Chapter 2 – Let’s Get a Divorce

His friends whooped from the side.
“No way, man, have you thought about us poor single dogs?”

“We’ve been force-fed your PDA for years, and now that you’re married, you’re doubling down on it?”

Pei Jinyang stood up and wrapped his arm around her waist, then turned to introduce the woman beside him.
“This is Diya, my business partner.”

Diya gave Jiang Mingzhi a charming smile and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Business partner. Jiang Mingzhi mulled over the term in her mind, wondering how this was any different from an assistant or an intern.

Four years ago, Pei Jinyang’s mother, trying to break them up, had hired a beautiful and clever young woman to be his personal assistant.
And of course, stuffing women into his life was only one of the many ways his mother tried to make things difficult for Jiang Mingzhi.

Jiang Mingzhi gave Diya a polite but brief handshake, then turned to Pei Jinyang.
“I’m suddenly not feeling well. I’m heading back.”

She didn’t even know why she came here just to make herself miserable.

Pei Jinyang moved the hand from her waist up to her shoulder. “What’s wrong? Should I take you to the hospital?”

Jiang Mingzhi shook her head. “No need, it’s just a headache. I’ll sleep it off.”

She’d barely slept at all last night. The exhaustion made her skull throb dully—rest was exactly what she needed.

Just as she turned to leave, Pei Jinyang matched her pace and gave his friends a quick gesture. “I’m heading out. You guys have fun.”

The crowd tried to hold him back. “Don’t go, Pei-ge!”

“You just sat down! Your wife shows up and now you’re running home already? What, trying to make a baby tonight?”

Laughter erupted behind them. Jiang Mingzhi was already three meters away when Pei Jinyang shouted back with a laugh: “Get lost!”

He took big strides to catch up, pulled her into his arms, and lowered his voice to gently coax her.

Sun Shiyao watched the loving couple disappear into the distance and took a sip of wine, sighing.
“Pei-ge really made it through the hard times. Sure, we joked about him getting married so young, but honestly, I’m kinda jealous.”

Guys from wealthy families like them could play around all they wanted, but when it came time to marry, they had to obey their families.

Pei Jinyang, though—he was one of the lucky ones, managing to marry the woman he truly loved. And their marriage had faced heavy opposition from both sides.

Back then, the drama had been massive. Everyone advised them to break up. But they stood their ground. Now they looked like the perfect happy couple.

True love—it’s the rarest thing in their social circle.

Sheng Qiaoxi heard this and gave a light snort, hiding the mockery at the corner of her lips behind a sip of wine.

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Riverside Garden Villas — Jiang Yanzhi and Pei Jinyang’s home.

They’d bought this place together with money they both earned. On the day they got the keys, Pei Jinyang held Jiang Mingzhi in the middle of the unfinished unit, voice choked with emotion.
“Zhizhi, this is our home. Just ours.”

They had broken with their families to be together. At one point, they were even renting—just an 80-square-meter old apartment. For someone like Pei Jinyang, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, it was basically the slums.

When they bought this place, he had thought it was too small. He wanted a 600-square-meter one instead. Jiang Mingzhi talked him down for two whole days before he finally agreed to a 400-square-meter unit.

Now, Jiang Mingzhi thought:
After the divorce, I don’t want the house—I want the money.

She didn’t want to live surrounded by too many memories.

She slipped off her shoes and stepped inside. Out of habit, she went to close the door—but Pei Jinyang blocked it.
“You’re not happy today?”

Jiang Mingzhi didn’t answer. She simply turned around and stared at him.

Pei Jinyang knew her well. Seeing she was in a foul mood, he turned on the charm and tried to cheer her up.
“What’s wrong, Zhizhi-baby? Who got you upset?”

His voice was gentle and coaxing. He bent down and picked her up in a bridal carry, heading toward the bed.
“Come on, tell your hubby all about it.”

Instinctively, Jiang Mingzhi wrapped her arms around his neck and only let go when her back hit the soft bed.

She thought to herself:
Didn’t Pei Jinyang say he didn’t have feelings for her anymore?
Then how could he still fake being so affectionate?

His acting was impressive. Honestly, a shame he wasn’t in showbiz.

Or maybe… he did still love her? Maybe what he said to Sheng Qiaoxi yesterday was just a careless remark?

“Do you still love me?”

Jiang Mingzhi wasn’t one to wallow in self-doubt. She asked him straight.

Pei Jinyang immediately swore his loyalty.
“Of course I do, babe! If I don’t love you, who else would I love?”

Sweet words spilled from his lips—but he didn’t kiss her.

In the past, he always backed up his words with action.

Jiang Mingzhi leaned in and kissed him, gently biting and licking his lips.

After a while, she let go and reached her hand downward.

The boulder in her chest exploded into dust, leaving her nauseous.

He really had changed.
What he said to Sheng Qiaoxi was true.

He wasn’t the least bit aroused by her.

In the past, just a look between them was enough to light a fire. The slightest touch would make his skin tingle. He used to say:
“Zhizhi, kissing you makes me go numb with pleasure.”

Now? She’d probably have to strip completely before he’d even react.

But Jiang Mingzhi wasn’t about to do that. She had pride.

She had once said:
“Pei Jinyang, if I ever realize you don’t love me anymore, I’ll leave without looking back.”

She was done pretending.

“Pei Jinyang,” she said.
“Let’s get a divorce.”