Chapter 4

When I got in the car, I remembered I had to take care of things at hand, so I had the paparazzi come early in the morning to collect a check, buying out all of today’s tabloid stories about Zhong Yichen.

The next time I heard from Zhong Yichen was a few days later.

After Zhang Jiamin came back, he became much more restrained.

Thinking of the deal with The Old Man, I had the driver take a detour to pick up Zhong Yichen.

When I arrived, the door was open, and inside a group of people were playing cards, including Zhang Jiamin.

She happened to win a hand, and the man sitting across from her complimented, “Sao Zi¹, you’re really on a roll tonight. You’ve been sweeping the table all evening. If this keeps up, I’ll have to bet my underwear. Please have mercy on us.”

Zhang Jiamin pressed her lips into a smile, just about to speak.

Zhong Yichen looked up and saw me at the door. He took a drag of his cigarette and cursed, “The real Sao Zi is the one standing at the door. Are you blind, calling the wrong person? No wonder you haven’t won a hand all night.”

That man saw me and stood up in a panic, “Ah… Sao Zi…”

When Zhang Jiamin saw me, her face turned pale.

Seeing this scene, I knew Zhong Yichen had done it on purpose.

He always made me watch on purpose, doing everything he could to force me to divorce and give up my place, yet he just wouldn’t actually divorce me.

His reasoning was simple: “She’s young and inexperienced. It’s fine to keep her around for fun, but who would seriously marry her? Having you as Madam Zhong is enough.”

I glanced around at the people in the room, left the driver who had followed behind, and told him to pick up Zhong Yichen later.

Then I nodded politely and turned to leave.

I had just reached the door when Zhang Jiamin blocked my way.

Two years ago she was an eighteen-year-old girl, now she’s only twenty, still fresh and lively.

She was slightly out of breath, her voice soft: “Mrs. Zhong, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to destroy your family. I tried to leave, tried to forget, but I just couldn’t.”

“I can’t forget Mr. Zhong. I love him very much, but please believe me, I truly never wanted to ruin your family.”

“Between me and Mr. Zhong… we just met too late. If he had met me back then, I would be Madam Zhong too…”

“I’m sorry, that’s not what I meant. Anyway, I’m sincerely here to apologize to you. If there’s a next life, I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”

“But in this life, I can’t give Mr. Zhong back to you. I’m sorry.”

I looked her up and down. Two years ago, she could only afford clothes that cost thirty or fifty yuan, but now she’s dressed head to toe in understated luxury, the shoes on her feet alone worth three years of working in a department store.

There are many sparrows. I used to be one, now it’s Zhang Jiamin.

I didn’t say a word, nor did I care to speak to her.

I wouldn’t try to use words of morality and conscience to awaken a mistress.

If she knew how to write the word “morality,” she wouldn’t be so eager to be someone’s kept woman.

“You should divorce Mr. Zhong!” Her voice came from behind me. “Let him go!”

At this moment, the people inside looked at each other, and someone dared to glance at Zhong Yichen, whose face was cold.

“Chen-Ge², aren’t you going after Sao Zi? When a woman gets angry, she might really ask for a divorce.”

Zhong Yichen looked at the picture of the two-million-yuan check in his hand, lost in thought.

After a while, he finally smiled and said, “Wouldn’t divorce be great? I’d be free and easy.”

Footnote:

1. Sao Zi(嫂子):This is a common Chinese term of address (literally “older brother’s wife”) used respectfully and informally for a married woman, often someone older or in a respected position within a social group. It functions similarly to “madam” or “auntie” in English, conveying politeness and familiarity without necessarily implying a literal family tie.
2. -Ge(-哥):Ge, in Chinese, using “xx哥” to address someone is quite common, especially in Mainland China and other Chinese-speaking communities. This way of addressing typically carries a sense of affection and friendliness, indicating respect and amiability towards the person.