Chapter 23

“Bai Ziling…” Jiang Jie was startled, unsure whether to laugh or scold her; he never expected her to be so explosive. “You’re saying we’re… ‘dog lovers’?!”

“Do you have another word for it?”

“We’re not.”

“We are!” Bai Ziling insisted. “I believe we are!”

“Do you really hate me that much?”

“I’m happy.” She threw back his own words. “Jiang Jie, no matter how powerful you are, you can’t stop me from hating you.”

“That night…”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“I hope I wasn’t too…”

“Sorry, I have no experience—I can’t judge your performance that night. Maybe you’re a bedroom expert, a top-tier lover—but sorry, I didn’t feel any ecstasy. I was just glad it was finally over!” Bai Ziling declared fiercely.

“I was just worried about you!” he roared.

“Worried I’d get pregnant?” she whispered, head bowed. “My period comes in a week, Jiang Jie—don’t worry, no one’s going to show up with a baby demanding you take responsibility!”

“I wasn’t worried about that—”

“Then don’t worry about anything.” Bai Ziling lifted her head, her cold, fierce demeanor restored. “Jiang Jie, if you have something to say, send your lawyer to me. We don’t need to meet again.”

“You think you get to decide that?” Jiang Jie snapped.

“I don’t want to see you again.”

“What if I insist on making you see me?”

“Jiang Jie, you’re not that idle—and besides, you’ve already seen me. Don’t worry, I won’t kill myself, and you can’t make me ‘wish I were dead.’ I’ll live my life well!” She assured him. “You owe me nothing.”

“Bai Ziling, I may have seemed heartless, but I can change my attitude—if you…” He had taken Lei Hanyu’s words to heart.

“Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying.” She didn’t even want to.

“I mean, perhaps we could…”

“I’m busy!”

“Bai Ziling, can we try again?” Jiang Jie stated his demand outright. “The time isn’t up yet—”

“You mean I still owe you nearly a month, and you want it back?” She misunderstood him. “Are you really that unwilling to lose even a little? Should I pay you cash for those days?”

“You’ve got it all wrong!” Jiang Jie wanted to drag her home, tie her to the bed, and force her to listen. He never thought a woman could make him this furious, this out of control—even when Yu Siqi married Shen Shi, he hadn’t been this enraged.

“Never!” she refused instantly.

“Never?!”

“I’ll never try anything with you again!” Bai Ziling was firm. “I’m a smart, mature woman—I won’t let myself do anything stupid again. That night… I gave you everything I owed you. You have no right to ask for more!”

“Are you really this cold-hearted?!”

“I learned it from you.” Her voice was hoarse. “The night I took my things and left, I told myself I’d never turn back—I’d hate you for the rest of my life.”

Jiang Jie was shaken by her hatred.

“Go. I have my own life to live.”

Jiang Jie turned and walked away. Some things couldn’t be rushed; forcing the issue now was pointless. He could give himself and Bai Ziling more time. Perhaps… then things would be different.

I hope they will be different!

Di Zhiwei found Bai Ziling in a coffee shop under renovation. Watching her focus intently with the designer on renovation details, he simply watched her patiently, completely absorbed.

When Bai Ziling accidentally spotted Di Zhiwei, she was surprised. After a few more words with the designer, she walked over to him.

“How did you know I was here?”

“If you really want to find someone, you will.” He gave her a charming smile. “You’re opening a coffee shop?”

“I can’t stay unemployed forever.”

“It’s nice for a woman to run a coffee shop.”

“At least it’s not hard labor, and the people who come to coffee shops are mostly simple—perfect for me.” Bai Ziling explained her motivation. “Lately, I’ve even spent money learning how to brew ‘real’ coffee—it’s an art. Now I finally understand why others open coffee shops.”

“But you don’t have to suffer so much!” Di Zhiwei looked at her with concern. “Women should be cherished, loved, cared for by men—why risk your life like this?”

“Di Zhiwei, women have long been independent.”

Di Zhiwei suddenly changed the subject. “You really left my cousin?”

“Why bring up that dead topic?!”

“Are you truly done with him?”

“Yes!” she snapped.

“Completely clean?”

“Di Zhiwei, what do you want?!” Bai Ziling realized her patience was wearing thin—especially when Jiang Jie was involved. Her emotions surged like a volcano about to erupt. “He’s your cousin—your family’s concern is your business, but don’t bother me!”

“Have you filed for divorce?” Di Zhiwei asked cautiously—he needed clarity.

“Not yet!” she shouted again.

“Why not?”

“Ask your cousin.”

“He went to England for a meeting yesterday—he won’t be back for a week.” Di Zhiwei indirectly revealed his cousin’s whereabouts.

“Then wait a week and ask him. I’ll sign the papers without hesitation.” Bai Ziling’s heart had turned cold—she no longer expected anything from Jiang Jie. “Di Zhiwei, if you want me to treat you politely, don’t mention that man again.”

“Bai Ziling, I just need to understand the situation—I don’t want to pursue a married woman,” Di Zhiwei admitted.

“Don’t pursue me!” she ordered.

“You can’t stop me.”

She spoke calmly, firmly: “There won’t be any chance.”

“You’ve said that before—but I don’t believe it.”

“Di Zhiwei…” Bai Ziling had wanted to stay silent, but if she didn’t speak, he’d never give up. So she revealed what she never wanted to say: “I slept with Jiang Jie.”

“You two…” He couldn’t pretend he was surprised.

“Now you can give up!”

“You’re… kidding me, right?”

“Why would I lie about something like that?” Bai Ziling’s expression was cold. “It’s not something honorable or worth boasting about—I don’t want to talk about it again. It’s over. The only thing left between us is a divorce agreement.”

“Did my cousin force you?!”

“I wasn’t raped.” Bai Ziling said. “If that’s what you mean, Jiang Jie isn’t that kind of man—but…”

“But what?”

“But he’s worse than that kind of man!” In Bai Ziling’s eyes lay the emptiness of utter despair. “I’ll never forgive him—and you… save your energy. There’s no chance.”

Di Zhiwei fell silent. He needed to think—needed to think carefully.

On the day Jiang Jie returned from England, it was the opening day of Bai Ziling’s coffee shop, “Chen Meng.” Standing outside, Jiang Jie watched the bustling scene inside. For some reason, a popular idol group had come to cut the ribbon—it looked impressively official.

Bai Ziling wore the same silver Versace strapless dress. She clearly favored it, and her radiant, ethereal beauty stirred his heart. This woman was his—once his, still his in name.

Should he go in?

He saw Xia Zhen, Lei Hanyu, and presumably Sima Xingchen and her husband. With Chang Weiwei still in confinement, everyone who cared for her seemed to be there. Should he walk in and invite humiliation?

Bai Ziling didn’t deliberately scan for Jiang Jie—but his commanding presence and striking demeanor, even across the street, made him impossible to ignore. Afraid he might burst in, she lifted her dress hem and quickly stepped out of her coffee shop, then crossed the street…