Chapter 2

I hired a divorce lawyer.

If Tan Xu was going to divorce me in the end anyway, I might as well beat him to it.

Maybe I’d even earn a reputation for being understanding.

Then I asked an agency to find me a housekeeper who could make dinner.

My job had never been all that demanding.

In the past, I pestered Tan Xu with messages all day long.

If I saw a dog fighting a cat by the roadside, I had to take a picture and send it to him.

If he didn’t reply—or replied late—I would get angry.

But today, I held back.

Even when I landed a major custom jewelry order and nearly jumped for joy, I didn’t call to tell him.

The comments were baffled.

【Did some wire finally connect properly in the villainess’s head? Why isn’t she running to show off to the male lead?】

【Why has the nasty little heiress suddenly turned nice? What does this mean?】

【This villainess is craftier than anyone. She’s pulling back to get the male lead’s attention, not realizing the leads will reunite in a few days!】

My fingertip paused.

I closed my chat with Tan Xu and sent my father a message instead.

【Dad, I’ve booked the restaurant for tomorrow! Birthday boy, you better have your daughter’s present ready!】

Then I put my phone on silent.

I went back to my design drafts.

By the time I stretched and stood up, it was almost eight.

I packed my things and got ready to leave work.

There was one missed call on my phone.

From Tan Xu.

That was the kind of man he was. If I didn’t pick up, he never called a second time.

There was only one message too.

【Is your phone broken?】

What was that supposed to mean?

Downstairs, Tan Xu was leaning against his car, smoking.

He was tall and long-legged, with an effortless air of distinction.

Who knew how long he’d been waiting?

The comments returned.

【See? The villainess really knows how to play him! The male lead is waiting on her again.】

【Just put up with it a little longer. He’ll definitely destroy her someday!】

Terrified, I hurried over. “What are you doing here?”

He stubbed out his cigarette and glanced at me.

“Picking you up from work.”

Then he opened the car door for me.

I bent down and saw a bouquet on the passenger seat beside the newest-model phone.

I looked over at him.

Tan Xu said casually, “Don’t you like these little everyday rituals?”

Before, I would have been thrilled.

I would also have lifted my chin with a haughty little hum and said, “At least you know how to behave.”

But today, I simply gathered the gifts into my arms and thanked him sweetly.

Tan Xu froze.

The corners of his mouth turned down, but he said nothing.

I let out a quiet breath of relief.

Once we were in the car, however, he asked, “What, you don’t like them?”

Alarm bells blared in my head. “I do! I love them! I’ll love anything you give me.”

That was hardly true.

I never would have said such a thing before.

But now I didn’t dare be picky about anything.

He studied me for a moment before finally turning away and starting the engine.