Chapter 40: Ning Qier, let's get a divorce...

Shi Hailing wore a complicated expression. After a moment of silence, she confessed, "Ning Qier is my younger brother."

Yu Zhi experienced a sudden flash of enlightenment, and all her previous doubts were instantly answered.

A secret shudder ran through her. No wonder Ning Qier’s car was nowhere to be seen today; it turned out he had a much better way of keeping tabs on her.

"Then is your current name a stage name?"

"Ever since my mother passed away, I changed my surname to hers. So..."

"I didn't deliberately keep it from you. I cut ties with the Ning family a long time ago."

"You probably know something about the Ning family's affairs. The prominent wealthy families are full of strife; that's not just idle talk."

"Back then, I had my own ideals and ambitions, so I resolutely stepped into the entertainment industry."

Shi Hailing casually recounted the tangled family dynamics to Yu Zhi.

At the end of the conversation, she said, "I originally thought it was important for him to find a woman from a family of equal social standing."

"When I learned of his flash marriage, I even found it absurd. How could he dare?"

"But when he spoke of you in front of me, I couldn't refuse him anymore. How could I bear to..."

Yu Zhi lowered her eyes, gently biting the tip of her tongue. After a moment, she said, "Sister Ling, I understand."

Shi Hailing didn't need to explain these things to her; saying so much was a reflection of her attitude.

Shi Hailing was slightly startled, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes. Clearly, she hadn't expected Yu Zhi to respond so quickly, and her words carried a sense of complete understanding.

She couldn't help but look at Yu Zhi more closely, as if trying to probe for deeper meaning on her face.

"You understand? Understand what?" Shi Hailing asked with curious persistence, leaning forward slightly with a gaze full of inquiry.

Yu Zhi raised her head, meeting Shi Hailing's gaze, the corners of her lips curving up slightly as she calmly narrated, "I know you have Ning Qier's best interests at heart, and I also know that explaining this to me means you consider me one of your own, hoping I will understand him better. Ultimately, you hope that he and I can live our lives well together in our little home."

A flicker of gratification crossed Shi Hailing's eyes as she gently patted Yu Zhi's hand. "You girl, you have a clear mind. Qier didn't misjudge you."

Yu Zhi lowered her gaze, recalling the conversation, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Clang!

Their wine glasses collided, producing a crisp, clear sound.

Yu Zhi drained her glass in one go, and a flush quickly rose to her cheeks.

Just as she was feeling slightly intoxicated, the sound of a door lock turning echoed through the air, and Ning Qier walked into the home.

Seeing the dim lights inside and Yu Zhi slumped on the sofa with a flushed face, his heart tightened. He hurried to her side, squatted down, and took her hands in his. "Zhizhi, why did you drink so much?"

"Ning Qier, let's get a divorce..."

The rest of Yu Zhi's words failed to escape her lips as Ning Qier stepped forward and sealed them.

A brief, shallow taste...

His warm, damp breath brushed against her face, and he could smell the faint fragrance radiating from Yu Zhi.

"Don't bite..."

Ning Qier's pupils dilated in shock. Unable to break free, Yu Zhi actually bit down on the tip of his tongue.

A numb, lingering itch spread wildly and flowed through him...

"You broke your promise."

"Mm, my fault."

In a fit of exasperation, Yu Zhi turned her head and bit down on his neck.

With a muffled groan, Ning Qier raised a hand to take the wine glass from her grip, casually placing it on the side table.

Kneeling on one knee, he scooped her up with one arm while his other hand held the high-heeled shoes she had kicked off on the floor.

...

The leftover wine in the glass condensed into tiny red droplets, sliding down the smooth and translucent walls of the glass bit by bit.

A muffled thud...

"Ning Qier..." Yu Zhi's voice was weak as she softly called his name.

"Sister, be a good girl... continue..."

The man's voice was low, hoarse, and filled with desire, gently coaxing the vibrant rose to bend its stem and sink into surrender.

...

The next day, when Yu Zhi woke up, it was already broad daylight.

The warmth against her shoulder reminded her that she was not the only one in the bed.

The events of yesterday replayed in her mind frame by frame.

A look of vexation flashed across her still-misty eyes.

Drinking truly ruins things.

Who could have foreseen that he would come looking for her at a time like that?

Yu Zhi tried to quietly slip out from the crook of Ning Qier's arm, but the moment she moved, Ning Qier instinctively tightened his embrace, pulling her closer against him. His deep voice sounded right by her ear, "Want to run away? Do you still remember what you promised me yesterday?"

Yu Zhi's face stiffened as she feigned composure. "I just want to get up."

Ning Qier traced circles on her shoulder with his finger, his voice tinged with grievance, acting the part of a green tea to perfection. "Sister Yu, could it be that you're turning your back on your promises now that the alcohol has worn off? Qier understands; I won't make things difficult for Sister Yu. It was all Qier's fault."

Yu Zhi truly couldn't smile at this moment. Because she sat up, the quilt slipped to reveal the corner of Ning Qier's clothes on the bed, clearly exposing the mottled marks scattered across his body.

They were ample proof of how wild last night had been.

Swallowing a lump in her throat, she changed the subject. "Jiang Weicheng is still waiting for my reply. I'm going to head out first."

Tears welled up in Ning Qier's eyes as he stared unblinkingly at Yu Zhi. Whatever schemes he harbored in his heart were glaringly obvious.

"It was Qier who delayed Sister Yu from handling her affairs. It's my fault."

This was more than she could handle! Far more than she could handle!

Yu Zhi quickly got up, hastily put on her clothes, and fled the environment.

Little did she know that behind her, Ning Qier had already dropped his acting persona, wearing a radiant and triumphant smile.

He lightly pressed a finger to his lips and bit down on them.

"Playing innocent? Heh..."

As soon as Yu Zhi ran outside, it dawned on her with a start that this was *her* apartment.

She should have made that fox leave by himself.

Yu Zhi shook her head and was just about to call someone to pick her up when she happened to spot a familiar car.

A low-profile and understated black Cayenne—it was the car someone always used.

As expected, the person in the car seemed to have noticed her as well.

A gentle smile hung on Li Ze's face as he walked leisurely over to Yu Zhi. "Yu Zhi, care for a ride?"

Yu Zhi fell silent.

She considered herself to have made things perfectly clear with this man, yet she had no idea what kind of intentions he was harboring. Not only did he keep entangling himself with her on the variety show, but privately as well...

"Half an hour. Give me time to explain."

"Ten minutes."

Li Ze lowered his gaze slightly and got into the car first, taking it as her agreement.

Yu Zhi followed closely behind.

Not far away, Ning Qier stood holding his coat, staring darkly at the two of them. After a long moment, he smiled.

He fished out his phone and made a call.

"Do you still remember our agreement?"

The person on the other end didn't seem the least bit flustered by Ning Qier's call, sounding unhurried and completely in control.

"President Ning, the price you paid was only for the first step. If we are to proceed further, that will be a different price altogether."

A trace of danger laced Ning Qier's tone. "Is that so? Don't bite off more than you can chew, or you might choke to death."

"That is hardly something President Ning needs to worry about. Whether I can swallow it down is my ability; whether you give it to us is your choice."

...

"Threatening me?"

At the very same moment, Yu Zhi leaned back steadily against the car seat, her voice devoid of emotion.

Yet Li Ze knew she was angry.

Yu Zhi being angry—now that was simply fascinating.

"How could that be? I hang on your every word; how could I ever threaten you?"

Yu Zhi paused for a few seconds, cutting straight to the point. "Did I seduce you? Did I make any promises to you?"

"Or rather, didn't I tell you plainly that I do not love you?"

"What is it that you are doing right now?"