Chapter 17: Chapter Fifteen

Jiang Jie had never shared a bed with a woman without doing anything, without anything happening—this…

He looked down at Bai Ziling’s face, still faintly streaked with tears; she looked pure, fresh, like an angel—no wonder his cousin had “fallen.” If things continued like this, he feared he too would lose control. Bai Ziling, Bai Ziling—could he really not let her go?

After some effort, Bai Ziling obtained Di Zhiwei’s phone number. When she contacted him, he was overjoyed; before she could state her purpose, he invited her out to dinner. Since she had something to say, she readily agreed.

“Bai Ziling, you can’t imagine how shocked and happy I was when I got your call!” Di Zhiwei winked at her.

“Di Zhiwei, why did you ruin me?” Bai Ziling confronted him.

“Ruin you?” He was baffled.

“Why did you tell Jiang Jie you were going to pursue me?”

“I was trying to pursue you!” Di Zhiwei made no denial.

“This is incest. I’m your ‘sister-in-law.’”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He laughed loudly. “In just over forty days, you won’t be anymore. And I’ll bet you a hundred million—you haven’t slept with my cousin. Your relationship is purely innocent.”

“So what?”

“Then why can’t I pursue you?” Di Zhiwei said with full confidence.

“Di Zhiwei, you’re joking, right? You’re just trying to provoke your cousin—this is all a joke?” Bai Ziling asked cautiously.

“Earlier, I did think that way. But I didn’t realize he cared about you—or that once I said it aloud, it became real. I really like you. That’s undeniable.” Di Zhiwei was unusually sincere with a woman.

“Please!” She wore a pained expression.

“Am I really that bad, Bai Ziling?”

“Di Zhiwei, you’re not bad—you’re just boring.” Bai Ziling scolded him. “Do you know Jiang Jie now sees us as ‘lovers in adultery’? Please stop making trouble for me. Just let me collect the rest of my payment in peace.”

“Bai Ziling, I may not be as rich as my cousin, but my family background isn’t bad either. If you were to be with me—”

“Be with?!” Bai Ziling seized on his wording. “I’m not the kind of girl who sells herself for money. Jiang Jie’s three million? I accepted it because I only had to endure three months—I didn’t have to give myself to him. Di Zhiwei, don’t mistake me for someone who chases money. I’m not!”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m sincere.” Di Zhiwei immediately emphasized. “If you mean marriage—”

“Don’t mention the word ‘marriage’ again.”

“I mean once you’re free, I can pursue you.” Di Zhiwei didn’t sound like he was teasing her.

“You have no chance,” she admitted frankly.

“Don’t be so harsh.”

“You’re interesting, but—”

“Have you fallen for my cousin?”

“No!” she denied loudly. “What nonsense are you talking?”

“Then why won’t you give me a chance?”

“It’s impossible!”

“Nothing in this world is impossible.” Di Zhiwei smiled confidently.

Bai Ziling knew it was impossible—she would never, in this lifetime, have any connection with Jiang Jie’s cousin. She… she could never forget the safety and fulfillment she felt sleeping in Jiang Jie’s arms, even though the next morning she woke alone in her bed—he had already left for work.

“Di Zhiwei, I beg you—don’t interfere. We can be good friends, even close buddies—it’s fine. But lovers or spouses…” Bai Ziling shook her head firmly. “Not in this life.”

“I don’t believe in fate.”

“Don’t ruin me again,” she muttered.

“You’ve said that twice already, Bai Ziling. I don’t want to ruin you—I want to give you—”

Bai Ziling cut him off. “If you’re determined to make us unable to even be friends, then today is our last meeting.”

“You can’t do this!” He grew angry.

“I can.”

“Respect my rights—I have the right to pursue you.”

“I’m your ‘sister-in-law!’” She raised this heavy argument. “Do you want to make all your relatives and friends laugh until they fall over? Yes, you can pursue me—if I agree to marry you, then you’ll get your grandfather’s five hundred million, and we’ll divorce afterward?”

“Bai Ziling, I’m not my cousin. I don’t lack the bid deposit, and I don’t care about my grandfather’s money.” Di Zhiwei spoke coldly. “I’m not using you. Understand that.”

Bai Ziling sighed, unable to respond.

“Fine. I’ll wait. I’ll pursue you after you divorce my cousin.” He promised her readily.

“Di Zhiwei—”

“My cousin can’t give you happiness. But I can.”

This time, Bai Ziling was bewildered—she truly had no idea what to think.

Jiang Jie thought his warning might have some effect, but he saw Di Zhiwei and Bai Ziling walking out of the restaurant together. He had originally planned to attend a meeting at the World Trade Center, but now he decided to follow them and see what they would do next.

In the end, Di Zhiwei merely dropped Bai Ziling off at her residence—he didn’t even get out to open her door. Perhaps she objected; they had to keep things discreet.

He parked the car in the garage. He knew he wasn’t catching them in the act, yet Jiang Jie was furious. Though this anger made no sense, he didn’t care—he just wanted to vent.

After entering, Bai Ziling changed into casual clothes, turned on the air conditioning, and pulled out a fashion magazine she’d bought earlier to flip through.

When she heard the key turn in the lock, she jumped up. Today wasn’t the cleaning lady’s day, and it was broad daylight—who had a key? Just as Bai Ziling picked up a rare stone from Jiang Jie’s collection to defend herself, she saw Jiang Jie.

“It’s you?!” She scolded herself for overreacting and put the stone down.

“Who did you think it was?” Jiang Jie’s tone was calm—terrifying. As soon as he entered, he began untying his tie, shedding his suit jacket, and rolling up his shirt sleeves.

“You’ve never come home during the day!” She voiced her thoughts.

“So I can’t come home during the day?”

“Of course you can—it’s your freedom.” Bai Ziling sensed something ominous and wanted to retreat to her room; as long as she locked the door, she’d be safe.

But Jiang Jie wouldn’t let her slip away. He stood at the entrance to her room, staring at her with the gaze of a judge sentencing a monstrous criminal.

“You were just with Zhiwei?” He met her eyes, speaking coldly.

“How do you know?!” She was stunned.

“Dinner?” He asked with a cold, humorless smile.

“We… just needed to clear up some things.” She spoke stiffly. “It wasn’t a date or anything improper.”

“Bai Ziling, did I say you were on a date or doing something improper?” Jiang Jie’s voice wasn’t harsh, yet it sent chills down her spine.

“You didn’t say it, but—”

“He drove you home. Why didn’t you invite him up?”

“You… saw everything!” Bai Ziling felt an indescribable emotion.

“Precisely because I saw everything, I know you did nothing improper…” He looked at her, then reached out to play with a strand of hair falling near her ear, his gaze carrying an unpredictable danger.

“Isn’t that good?” She exhaled the breath she’d been holding.

“You think it’s good?” He released her hair, his fingers moving to her cheek. “Bai Ziling, I’m asking you to ‘endure’—hold out until we divorce.”

“We didn’t do anything!” She brushed his hand away.

“I don’t like it.” His fingers returned to her cheek.

“You’re acting strange!” She scolded. “You hate me—so why do you care who I have dinner with, your cousin or anyone else?”