Chapter 6 Regret

• Buckling under the murderous glare of Lin Jue, Li Mingxuan flung away Shen Peibai’s hand and said apprehensively, “S-sorry, I-I actually just met her for the first time this evening.”
• Lin Jue snorted at Li Mingxuan’s explanation. His imposing aura receded, and then he turned around and left without sparing Shen Peibai a glance.
• “Since you have found another man to date so soon… Well, I wish you happiness.” said Lin Jue under his breath. Lin Jue knew it well that he could not force Shen Peibai to love him back just because he had loved her.
• Shen Peibai was baffled by the turn of event. At first, Li Mingxuan had talked down to Lin Jue, but the next moment he was apologizing profusely to the latter. And now Li Mingxuan was as pale as a ghost!
• With her mouth agape, Shen Peibai questioned Li Mingxuan, “Li Mingxuan, why did you apologize to that scrounger? Do you know him?”
• I reckon you are the only one in the entire Nanjiang City who dare f*cking call him a scrounger! How can you call someone who bosses Jiang Chenru around a scrounger?!
• Li Mingxuan was unable to articulate to Shen Peibai what trouble he had got himself into.
• Now, Li Mingxuan look at this goddamned woman differently and judgment formed in his mind.
• She could have lived a life of honor and prosperity, but she was too ignorant and superficial. She’s just a brainless bimbo after all!
• Li Mingxuan took a deep breath and broke the silence, “I'm sorry, Ms. Shen. I think I have had too much wine and couldn’t think clearly. I think I’m not a good match for you. I’m sorry.” He turned and left as soon as he finished the sentence, as he did not wish to, nor did he dare, spend more time with Shen Peibai. He also dared not speak about Lin Jue’s real identity, even if he knew about it.
• “Hang on. You haven't answered to my question. Why did you apologize to that scrounger?!” Shen Peibai yelled after Li Mingxuan. She was going nuts! Two persons had crossed her in just a day. First, it was Yin Xuan, who prevailed over her in every aspect as a woman and now, Li Mingxuan. And the way they behaved towards Lin Jue was just weird!
• Li Mingxuan halted and said gruffly, “Ms. Shen, you’ll never realize what a great man you have lost. I wish you… Luck.”
• Li Mingxuan could not help hinting at Shen Peibai’s grave mistake. After Li Mingxuan left, Shen Peibai fell back into the chair behind. Even an idiot could tell there was something about Lin Jue now.
• First, it was Yin Xuan who had been making romantic advances to Lin Jue. And now Li Mingxuan, the self-made man with substantial background, who treated Lin Jue with deference.
• You’ll never realize what a great man you have lost... The same words were uttered by Yin Xuan and Li Mingxuan to her on different occasions, and it had sounded as if they felt sorry for her.
• Li Mingxuan and Yin Xuan were not dumb, obviously. So, that could only mean Lin Jue was not who he appeared to be. But then again, if Lin Jue was a rich guy or was born with a silver spoon, then why would he marry into my family and stay with us for a year? How did he endure all the relentless humiliation my family brought upon him?
• Shen Peibai couldn't figure it out. All of this was so confusing. Shen Peibai poured herself a glass of red wine and then gulped it down. As she got tipsy over the wine, she made a phone call to her best friend. Half an hour later, a long-haired beauty clad in red strapless dress and matching heels, all of which served to highlight her sexiness, stopped by the side of Shen Peibai. As the woman saw the wasted Shen Peibai, she comforted Shen Peibai, “Stop drinking. What happened?”
• Shen Peibai glanced up at her best friend, Gu Ling, and said, “Ling, let me ask you something. Why do you think a rich guy would ever be willing to marry into a girl’s family and suffer all the humiliation?”
• Gu Ling’s eyes glistened with sentiments as she said, “Hmmm, looks like you’ve discovered that Lin Jue is some rich guy after all?”
• Gu Ling was flicking softly at the wine glass with her slender, fair finger. Her long sexy pair of legs beneath the table drew much attention from the men in the restaurant, but she appeared nonchalant.
• “What do you mean?” Shen Peibai frowned at Gu Ling’s comment.
• Gu Ling took a sip of red wine and replied, “I’ve already told you. From the first time I met Lin Jue, I already knew he was somebody. His eyes gave away immense confidence. No ordinary man would exude that kind of aura.”
• Shen Peibai did not make much of her best friend’s assessment of Lin Jue. Moreover, Shen Peibai had not really looked Lin Jue in the eye even once over the short span of their married life. “Don’t you digress. Answer my question. Why would a rich guy ever be willing to marry into the girl’s family and suffer all the humiliation?”
• Gu Ling took a deep breath. Appearing pensive now, she exhaled, “It has to be love. If you love someone deeply, you would do anything for him, wouldn’t you?”
• “Love? Lin Jue loved me? Didn’t he do it just for the money?” Shen Peibai murmured to herself. Then, she reached out for the wine…
• “Hmmm, I wouldn’t know. I don’t really know him. Let’s drop it now and drink!” said Gu Ling as she prodded Shen Peibai to drink with her.
• “He loved me? How is that possible?” Shen Peibai was perplexed. Perhaps, she had never understood what love was because, to her, Lin Jue had agreed to marry into her family just for the prize money her late father had put up for her sake.
• …………
• Shen Peibai returned home in the wee hours completely wasted. She flung off her heels and tossed her handbag into the couch.
• “Lin Jue, go get me a glass of water...” hollered Shen Peibai as she threw herself into the couch.
• But as no one heeded her call, she became incensed and blurted, “Are you deaf?! Didn’t you hear me?! Huh?”
• Shen Peibai’s screams echoed all around the house.
• The ruckus drew Wang Yuzhen out from her bedroom. Wang Yuzhen trudged along in a night dress and found the drunken Shen Peibai on the couch. “Why are you asking for the scrounger? Don’t you remember that you’ve divorced him already this morning? He’s gone now…”
• Shen Peibai was shook upon hearing what her mother said and she lapsed into a trance.
• Feeling stunned, she stared blankly into space…
• In fact, Shen Peibai had become used to the presence of Lin Jue, so much because whenever she was in a bad temper, Lin Jue would always be there to take her vent. This went on for a year and Lin Jue had neither resisted nor complained of the mistreatments. On the contrary, he had always returned kindness for the insults and humiliations Shen Peibai had inflicted upon him.
• Shen Peibai was suddenly struck with realization, Oh yes… That piece of junk is gone... Her senses started coming back and her heart sank.
• A scene started playing on her mind… That cold look on his face… Suddenly she felt a hole in her heart. She felt she may not be whole again.
• She did not realize that tears were streaming down her face.