Chapter 10: Leaving the Divorce Agreement and Going Abroad  

Jiang Sesè was surprised but still handed him the ring.  

She didn’t even want the wedding ring that belonged to A-Huai and Lu Zhenzhu.  

The ring could be in anyone’s hands—just not on Gu Huai’s finger!  

The man slid the ring onto his own ring finger without the slightest resistance.  

He chuckled, raising his hand.  

His well-defined fingers paired with the plain band looked exceptionally striking.  

“Fits pretty well, doesn’t it?”  

His voice was cool and slightly languid, the upward lilt at the end making it pleasant to the ear.  

It was unclear who he was speaking to, but Gu Huai noticed his gaze lingering on Lu Zhenzhu and frowned.  

“Do you two know each other?”  

“No,” Lu Zhenzhu lowered her head, averting her eyes.  

The man turned and walked away.  

Gu Huai had drunk quite a bit, his arm slung over Lu Zhenzhu’s shoulder as they played cards with the others, while Jiang Sesè was left ignored.  

Unwilling to accept it, she stood up to leave, deliberately saying goodbye to Gu Huai.  

“A-Huai, it’s already late. I’m afraid of the dark—I’m heading home first.”  

“Alright, be careful on your way,” Gu Huai replied, holding Lu Zhenzhu’s hand as they studied the cards in her grasp, not even sparing Jiang Sesè a glance.  

Jiang Sesè bit her lip but didn’t leave immediately.  

She lingered for a while, but when the man showed no intention of escorting her home, she finally left reluctantly.  

Lu Zhenzhu was stunned—she had never seen him treat Jiang Sesè so coldly before.  

And she soon learned the reason for that coldness on the way back.  

Gu Huai leaned against her shoulder, eyes closed as if asleep, when his deep voice suddenly broke the silence.  

“How could you give my ring to another man?”  

Right by her ear, Lu Zhenzhu heard it clearly.  

All the bitterness, pain, and grievances of the past days surged from the depths of her heart to her throat. Her lips twitched, but no sound came out, her face twisting into a self-deprecating smile.  

So that was it.  

He had ignored Jiang Sesè because he was angry that she had given the ring to another man.  

He was jealous.  

A lump formed in her throat, leaving Lu Zhenzhu both miserable and painfully lucid.  

She stared at the man for a long time, the sorrow in her eyes masked by cold detachment. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she calmly instructed the driver,  

“Raise the partition.”  

The driver complied.  

Lu Zhenzhu flexed her hands, then mercilessly shoved the man leaning on her shoulder away with force.  

His head hit the car window, the pain forcing his eyes open.  

“Are you okay?” A flicker of guilt flashed in Lu Zhenzhu’s eyes, but she quickly steadied herself, feigning concern.  

“I just had a nightmare—a monster was chasing me, so I pushed it away.”  

She lied without batting an eye.  

Gu Huai, still heavily intoxicated, pulled her into his arms. “A Zhu, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”  

Lu Zhenzhu inhaled the scent of alcohol, her face twisting with disgust where he couldn’t see.  

He was here?  

Hah. She didn’t need him anymore.  

The driver helped carry Gu Huai back to the bedroom.  

“Madam, should I help adjust Mr. Gu’s position?”  

Gu Huai had been carelessly tossed onto the bed in an awkward posture—he’d surely wake up with back pain tomorrow.  

“No need, I’ll handle it later. It’s late—you’ve worked hard. Go home and rest.”  

Once the driver left, Lu Zhenzhu didn’t spare a glance at the man on the bed. She went to the bathroom to freshen up, changing into a loose T-shirt and jeans.  

Standing by the bed, she stared at Gu Huai for a long time before placing the divorce agreement on the nightstand. She then slipped off her wedding ring and dropped it onto the papers.  

Lugging the suitcase she had prepared long ago, she walked out of the bedroom step by step, then out of the villa, out of Beishi, and out of Gu Huai’s life.  

…  

Gu Huai was awakened by his mother’s knocking.

He got up from the bed, rubbing his numb elbow. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

Gu’s mother peered inside but didn’t see Lu Zhenzhu. Her face darkened. “Did you have a fight with A-Zhu? I called her last night and this morning, but she didn’t answer.”

“Why isn’t Aunt Zhang home either?”

Gu Huai pressed his temples and pointed at the bed. “No, she came back with me last night—” His voice cut off abruptly. The neatly made bed showed no trace of a woman—only the spot where he’d lain was wrinkled.

Had Lu Zhenzhu not returned last night?

Gu Huai’s expression turned grim.

Gu’s mother had already entered, picking up the divorce agreement and ring from the bedside table. She flipped to the last page and saw Lu Zhenzhu’s signature.

“A-Zhu wants a divorce, and you claim you didn’t fight!”

Gu Huai snatched the wedding ring from her hand, instinctively touching his middle finger—bare now, as he remembered giving it to Jiang Sesè last night.

“She’s just throwing a tantrum.”

Sitting on the bed, Gu Huai dismissed it, assuming Lu Zhenzhu was upset about the ring. She’d come back once she got it out of her system. If not, he’d coax her.

A little coaxing would bring her home.

Gu’s mother, stern-faced, opened their wardrobe. Several of the woman’s clothes were conspicuously missing.

“You still think this is just a tantrum?”

Frowning, Gu Huai dialed her number—already blocked. His face darkened as he quickly called his assistant. “Check if Lu Zhenzhu booked any flights or train tickets. Report back immediately.Gu’s mother flipped through the divorce agreement, dissatisfied at the demand for half the Gu family’s assets.

“She’s lived in comfort since marrying you, and now she wants half our wealth?”

Gu Huai grabbed the agreement, tore it without hesitation, and tossed it into the trash. She’d mentioned divorce before—he’d never taken it seriously.

She actually meant to leave him!

The assistant called back promptly. “Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu took an 11 p.m. flight last night to Country C.”

Clutching the wedding ring, the diamond digging into his palm, Gu Huai stared at her vanity. “Arrange it. I’m going to Country C.”

After sending his mother away, he freshened up and changed. Outside, he ran into Jiang Sesè.

“A-Huai, where are you going?”

“Something wrong?” In no mood, he was colder than usual.

She offered a drink. “You had a lot last night. I made you a hangover drink to ease the headache.”

“You look upset. Did something happen?”

The gesture softened him. “A-Zhu’s throwing a fit and ran off. I’m fetching her.”

Lu Zhenzhu left?

Jiang Sesè was elated but hid it, feigning concern. “Where’d she go? Was it because of last night’s game?”

“It was just a game. I didn’t think she’d take it seriously. Since it’s my fault, let me help you find her. I’d feel guilty otherwise.”

“No need.” Gu Huai declined the drink, leaving in a hurry after another call from his assistant.

Jiang Sesè’s face darkened. Noticing the open door, she strode inside, heading straight for the bedroom.

Spotting the torn divorce agreement in the trash, she studied Lu Zhenzhu’s signature, lost in thought.

Country C.  

Lu Zhenzhu went out with her newly made friends. After taking photos of the famous architecture in Country C, she turned around and saw the man standing beside her new friend. For a moment, she thought it was an illusion.  

The man stared at her gloomily. Lu Zhenzhu’s face paled, and she turned and ran.