It was already dark when the party ended, Tang Qianyu went out of the room to take a breather outside and to call Xin Yuexia to pick her up as she had too much to drink. As she's walking down the hallway, she froze up when she saw Qin Meiying standing in front of her who's also in shock.
Tang Qianyu frowned, feeling a tight feeling in her chest and her stomach turning upside down and was about to turn around and leave when Qin Meiying held her hand to stop her. "Wait!" Qin Meiying shouted as Tang Qianyu looked directly into her eyes, Qin Meiying looked away as she looked down guiltily. "Can we talk?" She asked as Tang Qianyu took a deep breath and sighed.
"... Alright." Tang Qianyu relented as they found a seat near the vending machine. The two sat there quietly With Tang Qianyu feeling like she's sitting on pins and needles. "If you won't start talking, I'll leave." Tang Qianyu threatened sternly after a few minutes of awkward silence.
"Your wife," Qin Meiying paused. "Do you love her?" She asked as Tang Qianyu felt anger rising up inside of her as she looked at Qin Meiying with utter dismay.
"Is that really what you want to talk about?" Tang Qianyu asked as she's about to get up when Qin Meiying held her hand as she cried. Tang Qianyu was shocked to see the fierce and strong woman she knew was crying helplessly like this.
Tang Qianyu's heart softened as she knelt down and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and used it to wipe Qin Meiying's tears. Despite how badly the two separated, Tang Qianyu couldn't bear to just leave her like this, she just couldn't.
"If I tell you the real reason, would you come back to me?" Qin Meiying asked suddenly as Tang Qianyu remained silent. "If you found out the truth, would you hate me or would you leave everything behind for me?" She asked again as Tang Qianyu looked at her with a cold expression on her face.
"The Tang Qianyu you knew in the past is already gone." Tang Qianyu replied as she stood up. "I would never leave Yuexia for anyone, especially you." She affirmed as she turned around and was about to say goodbye when she felt a pair of arms hugging her back.
"I didn't mean to hurt you." Qin Meiying replied. "I… I thought I was making the right decision, I was too young and reckless. I was afraid, afraid that my life would end before I could even achieve my dream if I stayed." She explained as she cried, tears streaming down her eyes as Tang Qianyu remained indifferent.
"And why would your life end?." Tang Qianyu asked as she removed Qin Meiying's arms around her and faced Qin Meiying. "Tell me. Explain it to me. How would your life end if you stayed with me?" Tang Qianyu asked as Qin Meiying remained silent. "Why can't you even explain it to me now? After everything? You want to talk right? Then talk!" Tang Qianyu shouted as tears ran down her cheeks, the feelings that were repressed deep inside her resurface as she scowled at Qin Meiying and cried, clutching her shoulders tightly.
"...Your father was against our relationship in the past and he…" Qin Meiying replied as she looked away and mumbled something through her tears that Tang Qianyu didn't quite hear.
"And what does that have to do with you not being able to achieve your dreams? Tell me!" Tang Qianyu shouted impatiently. "You know full well how I went against my father for our relationship and you're telling me you left me just because of him?! Are you serious?" She asked as Qin Meiying shuddered and looked at her in fear.
Tang Qianyu's eyes widened in shock as realization hit her as she took a step back and let go of Qin Meiying who looked down and held her shoulders as if to comfort herself. "I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you I-" Tang Qianyu muttered as Qin Meiying shook her head.
"No," Qin Meiying replied meekly. "I- I think it's better that we talk about this in the future." She suggested, her voice quivering as Tang Qianyu's chest tightened and her heart throbbing painfully as she nodded.
"We should." Tang Qianyu replied as Qin Meiying waved her hands at her and said goodbye.
She looked at the figure of Qin Meiying walking into the distance as she turned her back. She felt very tired, she never got a proper closure from her, she doesn't know why she left and what'sher father's disapproval have to do with everything? Did her father do something behind her back? Should she investigate this? No, maybe she should wait for Qin Meiying. Yeah, she should. Tang Qianyu groaned as she massaged her temples. She should contact her wife now.
Tang Qianyu pulled out her phone and called Xin Yuexia to pick her up, while her friends were busy dialing their own spouses. Wang Xiurong, always one to keep things practical, opted for her family driver instead. Both Lin Weichen and Chen Haoming were loud and clearly tipsy, their laughter echoing in the night.
When their partners arrived, the mood shifted. Despite their drunken antics, Lin Weichen and Chen Haoming's faces lit up with warm, sheepish smiles at the sight of their respective spouses. Their partners, however, weren't as amused, sighing as they patiently helped the two troublemakers.
Tang Qianyu and Wang Xiurong exchanged a knowing glance before bursting into laughter once more. "Looks like they're in trouble," Tang Qianyu joked, grinning.
"Big trouble," Wang agreed, shaking her head with a chuckle.
They talked a little longer, their laughter dying down into quiet murmurs, until Wang Xiurong's driver arrived. She waved at Tang Qianyu with a playful smile. "Get home safe, Qian'er. Don't give Ms. Xin too much trouble!"
"You too, Rong'er," Tang Qianyu called back, watching as Wang Xiurong climbed into the car and disappeared into the night.
Tang Qianyu waited until Xin Yuexia's car came into view with a big smile on her face, the car stopped in front of her as Xin Yuexia rolled down her windows and winked at Tang Qianyu.
"How much for the whole night, miss?" Xin Yuexia asked with a teasing grin as Tang Qianyu bent down and placed her arms on the hood of the car.
"Hmm, that depends. How much are you willing to offer?" Tang Qianyu asked, her breath smelling like alcohol as Xin Yuexia frowned and pushed her face away with a disgusted look on her face.
"You stink!" Xin Yuexia grumbled as Tang Qianyu smelled her breath and realised how badly she smelled, she pouted and walked to the side of the car to sit next to Xin Yuexia.
"I don't smell that bad…" Tang Qianyu mumbled under her breath as Xin Yuexia saw the sorry state of her wife as she sighed.
"Come here." Xin Yuexia whispered to soothe this clearly drunk and sulky alpha as she pulled her in for a hug. Tang Qianyu smiled and hugged her tightly but was once again pushed by Xin Yuexia. "What's that smell?" Xin Yuexia scowled as she sniffed her body.
"What smell?" Tang Qianyu asked as she also smelled her body before smelling herself and a faint scent of plums were indeed on her body as she looked at Xin Yuexia guiltily. "About that-"
"You don't need to explain. You must have bumped into someone." Xin Yuexia replied as she smiled and patted Tang Qianyu's head. "As I said, you don't need to explain it to me, I am not angry or jealous." Xin Yuexia reassured, not letting Tang Qianyu explain as she nodded, keeping the meeting with Qin Meiying a secret.
They went home soon after that and never spoke of the incident again as a month passed by but unlike the usual detached attitude that Xin Yuexia displayed for the past few months, Xin Yuexia returned to her usual loving and attentive demeanor which Tang Qianyu happily accepted.
•••••
Tang Qianyu cuddled together with Xin Yuexia in their bed, the two had just finished having sex and were now resting after a long day. Xin Yuexia remained unresponsive to her usual touches which made Tang Qianyu feel sad as she nuzzled her head on Xin Yuexia's neck.
"What's wrong?" Tang Qianyu asked worriedly. "Are you unsatisfied with me?" She asked as she stood up and sat next to Xin Yuexia who was quietly looking at her. "Did it hurt? Was I too rough?" She kept asking, her heart racing. She's scared for some unknown reason.
Xin Yuexia hugged her and despite the close and intimate connection between the two of them, it's as if they're still a few worlds apart. Xin Yuexia stood up and smiled weakly to Tang Qianyu as she opened her mouth.
"Let's get a divorce." Xin Yuexia spoke in a calm manner as Tang Qianyu simply stared at her blankly. Her head was like a blank slate as her heart pounded loudly. She looked at Xin Yuexia's face, observing whether what she said was just a joke.
Xin Yuexia had a committed look on her face that even Tang Qianyu couldn't deny—even with the countless reasons she made to ignore the truth—it's all plastered on her face. She really wants a divorce. Tang Qianyu held herself back from sobbing, her stomach churning and her chest burning, as she held her breath for a few seconds before opening her mouth.
"Okay." Tang Qianyu replied as Xin Yuexia smiled at her and stood up, taking a manila folder from her cabinet and gave it to Tang Qianyu. With her hands shaking, she took the folder and opened the document as she read it silently.
Xin Yuexia didn't want anything from the divorce, she just wanted a clean and amicable break from her as stated in the divorce papers. Tang Qianyu looked down and saw that Xin Yuexia had already signed on the paper as she closed her eyes.
The only things she could hear was the buzzing sound ringing in her head, her heartbeat, and her shaky breaths. She opened her eyes and stood up, taking a step forward as she swayed in her steps, trying to go to her desk to get her stamp.
After finally reaching her destination, she took the stamp hidden in her desk drawers as she pulled it off—glancing at the divorce papers one last time before finally pressing the stamp against the cold and thin paper.
"It's done." Tang Qianyu looked at Xin Yuexia with a stoic expression on her face as Xin Yuexia smiled warmly and took the paper from her hands, giving Tang Qianyu a final kiss in the cheeks as she left the room all giddy.
The loud bang of the door shutting made Tang Qianyu break away from her act as she slumped on the ground crying. Tears ran down her eyes as the lump on her throat almost choked her out as she cried quietly.
She knew that this sham of a marriage would end with Xin Yuexia leaving her behind but she didn't expect that that day would come far earlier than she estimated. No, she actually didn't believe it at all and hoped this would never happen. She knew that the day was near but she couldn't bring herself to accept it. Not now, not ever.
Tang Qianyu fell asleep crying that night and when she woke up, Xin Yuexia was already gone along with her belongings. The place was desolate with nothing but traces of their once beautiful and lovely married days now long passed remained as Tang Qianyu looked around.
They used to dance together in the spacious living room while listening to Clair De Lune. They would look at each other's eyes, their hands clasped together as they laughed and giggled everytime Tang Qianyu would mess up her footwork as she tensed up whenever Xin Yuexia would wink at her or whisper something into her ears.
Xin Yuexia would always look at her with an intense passion, wrapping her hands around Tang Qianyu's waist at the end of their little dance as she pulled her down on the sofa for a kiss. A short and simple kiss that would leave them breathless as they part and look unto each other's eyes before breaking away and continuing their evening with their usual jabs which would often lead to an argument or a night of fun.
The sofa where they used to sleep and lay down on whenever they would watch a movie together, regardless of whether it's boring or not, the two would still free some time off for the two of them to watch a movie every friday night.
Tang Qianyu would always make a simple snack for the two of them while Xin Yuexia would pick the movie randomly. If the movie was something Xin Yuexia heard about, she would often spoil it to Tang Qianyu who would get annoyed at her as she would cover Xin Yuexia's mouth or tool a revenge on her by spoiling Xin Yuexia's on the movies Tang Qianyu heard about.
While the two would constantly annoy each other like it's a tournament, they would end up laughing at the end for looking quite stupid and end up watching a new show instead to not get spoiled. Or sometimes they would ignore each other until one of them relented and apologized, which often happens to be the both of them in their own ways as they would bring gifts or cook something the other one enjoys.
Tang Qianyu chuckled remembering how Xin Yuexia spoiled the death of her favourite character which frustrated her that she ignored Xin Yuexia the whole night but felt bad for it the next day as they both went out to buy gifts for each other. A mug for Xin Yuexia and cute stickers of Tang Qianyu's favourite game for her.
They both laughed when they both went home at the same time and realised they both brought a gift for each other as they made up. But that wasn't compared to when Tang Qianyu spoiled the plot twist in the ending to Xin Yuexia's new favourite movie that she's trying to analyse. Xin Yuexia was so pissed that she kicked Tang Qianyu's calf and stormed out grumpily.
It took Tang Qianyu a week before Xin Yuexia forgave her and stopped being passive aggressive towards her. She could still remember how Tang Qianyu ate meals that Xin Yuexia prepared for her even though she doesn't like them because Xin Yuexia looked quite pissed and even ordered her to eat it or else she'll sleep in the guest bedroom.
Tang Qianyu learnt her lesson the first time she didn't follow Xin Yuexia's stern warnings and ate the food, if she can even call it food, through tears. Xin Yuexia smiled wickedly at her as she happily ate the meal she prepared. Tang Qianyu kept coaxing Xin Yuexia after that until Xin Yuexia finally forgave her after Tang Qianyu reserved a holiday resort and booked plane tickets for Xin Yuexia and her friends.
Tang Qianyu went towards the kitchen where they would make a lot of mess while cooking, laughing and teasing each other while the two of them would sometimes fight and bicker over what to do while they're following a recipe they find online for a new dish they wanted to try that would either end up in them not talking to each other for a few hours and later on apologized to each other as they cuddled and made up or just laughing at how stupid they seemed.
Xin Yuexia would often berate Tang Qianyu for making a mess telling her she can't waste food but she herself would often smudge Tang Qianyu's cheeks with icing or batter. Tang Qianyu chuckled at the irony of Xin Yuexia as she reminisced about the past. She really misses her.
The door where Xin Yuexia would always wait for her whenever she would come home late with a stern look on her face as she would soon crack up and welcome her with open arms. Xin Yuexia would then scold her for overworking and tell her that she should prioritise a work life balance for at least an hour before asking her if she's hungry and heating up the food she cooked that night.
Tang Qianyu went out and looked at the garden and looked at their house. A place that was once their home, the very place where the two of them built their life together for 7 years and was now all crumbling down with Tang Qianyu left to take all of the broken pieces of their once happy life.
She misses her. Her soft smile whenever she's looking in Tang Qianyu's direction. Her frown whenever she made a mistake. Her voice. Her emerald eyes glowing like gems whenever she would find something interesting. Her soft hands bring comfort to Tang Qianyu—she wants her. She wants Xin Yuexia back.
Tang Qianyu entered her car in silence, the car where she would often chauffeur Xin Yuexia and her friends whenever Xin Yuexia wanted her to drive her to place. She never really gets why but Xin Yuexia would often teased her saying she just wants to show her wife off to her friends and pissed them off. But, over all, she enjoys spending time with her and her friends regardless of the reasons even though they would often teased her and joked around her being a dog licking wife.
She looked at the side of her seat as she remembered the days where Xin Yuexia would randomly stare at the window of the car whenever the two of them would have spontaneous car rides along the neighbourhood. This car has been with them from the start, it's the car where they celebrated their first wedding anniversary while on a weekend getaway on a beach resort on the coast.
Xin Yuexia just finished her exams and wanted to celebrate it along with their wedding anniversary on a nice vacation somewhere. They didn't have much money at that time as they're still students and Tang Qianyu's father was very strict at maintaining Tang Qianyu's finances due to her disappointing him by knocking up a random girl but after saving up enough money from taking out part time jobs at the restaurant their family owns, Tang Qianyu managed to book a room for the two of them for a week.
It was the happiest moment of Tang Qianyu's life as she managed to earn something for herself and being able to enjoy the fruits of her labour on a nice vacation.
Tang Qianyu remained strong as she no longer had any tears left to cry. Her hands were shaking as she started her car and went to work.
•••••
3 months have passed and the only contact the two have towards each other was through their lawyers. Tang Qianyu contacted her again and again but was ignored so she had no choice but to contact her father in law to ask how Xin Yuexia was these days but she was chewed out for an hour.
"You think I don't know about the rumours?" Xin Yixiang, Xin Yuexia's father, shouted as Tang Qianyu frowned, she didn't realize how grave the misunderstanding had been.
Is this why Xin Yuexia left her? But those rumours were all false. If Xin Yuexia had given her time to explain herself, she could've fixed this. Why? Why won't anyone hear her out? They would always leave without a word. Every. Single. Time. She's tired, she doesn't want to do this anymore.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Xin Yixiang scoffed. "Well, if you'll just waste my time like this, you better just go back to the arms of your mistress and fucking leave my daughter alone." He shouted as he hung up the phone. Tang Qianyu stared at the phone quietly and found out she was blocked.
She laughed dryly, hollow and emotionless, as she stood up. She walked out of the door and accidentally bumped into her assistant. Zhang Junkai, a 34 year old male beta, looked at her and smiled.
"Good timing, I was just about to call you to inform you the meeting was about to start." Zhang Junkai spoke with a gentle smile as Tang Qianyu nodded. "Oh, and the chairman said to come to his office after the meeting is done."
Tang Qianyu sighed. Looks like her father found out about the divorce and would berate her again. It's not like she didn't try to hide it and she isn't surprised it took him 3 months to find out, it's actually quicker than usual. Not like she expects anything from that man and she's too tired to worry about his disappointments. She doesn't care anymore.
"Okay." Tang Qianyu replied as she walked towards the meeting room emotionlessly.
A few hours later, Tang Qianyu went to her father's office and knocked on the door, she heard him say come in and as she entered the room, she saw the enraged look on her father's face.
"What's this I heard about your divorce?!" Tang Zhiheng shouted as Tang Qianyu flinched, she couldn't open her mouth out of fear as she stood there in silence with her head bowed down. "You stupid girl, are you seriously divorcing that woman for that whore?!" He asked as Tang Qianyu looked up and shook her head lightly.
"I'm not—" Tang Qianyu couldn't even finish her sentence when she heard a loud bang followed by shattering shards of glass as she looked at her father in fear. He never changed but thankfully, due to his old age, his aim wasn't very good.
"Stop lying to me!" Tang Zhiheng stomped his way towards Tang Qianyu and slapped her in the face. "You've already disappointed me so many times and now you're going to make an embarrassment out of me?! You think our company's image wouldn't be affected because of your foolishness?" He went on and on, lecturing Tang Qianyu that she didn't even bother listening to.
It didn't hurt as much as before.