Chapter 2

She wiped away her tears and stopped crying. Feeling sticky all over, she got up to find clothes to wear. She had to go out and clean herself up.

The clothes in the wardrobe were cheap and old-fashioned, but at least they were clean.

Although she was pampered, she knew how to adapt. She reached out and took some clothes to wear.

The original Shen Nanxi had caused quite a scene when she came to the city, almost turning the Shen household upside down. There was no way she could seize the family property—she was lucky the Shen family hadn’t killed her.

Shen’s father still had some kindness left for his daughter and secretly gave her ten thousand yuan to settle things peacefully, promising to give her a share of the inheritance in the future.

But before she could even warm up to the money, it was snatched away by Shen’s mother, and the couple nearly divorced over it.

Shen Nanxi had already stolen her own daughter’s fiancé, so Shen’s mother absolutely refused to let her spend another cent of the Shen family’s money.

The original Shen Nanxi’s mother had given her two hundred yuan, but it had already been spent. Now she didn’t have a cent left, and the man didn’t give her any money either—only basic groceries like rice, flour, grain, and oil.

But Miss Shen was not someone who would rely on a man. She would depend on herself to return to her wealthy status, surrounded by servants and driving luxury cars!

After finishing a cigarette, Huo Xizhou glanced at the clothes on the floor. He got up, tempted to kick them away with his foot, but his handsome face turned dark. He instead used the towel he had wiped his feet with to wrap up the woman’s underwear and pants.

The door opened, and he saw her coming out of the room. A wave of disgust swept over him, but at this moment, she looked fresh and stunning, with an elegant air and a grounded charm—completely different from her previously gaudy and vulgar appearance.

Had she finally come to her senses?

As Shen Nanxi stepped out and saw the man throwing her clothes on the living room floor like trash, her heart turned cold. This man was absolutely not worth keeping—he was vile.

Her eyes grew colder, and her presence more aloof, leaving behind a proud figure as she walked away from him.

Still, Huo Xizhou hadn’t killed her, which was already merciful. Stealing someone’s fiancé and breaking up a marriage was incredibly immoral and cruel.

Not to mention she drugged him to seduce him—he’d be strange if he didn’t hate her.

She let out a breath and went to turn on the water heater. It was already available by 1985. She went to the bathroom to shower—he was no longer inside—and after washing up, she returned to bed. Later, she heard the man showering, but she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

She couldn’t sleep deeply because of the thoughts in her mind and woke up before dawn.

After tidying herself up, she sat at the dining table and waited.

The door across from her opened, and the man came out in full military uniform. He was tall and well-built, around 188 cm by her estimate. His features were sharp, his bone structure flawless, with a cold, piercing gaze that swept over her with an overwhelming presence.

Shen Nanxi’s heart began to race. His aura was terrifying—like someone used to being in command, powerful and condescending, as if towering over everyone else.

She swallowed, trying to ease her nerves, then lightly parted her red lips:
“I agree to the divorce. You can file the report now.”

Huo Xizhou’s deep eyes narrowed, cold and threatening.
“As you wish.”

He turned and walked toward the bathroom to wash up without another glance.

Shen Nanxi stayed seated, wondering what to do. She was educated—she could become a teacher first, save up, and then open a shop.

Her thoughts moved quickly, and soon she had a plan. But she was also hungry. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to cook and had no money. Still, she had no choice but to try.

She went into the kitchen. She remembered rice cookers came out this year, but not in this house yet. She rinsed some rice and tossed in two eggs. Stir-frying was out of the question—she didn’t know how.

She lit the gas stove and stood by nervously. This was her first time cooking rice, and she was afraid of burning it.

Though she was highly educated, she was clueless about everyday life and didn’t even know how to do laundry.

The clothes Huo Xizhou had thrown on the ground last night were still there, one of them stained with blood.

When Huo Xizhou came out of the bathroom and saw the mess, he glanced over irritably and left.

As he was about to head out with his bag, he suddenly heard a woman’s sharp scream. He strode into the kitchen and saw her clutching her hand, crying. His heart gave an odd little tug.

He asked coldly, “What happened?”

Shen Nanxi’s tears streamed down in large drops. Her hand had been burned by the hot pot. She looked up, pitiful like a little bunny, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.

Huo Xizhou’s heart clenched again. Annoyed, he said,
“Stop doing these things. I won’t feel sorry for you.”

Then he turned and left, his back indifferent and distant.

Shen Nanxi cried even harder, looking at her red, swollen hand. She didn’t know what to do. She had no money, no medicine. She was a spoiled young lady who couldn’t even take care of herself. She was only a sophomore in college, just 19 years old. At home, she had servants for everything.

In the courtyard, Huo Xizhou’s face was dark and unreadable, but he didn’t look back. He was a cold person. He would never go soft for a woman who had no shame.

Shen Nanxi watched a huge blister form on her hand, her eyes red from crying.

Just then, someone knocked at the courtyard gate. She wiped her tears and went to open it. A man standing outside asked anxiously,
“Xixi, what happened to you?”

Seeing the man in military uniform and clearly older, Shen Nanxi took two steps back. This was Zhang Chenxuan, the man the original host had been seeing in the residential compound. He had married a rural woman he didn’t care for, but he adored the beautiful Shen Nanxi, always bringing her food and money.

“Why does it smell burnt? Quick, the rice is burning!”

Zhang Chenxuan pushed his way inside but didn’t forget to close the door. He rushed into the kitchen, with Shen Nanxi following him.

The kitchen was full of a burnt smell. He quickly turned off the gas, saw that the rice was half-cooked and scorched, then pulled out his wallet and handed her five yuan.
“Take this and buy something to eat. Did he bully you again? Don’t cook like this with the gas on—it’s dangerous.”

Shen Nanxi looked at the money in his hand and said,
“I’ll borrow this from you. I’ll pay you back ten yuan when I can.”

“No need to repay it. Just take it.”

Zhang Chenxuan handed it to her with a happy look in his eyes. He didn’t try to take advantage of her.

“Thank you.”

Shen Nanxi accepted the money. She would pay it back—and also return everything he had given her before.

“You’re welcome. I’ll wash the pot for you.”

He turned to get to work.
“These two eggs are still edible, but the rice is ruined.”

“Then I’ll just eat the eggs.”

“I’ll clean them for you.”

Zhang Chenxuan fished out the eggs, rinsed them under water, peeled them, and handed them to her. Then he noticed the huge blister on her hand and quickly grabbed her hand to look.
“How did this happen? Does it hurt?”

“Yes, it hurts!”

“Come here.”

Zhang Chenxuan pulled her over to the sink and rinsed the burn with cold water.
“For burns, you have to use cold water right away—it helps relieve the pain, understand?”

Shen Nanxi looked at him and felt a brotherly warmth from him, though he was more like an uncle. Her second uncle had also treated her well.

She nodded. Her hand felt much better—no longer searing with pain.

After rinsing it for a while, he let her hold the eggs with her left hand and guided her to sit on the couch outside. Then he went to get a needle to pop the blister.

He sat beside her with the needle, pulled her hand over, and just as he was about to prick it, a cold, angry voice sounded from the doorway:
“Shen Nanxi, we’re not divorced yet. At least give me some dignity!”

“Ah!”

Shen Nanxi screamed again. Startled, Zhang Chenxuan accidentally drove the needle too deep, drawing blood.

Huo Xizhou walked over and yanked Shen Nanxi’s arm, throwing her to the ground.
“You’re truly disgusting. You forced this marriage, and now you’re flirting with other men. I—”

He nearly kicked her, but restrained himself. Then he turned and viciously kicked Zhang Chenxuan, his eyes icy cold.
“Get the hell out!”

“Yes, sir!”

Zhang Chenxuan fled in panic, not daring to resist—just hoping Commander Huo wouldn’t punish him.

Huo Xizhou looked at Shen Nanxi, who was crying and bleeding. But her tears stirred no warmth in him.
“Until we’re divorced, behave yourself.”