Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Honey, it was just an April Fool’s joke. You aren’t actually mad, are you?”

I studied Xie Run’s expression, forcing a relaxed smile.

She didn’t say a word. She just held the pregnancy test with its two distinct lines, staring at me fixedly.

For some reason, her silent gaze made my heart race. My mind whirred as I frantically calculated my next move.

Before I could come up with anything, Xie Run set the pregnancy test down and went into the bathroom.

I had a hangover from the night before, and my head was throbbing painfully. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment toward my mistress.

I had told her a thousand times: I could give her anything except marriage and children.

How dared she get pregnant behind my back?

She’d even planted the pregnancy test in my clothes to force my hand. It was a blatant power play.

Luckily, it happened to be April Fool’s Day, so I managed to play it off as a joke.

I hesitated, wondering if I should wait for Xie Run to come out so I could explain things properly.

The sound of running water in the bathroom lasted for a long time; she wasn’t coming out.

Losing my patience, I decided to go find my mistress and get the truth out of her first.

He Xiaolu had a worse temper than mine. Within a few sentences, she started crying and making a scene.

“Chen Wei, you’re a goddamn animal!”

“You’re the one who hates wearing condoms! To make sure you enjoyed yourself, I’ve been taking pills for so long!”

“I’ve done so much for you, and you actually suspect me of getting pregnant on purpose?”

I pulled out a newly bought box of pregnancy tests and pushed her toward the bathroom.

“Whether you’re pregnant or not, we’ll know once you take the test. Come on, be good.”

She had always been wild and wasn’t about to cooperate. She twisted her body, struggling like a madwoman.

During the scuffle, the rhinestones on her manicure scratched my face. I felt a sharp sting.

I touched the wound. Seeing the blood on my fingertips, my temper flared, and I slapped her across the face.

*Slap!*

A handprint quickly rose on He Xiaolu’s cheek. She stood there, stunned and incredulous.

I turned around and slammed the door as I left.

I had spoiled this little wildcat too much. I couldn’t keep indulging her.

I went to the office with the bloody scratch on my face. I was distracted all day. When my subordinates came to report on their work, every single one of them avoided looking at my face.

After work that evening, I sat in my car for a long time. I didn’t want to go home, and I couldn’t go back to He Xiaolu’s place either.

After thinking it over, I called my buddy out for a drink.

When Wu Liang saw my face, he said in surprise, “So the secret’s out? Did Sister-in-law do that?”

I smiled helplessly. “He Xiaolu scratched me.”

“I was going to say, Sister-in-law has always been gentle and virtuous. She didn’t seem like the type to get physical.”

After a few drinks, the alcohol started to hit Wu Liang. He asked me casually, “Old Chen, I’ve always wanted to ask… a bar girl like He Xiaolu is fine for a little fun, but is it really necessary to keep her as a mistress and spoil her like that?”

He set down his glass and pointed at the injury on my face, speaking dismissively. “Look at that. She’s got such a wild streak that she dares to mark up your face. I wouldn’t take a mistress like that even if she were given to me for free.”

Too lazy to explain, I just smiled. “I happen to like that style.”

Wu Liang liked them pure and obedient. He was keeping a college student behind his wife’s back. I’d seen the girl; she was like a Little White Rabbit. Even a slightly raised voice would startle her.

She was nothing like He Xiaolu, who was wild and spicy-like a rose with thorns.

In the eyes of outsiders, she smoked, drank, had tattoos, and never stopped swearing.

Only I could see her raw, sweet side.

Even though she had worked as a hostess, she had never actually sold her body.

When we first met, a customer was pestering her to go home with him. She refused no matter what and ended up being kicked to the floor.

I was the one who stepped in to settle it.

I wanted to take her to the hospital for a checkup, but she told me she never associated with customers after work. Then, she turned and walked away in her high heels without looking back.

After we got to know each other better, I asked her why she worked as a hostess.

I thought she would give me the standard script about a gambling father, a sick mother, or a brother who was the pride of the family.

Instead, she took a swig of her drink and said bluntly, “I don’t have any skills and I wanted to make money, so I became a hostess.”

That kind of frankness, devoid of any moral shame, was exactly to my taste.

I chased her for several months before I finally got her into bed.

I never expected that it would be her first time.

The woman who was usually so arrogant and untouchable cried helplessly beneath me. She didn’t know what she was doing, and she bled a lot.

Thinking of this, my heart softened again, and a smile unconsciously played on my lips.

Wu Liang pointed at me, looking frustrated. “Old Chen, you’re hopeless. Fine, I’m just warning you as a friend-don’t play around too much. Be careful not to let Sister-in-law find out.”

I gave a careless laugh. “What, do you really think she hasn’t found out yet?”