Volume 1, Chapter 9: But Your Husband Doesn't Seem to Care
When they were children, the three villas were close to each other. Lu Ciyi and Ji An’nan fought every day, and Lu Ciyi’s companion, Lu Chaoxi, who often watched from the sidelines, would invariably get scratched twice.
But this time, it was indeed their fault for bumping into someone else. Lu Chaoxi spoke up to apologize, “Sorry, I accidentally bumped into you.”
“Accidentally?” Ji An’nan sneered sarcastically. “Looks like someone’s eyes are fixed on the sky, looking down on others with dog eyes. No wonder no one dares to marry you.”
Lu Ciyi clenched her fists, ready to confront her. “So you’re really going to push your luck!”
Lu Chaoxi hurriedly grabbed her by the waist to stop her. “Lu Ge, today is their wedding anniversary. We can’t ruin the event.”
Besides, her dignity represented Wan Yan’s dignity. She couldn’t allow Wan Yan to lose face.
Ji An’nan continued to provoke, “If you dare touch me, tomorrow’s headlines in Shancheng will be about your failed matchmaking!”
The Ji family controlled the majority of Shancheng’s media outlets, so what made the headlines tomorrow was indeed at Ji An’nan’s whim.
Mrs. Shen heard the commotion and came over, looking at the mess on the ground. She asked the group, “Is anyone hurt?”
With the host of the banquet present, the two who had been at odds immediately toned down their anger.
Once again, Lu Chaoxi broke the stalemate and said to Mrs. Shen, “No one is hurt, it’s just that a glass of red wine was spilled.”
Mrs. Shen breathed a sigh of relief but then noticed the stain on Lu Ciyi’s gown.
More and more onlookers gathered around. Mrs. Shen said to Lu Ciyi, “Your figure is similar to mine. I have a few dresses that just arrived today. You can change into one of them.”
Lu Chaoxi agreed, “Yes, Lu Ge. Otherwise, when Uncle Luo sees you like this later, he’ll scold you again.”
Thinking of her father’s temper, Lu Ciyi no longer refused and followed Mrs. Shen to change, reminding Lu Chaoxi before leaving, “Chaoxi, wait for me here. I’ll come find you once I’ve changed.”
Gradually, the crowd dispersed. Ji An’nan, too, grew tired of staying and gave Lu Chaoxi a disdainful glance before heading toward the garden.
Lu Chaoxi stood by the pool waiting for Lu Ciyi. As time passed, the chilly breeze made her shiver.
Just as she was about to turn and find a warmer place, someone draped a suit jacket over her shoulders from behind.
The scent of ebony wood and bergamot on the suit told her immediately that it was not Wan Yan—after all, Wan Yan only ever wore Jo Malone’s Sage & Sea Salt.
Lu Chaoxi spun around abruptly to see an unfamiliar face. Searching her memory, she confirmed she had never met this man before.
Yet, he seemed very familiar with her, calling her name without error.
“Lu Chaoxi, Miss Lu.”
Lu Chaoxi cautiously asked, “Do we know each other?”
Given this man’s appearance, she should have at least some impression if they had met.
The man seemed to anticipate her forgetfulness and introduced himself, “My name is Zhi Zheng.”
Lu Chaoxi smiled politely but distantly, “Mr. Zhi.”
She took off the jacket and handed it back. “Sorry, Mr. Zhi, I’m already married, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to wear your coat.”
Zhi Zheng did not insist and took back the suit, draping it over his elbow. Then he said directly, “It seems you have forgotten me.”
Lu Chaoxi grew wary and asked, “Should I remember you?”
Zhi Zheng looked sad, his words layered with meaning as he sighed, “Twenty years ago, that little girl said she would definitely remember me. Turns out promises can really be forgotten.”
“Twenty years ago?” Lu Chaoxi was stunned.
She was only four years old then! How could she possibly remember anything?
Zhi Zheng bent closer, teasing her, “You even said you would marry me.”
Startled, Lu Chaoxi stepped back, nearly falling into the pool. Fortunately, Zhi Zheng caught her just in time.
“President Wan, it seems your newlywed wife has a second romance,” Shen Weijun joked to the man beside him from a short distance away.
Wan Yan naturally saw this as well.
Watching the man chatting happily with his wife, Wan Yan’s expression was unreadable. He asked Shen Weijun, “Who is that man?”
Shen Weijun swirled his wine glass slowly and said, “He’s a foreign investor. Don’t let his youth fool you—he holds shares in several well-known listed companies, and not small ones at that.”
Wan Yan’s gaze grew even deeper. “What’s his name?”
“I don’t know his real name, but he goes by the alias Zhi Zheng.”
“His surname is Zhi?”
“Probably not.”
After hearing this, Wan Yan took a sip of red wine, his eyes harboring an inscrutable depth.
Zhi Zheng seemed to deliberately use more force, causing Lu Chaoxi to stumble unguarded into his arms.
On his white shirt was a clear lipstick mark left by Lu Chaoxi.
“Mr. Zhi, I’m telling you again, I’m married! How could a four-year-old child remember such a promise?”
Angry, Lu Chaoxi pushed him away and rubbed off the lipstick from her lips with disgust.
She calmly exposed him, “If you had really remembered that promise all these years, you wouldn’t have disappeared without a trace for twenty years, nor would you have let me forget you.”
Lu Chaoxi did not know this man’s true intentions, but they could not be good.
His deliberate approach only made her feel disgusted.
Zhi Zheng still smiled gently, unaffected by her words.
He gestured toward a certain direction. At that moment, Wan Yan happened to turn around that way. Although he saw the commotion, he remained indifferent.
“But your husband doesn’t seem to mind our close interaction,” Zhi Zheng remarked.
Lu Chaoxi stared intently at Wan Yan, her eyes shifting from eager hope to disappointment.
Even if Wan Yan took a step toward her, she would have run into his arms without hesitation. Yet the man who was supposed to be her husband deliberately ignored her.
Lu Chaoxi had always known Wan Yan didn’t love her, but she couldn’t help the pain his coldness caused her heart.
Struggling to maintain her composure, she spoke quietly, “Mr. Zhi, I’m waiting here for a friend. Please leave.”
Zhi Zheng nodded and left without a word.
Lu Chaoxi was somewhat surprised, thinking bitterly, “If only I had known he’d be this obedient, I would’ve just told him to leave right away.”
Muttering to herself about Zhi Zheng, she was about to go inside and wait for Lu Ciyi.
But before she could take a few steps, someone blocked her path.
Ji An’nan stood in front of Lu Chaoxi, her anger barely concealed. “Lu Chaoxi, do you know he’s my date? You’re married, yet you’re still flaunting yourself with others?”
So that Zhi Zheng was Ji An’nan’s companion. Lu Chaoxi’s head ached.
Knowing Ji An’nan’s personality, seeing her chat with the man she fancied would surely provoke retaliation.
Lu Chaoxi patiently explained, “I’m just standing here waiting for someone, dressed appropriately with no exposed neck or legs. How am I flaunting myself?”
Ji An’nan was unreasonable. “I saw it all! You two acted very intimately, and there’s even a lipstick mark on his shirt!”
Seeing Ji An’nan unwilling to listen, Lu Chaoxi decided not to waste time standing in the cold.
“I’m too tired to reason with you.”
“Don’t leave! I haven’t finished yet!”
Ji An’nan, seeing Lu Chaoxi try to walk past her, hastily reached out and grabbed her necklace, pulling it off.
“Give me back the necklace,” Lu Chaoxi’s eyes immediately hardened. With a cold face, she warned, “If it gets damaged, I’ll break your hand.”