Chapter 7: Chapter Five

After the incident at the obstetrics clinic, Jiang Jie and Bai Ziling lived a life of “mutual respect,” and if they deliberately avoided each other, they could go two or three days without meeting.

That day, Jiang Jie returned home unexpectedly early, and coincidentally, Bai Ziling was halfway through her shower when her phone rang loudly; she assumed Jiang Jie wouldn’t be back so soon, so she dashed out wrapped only in a large towel to answer it—but Jiang Jie had already arrived ahead of her, and upon seeing her in this “state,” he calmly answered the call.

Since Jiang Jie had already taken the call, Bai Ziling immediately turned away; she had no intention of tempting him like this—she never expected him back so early; it was purely an accident.

“It’s for you,” Jiang Jie’s voice was slightly hoarse.

“Tell her to call back later,” she said without turning around.

“You’re already here,” he seemed determined that she take the call right there.

Bai Ziling turned around; since he said so, she decided to be more open—after all, the large towel wrapped around her covered more than a three-piece bikini, leaving only her shoulders, arms, and long legs exposed, while everything else was properly concealed.

“Hello!” she answered quickly.

Jiang Jie knew he should leave—there was nothing worth listening to—but he couldn’t move. Her long hair was pinned at the back of her head; everywhere else not covered by the towel was wet, exuding a seductive fragrance and an indescribable sensuality. Imagining her in the shower… even a priest or a monk would probably…

“Weivi, I’m showering now—I’ll call you back later…”

Jiang Jie didn’t want to stand beside her like a man bewitched, but he had always thought of her as a harmless girl—now he was profoundly shaken.

“I haven’t ordered it yet!” Bai Ziling said anxiously.

Jiang Jie noticed a mole on Bai Ziling’s shoulder—it made her seem more womanly. Why had he never noticed it before?

“Weivi, Xingchen is still thinking about it.”

Jiang Jie took a deep breath and caught her body scent.

“I’ll definitely get it done!”

Unable to control his restless urges, Jiang Jie deliberately looked toward the balcony—he had to shift his focus.

“Bye, I’ll call you again,” Bai Ziling hung up, then took a deep breath—and realized Jiang Jie was still standing behind her.

“You’re done talking.”

“What?” she was startled.

“Nothing!” Jiang Jie didn’t think Bai Ziling was a seductive beauty, but her unintentional sensuality made his heart tingle.

“I… haven’t finished showering.”

“Then… keep going!”

“You… rarely come home this early.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Of course not,” she sniffed. “This is your house—you can come home whenever you want.”

“You’re right.”

“Have you… eaten yet?” She didn’t know why she didn’t hurry back to the bathroom—she shouldn’t be standing here chatting with him wrapped only in a towel. “There’s leftover pasta in the fridge from my dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.” His “hunger” now was something she couldn’t possibly understand.

“Then…”

“Is there any coffee left?” He could’ve just gone into the kitchen and checked—the coffee pot would tell him—but instead he stood here chatting with her, savoring the moment like ice cream.

“Yes, I brewed a fresh pot this afternoon.”

“The person who just called…” Jiang Jie had never been so indecisive—but he didn’t want her to go back to finish her shower just yet.

“It’s Chang Weivi. The four of us saw the latest bag from CD—I was supposed to order it, but Sima Xingchen is still thinking about it. She already has so many bags she couldn’t carry them even with ten hands, so…”

“All women have shopping addictions,” he remarked with a faint smile.

“The government is stimulating consumption,” she shot back bluntly.

“Poor men.”

“Men aren’t pitiful!” Bai Ziling immediately argued, regardless of timing. “We women bear children, raise them, manage households, and handle endless mundane tasks—and if we’re working women too, we’re burning the candle at both ends. Spending a little money on something nice to reward ourselves—is that a crime?”

“I remember your friends all married well—they don’t seem to have it that hard,” he mocked.

“It’s still hard,” she insisted.

“You don’t bear children or raise them—you just go shopping with them?” he teased.

“If I don’t buy now, and my future husband turns out to be a civil servant…” she joked with herself, “I won’t be able to afford anything!”

Hearing her say “my future husband,” Jiang Jie felt a strange pang—he couldn’t bear the thought of her sharing a bed with another man, having his children, and his emotions grew turbulent.

“By the way!” she suddenly remembered. “Why am I telling you all this? We’re in a cold war—I shouldn’t be talking to you!”

“We’re in a cold war?” he laughed.

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“No reason,” she said mischievously. “It’s only about two months left—it’ll be over soon. I can endure it.”

“So if I wanted to take you out for a walk later, you’d refuse without hesitation?” he probed.

Bai Ziling’s mouth dropped open. “You want to take me out for a walk?”

“It’s only eight-something—do you already want to sleep?”

“Of course not!” she said instantly.

“Want to go?” he asked coolly.

“Yes!”

“But you said we’re in a cold war,” he stared at her, his gaze unusually intense and deep—this girl was his “wife,” whether real or nominal, she was undeniably his legal wife.

“We can resume the cold war tomorrow,” she teased. He wanted to take her out… oh my god, she’d been waiting a whole month.

“Ceasefire?”

“One night’s ceasefire,” she said, lifting her chin.

“You… haven’t finished showering,” he reminded her, his gaze drifting over her exposed skin—he’d never thought a woman’s feet were worth looking at, but Bai Ziling’s toes… were incredibly cute, incredibly pleasing.

“Give me five minutes,” she skipped away.

“Take your time—I’ll… wait,” Jiang Jie had never said such a considerate thing to any woman.

Bai Ziling nearly slipped on her wet feet—watching her, Jiang Jie suddenly realized: he hadn’t thought of Yu Siqi in a long, long time. What a miracle.

Jiang Jie never imagined he could stroll casually with a girl over ten years younger than him. Though she lingered longer at boutiques, he focused on her expressions—her wonder, her longing—and at least now, they walked together like a real couple.

That night, Bai Ziling wore a sleeveless floral dress, fitted and knee-length, making her appear slimmer and taller. No wonder men liked “young girls”—youth was invincible. Bai Ziling didn’t need a diploma; with her face and figure alone, she could live luxuriously.

Jiang Jie didn’t deny it—the image of her wrapped only in a towel was deeply etched in his mind, never to fade.

Exhausted from walking, they found an outdoor café. The cool night breeze and leisurely mood gave Jiang Jie, always tense and on edge, a moment of relief.

Bai Ziling didn’t order coffee—she got a sweet-and-sour egg honey drink. Her heart felt no bitterness now—it was sweet and sour, just like the drink, as if she were falling in love.

So Jiang Jie could have this side too—he could be so “human,” no longer always the cold CEO, no longer the aloof superior.

“Jiang Jie, honestly—was a towel really that effective?” Bai Ziling joked with him.

He asked: “Were you trying to provoke me?”

“I had no idea you’d come home so early.”

“Then…” he admitted. “It was extremely effective.”

“But I didn’t show anything—not even my belly button.”

“Have you heard of ‘imagination space’?”

“So if I showed everything, you might not react at all?” she teased, chatting easily with him.

“I don’t know. Want to try showing everything?”

“Not a chance!”

“Bai Ziling, originally… I thought you were a… open-minded girl. After all, it’s 2003—I thought you’d risk everything…”

“Thought I’d sneak into your bed in the dark? Thought I’d sleep with you at any cost just to get rich?” Bai Ziling didn’t get angry—she looked at him calmly. “Jiang Jie, you should thank my three best friends.”

“What do they have to do with it?”

“All four of us value our purity. We can talk big, but we control our actions—we never mess around. Even if we got expelled from school, we held to one limit: never degrade or humiliate ourselves,” Bai Ziling said seriously.

Jiang Jie just listened.

“We all want to marry Jin Guixu—but we never resort to underhanded tactics.”

“They were just lucky?”

“Extremely lucky!”

Jiang Jie had heard about Lei Hanyu and Xia Zhen—they married suddenly, divorced abruptly, then remarried. It wasn’t a secret in Taipei’s social circles.

“I know you probably look down on me in your heart—think I’m a scheming woman who only wants your money, who only wants to be president’s wife forever…” she curled her lip.

“Don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” she admitted frankly.

Jiang Jie laughed. “You’re refreshingly honest—and cute.”

“I want it—but I won’t use any dirty tricks. I’m actually…” she gave him a mysterious look.

“Actually what?”

“Actually, I hope… you’ll fall in love with me!” She laid her final card on the table.

Jiang Jie didn’t respond—his gaze suddenly turned unfathomable. He sipped his cappuccino. He’d never believed he could truly fall in love with any woman—not even Yu Siqi. He’d thought she was the most suitable for him, but she’d embarrassed him, and he’d never forgotten that.

“Do you think it’s possible?” Seeing his silence, she pressed.

“You’ve read too many romance novels,” he evaded.

“So you mean…”

“Love? No one can define it clearly. But the seven necessities of life—firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea—we all understand those perfectly.” He tapped her forehead lightly. “I only need a nominal wife for three months. I have no intention of being married for life.”

“So…” Bai Ziling’s heart began to sink.

“Bai Ziling, we might sleep together—you might get more than three million from me—but love? That’s just a lie for naive teenagers. If real love existed, why would divorce rates be so high?”

There was no rebuttal. Bai Ziling believed love truly existed in this world—but how could she make his stubborn mind understand?

“Like the Duke of Windsor’s ‘give up a throne for love’…” Jiang Jie shook his head. “That’s just insane.”

“That’s a beautiful story.”

“That’s a fairy tale!” He gave another example. “Prince Charles and Princess Diana? That wasn’t fairy tale or myth—it was a joke!”

Bai Ziling glared at him; all her good mood vanished.

“Between men and women… there’s only sex,” Jiang Jie said coldly.

“You’re terrifyingly biased!”

“If I told you to die for a man…”

“If I loved him, I would!”

“Bai Ziling, you’ve probably read too many romance novels. Men want only sex—just a warm, female body. Whether it’s you or some other woman, do you really think it makes any difference to me?” Jiang Jie had succeeded in hurting her.

The cup of egg honey drink in her hand suddenly turned bitter and foul, like gutter water. Bai Ziling slammed it onto the table, face twisted in disgust.

“This is the real world!” he emphasized again.

“I want to go back.” She deliberately avoided saying “home”—his house was never her real home.

“Not shopping anymore?”

“I’ve lost the mood.”

“Bai Ziling, stop dreaming!” Jiang Jie smiled. “If I could fall in love so easily, I’d have fallen hundreds, even thousands of times by now. Grow up!”

“Jiang Jie, you’re rich, you look presentable—but in reality… you’re a monster who deserves to be torn into a thousand pieces!”

“Torn into a thousand pieces?”

She escalated: “Or pierced by ten thousand arrows.”

“Because I told the truth?”

“Because you’re cold-blooded, selfish, heartless.”

“That just means I’m normal.”

Bai Ziling shot to her feet. She’d thought her “truce for one night” had been accidental—but they couldn’t even last one night in peace. The more she understood him, the more disappointed she became. For him to love her? It would be easier to climb to heaven.

“Bai Ziling, I know many ‘Jin Guixu.’ Once you’re free from me, I could—”

“Jiang Jie, torn into a thousand pieces and pierced by ten thousand arrows isn’t enough. I hope you…” She smiled sweetly. “Drown forever in the ocean of love’s suffering, never reaching shore in this life or any next.”

At a gratitude banquet hosted by a vendor, Jiang Jie met Di Zhiwei and was surprised.

“How come it’s you? Where’s Uncle?”

“He’s got a close relationship with the vendor but can’t leave himself, so he sent his lazy, spoiled son as his representative!” Di Zhiwei said with careless charm. “Where’s your wife?”

“Bai Ziling?”

“Cousin, do you have another wife?” Di Zhiwei teased.

“I don’t—but the way you asked sounded so natural, like she really was my wife, that I didn’t catch on right away.” Jiang Jie challenged him with a look.

“Where is she?” Di Zhiwei still seemed concerned for her.

“At home.”

“Why didn’t you bring her?”

Jiang Jie answered coldly: “Why should I bring her?”

His reaction made Di Zhiwei smile inwardly. He dared not laugh openly, fearing his cousin might fly into a rage. Clearly, the Jin Tongyunu pair weren’t getting along. After speaking with Bai Ziling last time, he’d thought there might be progress—or change—but…

“Cousin, I had coffee with ‘Cousin-in-law.’” Di Zhiwei spoke as if casually.

“You met?!” Jiang Jie was stunned.

“Didn’t Cousin-in-law tell you?”

“No.” His gaze was unreadable.

“You two… aren’t getting along?” Di Zhiwei grinned. “Cousin, I always thought you could charm any woman effortlessly. Bai Ziling’s just a girl in her early twenties.”

“Di Zhiwei, what are you up to?” Jiang Jie glared at him.

“Cousin, this is a fake marriage, so… can I court Bai Ziling?” Di Zhiwei, used to doing as he pleased, spoke bluntly.

“You want to court her?!” Jiang Jie couldn’t believe it.

“Can I?”

“You…” Jiang Jie was speechless. His closest cousin wanted to court his “wife.” If anyone found out, it would be a laughingstock. “Di Zhiwei, are you joking with me or playing a prank? Explain clearly.”

“I’m serious!” Di Zhiwei was unusually serious.

“Does Bai Ziling know?”

“I’ve only had coffee with her once. Don’t make it sound like we’re already secretly involved. I like her. And since you married her only for Grandfather’s inheritance, I think I have every right to court her…” He looked perfectly reasonable.

“A month will pass quickly!” Jiang Jie warned. “Have a little dignity. Don’t let people say my wife ran off with my cousin right after our wedding.”

“Cousin, that sounds awful.”

“Can’t you chase some other woman?” Jiang Jie said bitterly. What the hell was this?

“How long until Grandfather’s inheritance hits your account?” Di Zhiwei only cared about this one thing.

“I’ve submitted the pregnancy proof to Uncle. If things move fast… probably one or two weeks.”

“Will you and Bai Ziling separate sooner?” he asked eagerly.

“Di Zhiwei, you want me to divorce her the moment I get the money? Do you think Uncle won’t suspect?” Jiang Jie exploded. He’d always treated Di Zhiwei like his own brother—but now he wanted to beat him senseless. Bai Ziling was still, at least, his legal wife!

“Once the money’s in your account, what can Uncle do even if he suspects? You can announce Bai Ziling had a sudden miscarriage, you two had a huge fight, and decided to divorce.”

“Di Zhiwei…”

“I’ve already thought it all out for you.”

“Thank you,” he gritted.

“If you have no interest in Bai Ziling, don’t stop someone who does,” Di Zhiwei said, either provoking Jiang Jie or genuinely determined to pursue her. “You can’t bind her forever.”

Jiang Jie now wanted to cut his cousin to pieces—and what the hell was Bai Ziling doing? What had she done to Zhiwei? How had she bewitched him? He needed to know immediately.

Bai Ziling was curled up on the sofa watching a DVD—Western version of “The Ring.” The plot was gripping and shocking. The scene where the ghost girl crawled out of the well, then up from the TV screen onto the floor, was genuinely terrifying. No wonder some viewers avoided TVs for weeks after watching. The ghost was truly horrifying.

Just as it reached its climax, the front door slammed open. Too absorbed in the screen, Bai Ziling hadn’t heard it. When the door crashed shut, she screamed and leapt onto the sofa, frantically scanning the room.

Jiang Jie didn’t understand her reaction. He glanced at the TV, then slowly approached her.

Bai Ziling was genuinely frightened. If they’d been getting along, she’d have kissed him to calm down. But since they were strangers, she could only glare.

“Did you do something wrong?” Jiang Jie tossed his keys carelessly, making a clatter.

“Who did something wrong?” Bai Ziling jumped off the sofa. Fear gave way to anger. What had she done to him?

“Turn off the TV.”

“It’s the final scene.”

“Turn it off!” he repeated.

Bai Ziling stared at him. She’d never seen him this angry—as if she’d committed some grave sin. Though reluctant, she obediently turned off the TV. The ending could wait.

“Sit down.”

“What? Are you going to lecture me?”

“Bai Ziling, my mood right now…” He gave her a warning look.

“What did I do?” She sat down. “Do you think I’m a criminal? Did I kill someone or rob a bank?”

“Di Zhiwei.” Jiang Jie spat out the name coldly.

Bai Ziling thought. “Your cousin?”

“You really met him, had coffee together!” So Zhiwei hadn’t been joking—they really had something.

“I just happened to run into him. He called out to me, so…”

“Bai Ziling, listen up—you’re still my Jiang Jie’s ‘wife.’ You still have one million five hundred thousand left to collect. If you behave improperly, I’ll withhold that payment!” Jiang Jie threatened her furiously.

“I behaved improperly?!”

“Ask yourself.”

“Jiang Jie, I just had coffee with Di Zhiwei—not checked into a hotel room. You have no right to insult me!” Bai Ziling stood up angrily. “Can’t I socialize with your relatives? Di Zhiwei knows our situation—you told him everything.”

“I didn’t tell you to have coffee with him,” Jiang Jie snapped.

“Will having coffee with him kill you?”

“Bai Ziling, he said he wants to court you!” He stared at her coldly. “You’ve only had coffee once—and already you’ve got him hooked? You’re really something. I underestimated you.”

“He said he wants to court me?!” Bai Ziling was startled.

“He told me himself.”

“He must be joking!” she rushed to say. “We just talked nicely—but to say he’s courting me? Impossible!”

“What did you talk about that was so nice?” Jiang Jie sounded like he was picking bones out of an egg. He was full of jealousy and rage.

“Just small talk.” She didn’t want to elaborate.

“Just small talk?” he sneered.

“Jiang Jie, could you be misunderstanding your cousin?” Bai Ziling didn’t want to be labeled an unchaste woman.

“Want to confront him?”

“I’m not trying to confront him. I just…” She felt helpless. “It’s nothing.”

Jiang Jie believed nothing was happening now—but Di Zhiwei had only had coffee with her once, and already he was smitten, eager for her to be free. He knew his cousin well. He could tell a joke from the truth. Zhiwei meant it.

“I won’t allow you to meet my cousin alone again,” Jiang Jie ordered, authoritarian. “After the divorce, do whatever you want. But as long as you’re my legal wife, behave yourself.”

“Jiang Jie, you’re making me sound like a whore!” Bai Ziling couldn’t accept how he saw her.

“That’s what you said yourself.”

“You…” She wanted to grab something and throw it at him, but Bai Ziling couldn’t decide what to throw—his decorations and keepsakes all looked precious and valuable.

“Only forty-five days left, just a month and a half—you should be able to endure it!” Jiang Jie sneered.

“I want it now…”

“Don’t even think about it!”

“Fine! I’ll give up one point five million!” she shouted at him.

“You can give up one point five million, but I still want my five hundred million. Frankly, I don’t want to maintain this permanent ‘marriage’ either—once the forty-five days are up, we divorce immediately. I won’t let you stay a second longer!” Jiang Jie laid it all out clearly.

Bai Ziling bit her lip and stayed silent.

“But during this time… please behave with dignity and self-respect.”

“Jiang Jie, you should…”

“I won’t go to hell, I won’t be pierced by ten thousand arrows—but you…” He dropped a final line, “Beware of being crushed to death by falling stones for stepping outside the marriage!”