Chapter 8

Chapter 8

As the ringing in his ears gradually faded, the familiar sounds of arguing grew louder and louder. Pei Yuming watched the Man in Black shamelessly continue defending himself. Then, expressionless, he suddenly turned around, grabbed him the same way he had grabbed Lu Dong earlier, and swung a punch into his cheek as if venting all his rage.

The Man in Black was a little stronger than Lu Dong. Once he came to his senses, he wrenched himself free of Pei Yuming, and the two of them started grappling in the crowded train car. The frightened passengers around them screamed and scrambled out of the way. Perhaps they were scared off by Pei Yuming’s death-wish ferocity, but no one dared step forward to break them up until the train reached the station and the police arrived to intervene.

Bai Xue arrived at the police station an hour later. When she got the call from the police, she confirmed it over and over again before she realized that her husband, who had always only thrown his weight around at home and waffled over everything, had actually gotten into a fight with someone outside.

In one sense, what he had done counted as standing up for justice, so the officers at the station did not make things too difficult for him. They simply gave him a brief lecture and agreed to let his family take him home.

Even after they left the police station, Pei Yuming did not say a single word to Bai Xue. He also avoided meeting her eyes. His entire state was clearly off.

Bai Xue held back for a while, but finally spoke. “You were the one who fought someone else. I wasn’t the one who provoked you. Who are you making that face at?”

Pei Yuming kept walking with his head down and reached out to hail a cab on his own.

Bai Xue jogged after him, grabbed his sleeve, and snapped, “I’m talking to you. What exactly is your problem?”

Just then, a taxi stopped in front of them. Pei Yuming shook off her hand, opened the door, and was about to get in.

His complete disregard pushed Bai Xue over the edge. She pressed hard against the car door, using all her strength to stop Pei Yuming from getting in.

The taxi driver complained speechlessly, “Are you two leaving or not?”

Bai Xue beat him to it. “No!”

The taxi sped off. The anger in Pei Yuming’s eyes could no longer be contained. He shoved Bai Xue away and roared, “Do you have to make me spill every filthy thing you’ve done right here? Maybe you don’t mind losing face, but I’m still ashamed!”

“What thing? Say it clearly! Pei Yuming, I came here to help you and somehow I’m in the wrong? If you’re so capable, then don’t give the police my number. Now that we’re outside, you’ve suddenly got a temper, huh? So I’m just easy to bully, is that it?”

Pei Yuming pointed at her, trembling all over with rage. “Fine. Fine. You tell me. When did you and Lu Dong start?”

The moment she heard him mention Lu Dong, Bai Xue, who had been so aggressive just a second ago, instantly fell quiet. She turned her head aside to avoid Pei Yuming’s piercing stare and asked back, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You and Lu Dong. The two of you. When did you start hooking up?” Pei Yuming asked again through gritted teeth.

Only then did Bai Xue react. She scolded, “What nonsense are you spouting? What happened between me and Lu Dong? Don’t you dare slander me!”

Pei Yuming had never imagined Bai Xue could deny it so calmly, without so much as a blush or a skipped heartbeat. For a moment, he was so furious he could not even speak. But then he thought about it. After all, he had not caught the two of them in the act this time. He had no evidence in hand, and he could not get the hotel room records the police had found. It would be stranger if Bai Xue actually admitted it outright.

Still, Pei Yuming could not let it go. Bai Xue could have cheated with anyone, but it absolutely could not be Lu Dong.

“I’m asking you. Who were you with before you came here?”

When Bai Xue heard that question, her eyes flickered away, but she immediately started shouting again. “Are you still trying to hold that thing from before over my head? What, because I made one mistake, you get to interrogate me for the rest of my life?”

“You’re not going to say it, are you?” Pei Yuming turned and walked off. “Don’t think I can’t find out. I’m going back right now to check the elevator surveillance. Let’s see if you still dare make excuses then!”

“Are you crazy?” Bai Xue hurried forward to block him. “Check the surveillance? Maybe you don’t care about being humiliated, but I do! What are you going to say to the property management people? ‘Oh, I suspect my wife is having an affair. Help me pull up the footage’? Pei Yuming, are you picking a fight on purpose?”

“I’m picking a fight with you on purpose?” Pei Yuming shoved Bai Xue away hard. But Bai Xue was unusually stubborn today too, clinging to him and refusing to let him leave.

“Let go of me!” Pei Yuming snapped. He jerked his arm hard, flinging Bai Xue to the side. She crashed into the shared bikes by the roadside, instantly toppling a whole row of blue bicycles.

That immediately drew the attention of a crowd of passersby. Pei Yuming’s steps paused. He stood not far from Bai Xue, neither apologizing nor going over to help her up.

Bai Xue seized the chance to lie on the ground and cry about what had happened. Someone in the crowd took out a phone and called the police. Since the two of them had not gone far, the police arrived in less than five minutes. By sheer coincidence, the officers who came were the same two who had just given Pei Yuming a lecture.