Chapter 52: How Could You Not Love Me

Seeing Xu Zhixia lost in thought, I still kept a smile on my face, but I gently tightened my grip around her shoulder to remind her.

Xu Zhixia snapped back to reality as if waking from a long dream, looking unexpectedly flustered. "My husband has always taken care of my daily life quietly behind the scenes, and I love him very much."

After the press conference ended, the reporters took their materials back to organize and prepare for publication. Xu Zhixia and I walked all the way back to her office with fake smiles.

I slumped onto the sofa in relief, rubbing my face which was nearly stiff from smiling. "I'll go back to pack my things first, and then return to your villa."

"Mm."

Waiting in the office for about an hour, I stood up and prepared to head back to Bijiang Mansions.

Xu Zhixia suddenly spoke up to stop me. "The door lock had your fingerprint deleted earlier. Just input the password directly when you get back; the password is my birthday."

"Mm."

Watching me leave without looking back, Xu Zhixia sat in her executive chair with a depressed expression, raising her eyes toward the office door. She had no idea what to make of the sudden wave of loss welling up in her heart.

"It must be a game of playing hard to get. In a few days, he won't be able to help dropping the act..."

Returning to Bijiang Mansions, I deliberated repeatedly in my mind all the way until I knocked on Ji Leqing's door.

"Leqing, I have some things I want to talk to you about. Are you free right now?"

Ji Leqing opened the door with a facial mask on, turning sideways to let me in.

"Is the press conference over?"

"Yes. I came back to pack my things and get ready to move back to Xu Zhixia's villa. Now that my relationship with Xu Zhixia is public, we're in the spotlight. It's not appropriate to keep staying at your place..."

"I don't want to drag you into this muddy water."

I lowered my head slightly, not daring to look into Ji Leqing's eyes. I knew she had helped me immensely, and saying I wanted to move out now felt somewhat like abandoning a benefactor after achieving the goal.

"Jiang Jian, are you drawing a line between us?"

I quickly explained, "No, Leqing, don't misunderstand. We're still friends!"

Ji Leqing looked at me, her gaze calm and placid. "I understand what you mean. I'll forward Professor Chen's prescription to you. Make time to get the medicine filled at the pharmacy yourself, and I'll notify you when it's time for a check-up."

"Don't worry. You know I've never made things difficult for you."

After saying this, Ji Leqing turned away and stopped looking at me. Just as I stepped out of the room, I glanced back and caught sight of her slightly trembling shoulders, leaving a very sour taste in my heart.

My belongings weren't much; a single suitcase could hold them all. In the end, I didn't say goodbye to Ji Leqing when I left, just like when we parted ways years ago—both of us remaining silent.

Leaving Bijiang Mansions, I got into a taxi heading back to the villa. The car window reflected my face wearing a mask.

WeChat suddenly chimed; it was a message from Ye Wan-yin.

[President Ye: I didn't expect Mr. Jiang's wife to be the daughter of the Xu Group.]

As expected of a business tycoon, news travels fast. I typed, deleted, and retyped on the keyboard before finally sending a single sentence.

[Me: I'm sorry, President Ye, I have my reasons.]

I had expected Ye Wan-yin to think of me as a liar, and I would have accepted it if she flew into a rage.

However, Ye Wan-yin only sent one sentence.

[President Ye: Marriages in this circle are mostly just for show. I've been through it, I understand. An'an doesn't know about this news yet, so it won't affect anything.]

[Me: Thank you for your understanding, President Ye.]

The taxi stopped outside the main gate of Xu Zhixia's villa. I got out carrying my suitcase, and the taxi sped away with a step on the gas, leaving me standing alone in place, looking at the house that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Having lived here for five years and leaving for less than half a month, returning now filled my heart with deep resistance and repulsion.

I still remembered what had happened here last time, and thinking about it made me want to grind my teeth.

Entering the password, the front door opened with a click. The front lawn looked like it had been freshly mowed in the past couple of days, emitting the astringent scent of green grass.

Opening the front door next, the interior was no different from the day I left. Running a finger across the entryway cabinet, a layer of dust had already accumulated.

Xu Zhixia probably hadn't come back to stay these past few days; she only knew to have people mow the lawn for superficial show, without even bothering to call a cleaning service to tidy up the inside.

She was probably afraid of other people discovering traces of another man all over the house.

Whatever, why bother caring so much about her?

Walking straight into my old room, the door was wide open, revealing a scene of disarray from being searched through. It must have been left untouched ever since it was rummaged through that day.

Still, it made things convenient. The old things had already been thrown away, and all I needed to do was a simple cleanup and put on a new set.

Ordering bedding online to be delivered and getting the room cleaned up, it was almost dark by the time I finished. Walking into the kitchen, it was cleaner than my own face.

I subconsciously took out my phone to order takeout, but the image of Ji Leqing pulling a long face and lecturing me about how unhealthy it was suddenly flashed in my mind.

Sighing helplessly, I put my phone back into my pocket. "I should have bought groceries at the same time I bought the bedding."

Not having a car makes going out a hassle; just the taxi fares back and forth would be enough for a meal.

I came back from buying groceries and cooked a simple meal of one dish, one staple, and a soup. Just as I finished eating and was about to put the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen, I heard the sound of the front door lock being opened.

Xu Zhixia took off her high heels. Catching the aroma of food, a triumphant smile curved the corners of her mouth. She walked to the dining room only to see the table left with empty bowls and dishes.

"Jiang Jian, you ate it all, what am I supposed to eat?!"

I glanced at her, picked up the bowls and chopsticks, and walked toward the kitchen. "If you want to eat something, cook it yourself, or order takeout."

Seeing my cold attitude, Xu Zhixia was first startled, then exasperated. "I'm hungry now, I want to eat the pan-seared salmon you make."

"You and I are only a married couple in name now. Whatever you want to eat or cook has nothing to do with me."

After putting the tableware into the dishwasher, I coldly brushed past Xu Zhixia.

Xu Zhixia grabbed my arm. "Jiang Jian, can you stop making a fuss out of nothing?! I've already offered you a way out, what else do you want? Are you trying to use this trick to make me beg you to change your mind?!"

My frown deepened, and I directly shook her off, my face showing only disgust. "The one making a fuss out of nothing has always been you. When this storm passes, I will still divorce you. Don't bother with meaningless entanglement."

Xu Zhixia was caught off guard and staggered back a bit. After barely steadying herself, she stared at me with wide eyes. "Jiang Jian, you're simply refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. You can forget about a divorce!"

"Xu Zhixia, all that's left between you and me is mutual exploitation. Don't you know best in your heart why we got married in the first place?"

"In the past, I accepted everything passively just because I loved you. Now that I don't love you anymore, what kind of person do you think you are?"

Because of my anger, my stomach began to ache faintly. I supported myself against the stairs with one hand and walked upstairs.

Xu Zhixia stood in place, watching me, seemingly unable to believe what I had said, until my figure disappeared around the stair bend.

"Impossible, how could you not love me..."