I'm Done with the Elite Marriage - Chapter 37

Table 3 was practically encircled by onlookers, all eagerly awaiting the outcome of this spectacle. The crowd, thrilled by the unexpected twist, couldn’t believe their eyes. Who would have thought that the diners at this table would be so audacious as to plant cockroaches in the dish themselves, just to cause a scene? It was truly a case of seeing is believing.

Everyone turned their attention to Xue Yining, who, despite her innocent and harmless appearance, had orchestrated such a scheme. It was a stark reminder that appearances can be deceiving.

“How dare you ask the boss to eat a cockroach? You should eat it yourself!”

“Young lady, you shouldn’t behave like this. You should have some dignity.”

“Tsk tsk, so this is what they call a ‘white lotus’? I’ve learned something new today.”

“Eat the cockroach!”

For the first time in her life, Xue Yining found herself the center of such intense scrutiny. Suddenly, she burst into laughter and slapped Zhou Youling’s hand away. “Zhou Youling! Who do you think you are?”

Standing nearby, Zhou Xiaoming, worried that Zhou Youling might be attacked, quickly stepped in and grabbed Xue Yining’s hand. “Please, show some respect.”

Unable to shake off Zhou Xiaoming’s grip, Xue Yining shouted at Zhou Youling, “What makes you better than me? The Zhou Family is just a facade now, not even as good as the Xue family. You’re not as pure or as pretty as I am, so why did Fu Xunzhou marry you?”

Zhou Youling gently patted Zhou Xiaoming, who stood protectively in front of her, and whispered, “It’s okay.”

She was confident in her own abilities and wasn’t afraid of the unarmed Xue Yining. In fact, Zhou Xiaoming’s protective gesture warmed her heart.

Xue Yining broke free from Zhou Xiaoming’s grasp and stood before Zhou Youling. “Look at you, imitating me from head to toe. You copied my long hair, my quiet demeanor. Zhou Youling, isn’t it pathetic?”

Zhou Youling stood frozen, as if Xue Yining’s words had pierced her heart, rendering her speechless.

Xue Yining continued, “It’s all because of you! You took everything from me! If it weren’t for you, Fu Xunzhou might have married me! Yes, I was the one who spread the rumors about you being a homewrecker. But you know what? Fu Xunzhou never dated me, not even once.”

Zhou Youling grabbed Xue Yining by the collar, gritting her teeth. “What did you say?”

“Hahaha. Isn’t it funny? You thought Fu Xunzhou liked me, so you tried so hard to emulate me. But guess what? Fu Xunzhou never even glanced at me.” Xue Yining seemed to have nothing left to lose, her dignity shattered. “I’m so happy you and Fu Xunzhou got divorced. Congratulations to me.”

Xue Yining’s smug expression made Zhou Youling want to slap her across the face.

Zhou Youling had never imagined that someone so shameless could exist in this world.

“Do you want to hit me?” Xue Yining taunted fearlessly. “I made a special trip to see you on the day of your divorce, just to witness your expression. I’m so glad you looked just as I imagined-sad, heartbroken, and despairing.”

Zhou Youling looked at the unfamiliar woman before her and was almost certain of one thing: “You must be out of your mind.”

Why else would someone do something like this unless there was something wrong with them?

Everything about this situation defied Zhou Youling’s understanding of the world. She simply couldn’t comprehend Xue Yining’s actions.

“Yes, I’m out of my mind,” Xue Yining admitted openly. “I’ve been crazy since three years ago. Watching the man I love most walk down the aisle with you, do you know how much that hurt?”

“I don’t know,” Zhou Youling replied coldly. At that time, she had no idea who Xue Yining was. But suddenly, rumors began to spread, claiming that Xue Yining had once been involved with Fu Xunzhou. If Zhou Youling hadn’t come between them, Xue Yining would have been the one marrying Fu Xunzhou.

“Right, you didn’t know. But you know now, don’t you?” Xue Yining said. “Do you think I can’t see it? You love Fu Xunzhou, you love him to death. But you divorced him because of me, and now your heart must be breaking, right?”

The onlookers had pieced together the story. This woman was a classic case of someone who couldn’t have what she wanted, so she sought to ruin others’ happiness.

The situation kept taking unexpected turns, keeping everyone thoroughly entertained.

“Young lady, aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”

“Why make life hard for another woman? If you have the guts, go after the man!”

“How can you live with yourself? It’s disgraceful!”

“I’ve never seen someone so disgusting.”

“You’re crazy!”

Xue Yining turned to the crowd and shouted, “All of you, shut up! What do you know?”

Zhou Youling didn’t want to hear any more of Xue Yining’s nonsense. She instructed Zhou Xiaoming, “Call the police to handle this. I don’t want to see her again.”

Xue Yining was taken away in disgrace.

Zhou Youling was also left emotionally drained.

She sat in her chair, replaying Xue Yining’s words in her mind, as if it had all been a dream.

…

At nine in the evening, Bai Lingxue hurried to Food and Color.

Because it was a weekday, the restaurant was sparsely populated at this hour. Perhaps the sudden drop in temperature and the rain had kept people away, making the place less crowded than usual.

Ji Yangwen sent Zhou Youling a message: [I heard it snowed in Nanzhou City today. It’s a pity I’m away on a business trip. Could you tell me if the snow is beautiful?]

Zhou Youling replied with a smile: [I haven’t seen any snow, but it’s been raining nonstop.]

Ji Yangwen: [Stay warm.]

Zhou Youling sat by the window, cradling a cup of hot milk. The sudden drop in temperature that afternoon, along with the wind and rain outside, made the streets seem a bit desolate.

Bai Lingxue shielded herself from the rain as she dashed into the restaurant, heading straight for Zhou Youling.

“Where’s that wretch Xue Yining?” Bai Lingxue asked.

Zhou Youling handed her the cup of milk. “Warm your hands. As for Xue Yining, the police have already taken her away.”

Today, Xue Yining seemed truly unhinged. When the police arrived, not only did she refuse to cooperate, but she also kicked one of the officers, which constituted assaulting a police officer.

Zhou Youling genuinely suspected that Xue Yining had some psychological issues.

Bai Lingxue exclaimed, “I’m so furious, it’s outrageous! If there hadn’t been a hidden camera today, would you have ended up eating that cockroach?”

Zhou Youling chuckled, “Stop it, that’s disgusting.”

Bai Lingxue reached out to touch Zhou Youling’s flat stomach, asking, “Did it scare my goddaughter?”

“Not really. By the way, how did your date go today?”

Bai Lingxue’s cheeks turned a shade of pink, whether from the cold or something else, as she pulled out her phone and showed Zhou Youling a photo. “Here’s a picture I sneakily took today. Take a look.”

“Oh my, he’s quite handsome!” Zhou Youling leaned in for a closer look.

“Just ‘quite’ handsome?” Bai Lingxue’s eyes seemed to sparkle with pink hearts. “He’s exactly my type, I’m head over heels.”

Grabbing Zhou Youling’s hand, Bai Lingxue gushed, “Ah, I’m going to die. We held hands today, his hands are so big and warm, and he’s so tall and fair, just my ideal type! Though he’s four years younger than me, he says he doesn’t mind the age difference. I don’t look old, do I?”

Zhou Youling reassured her, “Not at all, you’re only seventeen, how could you be old?”

Bai Lingxue laughed, leaning on Zhou Youling’s shoulder, playfully saying, “Exactly, I’m still a young girl.”

Indeed, when a woman falls in love, she becomes all girly.

Zhou Youling smiled at Bai Lingxue, “Just remember what I said, don’t get fooled.”

“What’s there to fear? He’s so handsome and has such a nice voice, I’d be willing to be fooled.”

Zhou Youling nodded, “That makes some sense.”

The two friends chatted for an hour.

By ten o’clock, the restaurant was nearly empty. However, the restaurant’s policy was to close at midnight, so the night shift staff would remain until then, regardless of whether there were customers.

“We should head back,” Bai Lingxue suggested to Zhou Youling.

Zhou Youling checked the time, stood up, and said, “It’s already ten, let’s go home.”

As they linked arms and were about to leave the restaurant, they encountered Fu Xunzhou at the entrance.

Zhou Youling paused, tightened her grip on Bai Lingxue’s hand, and prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Fu Xunzhou called out.

Zhou Youling stopped and looked up at him.

It had been nearly a month since the divorce, and she had been busy with the restaurant, feeling as if she hadn’t seen him in ages. Yet, seeing him again, it felt like just yesterday. She noticed he seemed leaner, his facial features more pronounced.

“Do you have seafood noodles?” Fu Xunzhou asked.

As a restaurant staff member, Zhou Youling replied, “Yes, we do.”

“Can I order a bowl?” he inquired.

Zhou Youling’s expression remained neutral. “Of course, you can order whatever you like.”

With that, she pulled Bai Lingxue’s hand and pushed open the restaurant door to leave.

As soon as the door opened, a blast of cold air hit them. Zhou Youling shivered, and before she could react, a man’s coat was draped over her shoulders.

The scent of the coat enveloped her, startling Zhou Youling. She quickly turned to return the coat to Fu Xunzhou.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” she said, maintaining a polite distance.

Fu Xunzhou opened his mouth to speak but ultimately watched as Zhou Youling walked away. She got into the passenger seat of Bai Lingxue’s car. She still didn’t drive, and she still disliked the cold.

What Zhou Youling didn’t know was that during the nearly month-long period since the divorce, Fu Xunzhou had been sitting quietly in his car across from Food and Color almost every day. He didn’t dare to approach her, only watching from afar.

At ten at night, Zhou Youling no longer sat on the couch at home waiting for him, nor did she prepare late-night snacks for him.

Soon, a waiter approached Fu Xunzhou, asking, “Sir, would you like a bowl of seafood noodles?”

Fu Xunzhou shook his head slightly. “The seafood noodles I want can only be made by one person, but she won’t make them for me anymore.”