Chapter 28: The Best Birthday Gift [8]

"No problem, you can stay with me until you get married," Cheng Yiyi said, patting her chest with assurance.

"Thank you, Yiyi."

"Don't mention it. But how did you end up divorced? Weren't you supposed to have gone abroad? Come on, tell me everything; I love gossip!" Cheng Yiyi was incredibly curious about Wen Xiaorou's past.

"It’s a long story. Let me take a shower first." The two women stayed up all night. Wen Xiaorou gave a brief summary of her marriage, taking care not to mention the identity of her husband. Mostly, she spent the time listening to Cheng Yiyi talk about her college life and the class reunions that had lacked Wen Xiaorou’s presence.

The next day, Cheng Yiyi went to work, while Wen Xiaorou waited at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau for Jing Nuo, ready to sever the final tie between them.

At the entrance, Wen Xiaorou took a deep breath as she watched the familiar car—a vehicle she had rarely stepped foot in—pull up. She greeted the man stepping out of it, "Morning."

"Morning." Jing Nuo took off his sunglasses, gave Wen Xiaorou a cursory look from head to toe, and returned the greeting with complete indifference.

"Let's go in." Seeing Jing Nuo’s dismissive attitude, Wen Xiaorou felt a familiar pang of pain in her chest. This man had never looked at her properly; he always treated her with such disregard.

Three minutes later, the two emerged from the bureau, having successfully completed the procedures. Wen Xiaorou gripped her handbag tightly, staring at Jing Nuo’s retreating back. She was finally free of him; she had finally granted him his wish. Wen Xiaorou had thought she was fully prepared, but she hadn't expected to feel such reluctance. She wasn't as strong as she had imagined.

"A hundred days of grace for a day as husband and wife. This is your breakup fee." Jing Nuo, walking ahead, suddenly turned and held out an envelope.

Wen Xiaorou was so startled by his sudden turn that she took two steps back. Why did he have to turn around like that while walking? When she looked at the envelope, she didn't need to open it to know what was inside. She took a deep breath, curved her lips, and said to Jing Nuo gently, "No, thank you."

"Do you know how much is in here? Are you sure you don't want it?" Jing Nuo dangled the envelope, as if trying to entice her.

"I’m sure. I don't want it." Since she wanted to leave Jing Nuo with her head held high, she certainly wouldn't take a single cent from him. If she were going to do that, she might as well have just clung to him and never let go.

"Wen Xiaorou, are you genuinely stupid, or are you just acting holier-than-thou in front of me? The Jing family raised you for ten years; they don't care about giving you this money. Why are you being so stubborn?" Jing Nuo had never had his kindness rejected before, and this was the first time he had ever tried to force charity on someone. Her refusal left him feeling deeply annoyed, as if he had been slapped in the face.

"The past is the past. Back then, I was naive and underage." Wen Xiaorou felt grateful to the Jing family, but she didn't like Jing Nuo bringing it up; it always made her feel inferior to him. Besides, the Jing family had taken her in out of respect for her father, which had little to do with her relationship with Jing Nuo.

"Oh? So you mean marrying me was also an act of naivety?" Jing Nuo was clearly infuriated by her words. He took two steps back, staring into her eyes with a half-smile, ready to press the issue.

"Jing Nuo, why are you becoming more and more like a ruffian? Are you trying to make me hate you? Does it even matter what my mindset was when I married you? Why do you insist on ending things on such an unpleasant note? Are you afraid you won't have anyone to argue with anymore?" Wen Xiaorou found his question ridiculous. What did it matter whether she had been naive or not? Would he have changed his attitude toward her anyway?