Chapter 22

Ten days before the marriage certificate, I ran into Zhou Heng at a banquet.

I was in the middle of a conversation with Mr. Liu from the client side.

Zhou Heng stood silently behind me, holding a glass of wine.

Just as I finished sharing my views on a certain project, he spoke up quietly:

“I didn’t know you had such vision.”

Mr. Liu laughed, teasing him:

“President Zhou, this is no canary you’ve raised-she’s a golden phoenix!”

Zhou Heng took a sip of wine, those long, narrow eyes half-closed as he stared at me, giving a deep “Hmm.”

A chill crept over me.

I leaned over and clinked glasses with Mr. Liu, then tilted my head back and drained the wine.

“You have a short memory, sir. Zhou Heng and I agreed to divorce long ago.”

An uproar rippled around us.

Zhou Heng’s expression visibly stiffened.

Mr. Liu gave an awkward laugh, trying to smooth things over:

“Oh, that was my mistake, Ms. Shu, please don’t mind me.”

I knew the only reason he bothered to talk to me was probably out of respect for Zhou Heng.

Back when I was Mrs. Zhou, I never showed my face at these kinds of occasions.

Even at work, at most I was just a decorative companion.

But tonight, I was the main negotiator.

I had my own value, my own seat at the table.

“So, about the cooperation we just discussed…”

“Of course we’ll sign!”

Mr. Liu laughed heartily, personally calling over a waiter to refill my glass.

“You’re about the same age as my daughter. To have the guts and determination to split with a billionaire husband at this age-truly a heroine among women.”

“Just for that spirit, I have to sign this deal!”

…

When I came out of the restroom, Zhou Heng was waiting, leaning against the wall.

I kept my gaze straight ahead.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist.

His eyes were complicated.

“I can’t forget you. I’ve been thinking about you these days.”

“The secretary told me you’d be here tonight. I canceled a business trip just to see you.”

He gave a self-mocking laugh, Adam’s apple bobbing:

“I thought I could let go, but the moment I saw you, I realized I still love you. I love you more than I thought I did.”

“I don’t want a divorce… Yanyan, I’m begging you, please don’t divorce me.”

His voice dropped lower, the end trembling with a hint of choked sobs.

In the side corridor where anyone could appear, Zhou Heng pleaded with me, voice low and humble, pride thrown aside.

The old me could never stand seeing him like this.

Every time we argued, no matter how big the mistake, as soon as he whispered, eyes red, “I was wrong,” my heart would soften instantly.

But now…

I raised my phone-click.

He froze.

I flipped the screen. On it was the glaring red lipstick mark behind his ear.

“Did you remember your unborn child before you got turned on?”

I let out a cold, indifferent laugh:

“A divorce by agreement, cutting things clean-that’s the last shred of dignity I’m leaving us both.”

“Don’t disgust me by pestering me like this again.”

“If you try it again, I swear I’ll make you pay the price.”