Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ran Ning hadn’t come to class for several days.

I heard it from Chen Yu.

“Do you think… something might have happened?”

He checked his phone repeatedly, but there were no messages.

“Maybe it’s the investment. She probably couldn’t come up with that much money and decided to cut contact,” I said as I brushed past him toward the door. “Are you really pinning your hopes on her?”

Chen Yu frowned.

He turned around and stared at me. “Where are you going?”

“Meeting a friend.” I grabbed my car keys.

“You seem to be going out alone a lot lately,” he grumbled, seemingly complaining.

“Do you want to come with me?” I met his gaze.

He nodded and was about to come over when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it, then looked at me apologetically. “I have something to take care of, so…”

“Fine.”

I cut him off and walked straight out the door.

The friend I was meeting was a divorce lawyer.

“The divorce settlement has been drafted.”

I handed the lawyer the photos I had taken while tailing him on his dates with Ran Ning. Most of them showed intimate interactions like holding hands and hugging.

“As evidence of his infidelity, this isn’t quite enough.”

I tucked the photos back into the file folder.

“Then what level of evidence do I need to gather for you to be certain you can help me win all the assets?”

“All the assets?”

I looked up and confirmed with her again. “Yes. I want everything, including everything under his name.”

Before I left, the lawyer told me she needed more direct evidence.

More direct…

I opened my phone, found the GPS location for Chen Yu’s car, and drove to the spot. It was a winding mountain road.

Chen Yu and Ran Ning were standing by the roadside.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Ran Ning reached for his hand, only for Chen Yu to coldly pull away.

I sat in the car and took the opportunity to snap some photos. However, while checking the pictures, I realized Chen Yu was looking in my direction.

Not good. He recognized my car.

My heart raced. When I looked up again, Chen Yu was already walking toward me.

I couldn’t let him catch me!

I immediately pulled a U-turn and sped away.

In the rearview mirror, Chen Yu’s car was in hot pursuit.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I floored the accelerator, continuously picking up speed. I finally managed to put some distance between us, but then a car came crawling out from a bend. I slammed on the brakes and jerked the steering wheel, but I still ended up with a severe scrape.

Damn it, and it was a Bentley.

I pounded the steering wheel and was forced to get out. Just as I was about to apologize, I realized the person stepping out of the car was Shen Zhihan.

“It’s you?”

Fortunately, he still remembered me.

Shen Zhihan glanced at my flashy car. “Practicing your drifting?”

With nowhere left to run, I could only turn to him for help.

“I’ve been caught. My husband’s car is right behind me…”

Shen Zhihan: “…”

He had his driver take my car away.

I got into Shen Zhihan’s car. He drove, and I sat in the passenger seat.

Chen Yu’s name popped up on my phone screen.

I hung up, but it rang again.

I didn’t dare answer until Shen Zhihan told me to.

“Honey, are you nearby? I think I saw your car on the road.”

There was an unmistakable tension in Chen Yu’s voice.

“My car got into a small accident. Someone should be driving it back for repairs now.”

“Oh, I see.” Chen Yu sounded relieved. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Then where are you now? Do you want me to pick you up?”

I subconsciously glanced at Shen Zhihan and paused for a second. “No need. I called a cab.”

The call ended.

Shen Zhihan gripped the steering wheel and let out a soft chuckle. “The two of you are quite the pair of liars.”

I was speechless.

The car traveled along the winding mountain road, the scenery outside the window like a lush green painting.

“Mr. Shen, this doesn’t look like the way back to the city.”

“Mhm,” he replied nonchalantly. “I have a schedule today. I’m meeting someone for dinner.”

I was bewildered. “Ah, then I…?”

“You’re hitching a ride. You go wherever the ride takes you, don’t you?” Shen Zhihan turned to look at me, his tone matter-of-fact.

I frowned and opened my mouth to protest. “You’re eating with someone. What am I supposed to do there?”

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, emphasizing each word: “If you leave, it’s a hit-and-run.”

“I…”

I was forced to go to dinner with Shen Zhihan.

The place was hidden deep in the mountain forest-a private kitchen that wasn’t open to the public.

Shen Zhihan’s friends were all waiting for him.

“You’re usually the most punctual. Why are you late today?”

“Car accident. A narrow escape.”

The group fell silent.

I sat next to him, feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles.

Especially during the meal, my phone kept ringing. It was Chen Yu looking for me.

I stood up, and when someone looked over, Shen Zhihan explained for me, “Her husband keeps her on a very tight leash.”

“…Huh?”

Now everyone was staring at me in unison.

I stood there, mouth open, but decided to keep quiet. I turned away to answer the call.

On the other end, Chen Yu’s voice sounded strained. “Why aren’t you answering my calls?”

I glanced at the screen; there were over a dozen missed calls.

“I’m having dinner with a friend.”

“What friend? Male or female? Do I know them?”

My head throbbed listening to him. “You don’t know them.”

Chen Yu fell silent on the other end.

I cut the call and prepared to head back, only to suddenly hear someone say, “Your taste is getting more and more particular.”

“Just a regular friend.” Shen Zhihan was focused on his food.

The group exchanged looks.

I waited a moment before sitting back down, pretending I hadn’t heard anything.

However, his friends suddenly began to take an interest in me.

“Zhihan, Miss Xu looks very young. How many years have you been married?”

He looked directly at me. “How many years?”

I felt awkward. “Three years.”

His friend pressed further. “And what kind of work do you do, Miss Xu?”

Shen Zhihan turned his head. “Right, you are…”

“A teacher in the music department,” I quickly interjected.

“That’s nice.” He nodded in approval.

His friend crossed his arms and shot him a helpless look. “How do you not know anything?”

Shen Zhihan set down his knife and fork.

“I know her husband is cheating on her, their marriage is falling apart, and they’re about to get a divorce. Is that not enough?”