Chapter 11 Dispute at Family Dinner

• It was obviously me who suggested the divorce, I had also made up my mind.
• But when I saw the huge word "divorce", why did I feel a chill spreading all over my body?
• It eroded my bones and suffocated me.
• He leaned on his desk with one of his legs bent, looking as calm and indifferent as usual. "Okay, give it a look. If you feel dissatisfied with any of the clauses, we can alter it."
• I took a quick look at the content of the agreement and said, "There's no need. I'm fine with all of it."
• He had always been generous to me, and even for these divorce clauses—it was as if he was afraid I would not agree.
• As it turned out, Song Meiqian was not spouting nonsense in front of my mother last night.
• Cheng Jinghao really wanted to marry her. The night before, he hadn’t agree to the divorce, and over the night, he had gotten the divorce agreement ready.
• He lit a cigarette and said indifferently, "In that case, you can sign it now."
• I greeted his gaze coldly then torn the agreement in my hand apart in fury. "Once I sign it, will you marry Song Meiqian? In your dream! I want her to be a mistress who isn't fit to be seen by the public her whole life!"
• He frowned, asking skeptically, "Have you taken the wrong pill?"
• I took a deep breath before answering, "Yes! I've taken the wrong pill—otherwise, how could I have ran over to look for you!"
• Fancy that I wanted to tell him the truth from what I heard! But I seem to be the fool right now.
• How could he possibly believe in what I said?
• He squinted at me condescendingly. "Ning Jing, it was you who mentioned getting a divorce."
• "I change my mind." I did everything I could to smile. "However, I will still sign it. It's just that we have to add another clause to the agreement—you must never marry Song Meiqian."
• He stubbed out the cigarette vehemently. His expression looked extremely cold. "You just have to target her, don't you?"
• "Yes," I smiled and took a step back, "Cheng Jinghao, there will be a day for you to realize what kind of woman she is."
• I believed that fire could not be concealed in paper.
• After I finished talking, I straightened my back and left, but the smile on my face vanished the moment I stepped out of his office.
• My heart felt like it was torn apart. The pain was unbearable.
• ——
• The next day, just after I arrived at the company, Meng Kai asked me on a business trip abroad with him that would last half a month.
• Although we had been working together for the past five years, this was the first time he mentioned taking me along. Before this, he always brought someone else along.
• Going on a business trip was more hectic than I imagined it to be, but as far as I was concerned, this was a good thing—I could temporarily put behind everything that had been vexing me.
• And Cheng Jinghao... he hadn’t contacted me even once.
• It was as if nothing had happened between us.
• No dispute, and no divorce papers.
• The day I returned to Nancheng County, dense clouds were looming overhead. Rain poured down heavily right after I left the airport.
• I took a look at the time and said to Meng Kai who was driving, "Mr. Meng, would you mind dropping me off at the company? I want to fetch my car from there."
• While holding the steering wheel with one hand, he smiled and said, "Where are you going? I should drop you there straightaway. The rain is heavy now—it should be completely jammed arou9nd the office."
• After giving it some thought, I didn’t beat around the bush and said, "The Green Park—is it on your way?"
• The Green Park was the villa district where the Chengs' old residence was located. It was a mountainous area overlooking the river. It was almost the Chengs' private territory.
• The Chengs organized a family dinner once a month. No matter how bad the relationship turned out between Cheng Jinghao and I, as long as we were not divorced, I would have to attend.
• He glanced at me in astonishment and asked in surprise, "You and the Chengs..."
• I said honestly, "Cheng Jinghao is my husband."
• These days, I could more or less feel the intention of Meng Kai towards me.
• This happened to be the right opportunity to let him know it’s not possible between us, without being too blatant.
• The car suddenly swayed a little. He quickly controlled the steering wheel and said, "Pardon?"
• With a smile, I repeated, "Cheng Jinghao and I are married. We got married four years ago."
• Meng Kai quickly suppressed his emotions. He said with a chuckle, "Not bad—you've done pretty well in keeping it a secret."
• He had always been gentlemanly and graceful. Even though I had tactfully expressed my opinion, he still helped me to unload my luggage from the back trunk when we arrived at the Chengs' old residence.
• I took the suitcase from him, saying, "Thank you Mr. Meng—I will head back then."
• He smiled and nodded. "Okay."
• The moment I tugged my suitcase and was about to leave, my heel sank into the grass loosened by rain. My whole body fell backwards, but just as I was about to scream, my waist was caught by a powerful arm, sending me straight into his embrace.
• Once I steadied my footing, I promptly took a step back from him. I said in embarrassedment, "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Meng." "
• Maybe because he was worried I would fall again, Meng Kai's arm hovered above my shoulder. With a warm gaze, he said, "It's alright. Be careful."
• "Ning Jing! This is the right in front of our house—don't you think you're being too brazen?!"
• Cheng Xi's enraged voice rang out from behind.
• I looked back and stared blankly for a moment. Aside from Cheng Xi, Cheng Jinghao was also there, standing aloof in an expensive, dark gray western suit.
• I obviously did nothing, but under his gaze, I could not help but feel guilty. I slightly pursed my lips and said, "Cheng Xi, I was about to slip just now. Mr. Meng was just helping me."
• Cheng Xi rolled her eyes. "Only a fool will believe you."
• I was not explaining myself to her. However, when I raised my head and looked towards Cheng Jinghao, he seemed like he wasn’t even listening. He took a cold glance at Meng Kai and turned around to enter the house.
• I hastily apologized to Meng Kai. He gestured his hand like he didn’t mind and instead advised me to not take the matter to heart.
• After he left, I finally strode into the old residence.
• Cheng Xi was following after me. She asked in a gloating tone, "Make a guess, who else came?"
• My heart tightened. Before I could guess, I already arrived in the living room and saw who it was—Song Meiqian.
• Cheng Xi whispered in my ear, "The two of you are the same... hypocrites."
• My heart ached. Were we the same?
• Then why did Cheng Jinghao fall for her but not me?
• Chatting noises and waves of laughter rang from the living room. Several elders sat together on one side, while Song Meiqian was next to my mother-in-law, keeping Bao company. In comparison to the relationship between my mother-in-law and I, they seemed much closer.
• I greeted my mother-in-law, and it was only then that she gave the toy in her hand to Bao to raise her head and look at me. "You're back. I heard from Mrs. He that you've moved out?"
• I lowered my gaze and made up a reason. "Yes, I was busy from work a while ago. I moved into a hotel near my office so that it'd be more convenient for me to travel back and forth."
• Since my mother-in-law cared so much about Bao, I naturally could not let her know the real reason of my move. She would only see me as being petty and narrow-minded.
• Cheng Xi rolled her eyes and said accusingly, "Is it convenient to go to work or... is it convenient to see Mr. Meng?"
• My mother-in-law's expression sank. "Xixi, make yourself clear."
• My mother-in-law had a feudalistic way of thinking. She would never tolerate something like this, let alone with the second and the third aunts present.
• Song Meiqian took a glance at me. The corners of her lips curving up, forming a very slight curvature.
• Anxious, I glared at Cheng Xi. "I've explained it just now—don't distort the truth!"
• Cheng Xi sprang up from the sofa. "How am I distorting the truth? Mom, she was hugging another man at the gate just now. Brother and I saw it!"
• She even mentioned Cheng Jinghao. My mother-in-law's gaze became colder by the second. I was speechless and didn’t know how to explain myself.