Chapter 11 Let Go of Me

• “Xi Qingchuan, I want a divorce.”
• The words were stuck in my throat, and I was caught between spitting them out and swallowing them back.
• I didn’t expect history would repeat itself.
• His sexy secretary was expressionless as Xi Qingchuan got up from the sofa, grabbed some paper from the coffee table, crushed it into a ball and threw it at me. It smacked me right in the middle of my forehead.
• Xi Qingchuan was a born athlete. He was a natural at both golf and table tennis. Landing a shot on me was a piece of cake to him.
• I rubbed the pained spot on my forehead. I deserved it for being so impatient. But who would’ve guessed that he wouldn’t learn from the previous incident when I had walked into them, that he would give me another chance to walk into them going at it again?
• What was I to do know though, in such an embarrassing situation?
• Bai Yu approached me, his face red and his voice soft.
• “Miss Xiao, Mr. Xi and I…”
• “My fault. I should’ve known.” How could I let Xi Qingchuan’s adorable boyfriend apologize to me? I extended my most sincere apologies to him. “I’ll knock the next time even if there’s a fire right at your doorstep.”
• “It’s really not what you think it is.” His face turned a deeper shade of red. Now I was the one who was embarrassed.
• “No, no, no,” I waved my arms hastily and said. “I didn’t see anything. I didn’t see you touching his ass at all.”
• “Bai Yu!” Xi Qingchuan’s furious voice boomed, like the roar of thunder announcing an impending storm.
• Bai Yu and the female secretary rushed out of the office more quickly than I thought humanly possible. The door thudded shut. I realized then that there were Xi Qingchuan and I were the only two persons left in the office.
• The air was frosty, heavy with the threat of an impending thunderstorm.
• I gulped and watched as Xi Qingchuan approached me.
• “Sorry for bothering you. See you later.” A wise man always picked his battles. Best to make an escape first, then plan my next step.
• I had barely turned around before Xi Qingchuan’s hand slammed against the door. His other hand reached forward and locked it.
• The lock clicked shut. My scalp prickled.
• He was smiling.
• Xi Qingchuan had some sort of personality disorder. Him smiling did not mean that he was happy.
• But he was definitely angry when he showed his temper.
• His collar was left unbuttoned. My straying eyes caught a peek of his sizeable muscles both on his chest and lining his abdomen, like a bar of chocolate.
• How lucky that he was bisexual. Else, it would have been such a waste.
• “You trying to prove that I’ve having an affair with Bai Yu by dropping in today?”
• His smile made me dizzy. I didn’t dare to meet his eyes.
• I could see my reflection in them. I was hanging upside down, looking at a loss in his deep, dark eyes.
• Like how I was now, uncertain of what to do next.
• “Those are your own words,” I said. I couldn’t help myself. “I’ll help you keep this secret. I’ll bring it with me to the grave. I won’t tell anyone.”
• His hands pinched down on my shoulders. The pain stun all the way to my chest.
• He seemed ready to crush my shoulders. I began spouting nonsense amidst the growing pain.
• “You’re the one who didn’t lock the door!
• “I didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, I’m not interested in seeing any of this at all. I don’t even read gay fiction.”
• “Are you discriminating against homosexuals?” He smiled creepily.
• “That’s a fine deed you’re accusing me of committing. Thanks, but no thanks.” I finally freed myself from his hold. “I apologize for barging into your office without knocking first. But the deed’s done and this isn’t the first time this has happened anyway. There’s no need for you to be so angry.”
• He was furious but pretending that he wasn’t that angry at all. I suspected that all that rage might have fried his brains.
• He released me, walked over to his desk and sat down. Then, he lit himself a cigar.
• Pale smoke rose into the air, a smoky curtain between the both of us. It served as a barrier. I felt safer instantly.
• I cleared my throat. Since I was already here, I might as well say my piece.
• “So, Xi Qingchuan,” I licked my lips, “let me share a piece of good news with you. Cheer you up.”
• He held his cigar between his fingers instead of smoking it. He looked like an absolute pervert.
• He looked like an absolute gentleman. A gentleman with the heart of a monster.
• There was no expression on his face. I continued.
• “Xi Qingchuan, let’s get a divorce!”
• My declaration did not resemble the sudden blast of lightning. Instead, it was like a droplet of water landing on cotton. Xi Qingchuan did not react to it at all.
• He took a puff of his cigar and exhaled a ring of smoke. The ring of smoke expanded in front of me, a noose so wide it could slip past my head and fit around my neck.
• He raised his eyebrow.
• “And what’s the good news you were talking about?”
• “This is it.”
• His eyebrow hitched up further.
• “Is this supposed to cheer me up, or cheer you up?”
• “We should all be cheering!”
• His hand shook slightly. I was worried he might throw his cigar at me. But cigars were expensive. He probably didn’t think I was worth the wasted cigar, and didn’t do it in the end.
• He put out the cigar with some tea and dumped the cigar into his ashtray. Then, he turned on his computer and said in a bored voice.
• “The contract’s not up yet. There’s still six months left. Get out.”
• “I know that. But I don’t see why we have to extend our marriage for another six months.”
• “That’s up to me.” The harsh light from his computer screen reflected off his face. He looked like a pretty boytoy under the highlight.
• It didn’t matter what good-looking people said. They were easily forgiven for their harsh words. I placed both palms on the desk and stared at him.
• I gulped.
• “I know I angered you earlier. But there’s no need for us to drag this out.”
• “Give me a reason,” he said suddenly.
• “What reason? A reason for the divorce?” I was tongue-tied. After thinking about it for a long while, I replied. “There’s none.”
• “I have my reasons for not divorcing you.”
• “And what is that?”
• “I’m quite satisfied with your body. I intend to use it for another six months,” he said, pointing at my chest.
• I clutched the opening to my top. I wore a collared top today though, so there wasn’t anything for me to clutch.
• “I’m not a piece of furniture.”
• “You’re one to me,” he said and lowered his head. “Get out. I’m working.”
• Negotiating with Xi Qingchuan was dangerous business. But I remembered Qiao Yi’s advice and felt that I should get this over and done with as soon as possible.
• Anger tempted one towards evil.
• “Xi Qingchuan, if you don’t agree to a divorce, I’ll tell Granny about your affair with Bai Yu.”
• His hand, which had been sliding his mouse around, suddenly stopped moving. My heart stopped beating at the same time.
• I might’ve just said something truly terrible. I might not walk out of his office alive today.
• He eyed me.
• “What did you just say?”
• I would rather die than repeat what I had just said. Forget it. Both Lady Luck and Mother Courage were not at my side today. I would just have to go home, rehearse a few times, and then try again.
• I turned away, then heard Xi Qingchuan’s voice.
• “Stop right there.”
• One would be right to call me an idiot if I did that. I didn’t turn back. I could hear him get up from his seat and walk towards me.
• I headed for the door in a hurry. Xi Qingchuan grabbed me instantly.
• To be more precise, he caught my bra strap.
• Erm. That was embarrassing. It was so embarrassing I could self-combust on the spot.
• I had run too quickly. My bra strap was now pulled back like the string of a bow. My entire body weight was now balanced against this thin bra strap.
• I had been in a hurry and had put on a bra with clear straps when I had left the house in the morning. They broke easily. There was no way they could hold my weight.
• “Let go of me.”
• I was so embarrassed I could hardly speak.
• Snap! The strap broke. The split end snapped back onto my shoulder. I felt a sudden coolness on my chest. My bra had slipped out from under my top and landed on the floor, between Xi Qingchuan and myself.