In the afternoon, Chu Yuxuan visited each household to express his gratitude. Since he was in mourning, he didn't enter any homes, but simply bowed at the door and handed each person a red envelope as a token of appreciation.
After dinner that evening, Xia Zhu called him. Already agitated and upset, Chu Yuxuan had no interest in dealing with her. However, after repeatedly ignoring her calls, Xia Zhu persisted. Frustrated, he finally answered, "Yes?"
"Where are you?" Xia Zhu's voice was cold, as if she were on the verge of an outburst. "Why haven't you answered your phone these past two days?"
True, over the past two years, Chu Yuxuan had been meek and submissive, never daring to not answer her calls.
"At my grandmother's house in the countryside," Chu Yuxuan's tone was even colder than hers.
Hearing the word "grandmother," Xia Zhu, who had been somewhat blinded by desire these past two days, suddenly remembered that the elderly woman had been hospitalized recently. She had visited her in the hospital half a month ago, and things didn't seem to be going well.
Her tone softened somewhat. "How is Grandma? Why didn't you bring her home? Why was she taken directly to her old house in the countryside? Yuxuan, don't be childish. Whatever is between us shouldn't affect Grandma. Her health isn't good."
Although she usually treated Chu Yuxuan with indifference, she had always been kind to the gentle old lady.
Chu Yuxuan nearly laughed in anger, suppressing his fury as he said, "Don't trouble yourself. Grandma has already been buried."
Xia Zhu's heart skipped a beat. "W-When did that happen?! Yuxuan, why didn't you tell me?"
"Heh…" Chu Yuxuan felt a pang of sadness just thinking about it, and replied angrily, "Xia Zhu, listen to me. You're not worthy to call her Grandma. I know why you're calling, so wait. I'll be back tomorrow morning, just as you wanted!"
With that, he hung up the phone.
Xia Zhu felt a wave of disorientation. She hadn't expected Grandma to pass away so suddenly!
That kind old lady had always shown her care and consideration. Last winter, despite being gravely ill, she had secretly knitted a scarf for Xia Zhu… Xia Zhu would never forget these acts of kindness for the rest of her life.
Only now did she recall how, a few days ago in the underground garage, Chu Yuxuan had insisted on taking her to the hospital… It turned out that Grandma had…
A strong sense of regret surged within Xia Zhu, and she couldn't help but blame herself.
In fact, Xia Zhu wasn't a heartless person. Over the past two years, besides Grandma, the care Chu Yuxuan had shown her often made her feel guilty.
But guilt is still guilt—it isn't love.
Now, Xia Zhu was determined to be with Gao Ning. This marriage had to end, no matter what.
At worst, she would give Chu Yuxuan more money as compensation.
She recalled the first time she met Chu Yuxuan, back when they had just started junior high school. At that time, his clothes, demeanor, and manners all carried the aura of a wealthy young master.
He didn't wear glasses back then, and his handsome features had just begun to take shape. He was one of the tallest in the class, with long legs, slender and attractive hands, and a neck as smooth and fair as bone china when he tilted his head slightly. No matter where he went, his presence would excite the young girls around him, who would eagerly whisper flirty remarks that made their hearts race once he walked away.
However, after just one semester, he seemed to have fallen from grace, losing that air of wealth and becoming just an ordinary guy.
By the second half of their sophomore year in high school, Chu Yuxuan seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing for seven or eight years, until two years ago when he inexplicably reappeared as a Didi driver by her side…
Xia Zhu had never asked about his past. On the rare occasions when she was in a good mood and brought up their earlier years, Chu Yuxuan would always avoid the topic, as if he had done something unspeakable during the years he had been missing.
To Xia Zhu, Chu Yuxuan was just a handsome but useless man, someone who was always in need of money.
…
The next morning, Chu Yuxuan returned to his home in the city early.
The house was quiet, with the master bedroom door open, indicating that Xia Zhu wasn't home.
Chu Yuxuan had no interest in where she had gone. He took out the divorce agreement he had prepared the day before, signed his name with a flourish, and left it on the coffee table in the living room.
Next, he pulled out his suitcase and quickly packed up his and his grandmother's belongings. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the sound of the door unlocking.
"Click…"
The door opened, and Xia Zhu, Gao Ning, and Xia Zhu's mother entered, laughing and chatting as if they were a happy family.
The harmonious atmosphere made them seem like a real family.
Seeing Chu Yuxuan standing in the living room, Xia Zhu immediately stopped smiling, replaced by a look of guilt.
Gao Ning, on the other hand, smirked provocatively, pulling Xia Zhu closer to him with a hand on her waist, a smile playing on his lips as he tilted his head to look at Chu Yuxuan.
Xia Zhu's mother reacted the most strongly. She pointed at Chu Yuxuan's nose and began to shout, "You useless trash! You finally decided to come back? Do you think avoiding our calls means you can escape this divorce? Oh, by the way, Ning, you know how to change the code on the lock, right? Do it now, so this penniless beggar doesn't come sneaking in to steal things in the middle of the night!"
"Mom, stop it!" Xia Zhu scolded her mother before turning to Chu Yuxuan, her eyes avoiding his as she hesitated to speak.
Chu Yuxuan had long grown accustomed to his mother-in-law's sharp tongue and ignored her. He looked at Xia Zhu, his voice cold, "The divorce agreement is on the coffee table. Today is Saturday, so the civil affairs bureau isn't open. Pick a time, call me when you're free, and I'll come for the divorce."
He paused for a moment. "Make it soon. Don't keep me waiting too long."
"Divorce agreement?" Xia Zhu's mother widened her eyes and rushed over to the coffee table, cursing as she picked up the document. "You good-for-nothing, you must be asking for a fortune! Let me tell you, don't even think about… Leaving with nothing?"
Xia Zhu's mother couldn't believe it. She glared suspiciously at Chu Yuxuan and snapped, "What kind of trick are you playing?"
Xia Zhu's expression became awkward. Although Chu Yuxuan's decision was exactly what she wanted, she still felt a strange sense of loss.
She had thought that Chu Yuxuan would at least show some reluctance, even if it was just anger, smashing things in the house to vent his emotions—that would have been normal.
But the current Chu Yuxuan was calm and cold, like a completely different person. He felt unfamiliar, and her guilt deepened.
"Yuxuan, I know you love me, but I really don't want to miss out on Ning. It's my fault, and I've wronged both you and Grandma. I'm really sorry! There's no reason for you to leave with nothing. How about… you take this apartment…"
"I find it filthy!" Chu Yuxuan interrupted coldly, grabbing his luggage and heading for the door.
The word "filthy" seemed to hit a nerve with Gao Ning. He reached out and shoved Chu Yuxuan, frowning as he said, "Watch your mouth! Chu Yuxuan, do you even know your place? Did you really think you could have her? Hmph…"
With that, he pulled out that bundle of checks again and handed it to Chu Yuxuan. "Fill in any number you like! Just stay away from our Xia Zhu from now on!"
Xia Zhu's lips parted slightly, as if to stop Gao Ning from further insulting Chu Yuxuan.
However, before she could say anything, Chu Yuxuan took the check, glanced at Gao Ning, and gave him a wicked smile, "In that case, don't mind if I do."
"Truly… a spineless loser…" Xia Zhu thought to herself. The next moment, she saw Chu Yuxuan endlessly adding zeros to the check…
"Ten billion?" Gao Ning raised an eyebrow, mocking him. "You've lost your mind."
"Heh…" Chu Yuxuan sneered, crumpled up the check, and tossed it on the floor. As he walked out, he muttered, "Pretentious prick…"
In the basement, Chu Yuxuan suddenly stopped in front of a trash can, took off the thick black-framed glasses that looked heavy but had no prescription, and tossed them into the bin.
As soon as he got into his car, his WeChat buzzed with another message from "Number Two": "He pushed you with his left hand? I'll cut it off tonight!"
Chu Yuxuan felt his temples throb and raised a hand to rub them before calling Number Two.
The call connected quickly.
"Number Two, are you bored lately? Following me? Spying on me? Your eyesight must be excellent to see everything so clearly from across the street."
There was a moment of silence before a low, somber voice responded, "Binoculars."
Chu Yuxuan rolled his eyes. "Just do your job and don't act recklessly. Don't forget, my family might still be watching me."
"Hmm… Are you… going back to Chu Men?"
Chu Yuxuan exhaled deeply, looking at his reflection in the rearview mirror, and answered with conviction, "Yes, I am."