Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“Look at this meal I made. This time I actually cooked it myself. What do you think?”

Huang Yuanrui held her phone up to the dishes she had prepared, speaking to Xixi and Nian Gao on the other end of the video call.

“Oh my god! Are you serious? Hahaha, no way!” Xixi laughed. “Wait, wasn’t it just the other day you were in the group chat asking Nian Gao for photos of her cooking so you could pretend they were yours?”

Huang Yuanrui grinned triumphantly. “I know how to make a lot of things now. I might even be as good as Nian Gao.”

Nian Gao chimed in, “Let me see… That stew looks really good! You actually look like a little chef now.”

Huang Yuanrui replied, “Keep it down, you’re flattering me. My stew… wait, what do you mean stew? This is Beef with Tomatoes!”

Xixi burst into a fit of laughter.

“Anyway, back to business,” Huang Yuanrui said. “Do you think I’m pulling off this ‘beautiful little wife’ persona well enough?”

Xixi sighed. “Sister, ‘little wife’ is a derogatory term these days. People online call it ‘athlete’s foot’ because the words sound similar. Everyone is trying their best to distance themselves from that label, yet here you are, slapping it on yourself.”

“Heh, the more people avoid it, the better,” Huang Yuanrui said. “They can get the hell off this path so I can have a clear run. I bet they’re all cursing the ‘athlete’s foot’ types out loud while secretly calculating how to snatch a rich man away from me.”

Nian Gao warned, “Keep that kind of talk between us. Don’t go saying that stuff out in public.”

“What’s the worst that could happen? Oh no! The police are arresting me! The charge? Being a pick-me! Being a submissive wife!”

“Fine, fine, you’re always right,” Xixi said. “So, how is the ‘beautiful little wife’ enjoying life in City A?”

“It’s alright. It’s only been two months. Once I’ve stuck it out for one more month, I’ll test the waters with him.”

“Then hurry up. If you test him and he has no intention of getting a divorce, you’d better get back here immediately.”

“I know, I know.”

Huang Yuanrui continued to wait on Qin Song hand and foot for another month.

During that month, she remained patient, never throwing a single tantrum or acting like a spoiled princess.

She even learned how to brew various types of wellness teas for him.

Beyond that, she even managed to make a batch of dumplings from scratch.

Today was May 20th. She had prepared a full table of dishes for Qin Song and even baked a chocolate cake.

She planned to use today as an opportunity to ask him about the divorce.

Qin Song arrived and ate with gusto, praising her throughout the meal.

“Hubby, do I pass the test?” Huang Yuanrui asked.

“Ruirui, you’ve done more than pass. You’ve completely exceeded my expectations.”

“Then how does my cooking compare to He Qian’s? Whose is better?”

“Yours,” Qin Song replied. “She’s been making the same few things for years-Mapo Tofu, Braised Pork with Potatoes… God, I got sick of those a long time ago. The things you make are fresh and delicious.”

Huang Yuanrui blinked innocently. “Then which of us takes better care of you?”

“You, of course. You even know how to brew that longan tea. It’s delicious. Brew me another pot this afternoon.”

“Then… have you ever considered not living with her anymore and just staying with me?”

After saying this, she took a quiet breath and waited nervously for Qin Song’s response.

“Are you asking seriously?” Qin Song asked.

“Yes.”

Qin Song put down his chopsticks and thought for a few seconds. “I’ve been with her for many years…”

“I know,” Huang Yuanrui interrupted. “You can compensate her financially.”

“It’s not just about money. When two people spend that much time together, even if the romance is gone, other feelings remain.”

“If the romance is gone, isn’t all that’s left just family sentiment?”

“Ruirui, when we first started, you said…”

“I remember,” Huang Yuanrui said. “I said I didn’t mind your marriage and wouldn’t interfere with it. But like you said, when people spend time together, other feelings develop. We have those family-like feelings too. I’ve gradually reached a point where I can’t live without you.”

Qin Song sighed. “But I have no reason to suddenly bring up a divorce with her for no cause.”
Huang Yuanrui: “Your parents want a grandson so badly-isn’t that the perfect reason? Hubby, you have such excellent genes. Don’t you think it’s a waste if no woman carries them on for you?”

Qin Song: “But using her inability to have children as a reason to ask for a divorce… wouldn’t that be too much of a scumbag move?”

Huang Yuanrui: “Are you really considering her feelings that much? What about me? I’ve been with you from the age of twenty-one to twenty-four-oh, I’m almost twenty-five now! After this year, my chest and face will slowly start to sag. You’ve taken the best years of my life, and now you’re still refusing to give me a real commitment. Don’t you think you’re being a scumbag to me?!”

Qin Song: “Ruirui, let’s talk about this calmly. Don’t get so worked up.”

Huang Yuanrui: “I don’t understand. Since you agree that my cooking is better than hers and that I take better care of you, and I’m younger and more beautiful than she is-not to mention I have a younger, healthier womb-then why can’t I be your wife?”

Qin Song: “Ruirui, you have to give me some time to think. Before you brought this up today, I’d never even considered it! You said back then that you wouldn’t interfere with my marriage, so I haven’t had time to weigh the options! I’ve grown used to being with both of you at the same time. Why must I give one up? We’ve been living like this for nearly three years, and you’ve always been satisfied. Why are you suddenly forcing me to choose now?”

Huang Yuanrui became completely agitated. “You only think about yourself! You only have eyes for yourself! You’re being served hand and foot by two women at once-you wouldn’t get tired of this kind of comfort in three hundred years, let alone three! But I’m not young anymore! Am I supposed to be your secret mistress for the rest of my life? When I’m old and my beauty fades and you kick me to the curb, what will I do? Are you going to pay me a pension? I need security too!”

Qin Song: “Then I’ll allow you to date an unmarried guy while you’re with me. If you think he’s better than me, I’ll even give you my blessing when you marry him. That way, I won’t be holding you back, right?”

Huang Yuanrui: “You make it sound so easy, but I know you. The moment I see someone else, your possessiveness will flare up and you’ll definitely break up with me.”

Qin Song: “I won’t.”

Huang Yuanrui: “We have nothing left to talk about. Just leave after you finish eating. I need to rest.”

Qin Song sighed. He cleared the table, washed the dishes in the sink, grabbed his briefcase, and left.

Huang Yuanrui sat on the bed in silence.

After staring blankly for an hour, she decided to go out for a walk to get some fresh air.

She put on her headphones and called Xixi.

Xixi: “Hello, my beautiful ‘trophy wife,’ what’s up?”

Huang Yuanrui: “I asked him about the divorce at lunch. We got into a fight.”

Xixi: “A fight? That means he doesn’t want to get a divorce! What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and come back. Break it off! Cut him off completely! That shameless scumbag!”

Huang Yuanrui: “Something’s wrong.”

Xixi: “Sister, what could be wrong? He doesn’t want to divorce-isn’t that attitude clear enough?”

Huang Yuanrui: “I’m younger and prettier than she is, and I can give him children. Why wouldn’t he want to leave her to be with me? It doesn’t make sense.”

Xixi: “What did he say?”

Huang Yuanrui: “He said he has feelings for her.”

Xixi: “Well, there’s your reason!”

Huang Yuanrui gave a cold laugh. “How could a man have ‘feelings’? They only care about sex and self-interest. That’s not the real reason; it’s just an excuse to brush me off.”

As she spoke, she had slowly wandered near Qin Song’s company.

She stared at the main entrance of the building and spoke slowly to Xixi on the other end of the line.

“There. Is. Definitely. Something. Wrong.”

Her gaze pierced through the gaps in the company gates, landing right on Qin Song’s car parked in the open lot.

Qin Song had apparently been out somewhere and had just returned to the office, pulling into a parking spot.

He and Zhang Qiong stepped out of the car at the same time. He glanced around, and seeing no one was nearby, he gave Zhang Qiong’s buttocks a playful pat.

Zhang Qiong gave him a mock-reproachful swat, and the two of them entered the office building one after the other.