Chapter 12

After saying that, Lu Yanshen got out of the car and left.

Xie Wantang adjusted her breathing in the car before getting out.

Pei Xiao drove the car to the parking spot and parked it.

Lao Mao wore a chef's white coat, smiling as he walked over to the two, ignoring Lu Yanshen and only greeting Xie Wantang: "MrsLu, welcome! I'm the owner of this little shop; together with Boss Lu, just call me Lao Mao."

"Hello, Lao Mao."

Xie Wantang complied, reaching out her hand.

However, she lightly corrected him, saying, "Besides, I prefer to be called Miss Xie."

Lao Mao tilted his head slightly, glared at Lu Yanshen: "This guy really doesn't know how to coax his wife."

His wife is angry, yet he can still act as if nothing's wrong, going to Milan on some business?

No business is more important than coaxing his wife, okay?

Moreover, such a good wife—if that guy actually loses her, he might as well go cry.

"Okay, Miss Xie, I only just found out that on the night I opened my shop, it was your birthday; Boss Lu was forcibly dragged over by me to make up the headcount, causing him to be unable to return on time to accompany you for your birthday—I'm really sorry."

"It's nothing to do with you; you don't need to feel sorry for me," Xie Wantang said lightly.

The problem between her and Lu Yanshen is just theirs; if he truly cared, they wouldn't have ended up like this.

Without heart, saying anything is useless.

"Boss Lu previously asked me to prepare a surprise; later, would you do me the honor?"

"Let's see," Xie Wantang replied.

She didn't believe what Lao Mao said—how could someone as cold as Lu Yanshen arrange a surprise for her?

Most likely Lao Mao acted on his own, even speaking up for Lu Yanshen.

They've been married over three years; every interaction between them has been initiated by her.

As long as she doesn't take the initiative, he will absolutely not take a step forward toward her.

Getting along like this is actually quite tiring.

"Sure, please come in to the private room," Lao Mao said with a bow, inviting Xie Wantang.

As he passed Lu Yanshen, Lao Mao deliberately bumped him and gave him a look, telling him not to put on a zombie face.

Coaxing one's wife requires a smile.

Lu Yanshen couldn't smile; his expression became even more solemn than before.

He only asked Lao Mao to prepare a meal earlier, not to prepare any surprise for Xie Wantang—who let him be so full of himself?

Upon entering the private room, Xie Wantang saw a table of steaming dishes, with a cake in the middle.

"Enjoy your meal; ring if you need anything," Lao Mao said, seeing Lu Yanshen still cold, and added, "Boss Lu, apologize properly."

Lu Yanshen: "……"

Click— the private room door was shut, leaving just the two of them.

Lu Yanshen pulled out the nearby chair, intending for Xie Wantang to sit; instead, she walked to the opposite side of the seat he had chosen, far from him, pulled out a chair and sat down.

"You're right—we're not made of iron; when the sky falls, we fill our stomachs first." Xie Wantang then served herself a bowl of soup and scooped a bowl of rice.

She drank half the bowl of soup before starting to eat the rice.

Every dish on the table was exquisite; though they looked like home cooking, the taste was indeed not bad.

Lu Yanshen, your friend Lao Mao is more worldly than you, though he's too naive; you, as the proper second young master of the Lu Family, having you coax me—unless the sun rises in the west.

"Don't talk while eating," Lu Yanshen reminded coldly.

"Hah..." Xie Wantang laughed angrily, "Fine, no talking."

Afterward, the two remained silent, each striving to fill their own stomachs.

After eating and drinking her fill, Xie Wantang stood up to leave.

Lu Yanshen said unhurriedly, "No need to rush; sit down and let's talk."

"……"

Xie Wantang really couldn't understand—who just said not to talk?

Now why do we suddenly need to chat?

Xie Wantang directly ignored the fact that Lu Yanshen's "don't talk" applied only during the meal.

"Lu Yanshen, there's nothing for us to talk about unless you want to discuss divorce," Xie Wantang said provocatively, looking at him.

"Let's talk about divorce," Lu Yanshen said, his eyes turning cold, calmly.

Xie Wantang sat down again, "How to talk? Even if I walk away with nothing, you're not satisfied—are we discussing how much money you'll give me?"

"You're overthinking it," Lu Yanshen said in a blunt, straight-man way, cutting off Xie Wantang's speculation, and hurriedly added before she completely turned against him, "If you want a divorce, you need reasonable grounds."

"Emotional breakdown isn't reasonable; our two families still have upcoming cooperation, I said before—if you insist on divorce, I definitely won't undertake this ecological project for the Xie Family."

"You previously said at the old residence that I had emotionally strayed, yet you couldn't produce evidence; therefore, I believe your insistence on divorce is because you're still angry, holding a grudge against me."

"I don't want you to act impulsively."

"Hah, Lu Yanshen, you're still so kind-hearted," Xie Wantang snorted.

"Could it not be that I simply don't want to serve you?" Xie Wantang countered.

"That reason isn't enough to convince me to agree to a divorce; there are servants at home, so if you don't want to work, you don't have to do anything—you can completely avoid serving me."

"Lu Yanshen, what kind of reason would make you agree to a divorce?"

"For example, as you previously said, my infidelity—even if only emotional—if you catch evidence, I agree to divorce; as for other matters, I think they can be resolved."

"Okay, then what about my infidelity?" Xie Wantang asked, her mind racing.

She couldn't let Lu Yanshen take the lead; she had to seize the initiative.

This marriage—she had decided to divorce him.

She simply didn't believe his excuse that he had colluded with Old Cat to deceive her.

They are good friends — they're birds of a feather.

Everything Old Cat says is surely to protect Lu Yanshen.

So, no matter what happened that night at Old Cat's shop, it doesn't affect him going to the mountaintop to accompany Xia Meng to set off fireworks and celebrate her birthday.

""

Lu Yanshen paused, then said, "If you insist on making a fuss, as long as you can bear the consequences, I don't care."

""

As expected, three years of sincerity went to the dogs.

He actually said, "I don't care."

"I don't care, right?"

Great!

Xie Wantang stood up, and as she gripped the door handle, Lu Yanshen rushed over, grabbed her wrist, and said, "Xie Wantang, willfulness needs limits; I'm trying to appease you now, shouldn't you..."

"Appease me? Mr. Lu, may I ask, do you also appease Xia Meng like that? Using such an indifferent way?"

""

Lu Yanshen was stunned.

Xie Wantang took the opportunity to shake off Lu Yanshen, hailed a taxi alone, and ran to her close friend Xu Yanqiu's house.

At Xu Yanqiu's house, Xie Wantang slept soundly for an entire afternoon.

After she had slept her fill, the sky had already turned dark.

Xu Yanqiu was cooking braised noodles in the kitchen; when Xie Wantang opened the door, she smelled the aroma.

"Qiuqiu—" Xie Wantang called from the kitchen doorway.

Xu Yanqiu turned around, put down the big spoon, and said, "You're awake, honey; hurry up and wash your hands, the braised noodles are ready."

"Mm."