the country for university, when we formally signed the marriage agreement, he had once held my hand, once kissed me.

At that time, I was like a wooden person.

Letting him do whatever he wanted.

He once asked me: "Wanwan, don't you have any feelings for me at all?"

"No." I smiled and shook my head.

My eyes clear and foolish, without joy or sorrow.

I didn't know what was wrong with him today.

While proclaiming his love for Xu Lingchu to the world, while desiring the bunny girl's body, while still flirting with me.

I sat down and continued eating.

I thought this matter would end here.

Ji Cheng could handle Xu Lingchu, and his romantic affairs with the beautiful bunny girl.

It had nothing to do with me, a tool person.

I could enjoy the drama in peace.

But three days later, I was cyberbullied.

Ji Cheng's proposal to Xu Lingchu was a global livestream, causing a huge sensation, plus the city's light show and fireworks, grand and luxurious.

Now, the popularity was still rising.

Xu Lingchu tearfully told the media that Ji Cheng was keeping a mistress behind her back.

My residential address, my photos, my identity—all were nakedly exposed to public view.

When I went out to buy vegetables, people started pointing at me.

My desolate Weibo account was flooded with countless people, all kinds of insults.

There were also some vulgar men asking me, how much for one night?

Saying they wanted to try what Ji Cheng's woman tasted like?

Others used my looks to say that Ji Cheng had poor taste, how could he fancy such an old and ugly woman?

This afternoon, I went out to the supermarket to buy things.

On the way home, a yellow-haired punk rode a motorcycle and came at me from behind.

Extremely fast, extremely vulgar.

From that angle, if he hit me, I would at least be seriously injured if not dead.

Moreover, it would injure my private parts, making it embarrassing to seek medical treatment.

If I hadn't learned some sanda and ancient martial arts, with faster movements than ordinary people, I would have been doomed.

After I dodged, the yellow-haired punk turned his motorcycle around and charged at me again.

A hint of killing intent flashed through my eyes.

At this moment, I was truly angry.

So, while dodging, I used some clever force and pushed toward the motorcycle.

Just like that, with a roar, the motorcycle rushed straight into the middle of the road.

The yellow-haired punk slid and fell to the ground, howling like a ghost.

The road instantly became chaotic.

Chapter 6

I turned and left without staying longer.

For many people, this might be a big deal.

But for me, I had seen many such things abroad.

A motorcycle wants my life?

Looking down on people too much!

When I got home, I called Ji Cheng.

"I'm sorry, Wanwan, I'll handle it."

"How long will it take?" I asked.

"At most three days." Ji Cheng said straightforwardly.

"Fine, if you can't handle it in three days, I'll handle it myself." I said.

In this arranged marriage, I had always been very weak, maintaining my clarity and foolishness, like a puppet at others' mercy.

Even Ji Cheng had once laughed at me.

He said: "Wanwan, can't you fight for yourself a bit?"

Regarding his question, I seriously thought about it.

Fight?

I didn't understand economics, didn't have the mind for it. The money my father and brother gave me needed someone to manage it.

Ji Cheng was the valuable son-in-law my father had carefully chosen. The family business was too large—one prospered, all prospered, but if damaged... it would still be severely hurt.

No one's money came from the wind.

Handling this matter was nothing more than suppressing trending topics and public relations.

I believed Ji Cheng could handle it well.

He just needed to placate Xu Lingchu, then announce to the public that I was his distant relative, and it would be vaguely passed over.

As for my father and brother, explanations could come later.

After all, solving the immediate crisis was the priority.

But he didn't—

He held a press conference, announcing that everything between him and Xu Lingchu was just promotion for products under Ji Group's subsidiaries.

He even publicly said he had never loved Xu Lingchu.

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

All the love myths turned to bubbles at this moment.

Of course, in this situation, Ji Cheng didn't announce my identity.

Now no one cared anymore.

I was just the background to Ji Cheng and Xu Lingchu's love.

After all, they had caused such a stir before, with a global livestream, but now they were saying it was just product promotion, unrelated to love.

Not involving romance.

Next was cold treatment, but at this time, gossip about an entertainment big shot rushed to the trending topics.

Instantly pressing down Ji Cheng and Xu Lingchu's love affair.

Everyone began to eat up the gossip about the entertainment big shot, no longer caring about Ji Group's various matters.

Everyone could not care, but Xu Lingchu broke down, crying and making a scene, trying to kill herself.

Chapter 7

I saw Xu Lingchu again a week later.

It was still her who came looking for me.

This girl who was once doted on by everyone, seemingly God's favorite, now had a pale face and a haggard expression.

Lost and disoriented.

Watching her stand disheveled at my doorway, I took out shoe covers and gave them to her, inviting her in.

It was very cold outside, she was only wearing an ordinary, somewhat old knit sweater, curled up on the sofa, shivering.

I poured her a glass of hot water.

She held the teacup, and after a long time, she looked up and asked me: "Why?"

I thought for a moment, then said: "What kind of outcome do you hope for?"

"Ji Cheng, for your sake, will mercilessly kill me, or kill his other women outside?"

My words directly made Xu Lingchu break down.

She stood up, shouting at me: "Yes, kill you, kill those malicious women who climb into his bed, trying to control his money."

"You—you're all gold-diggers."

"You don't love him, you just love his money?"

"He doesn't understand, he clearly said he loved me, he wanted to have all of me."

"He's so gentle, considerate, so good, how can you treat him like this?"

She seemed somewhat incoherent.

I waited for her to vent for a long time before saying: "Miss Xu, the orphanage needs his sponsorship, and your friends need his sponsorship too."

"You've already gotten what you wanted."

"Why pursue something illusory?"

"There's no such thing as love in this world. Men and women, when they reach that age, want to reproduce the next generation, it's just a lie to cover the wind and moon."

"Live your life well, don't make trouble."

I thought, as long as Xu Lingchu didn't invest so much emotion in this romantic game, she could still harvest her happiness.

A lifetime of wealth and well-being, what's wrong with that?

Xu Lingchu sat slumped on the sofa, and after a long time, said: "He withdrew his sponsorship for the orphanage."

"He also broke A Biao's leg, making him disabled."

A Biao was that yellow-haired punk who rode a motorcycle and tried to hit me with vulgar means.

He also grew up in the orphanage.

These past few days, I had someone inquire about it. Xu Lingchu was beautiful and quite capable. The little boys in the orphanage usually yelled and were unruly.

But they all listened to her.

They treated her as their leader, loyal to the point of doing anything.

That day, when A Biao fell to the ground, it was just a fractured tibia. With a cast, he would recover after some time.

But since he had done such a vulgar thing, he needed to pay a price.

I only wanted one of his legs, not his life.

"He's just a child, now disabled like this." Xu Lingchu looked at me, her gaze burning.

"He Xingwan, aren't you afraid of retribution?"

I smiled, retribution? What was that?

If there really was cause and effect in this world, why did my father and brother enjoy all their wealth and glory?

I opened my phone and showed a photo to Xu Lingchu.

"Miss Xu, whether in terms of who came first or legal rules, you're actually the third party."

"As far as I know, for the orphanage's sponsorship, you were the one who took the initiative with Ji Cheng, using your beauty to seduce him."

"As for the A Biao you mentioned, under your instigation, he rode a motorcycle to hit me—"

"Now he's disabled, that's retribution."

Seeing the photo I handed her, Xu Lingchu's pupils seemed to experience an earthquake. After a long time, she tremblingly said: "You're actually married?"

Chapter 8

"He Xingwan, what gives you the right to marry him?" Xu Lingchu roared at me.

"Are you worthy?"

I could see that now, Xu Lingchu was both angry and anxious, like an angry cat.

Even, perhaps because she was too angry, her originally beautiful face was somewhat distorted, looking even a bit ferocious.

Somewhat terrifying!

I was also a bit angry.

Ji Cheng and I, why was I the "unworthy" one?

It was my business that I didn't love him, but I wouldn't tolerate others pointing fingers.

This woman ordered someone to drive a car into me, cyberbullied me.

Afterward, she still wanted to seek comfort from me, seek protection, even want me to empathize with her "love."

Who did she think she was?

Or rather, did she really think she had saved the galaxy in her past life and was here to be the big heroine?

Did the whole world need to revolve around her?

Ji Cheng was willing to humor her, that was his business, what did it have to do with me?

"Miss Xu, marriage requires matching families, and you're the one who's unworthy!"

"Besides your face, what else do you have?"

"Education? Knowledge? Or a special skill to rely on?"

"You have none!"

"Everything you have is built on Ji Cheng's love for you."

"If he doesn't love you, you'll be worthless."

Xu Lingchu stood up, pointing at me and said: "He betrayed our love, I'll make you both regret."

"I want him to live in regret for the rest of his life."

"Even if he has everything, he will never have me."

"He Xingwan, you should know, what can't be obtained in this world—is the best!"

She laughed maniacally, crazily, seemingly having some kind of hysteria.

She opened my door and ran into the snowy sky...

I wanted to persuade her, but finally held back. Sometimes, good words can't persuade those destined to die.

For this reason, I had people monitor Xu Lingchu. I thought she would go to Ji Cheng to make trouble, demand money, demand shares, demand the company.

After all, normal women understand that when men can't be relied upon, money is the most reliable thing in the world.

But she didn't!

She began planning a fake death game!

Chapter 9

Xu Lingchu prepared to use her "death" to make Ji Cheng regret.

She said, for a man like Ji Cheng, everything came too easily.

She was too stupid, too naive, letting Ji Cheng catch her too easily.

So he didn't cherish her.

But it wasn't too late, she would make him regret now, make him—chase his wife to the crematorium.

I seriously thought, if she really died, would Ji Cheng regret it?

Afraid she would really do something stupid, when Ji Cheng came to make me sweet and sour pork ribs, I stood by and watched.

"Wanwan, eat more vinegar tonight." Ji Cheng seemed to be in a good mood, saying cheerfully.

"Did you appease your love?" I asked, "You have time to come cook for me?"

Ji Cheng scoffed.

"Wanwan, you don't understand." he said, "In my heart, you're my wife."

"No matter what, we need to be bound for life."

"Even if I die in the future, to the outside world, I'm still your husband, the valuable son-in-law of the He Group."

"In the future, our tombstones will have each other's names."

"Outside, I need to maintain, preserve your dignity."

I smiled, he spoke as if it were true.

When he proposed to Xu Lingchu, it was a global livestream, with fireworks all over the city, why didn't he say—I was his wife?

Everyone knew he loved Xu Lingchu.

He just played too much, now saying such high-sounding words.

Or perhaps, this time, my domestic brother was very angry and gave him great pressure.

Probably because I didn't speak, he continued: "As for Chuchu, she's like a kitten or puppy, I like playing with her."

"Pets, after all, need to be doted on, otherwise, how can they be pets?"

I sighed softly, thought for a moment, and still advised: "Ji Cheng, that's a person, with human emotions, thoughts and feelings, and—like you, she has the rights of an ordinary person in this world."

"She's not a pet."

"You're being unfair to her." Ji Cheng shook his head, changing the subject to ask me other things.

"If she died, would you be sad?" I asked the core question.

The "chase wife to the crematorium" drama needs two prerequisites.

First, the woman's departure would cause the man great economic loss. To recover the loss, he had to chase.

Second, the man truly loves her and can't live without the woman, so he had to chase.

Xu Lingchu's departure wouldn't cause Ji Cheng economic loss.

So, it could only depend on how much Ji Cheng loved her.

I thought Ji Cheng did have some love.

Chapter 10

Regarding my question, Ji Cheng was silent.

He turned the gas stove to low heat, letting the sweet and sour pork ribs slowly reduce the sauce.

He wiped his hands with his apron and asked: "Wanwan, how long has it been since your honored father came to Huaxia?"

I remained silent, not speaking.

Ji Cheng smiled and said: "I always thought that my father-in-law was born abroad, grew up abroad, so he had no business or industry in Huaxia."

"Only recently did I learn that he—was also a child of Huaxia."

"For love, he was forced to leave his homeland, wandering."

"Does he still remember his original name?"

"Or should I say, even though he's rich enough to rival a country, does he have a sense of belonging?"

I gripped my chest tightly, a dull pain slowly spreading through my chest.

Whether it was me or my brother, we both knew our father's pain.

When I was young, I once asked him why his estate was called Summer Garden, why he always lived in the south country.

Even when the south country was turbulent and at war?

He said: "Here is very close to Huaxia. Looking back north, I can see home."

But for so many years, he never returned to "home" again.

My domestic brother had wanted to see him several times, but he refused.

"Wanwan, love is too bitter." Ji Cheng sighed and said, "I do have some affection for her."

"But it's just admiring her beauty, pleased with her looks."

Only at this moment did I come back to my senses and ask: "You investigated my father?"

My father's past was a hurdle in his heart that no one dared to mention.

"This time, Xu Lingchu caused quite a fuss, making it to trending topics." Ji Cheng said.

"Your brother is angry."

"But I never knew that the distinguished person was actually your elder brother?"

"So I was curious and looked up my father-in-law's life story, only to discover that for love, he too had once been crazy and obsessed."

Deep love doesn't lead to long life, extreme strength leads to insult!

I no longer asked Ji Cheng about his feelings, just quietly ate.

Ji Cheng was curious, asking me: "Wanwan, is it because your father experienced betrayal when he was young, so you've sealed your heart against love?"

"Do you really have no feelings for me at all?"

I gnawed on the sweet and sour pork ribs, feeling Ji Cheng must have done it on purpose, adding too much vinegar.

So sour it was uncomfortable.

He loved Xu Lingchu, and he had his beautiful bunny girl.

Why provoke me?

"Love can't be eaten as food. You experience your romance, and I prefer a quiet, peaceful life." I said.

Hearing this, Ji Cheng smiled and opened another bottle of red wine for me.

My heart ached.

Chapter 11

Xu Lingchu always believed she was God's favorite.

After all, she had extremely beautiful features. From childhood to adulthood, everyone around her praised her for being beautiful.

Unfortunately, she was an orphan.

It was said her parents died in a car accident.

Of course, when she was in the orphanage, she had countless opportunities to be adopted, after all, she had outstanding beauty.

But in the end, after many bumps, until she was eighteen, no one adopted her.

After eighteen, she was admitted to a not-so-good university and began working her way through school.

She still often went to the orphanage.

Because in other places, people always carried a bit of discrimination toward an orphan.

Only there, everyone loved her, respected her, and valued her.

Some little boys in the orphanage even treated her as their big sister.

In university, she had also been in two relationships, but both ended without result.

After graduation, she found a job in a café.

Of course, going to that café was also her careful selection.

Because that café was very close to Ji Group.

Ji Cheng, the executive CEO of Ji Group, often went there to buy a cup of coffee, occasionally also buying chocolate.

Under her deliberate arrangement, she finally "met" Ji Cheng.

That day, Ji Cheng, as usual, walked into the café, ordered a cup of coffee.

The café wasn't brightly lit, under the dim yellow light, Xu Lingchu lowered her head to make coffee, her face white as jade, her features exquisite and charming, extremely beautiful.

The rich coffee aroma settled into a beautiful style in the twilight.

When Xu Lingchu brought the coffee over, Ji Cheng's fingers accidentally touched hers.

A brief encounter.

Then an awkward separation.

The coffee cup fell to the ground, didn't break, but rolled far away.

Only a brown puddle remained on the ground, sticky and dusty.

Xu Lingchu stammered an apology, flusteredly trying to wipe the stain from his expensive suit.

Just like that, she successfully got Ji Cheng's business card and added his WeChat.

Afterward, Ji Cheng came to the café almost every day, ordered a cup of coffee, slowly drank it, and slowly watched her busy in the café.

This state continued for about three months.

Ji Cheng brought a bouquet of roses and gave them to her, beginning his confession.

At that moment, Xu Lingchu was ecstatic.

No one knew how agonizing those three months had been for her. Every conversation with Ji Cheng, she would lie in bed at night replaying it over and over.

Repeatedly deliberating whether her choice of words was problematic.

Whether her clothing coordination was problematic.

Whether Ji Cheng was interested in her.

And she had to explore and study his preferences from his words.

Hard work eventually pays off.

After more than a year of painstaking effort, hard work, and emotional management.

Ji Cheng proposed to her.

Earth-shattering!

Global livestream, fireworks all over the city.

Expressing this man's love for her.

His group's new jewelry was named after her, announced to the world.

She finally succeeded, she would become his wife, not those who couldn't see the light, struggling and crawling in the dark underground.

For example—He Xingwan!

This woman made Xu Lingchu extremely hate.

Because even when Ji Cheng loved her to the extreme, her chat dialog box in his phone was always pinned to the top.

She didn't dare to confront Ji Cheng about it.

But she wanted that woman hiding underground to know—she knew of her existence.

She was about to marry Ji Cheng, she would absolutely not let another woman be a shameless gold-digger.

Digging for Ji Cheng's money.

Right, from now on, everything Ji Cheng had would belong to her.

She had operated for so long, planned for so long.

Ji Cheng's person, Ji Cheng's money, Ji Cheng's love, must completely belong to her.

He Xingwan had better know her place and stop纠缠ing Ji Cheng.

Otherwise, she had a hundred ways to make this woman regret it.

But just when Xu Lingchu thought Ji Cheng loved her madly, desperately, loved her to the point of being unable to leave her.

He actually went to He Xingwan's place.

Didn't return all night!

She personally went to see, she knocked on He Xingwan's door.

A man and a woman in the same room, doing nothing—who would believe it?

Chapter 12

Of course, Xu Lingchu didn't know that that night, Ji Cheng didn't stay at He Xingwan's home.

He went to see the long-legged bunny girl.

But regardless, it was unacceptable to Xu Lingchu.

She had painstakingly managed her love, how could it be trampled on like this?

She went to argue with Ji Cheng.

Ji Cheng was also very angry. He wasn't a fool. From the first time he saw Xu Lingchu, he admitted she was very beautiful.

Exquisite features, clean eyes, like a beautiful Persian cat.

Gentle, lovely, and with a touch of pride.

From the chance encounter at the café, to him often going to the café to see her.

To her gradually contacting him, step by step beginning to indulge.

Ji Cheng knew from the beginning that this girl wasn't as weak and simple as she appeared on the surface.

She had purpose.

But what did it matter?

Romantic matters had always only focused on the process. She wanted to play.

He also enjoyed it.

She hoped he would pursue her, creating the romance young girls wanted, so he satisfied her.

One part emotion, one part intention, a simple bowl of small wontons from the east city, he could exaggerate to the heavens.

He told her he had stood in the cold wind and queued for two hours to buy them.

She was moved to tears.

Her car accident required a blood transfusion, he found connections to get it, just a matter of throwing some money, one sentence.

But he deliberately made it known throughout the city.

Everyone said he loved Xu Lingchu desperately.

He very seriously played this game, investing emotions, money, time.

But when he went to find He Xingwan to cook, Xu Lingchu, like a shrew catching someone cheating, knocked on He Xingwan's door.

Questioning him.

Aggressively.

At that moment, Ji Cheng was very angry.

He dragged her outside, asking her: "Xu Lingchu, what are you to me?"

"Did I allow you to come here?"

"Get back."

In Ji Cheng's mind, Xu Lingchu was just a spoiled Persian cat who occasionally threw a tantrum.

It was fine, he could coax her tomorrow.

But He Xingwan was different. They were bound together, one person for life, involving the reputation of Ji Group, involving money and power.

He would absolutely not let anyone destroy it.

He comforted He Xingwan.

That night, he tentatively let He Xingwan see the bunny girl's photo.

He thought, as a normal woman, she should be jealous.

Whether she was jealous of Xu Lingchu or the bunny girl.

But He Xingwan actually said: "She's so beautiful, her legs could be played with for a year."

Ji Cheng couldn't handle it.

Supporting her head, he kissed her deeply.

He thought, with his superb kissing skills honed through countless flowers, he didn't believe he couldn't win over the inexperienced He Xingwan.

He waited for her reaction.

But finally, she was stunned, like a wooden person.

He mocked her, telling her to be a little jealous.

She just smiled, even wanting to be his emotional advisor.

Ji Cheng felt that in this regard, he and Xu Lingchu were both losers.

Of course, Xu Lingchu was different from him.

Xu Lingchu felt her happiness, her love, was within reach.

Even, she had already grasped it.

She lived in Ji's luxurious mansion, wore gold and silver, with exclusive assistants and nannies to serve her.

Everyone envied her.

But she couldn't tolerate He Xingwan's existence.

She wanted to teach her a lesson.

Chapter 13

Xu Lingchu returned to the orphanage and found those few bastard children.

So, A Biao volunteered to ride the motorcycle.

Xu Lingchu had specially instructed not to kill her.

If a life was lost, A Biao would be finished.

Moreover, how could a living person compete with a dead person for favor?

She instructed A Biao to hit her lower body, she wanted to smash her lower body, making her unable to be intimate with men for life.

Why did she seduce Ji Cheng like a vixen?

Right, she must have seduced Ji Cheng, otherwise, why would Ji Cheng cheat?

But A Biao failed, not only didn't injure He Xingwan, but injured his own leg instead.

The point was, this angered Ji Cheng.

Ji Cheng directly ordered the hospital to amputate A Biao's leg, making him disabled for life.

Xu Lingchu cried and made a scene.

If it were before, Ji Cheng would have certainly sweetly coaxed her.

Even, before, she didn't need to cry, she only needed to lower her head, looking like she was about to cry, and he would feel so pained he couldn't bear it.

He would hold her in his arms, carefully coaxing her.

She once threw a tantrum and refused to eat.

Ji Cheng, afraid the nanny wasn't attentive enough, actually personally fed her.

So good, so gentle Ji Cheng, now ignored her.

It must be that bitch He Xingwan who whispered in his ear.

No, she would marry Ji Cheng, she would absolutely not allow others by his side.

So, she planned a cyberbullying campaign, she wanted to ruin He Xingwan's reputation.

Xu Lingchu bought internet trolls and hired reporters.

Sure enough, not long ago, Ji Cheng's proposal to her was a global livestream, very popular.

In just a few days, Ji Cheng cheated, kept a mistress outside, and instantly the news was on trending.

Ji Group's stock dropped three points.

She felt a bit pained, the drop was all Ji Cheng's money, in the future, it would all be hers, and her children's.

But the effect was also significant. Everyone was cursing He Xingwan.

Xu Lingchu planned to hire a few people in a few days to find trouble with He Xingwan.

Best, have them sell her to the mountains.

So cheap, let her have children with old men in the mountains until she died.

Xu Lingchu thought bitterly in her heart.

In the evening, when Ji Cheng returned, she immediately lowered her head, looking like she was about to cry, wronged.

"Ji Cheng, I'm sorry, when reporters asked me, I couldn't help it and told the truth."

She pitifully wanted to hug Ji Cheng.

She hoped Ji Cheng would, as before, hold her, kiss her.

Tell her: "It's okay!"

But Ji Cheng just looked at her coldly.

Chapter 14

Xu Lingchu panicked a bit, tears instantly streaming down.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't know the stock would fall."

A man might not care about women, but he couldn't not care about the company's stock.

"Ji Cheng, I just love you too much, I really can't stand it, you having other women."

"Wuwuwu!" Xu Lingchu cried, her voice carrying unconcealed grievance.

"It's okay if the stock fell." Ji Cheng's voice came coldly from above.

"But you can't touch her."

"Xu Lingchu, don't let there be a next time, otherwise—"

He lifted her chin, pinching it hard.

That night, he locked her in the villa's basement.

No lights, no air conditioning.

Only hard cement floor.

Xu Lingchu hugged her knees, her face purple from cold, even the next day when the nanny came to open the door, she felt she was going to die.

Just like that, Ji Cheng punished her and that wasn't all.

He also withdrew the investment from the orphanage.

He announced that the two of them were just a cooperative relationship.

The so-called "livestream proposal" was just for new product promotion.

Chapter 15

During this time, Xu Lingchu was in a mess, bewildered.

Although everyone in the orphanage comforted her.

She felt like a loser, as if everything had returned to before.

In childhood, she was also popular in the orphanage, flowers blooming at the sight of her.

But whenever wealthy families came to adopt, she tried her best, but opportunities always slipped by her.

No matter how hard she tried, it was futile, time and again seeing happiness very close to her, seeing family ties within reach.

But what waited for her was always drawing water with a bamboo basket.

Teachers all said, hard work brings rewards.

Why did all her efforts ultimately end in vain?

Although she still lived in Ji Cheng's luxurious villa, whenever midnight came, she would curl up on a simple wooden bed, mottled peeling walls, a drafty shack.

She wanted wealth, wanted to be loved.

She longed to be a princess.

Recently, Ji Cheng always carried a suspicious perfume smell, occasionally, there were also bruises and red marks on his neck.

Xu Lingchu hired someone to follow and learned that besides He Xingwan, he actually had others.

That woman was unrestrained, sexy and charming, using various methods to seduce Ji Cheng.

Xu Lingchu angrily smashed a vase set in the villa.

Ji Cheng was hers.

How dare that bunny girl seduce him?

She yelled like a madman, inside the villa, all the nannies hid in corners, letting her voice drift in the empty room.

No one paid her any mind.

Why?

Was she so undeserving of sympathy, so undeserving of empathy?

Did that person—He Xingwan know? No, she had to go tell her.

She couldn't let her bear all the pain alone.

She ran in the snowy sky, she thought, the female protagonists in TV dramas were all like this.

When Ji Cheng saw it, he would regret.

He would surely love her well, and never again fool around outside, doing whatever he wanted.

But, when she came out from He Xingwan's side, Xu Lingchu discovered her entire world had turned black.

The snow continued.

There were no buses at the roadside bus stop.

Slumping on the bus stop bench, tears flowed like an unclosed faucet, continuously overflowing from her eyes.

They were actually legally married?

They were married.

Ji Cheng, the executive CEO of Ji Group, wasn't single, wasn't...

He Xingwan was right, she was the third party who intervened in their marriage, like a thief stealing love.

She stole miserably.

She had stolen, and was preparing to run to the original owner to show off her loot.

Then what had she been busy with all this time?

No, this time, she must succeed, she would make Ji Cheng regret.

Married? So what?

Ji Cheng definitely didn't love her.

The person he loved could only be her, Xu Lingchu.

In this situation, if she sweetly coaxed Ji Cheng, it would just be letting the man take advantage.

From childhood, she was the one who used her beauty to take advantage of others.

How could she let others take advantage of her?

Right, she must make Ji Cheng and He Xingwan divorce, and she also wanted to kill that bunny girl.

Weighing both, she hated the bunny girl even more.

This woman, while she and Ji Cheng were arguing, took advantage of the situation.

This woman was just a gold-digger.

Chapter 16

Xu Lingchu seemed to forget that when she targeted Ji Cheng, it was because he was rich.

Like when she was in the orphanage, it wasn't that no families wanted to adopt her.

She was beautiful, well-behaved, and sensible.

So, everyone in the orphanage liked her. Every time someone came to adopt, she would find out the information she wanted in advance.

If the other party was wealthy, she would use all her skills to show her most beautiful, most well-behaved side.

If the other party was just an ordinary family, she scoffed.

Even, she felt that ordinary families weren't worthy of adopting her.

In her heart, she mocked them—couldn't earn money and weren't smart enough, deserved to die without offspring, couldn't give birth, yet wanted children to support them in old age and carry on the family line?

Where could such good things be found in this world?

As for why she had such a clear and decisive mind from such a young age.

It was because—she was a person born with knowledge.

And for this reason, she learned everything quickly as a child—simple writing, arithmetic, she knew instinctively.

Her intelligence lasted until about junior high school.

By high school, her grades began to slowly fall, those difficult mathematics, physics, chemistry, she couldn't learn.

Liberal arts?

Chinese language, she only skimmed the surface, English too, she couldn't be patient enough to memorize English words.

But, to be able to better seduce rich men in the future, she continued to work hard.

Just like that, Xu Lingchu was admitted to a not-so-good university, working her way through school,勉强 getting by.

Everyone knows that university is a paradise for love.

Xu Lingchu swore that this time, she would firmly grasp her future happiness in advance.

Birth she couldn't choose, but marriage she had the right to choose.

She was born with knowledge, she was extremely beautiful, she was destined to be above others.

But it was sad and ridiculous that, ah, people who had read university, who wasn't a fool?

For a time, she was surrounded by many men, of all kinds, like stars surrounding the moon.

But those willing to spend money on her were few and far between.

Even, some somewhat well-off young men, after a few encounters with her, immediately gave up.

The remaining people, rich men just wanted to borrow the excuse of dating to sleep with her for free.

Poor men just wanted to deceive her into going back to have children and carry on their family line.

Disgusting enough to make Xu Lingchu want to vomit.

Just like that, picking and choosing, university passed in a flash, she was still alone, wasting her years.

Xu Lingchu began to panic.

Just when she thought God was against her, she accidentally learned that the overbearing CEO of Ji Group was so young, so handsome.

The point was, he didn't have a fixed female companion by his side.

She had a chance!

She began to collect information bit by bit, approach him bit by bit.

Tempt him bit by bit—to fall in love with her.

Love was just manipulation.

Heh, men!

As long as she loosened and tightened appropriately, dangled that carrot, she wasn't afraid men wouldn't be like plowing oxen led by the nose, working diligently.

Ji Cheng loved her like a treasure.

But when she learned that Ji Cheng was already married.

And he had others outside.

Xu Lingchu was stunned, her efforts were just a joke.

This day, when Ji Cheng came home at night, it was already quite late, his body carrying the atmosphere of fireworks.

This man, usually at home, wouldn't even lift a finger if an oil bottle fell over.

But, it was said, he could cook.

The only person he cooked for was He Xingwan.

"Ji Cheng." Xu Lingchu pretended to smile charmingly, hugging his neck.

"Mm." Ji Cheng smiled, remembering He Xingwan's words, but didn't take it to heart.

Just a romantic game.

Chapter 17

Xu Lingchu asked with a smile: "Have you eaten? Why are you so late today?"

"Eaten." Ji Cheng pulled her off him.

For some reason, since Xu Lingchu began cyberbullying He Xingwan, he seemed to have lost even basic physiological interest in her.

Admittedly, when he first saw her in the café, under the dim light, he was somewhat stunned.

He thought, this girl was so beautiful.

But in their social circle, beautiful women were everywhere.

Later, when Xu Lingchu brought the coffee to him, not placing it properly on the table as etiquette required, but directly handing it to her.

He knew this woman wanted to do something.

Ji Cheng didn't care at all, just playing around.

And... he wanted to stimulate He Xingwan a bit.

The first time he saw He Xingwan, she was only eighteen, he was twenty-one.

At a banquet, she wore a loose dress, completely different from those women at the banquet wearing mermaid dresses that showed off their graceful figures.

He didn't know how to describe that feeling.

—Love at first sight!

All the beautiful scenery in the world seemed incomparable to the gentle smile in her eyes.

At the banquet, besides him, there were several other young men.

Without exception, from prominent families, with handsome features.

They frequently fawned over her.

He knew, that banquet was for the Southeast Asian He Group to choose a son-in-law.

The young men present were all his competitors.

He originally had no interest, just going through the motions.

But, after seeing He Xingwan, he changed his mind, he used all his skills to compete for this marriage opportunity.

He knew, he was excellent.

Among the many competitors, he stood out.

And their most intimate contact was actually just going to Jiangnan together.

Jiangnan's apricot blossoms and light rain, just like in books, she smiled, handed her phone to him, asking him to help take a photo.

When she was taking a selfie, he leaned over, wanting to take a group photo, she didn't refuse, she smiled gently and charmingly.

After returning from Jiangnan, the Ji family and He family's marriage began the process.

Afterward, she continued studying, painting, while he did business, earned money, supported the family.

She seemed uninterested in many things in the world.

She and he seemed to live in two different worlds.

Ji Cheng really wanted to see, if he confessed his feelings to someone else, if... he had other women outside.

A woman, even if she didn't love, probably couldn't tolerate a man passionately loving someone else, right?

Ji Cheng had investigated everything about Xu Lingchu.

Born in an orphanage, somewhat scheming, but without parents or family, not too much baggage.

The point was, she had some special qualities.

Everything met his ideal requirements.

It was her.

He spent three months, whetting her appetite, slowly, step by step approaching her.

Xu Lingchu didn't know, from the beginning, she was just a tool person.

She thought she was an excellent hunter, using herself as bait to lure Ji Cheng into the trap of love.

But she didn't know, Ji Cheng had prepared everything, using her as a tool person.

He used fireworks all over the city, a global livestream, to express his love for her.

But he had long made preparations for how to handle the aftermath.

Chapter 18

The luxurious crystal chandelier, under the warm yellow light, carried a hint of ambiguous luster.

"Ji Cheng, do you love me?" Xu Lingchu suddenly asked.

This question, in the past year or more, she had asked countless times.

Every time, Ji Cheng said: "I love you, Chuchu, I love you."

This time, Ji Cheng leaned on the sofa, looking up at her.

Ji Cheng's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny, a hint of criticism.

He looked at her starting from her feet, following her legs, finally, his gaze nakedly fell on her chest.

Xu Lingchu suddenly became very angry.

Because now Ji Cheng's gaze was like picking pork in a vegetable market, this was humiliation, naked humiliation.

"Ji Cheng, you can't treat me like this." Xu Lingchu said, biting her lips.

"Haven't we been together for over a year? Have you never had feelings for me?"

Ji Cheng took out a cigarette, lit one, then slowly said: "Xu Lingchu, your only weapon is your so-called beauty."

"But do you know?"

Ji Cheng smiled, as if looking at a joke.

"Among ordinary people, you are indeed very beautiful, surpassing countless passersby."

"But if you were put in the film and television circle, you would be just so-so."

"Have you thought about entering the film and television circle to play around?"

"I'll help you debut, after all, you're quite good at acting."

Xu Lingchu froze for a moment, instantly, anger filled her entire nervous system.

She loved him so much, how could he humiliate her?

"Ji Cheng, what do you mean, comparing me to an actress?" Xu Lingchu's voice rose several decibels.

Ji Cheng froze for a moment.

Although he knew everything, knew that since Xu Lingchu first approached him, her intentions were improper, her motives not pure.

But he himself had also treated her as a tool person.

They had been in a relationship for over a year, real and fake mixed, they had said all sorts of sensational, cheesy love lines.

She cyberbullied He Xingwan, and also ordered someone to ride a motorcycle to hit her.

Ji Cheng was indeed very angry, locked her in the basement for a night.

But—their game was over.

As a man, he needed to be responsible and find her a good way out.

Beautiful, could act, sending her into the entertainment world, he could also throw some money, throw some resources at her...

Ji Cheng endured his impatience, he was in a pretty good mood today.

"Xu Lingchu, I've thought about it, this is the best job for you, and also the most likely way to stand out, satisfying your pursuit." Ji Cheng said.

Xu Lingchu impatiently waved her hand: "Ji Cheng, I don't want these, I only want you, want you to love me, marry me."

"I don't love you, and it's impossible to marry you."

Xu Lingchu walked to Ji Cheng's side, stared wide-eyed at the man before her.

No, this shouldn't be, he clearly said he loved her.

Chapter 19

"Because of He Xingwan?" Xu Lingchu asked, "What's so good about her?"

This question, Ji Cheng didn't know how to answer.

At the beginning, He Xingwan was distant and polite to him, he didn't take it seriously.

Even, he thought this was best.

Marriage was just asset reorganization, mutual benefit binding.

She raised her little wolf dogs, he watched his beauties like jade.

But as age gradually increased, he discovered that she never raised little wolf dogs, even when following stars, she just watched dramas.

She wouldn't even buy merchandise or endorsements for them.

Not like a rich person at all!

As for his beauties like jade outside?

After seeing all sorts, he gradually became tired of them.

He suddenly felt that the happiest thing was occasionally running to cook for He Xingwan.

Like a married couple of many years, chatting about current affairs, talking about family matters.

Chapter 20

Ji Cheng pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, in the future, he still shouldn't smoke.

He Xingwan didn't like him smoking.

Tonight, he suddenly felt like finding someone to chat with.

Xu Lingchu wasn't a suitable person.

He missed Tutu a bit.

"Xu Lingchu, between us, it was just a game from the beginning."

"From the day we first met, you disregarded etiquette, handed the coffee to me, deliberately spilled the coffee."

Speaking of this, Ji Cheng couldn't help but laugh.

"Romantic games, you liked them, so I gave them to you."

"It was just for fun, why take it seriously?"

"If you don't want to debut in the entertainment world, then tell me, what do you want to do?"

"I'll arrange work for you."

"Although that chicken university diploma of yours can't be shown, but it doesn't matter."

Xu Lingchu once again felt deeply humiliated, insulted.

She wanted a job?

She just didn't want to work, she longed to get something for nothing.

In childhood, she hoped to be adopted by a super-rich person, thus jumping to become a rich young lady.

After growing up, she hoped through marriage to become a rich wife.

In any case, all her efforts had never considered the words "work."

Hard work, earning money through labor, in her eyes, that was something inferior people did.

She was born with knowledge, destined to be the protagonist, how could she go to work?

Ji Cheng's phone made a "ding" sound, he lowered his head to look at it, a gentle smile appearing on his lips.

From this angle, Xu Lingchu could just see the message on his phone.

Sure enough, it was that cheap woman harassing him again.

"Chuchu, you think it over carefully." Ji Cheng said coldly.

"It's not like now when it hasn't blown up, you're fine staying at my place."

"Now, everyone knows we were just cooperating."

Chapter 21

Ji Cheng's phone made another "ding" sound, he lowered his head to look, it was Tutu again.

From Ji Cheng's understanding of her, there must be something going on, otherwise, Tutu wouldn't repeatedly send him messages.

She was gentle and charming, with a soft body, giving him great pleasure both spiritually and physically.

He quite liked her.

The point was, Tutu was a very sensible person.

Never coveting what she shouldn't.

She was a small screenwriter, raising a particularly cute Hainan rabbit.

In some ways, Tutu and He Xingwan were somewhat similar, they didn't rely on men, were independent and strong.

But偏偏, Tutu was too weak, weak like a dodder flower.

Even though she was so weak, she rarely took the initiative to send messages to bother him.

So, Ji Cheng no longer paid attention to Xu Lingchu, got up and left.

For him, Xu Lingchu was just a romantic game.

She wanted to play.

He wanted to play too!

Each taking what they needed.

If Xu Lingchu hadn't been so unreasonable, he would have continued.

But she ended their game.

"You can't leave." Xu Lingchu rushed forward, throwing her arms around him.

If it were before, when Xu Lingchu took the initiative to throw herself at him, Ji Cheng would have had some interest.

He would hold her, embrace her, kiss her.

But today, he just coldly shook off her hands around his waist.

"Chuchu, I have something to do now, no time to play with you, think clearly, are you preparing to mix it up in the entertainment world, or preparing to find a high-paying, leisurely job, living comfortably for the rest of your life."

"Or, you could consider finding an honest person and marry yourself off." Ji Cheng said.

Xu Lingchu shouted loudly: "Ji Cheng, I don't want anything, I only want you."

The female protagonists in TV dramas all said this.

As the male protagonist, he should be moved.

But Ji Cheng didn't, even, he was like listening to a joke.

He even laughed sarcastically.

This made Xu Lingchu very uncomfortable, she irritably waved her hand and said: "Ji Cheng, listen to me."

Ji Cheng replied to Tutu with a message.

"Alright, Xu Lingchu, I'll give you ten minutes, you tell me, what exactly do you want?" Ji Cheng said.

Xu Lingchu bit her lips and said: "Ji Cheng, I truly love you, you should know."

"It's not a game between us."

"I'm different from them."

Ji Cheng wanted to laugh, love?

What an expensive word.

Even he, he dared not casually speak of "love."

Deep in his heart, he had a trace of excitement, or perhaps, when should he also confess to He Xingwan once.

Tell her: "I love you!"

"How are you different from them?" Ji Cheng asked.

"Are you more beautiful than them, or are you smarter than them?"

"Or are you poorer than them, fatherless and motherless, an orphan, so you can lawlessly love?"

Xu Lingchu simply couldn't believe her ears.

She suddenly felt, the location of her heart, hurt so much.

How could he blaspheme their love so lightly, so casually.

Xu Lingchu thought for a moment, she had read many romance novels, knew the key talking points.

"Ji Cheng, it's not like that, they're all after your money."

"Your bunny girl, your He Xingwan."

Chapter 22

"Especially that He Xingwan, she actually deceived you into marrying her, doesn't she see what she is, how is she worthy of you?"

"Ji Cheng, you're one of the most successful men in this world, your wife should be an extraordinary person."

"And I..."

Xu Lingchu was considering whether she should tell him she was born with knowledge, that she was naturally this world's protagonist.

"Anyway, you getting me, you can get everything you want to have."

"Otherwise, you will definitely end up with nothing."

Ji Cheng felt that Xu Lingchu was now like a madwoman.

So he opened the door and walked out directly, too lazy to even pay attention to her.

"Ji Cheng, you will regret it." Behind him, Xu Lingchu shouted hoarsely.

Hearing this sentence, Ji Cheng's steps paused, He Xingwan had also asked him before.

If Xu Lingchu left, would he regret?

He really wanted to know, what would he regret?

Chapter 23

I knew Xu Lingchu was somewhat crazy.

So, I had specially reminded Ji Cheng.

I thought, such a small matter, a romantic game, Ji Cheng could certainly handle it well.

No need for me to worry.

But, the development of things still exceeded my expectations.

I really didn't know that Xu Lingchu would have someone kidnap Tutu.

Even more intolerable was that she ordered a few yellow-haired punks to try to rape Tutu.

When I rushed to the abandoned factory outside the city with bodyguards, Tutu's clothes had already been stripped off.

Those few hooligans, used extremely vulgar methods.

After kidnapping Tutu, they took her to the abandoned factory outside the city.

Then, they used all sorts of vulgar methods to torture her, humiliate her.

Stripping her clothes, whipping her with belts, slapping her with shoe soles, shaving all the hair from her body.

When I rushed over with people, Tutu's condition was very bad.

I took off my outer coat and wrapped it around her.

"Save me... save my child..." she held her stomach tightly.

Only then did I know, she was pregnant.

I hurriedly sent her to the hospital.

My family's private hospital, found the best doctor.

But, Doctor Zhou came out of the emergency room, took off his mask, and asked me: "Young miss, who is she? Where is her husband?"

"What's going on?" I said.

The matter of Xu Lingchu kidnapping Tutu, I had not reported to the police.

It involved Ji Cheng, I hadn't prepared to make the matter big.

"She has severe heart disease, not suitable for pregnancy at all." Doctor Zhou said, "Now we need to terminate her pregnancy, requires her husband's signature."

I thought for a moment, then said: "How is her condition now?"

"Basically stable now." Doctor Zhou said, "Not only was she frightened, she was also beaten and humiliated. If she had been sent to the hospital a bit later, it would have been two lives lost."

I was very angry.

I knew Xu Lingchu was no good thing.

I also knew she was preparing to fake death, to make Ji Cheng play out the "chase wife to the crematorium" drama.

But, I really hadn't thought she would have someone kidnap Tutu, and also have a few hooligans do such unspeakable things to her.

"Doctor Zhou, you wait, I'll ask first." I walked outside and called Ji Cheng.

Today was also the day Xu Lingchu had someone handle the relevant procedures, preparing to fake her death.

Of course, originally when she prepared to play like this, I was happy to see it happen.

The dull days, since someone wanted to add a bit of color, I was quite interested.

Even, I was prepared to help Xu Lingchu.

But now I changed my mind.

The phone was answered almost instantly—

"Wanwan, Xu Lingchu had a car accident." Ji Cheng's tone on the phone carried a bit of excitement.

"I'm rushing to the hospital, haha, she wants to play like this, I'll play along with her."

I suddenly came back to my senses.

If I hadn't interfered, then at this time Ji Cheng received the call, learning that Tutu had been kidnapped, raped and defiled, and had a miscarriage.

Then, he would rush over to see Tutu without regard for anything.

And then, Ji Cheng would learn that Xu Lingchu had died.

And he, for the sake of another woman, had missed the opportunity to save Xu Lingchu, missed the chance to see Xu Lingchu for the last time.

Ji Cheng would regret, would suffer the condemnation of his conscience.

Would ignore the fact that Tutu had been humiliated.

Even, in the plot Xu Lingchu envisioned, Ji Cheng would, for her sake, regardless of everything, crazily take revenge on all of us.

Chapter 24

I said: "Tutu encountered some trouble."

I briefly explained the situation.

Ji Cheng broke down.

He said, he was rushing over immediately.

"Why are you rushing over?" I asked coldly, "Are you a doctor?"

"I'm just telling you, your game has hurt an innocent." I said coldly, "Handle Xu Lingchu properly, I'll watch over Tutu."

With that, I hung up the phone.

As for how Ji Cheng would deal with a person faking death, I didn't much care.

Anyway, if I wasn't satisfied with the result, I would handle it myself.

I walked into Tutu's ward.

She was curled up on the hospital bed, her eyes hollowly looking out the window, without any focus.

I pulled a chair over and sat down before her.

"Tutu, I think, we should talk." I said.

She was silent for a long time, then said: "Thank you, thank you for saving me."

"But now, I don't want to talk."

"Officer, can you ask me a bit later?"

She thought I was a police officer.

After all, when she was being kidnapped, she desperately tried to call the police for help.

I sighed, if under normal circumstances, I wouldn't want to disturb her, but Doctor Zhou said, Tutu needed to arrange surgery as soon as possible.

"Tutu, I'm not a police officer." I said.

Her calm eyes flashed a trace of doubt.

"I'm Ji Cheng's wife, He Xingwan." I said.

She froze.

"Not long ago, Xu Lingchu cyberbullied me, causing a huge stir, didn't you see the news?" I asked in surprise.

"I just thought it was a farce." Tutu lowered her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I will leave him." Tutu said.

I couldn't help but laugh, I had actually been given a "good person" card.

Tutu said: "Do you want to hear my story?"

I was curious, nodded gently.

Tutu smiled, she told me, her parents were both teachers, from a scholarly family, from childhood, she was smart.

Smart and beautiful, studied hard, wherever she was, she was the center of attention.

Her childhood and teenage years, she lived very happily.

She was admitted to a famous film academy in the capital.

"Because it was far from home, because I had just gone out, because... anyway, many reasons, the first semester of university, I didn't go home until winter final exams were over."

"But when I went home, I discovered I had no home."

"At that time, the country's two-child policy was opened, my parents hid it from me and gave birth to a younger brother."

"My original room had become the baby's room."

"My mother set up a simple bed for me on the balcony."

"She said, anyway, I was going to school, in a few days I would go back to school."

"After graduating from university, I would marry."

"She also said, girls, sooner or later become someone else's person."

"Only then did I know, that my parents actually had a strong preference for sons over daughters."

"Originally, restrained by national policy, they didn't dare to give birth."

Chapter 25

Tutu's story was a typical son-preference story.

In the first year of university, she was only 18, she cried for a while, made a scene for a while.

On New Year's Eve, she packed her luggage, everyone was rushing toward "home," only she, left home, alone, walking toward an obscure road.

She rented a cheap room near the school, she wrote novels, wrote screenplays.

Stumbling, she supported herself.

Meeting Ji Cheng, she didn't know if it was her luck or her misfortune?

From the beginning, she knew Ji Cheng wouldn't marry her, but Ji Cheng bought her a house, Ji Cheng also bought her screenplays, filmed dramas, letting her experience a taste of success.

Ji Cheng gave her romance, an illusion of love.

Even so, she didn't dare to love.

Like me, she closed her heart, shutting out the sunlight.

"Parents' love can also be a deception, deceiving me for eighteen years."

"They wanted a boy, I understood."

"But I had no home..."

"That man, from the moment I knew he was the executive CEO of Ji Group, I knew he couldn't give me a home."

"Miss He, do you understand me?" Tutu asked me.

I nodded, I understood her.

She and Xu Lingchu were different, she had ability, her screenplays and novels were excellent.

Even if she didn't meet Ji Cheng, she would have still achieved success.

"From leaving home at eighteen, I was already tired of living." Tutu smiled, only tears silently falling.

"If I hadn't experienced those things in the abandoned factory, I might have considered, aborting the child, living well."

"Now, I just hope I can give birth to this child."

"The doctor said, he is healthy."

"Miss He, I hope you can fulfill me."

I suddenly understood Tutu a bit, she actually just wanted a family member.

A family member connected by blood to her.

Her parents had abandoned her, but she could have a child.

"Fine, I agree, I'll raise him!" I said.

I knew Xu Lingchu was restless, Ji Cheng was unreliable.

So, I had my bodyguards secretly protect Tutu, since she had entrusted the child to me, I needed to ensure her child was born safely.

But I didn't expect, three months later, Xu Lingchu came looking for me again.

Honestly, I didn't want to see her at all.

But, she was like a madwoman, running to my home, constantly knocking on the door.

"He Xingwan, open the door for me."

I once again prepared to move elsewhere, moving to Green Pear Courtyard, although it was a bit deserted, at least the security was strict, and the guards wouldn't casually let a stranger enter the residential complex to harass me.

I opened the door, Xu Lingchu looked haggard, her face pale, holding a large bundle of apricot blossoms, just standing at my doorway.

Winter had passed, spring quietly arrived, Jiangnan's apricot blossoms and light rain.

I didn't know why she brought apricot blossoms to see me.

So, I frowned and asked: "What are you preparing to do now?"

She walked in, placed the bundle of apricot blossoms on the small table, and asked me: "He Xingwan, why are you so stupid?"

"Why did you let her have the child?"

"You should know, even illegitimate children have inheritance rights."

"I've never seen such a stupid woman like you."

"You're stupid enough, but why do you have to drag me down?"

I gently sighed, couldn't help but think of a sentence online.

People can't earn money beyond their cognitive abilities.

Why was it that in Xu Lingchu's mind, she only considered that Tutu's child would compete for inheritance rights?

Couldn't she think that our family—huge family assets, needed to be distributed, needed people to manage?

I didn't want to have children myself, but my family really had mines that needed inheritance!

Chapter 26

I didn't want to explain these things to her, just smiled.

"Xu Lingchu, whether I'm stupid or not has nothing to do with you, take care of yourself." I said.

Xu Lingchu glared at me fiercely.

"If it weren't for you meddling, how would Ji Cheng know, he... he..."

I frowned, I knew Ji Cheng must have done something, making Xu Lingchu silent and well-behaved these three months.

"He ordered people to remove my uterus, and—one kidney." Xu Lingchu said, suddenly crying as she spoke.

"I've become a useless person."

She stood up, lifted her clothes, showing me the scars left by surgery.

On her jade-white skin, the red scars were particularly eye-catching.

I remained silent.

I wasn't a good person, I didn't sympathize with Xu Lingchu at all.

What she did to Tutu really made me angry.

And thinking about it, she cyberbullied me.

If my family didn't happen to have considerable money and power, I would have been denounced by thousands, spat on by everyone.

The latter half of my life could only be like a street rat, living in others' cold and disgusted gazes.

This woman deserved it.

"So, you came to my side seeking sympathy?" I said coldly.

"Xu Lingchu, I don't sympathize with you at all."

"I loathe you from the bottom of my heart."

Xu Lingchu pointed at me, suddenly laughed.

She laughed as manically as before.

I really didn't understand, this woman, with her uterus and a kidney removed, why couldn't she learn her lesson?

Whether it was Tutu's matter, or her malicious cyberbullying of me, if I had chosen to report it to the police.

She would definitely be inside.

Without five to eight years, never again able to jump around.

"He Xingwan, I tell you, even if you use despicable means to deceive Ji Cheng into signing the papers, you can only live in darkness." Xu Lingchu said.

This time, I didn't speak.

Because I didn't understand what she was trying to say at all.

Xu Lingchu walked before me, pointing at me: "He Xingwan, have you never thought about why Ji Cheng doesn't take you to any events?"

"Because, you're not worthy!"

I sighed again, people always look at problems from their narrow perspective.

First, if I wanted to attend some events, I didn't need Ji Cheng to take me.

Second, why didn't I attend?

Because I found it boring and tedious.

This kind of event was generally a form of socializing, seeking cooperation, seeking higher-level recognition at the event.

And I didn't need these.

Of course, this topic, I was too lazy to explain to Xu Lingchu.

If it weren't for Ji Cheng being the connection between us, I would never have had any intersection with her in my lifetime.

"He Xingwan, I tell you, Ji Cheng loves me." Xu Lingchu stood up, holding her head high like a proud rooster.

"Loves you?" I murmured softly.

Was Ji Cheng's love tying her to the operating table, removing her uterus and a kidney?

Making her a useless person?

Why at this point, couldn't she soberly recognize herself?

"Xu Lingchu, what advantages do you have that could make Ji Cheng love you?" I was truly curious about this woman's inner world.

Anyway, since I was free, it wasn't bad to have someone making trouble.

Life wasn't all bad with some variation.

"Because, you women are all after his money."

"And I, I love him."

Chapter 27

I smiled and said: "Xu Lingchu, you are indeed the person who loves him most in this world."

Under these circumstances, she actually didn't hate Ji Cheng, still infatuated with the whirlpool of love, unable to extricate herself.

Fine, she wanted to deceive herself, let her continue to indulge.

I had said it many times, but I couldn't wake someone pretending to be asleep.

"Since you know, you should be more sensible." Xu Lingchu pointed at me, cursing, "Take the initiative to divorce him, I can let the past be the past."

"The apartment you're living in now can be given to you, so you have a place to live."

"Hurry up and find an honest person and marry."

"If you纠缠 Ji Cheng again, I will definitely make you regret it."

I thought, Xu Lingchu was probably crazy.

To say such crazy words.

So, I took out my phone, turned on speaker, and called Ji Cheng.

"Wanwan, is something wrong?" Ji Cheng asked me.

"Xu Lingchu is here with me." I glanced at Xu Lingchu and said, "She said, she wants me to take the initiative to divorce you, she can let the past be the past."

"Ji Cheng, do you want to divorce me? Just say so, why have your little lover run here panting to bother me?"

"Oh, right, she also told me to find an honest person and marry."

"Aren't you an honest person?"

Ji Cheng's voice came through the phone: "Wanwan, ignore her, let her roll."

"I have some things here, I'll come see you later."

Xu Lingchu was standing right there, hearing clearly.

Suddenly, without warning, she rushed over, snatched my phone.

Shouting into the phone: "Ji Cheng, you tell her, you don't love her, I'm the one you love most."

"Ji Cheng, I've figured it out, I understand."

Since the phone was on speaker, Ji Cheng's voice carried a hint of impatience.

"What do you understand, give the phone to Wanwan, don't make trouble, hurry up and roll."

"Ji Cheng, I really understand, no wonder you wanted me to mix it up in the entertainment world."

"I understand, wait for me to become a movie queen, with a status that matches yours enough, I can be with you."

"Right, that's it."

"You were thinking of me, that's why you prepared to send me into the entertainment world, I will work hard, strive to win the Golden Award."

I rubbed my temples, Xu Lingchu was really good at imagining things.

Ji Cheng's character, I still knew.

He and Xu Lingchu had played a romantic game, he naturally needed to arrange her future well.

To some extent, he was quite responsible.

Xu Lingchu was beautiful, could act, mixing it up in the entertainment world, she still had a chance to stand out, able to realize her ideals.

But, this had nothing to do with whether Ji Cheng would marry her or not.

I listened as Xu Lingchu continued: "But, I need you to divorce that bitch He Xingwan first, what gives her the right to marry you?"

"Shut up." Ji Cheng angrily cursed, "Have you had enough of being crazy?"

Following that, Ji Cheng directly hung up the phone.

Xu Lingchu forcefully smashed my phone to the ground.

Poor my new iPhone, smashed and bouncing far away.

I shook my head, picked up the phone from the floor, and said: "Miss Xu, is the compensation for the phone something you'll give me, or should I ask Ji Cheng for it?"

Xu Lingchu, like a madwoman, pointed at me and cursed: "He Xingwan, can't you understand human language?"

"I want you to divorce Ji Cheng."

I smiled calmly and said: "Miss Xu, you should know, you're just the mistress."

"I can tolerate you, only because I feel you're like a grasshopper on a stage, jumping around quite amusingly."

"As for matters between me and Ji Cheng, that's not something you can influence."

"Or, you can go ask Ji Cheng if he wants to divorce me?"

"You're already down to one kidney, how do you still have so much energy?"

I walked to the doorway, opened the door, inviting her out.

I once again had the impulse to move.

This place really couldn't be lived in anymore.

But the moment I opened the door, I saw Tutu standing at the door.

"When did you come, why didn't you knock?" I asked.

When Tutu was in the hospital, I had gone to see her several times, we added each other on WeChat, occasionally chatted.

She was a sensible person.

Chatting with me about her screenplays, her books, also dragging me to watch dramas together, telling me the child in her belly was doing fine.

Only she never mentioned Ji Cheng.

But coming to my door, this was only the second time, the first time was for the child's sake.

A smile touched the corners of Tutu's mouth, asking me: "You have a guest? Is it convenient for me to come in?"

"Just a madwoman, pay her no mind."

I invited her in.

Tutu's gaze fell on Xu Lingchu, a flash of hatred appearing in her eyes.

But immediately, she retracted her gaze and sat down on the living room sofa.

Chapter 28

I looked at Xu Lingchu and said again: "Xu Lingchu, you can leave, I have a guest."

Xu Lingchu held her head high, sneering: "Two shameless cheap women."

With that, she walked toward the door.

Tutu spoke softly, saying: "Xu Lingchu, you will never reach my height in this lifetime."

Xu Lingchu turned around, she was no longer as crazy as before, I somewhat suspected, was her crazy state earlier also an act?

"Ji Cheng will marry me."

"When that time comes, I'll send the child this cheap woman gave birth to to the orphanage."

I thought Tutu would be angry, I was about to speak to comfort her.

Unexpectedly, Tutu smiled lightly and said: "Like you?"

"Xu Lingchu, do you think Ji Cheng will marry a woman without a uterus and missing a kidney, a idiot?"

Xu Lingchu rushed forward, raising her hand to slap Tutu across the face.

I grabbed her hand. I had studied martial arts since childhood, and she, a person who had just been severely injured by surgery, had a weak body, so I directly dragged her outside the door. Then, I slammed the door shut.

Outside the door came Xu Lingchu's curses.

Hoarse and desperate!

Cursing me, cursing Tutu.

I poured Tutu a glass of juice and asked her: "Something's up?"

"It's her." Tutu said, "Recently she's been like a madwoman, always harassing me, telling me to abort the child, otherwise, she would definitely kill me."

I shook my head and said: "Can't she use her brain?"

Tutu smiled and said: "She thinks Ji Cheng loves her madly."

I seriously thought, this was the first time she had mentioned Ji Cheng in front of me.

I was somewhat curious and asked: "You don't love him?"

Ji Cheng and I were in an arranged marriage.

At the beginning, among the crowd, I chose him.

At that time, his eyes were clear, his features gentle, his bearing elegant, he was first-class among the mortal world.

When we married, my father said to me: "Wanwan, in the human world, seven emotions and six desires, all forms of suffering."

"Learn to be broad-minded, only then can you obtain happiness."

"Don't be like your father, even though he had wealth and glory his whole life, in the end, he ended up unable to return home, wandering for a lifetime."

Tutu thought for a moment, then said: "Naturally, I like him too."

"But I know, he can't give me what I want."

"People, the less they have, the more they want to have, like me, before I was eighteen, father loved, mother doted, just like a little princess."

"At eighteen, I lost my home."

"I argued with my mother, she said, I was so grown up, I should be sensible."

"So, I sensibly left, never returning to that home."

I thought for a moment and asked: "Have you never thought of finding someone who could give you a home?"

Tutu smiled and shook her head.

Chapter 29

She said, many men were willing to marry her and give her a home.

But, she knew her own illness, and her original family.

Her parents were already old, the debt-collecting younger brother at home was still young, it was said, the younger brother's character was extremely bad.

Her parents doted on him, he would certainly become a disaster in the future.

"Why harm a good person?" Tutu smiled, only the smile was very bitter.

"Ji Cheng is so good, young and handsome, where in this world could you find such an excellent man."

"I can have a child with him, it's already three lifetimes of good fortune."

"Besides, I also met you."

Tutu said, recently her body had recovered much, morning sickness wasn't so severe anymore, her appetite was good, so she had come specially to see me.

"I also wanted to give you a surprise, but I ended up being the one surprised." Tutu said with a smile.

I took Tutu out, shopping, watching movies, shopping, drinking milk tea.

Like long-time girlfriends.

Chapter 30

I moved with Tutu, moving to Green Pear Courtyard.

I was afraid Xu Lingchu would do something unimaginable again, hurting Tutu, and Tutu's child.

During this time, under Ji Cheng's arrangement, Xu Lingchu entered the entertainment world, first with variety shows, then began filming dramas.

She was beautiful, could act...

Picked it up quickly.

Ji Cheng was right, Xu Lingchu was suited for the entertainment world.

I thought, she had found her own path, gradually her horizons would broaden, and she would slowly let go of Ji Cheng.

But, I still overestimated her.

Xu Lingchu soon had her own fans in the entertainment world, and they were brain-dead fans at that.

She used these brain-dead fans to play a prank that frightened Tutu.

At this time, Tutu's child was already seven months along, after being frightened by that brain-dead fan, her heart stopped beating.

I rushed with people to send her to the hospital for emergency rescue.

In the end, she gave birth to a premature baby girl in the early winter season, but she, from excessive shock, had a heart attack and never opened her eyes again.

Ji Cheng was very sad, and I was also very sad.

In fact, Tutu's health had gradually recovered during this time.

I took her for check-ups, and the doctors all said, with regular check-ups, she had great hope of safely giving birth.

But, heart disease, least of all could withstand fright.

That brain-dead fan was naturally doomed.

I suddenly had the idea to kill Xu Lingchu.

At Tutu's funeral, her parents came with that unruly child.

Indifferent like strangers.

I couldn't help but ask them: "Aren't you sad at all?"

That woman was already over fifty, not well-maintained, her eyes cloudy, her hair graying.

Wearing a half-new, half-old black dress.

The hem of the skirt was already frayed.

Not like the appearance of a teacher.

"A girl, sooner or later becomes someone else's person!" she said.

The moment she lowered her head, she looked at the unruly child not far away, her gaze gentle: "I have a son."

I nodded, no longer asking any questions.

After everyone had left, Xu Lingchu came.

Holding a bouquet of flowers.

She placed the flowers before the tombstone, looked up, and at me.

"He Xingwan, you still haven't left, why the false sentimentality, the person is already dead." she said.

I didn't want to talk to her, and I didn't understand, after all her plotting to kill people, why was she here now?

"He Xingwan, when are you divorcing Ji Cheng?" Xu Lingchu suddenly said.

I was already preparing to leave.

Hearing this, I stopped in my tracks and asked: "What if I don't?"

"Then I will kill you too, just like I killed her." Xu Lingchu's eyes carried a hint of viciousness.

I didn't know what she had experienced in this past year.

I only discovered that under her glamorous appearance, that already dead heart, had become even more insane.

"He Xingwan, Ji Cheng is mine, you women are not worthy of coveting him." she said coldly.

In the early winter evening, it was already somewhat cold.

I seriously thought for a moment, then slowly said: "Xu Lingchu, recently I've been thinking, how to kill you."

"Whether to hire a mercenary from outside, or do it myself."

"But now, I've changed my mind."

I leaned against the stone steps to one side, looking at Tutu's tombstone, smiling lightly.

"I want you to live, but no matter how you struggle, you won't get Ji Cheng." I smiled.

At this moment, I felt I had also gone crazy.

Chapter 31

This game, when it began, I was like all the onlookers, calmly eating the melon, calmly watching.

But, as I watched—the beautiful girl Tutu, died.

Leaving me a crying baby.

And I, actually moved with hatred, wanting to kill people.

Even, personally killing people.

Father was right, seven emotions and six desires, all forms of suffering.

But, floating in the mortal world, how could I abandon love and let go of sorrow?

Xu Lingchu pointed at me, laughing unrestrainedly: "He Xingwan, you just used despicable means to deceive him into signing papers with you, he doesn't love you at all."

"And I, I will have a status that matches him enough, standing by his side."

"I will become a movie queen, become Mrs. Ji, the center of attention."

Every word she said, I understood, but connected, it was truly too profound.

Like an unsolvable Olympic math problem.

Love, had always been a field I didn't understand.

I couldn't understand, for love, her best friend, A Biao had his leg broken, two hooligans died.

The remaining two, one was sentenced to eight years, one was disabled.

And she, with her uterus removed and a kidney cut out, still couldn't let herself go, couldn't let her friends go.

In the early spring of the following year, I was cyberbullied again.

I went to Yang City, accompanying my domestic elder brother.

So, photos of me and my elder brother were posted online.

The news of "Ji Group Executive CEO Ji Cheng's wife cheating with a mysterious man" directly rushed to the top of the trending topics.

In these two years, even though Ji Cheng had kept a much lower profile.

But, Ji Group Executive CEO Ji Cheng, with a celebrity face, had always had high popularity.

There were rumors that he had some ambiguous relationship with entertainment newcomer Xu Lingchu.

After all, Ji Cheng had previously caused a stir with fireworks all over the city, a global livestream proposal.

Later, although explained repeatedly as product promotion, the matter was suppressed.

Now, Ji Cheng's backyard was on fire, his wife was cheating, ambiguous with a strange man.

Wealthy family entanglements, multi-cornered love affairs, everyone loved to watch.

In an instant, popularity was extremely high.

Two or three hours later, it directly reached the top of trending topics, even major web portals search bars all read—Ji Cheng's wife cheating.

Xu Lingchu sent me a message: "He Xingwan, besides divorce, what else can you do?"

"I said, I would definitely make you and Ji Cheng divorce."

"He is mine, no one can snatch him away from me."

I knew, behind this matter must be Xu Lingchu adding fuel to the fire, buying internet trolls and also buying trending topics.

I didn't reply to her message.

Nor did I pay any more attention.

This kind of matter involved my elder brother, so I left it to him to handle.

Sure enough, by afternoon, the trending topic about #Ji Cheng's wife cheating# had been removed, and online, it was calm.

Chapter 32

Xu Lingchu was hidden from public view.

Her Weibo account was frozen, endorsements canceled, collaborations also canceled.

A week later, my elder brother called me, inviting me to eat at a high-end club.

When I pushed open the private room door, I found Xu Lingchu sitting woodenly on a chair, like a wooden person.

Seeing me, Xu Lingchu wanted to rush over, but was held down by bodyguards.

"Why?" she asked me.

My elder brother pulled out a chair for me, helped me sit down, then said: "I also want to know why?"

"Miss Xu, can you tell me why? You didn't even know what my relationship with Wanwan was, yet you dared to casually release our photos, spreading rumors that Wanwan was cheating?"

Xu Lingchu was Xu Lingchu, even in this situation, she knew no fear.

She once again opened her crazy rhetoric.

"What relationship, I just wanted her to divorce Ji Cheng."

My elder brother shook his head, no longer speaking.

He poured himself a glass of red wine, asking me if I wanted to drink?

I shook my head, I didn't really like to drink.

Slowly eating, waiting until I was almost full, my elder brother asked: "Wanwan, how to handle this person?"

I glanced at Xu Lingchu, then said: "She's beautiful, her proudest asset is her beauty, oh... Ji Cheng said she's a person born with knowledge."

"So, she's very narcissistic, believing she's this world's protagonist."

"Believing that a person like me is unworthy of Ji Cheng."

"She wants to achieve class leap, become Ji Cheng's wife, take control of Ji Group."

"Even, pursue higher levels, develop."

"Perhaps, she doesn't love Ji Cheng, she just naively believes—a person like her, should naturally get the best."

When I spoke the words "born with knowledge," Xu Lingchu seemed to freeze.

This was her secret.

But, when Ji Cheng prepared to play a love game with her, how could he not investigate everything about her?

My elder brother showed some interest, asking: "Born with knowledge, does she have some abilities?"

I shook my head and said: "Observing for two years, besides being more brain-dead and crazy than others, I haven't seen any special strengths."

My elder brother smiled: "Then there's no need for her to exist."

I glanced at Xu Lingchu, then slowly said: "She's more beautiful than others, using this to stir up trouble, harming many people, how about we deprive her of her beauty."

My elder brother slightly nodded, smiling gently.

When I walked out of the private room, I couldn't help but look back.

My elder brother was extremely handsome, I wondered in my heart, could it be that people born with knowledge were favored by God, given a face that could turn heads?

Half a month later, when Xu Lingchu was filming, she unexpectedly encountered an explosion.

The cast and crew were fine, only she was seriously injured, not only breaking a hand but also having severe facial burns.

I specially went to the hospital to see her.

She lay listlessly on the bed, her eyes dim and lifeless.

Seeing me, her lips moved and said: "He Xingwan, you arranged the explosion?"

Her throat was also damaged, very hoarse.

"Specifically, it was my elder brother's meaning—that person you framed as my affair partner is my biological older brother." I said lightly.

"Like you, he is also a person born with knowledge." I said softly.

Xu Lingchu's originally dim eyes suddenly burst forth with a glimmer of hope.

I smiled, sat in the chair, thought for a moment, then continued: "In our family, every generation will have several such people, my grandfather, my father, my two older brothers, and my little aunt, all are."

"It's just me, I'm useless."

Speaking of this, I couldn't help but smile sarcastically.

So, from the beginning, I had great tolerance for her.

She tried to hit me, she cyberbullied me, when Tutu was humiliated by her, I once had a wicked thought, wanting to wrap kindness in malice and use some viciousness.

But, I ultimately held back.

Until she offended my elder brother.

Truly the fearless have no knowledge, clearly, she had a bright future, why did she have to seek death?

"I came, just wanting to ask you, do you really love Ji Cheng so much?" I said.

Xu Lingchu didn't speak.

I prepared to leave.

"I don't know, I feel... I must have him." she said, "He is all I can grasp in this world, if I can't grasp him, I'd rather die."

Chapter 33

That night, Xu Lingchu jumped from a building and committed suicide.

Her body was incomplete, her face destroyed. She had called Ji Cheng, but Ji Cheng had blacklisted her.

She had nothing to live for, no attachments.

She was crazy and manic, naturally she wouldn't cling to life miserably.

She died decisively, her face unrecognizable.

Aunt Zhang from the orphanage she was in collected her remains, a lonely grave, without even a tombstone.

I bought a bouquet of white roses and placed them before her grave.

Half a year later, Ji Cheng had an accident while abroad negotiating a project.

It was said he was injured by radiation.

After a week of transferring, he was escorted back to the country, although he had been checked layer by layer, and he didn't carry radiation on his body and wouldn't harm others.

But, I still wore protective gear and sat before him.

He looked at me and smiled.

The smile warm and gentle, very much like when I first met him.

"Wanwan, have you ever loved me?" he suddenly asked.

I naturally liked him, once—had also longed for, one person for a lifetime.

"You were the arranged marriage partner I personally chose, I also attempted to experience human romance."

"But—what exactly do you want in your heart?" I asked him.

He smiled, staggering and coughing.

"Do you like Xu Lingchu, or Tutu, or, someone else?" I said.

I came out of the hospital room, took off the protective gear, slumped in a chair, but tears flowed like rain.

Ji Cheng's attending doctor told me, at most, three to five days more.

I knew, my elder brother's move, had always been fast, ruthless, precise.

Ji Cheng and Xu Lingchu had violated his great taboo, how could he tolerate it.

Had I ever loved him?

If I hadn't, why would I have accompanied him for so many years.

If I hadn't, in the vast sea of people, why would I have chosen him?

That year with apricot blossoms and light rain, after returning from Jiangnan, I had tried, but he smiled and said: "Miss He, it's just an arranged marriage, why take it seriously?"

Right, just an arranged marriage, why take it seriously?

So, I retracted all my maidenly feelings, calmly, indifferently watching.

I knew, between him and Xu Lingchu, it was just a game, a performance staged for me to see.

He hoped to arouse my competitive desire, my possessiveness.

To be a little jealous, to indulge in his charm, to fall.

But where could such a good thing be found in this world?

I wanted to talk about love, he held his male chauvinism, saying to me: "Just an arranged marriage."

Afterward, he was unwilling to accept my indifference.

Believing I must fall in love with him.

Using other women to stimulate his legal wife?

How ridiculous?

How tragic!

Epilogue:

When Ji Cheng died, I was only twenty-five.

Accompanying him for seven years, in the end, so hastily and carelessly concluded.

I had originally thought, just an arranged marriage, bumps and along the way, finally, he had his romantic affairs outside.

I holed up in my cocoon, not seeing the world's romance, finally growing old together.

Unexpectedly, he courted death several times, dying young.

And I, still young and beautiful, in my prime.

I sent Tutu's child abroad, to be raised by my little aunt's side.

I also packed my luggage and headed to the south country, toward the battlefield that belonged to me.

(End of book)