Chapter 11: Can’t Escape My Palm

Gu Huai didn’t chase after her, quietly watching her panicked retreating figure as he took out a cigarette from his suit pocket and lit it, his expression icy cold.

She truly wanted a divorce.

After finishing the cigarette, he turned around, and Assistant Li promptly followed.

Lu Zhenzhu ran a considerable distance before stopping, panting heavily as she looked back. Seeing that the man hadn’t pursued her, the unease in her heart grew stronger.

She had originally planned to leave this place today for her next destination, but now she had no choice but to depart ahead of schedule.

Lu Zhenzhu took out her phone and purchased several bus tickets to throw Gu Huai off her trail, then hurried back to the hotel.

When she pushed open the door with her keycard, she was stunned to see the man sitting there leisurely.

Without a second thought, she turned to flee again.

But Assistant Li was quicker, stepping out and closing the door behind him.

Gu Huai crooked his finger at her. “A Zhu, come here.”

His gesture made Lu Zhenzhu feel like he was summoning a pet. She remained rooted to the spot, her delicate face taut with tension.

The man stood up and advanced toward her step by step.

Lu Zhenzhu retreated until her back hit the door—nowhere left to go—as the man grabbed her wrist.

“How did you get in here?”

This was her room. How could the hotel staff have let Gu Huai in? What if it had been a stranger? As a vulnerable woman, she could have been in real danger.

Furious, Lu Zhenzhu wanted to confront the hotel staff.

Gu Huai pulled her to the sofa. When she tried to rise, he pressed her shoulders down. “Do you know why I didn’t chase you when I saw you run?”

Unable to break free, Lu Zhenzhu could only glare at him coldly, her anger simmering as she remained silent.

Gu Huai caressed her cheek with his right hand, his handsome face breaking into a faint smile—one that sent chills down her spine.

“It’s because I knew you’d come back to the hotel to collect your things. A Zhu, do you understand why I did this?”

He raised an eyebrow and calmly declared, “I wanted to show you that there’s no escaping me. No matter where you run, I’ll always find you.”

“As for divorce, don’t even think about it. You promised to stay with me for a lifetime.”

Disgust flashed across Lu Zhenzhu’s face. “Gu Huai, you make me sick.”

He gave her a cold look. “A Zhu, stop throwing a tantrum. Come home with me now, and I’ll overlook you sneaking abroad behind my back.”

A tantrum?

He still thought this was just her being petulant?

Lu Zhenzhu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Her expression remained rigid.

“I’m not throwing a tantrum. I genuinely want a divorce. Back then, I wanted to stay with you forever, but now I don’t. You’ve been spending so much time with Jiang Sesè lately—if you want someone by your side, go to her.”

Hearing her insistence on divorce, Gu Huai’s face turned frosty. But as he listened to the rest of her words, his tension eased.

She was still jealous.

“I’ve told you before, I only see Sesè as a sister,” he said dismissively.

“If you’re upset about the wedding ring, we can buy a new pair. If you’re really bothered by my relationship with Sesè, I’ll keep my distance from her in the future. Are you satisfied now? Can we go home?”

His tone wasn’t one of sincere apology but rather the weary compromise of someone dealing with an unreasonable person.

Lu Zhenzhu was so infuriated by his dismissive attitude that she burst into bitter laughter.

She closed her eyes briefly, suppressing her rage. “Gu Huai, you still don’t think you’ve done anything wrong.”

“Sign the divorce agreement, and let’s part on good terms. Don’t let it come to the point where we can’t stand the sight of each other.”

The woman kept her eyes closed, her face turned away, unwilling to face him. Her entire body radiated rejection and disgust.

Gu Huai’s expression remained impassive, but irritation flickered in his heart as he reached for her hand, his voice turning cold and heavy.  

“A-Zhu, don’t bring up divorce again.”  

Lu Zhenzhu opened her eyes and parted her lips, but before she could speak, the man pressed his finger against her mouth, pushing down firmly in warning. “Don’t say things I don’t want to hear. Don’t make me angry.”  

His mood was already sour.  

If she uttered another word he disliked, his temper would flare beyond control.  

Lu Zhenzhu curled her lips into a cold smile. “What if I refuse to go back with you?”  

“In a foreign country, if I truly insist on staying, Gu Huai, there’s nothing you can do.”  

His gaze turned icy as he leaned in, brushing his lips against her ear. “Knocking you out and carrying you back isn’t difficult.”  

His breath tickled her ear as he murmured, “If you won’t come willingly, should I take you home and assign someone to watch you? Or should I restrict your movements?”  

He meant to imprison her!  

Lu Zhenzhu’s eyes widened. Though his warm breath sent shivers down her spine, she trembled with fury.  

“Coming home?” Gu Huai acted oblivious, pinching her cheek gently, his tone soft—eerily reminiscent of their once-loving intimacy.  

Lu Zhenzhu felt as if she’d plunged into an icy abyss. Her nails dug deep into her palms as she stared at his familiar face, her skin crawling.  

She had once believed she understood Gu Huai. Now, she realized with horror that she knew nothing about him.  

The man she thought she knew was merely the version he had chosen to show her.  

This smiling man who spoke of imprisoning her—this was Gu Huai’s true nature. A bone-chilling realization.  

“Hmm?” The man hummed, stroking her hair slowly.  

His large hand moved over her head, and Lu Zhenzhu recoiled internally, gritting her teeth. “Fine.”  

Gu Huai’s lips curved. “Good girl.”  

Assistant Li entered to collect her luggage, and the three boarded a flight back to Beishi that same day.  

Jiang Sese paced restlessly. When Gu Huai’s message arrived, her brows furrowed deeply.  

A-Huai had found Lu Zhenzhu and was bringing her back.  

Lu Zhenzhu wanted a divorce, but A-Huai refused to let her go.  

Jiang Sese bit her lip, scheming ways to drive a wedge between them.  

Upon returning home, Lu Zhenzhu spotted Jiang Sese waiting at the door.  

“Sister, I’m sorry. This is all my fault.” The woman rushed forward with an apology, her eyes glistening with tears.  

“If I’d known you’d get jealous and angry, I would’ve endured punishment and drunk myself silly rather than ask A-Huai for your wedding ring. Thank goodness you’re back safe—otherwise, I’d carry this guilt forever.”  

Her tearful gaze lingered on Gu Huai.  

Jiang Sese achieved her goal when Gu Huai defended her. “It’s not your fault. She took a game too seriously.”  

Unable to suppress a smirk, Jiang Sese chided him playfully, “A-Huai, you can’t say that about Sister. She only got jealous because she cares about you. It’s just… who’d have thought she’d run away from home and even leave the country over a game? We were all so worried.”  

“Sister, A-Huai spent three days searching for you. His work must’ve piled up—he’ll have to work overtime to catch up now…”  

Lu Zhenzhu shot her a frosty glare.  

While pretending to care, Jiang Sese was subtly painting her as petty and irresponsible, making Gu Huai resent the time wasted chasing after her.

How impressive.

But she didn’t care at all right now. If Gu Huai could dislike her, that would be for the best.

“I didn’t ask him to come find me. If you’re so concerned about him, why didn’t you stop him?”

With those words, Lu Zhenzhu walked inside, still able to hear Jiang Sesè’s pitiful voice.

“A-Huai, does elder sister still blame me? How should I apologize to earn her forgiveness?”