Chapter 18

“Bai Ziling, I don’t dislike you.”

“But you hate women!”

“But…”

“It’s all just male chauvinism!” She tried to push his hand away, but he seized her wrist, spun her around, and pinned her against the wall behind her. “Jiang Jie…”

“If we sleep together, how much more will you charge me?” he asked in a transactional tone.

“I’m not a prostitute!” She glared at him fiercely.

“Then it’s… free?”

“We won’t sleep together!” she declared firmly.

“Won’t we?”

Even though Jiang Jie was less than two centimeters from her, Bai Ziling refused to back down. “I don’t sleep with men I don’t love—or who don’t love me. Even if you’re richer than a king, even if you offer a fortune—the answer is no!”

“Bai Ziling, are you still a virgin?” Jiang Jie suddenly asked.

“None of your business!”

“I won’t treat you unfairly.” His body pressed against hers. “I don’t care what you’re doing with my cousin, but I want your first time to be with me. I won’t let you lose out—I even skipped an important meeting for you. I think… I care about you a little.”

Bai Ziling’s face flushed red. With the hand not held by him, she swung to slap him—but he caught that one too.

“Do you have to humiliate me like this?” Her eyes welled up.

“I said I… care about you a little!”

“I don’t want your damn care.”

“You…” Jiang Jie stared at her.

“I’m counting the days, hoping to get rid of you as soon as possible!” She had thought, in his gentle embrace last night, that something had changed between them—but now… she gave up.

“I don’t believe you’re this stupid. I’m a big fish…”

“You’re a rotten fish!” she shouted.

Jiang Jie grew furious, shoved her hard against his chest, and prepared to kiss her despite her resistance—but she fought desperately, even kicking his shin with all her strength, forcing him to let go.

“You…” He winced, sweat breaking on his forehead.

“You should be grateful I didn’t use my knee to smash your vital parts—that would’ve hurt a thousand times more!” She shoved him away.

“Bai Ziling, remember this,” he said, wearing the calm expression of a man biding his time for revenge.

“Don’t provoke me, and I won’t bother you. Let’s just pray we can live in peace until the end of this miserable time!” She lifted her head and walked into her room, locking the door behind her.

Jiang Jie arrived at a small, modest orphanage on the city’s outskirts. He had always known about it, driven past it several times, but never seen Yu Siqi. This time, he got out of the car. Suddenly, he wanted to talk to her, to see how she was.

Yu Siqi was cooking in the cramped kitchen, drenched in sweat, wearing a short top and capri pants, her hair messy. Anyone who hadn’t known her before would never guess the princess had become an ordinary neighborly woman.

She had gained weight, radiating a simple but contented air.

Jiang Jie just stared at her, unable to speak a word.

Yu Siqi was overwhelmed—lunchtime for the orphans was coming soon, and these little angels were all ravenous, like tiny devils. If food didn’t hit the table, they’d whine and scream.

Of course, there were other staff, but there were never enough. Yu Siqi held everything together. Chen Shi handled outside affairs; she managed the interior. He earned the money; she made all the decisions for the orphanage.

They worked perfectly together… because they loved each other. She embraced this life, and found joy in it.

So when she suddenly saw Jiang Jie, Yu Siqi didn’t panic—she smiled warmly.

“Jiang Jie!” she said happily.

“Siqi.” He nodded to her.

“Why are you here?”

“To see you.”

“I’m busy right now. Can you wait a bit? We have to talk properly.” Her tone left no room for refusal.

Jiang Jie ended up waiting two hours. He even ate lunch with the orphans, and only after Yu Siqi finished cleaning up did they finally have time to talk alone.

“Tasty, right?” she asked, confident and cheerful.

“I didn’t know you could cook,” Jiang Jie answered honestly.

“Humans are the smartest creatures. Anything can be learned—if you’re willing.” Yu Siqi beamed.

“Where’s Chen Shi?” he asked about her husband.

“At the gallery.”

“Are his paintings selling well?”

“Fine enough!” Yu Siqi wasn’t worried. “We cut expenses as much as we can. Sometimes kind locals donate rice, vegetables, even clothes for the kids. So… we manage. Besides, I still have some stocks and jewelry.”

“Still doesn’t your father speak to you?” Jiang Jie asked, concerned. When Yu Siqi’s father learned she insisted on marrying a penniless orphan who painted for a living—and opening an orphanage—he threatened to disown her. “What about your mother?”

“My mother’s fine. She visits occasionally and slips me cash. My father…” Yu Siqi shrugged and smiled. “I doubt he’ll ever forgive me for choosing Chen Shi over you.”

“I haven’t forgiven you either,” Jiang Jie said, half-smiling.

“To others, we might seem like heaven-made partners, but we both know—we only looked right. In truth…” Yu Siqi met his eyes directly. “We never loved each other.”

“Women…”

“I’m happy now!” she sighed contentedly. “This is the life I wanted.”

“No fancy clothes…” he asked.

“Clothes just need to be wearable.” She was frank.

“No gourmet food…”

“I make my own gourmet.”

“No banquets, shopping sprees, social events…”

“Those are illusions.”

“Facials, massages, spa…”

“That’s for rich, idle women. I’ve lived that life long enough—I’m satisfied.” She had no regrets about her choice.

“Does Chen Shi still love you?” Jiang Jie asked, deliberately provocative.

“Besides these children, I’m his entire world.” Yu Siqi patted his chest. “Don’t try to drive us apart. We both know we’re each other’s only and final partner in life.”

“So you’ve never regretted it?” Jiang Jie asked, skeptical.

“Not for a single second.”

“Yu Siqi, do women really believe love alone is enough? Even if the man’s a beggar?” Jiang Jie truly didn’t understand women.

“Don’t call him a beggar. Even if he were a street beggar—if both of you love each other, I think all worldly things become unimportant.” Yu Siqi studied him suspiciously. “Why are you suddenly asking me this, Jiang Jie? Do you have good news?”

Not wanting to mention his “marriage,” Jiang Jie shook his head.

“Still angry at me?” she teased.

“Not angry. Just confused.”

“Women are simple creatures—not complicated at all. Just love them, and everything’s fine!” She gave him her secret.

“So you think I never loved you?”

“You never loved me—not once.”

“I never treated you badly…”

“Yes! Everyone expected us to live happily ever after as prince and princess…” Yu Siqi shook her head. “It was all surface, all an illusion. We could never have lived happily together.”

Jiang Jie said nothing.

“You need to learn how to love women before you understand your own problem,” she said earnestly.

【Chapter Seven】

Bai Ziling had lost her usual sweetness and confidence. Even with her three closest friends, she made no effort to hide it. Though she had dreamed of becoming a true CEO’s wife, it seemed… she was never meant to be one.

Xia Zhen glanced at Chang Weiwei and Sima Xingchen, then fixed her gaze on Bai Ziling. “Is there anything we can help with?”