Xia Chu forced a bitter smile, "That's right. My dad wanted to throw a cup at me, but I dodged it. They kept pressuring me to call you, to divorce tomorrow. My mom was practically threatening her own life. She's never really had many good days in her life, I just can't be harsh to her."
"I really shouldn't have impulsively dragged Mr. Huo into this today. Let's go apply for the divorce tomorrow, and as soon as the cooling-off period is over, immediately obtain the divorce certificate. You won't be troubled by me anymore then. As for the compensation I promised earlier, Mr. Huo, just say the word, and as long as it's within my ability, I won't refuse... Unlike what my parents say, which is just lip service, I truly mean it, you can rest assured, Mr. Huo."
Huo Xiyao didn't know how Xia Chu had managed from the morning until his recent arrival.
But he could guess it was nothing good.
It seemed she was completely isolated, without anyone to comfort or support her.
If he didn't help her now, he couldn't even begin to imagine what she would be pressured into becoming.
Thinking this, Huo Xiyao looked around and then changed the subject, "Miss Xia, are you planning to move? I see packing boxes in the corner of your walls, and your kitchen also has almost nothing."
Crucially, there were no traces of a man living here. Had she and that scoundrel never lived together?
Xia Chu drank another sip of milk before nodding, "Yes, I am planning to move. So I want to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau early tomorrow, because after filling out the divorce application, I also need to look for a place to rent. Would it be convenient for you, Mr. Huo?"
Originally, she and Xu Pei had agreed that after they got their marriage certificate, they would move into a new house together.
But now she definitely couldn't move into the new place, and the house she currently lived in had already been leased out again; the landlord and new tenant had signed the contract, just waiting for her to move out over the weekend so the new tenant could move in.
That's why she had to go house hunting tomorrow. Thankfully, Mr. Huo had reminded her, otherwise, with all the chaos in her mind, she really hadn't thought of that.
Huo Xiyao said, "I am free at any time. But from what Miss Xia means, are you looking for a place to live immediately? It won't be easy to find a place that is both satisfactory and safe on such short notice. Don't you have any friends you could stay with for a while?"
Xia Chu pursed her lips, "I could have stayed at my best friend's place; we used to share an apartment. But her dad comes to Hai City for chemotherapy often, and she moved out earlier because she was worried it would inconvenience me. Staying with her now wouldn't be very convenient. I'll just find an agency tomorrow. I don't mind if the rent is a bit higher, it should not be too difficult. If I really can't find a suitable place soon, I could still stay in a hotel."
Huo Xiyao nodded, "I see. But renting a place also depends on fate, and as a woman alone, it's not safe for you to stay in a hotel either. Miss Xia, I have a suggestion, would you like to hear it?"
Xia Chu hurriedly said, "Please go ahead, Mr. Huo."
Huo Xiyao cleared his throat, "Here's the thing, I have a sister, Sijia—my foster father's daughter. She's always been insisting on marrying me, but I really don't feel anything romantic towards her; I've always treated her as a sister. Since I live alone and have a spare room, if Miss Xia doesn't mind and trusts my character, you could move in with me temporarily."
"After all, Miss Xia and I will still be legally married until the cooling-off period is over, and if we live together, Sijia should finally give up and then go seek her own happiness. Would Miss Xia be willing to help me with this?"
Xia Chu hesitated, "This… By helping me so much, Mr. Huo, I would be glad to help you in return, but wouldn't this cause you trouble? You've seen my parents, and they will definitely keep bothering me. Because of my mom, I can't just ignore them, and by then, it might bring trouble to your home as well."
Huo Xiyao waved his hand, "It's alright, I can contact the property management, and I could even threaten to call the police. After all, it's my house, they probably won't dare to go too far."
"Miss Xia doesn't know, but my foster father has been like a mountain of grace to me. What he worried about the most before he died was his only child. But I really can't love Sijia, and even if we're forced together, I couldn't make her happy. Her happiness can only be given by the one truly meant for her."
"So I really hope Miss Xia could help me with this, and once it's settled, I will certainly repay your kindness."
Xia Chu was still hesitant, "But I... cough, Mr. Huo, please don't mention thanks—at least I should be the one thanking you, but..."
Huo Xiyao asked again, "Miss Xia, are you afraid that I have ulterior motives? Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person. If you still don't trust me, actually I have long..."
Unfortunately, before he could finish saying "known you," Xia Chu's cell phone ringtone interrupted him.
Seeing the call was from Jiang Ziyao, who was probably still worried about her, Xia Chu quickly answered, "Hello, Ziyao..."
Jiang Ziyao was indeed worried about her, "Xia Chu, how are you doing, did I wake you up? ... You answered the phone so quickly, you didn't actually sleep, did you?"
Xia Chu cleared her throat, "I did sleep, and I feel much better now. Don't worry, go to sleep yourself. It's so late already, and you have work tomorrow."
Jiang Ziyao said, "I'll go to sleep in a bit. By the way, that jerk hasn't come looking for you, has he? And your parents haven't been bothering — ahem, do they know?"
Xia Chu had nothing to hide from her friend, "My parents have already made a scene. As for Xu Pei, he supposedly had a case only he could handle and had to go on a business trip; he won't be back until tomorrow. He probably thinks he can come back tomorrow and reap the fruits of victory, huh?"
Jiang Ziyao cursed angrily, "He's really so cheap and shameless, how can there be such cheap, such shameless people!"
After a few more words, Jiang Ziyao, having made sure several times that Xia Chu was really okay, hung up first.
Xia Chu then sat back across from Huo Xiyao, "I'm sorry, Mr. Huo, for taking more of your time. What were you trying to say just now, that you had long what?"
Huo Xiyao shook his head, "It's nothing, I just wanted to let you know that I have no ill intentions, and you can completely trust me."
Forget it, even if he mentioned it, she probably wouldn't remember something from ten years ago. It would just be a waste of time.
It was more important to persuade her to move to his place.
Xia Chu quickly said, "I really do trust you, Mr. Huo, I'm just worried about causing you trouble. It's already quite inappropriate of me to have dragged you into this selfishly."
Huo Xiyao countered, "What do you mean, if I hadn't agreed, could you still have forced me to get the marriage certificate today? I have another place to stay. If you really can't trust me, I can move out and only come back when I need your cooperation."
Xia Chu quickly waved her hands, "How can that be, wouldn't that be like a dove taking over a magpie's nest? Alright, I'll accept your kindness, Mr. Huo, and move to your place for a while. But I hope you'll charge me rent and other fees at market price, otherwise I really can't accept it."
She really didn't have the time or energy to look for a house now, and it was a good opportunity to break things off with Xu Pei cleanly and completely.
Huo Xiyao didn't intend to insist on these minor issues, "Okay, Miss Xia, do as you see fit. When do you plan to move? I think you can move now, to avoid the possibility of someone bothering you again."
Xia Chu clearly understood who he meant by "someone."
Her parents had just left defeated, and knowing Xu Pei, by tomorrow at the latest, when he returned from his "business trip", he would definitely come looking for her in person.
So she nodded, "Okay, anyway, I have already packed my things. Mr. Huo, you drove here, right? The two cars should be enough, but I'll need Mr. Huo's help to move."
"No problem."