Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Sheng Jing’s expression changed abruptly. The men’s ring in his hand fell onto the glass counter with a crisp ding.

“I agreed to have dinner together only because I didn’t want you to break another promise to Jiu Jiu.”

Children were fragile.

I didn’t want Jiu Jiu to be like me, having her hopes crushed over and over again.

The sales clerk looked awkward. Sheng Jing was suppressing his anger.

Just then, Jiu Jiu waved at me from the counter beside us. “Mommy, this necklace is so pretty.”

Her eyes were bright as she asked, “Can you take this out and let my mommy try it on?”

The sales clerk smiled. “Of course.”

She carefully took it out and helped me put it on.

Jiu Jiu clapped her little hands. “Mommy, you’re so beautiful. This necklace is even prettier than Xiang Xiang’s mommy’s.”

Xiang Xiang was her classmate.

Children these days made comparisons in secret, too.

I turned and smiled at Sheng Jing, who was still standing by the ring counter.

“Let’s buy this one. You owe me.”

I should have been nicer to myself a long time ago.

Feeling sorry for a man never led to anything good.

Sheng Jing paid without hesitation. On the way back, Jiu Jiu and I sat in the back seat.

The moment we got home, his phone started ringing nonstop.

It was all about his projects.

One project was short on materials. Another was short on manpower.

I had told him countless times not to use speakerphone, and I had even bought him Bluetooth earbuds.

He never used them.

He just shoved that noise pollution into my ears without the slightest restraint.

I took Jiu Jiu into the second bedroom and coaxed her to sleep. When I came out, Sheng Jing was in the study, and he had locked the door.

I still remembered when we were renovating the study. I had insisted on installing a storage bed inside. “If you ever make me mad in the future, I’ll kick you straight into the study to sleep.”

Back then, Sheng Jing had held me in his arms. “Dream on. I’ll cling to you and absolutely refuse to leave.”

“With a temper as bad as yours, I’m the only one who can put up with you.”

I shook him off and pretended to be angry. “Then it’s not too late for you to regret it now.”

He had fallen silent for a few seconds before saying softly, “I won’t regret it. I want you to scold me for the rest of my life.”

Those words still rang in my ears.

Counting the years, it hadn’t even been ten.

A lifetime really was far too long.

I gathered my thoughts and knocked on the door.

“Sheng Jing, I’m serious.”

“You should come out. Let’s discuss how to divide the house, the car, the savings, and everything else.”

“No matter what, Jiu Jiu has to stay with me.”

The door opened with a creak.

The lights in the study were off.

Sheng Jing stood against the light, hidden in shadow, his whole figure dark and heavy.

“Ouyang Se, divorce isn’t something you can decide just by moving your lips.”

“You want custody of Jiu Jiu, but you have no job and no income. The court won’t support you.”