I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 26

Fu Hexu had been waiting in the private room for Fu Xunzhou for quite some time, but there was still no sign of him. Pushing open the door, he stepped out and immediately spotted Xunzhou sitting in the main dining area.

Xunzhou sat alone, and every now and then, young women passing by would steal glances in his direction. Some were even bold enough to walk past multiple times, just to sneak another look at him.

On the table in front of him was a pot of fruit tea. The pot was still full, clearly just ordered.

Fu Hexu, feeling a bit thirsty, sat down across from Xunzhou without hesitation. Without saying a word, he grabbed a cup and poured himself some tea.

“Is this the standard for restaurants these days? This place is ranked number one on the recommendation list-how did it even get there?” Fu Hexu grumbled.

Xunzhou, seemingly indifferent, didn’t respond.

He hadn’t touched his food back in the private room, completely lacking an appetite. Yet just a moment ago, he had wanted to take another bite of the Candied Sweet Potato, only to be stopped by the staff.

Regret suddenly crept in-regret for not casting his vote for her earlier. Though to her, his vote probably didn’t mean much, he still couldn’t shake the feeling of missed opportunity. But there was no undoing it now.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Xunzhou’s gaze instinctively drifted toward Zhou Youling, who wasn’t far away.

Fu Hexu followed his line of sight and spotted Youling as well.

She sat there quietly, exuding a beauty so striking it was impossible to ignore. When she was Xunzhou’s wife, she had tried so hard to appear dignified and virtuous, even restraining her laughter for fear he might disapprove.

But now, she no longer cared about his opinions. She was simply herself.

“What’s the matter? Not going over to say hello?” Fu Hexu teased.

Xunzhou withdrew his gaze, his expression unreadable.

For a fleeting moment, he had considered going over. But seeing the indifference in her eyes, he realized his presence would likely only make her uncomfortable.

Fu Hexu smirked. “Come on, you two were married. Nanzhou City is such a small place-you can’t possibly avoid each other forever.”

“Maybe not.”

Fu Hexu pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Since smoking wasn’t allowed in the restaurant, he simply toyed with the pack in his hand. Squinting at Xunzhou, he asked, “Be honest. Do you regret it?”

“Regret what?” Xunzhou replied flatly.

“Regret what?” Fu Hexu burst into laughter. “Don’t play dumb. It’s written all over your face-you regret it.”

Xunzhou’s face remained stoic, but he didn’t respond.

His emotions were a tangled mess, and for once, he couldn’t come up with a rebuttal.

Fu Hexu reached out and patted Xunzhou on the shoulder. “A real man knows when to bend and when to stand tall. If it’s eating you up, just go win her back. It’s not the end of the world.”

Xunzhou brushed Hexu’s hand off his shoulder, his expression screaming one thing: Not happening.

“Alright, alright.” Fu Hexu raised his hands in mock surrender. “But don’t come crying to me later when you realize you’ve got no wife left, little brother.”

Xunzhou froze for a moment, a crack seeming to form in his otherwise flawless façade.

Stretching lazily, Fu Hexu stood up. “Alright, little brother, I’m done here. Got a sweet young thing waiting for me.”

Xunzhou shot back coldly, “Don’t forget to stay healthy.”

Fu Hexu burst into laughter. “Appreciate the concern.”

Fu Xunzhou took a sip of tea. “You’re welcome.”

Before leaving, Fu Hexu, ever the provocateur, gave a few hearty slaps on Xunzhou’s shoulder. “The night is long, my friend. Take care of yourself.”

Xunzhou was left defeated.

The long, lonely nights without Zhou Youling made his home feel cold and uninviting, a place he had no desire to return to.

–

The Chinese restaurant had an elegant name-Shi Xiang Yan, or “Banquet of Flavors.”

Yet, despite having visited several times, Zhou Youling could never quite remember the name of the place.

She hadn’t intended to complicate matters, but she simply couldn’t tolerate the Kitchen Supervisor’s careless attitude.

In her eyes, if someone held a position, they should fulfill their responsibilities with competence and dedication.

Clearly, this particular Kitchen Supervisor was just coasting. Not only was his attitude lackluster, but his culinary skills were inferior to hers. What right did he have to keep his job?

After the cooking competition, Zhou Youling returned to her seat.

Bai Lingxue grabbed her hand excitedly. “I saw your ex-husband! Nine o’clock, over there!”

Youling kept her head down, deliberately ignoring the gaze she could feel from not far away. She had no interest in dealing with Fu Xunzhou right now. Her focus was entirely on improving the front hall and kitchen of this restaurant.

For a fleeting moment earlier, she had hoped he might vote for the dish she prepared. But his indifferent attitude only reaffirmed her belief that divorcing him had been the right decision.

Looking around, the restaurant was still bustling with customers. Despite the fact that the dishes coming out of the kitchen lacked exceptional flavor, the place owed its popularity largely to social media buzz and its uniquely stylish decor, which drew in young patrons eager to post about their visit.

But Zhou Youling was certain these customers were one-time visitors.

In this fast-paced era, novelty fades quickly. Without something substantial to bring people back, the restaurant would struggle to maintain its success.

For a dining establishment to thrive long-term, one thing was crucial: great taste.

To outsiders, choosing a new restaurant often involved following the crowd. Seeing a packed venue, people would instinctively assume the food must be good. While the dishes here weren’t bad-plated beautifully and free of glaring flaws-they weren’t memorable either. If asked to name the most delicious dish, most customers would likely struggle to pick one. Everything was just… average.

This visit was, in a sense, Zhou Youling’s “undercover inspection” of the restaurant she had recently acquired.

As the new boss, her first priority was clear: fire the current Kitchen Supervisor. But before doing so, she needed to find a suitable replacement.

For now, though, hunger took precedence. She picked up her chopsticks and began eating with gusto.

She hadn’t eaten much all day. Even while cooking earlier, she hadn’t felt hungry. But after the voting concluded, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her heart, and the hunger hit her all at once.

When you’re starving, the bar for flavor drops significantly. At that moment, all that mattered was filling her stomach.

Watching her devour her food, Bai Lingxue couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s going on with you? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you hadn’t eaten in days.”

“Not far from the truth,” Youling replied. She really hadn’t eaten much over the past few days.

Understanding her friend’s situation, Bai Lingxue quietly poured her a glass of water, worried she might choke from eating too quickly.

“What’s your plan next?” Bai Lingxue asked.

Zhou Youling replied, “I’m thinking of renaming the restaurant.”

That wasn’t exactly what Bai Lingxue wanted to ask, but since Youling had shifted the topic, she decided to go along with it. After all, the restaurant now belonged to Youling, and it was perfectly reasonable for her to name it as she pleased.

“Have you decided on a name yet?”

“Food and Color,” Youling said.

“Food and Color?” Bai Lingxue repeated, turning the words over in her mind. “It actually sounds pretty good.”

Youling raised an eyebrow at her, straightened her posture, and said with mock seriousness, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Zhou Youling, the proud owner of Food and Color. I look forward to your support.”

Bai Lingxue played along, responding with equal mock formality, “Oh, no need to be so polite.”

…

Dinner ended early, and Youling and Bai Lingxue sat idly at their table, each absorbed in their phones.

Bai Lingxue had recently started seeing a new guy, and their budding relationship was heating up. Meanwhile, Youling was busy replying to Ji Yangwen’s text messages.

Outside, the night had long since fallen. Being a weekday, by 8:30 PM, the restaurant’s dining area had mostly emptied out, leaving just a few scattered tables occupied.

After finishing her reply to Yangwen, Youling massaged her temples lightly and said to Bai Lingxue, “I’m planning to check out the night view from that single apartment later. Want to come with me?”

Bai Lingxue nodded eagerly. “Sure! If the night view’s good, I might even consider buying one myself.”

The single apartment Youling had chosen earlier in the afternoon was already fully paid for, but Yangwen had insisted she come back at night to see the place.

“Viewing a property at night not only gives you a better sense of the surrounding area after dark but also helps you understand the neighborhood’s roads, security, and property management,” Yangwen had explained to her.

Youling had to admit, it made sense.

Just a moment ago, Yangwen had sent her another text asking if she was ready to visit the apartment. He even offered to pick her up.

Thinking it wouldn’t hurt to take another look, Youling agreed and sent him her location.

Yangwen’s response came quickly: I’m nearby. I’ll be there in ten minutes.

By now, he was probably already on his way to the restaurant.

Youling touched up her lipstick and began gathering her things.

Bai Lingxue glanced toward Fu Xunzhou, who was still sitting not far away, and offered a gentle reminder. “Your ex-husband is still here! What’s he even waiting for?”

Youling glanced at her phone, her expression indifferent. “Whatever he’s doing, it’s none of my business.”

What he chose to do now had nothing to do with her anymore.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go over and say hi?” Bai Lingxue asked, suddenly feeling a twinge of pity for Xunzhou sitting there all alone.

Youling shot her a glare. “There’s no need.”

From now on, he could walk his sunny path, and she’d tread her solitary bridge. Their lives would no longer intersect.

Bai Lingxue shrugged. “I support you. But, you know, truly letting go means being at peace with it. And honestly, I feel like there’s still something unresolved in your heart.”

Youling wanted to explain herself, but a sudden wave of nausea hit her. Her stomach churned violently, and she felt an overwhelming urge to vomit.

Clutching her mouth, she frowned deeply, clearly uncomfortable.

Seeing the change in Youling’s expression, Bai Lingxue grew concerned. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Zhou Youling took a while to steady herself, trying to shake off the lingering nausea. She turned to Bai Lingxue and said, “It’s been a few days now. I keep feeling queasy, but I never actually throw up.”

“Oh…” Bai Lingxue narrowed her eyes slightly. “Have you also been losing your appetite lately?”

Zhou Youling nodded. “Yeah, my appetite wasn’t great for a while, but tonight I actually ate pretty well.”

“You don’t think…” Bai Lingxue leaned closer and mouthed the word, “pregnant?”

Zhou Youling froze for a moment, then instinctively denied it. “That’s impossible!”

Every time, precautions had been taken. If she were going to get pregnant, it would’ve happened long ago. For it to happen now? The universe would really be playing a cruel joke on her.

Bai Lingxue pressed on, “When was the last time you had your period?”

Zhou Youling’s cycle had always been irregular, so she hadn’t kept track. “About two months ago, give or take.”

Bai Lingxue tilted her head. “Have you noticed any other changes? Like, are you sleeping more than usual?”

Zhou Youling thought for a moment and nodded. But then again, she’d always loved sleeping. That didn’t necessarily mean anything, right?

Bai Lingxue hesitated before asking, “Can I be blunt? When was the last time you… you know, with your ex-husband?”

Zhou Youling fell silent.

Doing the math, it had been nearly two months since Fu Xunzhou’s last business trip. The realization sent a chill down her spine, and her heart started racing.

Seeing Zhou Youling’s face turn pale, Bai Lingxue quickly tried to reassure her. “Don’t freak out just yet. Let’s stop by a pharmacy later and grab a pregnancy test. We’ll know for sure.”

Zhou Youling nodded in agreement, already feeling an urgent need to leave. She stood up abruptly, her movements almost frantic.

“Wait for me!” Bai Lingxue hurriedly gathered her things. “You don’t have to rush so much. Those tests are usually more accurate in the morning anyway.”

Zhou Youling strode toward the door, but in her haste, she tripped.

Just as she was about to fall, two hands reached out simultaneously to steady her-one on each arm.

It was Fu Xunzhou and Ji Yangwen.

The two men stood on opposite sides of her, their gazes locking in silent confrontation.

Fu Xunzhou’s voice was calm but firm. “Let go.”

Ji Yangwen smirked, his tone dripping with disdain. “And what if I don’t?”