Chapter 2: Lin Shuqiao, You Dare Hit Me?

“Qiaoqiao, are you home?”

Before Lin Shuqiao could finish speaking, a gentle, refined male voice interrupted her.

At the same time, a figure stepped into the doorway. It was a man with soft, scholarly features—refined and delicate. Compared to Lu Zheng’s masculine and commanding presence, this man appeared more cultured and mild.

The moment she saw that face, a chill flashed in Lin Shuqiao’s eyes.

Jiang He.

Inside the house, Lu Zheng’s already tense expression became even more rigid when he heard the intimate nickname.
Had things between these two already progressed this far?

“Qiaoqiao, so you are home.”

Lin Shuqiao’s face turned cold. Without hesitation, she grabbed a nearby broom and smacked it against Jiang He’s leg.

“Calling me Qiaoqiao? Who do you think you are? Are we close or something?”

Jiang He was stunned. “Qiaoqiao, you…”

Before he could finish, Lin Shuqiao struck him twice more with the broom, louder this time, as if wanting the entire courtyard to hear.

“I’m warning you, Comrade Jiang—if you keep acting like a sleazy pervert and taking liberties, I’ll report you to the organization for harassing a married woman!”

Jiang He’s expression changed drastically.
Being labeled a “pervert” was no small accusation—it could bring serious consequences.

Was Lin Shuqiao out of her mind today?

“Comrade Lin, aren’t you overreacting a bit? It was just a nickname. Isn’t this going too far?”

Lin Shuqiao rolled her eyes.
“You barged into someone else’s house without knocking—how is that not going too far? Someone who doesn’t know better might think you came to steal something! If you have something to say, say it from outside. Stay away from me—I don’t want anyone thinking there’s something between us.”

Jiang He couldn’t believe the way Lin Shuqiao was treating him. He lowered his voice angrily.

“Have you lost your mind? I came today to give you an opportunity. Just hurry up and settle the divorce today…”

The sight of his face made Lin Shuqiao nauseous. Seeing him lean in close, she didn’t hold back. She raised her hand—

SMACK!

A sharp slap rang out. The gossiping aunties outside froze, wide-eyed.
They didn’t expect to witness such a juicy scene!

Even Lu Zheng, inside the house, was momentarily stunned. A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.

“Lin Shuqiao, you dare hit me?” Jiang He looked as if his own mother had slapped him.

Lin Shuqiao had struck him with full force, and though her hand stung, the satisfaction was worth it.

“You deserve it, you shameless creep!”

She shouted, “You said you were giving me an ‘opportunity’ to get a divorce? Trying to sow discord in someone else’s marriage—heaven should strike you down! You deserve far worse than a slap!”

“What? Trying to break up a marriage? That is worth a slap!”

“Pfft, Lin Shuqiao’s always been a handful, but now she’s saying Jiang He was trying to meddle in her marriage? Who knows what’s really going on between those two.”

Jiang He trembled with rage and barely held himself back from hitting her.
Hearing the murmurs from the courtyard, he realized he needed to salvage the situation.

“Comrade Lin, maybe you misunderstood? I’m here on official business—the organization sent me to help mediate your marital issues.”

He deliberately raised his voice so the passersby could hear.

“What’s going on? Mediation? Are Lin Shuqiao and Commander Lu finally getting a divorce?”

“About time! Lin Shuqiao’s nasty, lazy, and rude. Commander Lu marrying her was like putting a flower in a pile of dung.”

With all the gossip swirling around them, Lin Shuqiao’s expression darkened slightly.

In her youth, she had been impulsive and easily provoked. Under Jiang He’s manipulative guidance, her reputation had only worsened.

Now, she looked at him with a faint, sarcastic smile.
“The organization sent you? Then tell me—who told them that my husband and I weren’t getting along?”

That one sentence shut everyone up. No one wanted to be accused of tattling.

Jiang He’s face froze. He frantically signaled her with his eyes.

What was she doing? Wasn’t she supposed to play along, say she didn’t want to be with Lu Zheng anymore, accuse him of being uncaring, and stir up enough trouble to damage Lu Zheng’s image with the leadership?

But Lin Shuqiao said loudly, “Comrade Jiang, what’s with your twitching eyes? Should I take you to the hospital?”

“Oh, and about what you just said—giving me a chance to divorce Commander Lu. Did I hear wrong? Because I’m pretty sure I heard it very clearly…”

Seeing her about to repeat it again loudly, Jiang He panicked and reached out to cover her mouth.
“You’re talking nonsense!”

Lin Shuqiao dodged, but in doing so, she accidentally bumped into a solid wall of muscle.

She rubbed her sore nose and looked up—only to see Lu Zheng’s sharply defined jawline, cold and chiseled.

His whole body exuded an imposing, serious aura as he stepped up face-to-face with Jiang He.

Just one look, and it was obvious who the stronger man was.

Jiang He forced out a smile and withdrew his hand.
“Comrade Lu, I heard that things between you and Comrade Lin have been tense lately. May I ask what the reason is?”

“You should know that better than anyone.”

Lu Zheng, half a head taller than Jiang He, locked eyes with him, cold and piercing.

In that moment, the air itself seemed to freeze. The mocking glint in Lu Zheng’s gaze only confirmed what he had already suspected.

Jiang He feigned ignorance, sighing theatrically.
“Comrade Lu, I’ve long heard about the discord in your marriage, but I didn’t expect you to be so stubborn. That kind of mindset isn’t conducive to harmony.”

His words sounded like advice, but the hidden barbs were clear to anyone listening.

Lin Shuqiao let out a cold laugh.
“Even the wisest official can’t judge family affairs, Comrade Jiang. Don’t pin this on us—we’re not buying it.”

“If we’re getting a divorce, that’s between my husband and me—mutual consent. What does it have to do with you?”

She drew a clear boundary without hesitation.

Jiang He’s face darkened. He cursed her inwardly.
What the hell had happened to her? It was like she had become a completely different person.

Worried she might spout more nonsense, he no longer dared to stay.

“Well, since Comrade Lin has said so clearly, I won’t interfere any further. I guess your fate is in your own hands.”

He tossed out those parting words and slunk away in embarrassment.

The crowd that had gathered to watch the drama all exchanged glances.

That’s it? Over already?

Wasn’t it said that Lin Shuqiao and Jiang He had been entangled? Wasn’t she clinging to him just the other day?
Why was she cutting him off so cleanly now?

Without any cheating scandal or love triangle to witness, the onlookers began to quietly disperse.

Lin Shuqiao tossed the broom aside and closed the front door.

Turning back, she met Lu Zheng’s deep, unreadable gaze.
She looked him straight in the eye and said calmly:

“Don’t worry. I’ll divorce you—I won’t tarnish your reputation.”