Chapter 27

In the moment of rage when I flipped the table, I saw a flicker of pity in Lu Tong’s eyes.

That look had appeared on my face too many times before.

Like when I dismissed a department manager.

Or when I turned down a supplier whose funding chain had collapsed.

Or the night I broke up with Liang Wan, the last time I looked at her.

I still insisted on not agreeing to the divorce.

No matter what Lu Tong said to provoke me.

Until she turned her head to speak with the lawyer, revealing the kiss marks on her neck.

I was so angry I ground my teeth.

Suppressing the urge to hit someone, I forced myself to speak sarcastically, “Weren’t you pretending to be all high and mighty, just friends? And yet…”

“Zhou Heran, are you blind or something?”

“This is gua sha¹.”

Lu Tong pulled down her collar, revealing a large patch of dark red on her shoulder and neck.

“Got heatstroke during a bike ride last week, Cheng Yu took me for gua sha.”

“Just like when you had acute gastroenteritis last month, Jiang Yu stayed by your side for three days.”

She suddenly leaned close to me, carrying the scent of an unfamiliar men’s cologne.

“Do you know why I agreed to an open marriage that day?”

I froze in place.

Something exploded in my mind.

Lu Tong smiled as she pushed me away and left the tea room.

She no longer insisted on an amicable divorce but opted for litigation.

The lawyer said, “Litigation takes a long time, if you don’t want a divorce…”

I interrupted the lawyer.

My friend’s divorce case with his wife had already concluded.

Both families ended up in an ugly mess.

I drove to the hospital where Lu Tong’s mother was admitted.

Divorce?

How could that be possible?

Footnote:

1. Gua Sha(刮痧):A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique in which a smooth-edged tool (e.g., jade, horn, or ceramic) is used to scrape the skin, typically on the back, neck, or limbs. This process is believed to stimulate blood flow, relieve muscle tension, and promote healing. It often leaves temporary red or purple marks on the skin, which are considered a normal part of the treatment.