Chapter 25: Time to Wrap Up

I was so stunned by this scene that I couldn't regain my composure for a long while.

He had actually knelt!

Just like that... he knelt in such a humiliating fashion. His eyes were full of pleading, looking exactly like someone who would do anything for Liu Zhuyin!

I couldn't help but admire him. What a high-end "green tea" bitch!

"A-Zhou!" Liu Zhuyin cried out, rushing over to help him up. "How could you kneel to him! Get up!"

But how could she possibly pull Ning Yuanzhou up? As the saying goes, you can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.

"It’s alright. As long as Mr. Gu forgives you, I don’t even fear death!" He looked at me again, his expression filled with smugness, yet he maintained the look of someone suffering the greatest grievance in the world. "Mr. Gu, it’s all my fault. Truly, I shouldn't have interfered in your marriage with A-Yin. I know you hate me, that you're jealous of me... but I am sincerely admitting my wrongs now. If I do this... you should be able to forgive me and forgive A-Yin, right?"

I laughed. In just a few words, he had taken all the blame for the issues between Liu Zhuyin and me onto himself.

The person I hated had never been Ning Yuanzhou. Love is one-sided. If she doesn't love me, there would always be someone else even without him. Therefore, no matter what tricks Ning Yuanzhou played in front of me, I simply treated it as watching a performance. Besides, there is no meaning in a marriage where there is no love.

"Mr. Ning, you are a clever man," I said. "That is the one good thing about talking to someone smart—there is a mutual understanding. Today's performance has been quite enough. Get some rest; your health isn't good."

I left these words behind and turned to walk away, only to be stopped by Liu Zhuyin once more.

"Gu Yichen, what do you mean by that?" she demanded. "A-Zhou is already in this state, and you’re still being sarcastic! Yes, for five years I haven't kept you in my heart, and I admit I put my focus on A-Zhou. But I thought... you would be able to understand me. What’s more, A-Zhou saved my life! I just don’t understand what you’re trying to do by acting like this! Are you trying to force A-Zhou to his death?"

Liu Zhuyin had been brainwashed by Ning Yuanzhou; she truly saw me that way now. I really didn't want to explain. If that’s what she wanted to believe, then so be it.

"I said it before: your business has nothing to do with me," I replied. "You don't need to be aggressive and heap all the blame on me. And watch your tone. I am your ex-husband now, not your husband! You have no right to interrogate me."

This time, I didn't linger and pushed the door open to leave. I hadn't come here to discuss our relationship. I am the person in the world who knows Liu Zhuyin best. No matter how sweet her words are, she will never let go of Ning Yuanzhou. In other words, she would rather trust him than believe me.

For five years, I gave everything for her and the Liu family, only to receive misunderstanding in return. It was pathetic.

Yet, leaving that place, I felt much lighter. After such a dramatic performance from Ning Yuanzhou, Liu Zhuyin should finally be willing to divorce me. As long as the divorce went through, I could bear any accusation. I no longer cared about the mud Ning Yuanzhou was trying to sling at me.

I drove home, cast those thoughts aside, and threw myself into my work.

I never expected, however, that Liu Zhuyin would call that evening. I didn't want to answer, but she kept calling over and over, so I eventually picked up, tired of the intrusion.

"What do you want?"

No sooner had the words left my lips than Liu Zhuyin’s roar came through the phone. "Gu Yichen! You bastard! A-Zhou is missing! He left a note and just left. I don’t know how he offended you, but why must you push him like this! Do you have any idea that he is a sick man? If anything happens to him, I will never forgive you for the rest of my life!"

I remained indifferent, even wanting to laugh. Missing? I wasn't surprised at all. The words Ning Yuanzhou spoke today were merely the setup for this final act. From the moment we met, he was being manipulative, playing the victim in front of Liu Zhuyin while acting submissive toward me. How could the performance be complete without this?

"Sigh..." I said. "Liu Zhuyin, oh Liu Zhuyin. If you had even a shred of common sense, you would realize he’s going to be just fine. Enough, I’m not in the mood to talk to you. Find a time, and let’s get the divorce certificate finalized."

Foolish. Yet, it still stung my heart. She never used her brain when it came to Ning Yuanzhou. They say women in love are the most foolish. Her foolishness... was reserved for him, not me.

I hung up and turned off my phone. The performance I had participated in was over. It was time for the curtain to fall! As for Ning Yuanzhou, he would definitely be fine. He was the protagonist, after all—in what story does the protagonist die?

Liu Zhuyin exhausted every connection she had, searching frantically for Ning Yuanzhou. Meanwhile, I lay comfortably in bed and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I washed up, ate, and turned on my phone. A flood of messages popped up. A few were from Liu Zhuyin, which I couldn't be bothered to read, as they were surely all about him. To my surprise, however, Mrs. Liu had also sent me a message.

*'You child! How can you be so dim-witted! Did you really let that dog Ning Yuanzhou trap you like that?'*

*'Don't tell me you didn't see what he was really up to!'*

*'Turn your phone on and call me back immediately!'*

Had this matter reached Mrs. Liu? I sighed and resignedly dialed her number.

"Oh, Xiao Chen, you've finally turned your phone on," she said. "That bastard Ning Yuanzhou has gone into hiding, and A-Yin... A-Yin is truly furious with you this time."

I gave a flat "Oh." "Did she say when she’s ready to sign the divorce papers?"

Mrs. Liu was livid. "Divorce papers! What divorce papers! Who gave you permission to divorce?"

"I'm telling you, I won't allow it!"

I felt helpless and couldn't resist using her own words to silence her. "Didn't you say you wouldn't interfere in our affairs? What’s this... going back on your word?"

Mrs. Liu was momentarily speechless, but at this point, she couldn't keep up the act. "You brat! How dare you mock me! Since things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore. I will absolutely not let you and A-Yin divorce!"

She admitted it, and her tone softened, becoming earnest. "Xiao Chen, Mother knows... A-Yin hasn't done right by you. But I can tell she has feelings for you. I don't think you’ve reached the point of no return."

Her voice turned cold suddenly. "Here is what we'll do... I will handle the matter of Ning Yuanzhou! That little bastard wants to hide and play dead to scare people, does he? Then I’ll make sure he truly disappears!"

Mrs. Liu's words nearly made me spit out the milk I was drinking. "Mother... have you lost your mind? Aren't you afraid that if Liu Zhuyin finds out, she will never forgive you?"

Paper cannot wrap up fire! If Liu Zhuyin found out, she would likely go insane.

"Let her not forgive me then!" she declared. "I don't care! What I care about is the two of you... If you two can reconcile and live as a loving couple, even if she refuses to acknowledge me as her mother... I will accept it!"