Volume One, Chapter 54: The Struggle

Pei Jingmo did not reply immediately. It wasn’t until everyone had already started eating that his message finally came through.

“Sorry, Qingqing, I have something to attend to tonight and can’t make it.”

“That’s all right, focus on your work.”

Seeing everyone looking at her, Song Qingyu put away her phone and smiled. “He’s a bit busy and can’t come tonight.”

The others, worried she might feel disappointed, said no more about it.

She wasn’t especially upset, but seeing everyone paired up while she was alone did leave her feeling a touch of loneliness.

Jie Changhe, thinking Song Qingyu was sad because President Gu couldn’t come, quickly explained, “President Gu really wanted to be here, but he’s just too busy. Still, he wanted me to tell you all that the success of ‘The Interpreter’ is thanks to everyone—”

He stressed, “Especially Qingyu. Tonight, eat and play as you wish; all expenses are covered by President Gu.”

“President Gu is awesome! Long live President Gu!”

The atmosphere became lively. Song Qingyu, infected by the cheer, joined in the fun.

Across from the restaurant, at the Cloud Top Club.

Chu Xingzhi’s tie hung loosely around his neck. He downed his drink in one gulp, his entire demeanor reeking of drunkenness, his eyes bloodshot.

“I knew it… My little Yu is the best. Her game succeeded.”

“They must be celebrating now, and I—”

He let out a self-mocking laugh and took another drink. Whether the alcohol was real or not, the more he drank, the more bitter it tasted.

“Damn it, I can’t even figure out how to congratulate her. She must hate me now. She’s finally in a good mood; I shouldn’t go and ruin it for her.”

His friends didn’t know how to comfort him and could only drink with him.

“Hey, Xingzhi, guess what I just saw?” Meng Yucheng burst in, phone in hand, visibly excited.

Chu Xingzhi’s mood soured further at the sight of him. “What’s it got to do with me?”

“This time, it actually does concern you. Look at this—”

Meng Yucheng played a video he’d just taken at the entrance and held it up to Chu Xingzhi.

At first, Chu Xingzhi wasn’t interested, but when he saw Pei Jingmo entangled with a woman, his eyes lit up instantly.

He grabbed the phone and watched the video closely.

The woman in the video was plain-looking but dressed provocatively, her makeup garish, resembling a street punk.

The relationship between Pei Jingmo and the woman was clearly not ordinary.

“See? Men are all the same, as long as they breathe, they’re scum,” Meng Yucheng said, cursing even himself.

“No money, no skills, lucked out marrying someone like Song Qingyu, and yet he still dares to cheat. He’s asking for it!”

Meng Yucheng rested a hand on Chu Xingzhi’s shoulder. “Bro, it was my mistake last time. Let me make it up to you. What do you think?”

Chu Xingzhi stared at the screen, excitement and agitation flickering in his eyes, as if a dying man had suddenly seized a lifeline.

That’s right!

He’d been so focused on dealing with Pei Jingmo, he’d forgotten to investigate whether there were women around him.

Chu Xingzhi raised his glass to Meng Yucheng. “Well done!”

Meng Yucheng grinned, clinking glasses and downing his drink.

“While you’re at it, find out who that woman is and what her relationship with Pei Jingmo is. Don’t mess this up again!”

“Don’t worry, I won’t make a mistake this time!”

Seeing Chu Xingzhi get up to leave, Meng Yucheng asked, “Hey, I just got here, where are you off to? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t go home sober tonight?”

Chu Xingzhi curled his lips into a smile. “Since Pei Jingmo has a beauty to accompany him tonight, I naturally should go pick up Qingyu.”

Meng Yucheng was speechless.

He really couldn’t wait even a moment. But thinking about it, what man could tolerate the woman he loves living under the same roof with another man?

—

The celebration banquet was filled with joy. Carried along by everyone’s enthusiasm, Song Qingyu drank a bit more than usual.

When she left the restaurant, she was so unsteady that Lu Yuan had to support her. “Careful.”

Lu Yuan hadn’t been drinking that night. Jie Changhe had to take his wife, who was seven months pregnant, home, so he asked Lu Yuan to take Song Qingyu back.

As they were about to hail a cab, Chu Xingzhi appeared.

“Qingyu—”

At the sight of him, Song Qingyu instinctively frowned. She had no desire to engage with Chu Xingzhi and said to Lu Yuan, “Let’s go.”

“Mm.”

“Wait—”

In his urgency, Chu Xingzhi grabbed her arm. “I have something important to tell you.”

Song Qingyu brushed him off impatiently. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. I’m already married. Please stop bothering me.”

A sharp pain stabbed through Chu Xingzhi’s heart, his anger flaring.

“Do you even know who you married?”

“Do you know what kind of person he is?”

“You say you hate my betrayal, but what makes you so sure he hasn’t betrayed you?”

Song Qingyu assumed he was just trying to drive a wedge between them. “That’s none of your concern.”

A simple sentence, but it struck Chu Xingzhi’s heart like a sledgehammer, shattering it completely.

He wanted to say more, but Lu Yuan stepped in to block his way. “President Chu, please show some respect.”

Chu Xingzhi glared coldly at Lu Yuan, but Lu Yuan showed no fear, opening the car door for Song Qingyu.

That night, Song Qingyu was so drunk she had no memory of how she got home. Nor did she know when Pei Jingmo returned.

The next day, hungover.

When Song Qingyu woke, her head was splitting, and she felt miserable.

Thankfully, it was the weekend—no need to go to work.

After washing up, she came out to hear Pei Jingmo on the phone.

“Stop threatening me with death. That won’t work on me!”

Whoever was on the other end, his reply was cold: “I will not divorce. Give up on that idea. You won’t get any more money from me. Take care of yourself.”

Song Qingyu froze, and Chu Xingzhi’s words flashed through her mind.

“Do you know what kind of person he is? What makes you so sure he hasn’t betrayed you!”

Her complexion, never good to begin with, drained of all color.

Indeed, apart from knowing Pei Jingmo was a laborer, she knew very little about him.

If even Pei Jingmo betrayed her—

A cold chill swept up from her feet, stabbing pain pricking her chest.

After pulling herself together, Song Qingyu went out.

Pei Jingmo, noticing her pale face, immediately handed her a glass of honey water. “You must be feeling rough after drinking last night. This will help.”

He was as thoughtful as ever, even breakfast was her favorite—mustard greens buns and purple rice porridge.

“Thank you—”

Forget it. This was just a contract marriage. They’d divorce in a year. She had no right to interfere in his private life.

During breakfast, Pei Jingmo could clearly sense her gloomy mood. Assuming it was because he hadn’t come to the celebration, he started to explain, “Last night, I—”

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Pei Jingmo frowned and hung up.

But the caller immediately dialed again, clearly intent on not giving up until he answered.

Feeling irritable, Song Qingyu said, “Maybe you should take the call first.”